Santa Rosa, New Mexico ~ Fun in the Sun

 

After eating breakfast at our campsite, we headed the 7 miles into Santa Rosa to Park Lake, “The Largest Swimming Pool in the Southwest”, located just off Rt 66 in downtown Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa, population of less than 3,000 residents is known as New Mexico’s “City of Lakes”, due to it’s plethora of natural lakes, an anomaly in the dry desert climate surrounding it. Most of these lakes are sinkholes that form in the limestone bedrock of the area that fill with spring water, and are connected by a network of underground, water-filled tunnels.

One of those natural lakes is Park Lake, which is continually filled by a spring that bubbles up from the floor of the lake, with the overflow draining into the adjacent creek. Tree-lined Park Lake was transformed into a huge community swimming pool with a sandy beach, diving board, pier, water slide and peddle boats. It’s ironic that Park Lake is less than a mile from I-40 yet not many interstate travelers are aware of this beautiful, unique oasis, in eastern New Mexico, on the barren, high plains desert surrounding Santa Rosa.

We met up with Jax and Jem’s Boy Scout Troop as soon as we arrived. They had brought canoes and kayaks. 

 

For only $2.00 a person, you receive unlimited use of the water slide and pedal boats. Swimming and picnicking at the lake are free. 

 

Jax and Jem spent the first hour canoeing…….. 

 

 

And Kayaking .

 

While Jen was happier than a clam just floating on her raft.

 

The water was a very comfortable temperature and safely shallow at the edges of the lake, getting deeper towards the middle. There were lifeguards watching out for the kids and even though a lot more people showed up in the afternoon, it never really felt crowded.

 

Jem enjoyed jumping off the diving board.

 

I think Jax enjoyed the diving board even more. 

 

During our lunch of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, some friendly ducks showed up begging for scraps.

 

 

Jax and Jen had fun feeding the ducks while protecting them from some mean kids who tried to throw rocks at their feathered friends.

 

Dobbie girl and I spent most of the day watching the kidlets, while relaxing in the shade beneath the cottonwood trees.

 

 

But we also had a few boat rides, too.

 

This was Dobbie’s first time ever to ride in a boat. She really seemed to enjoy herself and was very relaxed.

 

 

Jem was our Pedal Boat Captain.

 

 

While Jen and I rode in the back of the pedal boat with Dobbie. We had a great time and went back out again a second time.

 

 

While we were walking around the lake later in the day, a group of people smiled at Dobbie and called her the “Water Puppy”, because she had been the only dog to go for a boat ride that day. I thought that name was cute. 

Dobbie girl enjoyed all the interesting sights around and in the lake. She didn’t seem to know what to think about the ducks, but she never barked or acted aggressive towards them. At home, she gives our chickens a wide berth. Maybe she thought the ducks were water chickens?

 

 

                                                   Quack! Quack!

 

 

Next up: Blue Hole Plunge