A Rockin' Good Time!

Travelin' Jack here...roamin' the state of enchantment (yup that would be New Mexico!)...on a quest for a rockin' good time! Guess Where We Are!

If you guessed City of Rocks State Park....You Would Be RIGHT! One of New Mexico's grand state parks, this special park is located near Silver City.....let's check it out!

Wow look at that big rock! This is not...I Dog-peat...this is NOT a model truck and camper. It's the real thing!!!! It surelooks like one dog-fabulous camping and picnicing site to me! In the shade of a giant boulder.....pretty rockin' cool eh?

Check out the paths.....and the windey areas to explore. Pretty doggone neat in my books!

WoW!!! Now I see why they call it "City of Rocks" Take a look at that wouldja? Pretty doggone impressive!

Up, down, all around...lots of room to explore. Hey...did the camera capture my dog-gorgeous profile?

Whoo-weeeH doggies! Take a look at that! No way yer gettin' me to climb that thing! But I can see there are some pretty gutsy guys out there....I'm sure dog-impressed!

Palmettos, cacti, desert flora and fauna......all mixed in with a big dose of giant rocks...and you've got one sure-fire dog-friendly, family friendly, camper friendly....just all around friendly....fab-tabulous find at City of Rocks State Park. Jack's recommendation: Check it out. It's earned Travelin' Jack's 5 PAWS rating...and you know, that don't come easy!!!!

Well here we are at the end of a grand day of adventure. Down time at my favorite dog-friendly hotel in Silver City....the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Gotta go now...my favorite TV show is comin' on. Till next time.....

Doggie Hugs & Slurpy Kisses!

Salmon Ruins, right outside of Farmington, NM on the Bloomfield highway is THIS snoopy dog's latest find....and a doggone grand one at that! There's no time to a-waste on this pretty Spring day in the Land of Enchantment....so let's get goin'. I'm rarin' to dog-splore this Historic Site, Museum, Gift Shop and more. But hold on to your doggies.....Did I hear right? DOGS are invited INSIDE the Gift Shop and Museum? Now that's what I call PET FRIENDLY to the max!

And look at this would'ja? I, Travelin' Jack, Roving Bulldog reporter and canine Travel Guide Extra-ordinaire....am gettin' the GRAND tour of Salmon Ruins by the Executive Director himself...Mr. Larry Baker. WoW!!! Now that's what I call rollin' out the red carpet! Thanks a dog-zillion Mr. Larry. I sure do dog-preciate that special hospitality! You are the Best in my books! But...let's get on with the tour, why don't we?

Look at this view from up top. Overlooking Heritage Park, with the famous San Juan River running through it, you can meander through the pathway, see actual historic buildings and some re-created ones too located all along the nice gravel walkways...to get a real feel for the heritage (AH-HAH that's why they call it Heritage Park....see nuthin' gets past this dog-reporter!) for the area and its peoples.

And while we were takin' our walk-about through Heritage Park, why what did we come across but a nice shady picnic area...just perfect for this pup's picnic. BUT wait, Mr. Larry....where's the food? OH...yer s'posed to bring your own? Hmmm shoulda done my research beforehand. Next time I'm bringin' a dandy dog-picnic with me...because as you can see, dogs are welcome here along with their families.

What's this? An adobe original casita that dates back to the 1800's? Why this is none other than the SALMON family original homesite. And heres' ANOTHER brilliant dog-scovery by this canine reporter. The whole place is named after the Salmon family...not that tasty fish!!!! Ya learn sumpthin' every day. They farmed the ranch....grew food, raised livestock, they even had an orchard on property. It must a been a really great ranch back in the 1800s. And I bet if I'd a been around then, they would have welcomed me too! If you read up on your history...and you should!.....they were a very good homesteading family.

Hey, here's something worthy of a check-out. The old Root Cellar...where they kept their food nice and chilled before they got their side-by-side refrigerator in the casa. WHAT...they didn't have refrigerators back then! Wow...glad I live in this here modern world.

And finally, we come to the real thing...Salmon Ruins. Now this here historic site dates back to the 1100s when the Puebloan peoples lived in this area. Not sure why they woulda wanted to leave the area...seems like a pretty doggone grand place to live if ya ask me....but that question might JUST be the good question to ask the archaeologists here. They will be MORE than glad to fill you in on all the details....or you can do your research in advance on their website .

Our tour ended here as dogs aren't allowed on the historic site itself. And I'm okay with that because ...being the conscientious dog-traveler that am, I want to do my part in preserving history. And (don't tell Mr. Larry this...I got a sneak look into the site when he was lookin the other way). BUT the good news is that you 2-footed folks CAN go onto the site and explore all you want.

Yep, this was one dog-dandy find today. I HIGHLY recommend you visit Salmon Ruins at your earliest opportunity...and tell em Travelin' Jack sent you!

Doggie hugs and slurpy kisses!

A Message to our Mayor!

Dear Mayor Berry, You are just the doggone BEST Mayor any town could hope to have!

Why just look at the fab things you do for dogs! (and cats too!). You and the First Lady were just the grandest hosts at Albuquerque's recent Mayor's Dog Ball! All for the good of those 4-footed critters at the City Shelter who need a good home and family.

Here we are just a schmoozin' away at the Ball. Ya know, I'm pretty doggone good at this political schmoozin' myself....had lots o' practice. But nuttin' like you. Why all us critters are raisin' our paws in salute to you!

And of course you had lots of great help at the Dog-To-Do of the Year.....talk about the best Auctioneer and Emcee of 'em all.....Miss Terrie Q. herself from KKOB Radio. You know it's dog-guaranteed to be a good time when Miss Terrie is involved.

And then we of course had to say our hello's to the "Leader of the Pack"....Miss Barbara Bruin, Director of the Animal Welfare Department. She is ALWAYS on the job, adoptin' out needy furr-kids...I know DOG-Personally....(BUT that is another story to come VERY soon!)

The Ball was grand fun...and we raised lots of moolah for the furry kids. I did my part, by donatin' a Jack's Pack and a Pet-Cation at the Elkhorn Lodge in Chama to the cause.....and more. Hope it helps a tad bit! You know, any donations to the City Shelter are being raised by the good folks at Kennel Kompadres...and if YOU want to help out, just contact them and they will get you all set up to be a Pet-Friendly Albuquerque Supporter!

Anyway, I sure as dog-heck had a grand time at the 2011 Mayor's Dog Ball. If you missed it...better plan ahead for next year......or in the meantime, help out by adoptin' a new member in YOUR family.

Doggie Hugs and Slurpy Kisses!

PS Mayor Berry...I do hope First Dog Skip liked my dog-graphed book, "Travelin' Jack's Story...From Shelter to Star". Maybe he and I should dog-claborate on another book!