Living Our Dream: Moved to Deming, New Mexico

Wasn't a long drive, only 169 miles, but the worst part was getting out of our site at Ruidoso. Since we were tucked up into the mountainside, we either could have driven down along the outside ring road 'up' in the mountainside, or backdown out of the spot reversing how we first got into the site, then take a sharp turn and bam, down on the road level - if we chose that route. Which is what Dave decided to do. Too many close encounters with trees and would have been a very scary. He did great. And the day before we left the deer came to say goodbye. Nice.

At Apache Summit

And we start the descent

Some pretty cool artistry work on the side of the road

First glimpse of White Sands - the sand dunes - in the distance - about 40 miles

We began our 1000 feet ascent up to Apache Summit, passing Casino Apache and the Inn of the Mountain Gods, 2 casinos run by the Mescalero Apaches. Then about a 25 mile descent down the White Mountains through the Mescalero Indian Reservation and then on to where White Sands National Monument and the city of Alamogordo is. Past the campground we hung out at 2 years previous waiting for paperwork to catch up with us from Cleveland, Ohio. Then the long drive southwest on Route 70, past Hollomon Air Force Base and White Sands National Monument.

Boot Hill Campground was packed

Air Base sometimes closes down the road when they do missile strikes

Sand dunes beginning to encroach the road

Continue on up over the pass near the Organ Mountains and dropped down into the valley where Las Cruces is. Got on Interstate 25 south for only 6 miles, then picked up Interstate 10 westbound. Funny, when we got here to the Dreamcatchers RV Park, an Escapees member campground, we came full circle from 5 months prior. And, by the time we get to Picacho for the winter months, would have put the most miles on the RV ever in one summer - over 6,000! We still have about another 2 weeks 'out'. We are not ready to face the warmer temperatures - they need to drop a bit more so we are just creeping along.

Climbing up over the pass by the Organ Mountains

And down into Mesilla Valley and Las Cruces

Tucson - like that sign

This summer has seen some things break or leak on the RV. Will have to get some repairs done this winter and arrange for everything to be done. While in Amarillo we had heavy rains, our windshield - or is it one of the lights above the windshield? leaked. Then we have to get a new water pump, that is leaking and has been steady dripping all summer, hoping we can make it. Windshield is cracked - not sure if we will replace it, we'll see. Have to do the normal engine stuff - tuneup at a Ford dealer, and then get it into a truck tire shop to check alignment and brakes - those squeal. We need to find out what is going on with the Jeep - a check engine light comes on occasionally and then it goes off. We had it checked out 2 times this summer and neither dealer could find anything wrong. Also, we should not have had to replace the battery on the car, it's only 18 months old. So we are unsure if the connection from the RV to the car is doing something or what. And the last thing we want to do is to recover the seats. Or maybe get new ones. So much to do.