An out-of-this-world day, plus a visit to a small zoo

Once we were up and cleaned this morning we headed out to explore Roswell, New Mexico. For a tourist exploring Roswell means investigating a 65-year-old mystery known as “The Roswell Incident,” which was the supposed extraterrestrial visit that has resulted in endless conspiracy theories.

Self-explanatory

We started our exploration at the Roswell Visitor Center where we picked up a few brochures and some suggestions of where to start our visit.

First stop was the International UFO Museum in downtown Roswell. Located in an old movie theater we expected some cheesy displays and little green men. There was a little Cheddar there, but for the most part the museum is very well done with lots of informative exhibits that trace the history of the “Incident” and the continuing interest in the event.

The museum was very reasonable. I got the $3 senior rate and Joan paid the full $5 adult rate. Wish she would get old faster.

The exhibits trace from the very first day the discovery of the “alien” crash site and then follows through the decades-long effort to prove the government lied or covered up the truth of what happened in a farm field not far from this city.

There are plenty of artifacts and affidavits from the folks directly involved in the discovery and the later work by the government to change the narrative. One of the things that struck me was how many of the military men initially involved in the discovery have now in later years come forward to debunk what the government said.

I enjoyed the displays that included many of the newspaper headlines of the day that traced the initial Air Force story about a disk being found to the change of the story to a “weather balloon.”

We love the "alien" street lamps (and bird)

Whether the real story was little green men coming to earth or if the Air Force was covering up a secret experimental US or Soviet weapon, I am convinced of one thing. What landed in Roswell was likely not a weather balloon.

But then our government wouldn’t lie to us, would it?

We spent several hours reading the exhibits and watching a film. We also got a kick out of the alien reproductions. It was really a bargain for the price. We did leave a little extra change buying a few cheesy souvenirs and postcards in the gift shop.

After eating lunch in our car we headed to the Roswell Zoo. No one will ever mistake this place for the San Diego Zoo, but the animals were out and you could see them very close up. And did I mention it is free? Many of the local museums and exhibits are very low cost or free. We spent about an hour walking around the zoo.

Some of the exhibits are in winter hibernation, but most of the animals were doing what we were doing, getting a little sun on a cold day.

A few reflections on today:  I have become thoroughly convinced that there are aliens in Roswell. They speak a language different from our own, but they are from another country south of here not from outer space. On the other hand, they seem very friendly and non-threatening so that is good. Not one has asked me to “take me to your leader.” I was so hoping for that, because I was going to introduce them to Joan.

Cold day at the zoo

I think what landed here was not creatures from outer space, but an opportunity to grow the local economy and tourist trade on a good story. Good for them. For the most part the “alien” attractions are fun and don’t cost an arm or a leg.

Whether it was a weather balloon or a crashed space ship, Roswell did well to grab the attention and turn it into a positive for the city. Now if only aliens could land in Flint and give them an “opportunity.”

Last night was cold - Michigan cold. If you are stopping by to read this blog because you are an RVer, here is our best tip so far (other than never, ever believing the photos displayed on any RV park’s website): Because the bed of the trailer usually sits over an open storage place under the living part of the trailer make sure you purchase a mattress warmer (not a top cover electric blanket) and then make sure you turn it on about an hour before you go to bed. That way you will not be crawling into a slab of ice when it is time to turn in.

We have found that without the mattress warmer there is no way your body heat will keep your bed warm enough to not wake you several times in the night because of the cold. You can also cuddle with your honey, which is another preferable way of keeping warm. But the mattress warmer will get you off to a good start.

A little note from yesterday: During our grocery shopping trip I watched Joan as she grabbed a large bag of frozen green peas from a store freezer. This concerned me because I’m not really a fan of peas, actually I hate them. Concerned that I was going to be served peas for dinner I gently asked Joan what the peas were for.

Not to mention that after I hauled all the groceries and remaining luggage from inside the car I accidentally left the back door of the Tahoe open all night. In the freezing cold.  Fortunately, the car started right up this morning.

“I’m going to use them to ice my sore knee,” she said. That came as good news to me.

Tomorrow we’ll looking for a more down-to-earth activity.

For more pictures from today, scroll down a little on the page.