Thursday’s story

Published on March 4, 2010 in Pets, RV Maintenance and RV Trips. 5 Comments Tags: , , , , .

RV’s are cheaply constructed houses that roll down the road. Things shake lose as well as break like house things from normal wear and tear.

One of the things that “broke” this trip was the plastic lever that throws the dead bold on the “front” door. But you can’t buy only the plastic lever.

The entire front door lock assembly was awaiting our arrival here at Rose Valley RV Ranch. Steve decided to install today.

Karl has become accustomed to “Adventures with Steve” – they take off in the Jeep with a first stop at the local bakery for sustenance and then on to some wonderful venue for a run around and who knows what.

But this morning, things were delayed as the door assembly was tackled.

As many things RV do, this turned out to be less than an easy fix.

Patience is not going to be on any of our tombstones…

Even Bob kept an eye on the progress.

Oh, brother…might as well catch a nap.

Finally, the thing was finished. Karl and Steve went off in search of adventure and serious napping could be had.

And then it was evening. Another day done. Another desert sunset.

Thursday’s story.

Bob in the desert

Published on March 3, 2010 in Pets and RV Trips. 5 Comments Tags: , , .

It was 60 this afternoon… I had to work. Steve took Karl up to Pinos Altos to see what they could see and hopefully some of what they saw would be snow.

Bob and I stayed home. I took my computer outside, put Bob on his leash and we enjoyed a bit of sunshine.

There are a lot of birds in the Junipers. I stayed in the shade, but the sun was warm and that was Bob’s choice.

Later, Bob waited for Steve and Karl to return.

Bob in the desert.

Into the sun

Published on March 3, 2010 in Photos and RV Trips. 5 Comments Tags: , .

Cholla not long after sunrise.

Along the morning walk.

Karl.

Into the sun.

More Monday morning.

Published on March 1, 2010 in Pets and RV Trips. 6 Comments Tags: , .

Our morning walk was warmer, drier and more colorful than yesterday…and Karl found a friend! She is a cattle dog cross, about 4 years old and she and Karl became best friends and immediately launched into the “chase you, chase me, bump, wrestle, run” game.

Karl was reluctant to separate but I assured him that he will be able to play with his friend another time…probably this afternoon as her person told us to just knock on his door when we went for an afternoon walk.

The walking trail is beautiful – probably a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile around a large desert field.

Cholla flowers in the morning sun.

Monday morning

Published on March 1, 2010 in RV Trips. 3 Comments Tags: , .

Sunrise over Rose Valley RV Ranch promises exactly what is forecast – clear, sunny skies and with the current (6:30 a.m.) temperature at 34, the daytime temp should reach the forecast mid-50’s. I will be digging out a pair of shorts and Karl will be looking for shade!

It is back to work Monday, but I had a wonderful 3 1/2 day weekend, good travel, we are in a beautiful rv park that has a great walking trail, nice folks and at the moment, no immediate neighbors. Looking forward to a good work week, beautiful scenery and a bit of exploration.

Today, the plan is a morning of work, visiting for Steve and then we will roll Wild Thing out for a wash and propane. On return, we’ll set up for our planned stay of 2-3-4 weeks here – getting out the grill is on my list!

Happy Monday!

and then….AND THEN!!!

Published on February 28, 2010 in RV Trips. 7 Comments Tags: , .

So, we arrived in Silver City, NM with temperatures in the 60’s. The sky was overcast with the approaching forecast storm, but the air was balmy. Wild Thing looks like she was 4 wheelin’…the Jeep, looks like it was drug behind a 4 wheeler. I thought about digging out a pair of shorts as we were getting settled.

The storm was forecast to bring rain in the valleys and snow down to 6500 feet in this part of New Mexico. I woke up this morning to a temperature of 45F and wind rattling an open window and roof vent. And then…AND THEN!!!

This gave me the giggles…”unknown precip”.

In Montana we call it snow :)!

Snow is not unheard of here and this winter most of the storms were on a southern track leaving Montana fairly dry and mild with colder and wetter/snowier conditions here and at nearly 6000 feet elevation, Silver City gets it on occasion and sometimes a lot of it.

Sunny New Mexico RV park filled with RVs tagged Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota…Montana… All of us looking for a winter escape…

Rose Valley RV Ranch, Silver City, New Mexico February 28, 2010.

Bosque Birdwatcher’s RV Park and “the Owl”

Published on February 27, 2010 in Front Porch Musings and RV Trips. 5 Comments Tags: , .

San Antonio, New Mexico is a small town, located just off I-25, south of Socorro by 10 miles, Albuquerque by 80 miles. It is home to 2 unique spots: Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge and The Owl bar and Cafe.

Bosque del Apache is Spanish for “woods of the Apache,” and is rooted in the time when the Spanish observed Apaches routinely camped in the riverside forest. Since then the name has come to mean one of the most spectacular National Wildlife Refuges in North America. Here, tens of thousands of birds–including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and many kinds of ducks–gather each autumn and stay through the winter. Feeding snow geese erupt in explosions of wings when frightened by a stalking coyote, and at dusk, flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the marshes.

In the summer Bosque del Apache lives its quiet, green life as an oasis in the arid lands that surround it. From the Bosque del Apache Wildlife website

From the main intersection in town, a small sign pointed the way to Bosque Birdwatcher’s RV Park, 3 miles south. The spot appeared to be a farm turned into RV spot with maybe 30 spaces that bordered the wildlife refuge.

This morning I saw what I think are Sandhill Cranes that live in the refuge.

Beautiful in the morning’s pink alpenglow.

Sunrise to the east was worth watching as well.

Some time later we met Mike, Steve’s longtime friend who was his best man at our wedding, at The Owl Bar and Cafe.

The Owl opened in 1947 as a bar but soon after opening, the atomic scientists working the area on the atomic bomb, convinced the owners to start grilling some food at the bar which gave birth to the “Owlburger” – a green chile cheeseburger which has both local and world fame.

These 4 booths, a few tables and a long carved wood bar make up the interior. The burgers were great and the company wonderful. Mike continued north on his way home in eastern MT after a trip to the southwest. We went on our way to Silver City and are now parked at the Rose Valley RV Ranch.

Rose Valley RV Ranch has some interesting history as well…minana!

Into New Mexico

Published on February 27, 2010 in Front Porch Musings and RV Trips. 2 Comments Tags: , .

Yesterday (Friday) morning, we left Pueblo, CO at 9:15, having waited a bit to let snow that ranged from a dusting to 5 inches on Raton pass have a chance to melt.

The road was mostly dry at first but gave way to water and a bit of slush.

Thankfully, Steve had done some repair work on the windshield washer tubes…

‘cuz it got messy!

Raton Pass was not dry, but it was above freezing, sunny and early traffic and plows made for a messy, but easy crossing with no slip-sliding away!

And then we were into New Mexico.

Blue sky and clouds that looked like they had been hand painted dotted the sky.

These photos end with Raton Pass.

The terrain changed from flat dessert to rolling desert and then flattened out into Socorro and finally San Antonio, NM where we spent Friday night at the Bosque Birdwatcher’s RV Park and home to the FAMOUS Owl Bar and Cafe.