APRIL
24 TUESDAY
We like
to say we have landed again and we are at Coyete
State Park.
Only
45 miles on the trip meter since we got diesel in Taos.
We had
emailed the ranger about the roads to get here and we got his reply after
we were already here. He told us not to use the NM 434 route south from
Angle Fire as it is narrow. (on the map below it is labled 570 and Angle
Fire is at the junction of US 64 and the route south below Eagle Nest)
He was right it was VERY narrow but with not much traffic we did ok. It
is a seal coated road and vehicles 10 ft. wide or more are banned.
Little more than a lane and a half of black top road. Fun to drive but
not nice to meet anything big or wide. We got here and it wasn't a big
deal. May go back that way and go on to Cimmarron
State Park to fish on US 64 east of Eagle Nest later on.
The first
thing we did was dump since there was not a dump at the BLM Rec area south
of Taos.
And they
wanted $15 to dump at the RV park in Taos.
Doesn't
Terry look like he is having fun. Had to add on an extra section of hose
to reach the dump hole.
The park
road curved up on a hill, across a narrow bridge, so we couldn't get closer..
Yes, I'm the driver.
This
was the closet we could get to the dump.
He dumps,
I take pictures. Isn't that how it works... Just glad the dump was open!!!
Now off
to find a campsite. We found a good site... After parked ,thought it might
be the campground host site. It looks like it would be, but no sign to
that effect. A couple of other were just as nice but they were tagged handicapped
sites. We did email the ranger to see if we are in trouble or not,
and if we will have to move. This place is pretty deserted, only
two other campers. And none of the other sites looked inviting to us. This
is not a large campground. Maybe 10 sites with electric. And they do have
bear boxes for the faint of heart.
The site is right across form
the showers and ranger station. Terry just told me the rest rooms
and showers locked down at 4:30 PM when the Jr. Ranger went home. Looks
like they need a campground host... short term. We have looked at
the weather forecast and it doesn't look good, snow in northern NM and
Colorado in a few days. We need to keep a lookout on this. We might just
sit here and wait it out till next week. But we have Sat ellite Internet
and Satellite TV, so think we can keep up to date with it. Of course or
Cell phone sez no service. Like NO bars... at all. This is normal. We expect
that in out of the way places.
I live on this computer but
when I'm done, Terry takes ever and is just as addicted.
He is an early person so uses
it in the AM when I slep late, and I use it when he is fishing, later at
night he has full access while I watch TV or read.
Say Hi Terry.....
He was
to go fishing, but it is windy and a little cold so we are hunkered down
inside with the heat pump keeping things warm, it only works down to about
40 degrees and then we have to change over to the furence. We are having
a feast with chicken browned in a skellet and then baked in the oven, mashed
potatoes and green beans for supper later. Will get creek, beaver
ponds, and fishing pics tomorrow. With much more on this great location.
They stocked the creek and beaver ponds last week so if it gets nicer it
should be fun.
We have
lucked out with our plans to search out the best parts of northern NM.
We wanted to do it last year but the weather didn't like us. But this year
we have explored so much, and have seen more that I thought we would. The
locals would just the same, like us to run into bad weather with snow still
at this time, because they need the moisture. It is dry and there is a
no campfire ban in the NM state parks here. This park was closed a few
days ago as they had a 17 thousand acre fire just to the east and north.
This is not funny and we hope things turn around for the better soon.
I am adding
the map of the area if you are not sure where we are at.
It was
on prior posts but you may like to see it again. Again we are in Coyote
Creek State Park And drove down from the north from US 64 after leaving
Taos. Only a 45 mile drive.
All these maps are from the
Public
Lands Information Center web site.
On the Public Lands
interactive web site each colored location name is clickable for in-depth
information.
The resource to explore
the great west. Go there and dream about your next trip out west. And if
you have any questions we would love to hear from you... See the email
link at the bottom of each page.
One other thing with fuel prices
the way they are, we like northern NM as the driving distances are not
that great between destination locations. Like today from Taos only 45
miles to Coyote Creek park. Now if we were in Montana or Wyoming we would
have to travel hundreds of miles each day. And here I have to think hard
to say we are not in those locations. This is wonderful country. So glad
we braved the routes, which we were worried about but turned out to be
no big deal!
APRIL
25 WEDNESDAY
Today
was get up late, after staying in bed to listen to 'The Morning Report'
on NPR streaming over the Internet.
Regular
FM radio up here does not exist.
I was
reading yesterdays USAToday paper and Terry was on the net and low and
behold the fish stocking truck shows up. Terry goes after them to ask where
they have stocked etc. He came back and they said to give it at least
an hour to let the trout settle down in their new water.
Some small beaver ponds
Since
it was newly stocked he sez it was like fishing in a trout hatchery.
One of the bigger beaver ponds.
Terry is off fishing this one now as I post A little more challenge.
Found these on the back side
of the big pond in the above picture. Used the 10x zoom.
We paid for a couple of more
days to see what the weather does. Today was great but looks like
by the weekend it my go downhill. We have just had the best weather since
we left Quartzsite, AZ the first of the month. Could not have asked for
more. Now if it rains this weekend as predicted what wonderful news for
the locals. This is what we see for weather just to the north of us...
Thursday Night: Chance of thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe.
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms possible. Highs in the low 50s and lows
in the low 30s.
Saturday: Mix of sun
and clouds. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 30s. But on Monday
looks like back in the 70s...
If it looks bad we will stay
right here and wait it out. Can check dopller radar online. We have everything
we need and more. Not in a hurry to get back to the mid west and the big
storms that could blow us away. When we get to IA we have a spot with tie
downs. I insisted on that.
APRIL
27 THURSDAY
We had
a visit from Matthew K. Romero, the very nice NM Park Ranger for Coyote
Creek/Morphy Lake SP. He wanted to stop by to visit. After all, we were
parked in his Coyote Creek host campsite. Not to worry the host is not
schedule to arrive till mid May. It's great to talk to, and learn
from, a local park ranger. What great people, who love their (should I
call it jobs). We had been emailing him about road and parks conditions.
That is what we do when we try to plan ahead on where we want to land.
Search the web for parks and locations we think might just be our speed,
and then email with our questions. The local chambers of commerce, parks
rangers, city and county park directors, etc. are more than willing to
help out to make our stay in their area all it can be. They love the the
area and want to share it. All you have to do is ask. Now in the tourist
traps, you know there are people who will show you the way, their way,
with a jeep trip to nowhere. Oh I'm not being kind am I.
But there
are those other people, who will share their hard earned knowledge of the
area, that will make your stay all it can be. All you have to do is ask.
Gees, I thhink I already said that above....
We are
having beef stew tonight, it is in the oven now and Terry is out fishing,
just starting to get a small shower. We had about three good rain
storms move over today with light to moderate rain. It was great to hear
it beat down on the trailer. A sound we have have missed, without rain
in AZ for 5 months. Had some thunder and lighting so shut down the computer
and turned on the scanner to make sure we would be informed if a strike
set off a fire. But it didn't happen, just a great evening in the forests
of northern NM. The rain is a blessing for this area.
Northern
NM all across the state is awasome, come explore.
 
When
you can find sights like these all in one state, and high mountains and
great fishing all within a few miles. These pics are from along
US HW 84 south of Terra Amarilla above Abiquiu Reservoir.
These
and many more pictures of this area are from the Abiquiu
Lake, Ghost Ranch, & Echo Amphitheater site.
I did
not take the above two pics. Damn. We saw the sights when we drove down
the raod, but didn't stop. But these people did, so enjoy these and many
more pics of this area.
I should
also at this time add another link to the NM
State Park... find a park web site.
So you
don't have to go back and search for it.
APRIL
28 FRIDAY
Glad we
are staying in place since it has been cold and storms haved moved through
all day. Even had and a good sleet downpoor that took out the sat TV and
internet signal. Thought we might have to go out and get out the hose and
wash down the dish to get the sleet off it. But it did melt and the sig
came back without going to that extreme. It's not something we have to
worry about much. Using the heat pump for heat inside till it gets to cold
for it. When on electric save the propane. It only works down to about
38 outside, so then have to switch to gas. Even if you could you wouldn't
want to use it below freezing since you need the forced air furnace to
force heat into the basement so the pipes don't freeze. The heat pump should
auto switch over to furnace but for some reason ours doesn't. So we have
to be careful or it will lock up and just hum when it gets too cold outside,
and when you do get it turned off it gives out a BIG WHOOSH. Not good for
the unit I should think. If you're an expert on this stuff give us an email.
Terry
is baking potato rolls. They are simple and SOOO good.
Potato
Rolls
Recipe:
1 cup hot mashed potatoes, 3 Tbsp. stick margarine, 2 eggs, 3 Tbsp. sugar,
1 cup of potato water, 1 heaping tsp. yeast, 1/3 cup powdered milk,
3-4 cups of flour. Combine hot mashed potatoes with margarine, add
eggs and sugar, mix well. Stir in potato water and allow mixture to cool.
When luke warm add yeast and allow to proof. Add flour to make soft dough,
turn out on floured surface and knead till you have a smooth dough. Oil
mixing bowl and put in dough and allow it to rise till doubled in bulk.
Punch down and turn on floured surface and divide into walnut sized pieces
and place on oiled baking sheet and let rise again till double in size.
Pre heat oven to 350 and bake 10 min or so till golden brown. Now
wasn't that easy.
Think
they will go well with chili tonight.
Need
to get this uploaded quick as we are having another snow shower,
and the
satellite signal strength is slowing going down hill.
Still
online at 40, normal for right here is 55 on Sat 99w if you're into that.
While
we were off line took this pic out our door. We did get the hose out and
hit the dish on top of the 5er with a spray and it did help the internet
but the tv is still out. That tells me the clouds and snow up higher
are doing a number on us more so than the snow on the dish itself. Turned
on the scanner and they are out looking for a reported lighting strike
with possible fire. All we need is a snow storm and a fire. We are way
back up in here and would hate to have to try to get out tonight. I don't
know how anything could burn in all this wet stuff.
Terry
went out and hosed down the dish again and now we are getting a 25 - 30
sig. We are now going out to set up a portable DirecTV dish inside the
open ended shelter. Won't this be fun. With GRMS radio outside Terry goes....
So I can yell at him when he can't find a good sig. OK and also to tell
him when he did good to pick a sig out of the sky.
I am
writing this even though I can't post it till later... A little fun adventure.
You have to remember we have not seen snow for some time.... but do remember
what it is like, after all we grew up in Iowa when it was normal for it
to be 20 below on the 20th of Jan. each winter. Fun to play in it once
in a while.
The below
pic is old, now covered with more snow. Got the outside dish to work and
then did a big wetdwon of the upper dish with the hose, and got internet
back also. Now back on upper sat sig and have the stand alone for back
up later when another strom moves in. WHAT FUN. OH! from the
scanner they found the fire, some guy thought it would be a good time to
burn a bunch of stuff, without a permit. He just got the book thrown at
him!
We are
now back up to a datastorm sig of 55 (great) and holding since we hosed
it down. Chili and rolls are going to be better than ever tonight. All
snug and warm in our little home on wheels, with all the comforts!
The forest
floor out our back window is covered in snow. What a great event to happen
in this drought stricken area. A joyous time
in northern NM tonight!
APRIL
28 SATURDAY
It might
have been a joyous snow event time for the locals in northern NM but not
for us it turned out.
We got
up, and got the 5er ready to move out. Only had to go Sugarite
Canyon State Park our next stop just south of the Colorado border off
I-25. We were all ready with the 5er all closed up and ready for the truck
to back up to it. But guess what the truck WOULD NOT START. Now what? Tried
and tried, it turned over but nothing. WELL it is a diesel and it did get
cold last night. BUT who would think it was that cold. It was now
about 44 out. We made sure the glow heater plugs were doing their thing
but still no go. I finally called my travel towing service. They
could send a flatbed tow truck form Las Vegas, NM. 50 miles away. No cell
service so was on the pay phone at the ranger building. I thought I left
it, that they would not send a tow truck, yet. Think about what that would
mean. Put our PU on the back of the tow truck and take it 50 miles and
leaving the 5er here. And if it is just gelled diesel fuel because
of the cold night, it might warm up and start later, about the time they
would unloaded in Las Vegas. Now don't get confused we are in NM
and they do have a Las Vegas also. We opened up the 5er and brought up
the sat dish and did a little research on the net for cold starting a diesel.
The ranger came by and we all talked about how to get out of this mess.
Terry boiled some water and poured it on a towel and wrapped it around
the fuel filter. Per the internet , the gelled fuel in the filter was what
might need to warm up. Just as the tow truck pulled into the campground
(much to my suprise) our truck started up. We made sure the tow
company would get paid, and I think all were happy. The nice driver had
brought his family, wife and cute child. Sort of a day out for a nice spring
drive up into the high country. I hope they took good care of our
PU on top of their tow truck bed, back to Las Vegas, as we pulled the 5er
heading north on NM 434 at about 1 PM, so a little late start. But a travel
event to remember and learn from. No damage or harm, so all is well.
We are
now in Sugarite SP and I'm having happy hour listening to Garrison Keilor
and A Prairie Home Companion streaming on the net. We thought we would
stay here till Monday but the campground is not much and so didn't even
unhook. Will just go back into Raton and get supplies in the AM and move
on north. We need to make sure we get the correct blended diesel
or a bottle of conditioner for it, so we don't have this travel event happen
again.
The last
diesel was bought in Taos, NM.
Next stop
on Sunday, John
Martin Reservoir in Colorado just east of La Junta, CO
on route US 350 about 120 miles up the road, a big day for us. Hope to
get there early so we can relax with a Sunday paper.
We have
not taken this route in southern CO before, so we should find new
things to report see and report on.
APRIL
30 SUNDAY
The last
day of the month and guess what again this morning at Raton, NM had truck
starting trouble. Not as bad as Terry came to the rescue. OH. How
it hurts to say that... It started and ran for like 10 to 15 sec and died
and wouldn't start again. Terry went and pushed a prime the fuel button
on the fuel filter. AND then it started right up... He read that in the
manual. He said that was what he did the day before also. Never told me
that. WELL the first thing we did was fill up with good diesel (we hope)
and buy a conditioning solution to add if we have trouble again.
A little
update from yesterday at the NM campground at Sugarite
Canyon State Park . I didn't want to show this picture till after we
had left. Late yesterday when we hit the campground, Terry got out and
looked for a campsite. A real small campground and not much to room to
manever. He sez, here is one and a pull through. OH great.
Well after we had setup. I walked out front and this is what I saw. We
were in handicap site. SHIT.
It was
after 4 PM and if I remember some state parks say it is ok to use this
type of site if it is late enough and not occupied. SO we risked it. It's
not like there are a lot of campers in the early spring when it IS cold
at night. OK so I'm trying to justify myself. We moved out early with still
some problems. See above...
So off
we go to La Junta. The view of the Colorado mountians from the ridge north
of Raton on I-25 toward Trinadad was breathtaking. No place to stop
but it was the most fantastic view of mountions I have ever seen, and with
fresh snow on them far to the west northwest. Trinadad is a plesent
place and could spend a day or two exploring, but we drove right through.
Now the rest of the drive was much less than expected. They call it a secinc
drive.
Note
the broken lines along the HW on the above map. Historic yes.
but boring...
Hold
it! Hell, any day on the road traveling fulltime, is better than a day
in an office cubicle.
Have
I forgotten so fast why I retired... Stop it RON...
Our campground spot at John
Martin Reservoir SP on the Arkansas river in southern CO.
like most of these out west,
have very little water backed up behind the dam. SO sad.
I would give you a link to
the CO state park site but it is down. And just as well as I now remember
why I HATE Colorado State Parks. CO charges a $16 fee to camp and
ALSO a $5 entrance fee so total $21. NM is $14 and doesn't
charge an entrance fee if you camp. Guess we have been spoiled by
NM. Colorado will NEVER get me to use their facilities again. This is a
rip off. We will soon be in Kansas, Toto and see how they treat us.
A quick look at them on the
net and they might be worse than Colorado.
Entrance fee went up April
1, 2006 to $7 and
Camping April 1, 2006 - September
30, 2006
Daily Camping $8.50 Prime
Site Fee $2.50
Any Time One Utility
$6.00 Two Utilities $8.00 Three Utilities $9.00
If you understand these fees
let us know.
We will just drive right by
KS SPs.
There are many city, county,
and Corps of Engineers sites that are MORE user friendly. Glad we have
the Internet so we can search out the best, from the worst.
We fell short with our planning this time, with this CO SP site.
OK we SCREWED UP! It happens,
Go to thinking about this, last night in NM tried the CO SP web site adn
it came back down for maintanice. So how could I have found out the
rates when their site was down. (update) And it is still down today,
right now 7 PM Sunday. And I didn't even blame the navigtor. We try to
plan the stopovers together and confer and come to a general route. I look
for fishing sites for Terry, but now in CO and KS not much little trouts
to be found. Terry tonight, is going to do the internet research for the
days ahead for the best value in camping. Stay tuned for what we find going
across CO and KS.
(Background) When we are traveling
day to day or every few days, with a goal in mind we do not mind spending,
like in NM $4 more for an electric site, when we know it will be cold at
night. We spent 5-6 months in AZ off the grid, so now, IF WE WANT, we feel
we can go with a little extra and live a little. Don't have to worry if
we will need to get out the generator, or not. Fun to live like real fancy
RVers once in awhile. We do like to save when we feel it is appropriate.
Onward....
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