Ute Lake and Conchas Lake State Parks, New Mexico.

I don't have to tell you that the heat was hot and the ground was dry, but, the air was full of sound. The sound of an RV air conditioner. Luckily, we've been able to snag electric sites we've needed even last-minute.

Ute Lake is a vibrant, busy, big park. There are several non-contiguous areas; we stayed in the Yucca campground with big, BIG pull-through sites. If I were in Spud, I'd choose a spot up in the Eagle area overlooking the lake (there is strong 4G up there). In Yucca, we were able to get sporadic park wifi, but no Verizon signal.

Seriously, WTHeck?

Wolf said, "On Sunday we'll be unconscious."

"On Sunday we'll be unconscious??"

"No, on Sunday we'll be on Conchas."

And, so we were. Conchas has a way different feel. We stayed on Bell loop, where we were able to find one electric site big enough for a 36' rig to get level. Oddly, two-thirds of the electric sites are reservation-only, and so they stood empty while we were there. There are also no camphosts, so no chance to check real availability. 

The sites reserved for hosts are both empty - maybe because there is no Verizon signal for phone or internet, no park wifi, no TV reception, no sewer hookup, and it's about 25 miles from town. Plus it's the end of July, 100°F, and I'm cranky.

The lake is beautiful, but oddly quiet.

Two nights at Conchas Lake felt like enough; we moved on.

We didn't get one of Storrie Lake's coveted electric sites, but the temperature here is a relief, and so we don't really need it. It feels good to be back in the rain.

Every picture tells a Storrie: Storrie Lake State Park, New Mexico

I've spent about a month, altogether, at Storrie Lake this summer. It's been a good place to hang with friends. Today... brrr! The heat is on in the rig - oh yeah, I'm living large - and the sky is gray. This weekend we'll be leaving Las Vegas, no fear or loathing.

Don't hand me no lines.

This time of year, the front gate closes at 7:30 PM. Better catch the early-bird special and git home.

Storrie Lake S.P. will close October 15.

Storrie Lake's dump station has been unavailable for at least two months, and no one seems to know when it will be repaired. There is a $5 dump available at the RV park across from Walmart. I guess it's a way of stimulating the local economy, but too bad for Storrie Lake State Park's reputation.

Because my rig is permitted at Morphy Lake State Park (max 18' rig length), we took it for a day trip to this beautiful area.

wrought irony

We think we'll check out Villanueva or Santa Rosa; I haven't been to either yet.

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.

Ennui at Storrie Lake: a "Hard Life" production

Hanging out with the women here is fun. In the mornings, Jeannie and Annie take me out for a drag with the dogs.

I'm in good company here, so I have only myself to blame for my ennui. If I were just bored, that would be ridiculous. In French, it is indisputably très mauvais. It will be another nine days, and then the cast will be off. Doctor, will I be able to play the piano! Great! I never could before!

We are not amused.

I don't like to dwell on my restlessness, or the brief episodes of existential WTH I experience on the road. It wouldn't matter where I was, these things would still happen, but I'd be stuck in one place with them. I only mention them because people sometimes think their mental imps will stay behind when they hit the road, only to find they have stowed away in a basement bay. We all still have our work to do.

I have been field-testing my small generator with its plug-and-play solar panel.

The generator is a small, sealed battery plus an inverter. It can be charged with solar, with a 12-volt cigarette-style car port while driving, or with AC from an outlet. 

In turn, it charges my laptop (via 12-volt port or AC), all my devices (Nook, phone, wifi devices) via USB ports, and my camera battery via AC outlets. PLUS, it is a car battery jump-starter.

If you need only USB charging, the solar panel has two USB ports on its own and doesn't need the generator/inverter go-between. It is a 27 watt unit, nicely foldable and portable. It could be hung from a backpack to keep your devices charged on the trail.

If you always have ready access to AC, you wouldn't need the solar panel. The combo works well for me.

Overall, I like it. I can keep my laptop charged without running the engine, and I will also be able to use it when I'm stationary and off-grid, like at my cabin. I feel reassured having a jump start ready to go if I should need it on the road.

On the con side, it would be nice to have more capacity (I think it's a 26 Ah battery). Although, if it were much bigger I couldn't carry it.

I look forward to seeing my friend, Betty, on the way back down to Las Cruces (if she'll be at home). I will also be glad to see Annie and David in Truth or Consequences when I pick up the remnants of my possessions from their house. I'll leave something else behind, so there's always a "reason" to stop back by.

Edited October 28, 2014: The Duracell Powerpack shown here is not the unit I purchased. Reviewers say the new model does NOT have solar-charging capabilities, so that's a razzberry and two thumbs down.