Elephant Butte to Clovis, New Mexico...Plans are written in Jello, chalk..etc..

Believe it or not we left Elephant Butte a little before 0900 today.  We got up at 0500, had our coffee and our visiting on our blogger friends.  Showers, breakfast and we were on the road. I make it sound so easy as all my stuff is inside, but Ken's is outside.  It was chilly for sure! 

Elephant Butte this am! :) 

The highway is beautiful! :) 

It looked like a Park Model being pulled by a Chevy..LONG

While I was writing our grandson, Jacob (in the last 2 weeks of boot camp) our plans changed from heading to Santa Fe, NM.  We both wanted to go, but with it being winter and trying to find RV sites, we decided against it.  A lot of the campgrounds are closed and we didn't want to spend it in a Walmart where you can't unhook during the day. We'll visit again down the road. 

We hit I 25 which i have to say for it being a freeway is not bad at all.  We got gas in Socorro and then took the highway 60 a few miles later.  I love this highway. 2 lane most of the way and every once in awhile there are little towns or homes along the way.  We both love seeing the terrain change.  

About 1245 there's a picnic area so we pulled over and had lunch in the Mansion. On our way again.  We were looking for an RV park so we could do laundry.  That time again. :(  We got to Fort Sumner and called one, in town but no laundry.  I twas time for gas so saw two Valero gas station across the street from one another..Be warned, those are the only two gas station there are!  We drove on thinking there would be more..nope! About 10 miles later Ken was able to turn around and we got gas.  Because there was no laundry we decided to continue on. Clovis, NM about an hour further was a Passport America park ($18.00) with a laundry..ok!   I love these little towns..

Socorro, NM

 I love this little towns on 60..so sad as most of them have died...Still like looking at what was and of what might have been..

Windmills all over, hard to see here, but oh how I hate that they mess up the scenery!!

Love this old motels that are no more :( 

Saw so many trains today!!

I love old houses, old motels,  silos. and barns! .so be ready :) 

Love the ever changing scenery! 

i just love the old houses...

Be ready...the land of Silo's which I love! 

We got here around 1700 and the office was closed. Called the number and she said to find a place and we'll take care of it later. Ok.  We found #13, got hooked up and enjoyed the evening. Chicken tacos for dinner and now bed and blogging time. Not alot of people here..close to the highway and if the noise of trains bothers you..don't stay here!  It's fine for us, because we like trains. :) Still haven't heard from the office girl, but we'll settle in the am. 

We looked at the maps this evening..we were hoping we could hook up with our Marine, Seth..but the weekend will be gone before we get there. :(  So we're heading for Pawhuska and coming into Don's place from the North somehow.  As we all know plans are written in Jello, chalk, etc..

Our sunset tonight 

What a beautiful drive today, not what was expected but so enjoyable. :0 We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

Good night from Clovis, New Mexico! 

City of Rocks to Elephant Butte State Park :)

We had a lovely night's sleep at City of Rocks State Park.  I set the alarm for 0530 so we could get up and going.  We had our coffee and visited with our blogging friends to see what everyone is up to.  Got our showers and breakfast done. I think it was around 0900 or so when we left.  

They find the best places to put campsites!

All these formations out in the middle of prairie grass!!

We headed toward Deming, New Mexico so we could visit Walmart and of course get gas.  We left a nice deposit at Walmart and then the gas station wasn't too bad at $2.24 a gallon for gas. 

At the rest area!! 

Downtown Deming, NM

We got on the road probably close to noon! Had a great drive to Hatch, New Mexico.  I love that little town and all their vendors offering goodies and chiles. No, we didn't stop.   Teresa texted me and told me we needed to stop at their favorite place to eat there.   We did see Sparky's Burgers and BBQ the most popular place in town!  We couldn't have parked even if we wanted to.  Not that we wouldn't ,but it just wasn't time.  

26 to Hatch, NM..love the traffic!

Vendor in Hatch. 

We hit the I 25 and were pleasantly surprised at the lack of traffic! YAY.  We don't like freeways but this one was great.  WE passed Truth or Consequences and then decided to see if we could stay at Elephant Butte State Park. Not too far today, but with the late start we didn't want to end up with no place to stay.  Pulled into the kiosk and the lady said there wasn't any available. Wait, she knew of one that pulled out this morning and was supposed to stay another day.  Ok great, we paid our $14.00 and went in.  Found the site and it was occupied.  Ken went over to talk with the guy and an off duty camp host came out to assist. Long story short, we are in a camp host spot! Apparently oversold, overbooked or something. Nice, long site and we feel they took really good care of us!! One thing nice about Elephant Butte is that for $8.00 if there's nothing available you can camp along the beach.  I don't think they really ever run out of camping spots. :) 

Hatch..

Along the I 25..Hatch to Truth or Consequences NM..

Definitely a nice site :) 

Our view of the lake from Camp Host site..

His new bacon press..

Once we got settled in I made Ken some banana bread and me some flourless peanut butter cookies.  Now we have treats with our coffee.  ken did his thing and then it was Happy Hour outside.  The sun felt good on our backs and then he got the Little Red Campfire out and we enjoyed the warmth.  

Ken bar b qued some awesome burgers for dinner! He got a burger press today so wanted to try it out. Works great! There's some modifications he wants to make, but will have to wait until we get back home. 

A little tv and now this blog..then bedtime.  We are hoping to make Santa Fe tomorrow and spend 2 nights.  Then we'll have to book it to TN.  We've still got time but....

Time for bed as 0445 comes early! (Well, that's late for Nancy!) ...