El -ahhh-phant Butte State Park

I'm enjoying the area like a camper does now, out at Elephant Butte State Park. It's the perfect time of year to be here - crowds are thin and the flies are thick - temperatures are perfect. Chris invited me to share her campsite for a couple of nights. Spud is pretending to be her toad.

I showed you how Spud was packed just before I left. Here's the realistic version after one night:

I spent two hours re-organizing. The last load is always a few bags of things I forgot to pack earlier, and granola bars. Annie and David sent me off with extra food, too, and some homemade preserves.

Here's a boat launch area. The good old days. This last flood didn't quite restore the lake.

Sue told us about a campsite I hadn't heard of, on the way to Monticello. I went to check it out for future reference. I'll refer to it in the future.

There are hot showers and a heated shower room here. Bursts of hot water last for ten seconds, but you are welcome to re-burst as much as you want.

There is NOTHING I couldn't accomplish with this many solar panels on my cabin, and this much hot water. I would use my power for good, clean fun, and not for evil.

Which is more than I can claim for this guy. My NY friend, Bill, would know what this is. Three other people do, too, and they will educate me. The bug is as big as my hand (hand not shown).

Chris' campsite is really nice. I've never been down this way, and it occurs to me that paying $4 "extra" for a really pretty and convenient site with free showers beats the boondocking sites on the main drag with coin-op bathing. Thanks for clueing me in, Chris!

My Spud-bed is comfortable, but not as comfortable as the bed I got used to, so last night was my adjustment period. Today I bought a pillow. I must be pretty comfortable after all, because I'm telling you about buying a pillow. Any greater comfort and I'll be telling you what it's made of, ripping off the tags, and describing my favorite sleep position.

Sweet dreams
(this is not the pillow)