The Road Back Home: Deming, NM to El Reno, OK

Deming, NM and Dream Catcher RV Park were next on our list. We stayed there April 4 & 5. While there we didn't do much- another Walmart run for supplies being the major event. First day there we attended the parks Happy Hour and met a bunch of new people - including a couple from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont! Incredible what a small world it is. We also met Bruce & Linda from Michigan and everywhere. What an enjoyable pair. This is their rig:

I found out in talking to them that their rig, a Prevost, was manufactured in 1990. They are the 4th owners. 

Such a pleasure meeting and talking to them. They were at Escapade and we missed them. They are also members of Freethinkers BOF. We have made a promise to keep in touch via RVillage and for sure to meet up at next Escapade in Essex Jct, VT in 2016.

Sorry to see Bruce & Linda leave. They were headed out to Alamagordo and then north to Santa Fe

And then it was time to leave our nice spot here......

Our travels the morning of the 6th, took us through Hatch, NM - Chile Capitol of the World.

Our rig parked out in front of Hatch Chile Express- where we loaded up on souvenirs. Again. 

Absolutely captured my attention. RV Sales lot next door to Chile Express. I am sure there is a story in there some place.

Left Hatch and got on I 25 North to Caballo Lake State Park. Just about a 25 mile drive from Hatch. We arrived mid morning and got settled in to our spot in Palomino # 5

Palomino # 5 - Next to us were Bob & Barb & Belle from Alberta and Jerry from Las Cruces.

This was my first real opportunity to go fishing and so, with fishing license obtained on last Walmart run in Deming, I was ready.

View of the boat launch at Caballo Lake SP

Boat rig parking area

Place I went fishing - our of the wind

Beautiful lake. Unfortunately, no fish. But as the saying goes: A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work

We made friends with our neighbors, Bob & Barb & Belle Abel from Alberta. Sorry to have to leave. We did exchange contact information and promised to keep in touch.

We really enjoyed their company! And this is the GREAT thing about RVing- the many NEW friends we've made along the way.

Interesting site. The rig that took Jerry's place......

Airstream Class A with a Slide

And then it was time to leave and begin the trip home.....today was April 10

All hooked up and ready to go

Our plans for the days trip included getting on I 25 and heading north to Albuquerque(but not before another Walmart stop - this one in Truth or Consequences). When we got to Albuquerque we got on I 40. This route would be our "home" for the next 1400 +/- miles.  Plan was to make it as far as Tucumcari where we would stay over for the night. Trip to Tucumcari 335 miles.

Mountain Rd RV Park, Tucumcari, NM

View from our spot back towards I 40 and Love's Travel Center

Discovered after getting settled and changing our location in RVillage that the place we got gas this day, was the same town that Bruce and Linda were using for a base as they explored Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Left here on the 11th of April with a destination in mind of somewhere just west of Oklahoma City.
It wasn't long before we had crossed over in to Texas and from the Texas border to the vicinity of Amarillo you could not believe the number of windmills that we saw. The number was incredible. And not just for a few miles. I'm talking like for 75 miles or more. Windmills everywhere. Must be a Boone Picket thing.
At a gas stop in the vicinity of Claude, TX we did some refining of our days plans and targeted an area for a possible layover for the night. While stopped and having lunch, had opportunity to take a picture of this neat rig parked next to us.....

Apologies, pic taken through screen door. Just before another rig backed in next to it.

The big rig that was backing in next to this one was driven by a lady - who was holding a cat! We later saw this same rig at another stop about a hundred miles down the road and discovered that the driver was part of a team - 2 ladies driving this huge Peterbilt with a 53' trailer. Plus the cat. Interesting.

Forgot to mention - after entering Texas from New Mexico, we were advised that we had also just entered Central Time Zone. Another hour gone. Oh well. We drove through Amarillo around 11:00 Mountain Time, 12:00 Central Time. We were now headed for Oklahoma. About 20 miles in from the Welcome to Oklahoma sign, we underwent a change in the topography of the land that just blew the two of us away. For 4 going on 5 months now, the land has been brown(sand). All of a sudden everything was green. And I mean green. It took your breath away. And then we started seeing fields that were yellow. And I mean yellow. Like in French's mustard yellow. Hundreds of acres of mustard plants. About this time, we pulled off the road and zeroed in on place to stay for the night. Utilizing internet and ipad and mobile hotspot and All Stays ap on iphone, we found a Walmart about 25 miles west of Oklahoma City that allowed overnight camping. About 1/2 hour later we pulled off I 40 in El Reno, OK, found the Walmart a short 1/4 mile away and, after asking permission from manager to park for the night, found our spot and settled in.

Home is where you park it.

Fortunately for us, there were a number of fast food places adjacent to the Walmart parking lot, and so, after enjoying a cold beer, headed over to KFC for the nights supper.

Sunday April 12 rolls around and now time to pack up and find I 40 again. Our destination today is an area around Van Buren, AR. Should be a short trip today- about 240 miles or so. We'll find an RV park there and settle in to hopefully catch the last day of the Masters on TV.