Choo Choo - All Aboard

At the Antonito Train Depot, we boarded Car 2 of the Cumbres-Toltec Rail Lines train at 9:30. It departed at 10:01, which one of the volunteers said was excellent!  This historic steam engine passenger train was originally used to transport silver ore.  

Our route was a round trip to Osier CO where we had a delicious all-you-can-eat lunch of roast turkey or meatloaf with all the trimmings, including beverage and dessert.  Dining is cafeteria style—and even trays like we had in elementary school.  We chatted with our table mates: the usual where are you from, where’s your next stop, etc.  People are always fascinated by our full time RV lifestyle. A couple was from Ohio (born and raised) and two younger women were from Texas.  Those two want to travel, and one’s looking forward to retiring in Costa Rica.

The sights were amazing! Tracks snaked around mountains and gorges. We saw the volcano cores, evidence of a slide that shut down the trains for a week a couple years ago, Father-Daughter Rock, a rushing river with cabins and fishing galore—all with the chug chug chug and whistles as we entered little settlements and Osier. Black smoked plumed from the engine. A small car (one called it a putt putt) followed with barrels of fire retardant to address any hot sparks.   

Something was wrong with our engine, so the second half of our ride back was painfully slow. We arrived over an hour late, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.  

Stopped at a nice grocery for fruit and vegetables, then back to mosquito land.  All in all it was a great adventure.

Downtown & Taos Ski Resort

Our day began at the Saturday market in the Taos square.  Booths were set up with the usual fare but not many vegetables or fruits. It’s too early in the season for most produce, but many had both red and white radishes. Perhaps they’re for posole. We were tempted by the cinnamon buns but didn’t want to spoil our lunch. 

Time to eat!  We enjoyed a great meal at Gutiz where the theme is Latin-French. Not since Europe two years ago have we seen croque monsieur offered on a menu. Had to have that and a delicious vegetarian tartine. 

Now off to Taos Ski Area with some breathtaking views. It’s extremely quiet this time of year. We saw where our friends boondocked for a few days last week. Alas, we are set at our own park for a couple more days. 

Popped in for a few items at CID’s, which is a bigger version of Sprouts. 

We’re now acquainted with the Taos look. We haven’t seen so many young adults at one time—living in an over 55 park is so limiting. Their attire and tattoos are appealing but not really for us. 

Next Stop - Taos, New Mexico

We were up early this morning, ready to hit the road. It is less than a two-hour drive from Santa Fe to Taos Valley RV Park. 

We stopped for a little dashboard dining and watched kayakers paddling the Rio Grande. 

We arrived early to the campground, so took a spin around town. It’s small but lots of restaurants and shops. Not as quaint as historic downtown Santa Fe, but looks like it’s easy to visit on foot. 

We had dinner in, an odd assortment of pierogies, potatoes and broccoli.  Good nonetheless. 

Tomorrow we will check out the town and enjoy a lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants.

Last Night in Santa Fe

Today was a lazy day. No driving!   Gorgeous day in the mid 80s with slight breeze.

Cindy emailed the Board minutes, chatted with a friend, and updated the blog. 

Bob enjoyed the pool, that is, until GRANDCHILDREN arrived. Too much fun for Bob to take. 

Tonight a walk to El Comal Restaurant. It was delicious, and the margaritas were excellent. Deserved a  4-star review on Yelp.  

This was dinner for two!  What a feast for only $12 each
We ordered sopapillas instead of tortillas

Thunderstorms brew up daily this time of year.  We’d gone to bed when we heard the plop, plop, plop of big raindrops.  I rushed outside—in my nightgown—to stow the chairs under the picnic table, at which time the storm suddenly stopped.  We were, however, entertained with huge bolts of lightning for nearly an hour.

 

2. Cactus Galore

First Two Nights Boondocking

Dateland, Arizona 

Last night it was a balmy 70 degrees, so we slept with all the windows open and no covers. Some rumbling semis, a couple trains and howling coyotes made for a somewhat disrupted sleep. We were up early and ready to hit the road. 

Nobody around

Date palms

The next day we took a familiar route to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, south of Ajo, Arizona. We were here in March 2018, the night before we traveled by RV caravan to Rocky Point, Mexico. 

There was no one here when we arrived at the Twin Peaks Campground. Enter 24-7, pay at the kiosk and pick a site. We parked at #21 but we noted a few sites with hard awnings. Immediately we picked #29. It was really nice having a covered patio in to offer shade.

Ocotillo in bloom

Desert life

Teddy Bear Cholla

Organ Pipe cactus

Saguaro in bloom

Blooming saguaro at sunset

The organ pipe cactus are found only here. They’re huge, with multiple arms growing from a tight base. The do resemble pipes from old fashioned pipe organs. Saguaros and ocotillos are starting to bloom. The desert willow trees are full of pale pinkish-lavender blossoms. Even a few Palo Verde trees are starting to show their tiny yellow blooms. 

Dinner was a mystery meal of leftovers I’d frozen ages ago. We didn’t ever recall eating it the first time!

Off tomorrow to visit friends who have a new home in Green Valley. 

Day 1 - See You in September, Jojoba Hills

Today is Day 1 of our 2021 Summer Travels

Shortly after our Board of Directors announced, “Meeting Adjourned,” we hit the road. Our Travato was packed and ready, and boy, were we excited!

Filled up with gas just over the Arizona border, got ice cream (natch) and are now spending the night in Dateland in their free boondock dirt parking lot. Of course, had to repay the favor by buying dates and more snacks!  At this rate, we may not fit in our little Class B. 

Easy dinner of Essential Sandwiches. These are homemade wraps with essentially anything in the fridge. We don’t label them when we make them, so it’s always a mystery. 

Luxury accommodations

Essential sandwich

Back to Blogging

Bob and I are headed out for our summer travels, and I thought it would be a good idea to keep a record. Lo and behold, I found this one from years ago when we were full-time traveling.  It’s been 5 years!

Since that time, we’ve traveled the USA, parked our 5th wheel at a beautiful site in Jojoba Hills SKP Park in Aguanga , California (near Temecula), bought a Travato Class B, sold the Ford 350 dually, and now about to hit the road again. 

Today is Sunday, the day before we leave on Day 1. It’s been a challenge getting our T organized and ready. Our longest time together in the T was a three-week caravan trip to Baja Mexico with the Escapees group, the Mexican Connection. This summer trip will be three months in that tiny rig. A challenge for sure!

I’m hoping to journal every day. It’s easy to forget, and days just run together.