A Mule-dozer...

Rolling out of Truth or Consequences it's sunny and 40ish. We are following the Rio Grande River down I25 S to Route 26 W towards Deming, New Mexico. The views along the river are gorgeous as it runs along the base of the Caballo Mountains. We are seeing traces of snow on the ground (what's that doing here???). The valley landscape is changing to farm land on our right. We are seeing large groves of trees, and we learn they are pecan trees. Unfortunately they are bare now. There are alot of the gray cranes feeding in the empty fields.

We turned onto Rte 26 W going through Hatch, New Mexico. Hatch is known for it's chilli's. Lots of places like Chilli Willi's and the Pepper Pot line the main street. Passing through the Las Uvas Valley we see huge farms. They are both dairy and chilli farms (quite a combination!). There were numerous birds sitting on the fences along the roadway. We think some of them were Yellow Warblers. There's lots of tumble weed, cactus, and yucca along the way. The Cookes Range rose up just off to our right. Their rounded tops tower over the valley floor. As we look left the small Sierra de las Uvas Range looms. These are very jagged peaks with snowy tops and are partially hidden in the haze. We stopped in Deming at the Sunrise Kitchen for a late breakfast. It was good and the Honey Oat Bran muffins were terrific.

It's still early so we move on toward Lordsburg. We are back on Interstate 10 W. Unfortunately we have to take the Interstates to get to Quartzite on the 19th. Crossing the Animas Valley there are railroad tracks running parrallel with the highway. We passed a train with 111 flat bed cars. Each car was carrying 2 and 3 freight boxes on each one.

The Arizona border is close now. We found the Mountain View Campground in our Passport America book and decided to give them a try. We pulled into the campground and no one was around. (They were closed until 4PM.). This will be an adventure - not many campers, mule tied to an old bulldozer, and the railroad tracks right beside us... beautiful mountain views though. So we selected a site that we liked. About 4ish we walked up to the office and the "old timer" at the desk greeted us. When we said we were members of Passport America he said "of course you are, that's the only way you would find us ". This is a place that has been made almost obsolete due to the interstate and larger RV resorts. It's quiet here and we watched the mountains turn pink with the sunset, then to sillouettes and finally disappear as it got dark.

We'll be here today and tomorrow. I think we will go exploring tomorrow.