ccsimpson

10/30 One night at Riverside Campground in the Caballo State Park below the Caballo Dam in southern NM. We sure were spoiled at Elephant Butte. We arrived at our current campground by driving around cow pies!!! Yep, that's what I said! Cows were roaming beside the road and in the camground. Cow pies are everywhere!! Gross and disgusting and lots of flies! There are even a few horse pies as well. Had no idea this was like this so that is why we are only staying one night to deduct a few more dollars from the state park pass. But even with the pies, the campground is full. The other couple CGs were also pretty full. Carol

10/28 to 10/30 extened our stay 2 more days at the South Monticello Point CG in Elephant Butte State Park just because it is so beautiful and peaceful here even if the lake is down. WOW! This is a secret gem of a NM campground. It is about 2 yrs. old and about 10 miles north of Elephant Butte. Sites are HUGE with gravel parking next to a covered concrete patio. The sites are also far apart. You have a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Had a few cool days but mostly in the upper 60s and low 70s. Our site on one loop backs up to a view of the lake as do other sites in the park. A great stop over for those going north and south. Even had a 'camp host' roadrunner on our steps to say hello. We have seen jackrabbits and lizards but haven't heard any coyotes howling yet. By the way, there is a Wal-Mart in Truth or Consequences-just can't seem to get away from them!!! Carol

10/25 at Elephant Butte, NM visiting areas with the NM state park pass. We are also leaving Albuquerque due to the bad weather that is headed this way. It is supposed to be mostly sunny and in the upper 70sand low 80s for the next several days further south. That is the benefit of living in a home on wheels, you just move! Carol

10/18 to 10/25 extended our stay another week here at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque to get mail,etc, and enjoy the beautiful 70s days we have been having. We did have strong wiinds all day yesterday and the RV was whistling and rockin' and rollin'!! Carol

10/11 to 10/18 plus maybe another week at Kirkland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. Just taking our time heading to AZ for the winter. Plan on dropping down I-25 to use some more of our NM state park pass. Just have to be sure we can fit in some of them. Right now the weather is just perfect with cool nights and warm days. There is lots to do here so we should stay busy! Carol

10/10 we extended one more day to get thru Columbus day and are still here at the Sante Fe,NM, fairgrounds. Had some snow in the upper elevations and woke up to beautiful scenery in the surrounding mountains. This is unusual for this time of year but it was a treat for us. Carol

Jim and Sandie, I know you are in Utah. Got snow? Watch out for that nasty weather and be safe. Nasty weather expected here in Sante Fe today as well with high winds and rain. Carol

10/ 3- 10/10 we are at the Rodeo Santa Fe, NM, Fairgrounds. Just backed up to the holding pens for the stock and rodeo arena on a dirt parking lot but have full hookups for $20 a night (cheap considering the other CGs in the area are anywhere form $35, $45+). The area has a full time resident and the gate has an entrance code so nobody can just come in and out. There is a model train show and old timey car show on the grounds this weekend so that should be fun. We just have to put up with the dirt but there are still 3 horses here and a bull with female and calf. So I get to play with some more horses that are right behind us. A good way to explore Sante Fe since that is what we came to do. We were her in 2000, before RVing so we get to stay longer and do more. Jim and Sandie, envious that you will be in Zion! That is one of our favorite places. Have a great time!!! Carol

9-29 to 10-2 we are in Las Vegas, New Mexico, at the Storrie Lake State Park. Hard to believe that we drove thru this CG way back in 2000 on a month long trip before our RVing days! We stayed at a lodge up in the mountains instead. It is just as windy now as it was 11 years ago! Back then, we also experienced a plane crash fire just one mountain over and left the lodge just before the fire reached the main road and it was closed. I have some good pictures of the fire after it came down the mountain to prove our adventure! It was very scary!! Oh, boy, back in civilization and have Wi-Fi! After leaving Woodland Park, CO, (the Aspen trees' colors up there now are beautiful!) we bought the NM state park pass in Raton, NM. Stayed one night in a very remote park in Raton and 2 nights at the next one in Cimmeron in the canyon and no internet or cell services at either parks. If you spend at least 23 nights (pass was $225) at any NM state park, it pays for itself and you only pay $4 for elec and $4 for sewage. It is good for 1 year from date of purhase so we are using part now and will use part when we head east a bit after spending the winter in AZ. Onlt drawback was that we barely fit into sites being 37' long. One site was the handicap site and the other was next to some big boulders. We pulled out this morning and manuvered out by the 'hair of our chinny chin chin'!! I can't believe we are so far south already! Kind of hate leaving MT, WY, and CO! We had great times! You guys still up north, watch out for snow, some is expected at higher elevations, even here in NM. Jime and Sandie, so glad you are on the road!!!!! Carol

9/23 - 9/25 Woodland Park, CO, for the weekend. Wanted to stay at the Air Force Academy a brt longer but there is a football game tomorrow and the CG is sold out, even overflow is full. It is better for us anyway because we forgot about the trains that run right next to the CG. Not many during the day, but at night, here they come! I think they blow the whistle because they know we are there! At least tonight we can get better sleep! Carol

9/21 to 9/23 Air Force Academy CG in Colorada Springs. Jerry andJanice, had we but known! I didn't check anything after yesterday morning! We too were at the Riverview CG on site 22! So close! We left this morning! So sorry we didn't get to meet you! Where are you headed next? We will be in Woodland Park, CO, over the weekend. Some fellow SKPs and friends work camp there. Hope you went up into the park. We went Sunday and it was gorgeous up there! Carol

9/15 to 9/21 We are still in Loveland, Co. We extended due to the snow in the Rockies last night and the rest of the weather is rainy and foggy. We came to see the Rockies and that was the reason for this stop. So we worked out some more PA pricing with the campground. Hey, that is one of the joys of being fulltimers! We can be flexible. So should be nice and warn and sunny by Tues, so we will go up then. Carol

9/13 til 9/16 in Loveland, Co, near Estes park and the Rocky Mountains. Want to go up into the park but the weather doesn't look good. We are only here for three days. Would hang aroung but campgrounds here are expensive! May have to adjust our plans. Hate to have to do that since we are right here. Left the west side of the Tetons day before yesterday and stopped overnight at a PA park in Lander, WY. Boy, we have been down some really lonely deserted roads and drove for miles and miles with out seeing a soul!! The drastic changing landscape was spectacular and it was so quiet. Now here we are in Loveland and this place is crazy with bumper to bumper traffic from Ft. Collins to the CG, even on a weekday and in the middle of the afternoon. This and the other CGs are almost 100% full. Kind of miss those quiet roads! But 90% of the time when we did see another human, it was an RVer! Sandie, enjoy Utah! Zion is one of our top favorite parks. You can leave that driveway before you know it!! Carol

Sandie, the BBQ was still really good. This was our third visit over the years. I'll save you a bite! Yes, we have really been having a good time siince we left you guys. We have seen some area we have not been to before and the scenery has just been great. Think we will head on down to the Rockies and Fort Colloins since we did what we wanted to in the Tetons today. The place was packed! We even took the tram to the top and I was sooooo..... nervous! But I did it, although I could not climb the last steps to the 360 degree view because there was no railing and the area on top was small and no railing. My fear of heights and yellow streak kicked in!! But after I got my pictures I was more than rready to go back down!!! I know you had a good time at the Escapade and I know how much you wanted to be out on the road. Hope your stay back at Billings will be a very short one and you can head out again really soon!! Just be careful and safe! Carol

9/9 til 9/12 We are in Tetonia, ID. We are on the west side of the Tetons. Thought we would explore this area since we have been on the east side a few times. Took a short drive up a canyon almost directly beneath the tallest point. Tomorrow we may drive a little north and visit Mesa Falls. Just left West Yellowstone and a Nat. forest CG. It was full and Yellowstone was packed! A great day in the park but when leaving in the evening, it was bumper to bumper. Amazing! We thought it would be nice and quiet! Even had 2 people ask us what time we were leaving because they wanted our site. Madison CG in the park was booked til next week! Guess the nice weather brought out the older crowd. Then we will probably move on down to Victor, ID, and take the scenic pass (not towing!)over to Jackson and do the tram ride to the top of the mtns. Of course, we also have to eat the delicious BBQ at Bubbas in Jackson! Yep, I am also finding lots of huckleberry ice cream in these towns! Love that stuff!! Carol

9/6 Probably at the Campground in Ennis on the way to Yellowstone from Great Falls, MT. We have driven that route before. Sure hate to miss another visit since we are so close. It was great here and I got to stock up on lots of huckleberry stuff, especially the ice cream! You can only get the stuff in the northwest so that is one of the first things we look for is a ice cream shop tha thas the huckleberry flavor. 9/7 til ?? In Yellowstone unless we see a snowflake! Sure don't want to get caught in the snow and temps in the park are already in the low 30's at night. Carol

Aug 28 til Sept 6 We are BACK in Great Falls, MT, again at the Air Force base campground. It is one of our favorite towns and we somehow seem to always wind up here when we travel out west. Weather was still very warm but for the next 3 days it will only be in the 60s. After all the heat we had this summer, I will take it! We have already been back to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. We enjoy it each time we come. We figured this would be a nice place to spend Labor Day. Then we will start heading South and maybe visit Yellowstone again since we are so close. But if I see a single snowflake, I am leaving!!! All you at the Escapade, have a great time!! Carol

8/21 to 8/27 We are in Helana, MT, at the Lincoln RV Park surrounded by mountains and watched the sun go down behind them from the CG. Ain't life grand?!? Will stay a week and take advantage of the reduced rate and do a few fun things around town. Been thru here but never stopped long enough to explore. We just left Billings, MT, and had a really nice visit with Jim and Sandie. Got to go to the fair and a rodeo! Yee-Haa! Sandie took my picture with my cowgirl hat on and I emailed it to the kids so they could drool over their mom having so much fun!! We also took the loop drive thru the Beartooth Mtns. and if you EVER in the Billings area, it is a drive not to be missed! The scenery up there is just breathtaking! Sandie and Jim, it was just so nice getting to know you better and sure hope we see you soon in AZ! Thanks again for your good company! Carol

8-13 to 8-20 We are in Billings, MT, for a week, not only to see some new friends, Jim and Sandie, but also to attend the fair and rodeo. I'm excited about BOTH and I get to play cowgirl again!! Spent 2 nights in Casper and took a day trip to Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Matin's Cove, Alcoae Dam, Alcova Resevoir, and Pathfinder resevoir. The resevoirs are in the middle of nowhere, but just very scenic. It was an all day adventure and then left the next day and drove to straight to Billings. Whew, a little tireing so taking a day to do some laundry, go to Wal-Mart, get gas..etc. I think I still need a nap!! Carol

8-11 & 12 Casper, WY. We want to visit Independence Rock. We followed the Oregon Trail a few years ago but couldn't see the rock because of the weather, so figured we would top off that adventure since we are in the area. Sandie and Jim, we are almost there!!! I am not sure yet if we will stop in Sheridan overnight or not, so we should be in Billings by Sat. or Sun. Send me a private message and I will give you my cell #. Looking forward to this! Carol

Sandie, one of my favorite actors is Sam Elliot (when he was younger) and he made a HANDSOME cowboy. Of course Tom Sellick wasn't too shabby either!!. There is nothing like a good looking rugged man under a cowboy hat!! But I do love rodeos. We are almost at your door!! May be there in a week or so! Carol

Aug 5. We are in Cheyenne, WY, at Warren AFB. Have to boondock til Mon. because thus place is so popular. But there is a nice breeze and will be in the 50s at night. I'll take it!! Plus the beautiful pronghorn are all over the base. We will explore Cheyenne some more. I can't believe we are in the same spot and town we were in one year ago at this time. Just missed the Frontier Days but saw it last year. Now I get to play 'cowgirl' and wear my western, jewelry and shirts. Love the west and I am sure I will fiand a rodeo somewhere!! Carol

Aug 3 Still in Belleville, KS. Had to stay one more day. Then back to our plan to stop overnight between here and Cheyenne, WY, before staying in Cheyenne for several days. I will be so glad to leave KS because it is getting just too expensive! Lets see: RV rapairs in Chanute (not of our making) $$$, got a flat tire in the Chanute city campground $$$, brake pad wore out just as we got to Belleville $$$. Thank goodness the tiny town had an auto shop and they fit us in. We did get to spend another day at this nice fair! We are so close to the NE border so will be glad to cross it! Carol

Aug 1-2 Belleville, KS. We are at the Belleville Fair in this very small town in north Kansas. This is a neat fair that has 4-H animals, tractor pulls, carnival, entertainment, and mini-stockcar racing. We stumbled on this fair about 7 years ago when headed south on Hwy 81. We really enjoyed this fair then and I am sure we will enjoy it today. When we left Topeka yeasterday, it got up to 108!!! The RV was so hot, I didn't even need to turn on the hot water heater to do dishes, the water was so warm! Should be 97 today, so it is better that over a hundred!! The ONLY reason we were here in the heat was for factory RV repairs in Chanute. Aug 3 We will stop overnight at a little PA park right off the intersate in Nebraska about half way bewtween Bellleville and Cheyenne, WY. Carol

Jim and Sandie, will keep you posted as we get closer and know more about our dates. Carol