Datil and Magdalena, New Mexico

Datil, New Mexico has a lovely little campsite that is famous with boondockers for its cuteness, toilets, good water, and wifi. I didn't stay there. I stayed with my friends, Betty and John, who are known for the very same things.  Life there is the opposite of roughing it. I smoothed it. Betty is my PR agent - she makes her friends read my blog. 

I don't know. Who IS the pretty mule? Oh, who?

How YOU doin'?

This bug claims to be real.

Magdalena, New Mexico

This library is in the Top Five of cutest libraries in the world, neck-and-neck with Datil's. It offers fast wifi even when it's closed, if you already have the password.

If you're into these things, here's one.

That's hornED toad.

On a clear day, you can see about 22 miles.

Tonight I'm in Truth or Consequences where I'll be house- and cat-sitting several weeks for some friends I just met. I'd write longer, but there are no-bake cookies.

Truth or Consequences and Magdalena, New Mexico. You can get higher, but you can't get cooler.

Elephant Butte Lake was nice, for a night, and then it was time to climb.

Spud at Elephant Butte Lake State Park

 I drove past and had to turn around. SO MUCH TIE-DYE.

 It's Jeff, tie-dye guy extraordinaire. I don't know how he knew, but he told me things I wondered without me asking. In case you're wondering: 42  He has some great and very cool stuff that he dyes himself.

Seems about right.

 My spirits started to brighten once I hit Socorro and headed west.

 Magdalena spoke to me. It said Set a spell!

There's a lot of history here, but I don't know any of it. I know this town has je ne sais quoi, I just don't know what it is.

The library is the cutest library ever (until the next town). You can get wifi there 24/7, you just have to stop in during business hours and get the sign-in and password. It's across the street from this building on North Main Street. I forgot to take its picture because of my rapturous admiration, and I had to pee.

Magdalena is having a water crisis, and there is just one general opinion about its cause. Ask a Magdalenan. 

You know what has to come next, right? Right?

Seems about right.

Yes! It's the Very Large Array!

 Do you know how a railroad crossing qualifies for its exempt status?