The Dripping Springs

We went for a hike yesterday in the Organ Mountains to Dripping Springs, a historic site of a resort hotel from the turn of the century. The dripping springs was the water supply and we passed the old livery where they kept the horses and livestock, but we didn't make it far enough to the ruins of the hotel itself. It was a high altitude, and we passed a "Fire Safety Zone" where they had pre-burned the brush so that there was a safe area to go to in the case of a brush fire (and a sign that said "don't try to outrun the fire or pour water on yourself, simply seek out the Fire Safety Zone and stay here until you can be rescued"). All the kids did great and kept up high spirits through the entire adventure, but we were starving afterwards and went to the La Posta Mexican restaraunt in Mesilla Village (an old part of Las Cruces). A sign on the side of the restaraunt reads, "This is the original La Posta. The only station that remains standing on the bButterfield Trail. For more than a century and three quarters, these old adobe walls have withstood the attack of elements and men and have sheltered such personalities as Billy the Kid, Kit Carson, and Pancho Villa. Now Mesilla sleeps, but La Posta still offers its traditional hospitality and fine food to all who wander here." Good mexican food is scarce up in the very white state of Minnesota so we stuffed ourselves immobile and had to be wheeled back to the hotel where we had afternoon tea in the cool shade.