Coyote Creek State Park, NM. Now Datil. Later somewhere else.

I didn't want to scare you before, but this is the 667th post for The Good Luck Duck.

I left Storrie Lake State Park because ducks gotta roll ... no, really, they made me leave after 14 days. I headed up to Coyote Creek State Parks because ducks gotta go their own way ... no, really, Jeannie and Annie were going there.

But, first, a word or two about Las Vegas, New Mexico and Storrie Lake:

• easy place to be
• convenient
• good facilities

There are a few oddities about the park itself, like the bathrooms are closed from sundown to 6 AM. The park is located right on 518, and so it's not an especially quiet park. Sodium lamps, so you can sleep bathed in a golden light. Feels safe, and if RV John is your camphost, you will get a bright smile and a cheerful greeting every day, and scrupulously clean shelters. Any state park is lucky to get him as a volunteer.

Carnegie library. Win friends and influence people by referencing the wrong Carnegie.

Gals need bar names, I learned. Pictured above:
Sh'Quita, Glori, and Shugah (not named in order - in order to preserve their dignity).

Coyote Creek was a mixed bag for me, so I warn you this isn't an objective review.

It's beautiful. Pines and oaks, with blissfully cool temps in July/August. Remember, this is monsoon season, and so camping without a shelter, if you're tenting or in a car, is almost out of the question. It rained about six hours a day while I was there.

There is good wifi coming from the visitor's center, and reaching a few of the sites nearby.

I got my own Verizon connection at my campsite, so that was terrific. It said it was 1X, but things moved along and I was grateful for the diversion.

The camphosts were great, and they helped me to find and secure a beautiful site with a shelter, after I had to relinquish my ADA site. [I was allowed to occupy it, but when someone with a legitimate sticker arrived, it had to go to them.]

There are more sites down the road, but access is denied. We thought the bridge was washed out, but no.

This crystallized the feel at Coyote Creek.

What the heck is this?

The first night I shared a site with both Jeannie and Annie (thanks!). Next door were some fishermen who prided themselves on professional quality belching and loudly arguing about airport security. They were from a neighboring state. I won't say which one, but one of us named them Cut and Shoot, and Dime Box.

Now I'm in Datil, NM. Betty and I decided a trip to the Pie-O-Neer was necessary. We are women of duty.

I can't sunny up these pictures because: none. It is a rainy mess all over New Mexico, as best I can tell.

Betty tells me I have longer in this orange cast, and I say FALSE. So, if you've got a spare "lose the cast!" vibe, send it. If you have extra "Betty is so wrong" vibes, I'll take those, too.

Datil Well, New Mexico, and Pie Town

Just outside Datil (say "dattle") is Datil Well BLM campground. It's a little gem, and I admired its sparkle for two days.

There are trails accessible from the campground, and if you're just there for day use there is no charge. We sleepers pay $5/night. I know you're thinking Five dollars?!? Must be nice to be a Rockefeller. Yeah. But, it was great - good water and even fast wifi.

Spud at Datil Well campground

Where the wifi lives

But, that's not the best part about Datil. Here's their library. I got to go inside; it's beautiful. You'll be amazed at the number of books they circulate.

 

But, that's not the best part about Datil. I drove into the Sawtooth Mountains.

Pie Town isn't the best part of Datil. Pie Town would not appreciate me calling it part of Datil at all.

"Congested"

You might as well.

 

Kathy of Pie-O-Neer said she can, indeed, make a vegan pie with a little notice. You should know, though, that off-the-rack pie here is not even vegetarian. 

The best part of Datil is not even the Crevice spiny lizard, although he's in the top 5. 

 

The best part of Datil is Betty, shown here at Schaefer National Monument. She is so kind and wise, and I felt a real comfort in her company. Betty, if you're reading this (and I bet you are), hanging with you was very healing. When you told the French fry story, I didn't even recognize the sounds that came out of my face.

I hated to leave, but I was happy to see my buddy, Sue, who is continually good for a belly laugh and some good, sensible life insights. Even her latest art is hilarious.

I hope I'm not setting her up for performance anxiety.

I'm in Flagstaff now, with my cousins. Lori invited me to stay right after I knew I had to leave Tucson. In retrospect, one could say that I should have come here right away, but there are important things I wouldn't have learned if I had. One of the most important things is about you. If you think the kind or supportive thing you said was nothing, you couldn't be wronger.

♥♥♥