When I quit smoking a few years ago I really had a hard time while I was driving so I started thinking about spending the lottery I would win someday. It really helped melt away the miles without a ciggy.
So now I am planning the road trip I will take when this shut down is over. And it will be over. We might have a new normal, but this will end.
However, I would love to find that van to do it in.
Does anybody have a trade? Fully functional older class A can spend time off-grid with no problems.
FOR SALE: Ready for Boondocking. $20,000 USD – Negotiable Class A – Gas / Las Cruces, NM
All Appliances work. Sleeps 4.The couch opens to bed. Rear bed platform has a power lift with Table (2) Storage.4000W Onan 190 hrs regularly maintained. Fantastic Fan, WiFi Ranger Sky Pro Lite, Backup Camera, 28 inch AC/12V TV with DVD Player, Dish Wally, and King Dome receiver. BlueOx towing system with new BrakeBuddy.New Tires 12/2018, Tuneup 12/2018, Furnace overhauled 12/2018, TurboKool 12v Swamp Cooler installed in Bedroom 1/2019, 400watt Solar w/ 2 Interstate Deep Cycle 903-S Batteries Magnum Energy MS Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter/Charger Blue Sky Energy SB300i Charge Controller installed 2/2019, Steer Safe installed 2/2019, New 13,500AC in Living room 4/2019.
I have decided to stop for a while and enjoy New Mexico.
In the next post, I will be selling my Motorhome or hopefully finding someone with a Class B that wants to trade. I feel the need to go smaller if I am going to continue doing this by myself.
Last week one of my favorite bloggers, Kevin Lee Jacobs of “a garden for house” posted a new twist on one of my favorite comfort foods.
First the way I was taught by Jeanie my adopted mom.
1 small Onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 can of green peas, undrained.
1 lb elbow macaroni
Parmesan cheese
Place the onion, garlic in a small saucepan with a little olive oil, start sauteing over medium heat add the can of peas and liquid cover and reduce heat to low and let simmer while you boil the macaroni to al dente.
Drain and add the pea mixture and sprinkle with parmesian to taste.
My RV way.
1/2 onion slice thin.
chopped garlic to taste.
olive oil
1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas.
1 cup medium pasta shells.
Parmesan cheese.
sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
Saute the onion in olive oil in a small saucepan till soft, add the garlic and peas and cover and turn to low.
Boil the pasta till al dente, my rv way uses less water, 3 cups in a 3-4 quart saucepan. You can salt the pasta water, I don’t to cut down on my salt intake, it’s my addiction instead of sweets.
The peas and the pasta should take the same amount of time.
Drain the pasta and save some of the water to sauce up the dish. Mix it all together add salt and pepper to taste and top with cheese.
The picture below is with another pasta, I prefer shells because they trap the peas, but your favorite will work just as well in the recipe.
Pasta Piselli
Now head over Kevin’s site and try his great recipe and while you are there sign up for his newsletter and videos he is a great cook and teacher.
Leasburg Dam State Park just north of Las Cruces NM sits above the Rio Grande with great views of the Organ Mts. and surrounding hills.
The trails are easy and plentiful through the whole park.
A word of advice e/w spaces 25-29 is right next to a railroad track that is busy. As in 4:00 AM busy. It doesn’t show on the map of the park.
Percha Dam State Park
Another nice park on the Rio Grande River with easy access.
Rio Grande River
Right after taking this photo a huge Bass jumped, I sat with camera ready till it got dark but he must have been camera shy, never jumped again.
Both parks have a lot of Humming birds.
Hummer nest in Mulberry Tree.
The Rio Grande River Trail goes from north of Elephant Butte to Las Cruces and beyond. I took the picture of the nest along the trail north of the dam, I would probably not have seen it if I hadn’t been noshing on Mulberries, took me back to my childhood. The trail was blocked by debris just north of the area.
I spent 10 days at Percha Dam and except for the weekend, the park is quiet with a really nice bird alarm clock in the morning.
Pancho Villa State Park has a great museum on the history of the area and 63 camping sites. 30 and 50 amp, E/W and water only and tent sites are available.
If you plan on spending time in New Mexico the state park pass is a bargain, out of state visitors pay $225 for a year and only $4 for e/w, $8 for full hook ups and $0 for boon-docking sites. You can stay up to 14 days. I have stayed at 2 parks so far this year and my pass is half paid for.
Campground
Coote’s Hill looking towards Columbus
The pioneer museum in the old depot admission is by donation and worth it.
Make sure you stop by the Patio Cafe for breakfast or lunch homemade food at its best.
This is what I found exploring.
highway art
forgotten shrine
I was anxious about going into Mexico by myself , so I reread a book that everyone, woman or man, who travels alone should read.
Fear Less vs Fearless The Journey of a Lifetime by Malia Miles Lane. Available on Amazon.
Palomas Mexico is 3 miles south of Columbus and the only 24hr border crossing in New Mexico. If you don’t want to drive in to Mexico there is a pay lot $5 or you can park at the Family Dollar like the locals do for free, a purchase would be a nice thing to do.
Pancho Villabehind the Pink Storemore behind the Pink Storein front of the Pink Store
I got a free eye exam and got new glasses ( no line Varilux) for under$150.
I walked around town and had lunch at the Pink Store and 2 hours later picked up my glasses.
a beautiful parkcolorful stores
art in Dr.Garcia’s office.
I had a wonderful day in Mexico and plan on returning to Columbus.
Sunrise through my windsheildPalomas from the campground at night.
