Truth or Consequences NM to Arizona AZ

Friday 20 May NM to Truth or Consequences

Woke early enough to see the sun rise in the bright blue sky : )  The blue seems really intense here!  We get on the road with a brief stop at Walmart to replenish, as we hope to dry camp for two nights at the Paseo del Rio State Park, just out of Truth or Consequences.  This town got it’s name from the popular US game show back in the 50’s - the first town to change it’s name to Truth and Consequences got the rights to have the show hosted from it and therefore make it famous.  It’s a much more interesting name than Hot Springs!

Main Street of Truth or Consequences

On the way north on the I25 we were stopped at the Inspection Station, not much traffic on this road and even though all vehicles were pulled over, there were no real hold ups.  We were waved straight through so didn’t get to find out what they were inspecting.

The land is arid but we could guess where the Rio Grande flowed as there were lush patches of green alongside, pastures, orchards, crops on one side of the road and desolation on the other.

 

We arrive nice and early in the day and choose the best site for us, a back-in just a little back from the track.  We have our own adobe shelter and a fire ring and are right across from the Rio Grande River, which is pretty fast moving!

Paseo del Rio State Park

We stay for two days, hot and sunny, windy but warm wind. Don’t see many critters, just a very long-eared hare of some sort, some lizards, huge ants and birds. We do a few walks along the river walk, some bike rides, watch the kayakers who came for the weekend, do some cleaning and maintenance, read some books, practise guitar….  I think we have this dry camping handled, seems to work pretty well and we are set up for it.  Only thing here is no cell coverage and of course that means no interweb either.  Surprising how much you rely on that to stay in touch with people and to sort out the next stage of our adventure.

Sunday, 22 May NM

Another beautiful day in Paradise, so we stooge around a bit more, reluctant to leave, do another bike ride, supply some drinking water to some neighbouring campers with a very cute puppy, who were waiting for a ride into town to get water and supplies etc., pack up and we are back on the road.  We head north passed the Elephant Butte Lake and decide on the lesser route 60 across some mountain ranges, rather than the directly north on the I25 to Albuquerque, as we have been there before on a previous trip on the bikes.

Amongst all the wide open country we see three tiny country towns (one called Pie Town, hah – who ate all the pies!!) some ranches, some 'beeves', lots of land, both extremely hilly and pancake flat, plus a paddock full of satellite dishes in the middle on nowhere (weird??) – the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.  Anyway it ends up a nice 200 mile trip to get over the state line to Arizona. 

 

Pie Town

National Radio Astronomy Observatory VLA Telescope

Already we are in another whole new State.  We must have crossed a dateline, honestly I don’t know how you are supposed to know, you just end up arriving an hour earlier than you planned!  Anyway we stop at the Casa Malpais RV Park in Springerville, Arizona, chosen because they supposedly have internet (NOT) but at least we can empty the tanks, do laundry, use power etc.   It’s very windy here and it has been all day through the mountains, but the wind calmed once darkness arrived and it's very dark here!