because I can.
October 2018
Located just south of Truth or Consequenses New Mexico these parks offer water and a view.
New Mexico state parks are a great value $14 with elec/water. Stay up to 14 days. They offer in and out of state annual camping passes which reduce the rate to $4. Caballo Lake also has full
Percha Dam is right on the Rio Grande River so it does not have a dump station you will have to use Caballo Lake. The hiking here is along the river.
October 2018
This place is HUGE.
I have to say I was a little overwhelmed at first so I just went straight to the main entrance. There are 173 developed campsites. 144 with w/e. 8 w/s/e. Primitive, boat in and beach camping.
My site was level and a picturesque.
I woke the first day to the sounds of Gambel Quail covey moving from one level to the next. They sound more like a prairie dog than a bird and I enjoyed their morning wake up calls daily since they don’t start till way after sun up.
I was also fortunate to be there during a full moon.
And a nice rain storm with extras.
September 2018
While resting up in Blanca for a month, I visited www.volunteer.gov and put in my application to volunteer. And it looks like I will be going to White Sands in November but first I need to be fingerprinted, and that happens once a week in Alamosa. I arrived early and parked right in front of the police department when I got done I asked about parking and was told to leave it where it was. And that is how it is, friendly and accommodating and a great little town to take a walk.
Below is the artwork on the side of the building that houses the Museum.
Which sadly was closed the day I was in town.
You can enjoy art on every corner.
Downtown has shops and eats and a great thrift store.
And heading west out of town is all the big box and grocery stores you could ever want.
There are plenty of camping options in the area.
September 2018
I love the San Luis Valley of Colorado and the ride to The Great Sand Dunes National Park from Blanca is below Mt Blanca and as you approach the Park you begin to see the Dunes off in the distance.
I did not stay at the Pinon Flats campground but I did check it out and the views are stupendous.
The visitor center has a film and exhibits and a great deck.
You can walk among the dunes and at certain times of the year there is water from Medano Creek to wade in.
Definitely worth it if you are anywhere near.
This charming town has a grocery/liquor store, homemade fudge, Ice cream parlor, Lou’s Restaurant with great food that serves beer, wine and liquor.
My first trip to the store
I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of Pierogi and pickled vegetables.
This is my favorite way to have Pierogi.
Pierogi for one.
I have a 6″ enamel coated cast iron frying pan that is perfect of this kind of meal.
1/2 medium onion, sliced.
1 tbsp Butter
4 frozen Pierogi
1/4 water or broth
1/2 cup of frozen peas
Sour Cream and/or grated cheese to taste.
Saute the onion in the butter till it just begins to soften place the pierogi on the onion and add 1/4 water or broth. Cover and simmer on low for 5 mins. Add the peas and cover and simmer for another five to seven mins until the pierogi are tender.
I like a little grated cheddar and a dollop of sour cream. If you are using a pierogi with a thick dough just adjust your first cooking time.
This method works well with frozen Chinese Dumplings. Just a little water and a low flame and a lid.
I have learned over the last 35 years of RVing how easy it is to prepare my favorite recipes with less water and less pans. At some point in the future I will publish a list of my essential cooking tools and pans.
Another highlight of Blanca is it’s Art Gallery. Forest Tango Art Works owned by Joyce and Terry Henrie go take a look at their amazing work.
Joyce has many talents but her fiber art is where my heart is and she put me on to Sprang finger-weaving. Now I have another outlet for my mass amounts of yarn.
I have one more picture to share, this is what I found on one of my wanderings around town.
A fence of snow Skis.
On the way to Blanca, Co. back roads, of course, I came across the memorial to the Texas Cattle Drives on RT. 71 plenty of room to pull off and rest.
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I stopped off in Limon at the KOA to do laundry and dump and fill and then on down to LaJunta KOA which is right next to a Walmart Supercenter to stock up on groceries. I know what to expect at KOA when I need to get things done.
The drive from Lajunta to Walsenburg on Rt.10 is scenic, mostly ranch land.
Lathrop State Park on Hwy160 just outside Walsenburg is a great place to stop. E/W hookups and great views.
The mountain pass on Rt.160 is a gradual rise and descent and Matilda, I finally decided on a name for my bounder, had no problems at all.
The Blanca RV Park wound up being my home for a month and I enjoyed every day in this charming little town. My view out my front window was Mt.Blanca.
Be sure to put Blanca RV Park on your list if in the area. Full hookups are $30 a night also weekly and monthly rates available. Great WIFI and helpful managers. The owner is hands-on and is working on an expansion of 50/30 amp sites. Convenience store, propane and gas on site. Noisy during the day from Rt160 and a railroad track in the back but quiet at night.
June 2018
On the way to Rapid City, I stopped at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Wonderful museum and a nice hike up to the beds. Plenty of RV parking.
Then on up to Harrison NE where they have a very nice city park with 2 spaces with electric and water and showers and restrooms in the park. Donation Box.
Next stop was Fort Robinson State Park by chance. I was on my way and there it was. They have camping, lodging food, and wonderful museums. The Grounds are large so be prepared for a good hike. This area has a wealth of information on Red Cloud one of the most important leaders of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909.
Next Stop Rapid City SD
June 2018
From Bandera, I had to stop in Robert Lee (where my late husband and I bought a small ranch in the middle of nowhere) to take care of some business.
If you are ever passing through from Abilene to San Angelo take a drive down route 158 from US HWY 277 to US HWY 87 and enjoy the view.
Then on to Post and the Post View RV Park which is an older park but still has good full hookups. Post is the Garza county seat and was established by CW Post the cereal guy in 1907. Neat Museum and Old Mill Trade Days https://www.oldmilltradedays.com/on the second weekend of the month from March – December. I have done this market with merchandise and with food and it is always a good market with lots of variety.
One night in Amarillo and then out of Texas.
I love the plains so I always go straight up from Amarillo on US Hwy 87 to 287 to 385. Just make sure everything is secured it’s rough going through OK.
And I like to stay outside Lamar at Sportsmans RV Park and Horse Motel http://www.rvandhorses.com, another older park with reasonable rates and good hookups.
Leaving Lamar heading to Denver I had to stop twice because of wind, remember to slow down or pull over on the plains the winds are vicious.
Denver is busy and in the summer it is hard to find a space without far in advance reservations, I was lucky enough to secure 2 nights at Prospect RV Park http://www.prospectrv.com . Right off I-70 and fairly close where my sister lives.
She took me on a road tour of Lookout Mountain and Central City and on to lunch in Nederland.
My sister takes photography seriously and is very good at it.
Next Stop Cheyenne, Wyoming.