Welcome to New Mexico

We left Texas into New Mexico.  We’re only going to stay a few days in New Mexico while it’s so cold, but we plan to return later since there’s so much to see here.

The west Texas scenery was mostly bleak given the season but at one point we could see mesas in the distance, oil wells pumping away, and wind mills (the ones making energy not the pretty ones for show).  Many of the RV parks out here have gravel and dirt roads.  That works most of the time since it rarely rains.  Last night it was all mud.  Our tires were coated in mud. We had to dig out the leveling pads.  At least Texas was getting the rain they needed.

In writing this, I realized that I didn't know the difference between a butte, a mesa, and a plateau.  Hey, I grew up in the flatland in NW Ohio.  We barely have hills.  Apparently buttes are small flat topped hills.  Mesas are bigger and may have standing water on them.  Plateaus are much bigger and may not have sharp sides all around them.

Here’s a picture of a road stop in Texas.  It had a wonderful view along with the teepee picnic shelters.  We next drove into the El Paso area which is right on the Mexico border.  The area seems like a military zone with a traffic stop and helicopters overhead.  Maybe all this is needed, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere nearby.

 We’re boondocking right now.  The Welcome Center allows overnight parking.  There’s a pet walk with a great view and a patio with wifi service.  It’s not bad, especially for free!