After the excitement of the massive RV gathering it was time to relax and recharge. Unfortunately the job of a cryptozoological explorer is never done so I continued my search. We spent a few days in Deming, NM before moving on. Deming was nicer on my second visit as the first time I was there it was downright cold in the 50s after the 90s of Gulf coast. This time I was greeted with high winds but after they died down, it was actually quite lovely. There are mountain views in nearly every direction and the Low-Hi Ranch was as friendly as ever albeit no communal fire as the winds were wickedly strong that night.
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| Low-Hi Ranch. I like trees, like my tattoo |
I made a return visit to Happy Camper Clubhouse, and had the Sons of Scotland again (which I could not recall after my last visit). It was quite delicious and oddly enough paired well with the homemade salsa and chips. Despite my best efforts I was unable to locate Big Foot at the clubhouse and sadly departed.
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| First growler fill in a while. I love Scottish ales. |
We did run into this hater in Deming and it was quite disturbing. Not sure what they have against Wisconsin but at least they used the proper postal abbreviation.
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| End WI? What did Wisconsin do to this person? |
We moved onto Elephant Butte Lake State park. We had a lovely view from our campsite of the lake and buttes. I would like to make several juvenile jokes at this time about elephant butts, but I will take the high ground much like the elevation in that area which was about 4500 ft.
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| Well, I had a good view but it was so sunny I had to move for the dogs. You can still see the lake. |
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| Pretty. Really not much more to say. |
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| Sunrise. It was like 7:30am. Small dogs, small bladders. |
I explored the nearby town of Truth or Consequences (T or C to the locals) and had a pizza for the first time in months which was a nice treat.
I also visited TorC Brewing Company over the course of several days for several tasty beverages. I also met many nice people there (and at the campground) including a couple who have been traveling for months in a van. They claimed they were in their 30s but they looked younger than B and C to me so who knows. The bartender, Lee, was also very nice and a pleasure to talk to. The brewery is well worth a stop as it was refreshing to be able to talk to other patrons and the bartender. Despite the excellent vibe of the brewery, Big Foot was not found but I will be back.
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| Plenty of options on tap |
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| Tasty stout. Perfectly poured. Had to take a picture. |
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| Another perfect pour. Different day, so stop judging. |
I also took advantage of the nearby hot springs and had a private hour session. They had a special for singles so it was half priced which was awesome. I soaked and looked over the Rio Grande and really mentally focused on my hunt for Big Foot. As I said, the work never ends but I am willing to suffer for science and your entertainment.
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| View as I soaked in the medium hot water. |
Next stop was Sierra Blanca Brewing for a one night stay with Harvest Hosts. I ran into several people utilizing the Harvest Host from Wisconsin which was statistically interesting to me (4 RVs: 2 from WI and me from SD but formerly from WI). I also met a couple from Washington state who invited me to their fifth wheel for dinner. They were very nice hosts and had not seen Big Foot on their adventures but would let me know if they did. The chili was delicious as was the Jameson.
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| NM has some interesting drinking laws. I ordered a stout that limited any further ordering due to ABV despite not having to drive. Fascists!! |
Come morning and the winds started blowing again and would not quit for the next few days. It made the drive more interesting and I appreciated the new truck a lot. My next night was spent in Amarillo, TX. The Texas Route 66 Visitor Center was another Harvest Host site and in easy walking distance of the historical district. I enjoyed a burger from the Golden Light Cafe and Cantina which has been in business since 1946. The ambiance was classic and the burger was incredible. It was my only meal of the day and it more than satisfied my hunger.
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| Tourist sign, but hey I’m a tourist. |
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| The wind was brutal. Consistently 30 mph, gusting to 60 mph. |
The next day was a drive on the historic Route 66 across Texas and Oklahoma. It was super peaceful on the road but the blowing dust and tumbleweeds added some visual interest. I was unable to take any photos and forgot to tell the dashcam to save the video otherwise you could have experienced the drive. Imagine a tumbleweed blowing across the road followed up by a giant red cloud of dust which was visually impenetrable. Finally got to my camp spot for the next few days and eventually the winds died down. I am off exploring Oklahoma this week and already have several locations identified as potential Big Foot spots, but first I must do my laundry.
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| Lucy and Ozzy chillin |
Since the ides of March, I have driven about 2000 miles with the trailer. Normally I would not recommend such a pace as it is quite tiring. Interestingly it is also the same distance to Alaska so as I work out in my head how to do that trip, I know I should probably plan at least four weeks for the drive if I intend to see anything along the way.
Oklahoma makes the 22st state I have camped in since I started this adventure. This was the first time I have actually slept in Oklahoma which leaves four eastern states and Alaska on my lifetime list of states I have not slept in. As I mentioned previously I intend to visit New England and the east coast this fall which will leave Alaska as the only state I have not slept in as it is also the only state I have not visited. I keep debating the drive but I am sure that is the only way to really experience the vastness and remoteness. Thankfully I have the right truck should I decide to make that trip.
Once I have finished Oklahoma this week I'll continue my eastern advance to Arkansas and Tennessee before turning north. Hopefully spring will arrive in Wisconsin by late April as I am not looking forward to having to wear long pants again as shoes are bad enough.
Until next time,
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