Prater Cemetery: "Out on the Caprock"

 

Prater Cemetery is near Ragland, New Mexico. Locals say it's "out on the Caprock," which means it's near one of the escarpments that border the Staked Plains (Llano Estacado) on 3 sides. To some, the Caprock is an empty, desolate place, to others, it's a place of big sky beauty. I think all can agree that it's not like many other places on this earth.

Llano Estacado: Northwest Escarpment

The Llano Estacado is a mesa, a 35,000 square mile mesa, but a mesa nonetheless. The sides of this mesa, known as the escarpment, are huge and go on for hundreds of miles, and they are something to see. It's not only beautiful, it gives those living on top of the mesa, over a million of them, some relief from their very flat surroundings. The escarpment is not hard to find, simply drive east, west, or north, (the Llano just kind of peters out to the south), and eventually you'll find it.

Southside of Tucumcari Mountain

The Big Eclipse

I was gonna photograph the big eclipse, but I took a nap instead. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," says the good book. Fortunately, my friend Kim, who just started an interesting photoblog called 99 Views of Mount Tucumcari, got some great shots and lent me this one. She, of course, also got the eclipse and Tucumcari Mountain in the same picture, you can see it here.

Old House 6

Old House 5

Mesalands 2: The One Hour Tour

Yesterday, I told you how to get a quick look at the Mesalands. Today, I'll tell you how to experience them up close, and it only takes an hour from the intestate. Just exit I-40 at Tucumcari and go to 1st Street, towards the center of town (away from I-40). First Street turns into State Road 104, you'll cross an overpass over the railroad tracks, it's the only one in town. In a few miles, you'll be in the Mesalands. The first thing you'll see is two large mesas, one going east to west and one going north to south. Beyond those, the landscape opens up to reveal dozens of mesas. After a mere 20 miles, you'll have seen a lot of mesas and you can turn around and get back on the interstate, and if you have a little more time, you can keep going. Either way, you'll have seen some of the prettiest country in the west.

Mesalands

 

Tucumcari is surrounded by Mesas, but they can be hard to see in town. If you only have time for a quick look, drive to 10th Street and turn towards the wind turbine, it will take you up a hill with a nice view.