Leasburg Dam State Park is pretty sleepy in June, because OMG hot. There is a train that passes alarmingly close to the campsites. Not all the time, but definitely in the dark hours. And, it whoos, no extra charge.
Wildlife alert: biting gnats. I was attacked on the eyelid and by morning it was obstructing my vision. So, I took the gnat OUT of my eye. Now I can help you with the roofing truss in yours.
While I'm doing Biblical allusions, I want to tell you about the acoustics here on Elephant Butte Lake. Because the banks rise so steeply from the basin, the lake is a perfect amphitheater. People passed on boats I could barely see, but I could hear their conversations. Two couples camped below me, and I heard their laughter until some of us fell asleep. I must have been crabby, because I critiqued the jokes and judged them unworthy of that kind of hilarity. Then someone said "I'll have another brownie!" and it all made sense.*
*There's a passage about Jesus rowing out onto the lake to address the crowd here in New Mexico.
Elephant Butte Lake is very low, so I'd like to say some nice things about it. You can safely* drive down to the water's edge. It's very pleasant to sit and watch the water do whatever it wants. I get the impression you can also camp down there. There are porta-potties for your boondocking comfort.
*I got stuck in the sand, but not everyone does. A truck came along within 45 seconds and the family pulled me out. Yay! Thanks, New Mexico family!
I'm up because I butt-dialed someone who returned my call. Sorry.
I bought a cheap Walmart keyboard to get me through, but it's no long-term solution. Or, it is. A person can get used to a lot. Annie has offered to get me back on track when we're in the same locale.
Elephant Butte wildlife alert: fire ants.
If you want the basic, water-only sites, they are $10 (free for annual pass holders). No bad views from the cheap seats; every one overlooks the lake. Some overlook it completely [rim shot]. My site is a hundred yards from a pit toilet, and a quarter mile from the flushies and showers. Cold-water showers only.
If you park along The Strip, you'll get traffic well past dark. Right now, though, it's quiet enough that my neighbors can hear the clackity-quack-quack of my keyboard.
The brochure claims that there is wifi in the "main area," but I'm not sure what they consider main. My computer does see the hotspots, it just can't pull them in. Maybe I'll paddle down to the marina later to see what I can wifi-nagle.
Liking the Habitent again tonight. I'm also wondering what time Passion Pie opens in T or C. But, I'm sure sleep will win and I'll wake up with Fig Newtons in my hair like every other morning.
If you go to the Comfort Station, you'll be able to pick up wifi. I hope that will be a Comfort to you.
House guests do get tiresome! Cheryl, naturally I can't read your blog post. I just wanted to say Many Thanks! for helping me out those first weeks. I thought you were having an intractable transportation problem this time, and saw an opportunity to provide rides to and from your many, many mechanics' visits. A very small token of thanks. I thought I had been clear about that, and I really thought I had given you ample opportunity to protest gently and graciously, if you needed to. I'm sorry that I failed to do that, and that it led you to behavior that surely isn't typical for you.
I'm especially sad that you feel like I was mooching. I hate feeling like a mooch; everyone does. It feels really low - the most painful of insults. That's why I tried to buy groceries; mostly you wouldn't let me. Took you to dinner as a small way to contribute in a way you felt better about. Please do let me know what I owe you, besides the debt of gratitude, which I'm unable to repay.
You were very kind to me when I needed it, and I will always be grateful for that. All the best to you, always.
