Our first objective of the day is following along Sara Lou as she gives us all a tour, along the way we ask questions, explore and look around the home. As she hands us off to Rory for the second part of the morning, he points out every fire extinguisher, first aid kit and emergency exit. He shows us every light switch and lock, along with all the cleaning equipment.
This afternoon we go on our first field trip together at Fort Union National Monument. It’s taken 10 years but they’ve finally put up the new museum exhibits they that had been planned for over a decade. With his insider connections Rory got us all a private tour walking around the grounds in a Thunderstorm. A bit wet, we spend a lot of time in the gift shop as we dry off before getting in the cars. To avoid any more rain, we sit in the cars to eat our sandwiches for lunch.
On the way back we stop for Coffee at the Watrous Coffee House. For those of us non coffee drinkers the bartender recommends Italian Vanilla Ice. Very vanilla, it’s alright. On one of the walls, they have a big map of the country for guests to show where they’re coming from. Most pins are from New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Some visitors have come from the U.K or Canada, I would love to be the first visitor from Finland but Rory says no. Wah, Wah. They do have cool stickers though, several of us buy some.
The first PTC participants arrive for family weeks. The first of normal events begin to start for the summer.
“Do any of you want anything from Taos?” Rachel asked. “I’m there visiting the Walmart.”
Everett chimed in first. “An axe with a hoe on the back!”
“I’ll take one of those too,” said Owen.
“I’m not sure they have those here, but I’ll see what I can do,” laughed Rachel. While pushing her shopping cart she stopped one of the associates, “do you have any Pulaski’s?”
Back at base, Joey, Everett, Owen and I stopped by Rory’s office.
“Oh, hi there,” as Rory is quickly grabbing boxes in a hurry out the door. “I’m really gotta go, but you can stay here in the office if you want.”
The summer season hadn’t started yet. There were no tours scheduled for the day. We went with to help.
Our first step was setting up the banner. Our second step was taking a photo of it. From there we drove further up the road to get a lay of the land and set up our battle tent. Lightning crackled in the distance; rain began to drizzle. The wind howled in excitement, trying to grab the tarp away from us. It was fun.
Owen, being the tallest of the group by at least six inches, held one of the poles high above his head as lightning struck nearby. After nearly an hour of our unplanned teambuilding session, we had the tent up and were ready to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the Villa as the rain washed gently down the windows. We all spent a few hours talking in laying on the floor on the carpet of Rory’s office, passing the time before dinner.
He says he needs to go set some stuff up at Chase, plans to go on his own. Evertt, Joey, Owen and I end up going with him. There’s no way he could have done it on his own. We put up a banner by the highway.
Scatter Begins, all staff 3…2…1…Time To Go To The Backcountry! All staff begin to split and are driven out to there stations.
None of us have given a full-length tour yet, every one we’ve given has been done in groups together. That night Rory informed us was our first night tour. Rachel and Chris would be giving it to her parents. After dinner the rest of the guides split up while Chris and Rachel made their way back to the Villa to wait. “At least their an easy group to start with,” Chris said. Rachel’s dad has been on this tour more then 20 times, her mom almost just as many.
Being for just her parents, it was agreed Rachel would give them the full tour as Chris went through turning off the lights behind them. As she’s taking her parents through the home, he listens in from distant rooms to hear both what she has to say and to know when they’ve moved on enough for him to lock everything up.
At night the Villa is filled with softly lit lanterns and lamps, the lights glowing against the ancient artifacts. So beautiful, teeming with life. I could explore this place forever he thinks, as he turns off the lights. It reminds both of them of Night at the Museum, and they proceed to spend the rest of the night imagining artifacts coming to life just like in the movies.
The following night everyone was excited for the 2nd field trip of the Summer, a lantern lit tour of Cimarron. Rory drove himself and Sara Lou, he asked Chris if he would be willing to drive the rest of the group in the Blurban. Reluctantly, he said “yes.”
Beginning by the St. James, it’s there we meet our guide and set off into town. Our first stop is the old wishing well, all dried up now but still standing. It’s built with stones covered in moss and decaying wood, but the pulley and bucket are still there, tied up to the top. Legend says, there was once a girl who threw a coin in the well, hoping to find true love. The next morning, she awoke to find herself in the dark, covered under heavy fabrics. After making her way out and seeing she was atop her bed, she tried to find a mirror. Upon finding one it was clear she had transformed into a salamander. A salamander waddles past Rachel’s sandals and she bends down to get a closer look before we walk away.
Our 2nd stop is the old Cimarron Jail. Our guide takes a ring of keys off his belt and after several minutes unlocks the creaking iron door to the old building. Barley large enough to stand up straight in, Owen he to hunch down the entire time were inside. The walls are black as pitch, frigid and thickly covered with cobwebs. He opens several doors to let us inside different cells, no matter, they’re all the same. Dirt floors, no source of light other then a small opening carved high up into the outer wall, useless this late at night. Even with the flashlights on our phones, it’s too dark to see whether spiders are crawling on us or not, it sure feels like it though. Our guide tells the legends of two girls who were once dared to spend the night in here. They made it about half an hour.
After the tour we head back to the PTC and get back just a few minutes before they get rid of the cobller and ice cream for the night.
Our 2nd field trip, a walking tour of Cimmaron. It’s my first (and last) time driving all of us together in the Blurban. We begin at the St. James and walk from there following our guide by lantern light. His, lantern light. We stop by the old wishing well and the old cimarron jail. Two girls were once dared to spend the night in there. They didn’t make it. Too many spiders, pitch black, cold stone walls, dirt floors, rusty iron bars, noisy insects and spiderwebs. Get me the hell outta there!!! Lasted from 7:30 – 9:00pm. All field trips are on Wednesday nights. Same day as cobbler nights. We get back and if were there in time we get cobbler and ice cream at the PTC office.
First day of treks go out. Our first day of tours at Chase. I drive and get the Blurban stuck in the mud. Rory, Joey and I put boards under the wheels to add leverage. Rory steps in and hits the gas. Not budging. We push the boards in further. Nothing. The construction workers walk by.
Worker 1: Hey, y’all need some help? I’m from West Virginia, I think I can take care of it
He hops into the car and floors it harder then anyone I’ve ever seen. The engine roaaaars with fright! Joey and I are pushing from the back. The Blurban zooms forward, mud thrown heavily out the back covering us both. The worker parks just around the side and steps out, slamming the door behind him.
Slaaaaam!!!
3 of us: Noooooooooooooooooo!! No No No No Nooooo!!!
The door is locked. The Car is on. The keys are stuck inside. Rory drives back to motorpool while we all stand and wait. 30 minutes later, Rory returns.
Rory: They didn’t have a key, just the fob.
Us: Hope it works (fingers crossed)
The door is open, the car turned off. Joey and I covered in mud. A great start to the first day of the summer.
Slow day giving tours. Rachel, Owen and I begin designing stickers in the in our breakroom. [photo of our great computer setup]. Reachel takes the lead “Graphic Design is my Passion”. We have so much fun creating silly designs in Canva. We spend a lot of time making the cutest little racoon as the mascot for the Villa Rangers.
Ann Louise sees horse riders ride past Chase. They get 57 people [show picture of timer] Ann Louise: Just say hi and it counts
The Great Flood of Chase Biblical Waves in Scale. Rained Non-Stop 8 hours overnight Fountains went from empty to 4 ft full Trees were like aquaponics the woodchips floating in the world’s smallest pond Me and Rachel were driving – Called Rory – Took Photos – Called Logistics
Staff Shower house Cleaning Night 6:30 – 7:30 Went to town afterwards to get Ice Cream SpongeBob Ice Cream Photo Owen got a Rhianna CD from Dollar Tree – Umbrella Tried to play it 3 times in the Blurban – Didn’t Work :(
Went to the Cree Mee drive in with Owen, Racheal, Joey and Everett. Stopped at Russel’s Grocery store next door and I got an Arizona Iced Tea. It was Aight. Owen got ingredients to make Scotcheroos. He got everything but butterscotch chips.
Gardeners Own and Kim Got A Shoutout for great work in Phil News. We didn’t have to help with gardens at all this year. They were extraordinarily hard working and efficient. Racheal and Someone put up the green tarp to replace the white one
Bluey Died Again. Everett got a photo for proof.
Sara Lou mistakenly adds her friend Chris from town into a group chat instead of me. She fixes the mix up with me and Rachel. Danielle Arrives – She Gets Covid and is off for 2 weeks.
Department Photo in front of the villa They forgot about us again (every year). Thankfully it was a Tuesday.
Trip to Rayado
Bad Teacher – Bad Ranger at Chase w/ me and Joey Bad Teacher Early 2000’s movie cover
Death to the big white tarp It hit the Blurban
Window Got Stuck Down Had To Cover it with Trash bag Now Sponsored by Glad
Old Aztec Mill Museum 3 Stories Way Cooler then it sounds Ranger Attacked by Baby Mountain Lion Near Lovers Leap 57 People at Chase
Bambi and the other deer begin to be born roaming around camp
Sanke in a Tree At Chase Sanke named Bill got some bird eggs Warning scouts to avoid Had 276 Visitors At The Villa