TOUR AMERICA 2019: ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO – LAND OF ENCHANTMENT

Places We Have Called Home In 20019

Home Is Where We Park It:   Red Barn RV Park, Roswell, New Mexico

September 6, 2019

Temperature 95

We Found Our Train

Travel Day

This Part of the Country Gives New Meaning to the Word Desolate

The winery proved to be a wonderful spot to spend the night.  So peaceful, so quiet, not a sound to be heard.  But soon enough we found our train!  Everywhere we have gone lately we have had a train.  We would have been so disappointed had there not been one this time.  As we prepared to go to bed we heard it’s whistle loud and clear from across the canyon.  The next day on the road we saw it up close and personal as we traveled down Route 60.

The tracks run parallel to Route 60 and the railroad traffic was constant in both directions.  Short trains, long trains, trains with all kinds of cars.

Before we left today we had a decision to make What route would we take?  Our RV GPS wanted us to take Route 60 to Route 285.  This would have been a trip of a bit more than 4 hours.  Not good.  I looked at the map and noticed if we took Route 70 it would be a straight shot from Route 60 to Roswell in just about 3 hours.  So why not?  Route 70 was listed as a major truck route.  I loaded truckrouter and checked what route it would suggest between Canyon, TX and Roswell, NM and it also gave me Route 60/Route 70.   That would be our route.

What was the trip like?  Once again we spent the day climbing higher, ever higher.  Yup, we are definitely in the high plains country.  The roads were smooth, minimal construction, absolutely no traffic.  Yet, as we rolled along mile after mile we both decided that this part of the country gives new meaning to the word desolate.  You could look to the left, the right but nowhere would you find a soul.  Nothing but scrub pines, a few cattle but that was it.  Not even a house, not even an outhouse! It all added up to one long, monotonous ride.

In time we saw the sign for New Mexico.  It’s that small green sign in the picture.  Could they make it any smaller?  Are they trying to hide the fact that you’re in their state?  Don’t blink or you might miss it as we almost did.

Soon enough we were in Roswell and searching for our new home.  Then we saw the sign and we knew we were there.

This is the office.

 A sure sign that you are in Roswell.

I get this strange feeling that I’m being watched!

This is the campground.  It is small, well taken care of, and all sites are dead level.  Lee, the woman who owns the campground is absolutely wonderful.  She makes you feel like you are one of the family and glad to be at her park.

This is where we are, in the back adjacent to a farmer’s field.

This is our home which is site #9.  It is a back-in, hard packed gravel, dead level, with all utilities convenient to the utility bay.  We have partial shade from noon to the end of the day.  Gertrude is off to the right on a picnic table and happily pulling in all the western arc satellites.   We both agree it is a beautiful place to call home.  The front, by the way, got debugged right after this picture.  It was a mess and needed to be done like ASAP.

We had one small issue today.  Coming out of a gas station we again dragged our tow bar.  Usually no big thing.  However, this time the safety cables somehow got caught under the bar and both were shredded.  We could continue to use them but I would not trust them.  Time to find replacements.   Time also to find a wheel to put under the tow bar.  I had one picked out once and then forgot to order it.  Not this time.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  Tonight we are giving thanks for a safe ride; and, for a wonderful new home where we can hang our hats for a week.  Life is good.

Thanks for coming along on the ride with us.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road!