Thursday - Almost to Texas

The day started in Benson, AZ, where we spent the night after a good cache day. No sign of the RV Park Manager this morning nor his warnings about knocking over the water spigot. We made it out safely and without any mishap.

Just a few hours later, we were crossing into New Mexico and speeding on towards Las Cruces. We arrived at the Hacienda RV Resort just before 2pm. What a difference from the Pardners RV Park. Wide streets, a clearly marked entrance and an office staff that greeted us warmly. They even wanted to meet Dexter and we brought him in for a look. His day was made with a dog biscuit and we marveled in the differences between the 2 parks. Of course, Benson was 20 bucks and this place was 70. I guess money does buy happiness!

They parked us next to a high dollar Prevost nestled among 3 or 4 other Prevosts. Being 45 feet long got us a super site and added another 10 bucks to the bill. This is being posted via their complimentary Wi-Fi but then I guess we really paid for it.

So, the highlight of the afternoon and evening was the drive out to see Steve & Raymond and their new place at the foot of the Organ Mountain range. The Organ Mountains are part of the southern tip of the Rocky Mountain range that ends in El Paso just 20 miles down the road.

The mountains look close enough to touch from their backyard but they were still a mile away and about a mile higher. Raymond said their place was about 4300 feet above sea level and the top of the tallest peaks stretch nearly to 10,000 feet.

We spent several hours talking about our mutual experiences in Quartzsite and learning all about their terrific house. It is very energy efficient and built in a southwestern adobe style with a courtyard and 15 inch thick earth walls.

We sat in their living room watching the sunset and talking about how they found the place, how long the drive was to Dallas, and all manner of other topics that occurred to us at the time. It was too cold this time of year to spot any rattlesnakes or scorpions in the desert just feet out their back door.

We left there about 8pm and had dinner at an Appleby's near the RV Resort. We're doing laundry tonight and will head back into Texas in the morning.

There is a Border Patrol checkpoint about 15 miles down the Interstate where everyone is stopped for a brief search & questioning but we have passed through them before and it is a simple process. Even Dexter, who is half Chihuahua, rates only a passing glance

The only photos I have to post are a couple taken out the front windshield of the RV as we descended IH-10 into Las Cruces. They show the Organ Mountain range in the distance. Steve & Raymond live on the far side of Las Cruces at the foot of these mountains.