On the Road Again, Headed For:
(El Paso, TX)
(Deming NM)
(Benson AZ)
(Patagonia AZ)
While at the Kirtland AFB Military Family Campground (FamCamp) Dan installed a new complete hydraulic leveling jack pump assembly in our Bluebird Coach, and Dan and our son Shaun installed a new power window motor in Shaun's SUV. We also had the 60,000 mile service done on our Subaru WRX, and replaced a front axle that had a torn CV boot, that slung all the grease out and was damaged.
Madrid
Before we left Albuqueruqe we made a
scenic drive on the Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe. This is a road we often took on
our motorcycle trips when we lived here. An excellent trip if you like taking rides on back
country roads.
We did our traditional lunch stop at the Mine Shaft Tavern
for lunch in Madrid – pronounced Mad
Rid. We stopped there for the atmosphere as well as for the food.
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| Howdy! |
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| Beautiful Bells on display |
The town was once a coal mining ghost town turned into a
very colorful and lively artistic place to visit with galleries and shops. There is always a
lot of artwork - very enticing artwork - sitting in the front yards. Don't these places look
inviting?
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| Love the colors! |
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| Excellent! Double doors with screens and red! |
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| Maggie's Diner |
Funny movie, but I don't think it caught the
wonderful essence of Madrid.
We said Good-bye to our son, Shaun. We had a wonderful visit with him. It was so good to hear how he was doing - which is great and he looks great.
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On Tuesday 1 November we arrived in El Paso TX at the Ft Bliss Army Famcamp. Our purpose in El Paso was to have the Coach serviced for oil, oil filter, fuel filter, check differentials, and lube the chassis at Speedco. Speedco is the equivalent of Jiffy Lube, only for over the road semi trucks and diesel motor homes. Our coach used 22 quarts of new oil, 2 filters, lube for the chassis, and everything else looked good.
Ft Bliss had an amazing Post Exchange complete with a outdoor mall complex, including a 10 screen theater, Wild Wings, Irish Pub, multiple stores, huge food court and more. We also stocked up at the base commissary.
Ft Bliss had an amazing Post Exchange complete with a outdoor mall complex, including a 10 screen theater, Wild Wings, Irish Pub, multiple stores, huge food court and more. We also stocked up at the base commissary.
Today, November 5th, we moved 102 miles to Deming NM to an Escapees RV park. Winds were pretty heavy, but should let up tomorrow. If the winds do subside we will move on to Benson AZ (near Tucson) to an Escapees co-op RV park in the morning.
We plan on one week or less in Benson, then we will move to Patagonia AZ where we have accepted winter volunteer positions.
We will be volunteering in Southern AZ on a private wild life preserve of 312 acres, and be the only 'campers' on the grounds. It is approximately 60 miles south of Tucson/Benson, 20 miles north of Nogales AZ, and at 4,000' altitude.
Previous volunteers Frank and Josee Kee wrote the following:
The name of the preserve is Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve (PSCP) and is located adjacent to the town of Patagonia Arizona (AZ). It is privately owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and preserve valuable habitat and waterways for the preservation of bio-diversity. In Arizona TNC has 1.5+ million acres in their care and 12 major preserves. Only 4 are open to the general public. PSCP was acquired in 1966 and is the first preserve acquired by TNC in Arizona.
It is a very valuable piece of land because it is an endangered riparian habitat that has year around water flow in the creek. Riparian habitats support the majority of biodiversity in a desert landscape. It is host to numerous fauna, mammals, reptiles, endangered fish, and insects.
The access to water attracts this diverse collection. The most common question is “what animals can we see”…In which we reply Deer, squirrels, cotimundi, skunk, bear, coyote, cougar and javelina and …yes rattlesnake can be seen once in a blue moon.
Frank and Josee who volunteered there 2.5 years wrote more details here: http://www.keesmail.com/public_html/TNCVol/
Frank and Josee's pictures: http://www.keesphotos.com/Nature/Patagonia-Sonoita-Creek/8000576_Bk92cV#1530582350_HQjWhPC
We committed to a minimum of 3 months, with a possible option to extend longer. We will start not later than 21 November, likely earlier as we have accelerated our schedule.
Dan and Sandy
We had a great time in Madrid when we took that drive. Your volunteer position sounds like it might be kind of quiet and peaceful most of the time.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Albuquerque twice: once while I was active duty USAF, and again for 8 years before fulltiming. We have been through Madrid many many times, and always enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThe vounteer gig looks great to us, a nice break from campgounds, with propane use our only camping cost for FHU. Supplementing with electric heaters, that won't be much. A "might bit cool" nights and mornings due to the 4,000' altitude.