June 17, 2017. Another check-off on my "1000 Places to Go Before You Die" list

LOCATION:  2nd night in Chama, New Mexico at Rio Chama RV Park

 

WEATHER:  Cool night and morning.  Back to the 90s during the day

 

The reason we are here in Chama is to ride the train on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.  It is listed in my guidebook "1000 Places to Go Before You Die".  It is North America's highest and longest narrow gauge railroad.        

 

We were glad to see that we would be able to enjoy a cold beverage while on the train ride...

 

We boarded the train at 10:00.  The other passengers were train buffs and families with young children.  We climbed steadily from Chama's 7871 foot elevation to the Cumbres summit at 10,015 feet.  

 

The scenery was beautiful.          

We spent most of the time standing in the open rail car so we could have a 360-degree view.  We spotted deer, a pronghorn (like an antelope), and herds of elk.  Trust me, there are elk in this picture down in the valley.

 

 

We stopped for a buffet lunch about midway.  People sure like to chow down!  

 

Then, the afternoon was spent descending back down to 7800 feet to a small town in Colorado on the New Mexico border.  We returned by bus, a 65-mile trip, in only an hour, compared to the 6-hour train ride.  

 

It was a great trip. It felt good to take showers when we returned, as cinders from the steam engine were on our skin and in our hair.

 

 

DINNER:  Salmon patties with leftover red beans on the side.  I almost never make dessert, but I had made some key lime pudding earlier for George.  He had bought a huge bag of key limes while in Texas that needed to be used up.