Paseo del Rio, Elephant Butte State Park (New Mexico)

 

I can't say it's windless here, but it's less wind. Paseo Del Rio is somewhat sheltered by the mountains (officially called "those, those, and them"), and the dam. The shelters have solid walls and some leeway about where you park, so it's possible to optimize your position for wind protection.

The bathroom is the running-water/flushy kind. There is a shower, but I'm warning you that the propane tank lies: this is a COLD-WATER shower. Still, it's water, and the shower room makes a good changing room. Water here has a lot of iron and sulphur.

All sites are semi-primitive, which means there is no water at your site, nor is there electricity available. I've mentioned the shelters, which are sheltering, and they have picnic tables.

All sites are on the Rio Grande. There is a nice walking path along the river.

Nights are very dark and very quiet. Guess what's the loudest thing here? Me. Quiet hours begin at 10 PM, and so I've been running my 3 minute-per-hour generator until then to stream TV, but I noticed no one else does that. They just go to bed, or enumerate regrets, whatever works that night. Just so I'm clear, I'm not running a threshold-of-pain portable generator; it's the Prius engine coming on occasionally to charge the battery.

Tonight I'll gauge my decibels at 7 meters, determine wind direction, appraise my overall benevolence, and decide whether to watch TV or catalog remorse. I already have a gut feeling, though.

Elephant Butte Lake (not visible from Paseo Del Rio)

Spud's nose (often visible from Paseo Del Rio)

Whee! You keep an eye out for rangers!

I weesh to be alone weeth thees fleur to practees my bad Fronsh accent

 

Dam it.

I've been enjoying the trifecta of good eats, wifi, and electrical outlets at Passion Pie Café. A shout-out to Red, who somehow remembers people's names and preferences, even after long absences. Tip your baristas!

What it's like to live out of a Prius, and what's it's like not to.

I'm enjoying the best of Truth or Consequences. Comfy digs, snuggly kitties, a perfect blend of friends and solitude, and the walk-to-ableness of desirable hangouts. I walked-to and hung-out at Black Cat Books and Coffee this morning and indulged in both.

Flooding has subsided here. It took two lives while it stayed. 

The Rio Grande used to flow freely through here, where people now live. Rivers pretend to be tamed, but they have long memories.

Moral: guitars are a gateway instrument

Tina lived in T or C for a year, playing Scrabble. Now she's in Texas trying out gate-guarding.  

What's rowdier than four middle-aged women playing Scrabble? House plants.

Terry asked me about traveling in Spud: am I really doing that? what is my daily life like? and that seemed like a thing to talk about.

I haven't been living out of Spud for the past month because I've been housesitting here in Truth or Consequences. The timing was great for me. I'm comfortable. I've been able to enjoy friends and re-center myself. The home I'm in holds the spirit of the people who usually live here - it's peaceful and cozy and happy.

When I'm in Spud, my days are varied. It's easy for me to be in places that are interesting. I try to find a place for the night early-ish in the day, or at least have a place in mind. I like state parks and BLM campgrounds because I'm supposed to be there, so I'm comfortable and can put up Spud's Habitent. And they have toilets and often showers. I wander around. I ask people what they would tell me to see. I see those things. I find good books and squirrel them into empty spaces. I read them. I do crossword puzzles. I meditate. I take naps. Meditation ➪➪ nap.

I can get unwound and anxious if I think about the future, whatever that is. I can feel sad if I think about the past. Being here now is my favorite tool, and I use it for everything. Loose nut? Oh good, it's pliers. Becoming unmoored? It's a rope. Need attachment? It's a joiner. Too attached? It's a crowbar.

I feel joyous and grateful when I'm seeing new, beautiful things. My days are like that a lot.

When I take a notion, I pack up and move on. The packing up may take as much as five minutes, if I've scattered myself around.



There is thunder in the not-so-distance. Literally. I metaphor you not.

~~~~~

Get yourself a Thundershirt.

Engle, New Mexico and more Truth or Consequences: Some Like It Damp edition

Once I can leave the house for any reason, I have satisfied the energy of activation. As long as I'm still in my jammies on the couch, I can only meet the lethargy barrier. Something or other makes me get dressed - next thing I know, I'm on my way to Engle.

I usually don't research a destination much before I destine myself to go there. So, people ask Didn't you see the reciprocal revolution laminar flow museum? and no. I don't know what to expect, and I like that.

"Bible Preaching & Gospel Singing," every third Sunday of the month.

 
I looked for Ted Turner's buffalo, but only saw regular black and white ones.

Elephant Butte Dam

Elephant Butte Lake

...'nother brick in the wall

Take a gambel on quail.

This following eight seconds will be the most exciting of your next eight seconds. Offer good everywhere.

 

Purslane is edible and nutritious.

Don't eat this 'till you hear from me.

Unnamed tributary.

Life in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico: languid, but not languishing

Truth or Consequences has its own torporific charm, and I am not immune. I start the day off pretty slow, but rally in time for an afternoon nap.

I accidentally drove to the top of town. Once you're there, there's nowhere to go but down.

There are no sea turtles in Truth or Consequences. There used to be, but people started putting them into the hot springs. You think that's nice, but a turtle in hot water sees your ladle as sinister. Turtles are not stupid, and now they live in Mexico.

Geri did a more thorough write-up of Truth or Consequences last year. She is more conscientious, and it was February, before the Summer Weakquinox.

I have a book of Sierra County day trips. I use it to fan myself.