Truth or Consequences

MyronL · 03-03-2014, 09:31 PM

Relentless snowstorms week after week. Sub-zero winds, ice, downed power lines, closed highways, endless shoveling. I finally couldn’t take it any more. When would it end? Enough! It became more television news than I could stand. Those poor people. We had to get away from it all, get out of town.

Solution: for a few days, go driving where there‘s never snow but lots of cool stuff to see. We can wear a tee shirt, get re-acquainted with our trailer, eat hot local food, find birds, shoot them.

Mission accomplished on all accounts. Driving 175 miles south on I-25 we aimed for Truth or Consequences, which has spas for its hot springs (…we’ll be back,) and is also a known birding route.

First found drought-ravaged Elephant Butte Lake State Park, half as deep as it should be yet clearly still the place to party afloat. (Do not drive in that sand without 4-wheel drive.) Then found Cabella Lake/Percha Dam State Park; very nice, clean, friendly, $14/night with electricity and shore water. We camped there. This time of year birds are scarce. 20 miles away was Hatch, a hub of the chili growing industry. I bought a pound of fresh Jalapeno chili at the local market. Wondered, in the produce department, why was that very helpful Mexican American grandma smiling? Will mail chili to my unsuspecting friends. At Sparky’s on Saturday night I ate a seriously super-double (needed 6-7 napkins during the act) mother of all green chili cheeseburgers in a funky room adorned with odd signage and live country music.

Back at the Percha Dam campsite, time to set-up my television antenna for its first field test. The TV found 2 channels, 1 analog (a snowy ALBQ station), one HD (CBS) –which was super clear until signal began to break up big time. Blue Bloods then became unwatchable, as did the news. No idea why. Had signal booster. Good news is Sunday CBS signal came in great again, for Charles Osgood.

Saturday, drove unhitched farther south. We stumbled upon a street fair in Las Cruces, bought a big jar of local mesquite honey, and pecans. While waiting for a burrito, began a chat with a guy who tows a teardrop with a Harley. He was planning a trip to British Columbia with his lady. Told him about Chilliwack. Drove 50 miles east, to White Sands National Monument. Spotted nicely restored Argosy I first thought was an obscure egg. The sand is really that white. In fact it’s actually hydrous calcium sulfate (gypsum). No camping there, likely a good thing because that blowing, super-fine “sand” will get into your fillings. Great place.

Had to stop at the great Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge on the way back. Again, few birds but did get lucky with a Heron.

Re-discovered a few things. I have an inside porch light switch. The shore water hook-up hose, when it is serving the sinks and the toilet, does not simultaneously fill the big holding tank. I like my sink. My big soft and flabby suitcase fits in the closet. It’s a good idea to leave my red LED strip on all night. I installed this under the stove exhaust hood. Big Clovis hooks are a teeny-tiny bit too fat for the links. Escape LED under cabinet fixtures are intense for the other person not reading. Directional captains lights work well when using a Nook. Was nice to punch on my new inverter and see it reading a big, red, 13.6 volts.

**Donna D.** · 03-03-2014, 10:22 PM

I'm jealous. Sigh. Someday, I can say I'm running away from home because of the weather... or whatever... in my ESCAPE! Thanks for sharing Myron.. I guess

MyronL · 03-03-2014, 10:49 PM

You betcha, Donna. Keep the faith, springs' a-comin'.

LarryandLiz · 03-03-2014, 10:52 PM

Excellent post Myron.

I've appreciated reading your posts, although my "do it yourself" skills (specially electrical) are negligible.

Thanks for the camping review. And thanks for letting us in on details like your experience with LED lighting

gbaglo · 03-03-2014, 11:07 PM

Great report.
What does Heron taste like?

baglo

fudge_brownie · 03-04-2014, 06:17 AM

Clovis hooks are good eating as well. If you have the model with the clasp you can adjust them to hook right into the receiver, no need to hook on the chain.

dbailey · 03-04-2014, 08:57 AM

I really wish I was just a few hours drive from no-snow... We're still 5 years away from not having to conserve our vacation days.

We haven't been hit by nearly as much snow up here as some of the continent, but something about this winter is just really depressing. -20C right now, I normally would have left for work an hour ago, but I'm having a hard time getting out of this chair. Reading about the Ukraine doesn't help...

Soon...