March 14th through March 20th, 2022 - Week Eleven - Las Cruces New Mexico and El Paso Texas

Destination number: 90/170/28

Hard to believe it, but Remi and I have been on the road for 11 weeks since the first of the year when we departed Yreka. This week, as we continue to make our way back to California, we still are having amazing adventures. Though this week lead to some amazing destination, sadly we didn't get to exploit those adventures quite as much as we might have liked, but let me not get ahead of myself. :-)

This week, we anchored down in the New Mexico town of Anthony. The RV Park, interestingly enough is called "El Paso West RV Park", presumably because it is just west of the city of El Paso, but more on that proximity in a moment. This RV park, is the polar opposite of the RV Park Remi and I stayed at down near Houston. This one has lots of Full time residents. About half of the rigs don't look like they have rolled in 10 years at least. But, that's ok, everyone I have talked too seemed very nice, just maybe not as fortunate as some. And, there are lots of just plain working folks here that probably work minimum wage jobs just trying to get by. One thing I will say about this RV park, the water pressure will take your hide off. As a result, I put the pressure regulator on the hose so I didn't blow out my plastic pipes and cause a leak somewhere that I couldn't get too. Fortunately, any such disaster like that was averted. However, crossing from Texas to New Mexico meant that I went from Central time to Mountain time, Oh, and the day lights savings time change thrown in just to make everything interesting.

Keep in mind, I needed to always sign in and work from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM pacific time, regardless of what the local time was. In order to keep my head glued on straight, I kept my big desk clock always on pacific time. :-) I will admit, when I was in Central time, I could sleep in until 7:00 AM and start work at 9:00 AM because Pacific time, it was just striking 7:00 AM. :-) I kind of got use to sleeping in. :-) 

Now, the town of Anthony New Mexico, borders right up against Anthony Texas. These two towns probably don't mean anything to you, and I can't blame you , they didn't mean anything to me either. But, their nearest big cities are Las Cruces New Mexico and El Paso Texas. Also, the line that separates mountain time from Central time runs right along the state line. Let me tell you, as I went to various stores and stuff to do shopping or to grab a bite to eat, and return to the RV park; my phone was always changing what time it was. The RV park was in Mountain time. One day at 11:30 AM Pacific time, I took my lunch and drove to Subway. I knew I had a meeting at 1:00 PM pacific time, so I knew I had to be back by 1:00 Pacific time (2:00 PM Mountain time), which shouldn't be a problem because the Subway was only 6 minutes away. The Subway was just down the street in Anthony Texas and as I stepped away from my desk, I checked my phone and it said it was 12:32.  I hoped in the car, and drove to the Subway. I got stopped at a railroad crossing for a super long freight train. Once I arrived at the Subway, and ordered my sandwich, I looked at my phone and it said the time was 1:58 PM. 

WAIT, WHAT, 1:58.. OH CRAP, I'm supposed to be hosting a meeting in 2 minutes. How the heck (not the word I actually used) did that happen? That train was long, but not that long and yes I had been reading e-mail while waiting for the train to pass, but an hour??? CRAP! The blood drained from my face and I was in full panic mode. The sandwich maker saw in my face I was in distress and finished up my sandwich rang me out and sent me on my way. Of course to make things worse, I fumbled the credit card reader twice before I finally got it right. I dashed out to the car and started it. The dash clock said "12:05 PM" (The dash clock on the jeep is still in Pacific time). I'm like "What, what is going on here? (STRESS FACTOR MAXIMUM!) I am so confused. I rush back to the RV park and run into the motorhome and the desk clock says 12:13 PM. WHAT? I wanna cry. :-( I look at my phone, it says 1:13 PM... Huh??? I swear, not 20 minutes ago it said it was 1:58 PM.... "What the hell is going on?" I checked my work computer and it said 12:15 PM. So, with that, I gave up, sat down and enjoyed my sandwich. Sigh... (and the color slowly returned to my face.)

It took a while for it to dawn on me that I had traveled into Central time to go to the Subway to get my sandwich. 1:58 PM Central time was 12:58 Mountain time, or 11:58 Pacific time. "Ohhh, I get it." I'm such an idiot. :-( 

The rest of the week was pretty un-eventful. I marvel at all of the different locations that Remi and I have traveled too. This area is flat plateau land with mountains to the west of it. If you can look past all of the highways and traffic and take in the scenery, it is very pretty! :-) Also, there is a jogging path just east of the RV park, Remi and I went out there twice a day to get some exercise and I can tell I'm slowly getting in better cardio shape by Remi and I getting out regularly. :-) Also, just down the road is a Camping World, I always love going into that place just to look around and see if there is anything that I MUST have. Fortunately, on this trip, I came out empty handed! :-) 

Its funny, I'm not very far from White Sands which I was at earlier in the trip, but I forgot to grab a badge for my hiking stick when I was here the last time, so I was able to drive by White Sands National Park and pick up a badge since there is no telling when I will be in this part of the country again. 

As Saturday arrived, I get all excited to explore a new area and some of the sites around it. This Saturday, Remi and I hit Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe mountains National Parks. I like to take Remi to as many outings as I can because so much of the week, she lays on the couch and watches me work away. I checked the internet and it said that "Dogs can not go into the caverns, but as long as it is below 70 degrees you can leave your dog in the car. Or, if you prefer, you can leave your dog in the dog kennels at the visitors center." This gave me the perfect alternative to take Remi and include her where I can. With my reservation in hand for the Cavern tour, Remi and I set out for our 2+ hour trip to Carlsbad caverns. 

Once we arrived, I found cars for as far as the eye can see, and it's 9:00 AM. What is going on, Ughhh, "SPRING BREAK". Sigh. as I drive through the parking lot, saw several signs that said "Under no circumstances may dogs be left in cars un-attended..." "Uh-ohh". I was already nervous because with all the cars and people here, would there be space for Remi? Sadly, there was not. With the forecast for the day being 61 degrees, I talked to a Ranger about my plight, and he said, "Well, you are welcome to leave and come back later in the day, maybe a kennel will open up?" Great idea, except all of the tours of the caverns today are full, so if I'm going to go, it would be at my scheduled time of 9:30. Sigh.... The ranger allowed me to go into visitors center for a few minutes to check out the displays and get any souvenirs I might want, but he warned me he would check on Remi in a half hour and I should be back to the car by then. After exploring the visitors center, which is huge and very nice by the way, I returned to Remi and we went exploring around the rest of the park. Therea are lots of great pull-outs along the road to the visitors center where you can explore and Remi did our fair share. :-)

I especially liked the display shown below that showed the visitors center perspective to the caverns, The visitors center is up against the wall, those white blocks, and then you may be able to see a clear tube that depicts the elevator shaft down to the massive caverns below. I so wish I could have seen them. 

As Remi and I explored the surrounding grounds at this national park we explored several trails around the park. This path took us to a trail that allowed us to look out on the Walnut Canyon which you drive up to get to the Caverns, and we also got a chance to overlook the valley below the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Our next turn out and trail hike took us to a very interesting nature made shelter area warn over the centuries by flowing water. 

After we left the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Remi and I headed to the Guadalupe Mountains National park. It is a very pretty drive through this part of the country. Actually, every part of the country we have visited has a very interesting beauty all their own. 

When we arrived at the Guadalupe Mountains National park, we found that we had a similar problem as at the Carlsbad Caverns.... "SPRING BREAK". There wasn't a parking space to be found, so I had to go about a 1/4 mile down the road from the gate, and park at a Stage Stop parking area. Though the ranger said it was only a 100 feet or so from the visitors center, with the 1/4 mile drive and the winding path, according to my walk-fit app, it was .51 miles to visitors center from the car, but that's ok, I can always use the exercise. :-) 

As Remi and I went for a walk, we found the remains of the Butterfield Stage Stop in the area, called Pinery Station. It was interesting to see, that this station, one of many such stations that occurred every 20 miles or so, along a long route from St Louis to the pacific Ocean.

 

You can see in the picture below, what remains of the Pinery station that was built back in the 1800's. And, if you take a good close look at the picture, you will notice in the distance a far wall that marked the far end of the station. By looking at that, you can see just how big the station truly was. 

Remi and I hiked the rest of the way up to the visitors center. I didn't think my luck was good enough to have them let Remi into the visitors center so I could buy a badge for my hiking stick, and i was right. But I stood adjacent to a line of people waiting to get in and asked "If I provide the needed money, would anyone be willing to buy me a hiking badge for my hiking stick?" The ranger standing outside said, "well, you know there are several styles that we have, so how will they know what one you want?". His helpful insight rendered my request a silent reply from the 5 people standing in line. So, I took Remi back to the jJep and then returned without her to get the badge I was in search of. Interesting... there was only one style of stick badges in the visitors center. Sigh. Oh well. At least I got my exercise in for the day! :-) 

Regardless of the challenges, Remi and got to see some pretty sites around the visitor's center and enjoyed the experience very much. :-) 

Here is my video for the week... This one was a lot more difficult to pull together than previous weeks because depending on which cell tower I got, my phone thought I was either in Mountain time, or Central time, and kept timestamping all my video segments very randomly. Not to worry, for your viewing enjoyment... I got them sorted. out! :-) 

Here is a great video on the Carlsbad Caverns experience provided by a local travel organization. 

Our next stop will be Tucson Arizona where I hope to go check out, Kartchener Caverns (definitely no dogs allowed, so Remi will be staying home that day), Pima Air and Space Museum as well as tram tour of the bone yard and Saguaro National Park to look at a huge preserve of Saguaro Cactus. So, tune in next week for that installment. 

Take care and Safe travels from... 

Eric and Remi too!