Returning to Colorado

Tuesday, March 17

I spent St Patrick's Day driving along I-25 to Albuquerque from Elephant Butte New Mexico. 

I spent Monday night lot docking at Suzuki Samurai Guru Mike W's home in Elephant Butte.  Dinner was with neighborhood friends Ed and Luana where I learn to play the game called Aggravation, quite a lot of fun actually.

I woke late on Tuesday, it was almost 8:00 a.m.! Coffee inside with Mike and Laura while we chatted for a while and then I left them at 9:30 to head north along I-25 towards Albuquerque. 

This time though, I decided not to use the same old route of staying on I-25 all the way back to Denver metro. I thought I would explore the US 285 route between Albuquerque / Taos in Northern New Mexico. 

The first BLM campground I tried was still closed for the season, damn it. They don't open till April. This was the Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area Overlook campground.

So I continued on to the Rio Grande Gorge recreation area which had four open campgrounds but no dispersed spots that I could see although there was a small primitive camping lot that was very small. 

I checked them all out, I ended up at the first one closest to the highway, since it had open spots and the RV sites had electricity. No water at the site though since I guess it's still winter in there schedule even though the weather has been very warm. 

It was close to 5:00 before I was fully set up, long day, lots of windy roads through hilly terrain. 

After dinner I took Yagi out for a ride hoping for some kind of nice lighting. But the lighting went away pretty quickly after these pictures due to the high canyon walls of the gorge.

Wednesday, March 18

I left the Pilar campground shortly before 9:00 a.m., having waited fruitlessly for sunlight to come out enforce so I could get some pictures of the Rio Grande waters.

It was hilly driving north and I crossed into Colorado at 10:00 a.m. 

About an hour after that I was nearing the Great Sand Dunes National Park area and the sign Luis Lake Wildlife Area.  I am now staying at the campground there where there is free electricity at some of the sites and great Mountain views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. 

Relaxing near Indian Bread Rocks Recreation Area

Saturday, March 14 - Pi Day

Sunrise at Indian Bread Rocks:

Some pics from a short ride into the nearby campground area during mid-morning:

Pi Day sunset:

Pi day high temperature: 80°F

Sunday, March 15

A do nothing day, sunny but windy with a high of only 80°F.

Sunset was ok:

Tomorrow, Truth or Consequences!

Back at the Indian Bread Rocks BLM Rec Area

I guess I am a desert guy, happy with just medium sized bushes around me as opposed to surrounded by large tall trees. 

I left the Chiricahua National Monument area this morning around 8:00 and by noon I was setting up camp at a new to me site in the Indian Bread BLM area.  My usual preferred side was occupied so I decided to check out a couple of candidates, and I am glad I did. 

It was a very windy day as I left Willcox, so I was glad that I decided to stop nearby at Indian Bread Rocks BLM Rec Area!

I found a wide site in a small warren of trails:

10x digital zoom of interesting rock

Altitude: 4068 ft.

Temperature high of 75°F, lovely.

I relax the rest of the day until about 4:00 in the afternoon when I went out for a short ride to see how full the camping area near here was.  There were still three small sites and one large primo site available! 

Here's some other rocks that were being painted by the afternoon sun: 

Can you spot the rock climbing cows?

Here you go...

An update about the leak in Yagi's rear tire's inner tube.  One still exists, however it is much slower now. I had pumped it up to 20 PSI before retiring for the evening yesterday; and it was at 10 PSI this morning.  

I feel did that come to 20 PSI before I loaded it on to the front rack on the RV and preparation for today's move. When I got to Indian bread rocks it was at 15 PSI.  So, she's quite rideable for now until I get her home. I'm not going to replace the inner tube on the road like I did the front tire, as the rear tire needs to be replaced as well.

Friday, March 13

This morning before things got too warm, I decided to try and hike up the rocks near the campsite to get a picture of the campsite from above. 

Lots of brush with spines in it but otherwise no issues. 

Bedrock Mortars used for grinding 

By native Americans 

Getting close to top

The Ocotillo isn't blooming yet...

Cool rocks seen behind the rock below

That's as high as I got....

As I was sitting by the campsite resting and cooling off, I decided to take some bino shots with the camera phone:

Rock at highest point visit from camp

Distant Balanced Rock

The rock I climbed to....

More to follow.... weather is supposed to be warmer the next few days

Dispersed Camping near the Chiricahua National Monument, Days 2-3

Tuesday, March 10

It rained on and off overnight, I found standing water along with rather soft ground around the campsite where small stones/gravel didn't provide reinforcement.  Not a good day to drive around the area!

The forecasted high of 48°F dictated the occasional use of the catalytic propane heater as well 

Also a good opportunity to see how Starlink usage during a heavily cloudy day.  Generator use, the small 2000 watt one, was required.  It needed the exercise anyways.

Turns out, my campsite is located near some interesting rocks:

Due to the rain, and muddy conditions on the trail, I spent the day at the campsite mostly in the RV staying warm.  I did determine, after two rounds of testing, then my house battery when that 95 amp hour charge can sustain start link for 3 hours and then it will be at 80 amp hours. 80 amp hours means there is about 40% left to the battery before it hits 50% of capacity because it's a flooded lead acid battery.

I also determined to charge it up with the small generator takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get it back to 95 amp hours.  Rainy days are generator days if one wants to you Starlink with my setup. 

Wednesday, March 11

I discovered late yesterday evening that the rear tire appears to have a leak as well on its in their tube. Damn it! 

This morning I use the remaining amount of slime, roughly 8 oz, and inserted it into the rear tire's inner tube.  At first it did not seem to seal at all, but after about 3 mi of riding after filling it to 20 psi it seems to be holding! 

And then I went on a 18 mi round trip ride up and down FR road 42 and the pressure held in the inner tube on the rear tire!  That's the good news, the bad news is there stretches on FR-42 that are quite muddy for now, it's supposed to be sunny for the next couple of days so maybe things will dry out. It's all doable via the TW but I have to go slow on the muddy bits.  I hate mud, more than deep sand.

Part of the test riding involved riding up to the top of Downing Pass which is on FR Road 42C.  The road is twisty and rough so not something for the RV to negotiate. 

Notes for this area:

Canyon walls preclude/delay sunshine in the early morning and afternoon 

No cell signal

Cool in the shade when sunshine is good.  Probably great in summer due to shade and altitude but not great in winter when sunshine not available.