Back to Santa Fe - PJ's Maiden Voyage (1 of 5)

 April 20 - 30, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona - Deming, Socorro, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Seems like forever since there's been more than one location at the beginning of a post. Definitely too long!

Maggie and Jimmy arrive on the 24th and stay in PJ for a couple nights. Giving her a test-run for the big departure on the 26th. Maggie and I get caught up, the guys join a couple others to watch some of the NFL Draft, and later we enjoy pizzas with these dear friends. Friday I join them for our friend Anna's mother's funeral service and a short stop at the memorial gathering while Bill goes to dialysis. 

They are up and out early, but my own departure is delayed by high wind warnings at my first destination. While it's the third failure to launch in as many months, I'm confident this one is just a 24 hour set- back. And the right choice to be safe.

April 27 I say my good-byes, toss in the last few items, hookup the Jeep, and Tessa and I head down the road to New Mexico. It's a great feeling!

I always believed it would happen!

The wide open road beckons.....

There's some tail wind, but manageable and no dust.

Yet.

A few miles into New Mexico I notice the driver's side rearview mirror is facing away from me. Oh goody, my first roadside repair! Making it easier is that the tools are on the same side and quickly accessible. Tightened with a hex wrench and I'm back on the highway in minutes. Yay!

Warnings yell from my phone (it always feels like the apocalypse is imminent) that a dust storm may drop visibility to zero soon. Fortunately just-before-soon is when I'll be at my first stop, and I do get parked and plugged in before it hits. 81 Palms RV Park just off I-10 in Deming has great signage - appreciated even without the pending bad visibility - and the woman in the office is helpful. All pull-throughs, it's perfect for my first night. I don't bother with water or sewer, and settle in for a windy night.

The dust arrives with increased winds, and I watch traffic on I-10 being escorted by police through the area.

   

Meanwhile I'm enjoying spaghetti leftovers and streaming a movie. Glad I got the levelers, PJ doesn't move at all in the wind.

Calm blue skies welcome me back on the road Monday morning. A quick stop in Hatch to make more coffee and heat up a homemade breakfast burrito - and confirm the generator works well - and then a lovely drive on I-25 gets us to Socorro, New Mexico.

Much better than yesterday's dust, fog in the desert is always mystical.

This was originally a two-night stop for a whole day at the VLA, but with the one day delay, and my early arrival, I'm confident I can do the visit after I hookup.

I add water hookup here, but don't need sewer so I'm out in 30 minutes. The Socorro Rodeo and Sports Center is a surprisingly great park! FHUs on level dirt with small trees. Utilities are easy to access in all pull-through sites. Pedestals locked so arrival after 12:00 is necessary. 

The Very Large Array (VLA) is such a fascinating scientific location in a beautiful natural setting. Like Los Alamos :-), and I'm excited to see it again without the COVID restrictions of our 2020 visit.

New Mexico has some of the best information signs along their roads.

Hmm.....the Plains of San Augustin are as gorgeous as remembered, but there's something(s) missing. The only large antennas are clustered around the facility. There used to be a large triangle of large white discs spread out across the golden valley, including one next to the highway. None of those remain. 

All in one small (relatively) space.

When here in 2020 this foundation held one of the large antennas - it was amazing right along the highway.

The valley held several antennas set on rail tracks for moving locations. It appears even the tracks are gone.

All gone now (photo from NRAO).

The Visitor Center is postage-stamp-sized with none of the exhibits or movie I'm expecting. There is no staff, no gift shop and no signage to direct me elsewhere for these things. The walking tour is short and sort of interesting, but doesn't grab me. There is information on the new antennas they're changing to (thus the removal of the old ones), and there is one on site. 

The plaques are in good shape, but the interactive pieces no longer work.

One of the pillars of the Bracewell Sundial in front of an original antenna.

260 of these new antennas will be in four locations, replacing the 27 originals here in Socorro. With construction starting in 2028 it seems the old ones were moved out very early!

Wildlife has shared the plains since 1980.

Alas, the little town of Magdalena is cute, and the drive is pretty, and I'm in New Mexico! Back to Socorro where I find a nice little bistro with a good stuffed sopapilla to wrap up the day. I really didn't need two nights here after all.

A massive fire along the river in Socorro, they contain it in a couple hours. 

Tuesday is a quick drive so I take my time breaking camp and hooking up the Jeep. I'm beyond excited to arrive at Santa Fe Skies where we stayed in the past, and is even better than I remember. My back-in site is large but the utility placement by a small tree means I don't back all the way into the space. Still room for the Jeep up front, and Tessa has a nice backyard!

This park is known for its views and art pieces. My site has both!

Sherry's reservation is across the little road, and she pulls in about an hour later. It's SO great to see her!! I last saw her in September of 2022 in North Carolina, and that was another too-short visit. Now we have two weeks! In my favorite city! Woooo!!

Successfully (eventually) navigating through construction downtown we arrive at Tomasita's to celebrate the beginning of our adventure. With margaritas and nachos and lively conversation, it's a great beginning. 

Our waiter confirms taking phone pics is a big part of the job :-)

Easy to see how they've been here over 50 years.

A light drizzle turns to slush, a precursor to our upcoming weather.

Sherry will move from Santa Fe to Taos at the end of our two weeks so we want to check the drive for comfort-level in her RV. Also, both the Low Road and the High Road are beautiful drives that one must do while here.

Beautiful sandstone cliffs.

Capturing it all.

Not very Grande, but the Rio is still so pretty.

A familiar name for all RVers in a very different location.

A couple guides have fun with their rafters - "Bob doesn't add much weight". 

I love the subtle pinks and greens where the river originally cut through the area a gazillion years ago.

I swear the same intersection has been under construction every time we've been to Taos :-( Sherry asks Google for a "great restaurant near me" and we land at a tiny cafe at that intersection. Three parking spots, but we find one down the little road next door. There are only four tables inside and we enjoy the larger patio. And agree with Google - great food! 

Forgot to get a pic of the yummy enchiladas, but had to capture the tucked-in patio on the back of the small adobe.

I love the vintage character of this area.

The ever-changing clouds redefine the view over and over.

We find the rv park and it's definitely going to be a nice place close in town. After fueling up we head back on the High Road. It's wonderful having most of the drive to ourselves so we can take our time.

New Mexico has glorious forests. 

 Truchas Peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains have been part of the history and culture of the Puebloan people for centuries.

These long views are why I like to take the High Road back to Santa Fe.

Surprised by a few Hoodoos on the Nambe Pueblo.

The gate to Nambe Falls is being locked as we get there, but the short drive off the highway is a pretty one.

Sharing this first solo adventure with Sherry is extra special. Having so much in common - anchovies! - makes for an amazing experience. Lots more to do and see, in between rain and hail and winter-like temps. Sure glad we booked two weeks!

Miss Reese is growing up too fast.

Newbie Magnolia checking out big sis Penelope.

Elliott happy to be out playing with his family.