Yes, we’re back at Caballo!
The crew and I leave Leasburg Dam State Park this morning. We take Interstate 25 north and after a short time on the road, orange cones guide us toward an exit. A sign reads, “All vehicles must exit.” Oh, it’s border patrol. Better get out my license.
A guy in a tan uniform smiles as he walks up to my open window.
“How many people in your vehicle, ma’am?”
“Just me and the two dogs,” I reply, showing him my license.
He peers through the tinted windows in the back of the PTV.
“Anybody in the camper?”
“No.” I expect that he’ll want to look inside the Casita, but he comes back to my window.
“You stay warm in that?” he asks.
“Sure. I have an electric heater. I’m on my way to have a propane heater installed, too. I live year round in it.”
“You do?” He seems genuinely suprised and ready to talk some more. However, a car pulls up behind me and he sends me off with a “Drive safely, ma’am.”
I guess they’re into profiling and I don’t look like a transporter of illegals. I could have a couple dozen Mexicans crammed into my Casita. Oh well . . . that was easy.
Back on the interstate, the brown state park sign appears.
I have the choice of Percha Dam State Park to the left or Caballo Lake to the right. I turn right. Save Percha for the return trip. Always looking for something new, I drive us to the campground on the lake side of the dam, rather than return to the river park. Part of the campground is blocked off for the season, but there are plenty of electric hook-up sites. Staying here puts us only 16 miles south of Elephant Butte for the heater installation on Thursday.
Bridget, Spike, and I are drawn to the lake.
On the way to the steps leading to the boat ramp road, we pass a big motorhome. A lady comes out with her rat terrier. Spike starts yipping, letting me know he has to meet this dog. The lady obliges, and the dogs sniff. She says her terrier’s name is Cookie. After she and Cookie have gone inside their motorhome, Spike still doesn’t want to leave. I have to yank on his leash to get him to come along.
Surprisingly, there’s only a lone fisherman at the lakeside.
Even though it’s Monday, I expect people in such a gorgeous location. Hey, I’m not complaining! It’s balmy and breezy here. We stop at a picnic table in the shade of a tree. I see water birds skimming on the lake’s surface. A heron wades along the edge, occasionally jabbing the water.
We walk down to the boat ramp and venture out on the dock.
The crew does not like the dock bobbing up and down under their paws. Spike looks down at the water and I know what he’s thinking. “Don’t you dare jump in, Spike. C’mon, guys, let’s go back to the table.” We enjoy looking at the lake and the mountains for about another half hour before going back to our campsite.
I haven’t been to a grocery store in a long time.
Even so, I manage to pull together something to eat. I have a can of tuna fish and a few slices of bread. I don’t want to use up the bread for a tuna sandwich though, in case I want to make toast or a P&J sandwich tomorrow. When fulltiming, sometimes you have to be inventive. I boil some shell macaroni for macaroni-tuna salad. I don’t have an onion or a pepper, but I do have a bunch of parsley, still fresh (go figure). Well, parsley’s green. Let’s see. I’ll just scissor up a whole lot of parsley in with the tuna fish and mayo .. . . Mmm, not bad.
The crew is ready for supper, too.
That’s when we have a mini-disaster! I had put the full bag of dog kibble in the shower for when we were on the road. The bottom got wet. Duh. When I pick it up, the bottom opens up sending kibble all over the floor! (See photo in slideshow.) I gather most of it up into freezer bags. Spike and Bridget happily clean up the rest.
After supper we go up to the self-pay station to drop off a check for $4 for the night. I love how the New Mexico State Parks in the desert have so many well-marked trails. On the way back to the campsite, the crew meets a tough-looking guy by the name of Mr. Bojangles. (See photo in slideshow.)
I’m a chatterbox today . . . posted two entries!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 