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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Matt's New Mexico (Formerly Airstream) Adventure

    Iron Heart Meet Ups & Travel
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    • MattM
      Matt
      見習いボス
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      I talked to the camp host who was a bounty of information, if not bit of a know it all, and she said there’s a buzzard rookery in the woods behind the campground and in the afternoon you can see upwards of 250 vultures catching drafts and soaring in circles around the campsite.  She assured me it had nothing to did with them sensing the slow and steady death of my youth and masculinity (her sense of humor was another possible target for the vultures).

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      • MattM
        Matt
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        Some fall colors at Cameron Park along the Brazos River in Waco…

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        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          Wacko….

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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          • KasiK
            Kasi
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            Nice picture

            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

            The world's insane
            While you drink champagne
            And I'm livin' in black rain 4Q 🖕

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            • FadezF
              Fadez
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              Just read this entire thread. Wow. I gotta say, this looks like a dream come true. A big part of me wants to do the same, but I know I couldn’t pull it off. I have to congratulate you on patience, perseverance, and a whole lotta gumption. Have fun in the southwest. When to make it to ABQ, I have some good food recommendations for you!

              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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              • ManticoreM
                Manticore
                Haraki san Expert
                Joined:

                Great journey so far @Matt ! Looking forward to your adventures in Big Bend. Darkest skies in the lower 48, believe it's only one of a dozen designated Dark Sky parks in the world. A friend of mine who is into astro-photography raves about the place.

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                • MattM
                  Matt
                  見習いボス
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                  Thank you @Fadez and @Manticore !

                  I gotta say though I never considered myself to be especially ballsy or adventurous.  It really came down to reaching the realization that a so called normal life would never make me really happy.  Once I figured that part out there was really no other option than doing something drastically different.  I truly believe that if someone like me can do this then absolutely anyone can.

                  I’m so pumped for Big Bend.  We’re only there for a week but we’re camping inside the park (first time staying in a Natl Pk!) so we should have plenty of time to see it all.  Bummed we had to circumnavigate New Mexico.  It was a tough call but we can’t risking having our reservations cancelled since the next 4 months hinge on it.  We decided we’d get more out of it if we circle back around and take our time seeing it the way we want to.  We’re shooting for next fall.

                  We’ll be leaving Kopperl on Wed for Coleman then onto San Angelo.  Excited to share that with all of you.

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                  • ?
                    A Former User
                    Joined:

                    @Fadez:

                    When to make it to ABQ, I have some good food recommendations for you!

                    And what are those?!? How have you been withholding this info from me for all this time?!?

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                    • FadezF
                      Fadez
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      Hahaha. I didn’t know!!!

                      1. Rudy’s BBQ - you’ll prob find a few of these in Texas as well 2) Viet-Taste (Amazing Pho and more) 3) Sadie’s traditional SW fare.

                      You’re also gonna love all the breweries out there. I recommend (in no order) 1) Marble Brewery 2) La Cumbre 3) High & Dry.

                      NM must sees:

                      1. Tent Rocks
                      2. Sandia Mountains (gondola ride, drive up, or La Luz trail if you want an intense hike up)
                      3. Jemez Mtn Trail.

                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                      • ?
                        A Former User
                        Joined:

                        @Fadez I've been in the Santa Fe/ABQ area since 2006. Back and forth to Colorado and Texas too. When I joined the forum in 2011, I was at UNM. Also worked a summer job at La Cumbre Brewing too fwiw.

                        But I've never heard of High & Dry! That's not saying much but still interesting to know.

                        And I've never eaten at ANY of those restaurants. This is valuable information. Thank you!

                        How do you know ABQ so well?

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                        • FadezF
                          Fadez
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          I lived there for 2 years. That’s where I met my wife too

                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                          • MattM
                            Matt
                            見習いボス
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                            New Mexico is on my radar for potential property purchase.  I hear great things.  I’m excited to finally make it through that way.  Thanks for all the good info.

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                            • MattM
                              Matt
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              I picked up a few of the offerings from Martin House Brewing in Fort Worth.  Here’s tonight’s selection…

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                              • AppfaffA
                                Appfaff
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined:

                                Martin House rocks - did you get any of the pickle beer??

                                Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                                • ChrisC
                                  Chris
                                  Raw and Unwashed
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                                  Coincidentally, I drank a Martin House beer last night- True Love raspberry sour. Pretty good, if you like the style.

                                  I'm looking forward to seeing your Big Bend experience. I've wanted to go down there for a few years now for a trail race, but events conspired against me both times I signed up for it.  Maybe someday…

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                                  • MattM
                                    Matt
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                                    @Chris that race looks awesome (10k for me please).  Maybe one day for me too.

                                    He pickle beer was recommended to me but I wasn’t sure.  Is it good?  The pretzel stout is very pretzelly.  It’s good.  I got two other styles, a black currant sour that is super sour and a double red IPA that is really good.  My daughter made me leave the beer store in Texarkana because she was terrified of their Halloween decorations so I was sorely in need of beer.  Specs in Waco had what I needed.  Katie was in the fridge yesterday and said “Why is the fridge 33% beer?”  I guess she meant that as a bad thing.  I loved it.

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                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
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                                      @Matt:

                                      “Why is the fridge 33% beer?”

                                      Because there's crap taking up the other 67%…

                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                      • AppfaffA
                                        Appfaff
                                        Raw and Unwashed
                                        Joined:

                                        Yeah, the Pickle beer (and subsequent spicy pickle) is phenomenal. If you like
                                        Pickles - salty, Briney, good bite, but smooth.

                                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                                        • ChrisC
                                          Chris
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          Joined:

                                          New Braunfels Brewing Co. also does a really popular pickle beer- PKL FKR, plus a couple of variations, like Hell Yeah, which includes jalapenos.  It's not widely distributed, but if you can find it, it might be worth a try.  In general, I like NBBCo. beer a lot. Very Seldom Naughty is excellent.

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                                          • SeulS
                                            Seul
                                            Joined:

                                            @Giles:

                                            @Matt:

                                            “Why is the fridge 33% beer?”

                                            Because there's crap taking up the other 67%…

                                            I do 5% chocolate but that's as far as I go…

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