DALHART TEXAS TO TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO…..YAAAAY, WE ARE FINALLY IN CACTUS LAND:))

SOOOO NICE TO BE BACK IN THE SOUTHWEST:))

Aha, I was up by 3 a.m. & managed to get a few blogs read & commented on before the Big Cheese swept out of the bedroom & wrestled the Verizon modem away from me again.  Yep, we definitely have to do something about this ‘sharing’ the internet thing alright…………… and soon!!

  

GREAT TO SEE MOUNTAINS EAST OF ALBUQUERQUE ON I-40

One of the reasons we don’t dilly-dally around when we head for the southwest at this time of the year is weather.  We’re not cold weather people so the sooner we can get our assparagus’s into the warmer southern air the better because winter storms can suddenly sweep in at any time.  We have really been lucky so far in our few days of traveling in that the daytime temps have been hovering around the 70’s mark with night time lows in the 50’s.  Saves on propane at night trying to keep warm too.  Also, our prime focus is the American Southwest which we now consider our second home, so the sooner we can get there & get ourselves into the mountains, canyons & deserts, the better we feel:))

REST AREA NEAR SOCORRO, NM

We were on the road by 6:30 this morning heading in a southwesterly direction on highway 54.  And, that meant another big orange fiery sunrise.  An hour later we crossed the New Mexico State line & for me, that is the beginning of the great Southwest.  Ten minutes later I caught my first glimpse of mountains ahead on the distant haze shrouded horizon.  One small mountain stood out, which later turned out to be Tucumcari Mountain & this is where we  climbed aboard I-40 at, where else, Tucumcari.  Ya have to wonder how names of places are decided sometimes.  When did TWO people COME & what did they CARRY?

   

BACK IN THE SAME SPOT WE WERE NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO IN TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NM

I had thought we would have been into some mountains west of Tucumcari but most of the way to Albuquerque was large rolling hills.  I think this stretch of Interstate has about the worst billboard pollution I have seen anywhere.  How tacky, & that’s all I will say about that!!  My map had shown me a little place called Santa Rosa about half way between Tucumcari & Albuquerque with some roads & highways running south & then west over to near Socorro.  I figured it would be a nice alternative to dealing with the Albuquerque traffic madness.  Well, it looked good in theory until we checked our ‘Mountain Directory’ book.   We would ‘NOT’ be taking those roads through the mountains!!   No choice but to don helmets & flak jackets, load the canons, set phazers on stun, energize the protective force shield & head into the city to do battle with the Albuquerquian traffic storm trooper drivers.  Kelly prepped Garmin Gertie for action & GG led the charge taking us right through the thick of the driving, directing us fearlessly & faultlessly through the heavy late morning traffic depositing us safely on I-25 headed south for Las Cruces, New Mexico.

GREAT TO BE BACK IN CACTUS LAND

A stop in Socorro for fuel & we headed for some old familiar territory another hours drive south on 1-25.  We spent a few days in Truth Or Consequences 3 years ago at a really nice little gem of a place called the Dam Site Recreation Area.  Most people know about Elephant Butte State Park but not many know about this place just south of the park.  No electricity or water at the sites but there are hot showers, washrooms & each site has a Casita & BBQ.  This quiet restful place is just on the edge of town & only steps from the scenic Rio Grand River.  And, we are in the exact same spot we were 3 years ago.  And, best part of all…..yep, you guessed it….we are the only ones here:))  And, I should mention that we haven’t had to pay a penny for any of our over night stays on this trip so far.  Generally, nobody comes around to collect the small nominal County Park fees & as a rule there is nowhere to leave the 6 or 7 dollars it might cost.  We did pay $7 a night here in T&C three years ago though.  Ten dollars now but we haven’t seen any Park staff so far.

It was from this same spot 3 years ago that we did our day trips to the historic little ghost towns of, CHLORIDE,  MONTICELLO & HILLSBORO.  This was Apache territory in the late 1800’s & these towns bore the brunt of Indian attacks.  Be sure to check out our blog & photos from our days in & around T&C.  Go to T & C WEB ALBUMS & scroll down to Albums 80 to 85 or Feb 25, 26, 28, 29 plus March 1 & 2, 2008.  The traveling Vietnam Vets Memorial Wall is here in T&C too & I have pics of that plus the Elephant Butte lake area.

AND THIS WAS OUR FRONT YARD LATER THIS AFTERNOON

No idea where we will end up tomorrow night but you can be assured it won’t be anywhere north east of here!!  And, just exactly where we will be next week at this time is an unknown as well because as previously mentioned….the winds of change have been blowing in the McNeal Arizona area & we could be into a slightly new adventure in a few days.  When we know for sure…..we will let you know for sure………10-4:))

THE BIG CHEESE ENJOYS ANOTHER DAY:))

GROANER’S CORNER:))  Why are blonde jokes so short?  So men can remember them.

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now….AL.