At three locations near downtown Artesia, at the intersections of First and Main, Second and Main, and Second and Texas, bronze sculptures highlight an event that occurred almost daily during the old cattle drive days.
We see a rustler preparing to rebrand a stolen longhorn. The branding iron is off to our right, and he's working as fast as he can to claim ownership. From the distance, he hears a gunshot and reaches for his own pistol, not sure of what is happening, but ready for the worst.
The shot comes from a Vaquero a block away who has spotted the rustler and is warning the Trail Boss of the crime.
The Trail Boss reacts instantly to the shot. He kicks his horse and leaves the main herd, about to gallop toward the rustler. What happened we'll never know, but the sculptures seem to breathe and dust rises from the hooves of the horses.
This eagle in flight was carved from a single Pecan tree that once stood in front of the Artesia City Hall. When the tree died, a debate raged over it's fate, since it was a landmark. I think they choose a fitting end for that historic tree!
Near City Hall, a Memorial to New Mexico Veterans lists the names of New Mexicans that have died serving their country. This bronze work of an eagle leaping into the air from the flame on the Statue of Liberty is awesome!
Just a bit off Second Street, but still on Main Street is this bronze work titled "The Derrick Floor." It honors the oil industry in New Mexico, while focusing on a particular well.
Illinois Number 3 was the first productive oil well drilled on New Mexico state lands. Drilled by Van Welch, Tom Flynn, and Martin Yates in 1924, after two unsuccessful attempts, Number 3 came in big!
The story goes that after the first two attempts at striking oil, the Wildcatters asked Mary Yates to select a spot for one last try. She done good!
We stopped for lunch in Artesia as we were heading back to Carlsbad. Since it was Sunday, the pickins' were slim for restaurants, and we had Sasha with us and didn't want to leave her in a hot car. Dilemma! We happened upon Los Agaves on a side street. Not very impressive from the outside, but when we inquired about food to go four extraordinarily nice young ladies offered to have the kitchen fix us up with "something". What they presented, for less than $20 was an order of Chicken Enchiladas with rice and beans and a Dr Pepper to drink. Add a Steak Tampequeno with rice and beans and a mexican Coke, plenty of hot sauce and plasticware and napkins, and we were off to the city park, where Sasha could run a bit, and we could stuff ourselves!
Just before we left on Sunday morning, we had a chance to say goodby to Sasha's Boston Terrier friends from next door. They had a good romp for a bit, until they heated up! Nice to have playmates, though!
The two hundred twenty five miles between Carlsbad and our next stop at Las Cruces, New Mexico took us back into Texas, then back into New Mexico just north of El Paso. Guess what....Texas and New Mexico look a lot alike in the Permian Basin!
We soothed our spirits with a great dinner at the Double Eagle in Mesilla, which is the original, old town, in the Las Cruces area. The Double Eagle has two restaurants under roof in an historical adobe building. One specializes in Mexican food, and the other in custom-aged beef. We chose the Mexican restaurant, Peppers. Past visits told us that the Seafood Stuffed Chili Relleno dish is to die for, but is not always on the menu. Sunday night was our lucky day! After an appetizer of Cheese Wontons with Jalepeno-Pineapple salsa, we dove right into the entree!
Sorry, I just had to post that picture.
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