Chica’s New Friends

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Jim Melvin

Chica loves to meet new friends…

When we arrived at Rockhound SP Chica was very anxious to meet her new friends. I had been telling her all about them so she was really happy when she actually got to meet them.

There was Sophie and Elvis the kittens we had heard so much about from Jim and Gayle’s blog Life’s Little Adventures. Chica only got a chance to meet Sophie when Jim brought her out one day. She only got to see Elvis through the screen door. Here is a pic of Jim and Sophie.

Chica was very excited about meeting her new “cat friend”.

Lots of new friends…

Besides Sophie and Elvis she also go to meet Debbie’s very fun loving dogs Elliot and Rupert. She had lots of fun going on walks with them. In this pic she and Elliot are discussing their favorite dog food.

Plus don’t forget Katie owned by Barbara of Me and My Dog and My RV fame Katie is also a Chihuahua just like Chica, but she is larger and Chica has to look up to her (just like everyone else). Here are a couple of pics of all the gang including Elliot, Rupert, Katie, Sophie and Chica.

We have now moved to Elephant Butte where we will spend the next couple of days. Chica misses her friends as you can see from the next couple of pics.

She is going to miss all her friends, but soon she will be meeting up with Sadie when Jimbo meets up with John and Linda to head north to Canada. This is a pic of Sadie at Quartzsite.

Chica and I would like to thank all our friends we camped with at Rockhound State Park. We both had a wonderful time. We are both looking forward to seeing you again.

One last hike before heading north

The day prior to leaving Jim, Gayle and myself all want on a hike out in the desert. It was a couple miles past where we hiked the first time. It was a neat spot. We even found some flowers. It is amazing how beautiful plants grow where there is absolutely NO water.

Jim and Gayle led the way as we climbed next to a wash. They are very experienced hikers and it took a lot to keep up with them.

We didn’t make it to the top but had some terrific views nevertheless.

This next rock formation looked like an elephant.

Off to Elephant Butte State Park

We took off Monday and stopped at Elephant Butte State Park at the South Monticello campground. I have been here many times in the past and never tire of the beautiful here. I took a couple of pics to show you.

I was only going to stay there one night but changed my mind and stayed two instead. I am glad I did as the wind was blowing pretty good and wouldn’t really have wanted to drive in it.

Next stop Albuquerque

I will be heading to Albuquerque tomorrow and staying at the Enchanted Trails RV Park just west of the city. I have an appointment at the Apple Store on Thursday and I hope they can fix my phone at that time. On Friday I will have my interview with Amazon for next winters job.

My first 4 wheel drive adventure

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Jim Melvin

Hiking to a very cool canyon…

We all decided to go hiking in the desert. Jim and Gayle had picked out a great spot past Spring Canyon. So Jim, Gayle, Debbie and I all took off and headed out there. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so don’t have any pics of our hike. However, it was up and into a neat little canyon and very pretty back there with all kinds of neat rock formations.

After the hike Jim wanted to drive up a road to the cell towers on top of the mountain overlooking the Rockhound State Park. We got up quite a ways and met several ATV’s and a jeep coming down. At that point we decided to turn around and head back down. It was getting steeper and lots of loose gravel.

We then returned to our campsites. Then I got the bug to test out my Suzuki Samurai to see what it could really do. I invited Jim to go along and we headed back to that same road. I got just a bit further then we had previously and my tires started to spin out in the loose gravel. At that point I stopped and put it into 4WD. I had it in 4WD low and it went right up that steep gravel road like it was nothing.

The rocks in the road kept getting larger and the road in some spots became very steep. But my Sami went right up like there was nothing to it. We then arrived at the top with the towers.

What a view from the top…

The view up here was fantastic. However the wind was blowing like crazy and we had to take off our hats or we would have lost them. Here is a pic of the campgrounds below us.

Deming is way off in the distance.

Here is a great pic of the towers. They were huge!

We spotted another tower further up the mountain so naturally I just had to check that one out as well. On the way driving over to it I spotted what looked like a coyote skeleton.

Road was very rocky and steep as well

The road was very rocky and in some spots it was loose gravel and steep as well. But the Sami went up it like it was nothing. I had read many reviews on the Suzuki Samurai before purchasing it and they all said it can go anywhere. I am now very convinced of that. Plus it doesn’t take much effort to get to these spots. I am glad I had high ground clearance since many of the rocks in the road where very large. This is a pic at the second tower.

It was extremely windy up there. There was a work truck up there but the workmen had left.

Two towers was enough for today

Once we got up on top of the mountain we could see many different towers. We counted 5 different towers, but there could have been more. The views from up there were fabulous.

I am so glad I purchased the Samurai. It performed just like I thought it would and will be able to take me to places I never even imagined going.

The towers from my campsite…

I wanted to take a couple pics of the towers from my campsite just so you could see how high we got. This a pic of the first tower we climbed to.

And the second tower.

My life on the road now has really changed.

I knew once I got a vehicle that things would drastically change for me. For one thing I don’t have to unhook everything in a campsite just to go into a town or a store. Plus now I can go to those really out of the way spots I had always dreamed of seeing.

Rockhound State Park

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Jim Melvin

Met up with friends at Rockhound State Park

It was a bit windy from Silver City to Rockhound SP, but not too bad. When I arrived and after I settled in I was met by my good friends Jim and Gayle and Debbie. They had been here since Sunday. I was lucky to get a site directly across from them. We did a little catching up on what we had done and where we had been since last seeing each other. It sure is great meeting up with old friends.

I settled in to an electric/water site for $14 per night. I could have got this same site for $4 per night if I paid for the New Mexico Annual Pass for $225, but I decided that I probably would not be in New Mexico that much this year.

Hiking at Rockhound

Yesterday we all went for a short hike. I had slightly twisted my ankle while hiking at the Gila Cave Dwellings, but it did not give me any trouble.

Here is a pic of Gayle, Debbie and Jim on the trail to the Visitors Center.

Very windy…

The wind started blowing in the afternoon and it started getting stronger and stronger. You could see the dust clouds off in the distance in Deming. In the evening the dust clouds had reached us and this was a view out my window.

It was rock and roll the entire night, however we have a pleasant little breeze now and no more dust. This is a view of the sunset in the middle of all that dust. You would normally be able to see the lights of Deming, but not tonight.

Perfect weather now…

The wind stopped and it is now a perfect day although a bit chilly. Chica now feels more comfortable as she does not like it when the rig is rocking and rolling. We are planning on going into a brewery in Deming this evening for dinner. It should be fun. We had planned on going there last night but the weather man just did not want to cooperate.

I took this pic of our campsite with Deming in the background.The sky is perfectly blue with no clouds whatsoever.

Paid through Saturday…

I will probably leave here and head north to Elephant Butte State Park on Sunday. I wish I had longer to stay here but I do have to get my phone fixed as the speaker does not work at all. I can only tell if a person calls if it vibrates. BUMMER!!! Especially since I purchased it only a few months ago.

Trying to get caught up with the blogs I read…

I follow certain blogs which I love to read, but when you are in an area without Internet or cell phone service it makes it difficult. I am almost caught up with many of them. Oh well, the life of a fulltime RV’er can really be tough. HA!

Visit to Dentist and Optometrist

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jim Melvin

Still at the Low-Hi RV Ranch…

I signed up for a couple more days here at the Low-Hi RV Ranch. Unfortunately I was in a site that had been reserved so I had to move. My neighbors both came out and asked if they had done anything wrong as I was moving across the street from them. I assured them that they were both good neighbors. I had hardly talked to either of them but it is nice that people consider you neighbors and look out for you.

I am not sure how long I will be here, but there are two reasons for staying. The first is that I am going to to dentist for teeth cleaning today and also to the eye doctor for new glasses. I will probably have to return to pick up my glasses on another day.

The second reason is two fold. One, it is impossible to get a reservation at Rockhound or City of Rocks State Parks until later in the month. They are both very full. The second reason is because the wind has been blowing very hard the last couple days. When the wind blows hard in Deming, you can just about double the velocity up at Rockhound. The wind yesterday was listed at 30 mph but it was gusting even harder. At Rockhound the gust could be up to 60-75 mph. The old rig just rocks and rolls all the time.

To Palomas, MX and back…

Yesterday I traveled 33 miles to Palomas, MX which is directly across the border from Columbus, NM. I started going there in 2010 for both dental work and eyeglasses. I had made an appointment for dental cleaning at 2:00pm. I got down there at 1:00pm so headed directly to the optometrist office. I was able to have an eye exam and they would have my glasses ready in a couple of hours. I decided to use the frames from my sunglasses as they fit me very comfortably.
Then it was off to the dentist office only 2 doors down from the optometrist. There I got my teeth cleaned. It was great that I could fit both into my schedule especially since I had not made an appointment with the optometrist.

Lunch at the Pink Store

After finishing up at the dentist, I checked back in with the optometrist to see if by chance my glasses were ready. They hadn’t arrived yet so it was off to the Pink Store which is both a souvenir shop and restaurant combined. I had a super lunch of chile rellanos, beans, rice and tortillas. Naturally I had to have a couple of margaritas as well. For dessert I had flan which was great.

I then browsed around the Pink Store for a while looking at all the great things they have there. I did buy a nice soup/serving bowl which will really come in handy.

Mexican people

You hear lots of horror stories about traveling in Mexico especially at the border towns. All the gruesome stories are enough to scare anyone away. Like I said I have been going to Palomas since 2010 and have never seen anything even remotely close to the stories I have heard. In fact, it has been the complete opposite for me.

I go to Dr Karla of American Dental Care since 2010. She usually just cleans my teeth, but I have also gotten a crown from her as well. Her prices are very reasonable and her office is very professional. Their equipment is just the same as you would see in any American dental office. She is so gracious. This past visit when I finished my cleaning and was paying for it she brought out her baby Kariel (I hope I have the name right) for me to see. She was such a proud mother and wanted to show off her cute baby. She was a pudgy little doll. Going to Dr. Karla’s dental office and Dr. Garcia’s optometrist offices is like seeing old friends. They are really wonderful people.

When I returned to pick up my eyeglasses I pulled out my Visa card and was surprised that they only take cash or checks. On the other hand Dr. Karla’s office only accepted Visa cards and do not take checks. I only had a few dollars in my wallet since I do not generally carry much cash. But since I am a repeat customer they were willing to give me the glasses with the understanding that I would send them a check. How many American companies do you know that would go out on a limb like that? I agreed and she told me where to send the check and I was able to leave with the glasses. It saved me having to drive 66 miles down and back to make the payment. I put the check in the mail this morning.

Silver City then Rockhound State Park

Today I am headed over to Silver City for a few days. I have never been there and always wanted to see it. After that I will be headed back to the Deming area and stay at Rockhound State Park to meet up with some friends. I will take lots of pics while in Silver City.

2nd Year on the Road

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Jim Melvin

On July 12, 2012 I just completed my second year of fulltime RVing. I can’t believe I have been on the road so long. So once again, as I did last year, I will summarized this fantastic year with some of the highlights.

Remember you can click on any pic then click again to enlarge.

Working in Texas

To start I was in Texas and decided to work for a month to help defray costs of traveling to Texas to see my family. What a mistake that was. It was 106 degrees and higher the entire month I worked. Oh well I will definitely know better next time to stay away from there during the summer.

Grand Canyon of Texas

After my work duties were over I headed to Palo Dura State Park in northwestern Texas. It is know as the Grand Canyon of Texas and a very beautiful place. While there I hiked the Lighthouse Trail and took this pic of myself standing on the plateau in front of the lighthouse.

Taking advantage of my NM state pass

Then it was off to New Mexico where I wanted to take advantage of the last few months of my New Mexico State Pass. My first stop was Clayton SP.

Then on to Sugarite SP, just south of the NM/CO border. This next pic shows Lake Dorothy just north of Sugarite SP.

My next stop was Cimmaron SP and the town of Cimmaron.

Fulfilling a boy scout dream

I also visited Philmont Scout Ranch, which had always been a dream of mine ever since I was a Boy Scout.

More of beautiful new mexico

After that it was Eagle Nest SP, Coyote Creek SP (where I saw a bear), Storie Lake SP and then on to Villanueva SP where I got my semi-annual haircut. Finally it was off to Hyde Memorial SP.

Then in October I met up with all my good friends at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta where I stayed and partied for 10 days. Even had a balloon land on top of my rig. HA!

After the Balloon Fiesta I drove south to Poncho Villa SP to enjoy a Escapees Chapter 21 Rally. Of course that also included a trip to Palomas, Mexico where I had to have some dental work done and make sure the margaritas still tasted as good as always.

A visit to the Whitehouse

Next stop on my route was Canyon de Chelly (pronunced d’Shay). Located on an Indian Reservation it is a beautiful place and a must see for anyone in that area of Arizona. Of course I had to hike the Whitehouse Trail, which is so beautiful.

Monument Valley

From there it was to Monument Valley, UT. Talk about a fabulous area, don’t miss out on seeing this.

On my way to Amazon

Then I drove north to Interstate 50. It is known as the loneliest highway in America. And believe me it really is. You could drive for miles and miles and never see a car or truck in either direction. You would not want to break down on this road.

My destination was Fernley, NV, where I worked for Amazon for 8 weeks. By the way it was probably the hardest job I have ever had. Thankfully the 8 weeks went by fairly fast, although it took a couple of months to get healed from the aches and pains I suffered at that job. OUCH!!! On top of that it was very cold as well. Four degrees when I left there.

I then drove to Reno, NV and parked my rig and flew to SO CA to spend a week with my family over the holidays. It was really great seeing everyone and getting caught up. I even played some golf. Actually I tried to play some golf. HA! What a joke!

Time to warm up

Then I hit the road to get out of that cold weather up north and drove down to Quartzsite, AZ. There I met up with a whole bunch of Lazy Dazers (about 20 rigs at different times) and relaxed in the wonderful Arizona sunshine. Of course I also saw the crazy RV show and even saw a concert by Paul Winer (the Naked Book Seller) although he was fully clothed. Great show by the way with SRO.

With the help of all my friends I was able to upgrade my rig with new LED lighting, another 12v receptacle and an outdoor motion sensor light.

Next stop – Imperial Dam

In February I left Quartzsite and headed to Imperial Dam just outside of Yuma, AZ I really enjoyed my stay there with more friends. Got to do a lot of hiking in the desert. Plus don’t forget the wild donkeys. HA!

Heading south of the border senor!

Then it was south of the border to Mexico with the Harvest Host Wine and Whale Watching Tour. What a fabulous trip that turned out to be. Visited 5 wineries, with great wine tasting at each. The wineries were located in the Valley of Gaudelope with very beautiful scenery around. Also stopped in Ensenada for a day, where we had a great lunch down at the fish market and an opportunity to stock up on lots of great seafood. Of course we also had to have some cervasa’s (brewskies) at Hussong’s Cantina.

Later visited La Bufadora (the blow hole). Another very scenic spot.

The wineries were great plus the wine was even greater! Even got to see a colt that was born that very day. How exciting!

I am NOT an illegal alien!

After crossing back into the US I drove to Tamarisk LTVA where I stayed for a week and met some really wonderful people. We hiked ever day in the desert and one day we were surrounded by Border Patrol cars who thought we were illegal aliens. No comprende Senor! What a trip that was!

One of my very favorite spots

After spending so much time with so many wonderful people, I needed a break and decided to head for one of my most favorite spots in the Clark Dry Lake bed of the Anza Borrego desert in southern California. It is 7 miles outside of Borrego Springs. This place is so peaceful and always gives me a chance to reflect on my future plans. It was here where I made my resume on workamper.com and emailed it to various people. Within 10 minutes I had a call for the job I would be working at this summer. More on that later.

Back to the coast

Then it was off to the west coast to Oceanside, where I parked my rig at the Elks Club and took the train up to Orange County to see family. It was back and forth visiting different members of my family and it was great seeing my Mom. Love you Mom!

Heading up north

Then it was time to hit the road and head up north. My first stop was the Trona Pinnacles outside of Ridgecrest, CA. It is like a trip to another planet.

From there it was off to the Alabama Hills just outside of Lone Pine, CA. This has been one place I always dreamed of venturing to even before I had an RV. An absolute MUST SEE.

From there it was off to Mona Lake, where I stayed for about 5 days and ventured around the area seeing the tufa’s at the edge of the lake and the weird cloud formations.

I also took a side trip to the old ghost town of Bodie, CA. Much of the town is still intact as it was a hundred years ago. Really neat and another MUST SEE.

Then I finally made it to Oregon where I stayed at Goose Lake SP, La Pine SP and finally Crooked River Ranch.

My workplace for the summer

I met up with my area managers who I would be working for the summer in Prineville, OR. I am the camp host at the Ochoco Divide, a NFS campground. It is on the summit (4,726′ elevation) of Hwy 26. This campground is nestled among giant (200′) Ponderosa Pines among other pine trees as well. I have now been here 2 months and love this job. I get to meet a lot of interesting people and have lots of areas to hike in.

Well that about wraps up another fabulous year of my fulltime RV lifestyle. There were some tough times (truck breaking down) and some great times (caravan trip to Mexico) as well as taking time out to see my family, which is very important to me. I had lots of times spent with great friends and even some time to myself to ponder how lucky I am.

I almost can’t believe it has been two years since I have set out on the road. I would also like to thank all my wonderful followers who have been with me as I experienced each and every day. Every day is a new adventure.

Back On The Road Again

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Jim Melvin

Back in the saddle again..

I was parked at the Balloon Fiesta for 10 days. It was wonderful, but it is always good to be back on the road. I am headed south to meet up with the Escapees Chapter 21 Rally in Columbus, NM. I attended it for the first time last year and became a member of their Chapter. Since then I have also attended their winter rally in Parker, AZ. They are really a fun bunch of people.

Stopover at Elephant Butte

My first stop was going to be Elephant Butte State Park for one night. It is about half way between Albuquerque and Columbus. This is one of my favorite New Mexico state parks. I also met Annie and Rick down their who are headed to Deming. They had me over for a delicious dinner and we sat and talked at their campfire for many hours. It is always a great time when you can spend it with good friends. Thanks so much Annie and Rick for everything. In the morning we said our goodbyes. We will be getting back together in Quartzsite, AZ in January.

I first met Annie and Rick at the Balloon Fiesta last year and we have seen each other several times since then. That is what I love most about the fulltime RV lifestyle. You meet really great people and then connect with them again and again at other places. This happens a lot of the time with many different friends. It is always so much fun comparing notes on where each other has been and what we have done between our meetings.

Elephant Butte is looking very different then when I was last there. Much of the water has gone away from the point at South Monticello campgrounds. You can really see the results of the terrible draught that has hit southern New Mexico. Here is a pic of our campsites right on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande at sunrise. Annie and Rick’s rig is on the left with mine on the right.

Finally meeting RVSue and Crew

While there I had read RVSue and Crew’s blog and Sue had mentioned that she had been staying at Elephant Butte as well only in a different campground. I thought I would make an attempt at locating her and the crew on my way out of the area. I figured that I could easily spot her Casita and the PTV(Perfect Tow Vehicle). I managed to drive thru all the electric sites available near the marina. I was just about ready to give up, thinking she may have moved down the road, when I finally spotted them in the last electric site area.

If any of you have been following either her blog or mine you probably know that I am usually about 1-2 days behind her. She started out in the northern New Mexico state parks and made her way south, just as I did. In meeting her it was like we were old friends even though we had never met. Plus I got to meet Spike and Bridget her 2 rat terriers who were very friendly to me.

I did get a picture of her with her crew, but she asked that I not post it so I will abide by her wishes. Next time we meet Sue I want a picture!

I did take several pics of the marina area at Elephant Butte.

Tooth problems…

Then it was on to Columbus for the Chapter 21 Rally, where I stayed at Poncho Villa SP. I had already made an appointment with my dentist Dr. Karla. When visiting my family last August, I had chipped a back tooth and was afraid I would lose the entire tooth causing a lot of pain. I was very careful eating on one side. Dr Karla examined my tooth and came to the conclusion that the tooth was still entact, but I would need a crown. I walked across the border and she prepped my tooth for the crown and then gave me a temporary tooth. I am to return in a week for the permanent tooth and to also have my teeth cleaned.

Chapter 21 Breakfast and Meeting

Chapter 21 conducted their business meeting shortly after breakfast and then held a raffle. I won Microsoft Streets and Trips 2011 and a bottle of Chardonnay. Not too shabby!!!!

Crossing the border

Today a group of us walked across the border to go to the Pink Store for dinner and shopping. I have been there before and always enjoy the food and the great margaritas. Today when we got to the border the kids had just gotten off their school buses. They were really cute and all around us.

Meeting a new friend

Dan came to the rally to get ideas about what rig to buy and how people lived the fulltiming lifestyle. He didn’t own an RV yet but was planning to purchase in the next couple of months. I showed him my rv and several others showed them theirs so he had lots of ideas. He and I went on a walk from the Pink Store to the park in Palomas, Mexico.

Shopping and Dining at The Pink Store

Today was our day to meet at The Pink Store and get our fill of shopping and dining. The food was delicious and we all had a great time as you can tell from the following pics.

A mariachi band entertained us while we were dining. The food was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. It was the perfect ending to a great rally.

I will probably travel up to Deming, NM for a few days until I return to the dentist for my crown and cleaning next week. Maybe I can find some friends up at the Low-Hi RV park where all the singles meet.

Villanueva State Park to Hyde Memorial State Park

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Jim Melvin

Finally picked up my mail

I said good bye to my friends Dave and Karma and took off for the post office in Las Vegas, NM. My package from my insurance broker was waiting for me there. Then I head toward Ribalde, NM where I was told that my package that my son sent to Sena, NM would be waiting for me. The post offices around that area are very small or in the case of Sena, nonexistent. There it was!!! The package I was expecting from my son. It included my Texas driver’s license. My temporary license had expired the day before and I was getting nervous that there might be a mix-up with the mail. However, everything worked out great and I am now caught up on all my mail.

Villanueva State Park

My next adventure took me to Villanueva State Park. It is about 11 miles off Interstate 25 down a narrow Highway 3. You go thru several small towns on the way but if you blink you wouldn’t even notice them. Then you enter Villanueva State Park. This an an unique old building I spotted on the way to the park.

Here is my campsite at Villanueava State Park. I hiked up to the top of the cliff behind it.

Haircut time

I have not had a haircut for 5 months and my hair was getting fairly long. I needed a haircut badly. In fact that was one of the items on my to-do list before I went to the Balloon Fiesta. I noticed the girl camped next to me was giving her husband a haircut so the lightbulbs went off in my head. I went over and introduced myself to Robin and Miet. They are a young couple from Belgium and shipped their rig over to the US and have been here for about one month. They are headed over to Utah and then down to Mexico and eventually South America. Here is a pic of Robin and Miet.

First I asked her if she would cut my hair if I paid her. She said yes but then the subject got off on distilled water for their battery. They needed some badly. I gave them what I had left in my rig, which wasn’t a lot but enough for their battery. She then offered to pay me, but I suggested that she cut my hair instead and we would call it even. So here I am getting my hair cut by a beautiful Belgium girl dressed very skimpy. WHAT A LIFESTYLE!!!!!

View Loop Trail

After my haircut, I decided to get some exercise. A couple had told me about the View Loop Trail and suggested taking it to the top. It was about 2 miles for the complete loop and the worst part is getting to the top. This is the bridge you cross to begin the hike.

Near the top of the hike it gets very steep.

There were some spanish ruins close to the top.

Here is a couple of pics that I took while hiking atop the canyon wall. The first is of me at the top. It was a spectacular view of the countryside.

Looking down at my campsite.

I also took a few pics of the flowers along the way.

Once down I chatted with a guy from Granada Hills, CA who was tent camping. It is funny how many people I have run into from CA. He was very interested in the fact I am a full-timer and would love to do it once he retires.

On my way to Santa Fe

I packed up and headed out to Santa Fe and Hyde Memorial State Park. I got a late start and didn’t leave until almost 3:00pm but I only have 55+ miles to get to my next campground.

Hyde Memorial State Park

It is about 100 miles to the Balloon Fiesta field where I will be staying for about 10 days. I made a list of all the things I need to do before arriving there. Things like doing my wash (haven’t done wash for over 3 weeks), buy plenty of groceries (and brewskis), fill up with water, propane, gasoline, and also pay all my bills. When I arrived at the park I did not have any internet/cell phone service so I could not go online to pay bills. BUMMER!!!

The park is very beautiful and has many campsites all nestled into the hills. I was late getting there and finally just took an electric site for $4. This is a pic of my site. The leaves are all turning to their fall colors.

I wanted to stay 2 nights and then head on to the Balloon Fiesta but decided it would be better to just stay one night and then move closer to Albuquerque, NM. I decided to stay at the Santa Fe Skies RV Park which would put me within 60+ miles of Albuquerque. I found a Trader Joe’s in Santa Fe before heading to the campground and went wild buying all the great things they have to offer. When I got to the campground they only had one site left.

$45 per night – You have got to be kidding!

They were charging “Balloon Fiesta prices” even though they are 54 miles from Albuquerque. That is almost what I paid to camp the entire month oF Sep. WHAT A RIP-OFF!!! But I did make good use of their laundry facilities and they also sell propane there as well. Tomorrow I just need to get a few things and then head to the Balloon Fiesta and start to PARTY!!!!!

Fun and Friends at Storrie Lake State Park

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Jim Melvin

I need Internet and Cell Phone Service

I have not had good Internet or cell phone service since I left Raton, NM just south of Sugarite Canyon SP. There I could go to the K-Mart parking lot and get a good internet connection and 3G cell phone service. I had no service at Cimarron Canyon SP and it was very weak at Eagle Nest Lake SP. Then I had no service again at Coyote Creek SP. It has been about a week since I was really able to make any posts to this blog and I hate getting behind.

I like staying in touch with my family just to let them know where my adventures take me. But I also need to answer emails, pay some bills, check how little money I have left in my accounts (OUCH!), check reviews on where I am going next, ETC., ETC., ETC. You know the usual internet stuff!

I heard Storrie Lake SP had good internet and cell phone service so off I went. I found a great campsite overlooking the lake and that became home for a few days. It was only 38 miles from Coyote Creek SP but it was 1,100 feet lower and out of the mountains where I had excellent reception. I was able to get all of the things done that I have been putting off for over a week now. Here are a couple of pics of my campsite and Storrie Lake.

Dave and Karma beat me here

My newfound friends from Coyote Lake SP, Dave and Karma, were here when I arrived. They were the ones I greeted in my long johns after the bear encounter at Coyote Creek SP. I had gone up and visited them later at Coyote Creek and we had discussed where we were headed down the road. I guess they decided that almost 21 days at Coyote Creek was enough and they headed down here. I had to stop at Wal-Mart in Las Vegas so that is how they beat me to their site. I got a beautiful site just 2 sites down from theirs. We had a great time getting reacquainted. The are from Nebraska and came to Taos, NM so Karma could have some surgery done on her shoulder and have been in NM ever since. They also purchased the Annual Pass and are enjoying the benefits of owning it. Here is a pic of the Three Amigos having a good time. My hair looks crazy I know, but just got out of the shower.

Taking care of business

I have been wanting to contact Amazon, my seasonal employer this winter. They are very good at sending me emails keeping me appraised of everything that must be done prior to starting work. I will be working in Fernley, NV starting on Oct 30. I contacted my rep as I wasn’t sure of the start date they had furnished me since the 30th is a Sunday. She did confirm that it was the correct day and I did start work for them beginning on Sunday. They also allow me to come into the park two days before my starting date and pay for all the park fees the entire time I work for them. NOT BAD EH!

I also had to contact my medical insurance broker to finish some business with him. Then I had to contact Mike and Lisa Sylvester (the RVGUY) to schedule my annual appliance maintenance and also to check out a couple of other things. It was good to have all this behind me! Now the only thing left was to bring my blog up to date.

Don’t be in such a darn hurry Jimbo!

My insurance broker was sending me a package of items I had to sign. I had suggested that he send it to Villanueva, NM where I would be stating at the state park down there. He told me he could send it to me Priority Mail to Las Vegas, NM and I would get it sooner so I could get it mailed back to him before Oct 1. He mentioned that I would get it on Sat. No problem so far. I tracked the package and sure enough the post office had it by Sat. I packed up and left the campsite heading to the post office and then to Villanueva State Park. NOT SO FAST JIMBO!!! The post office isn’t open on Sat. BUMMER!!! I turned around and drove back to Storrie Lake SP and again parked near my friends. I will be here until Monday morning. I was hoping to visit a couple other state parks before I got to the Balloon Fiesta, but I doubt it now.

My Crazy Friends

I have sure had a ball with Dave and Karma. They are the kind of people who are a laugh a minute. They pull a small trailer but are very happy to be able to enjoy the RV lifestyle. Besides that they are much younger than me. Oh how I wish I could have started this back when I was their age.

I invited them over to for dinner one night and made a big pot of asparagus soup from a mix. But to make it better I cooked up some more asparagus and added it to the soup. It was great along with some Hawaiian rolls to go along with it. Then we watched a movie called Blitz starring Jason Statham. It was a great movie. This was a Netflix movie and it was fun. Here is a pic of my dinner party.

APB Karma

Just before we started watching the movie the ranger came by and asked if they were Dave and Karma. It seems that Karma’s mother was getting ready to put out an APB ( All Points Bulletin) for Karma whom she thought was missing. They were missing all right since they have been in the mountains for the last month with no cell phone service. Her mother had grown worried so Karma called her to let her know they both were OK. Dave then called his father to also check in with him. I told them that parents will worry about you no matter how old you are.

Traded in my LD for a motorcycle.

Yes folks I have made the plunge! I couldn’t resist. Her is a pic of me on my new wheels.

Just kidding of course!!!

Dave Ellis came driving up just before sunset one night on his beautiful Honda motorcycle and matching trailer. He was quite a guy. Seems that he is from Whittier, CA (anyone still remember TRICKY DICK?) and he leaves his wife every now and then just to go traveling and seeing the sights. His wife does not care to do this but allows him the opportunity to travel when he gets the urge. When he pulled into Storrie Lake he had been on the road 2 weeks and was really ready to talk to anyone. I told him I could lend an ear and flap my mouth every now and then as well so he figured this was a good place to spend the night. By the way Dave if you are reading this please send me your email address.

We cooked and ate our dinner together and Dave and Karma joined us as well. Then we had a great campfire with the wood supplied by both Daves. It was a great time with all of us swapping stories. Dave slept in a small REI tent that fit perfectly in the small trailer connected to his bike. He told me that he is writing a book about his adventures along the road and was going to feature me in his book and send me a free copy. HOW COOL!!!!

Dave was gone early the next morning and was so quiet I did not hear a thing. NICE MEETING YOU DAVE AND GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOUR TRAVELS!!!

Small Friends came to greet me

I had 3 small friends that I instantly became attached to and enjoyed a wonderful time together. Don’t know their names but they sure enjoyed the grub (milk) I put out for them. Here is one of them chowing down. They were just kittens that someone had left at the park. Dave found the container they were left in and I wish they would allow me to adopt them but they weren’t interested. I got this pic of one of them.

View of lake and beautiful sunsets

Got these views of the lake and of course the beautiful sunsets. As always, the New Mexico sunsets are spectacular!!!

Yogi Pays Jimbo A Visit

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Jim Melvin

Coyote Creek State Park

It was only 31 miles to my next destination at Coyote Creek State Park. You are on a narrow road leading to the park as you can see here.

It is nestled in the mountains and is a beautiful park. I would have to say that this is probably the most scenic park I have ever camped in within the New Mexico State Park system. The park is at 7,700 feet among the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Coyote Creek runs all thru it. There are quite a few electric/water sites near the Visitor’s Center , however I opted for one of the developed sites further away. Here is a pic of my home for a couple of days on my way to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. I also have beautiful flowers right next to my campsite.

Yogi pays me a visit

In the morning of the second day I was busy working on my computer at my dinette. All my blinds were closed except for the kitchen blind which I always leave open. Something happened to catch my eye while typing and I looked up to see this.

There was a big Yogi Bear walking down the road directly in front of “The Breeze” (my RV). I couldn’t believe it. I quickly grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures. But by the time I could get the blinds up he was gone down the road. My heart was POUNDING. What if Yogi decided to come back and rip into my rig? I got my keys and put them in the ignition in case I had to make a fast getaway. If Yogi decided to make a move towards “The Breeze” I was going to be out of there.

I looked for Yogi but had decided he had gone down the road and went back to my computer. I decided at that point to open all my blinds just in case Yogi came back. I call it Yogi because I don’t know if it is a male or female.

About a ½ hour later I see Yogi again on the left side of my rig only 15’ away. Yogi was headed to the back of my campsite where I had been barbequing chicken the night before (big mistake). Yogi walked right thru my campsite and just stood there for a minute. I grabbed my camera and tried to snap a few pictures in between heart beats. My heart felt like it was going to burst it was pounding so much. I got the following pics.

Then Yogi was gone never to be seen by me again. That was fine with me!

With all the excitement I make new friends

About 10 minutes later two people came by with their dog. I wanted to alert them to the fact that Yogi was in the area. I jumped out of my rig and asked them if they had seen a bear while on their walk. They were coming from the same area that Yogi had wandered off to. They said they hadn’t and I proceeded to show them the pics I had taken.

Then I realized I was standing there in my long underwear ONLY. In my excitement I had forgot to put on my clothes. OH WELL!!! They probably thought at the moment I was some kind of old pervert. After they left I got dressed and much later in the day hiked to their campsite and we have become good friends.

Coyote Creek SP lawnmowers

There is a big field next to the electric/water sites where there is a big cow pasture. Late in the day the cows meander into a large grassy area within the park. What an excellent way to keep the grass trimmed. The cows are very friendly and are interested in anyone walking down that road. Here is a couple of pics.

Coyote Creek

After the bear excitement calmed down I decided to take a hike around the park. Here are a couple of pics of the creek. It was a beautiful mountain stream and I saw lots of people pulling fish from it.

I would highly recommend Coyote Creek SP to anyone who is looking for a beautiful mountain campgrounds. It is very scenic with nice hiking and fishing. It was cold at night when I was here in September but I would imagine that the summer months would really be nice. Just don’t forget the BEAR SPRAY.

Eagle Nest Lake State Park

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Jim Melvin

Eagle Nest Lake SP

It was only 38 miles to my next destination at Eagle Nest Lake State Park. This is a pic of Eagle Nest prior to ascending the mountain.

Eagle Nest is a small town with no stop lights. The people are very friendly there.

I then settled in at Eagle Nest Lake State Park. As in Cimarron Canyon there were no hook-ups at this park. There were many spots available when I came in so I had my choice. All the sites have a wonderful view of the lake and surrounding mountains. It is very open there with no trees. Here is a pic of the town from my campsite.

Lots of big beautiful clouds

The clouds overhead were really big and beautiful. A storm came thru and rained on my parade the first night I was there. I was forced to cook inside rather than on my barbeque. But it was so nice hearing the rain drops on my roof.

Here are a couple of pics of the sunset. How awesome is that.

Over the weekend there were a lot of fishermen with all kinds of boats. This looked like a great fishing spot. I really liked this pic of the fishermen in their boat on the lake.

I stayed at Eagle Nest Lake SP for 3 nights and then decided to move higher up into the mountains at Coyote Creek State Park. It will only be a short drive to get there. I am really saving on gas so far as I filled up when I left Sugarite and have more the 1/2 full still. I REALLY LIKE THAT!!!