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.

Rio Grande is really low

Hello Roadrunner - about 30 feet tall metal sculpture

We made it to the Escapee Dreamcatcher RV Park

Grindstone Lake, Ruidoso, New Mexico

We walked the Grindstone Loop Trail the other day, absolutely beautiful weather, did get a bit breezy later in the walk, but stunning views.  Grindstone Lake (Reservoir) is a man-made lake in the city limits of Ruidoso which supplies the water needs for the area.  And we were quite surprised at how full it was, typically reservoirs begin their draw-down to get ready for the winter snow/melt.  As we were walking along the lake we found 3 sources of how the reservoir gets it water, catch basins set up just outside of the reservoir to catch debris as the rivers and creeks flow down.  That way it stays relative clean, where the Bonita Lake/reservoir is going through a major dredging due to the ash and debris that flowed into that lake from the forest fire of 2007.  They are also doubling the capacity of water, and that water is pumped 90 miles away to Alamogordo.

The view from the car in the parking lot

Never have seen a muddy meter before

Looking across - the dam is at the far end

Saw something moving - it was a city employee walking around up there

Wasn't quick enough with camera but he was pulling up a 4 pounder? bass

Back to the hike - a little confusing at first as to where the trail starts, no clear signage at the parking lot.  We just followed along a very wide dirt road and then at the northern point where one of the creeks dumps into a catch basin, we started up the Grindstone Loop trail.  Followed it back into the ravine a bit, then it looped back up against the lake, making it to the dam where we then turned around and came back.

At far north end, the dam way up to left in picture 

The catch basin for one of the creeks 

What is that?

A turtle!

Osprey landed in tree

Pretty scenery.  Lots of wildlife - a number of ospreys flying over head and then landing in the trees, a turtle surfaced out of the water and climbed up on a log to sun, ducks quacking away, lots of people fishing along the shore.  We also saw 2 inflatable rafts with fishermen in them, and by the time we got back to the car the wind was really blowing and they gave up.

Hard to read signage - picked the Grindstone Loop Trail

Trail looped back to lake - saw this guy fishing

Smelled him before we saw him - smoking a cigar

Roost set up for osprey - no one home

Made it to other side by dam, turned around and traipsed back

Since elk and deer are being spotted in town (warning signs all along the major roads) we were on the lookout for them but I think with all the people, there was too much noise.  Nice little walk.

Sierra Blanca in distance 

Osprey was very busy

Monjeau Peak and Bonita Lake

When we stopped at the ranger station to see what there was to see and inquire about casual hiking, the ranger steered us to Monjeau Peak and also to Bonita Lake area of the White Mountains.  The drive to Monjeau Peak was on a forest road which meant dirt packed, sometimes wash board, but doable in our vehicle.  The drive was pretty, but the first couple of miles on the forest service road we passed through a major burn area (2012) that looked like it was really devastated.  Vegetation is rebounding, and we came up on a pack of wild horses.  Very cool.  All were marked the same and when we stopped to take pictures, we did not know there was a group on the right side of our vehicle and the left side bunch were calling to the right side to "git over here now".  Very loud.  The group on the right side quickly passed behind us and they were gone out of sight.  And they all had the same coloring and markings.

Not a bad road - dirt, hard packed

The burn area from 2012, looked like a very major fire

Wild horses

This group to our right quickly passed behind us and disappeared

Lots of them!

Homes 3/4 way up - small community called La Madonna

Up the road we traveled, climbing higher and higher, into tundra area.  Soon we saw the fire tower lookout (stone) on top of the mountain and that is where the Peak road ends.  Impressive.

Looking for elk, only saw 2 deer

Stone tower lookout on peak to left

Wondered how far we could see 

Desolate, pretty in its own way, dramatic.  We even saw a tent set up for camping.  Brrr, with the temperatures dropping into the low 30s, got to be freezing.  But to see the stars from on top of the peak, amazing.

We were at 9,641 feet and felt it

Very rugged terrain

Trails off from the Peak - lead to camp sites

A couple of camp sites right on the Peak

A tent set up - cheese

From Monjeau Peak we then traveled back down and went to an area called Bonita Meadows where we could hike.  We were told that Bonita Lake was closed for dredging but we had no idea what that meant.  Oh boy, what a project.  Seems that they are dredging the lake to make it double the capacity of what it usually is, have diverted Bonita River elsewhere, re-doing the roads so it is better access into the lake and camping/hiking area.  But we were stopped right after the lake, too much construction going on and with the recent rains, the roads that were there are flooded out.  Oh well.

The forest service road to Bonita Lake area

Homes right up against road 

Bonita River being captured and diverted 

Dredging of Bonita Lake - what a project

2 huge excavators digging away with big dump trucks being loaded

Sludge being trucked out to who knows where