We made it to the rally easily and safely. It's only about 90 miles from Rusty's where we had spent the previous two nights, so no problem. The rally was held at New Mexico's Pancho Villa State Park in the little town of Columbus. The park was set aside in 1959 to memorialze and protect (to a certain extent) the site of the last hostile incursion of foreign troops into the continental United States.
(To see any of our pictures larger, left click on the picture.)
I suspect that many of our readers are not really interested in an RV rally, so I'll mention only that it was a huge success, with 31 rigs and 57 people attending. A big draw for this rally every year is the Pink Store in Palomas, directly across the border into Mexico. The Pink Store offers a delightful Mexican menu and even more delightful Margaritas. They have a gift store and a very successsful liquor outlet, so everyone comes home "loaded" with both Margaritas and an armload of bottles and Mexican crafts.
The state park has an excellent small museum, and signs throughout the park identify visible remains of the old Camp Furlong where Pancho Villa was hoping to steal horses, guns and ammunition. Villa was unsuccessful in this attempt, but successful in evading capture when US troops, under the command of General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, followed him and his army into Mexico.
The State Park's headquarters and museum.
An armored personnel carrier, totally unsuited for its purpose.
You could call this picture a self-portrait!
A ranger told us that Camp Furlong and Pershing's "punitive expedition" into Mexico was the actual beginning of the US Air Force, as it was the first time aircraft were put into active military service. The planes were not armed, but were used solely for reconaissance.
In addition, the first grease rack ever to service US Army automotive equipment engaged in field operations was installed here at Camp Furlong. It still stands in mute testimony. A sign nearby tells that "On occasion, and far distant from this base of operation, the trucks received fuel transported by pack animals."
The next pictures show the Camp Furlong headquarters building with a canopy overhead to protect it's crumbling adobe walls. It was from here that Pershing directed his expeditionary force.
We have just skimmed the top of this park and its surrounding town. We'll come back for a private tour, someday soon in ... Our Life on Wheels.
Whether or not we'd be rally fans remains to be seen since we've never gone to one. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pics of the park and the information going along with the pics was interesting.
Have fun you guys.
I always like seeing photos of places we have been. We liked Pancho Villa State Park. It was only the second State Park we stayed in when we started out in 06Rockhound at Demming was our first. Just gotta love the Pink Store in Mexico for sure. We probably made half a dozen trips there. Had dental work & eyeglasses done in the plaza adjoined to the Pink Store. The Pink Store's lady owner was really nice to us too. Will always have fond memories of that great place.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information on Camp Furlong and great pics to go along with it. I never would have guessed it was the site where US military aircraft were used for the first time. Great trivia question though.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great, and safe, time at the Pink Store too!
I'm glad to hear that the rally, including the venture across the border, went well. Is the Pink Store really pink?
ReplyDeleteI sure like to see that bright blue sky in your pictures. Have the temperatures gone down by now?