#21: New Mexico: Part 1
I’ll begin by admitting that these next few posts about New Mexico are overdue by over two months(!). For context, I was in New Mexico early March, before COVID-19 started shutting things down.
My time in New Mexico technically began at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the southernmost part of New Mexico. However, I write about that park visit in post #19. Here is the route I took through New Mexico after leaving Carlsbad Caverns (starting in Las Cruces):
I didn’t have much specific to do in Las Cruces, but I wanted to visit the city, AND I knew I could FINALLY dry camp on public land (boondock). Using my Campendium app, and notes I had jotted down from other traveler’s Instagram and Facebook posts, I found a place I wanted to check out and potentially stay for the night. From what I knew, it was a trailhead area parking lot, but also a place campers spend the night.
When I arrived, there were already a few inhabitants (CHECK…this means it’s all good to stay there). I found a spot where I wanted to set up, but I couldn’t get my trailer level. Leveling the trailer on uneven ground would be so much easier with two people (if only Addie could help). It took me a while to troubleshoot and still couldn’t get the trailer level enough to where I felt comfortable. I picked a different, less desirable spot and called it a day. I caught this sunset as I was finishing up.
I didn’t sleep much that night due to high winds whipping off the Organ Mountains onto the Airstream (the noise and the wobbling of the Airstream kept me up). Out of pure laziness, I neglected to put the trailer stabilizers down to the ground. If I had, the trailer would have been a lot more…well…stable throughout the night. Live and learn.
The next morning I got up and drove about 50 minutes to White Sands National Park (see post #20). I towed the Airstream with me as I didn’t want to leave it unattended in this camping spot. Plus, I was going to find a different location to spend the next night. Months ago I was SUPER nervous about not having a campsite lined up on the day of, but I’m getting more and more comfortable as a road warrior, and not always knowing where to sleep on a given day/night is just part of the fun.
The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land I camped on the next two nights may have been my most favorite place I’ve camped thus far. I butted right up to the Organ Mountains, and outside my window was a beautiful view. The weather was incredible - just warm enough to be outside with no jacket, but not at all hot in the sun (absolute “Sarah” weather). The first morning I set my camp chair outside and watched the sunrise over the mountains as I drank my coffee. I read my book there until it was time to go meet up with my new Instagram Airstream friend, Alfredo, for lunch.
Alfredo (@tinpueblo) and I had been conversing via Instagram for a little while. He saw that I was in Las Cruces and reached out because he happened to be in the area as well (Las Cruces is also his hometown). We met up at a Bosque Brewing Co. for lunch and a few beers (Alfredo chose a place with outdoor seating so Addie could join us). It was so fun to have a friend - and a friend with similar wanderlust interests! We toured each other’s trailers after lunch, made plans to meet up in Arizona (where he lives), and parted ways. It felt so great to make a social media connection into an in-person relationship. I continue to meet so many new people from different walks of life on this journey, and that not only makes me happy, but also fulfills me.
I spent one more night on the same BLM land; I just moved to a different spot due to availability. This time, I had a different view. After helping other campers park their rig, we got to talking, and I ended up spending the evening with them, chatting over cocktails. Now, we are connected through Instagram to follow each other’s journeys.
I had intentions of leaving Las Cruces and heading Northeast to Cloudcroft and Ruidoso on the way to Santa Fe. But to be honest, I didn’t feel like making the detour. I was having trouble finding a decent place to camp and was a little concerned about the weather. Instead, I headed directly up to Santa Fe.