Finally, out of Texas and into New Mexico

Another visit with
Monique

Monday, May 5, Monique's 4:00 AM training got canceled, so she ended up working all day.  We just hung out at the CG, I did about 3 loads of laundry, then headed out to do some grocery shopping and check out town.  El Paso is huge and it is very easy to end up in Mexico with just one wrong turn, so we headed north instead of south.  We had some lunch, did some touring around, then we found an Albertson's grocery store and got ham steaks, noodles, and broccoli for dinner.  Back to the RV, groceries put away, walk the dog and a text to Monique, only to find out she is still at work.  It was probably about 7:00 when her and her room mate got there for dinner, so we talked a little ate dinner then went out side and sat, as it was cooling down and chit-chatted for about another hour until they left, what a nice visit.  Tuesday her schedule is 7:40 AM until 7:40 AM Wednesday morning, so we know we won't see her tomorrow, but hope to see her Wednesday morning before we leave.  After they left, dishes done, trash out and off to bed for Brad and I. 

 

Tuesday we were headed out about 10:00, heading into El Paso for the walking tour.....no luck.  Half of the streets are closed, you can't find the visitors info center, so off to the 2 acre Saddle Blanket shop, not knowing what to expect, but what the heck.  We pulled in, walked around for a while and actually found a new blanket for the bed.....I don't think so 'dry clean only', so off we go again.  From there we stopped for lunch, what a great place, burritos for lunch and they were fabulous.  After that we did the Border Patrol Museum, which really was a learning experience.  I think of them in the south, not realizing how much they patrol in the north and who is trying to get in through the borders up there.  We were both surprised at the information available and what we learned.  After that we headed to the archaeological museum next door.  That was interesting, but a lot of reading for the information, although I would have like to have some of the baskets they had on display.  We took the mountain pass to the other side of El Paso.  The view was nice but the wind blew so hard at times you could hardly see a half mile or so.  We headed back  home after that, tended Rudy then walked over to the Subway for a sub...we were 5 minutes to late, oh well, back home and I made tuna for dinner.  We watch NCIS and NCIS LA, then fought to stay awake until 10:00, but we managed, then off to bed with us all.

 

Sites along the way.

Wednesday May 7, we are all up by 7:00 when Monique texts, someone was taken to the emergency room and she wasn't sure she would make it before we left.  So we packed and got ready for the trip and as we were getting ready to leave I asked her if she was about done and could meet us....no luck, she is still stuck there for a while.  We head out, and I am a little disappointed, but we push on.  We are trying to get out of town early, wind this afternoon is to be about 40-50 mph gusts, but no luck.  We are only on the road about an hour when the wind kicks up again, sustained 25-35 mph gusts of 40-50, Brad finally says 'find us a CG and get us off the road'.  We traveled about 15 miles and ended up in Caballo, NM, at the Caballo Lake RV Park....what a great find.   I called to see if they had a site, and CJ stated 'if you are on the road in this wind, you just pull right in', with such sincerity we just wanted to come here.  We pull in and she actually met us in the drive, pointed out the open sites and told us to take out pick and then come on into the office.  I went into the office to check us in, no wait, pay as you leave, that way if we want to stay an extra day no problem, at $15.00 a night, checks or cash only, she must do OK.

Not fog or smog,
that is sand at 45-50 mph

She pointed us towards to a good Café for lunch, and invited us to the 4:30 Happy Hour on the porch, or inside at the rec room if the wind was too bad.  We ended up on the porch, 8 of us all total, had a great time talking and getting to know all of the others, since all of them come here on a regular basis, nice, smart and well traveled people.  The park is along a lake on the Rio Gande with mountains in the background.  What a great find for a spur of the moment search for a CG.  Back home, dinner eaten, a walk around the area looking for the dumpsters that we couldn't find (they ended up being at the road for pickup tomorrow), back inside and now we are relaxing, getting ready for the end of the day and a good nights sleep.

 

Brad and Diane