Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Attacking Tumbleweeds and Sideways Snow - We Must Be in New Mexico


Although I'm born under an air sign, and have always found the wind to be empowering, I'm no longer a big fan now that we live in a motorhome. 

The flapping of the slide toppers is annoying, sometimes sounding like a 747 is landing just over our satellite dish; sitting outside is not an option; and the dust finds its way into everything. Every. Thing.

So of course we're in New Mexico in March......

Sometimes there is wind in the "forecast", and other times it is just shows up. It's New Mexico, this is where wind lives. 

But Saturday there is an actual wind Advisory for the afternoon so I really want to get the motorhome back to our site.

Fortunately the day begins on a high note when I wake to a voice mail from the shop telling us everything is ready to go! We're there in 20 minutes.

Jeff is making sure the new windshield and surrounding area is all clean and shiny, and I take care of the paperwork. Although they kept it plugged in for part of the two days, the Inverter is off when I get inside. Still, only one thing is partially thawed in the freezer and everything is cold in the frig. 

And we have our home! 

Half way back the wind starts up, but we get set up before The Attack begins. 

Tumbleweeds do not kid around. Once fueled by high winds they organize into a massive force covering a lot of ground in a short period of time. We head back out in the Jeep and the frontage road is covered in dust and brush.


I didn't get any photos, but it looks just like this
Many are jumping the fence and taking on the interstate traffic. They show no fear.

We're on our way back to Santa Fe. My prescriptions arrived after we left so we take another trip up the Turquoise Trail. Not a hardship in our book :-)

In the distance we see the edge of the storm that is pushing the high winds. Dark clouds look like they're dropping rain. It's an awesome sight.

A quick purchase in Madrid at the chocolate shop (in Gypsy Plaza, it's a must do) is the only stop, but we take our time again enjoying this beautiful drive. 

Unfortunately the package only contains one of my three prescriptions so I have a new issue to resolve. Oh goody. 

At the Ranch House we enjoy at nice lunch and overhear a couple talking about snow and that "it was really coming down".

I figure they were driving in from Sandia Mountain, or maybe Taos.......

The wind is probably 35 mph when we head back down the scenic route. Not sure we could ever tire of all there is to see on this pretty highway.

And just south of Cerrillos the rain finds us. Temps continue to drop from 48 degrees to 35 degrees, and after we pass Madrid it's snowing sideways. Horizontal white blows across the road. It's not sticking, but it's intense.

15 miles north of Interstate 40 the white is sticking to the trees, the side of the road, and the windshield. It's 31 degrees, the wind is blowing 90 mph (okay, probably about 30 mph), visibility is reduced - it's amazing! 

As soon as we drop into the outskirts of Albuquerque, all precipitation stops, the sun is out, and of course the wind is still blowing. Because - New Mexico.

Back home, the wind has calmed from the morning, and the tumbleweeds are piled under the motorhome, around the picnic table, against the fences and trees. They look like someone turned them off.

After our exciting Saturday, we spend Sunday running errands. Well, I run errands. Tessa goes to the groomer, the Jeep gets washed, a new coffee maker and ceramic heater are purchased. All this takes nearly the whole day. I'm not happy with Tessa's cut, making her face look too "poodle-y" (no offense Lewis and Odie, it works for you guys), but it will grow out.

A couple more days in Albuquerque before continuing west.


18 comments:

  1. We are not fond of the wind especially when we're driving. However, there are times a cool breeze is wonderful. We've had many hot days this winter that the breeze would have been welcome.

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    1. We have been fortunate to enjoy a fairly mild, but cooler winter. I don't think we've seen 76 degrees since November:-)

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  2. This is hilarious. Hats off, well written. New Mexico, where wind lives. Tumbleweeds that show no fear. Love it! But not so cool about your meds. I swear, I think I have more of this little irritations since retiring than I did before. Good luck getting it fixed. I am SO sorry you are not going to be in Albuquerque for the Gathering of All Nations Pow Wow in April. I have wanted to it since the day we started full timing and have yet to make it. Tell Tessa I'm so sorry about her do. I know how it is when they butcher your hair cut.

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    1. I'm really bummed about missing the pow wow as well. Having gone to the two big ones in SoCal for years, I miss the dancing and regalia and the beautiful artistry. With our commitment in Laughlin, the timing just won't work. I'm thinking little irritations feel bigger in a tiny home:-)

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  3. Totally agree about the wind living in NM, especially in the spring. Seems like you'll have to chase the tumbleweeds away from your home.

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    1. We were fortunate that the park has a couple pitchforks and a pick up with a couple guys to use them for tumbleweed removal. It is a big job there! Fingers crossed we'll see less wind as we move west.

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  4. Wind and a MH don't mix. It really isn't fun. Glad you are all still in one piece:) Those dust storms and tumbleweeds are wicked! I have to remember not to do New Mexico in March:) Snow!!! Crazy!! Poor Tessa:( I say that "it will grown out" after lots of haircuts!! I understand, Tessa, how you feel:)

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    1. Yesterday's drive was a bit blustery but turned out to be short when we found another cool place to stop on our way to Gallup. We make sure she can't see a mirror for a couple weeks :-)

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  5. Strong winds and traveling in a MH is a pain in the derrière! No fun...but snow and wind...YIKES!

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    1. Fortunately we were in the Jeep for all the excitement, then it was much more fun. I try to drive on "less windy" days but in NM this time of year they seem to be very rare.

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  6. Wow, crazy weather and a very funny post. :-) We were in New Mexico the first time I ever heard a forecast for "blowing dust." I remember saying to Eric -- "What kind of a weather forecast is THAT?" We found out -- as you said, fine dust was everywhere. Never seen more than one or two tumbleweeds at a time, though. And yes, Tessa, I do understand about bad haircuts -- that's one of the only downsides of life on the road. :-)

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    1. Oh you must return in the Spring for a tumbleweed attack - quite exciting!

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  7. Poor Tessa....mom wouldn't even post a photo. :(

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    1. And she promises never to post one of me when I get a bad hair cut :-)))

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  8. LMBO!!! NM can be an adventure in a half...the attack of the fearless tumbleweeds LOL!!

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  9. Lol!!! Welllll you could always make a tumbleweed man. :-))... Sorry about Tessa hair cut... Hope it dried out fast. <3

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    1. Oh man I could make a scene from the drone wars from all the tumbleweeds that were there!! She's growing into it quickly - yay!

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