Category Archives: Deming

Rockhound State Park

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

 

Hitting the road with my new co pilot

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Update on Chica’s surgery

I picked Chica up at the spay clinic at 5pm on Monday.  The poor baby looked like she had been thru the ringer.  Not only had they spayed her, but I had them clean her teeth and she had several baby teeth pulled.  I was told that she was about 2 years old, but sometimes they still retain their baby teeth.  The vet showed me her teeth and they looked horrible.  They were all yellow and her breath was really stinky.  YUK!!!

Anyway the vet pulled 6 baby teeth and they sent me home with all her teeth and 2 antibiotics to give her with complete instructions.  But she was really feeling bad.

She did not want to be picked up as I am sure she was really hurting.  Not only did she have major surgery but she had major dental work as well.  I have never had 6 teeth pulled out at one time so I am sure she was a very hurting girl.

She didn’t want to have anything to do with me…

I took her home and placed her on her bed.  But she was so tender it must have hurt and she really let me know with a horrible scream.  I felt so bad for her.  She wouldn’t even look at me.  I got the feeling that she thought her pain was all my fault.  I made her as comfortable as I could and let her just sleep.

I was planning on leaving for New Mexico on Wednesday and had paid up through that day.  However when Wednesday came I could tell she was still not feeling like her old self.  She barely wanted anything to do with me and did not have any energy whatsoever.  I went down to the office and paid for another 2 days, which I thought should be adequate for her to be feeling like her old rambunctious self.

That gave me time to do a few things around the rig like defrosting the refrigerator and buying groceries for the road.  I am really glad I waited those 2 extra days.  It made a big difference for both of us.  She is on the mend and getting back to her old playful self and I am a bit more organized.

My new copilot

The next problem I faced was how she was going to travel.  I had bought a carrier for her, but she does not like being confined in a small space.  Every time I put her into it she would get really fussy and agitated.  The drive to Deming, NM was approximately 350 miles and I knew that would not work.

So instead I put her bed in the passenger seat with one of her toys and her chew bone.  She likes to chew on the bone and it keeps her occupied for a long time.  I wasn’t sure how she would react to a moving vehicle, but she was not at all frightened.  Here is a pic of my new co-pilot manning her position.

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She was very good and did not move around, but slept most of the time in her bed as I was driving.  On occasion she would look out the window at the scenery passing by.  I am sure this was a new experience for her and she accepted it graciously.  Then there were times she would want to get on my lap where she slept.  She was very good and did not want to go anywhere else in the rig.

Lots of rest stops…

I am not one to stop at rest stops often.  I usually don’t travel too far in one day so I like to breeze past them to get to my destination.  Now that has all changed.  I now stop at all the rest stops I can so that Chica can get some exercise and go potty.  She is a real trooper.  Sometimes we stopped with big rigs on each side of her with their motors running.  I was worried that she would be frightened of them,  NO WAY!!  Not my Chica.  She just bolts ahead pulling on her leash and glad to go for a walk.

Made it to Deming…

After traveling 367 miles we landed at the Low-Hi RV Park, that we will call home for the next couple of days.  I drove up to Rockhound State Park but it was full, so will check it out after the weekend and hopefully we can find a nice spot there for 14 days.  Below is a pic I had previously posted of her at the vet with her carrier in the background.  She did not like being confined in that carrier for one minute.

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Yesterday Chica took the big plunge in to the fulltime RV lifestyle.  Prior to that she had never been out of Mesa, AZ but now has been in 2 states.  WOW!!  She really enjoyed the ride and being able to get out at different rest stops along the way.  Now she is comfortably sleeping at my feet and looking forward to all the adventures I have told her about.  She is especially looking forward to going to Canada and seeing big moose and bears this spring.

Taking Care of Business at Low-Hi RV Park

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Moving north to Deming, NM

I moved on to Low-Hi RV Park in Deming, NM in order to get a few things done.  This is the LOW (Loners on Wheels) headquarters and I haved stayed here many times.  Since I am a LOW member it only costs me $10 per night for electric/water.  No too shabby !!!!!

Things to do but nothing got done…

I will be here for 5 nights.  I got up Monday and headed to downtown Deming to get a haircut.  I struck out there as it was closed on Monday.  Then I was out of checks so went into Wells Fargo to get just a few until my check order catches up with me.  The “Occupy” people were picketing the bank.  I felt bad even going in there, but they have all my money for now.  The lady who waited on me said they come 3 checks to a sheet and they cost $1 each.  You have got to be kidding!!!!  I turned around and walked out and decided I would use me debit card instead.  These “Occupy” people have the right idea.  The big banks are ripping off the little guy!

Nothing accomplished today but stopped at the grocery store for a few items including desert for the pot luck tonight.  Monday is always pot luck night at the Low-Hi and you better bring an empty stomach.  There is way too much food for any one person can eat.  And so gooood too.

Tried to get into the 6:00pm card game but it was filled up so watched “Dancing with the Stars with Harry and Peter.  I hadn’t seen it for some time so wasn’t familiar with any of the dancers.

Finally got a haircut

Tuesday I got up, made breakfast and headed down to the barber once again.  Frank’s Barber Shop is a small shop that has been there long before the 70’s.  Fernando took it over from his father Frank and told me how it was back in the hippy days of the 70’s when no one cut their hair.  I usually go there everytime I am in Deming and need a hair cut.  He really cut it short, but at least it will take a while to grown out again.

Finished up dental work

Drove down to Palomas, Mexico for my last visit with my dentist for a while.  I got my permanent crown and then she cleaned my teeth.  The total cost of the crown was $180 and another $30 for the cleaning.  I go to the American Dental Care just in back of the Pink Store and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

North to Albuquerque

I really enjoyed spending a few days at the Low-Hi RV Park and caught up with many old friends and met a few new friends as well.  It is a great central location for traveling in the Southwest.  Tomorrow I head up to Albuquerque where I will have a valve put on my propane tank that will allow me to add an additional tank.  Then I have a few days to get up to Fernley, NV where I will be workamping at Amazon’s warehouse.