Letterboxing, Fire and Driving Home

After leaving the Homeschool Band Camp, we stopped by the Smokey Bear Historical Park, in Capitan, NM, which just so happened to be celebrating 'Smokey Bear Days'
.
But we were there to search for the Smokey Bear Letterbox. We almost gave up due to the fact that the area where the micro-box was hidden had been tidied up, with the rocks mentioned, removed, and the area planted over with wildflowers and other plants.

But with some 'scuffling' through the pine needles and some close-up sleuthing by Jackson we finally found the letterbox, but then we weren't able to re-hide it because one of the park staff came out and asked us to stay out of the area so the flowers and plants wouldn't be damaged. And the inside of the box was soaked due to the sprinklers.
We made a joint decision, based on the much used and exposed original hiding place and direct view towards the park museum doors, to re-hide the box just a little bit southeast of that location, in a less busy location. So, after re-hiding, we headed back on the road towards home. But it was nice to pay our respects to that historic, cute little bear cub on such a special day.

I've wanted to visit the Gran Quivira Ruins for years now and was hoping that we'd make it to the location, just south of Mountainair, by the time they closed at 5pm. But once again, we didn't make it in time and pulled up 3 minutes after 5pm. Darn. We did see the ruins peeking through the trees, which made me yearn to visit even more, but we had to settle for some placard pictures instead.
And with my camera's zoom, I could just make out the ruins up on this ridge, from the road below. One day I will return and finally experience beautiful Gran Quivira.
Just above the town of Mountainair, we could see that the Trigo fires were still burning, but at least, under control now.
A crazy little shop on the outskirts of Mountainair.
Just after we passed Estancia, NM and headed west, we could see the Trigo fires a little more clearer. I was worried that our route home, north on 55 would be closed due to the fire.
And right there at our turn off was the road closed signs along with police cars, fire vehicles, and news crews.
But, thankfully, we were able to head north to our home. Home is such a wonderful word.