TRUTH OR CONSEQUENES and ELEPHANT BUTTE

Leaving Sky City campground on Friday morning, we continued east on I40 thruogh the Laguna Indian Reservation. We passed the usual continually changing high desert terraine until we got to Albuquerque and turned south on I 25. Then we began seeing this--a line of green along the east side of the road, and

hilly desert on the west. We had entered the Rio Grand Valley of New Mexico.

We decided that this is the ugliest rest area we had encountered in our travels. It turned out to be the best. The large buildings in the middle(there's one behind it on the upper deck also) are restrooms--welcomingly cool after the desert heat. The other "rooms" are picnic areas. The ones on the upper deck offer desert views as well as cooling breezes. Not hungry at the time of our visit, we declined the siren call and continued our journey.

Arriving in Truth or Consequences--T'r C--as the locals call it, we cut off on 187 for two miles further south to Williamsburg and the Desert Haven no-kill animal rescue. The spots here are usually filled by work campers, but we got an empty spot. We got full hookup 50 amp for $14 a night. All proceeds fund the animal rescue. After we set up we cruised through TRC looking the town over and arriving at the Wal-Mart at the north end for a few groceries.

Saturday we went to the Geronimo Springs Visitors Center for information and then next door (to the left) to the Geronimo Springs Museum. This place is a wonderful collection of 14 rooms of local history and artifacts. Duane looked over the blacksmithing tools and the very small collection of wood carving art. I admired the handmade quilts, the clothing, and the paintings depicting area historical events.

To the left of the museum is the original hot spring, which is located under this park. The water is pumped up to the top of the two fountain structures on either side of the walkway,

then down the troughs on either side of the park before going back to the spring under the little footbridge where I am standing above.

The onfoboard below offers a little history about the place.

At the museum we asked about places for a good lunch. Four were offered. One Italian place, one Mexican place, the Happy Belly Deli, and BBQ on Broadway. Denied our ribs in Holbrook, guess where we went. We each got a brisket sandwich--Duanes was sliced, mine was chunked. Both were good. Satisfied and full, we walked the other way around the block checking out the stores. For a recession, TRC doesn't have many closed businesses! The town seems to be holding its own. For tourists it offers the Geronimo Museum and the Veterans Memorial Park & Hamilton Military Museum. It lies amid the Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway from which you can see dramatic scenery and visit several historic mining towns, and is home to 11 different hot springs. These mineral springs run at 110 df and don't smell like sulfer. All are privately owned by lodges and motels, but one offers solace for visitors not staying at the resort. Nearby (10 miles) is Elephant Butte Lake State Park. We got a 15 minute pass to cruise the park. It was a busy weekend. The campgrounds had just a few spots left and the beach was packed.

People were on boats and on the beach, but not many ventured in. The water temperature was 67df!

These pix were taken from atop the dam. Note the high water mark on Elephant Butte Island.

The Rio Grande supplying electricity.

Time to go home. This is our little campground. From the road are: work camper, work camper, us, the mobile home of the manager. The rescue animals are housed behind the manager's house. On this side between the manager's house and the road runs a little animal cemetery for the unfortunate animals.

Tomorrow, more exploring with

Louise and Duane