by Eagles, osprey, hawks, wild turkeys, water foul, canadian geese, snow geese, deer, rabbits, dinosaur tracks, and a very friendly park ranger greeted us at Clayton Lake State Park in Clayton, New Mexico.
We are declaring this beautiful park a rare Streamin’ in Shiny Gem!
Sunrise 
View from The Dam 
Blue, Shiny, & the Lake 
Sunset Over Clayton Lake
Clayton Lake serves as a wintering area for waterfowl. The lake also contains rainbow trout, walleye, channel catfish, and bass. All these food sources draw birds of prey. Everyday Sue and I would sit in our chairs behind Shiny, which overlooked the lake, and watch eagles soar above their hunting grounds and osprey dive bomb the waters of the lake.
Baldy Overlooking His Domain 
Can You See The Bunny? 
Wild Turkeys 
Juvenile Eagle After A Successful Hunt
Canadian geese landed on the lake for the night and rose all together in the morning with cacophony of sound. Rabbits ran from hiding place to hiding place, never staying in the open for more than a second or two.
Deer foraged throughout the campground as if they owned the place. Maybe they do.
Television is no match for the show we witnessed here. By the way, we don’t watch TV. Shiny came with two televisions. One we removed and then installed a folding wall table for Sue to write/paint on every morning. The remaining TV we use as a digital towel rack.
Sue took a water color course this summer from Tuftonboro, NH resident, Jan Croteau and since then has been painting with water colors every morning often drawing inspiration from photos she has taken. We both agree it’s not fine art but she has fun doing it!
Clayton lake was formed in the 1970’s after an earth dam was constructed across Seneca Creek. The excavation for the dam plus a 1982 flood that washed away a layer of silt uncovered a treasure trove of dinosaur tracks.
Dinosaurs walked erect and generally did not drag their tails. Here at the Clayton lake site it is surmised that one slipped and lowered it’s tail to keep its balance. So there is also a rare tail imprint here. Unfortunately the pictures I took of the tail tracks did not come out well.
The mud cracks here at Clayton lake formed 100 million years ago as the ancient ocean, that existed then, dried up. I love this stuff!
Sue has an extraordinary eye for capturing the elegance of the moment. She sees beauty in the simplest everyday scenes that I just don’t comprehend until they are pointed out to me.
If you are in the area pay this extraordinary state park a visit!
Streamin’ In Shiny!
Love every word. Looks like you’re both having such a great adventure. And I think Susie’s painting is really, really charming. New Mexico is an amazing place on planet earth.
Thanks, Jan! great to hear from you. And, yes, New Mexico and her light are amazing. It’s a privilege to be here
Love your posts! Can’t wait to see you!
I love to see from Susan’s eyes! 🙂 Enjoy!
Thanks, Pat. That is so nice of you to say. I’ll keep it coming!
Love so glad you and Larry are having the time of your lives <3
We are too!
Glad to see you are finding and enjoying the Gems of the Enchanted State of New Mexico. It looks mighty drab if you just drive the Interstates. But off the main roads are countless visual treasures that are often transient but so beautiful. And the smell of the desert after a rain is unforgettable. Have fun and enjoy.
Hi Roberta. Thanks for your comments. Yes, how can you describe the smell of the desert after a rain? Enchanting?
Wonderful words and photos. Enjoy and savor the journey, love it.
Thanks, Garry. Yes, we are just immersing ourselves. Ahh!
I just showed this to Dad/Dick, and am not sure I commented after I was watched it. Anyway…quite the place. Glad you’re having a good time.
We are having a good time and we are so lucky to have this opportunity to travel.