What is Life

You ever wished you could go on an adventure like one of those comedy movies where you have a group of guys getting together and going on a trip? You know, the ones like “The Hangover”, “The Bucket List”, “Due Date”, or “Wild Hogs”; well, this recent road trip with my Bros was very much so. It had the makings of everything for a comedy and more. And despite what the title of this blog states, this trip was not planned at all. It was truly an unexpected story in the making. An unplanned-planned adventure of journeying to a lake and chowing down good food! A group of bros just winging it the whole way through. 

Early in the year of 2024, a group of my friends and I had determined we would go on a camping trip during the weekend of July 4th. Everyone was initially “gung ho” and motivated to get the ball rolling on our summer plans; until we weren’t. Somewhere along the way in our communication, we just stopped planning. The idea of a trip had died and we never spoke or thought of it throughout the rest of the year; at least, that is what I figured. I certainly gave up on the idea of a trip, until one of my friends messaged the group on the Monday of July 4th weekend asking where we were planning to camp. And then shortly after he messages, “I bought my plane ticket”. Oh boy. See, I am one for having a planned itinerary with detailed steps. I feel comforted in knowing the exact locations and daily activities, but this wasn’t that trip. No, instead we were in for quite a trip. 

Well, after receiving the message that the camping trip was still in effect, I did what any reasonable person would do; I began searching for the best camping spot within a limited timeframe that would accommodate every person in our group. Last year, we went to Colorado (a trip we thoroughly planned), but this time around we didn’t have the luxury for an extensive road adventure. Therefore, I was able to locate a nice lake in the mountains of Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, called Morphy Lake. This place had mountains, trees, a lake, fishing, vault toilets, campfires, fresh air, night skies, and good vibes. And so, that was the plan. Go camping at a lake where none of us had been, nor know any further details about the place or how to get there. All of us just went with the flow and had a really great time. We expected the unexpected. 

Being a planner with little prep, I focused on the aspects of which I could control and let go of the things that I had no control over. For example, I knew we would need firewood, so I sliced a few logs beforehand. I knew we would need water, and so I grabbed my 5-gallon water jug. I had already packed most of my camping supplies in a crate box prior, but I didn’t have the time to verify that all of my supplies were in good condition. I packed what I could and then hit the road! After filling up on gas, I picked up my good friend, Vernon. There were a few other places I wanted to stop at before heading out, but we were already behind “schedule”. See, our other friend Ty, had just landed at the airport, and we were about 2 hours away from his location in Albuquerque, NM. So, we were crunched on time. Looking back, it was quite funny at how the trip was not planned, but yet it was a good time. And despite our friend Ty having to wait at the airport for an extended two hours, it was good picking him up and reconnecting our friendship group once again. 

Now in every good bro-trip, there’s always a fourth guy that either is gone for most of the adventure, or rather arrives late to the story. Last year, I was that guy. You actually miss out on a lot of the inside jokes and group bonding when you’re that guy. But I wasn’t that guy this year. Instead, this time around it was our good friend, Shannon. Due to other prior pre-agreed responsibilities, he was unable to join us for this trip. However, we still made the time to hangout and reconnect before and after we headed to the campsite. I always find it quite admirable at how this guy takes on his responsibilities and holds himself accountable to the duties he places before himself. It was a shame he couldn’t join us this time around, but it was understood. But next year, we are dragging this guy along with us; it just ain’t the same without him. 

Before setting out for the final length of the drive, the three of us (Ty, Vernon and I) decided to grab some early dinner at a local favorite, Rudy’s. Now this would be my first time dining into this establishment, and let me tell you, this place is amazing! I’m not much of a heavy meat-eater, but I do love a good Barbecue eatery! This might sound a bit crazy, but if I’m being honest, this was actually the highlight of the trip for me. The whole vibe and custom of Rudy’s just blows my mind. So, when you first walk-in, you are greeted and immediately feel welcomed: a good sign. Every worker there just had this energy about them enjoying their job. Given that there was quite a long line of customers, each worker was still able to create a positive atmosphere with their coworkers. Jokes were everywhere. And so upon ordering, the menu is posted on the wall with all the different types of meat. I was so new to this experience, and I’m just glad the person who took my order was patient. In fact, I think he was perplexed by the joy and curiosity I had about everything regarding my order. Did you know that you can order your meat in two options: either by the number of meat slices or by the weight of the meat. Wild. And if you want a side-order, you pick it up pre-packaged from a fridge (while in line) before you order the meal. Again, wild. And when you get your food, it comes in a huge tub! Like, what even is this place. I’m telling you all, it was awesome. Oh! And there are complimentary bread slices! Like, they just stack it into your tub with your food! And at the table, there are these two HUGE containers of hot sauce; original and sissy. Why do they have these gallon-sized bottles of hot sauces on each table? Whole needs that much? Honestly, it was just a pure spectacle to behold. Y’all probably think I’m crazy, but never have I experienced this type of eatery. This was a trip on its own. The food was absolutely delicious and the people were so nice. Go check out Rudy’s on Carlisle in Albuquerque, NM whenever you are in town. You’re in for a good time! 

After we ate, we gathered a few more supplies and headed out towards Morphy Lake. The drive was nice and peaceful. My two friends spent most of the time discussing philosophical topics during the drive. And I was just vibing in the back enjoying the ambience of it all. Before we made the final ascension towards the lake in the mountains, we made a pitstop in Las Vegas, NM. Now, if there was ever a true small town vibe during the 4th of July, this was it. As we drove through the town, literally everyone was outside enjoying fireworks. Vehicles were parked along every inch of the roads, neighborhoods, and stores; people were sitting on top of their vehicles and enjoying festivities. It was so cool! Even fast-food workers had taken a break to light fireworks in their parking lots. We stopped at a gas-station and the only cashier was taking a smoke break to view the explosive colors in the sky. Like, this was a total vibe. This was a community event where everyone just paused and admired the holiday with unity and respect. Rarely do I see this much collective energy in a community. Makes me happy that such places still exist; or rather, such moments are still possible for humanity. Las Vegas, NM keep doing you. Y’all have something super unique! Hold onto it.

Alas, around 10pm on July 4th, we had finally arrived at Morphy Lake. It had taken us quite a bit driving through a forested area where none of us knew the exact route. Navigating through the road at night that was both dark and windy. Trees everywhere. We missed multiple turn offs and almost went off the road where there were no signs. Having a new moon didn’t help at all. No bright moonlight to guide us. But the sky was still lit up with beautiful glistening stars across the night canvas. A mesmerizing experience. It was almost like we had to trust our gut trying to get to the campsite at night. But we eventually made it. Morphy Lake is a state park and there is a fee of $10 required per night when using a camp-spot. There are no trailer hook-ups or running water, and no trash disposal, but they do have vault toilets and firepit stations. The campsite is fairly simple and maintained. The restrooms are pleasantly clean and stocked with toilet paper. All our neighbors were polite and respectful. There are plenty of tall green trees for shade. But there must have been a forest fire a while back, because a good chunk of the surrounding forest had been burned. The lake is serene and of a decent size. There were a few people who sailed their canoes in the middle part of the lake. Fishing was okay. I think only one person caught a fish during our stay. Unfortunately, we never caught a fish. We used corn and fish-bait. Perhaps worms might have been a better choice? Go and try your luck when there. Overall, just a pleasant stay. Oh. Heads up, there is a crane that makes an awfully loud noise throughout the night. If you can get over it’s harrowing bird-call, then it should be okay. But it is pretty when flying across the lake during the daytime. I would give this place a 7/10 star rating. 

After enjoying Morphy lake for two nights, we packed up and headed out. We wanted breakfast but didn’t feel like cooking that morning. Instead, we drove into Las Vegas, NM once again and found the perfect breakfast place. If you want some good Huevos Rancheros, Tacos and Papas, and Chicken Fried Steak with a homecook vibe, then go check out La Fiesta! The restaurant itself must have been a house before, but that only adds to its ambience. The servers were super friendly and attentive. The food absolutely smacked! And there was good Latin music playing in the background. We ate inside, but if you look outback, they have a beautiful outdoor patio with a gazebo porch. Perfect for evening get-togethers. I enjoyed my food and felt comfortable in the restaurant. I recommend it as a good breakfast place. 

After filling our bellies, we made a quick turnaround towards Santa Fe to check out the infamous Meow Wolf. I always wanted to check this place out, and I’m glad I finally know how to get there. Tons of cool statues across their parking lot. However, after waiting in line for about 20 minutes, we realized that we had to pre-purchase the tickets to enter. To our surprise, the next available ticket-opening was 4 hours later. But that’s kinda what was expected when you’re on a whim. Anyways, we decided to leave and head back at a rendezvous point to drop-off one of the guys.. At this point, our journey was coming to an end. We stopped for some coffee and got a quick bite to eat at Dion’s Pizza and continued moving on. We later met up with our other friend, Shannon. Never a dull moment with this guy. We got to talking about trucks and whatnot. If you have questions about Diesel trucks, this is the guy to ask. Well, after having a good talk, we said our goodbyes and departed.

This was a delightfully good trip. A good one for the books! Just bros hanging out and vibing. Till next year. Thank you for reading the first blog post for the “Traveling Page”. Please feel free to subscribe to the website to keep up on new postings of my adventures!