Valley of Fires, Day 3 & Bosque del Apache, NM

Sandhill Cranes in Flight

Saturday, October 31, 2015, Valley of Fires BLM Campground, NM, Day 3, 0 Miles, 2,696.6 Miles for the Trip

Happy Halloween. No Trick or Treaters at the trailer yet. I did buy some candy, but I have to admit that I haven't seen any kids in the place. At least I picked out candy that I like (with the exception of Snickers).

Since it was a nice but cool (37°F at 7:00AM) morning, I went for a walk through the lava field in the valley below the trailer. Some interesting formations, but if you are into exploring lava, I suggest a stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. More variety, including lava tubes you can walk through, although the campground is dry camping. Anyhow there are a few photos as well as one from a short hike to the highest point in the park & a view of the section of the campground with hookups.

After that I drove 65 miles to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Good roads, although don't follow a GPS to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife area. It takes you on a "interesting" ride through narrow hard packed (thank goodness) sand roads to the middle of nowhere. I did get a fall photo & an interesting building on the way.

After exploring 8 miles of sand roads, I got back on US 380 & NM 1 to the visitor center of the refuge. My Senior Passport got me into the loop drive for free & I took a bunch of photos of waterfowl, including a small flock of Sandhill Cranes. I love seeing them in flight - probably posted too many flying images, but you can find them and more at today's LakeshoreImages page.

After that it was back to the campground, about an hour of reading, then cooking a frozen Orange Chicken dinner. I had to modify the instructions since I don't have a microwave to do the rice package (I steamed it) and I didn't thaw the sauce under running water (that would fill my holding tank) but it all worked. Not my usual brand, but pretty good. Of course I tossed the bag before eating, so I have no idea what brand it was.

Until Next Time -

Valley of Fires BLM Campground, NM, Day 2

The Start of a Sunset

Friday, October 30, 2015, Valley of Fires BLM Campground, NM, Day 2, 0 Miles, 2,696.6 Miles for the Trip

The first day in awhile I didn't have to hit the road. Around 10:30 I did anyway. The weather looked nasty, so I decided it would be a good day to do laundry. I also discovered that a couple of hinges on my bathroom door were broken, so I wanted to find some replacements. So, 0 miles on the trailer, but around 70 on the RAV4.

The nearest town, Carrizozo doesn't have a laundromat or a hardware store, so it was off to Ruidoso about 35 miles to the south. A few hills on the way; I got up to 7500' on the way, but not a bad drive. I found an almost empty laundromat, and the local Ace Hardware had hinges that looked to be an exact replacement (a different color, but I wanted to replace all of them anyway). Of course I needed 3, and they came in packages of 2. I also stopped at one of the local grocery stores to pick up a few things. Still have not been able to find Turkey Bubba burgers. I know they make them since I can find them on their website, but no luck so far on the trip. Ruidoso is fairly quiet, but looks like a ski town that is probably busier in the winter.

Not much to add in the way of photos, but I took a couple back at the campground. It looked like there was going to be an interesting sunset, but the heavy clouds pretty much killed it. Do note that some of the white color on the mountains in the first photo is not clouds, but that dirty word - snow! Glad it is up there, and not here on the roads. It is suppose to get down into the mid 30's tonight but warm up tomorrow. Check today's LakeshoreImages page for the "Snow" photo. By the way, this seems to be an attractive campground for fiberglass trailers. While the Casita on top of the hill left this morning, another one arrived around dinner time.

Dinner was a couple of chicken burritos & a cucumber & tomato salad.

Until Next Time -

Valley of Fires BLM Campground, NM

Valley of Fires Recreation Area, NM

Thursday, October 29, 2015, Valley of Fires BLM Campground, NM, 157.5 Miles, 2,696.6 Miles for the Trip

Very light rain on the drive today. Most spent on US 380, a mix of four lane & two lane road, much with fresh, smooth pavement. I stopped for the afternoon at the Valley of Fires BLM campground. I'm glad I got here around 12:00. While early, there was only 2 electric sites left. Even most of the non electric sites are filled. I grabbed Site 6, a pull through (well, pull along side) & filled out the paperwork. Not all that level - I used the full height of the Anderson leveler & had to use the full height of the electric tongue jack (including my usual 2"X6" slab). I'll be here for the weekend, leaving Sunday. Three days at $9.00 per day with the Senior Pass discount for a water & electric site. There is a bathroom nearby with hot showers.

There is an Escape 19 parked next to my site. After they returned from a day of exploring, I discovered it was owned by a couple I met at other rallies. Small world! There is also another fiberglass trailer (a Casita) further up the hill from our sites.

I had to stop at this campground. I've had more than one conversation with fellow campers, both of us talking about Valley of Fire campground and discovering that we are each talking about a different place. In my case it was the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, but this is the one others have often described. I wish it was a better weekend to visit - it is raining right now and a bit cool at 56°F. Unfortunately, the predictions are not for much on an improvement while I'm here. Still, the views from my site are great. Mountains out my driver's side window & the valley full of lava on the right. If the weather settles it looks like there are some nice hikes among the lava flows. I'd add a photo of the mountains, but they have disappeared in the fog/cloud cover. Maybe tomorrow.

It is now 4:45PM, and down to 52°F. I'm not sure what dinner will be, but it will be something cooked in the toaster oven indoors. The trailer could use the heat, and it is still pouring outside.

Until Next Time -

Brantley Lake State Park, NM

Brantley Lake, NM

Wednesday, October 28, 2015, Brantley Lake State Park, NM, 156.9 Miles, 2,539.1 Miles for the Trip

I took a photo of the moon rise over the campground last night. That & today's site photo are at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Spent most of the day driving west on US 180. At the New Mexico border I hit Mountain Time so I feel like it is an hour later than what is on the clock.

I had an interesting oops - My windshield wipers were streaking & getting old, so I picked up a new set at the Hobbs, NM Walmart. I've had good & bad luck with wiper blades, but can never remember which were the best, so I picked out a set in the middle price range. I put them on the RAV4 & headed out. About 50 miles outside of town I tried the wipers, and they left huge streaks in the window. So bad you couldn't drive. There was another Walmart in Carlsbad, near the park, but I had already thrown out the packaging. I did have the sales slip, so I decided to try and trade them in for another brand. When I went to take them off the wiper arms I noticed that there was a hard plastic cover on the blades. Duh! I slipped the covers off & they worked wonderfully. At least I didn't take them into the store with the covers on...

I stopped for the afternoon at Brantley State Park. There is no one in the office or at the gate, in fact the visitor center is closed. They have self registering at the campground. A surprising number of RVs in the place for the middle of the week. I found a water & electric site (Site 32) for $14.00. Level enough that I don't have to unhook or use any wheel leveling.They have some full hook up sites in the reservable section, however currently sites 1-15 do not have electricity.  Overall, a nice park for a great price.

I took a walk around the campground, checked out the showers (clean & they even have shower curtains) and sat & read for much of the afternoon. There are many birds running through the campground. Quail, Mourning Doves, even a Roadrunner. I didn't get any photos since I didn't have the camera with me while reading, but they were fun to watch. It was warm enough in the sun, but as the clouds came in & the wind picked up I finally gave up sitting outside.

After a nice, warm shower, I grilled my last Bubba Burger, steamed some broccoli, and added a few potato chips for dinner.

Until Next Time -

La Vedera RV Park, Lamesa, TX

Site 105, La Vedera RV Park, Lamesa, TX

Tuesday, October 27, 2015, La Vedera RV Park, Lamesa, TX , 245.3 Miles, 2382.2 Miles for the Trip

A much longer drive today. I decided not to wait until the barber shop in Wichata Falls opened, but try for one in Lamesa, my planned stop for the night. Lamesa is spelled as one word on the maps & signs around town - all the others I've seen around the US are La Mesa or LaMesa.

I am in site 105 at the La Vedera RV Park, my first commercial RV park of the trip. Mostly long term RVs, but there are a few open sites close to the office. While it is nice to have full hookups for only $25.00 (with a $5.00 Good Sam discount) there are no bathrooms or showers, a minus since I did find a barber (another Viet Nam vet from my era) so I have lots of fine hairs itching my neck. I'll shower in the trailer after dinner.

Speaking of dinner, I stopped at Claiborne's Bakery-Deli for some supplies. The fried chicken looked edible, so I ordered two legs & two thighs. I guess the deli operator couldn't tell the difference between thighs & breasts - I got two breasts, a good deal at thigh prices, but since I prefer dark meat, not so good for me. Of course I didn't discover the mistake until I was back at the trailer.

It is quite warm - 85°F around 2:30. I suspect it will cool off tonight since I spent the day gaining altitude (now at almost 3000'). Also drove into a 25 MPH headwind; the combination dropped my MPG average .2. I'm now down to 13.5. I miss my previous 15MPG average!

Sorry to be back to campsite only photos, but not much interesting went by today.  Hope things improve in the future.

Until Next Time -