New Mexico was SO much fun. We were shocked at how much there was to do and see there. We went to the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa and spent the whole day there. The water was very cold spring water, but perfectly fresh and clean.
After a while, we went back to the parking lot and set up the solar panels, Starlink, and computer table for Paul. The kids switched back and forth from the table in the camper to the outside picnic tables. They took frequent work breaks at the swimming hole.
That night, we stopped for a bit, just outside Roswell, close to where the actual crash site was and climbed up on top of the camper to try and see some aliens. Sadly, we didn't see any, but it got everyone in the alien mood for the next day. Everything in Roswell is alien themed. They really leaned in, and we loved it.
We went to the "International UFO Museum and Research Center", listened to a man who was a researcher in Area 51, Roswell, and the Egyptian pyramids. He told us how they were all connected and the kids sat and listened intently to his lecture for more than an hour. It was fascinating.
Then we walked and shopped and enjoyed the rest of the town, including the only McDonalds in the world that is UFO themed. Ha ha ha.
We headed toward Carlsbad Caverns and arrived right on time to get to see the flight of the bats! So fun! There were literally millions of bats. We couldn't take any pictures, or make any noise while we watched. They swooped low and we had to stay still. It was really awesome, what an adventure.
Where we boondocked, we found tons of caves. I was SO impressed with how deep they ran, and how many there were! We had to sign in, at the entrance, and off we went!
The cave got narrower and narrower and at one of the forks, I stayed behind so we wouldn't get lost. The kids and Paul continued on ahead and they stopped when they got to the next fork.
We headed back to Carlsbad Caverns and hiked several miles inside there. We started at the same place the bats flew out of the evening before. It smelled pretty bad, but lots of great formations to see.
At the end of the hike, we rode the elevator back up, we were more than 700 feet down through solid limestone walls. I was sure happy the elevator was there and worked so fast!
Matix found another caterpillar.
Out to eat at some food trucks and Solace loved this sign.
We went to see the Sitting Bull Falls and found out once we got there, that it was a great spot for swimming! None of us were prepared for that, so we got in the water wearing our clothes instead of swimming things. Oh well. Paul's cousin Lauren told us about the falls, but didn't know about the rock slide, so she said she'd have to go back again now!
More fun back in the camper. The kids wrote in travel journals nearly every day, and it's actually been helping me while I write about the adventures to remember some of the little details that have escaped me already. Waffles for breakfast, nearly every morning, thanks to Hawk, and his love of big morning breakfasts.
Reading and doing schoolwork in lots of silly areas, but it gets done!
Silly comics the kids make to entertain themselves.
beautiful sunsets in New Mexico.
We drove until we got to Texas, and went straight to Amarillo's Cadillac Ranch. They had just painted them all green, so we got to help spray paint them back to rainbow. So fun. We loved it and spent a ton of time there. The paint was SO thick and drippy in some areas.
Then we headed to the most Texas BBQ place we could find, and we found "The Big Texan", home of the famous free 72oz steak. The kids got cowboy hats and drank out of collectible boot cups, but not one of us could even finish the 4oz steak that we ordered with all the sides. It was delish, and really made us impressed with the people who could do the 72oz steak along with all the sides. If you did it, in less than an hour, you'd get your meal for free. So wild. We also got serenaded by some real-life cowboys, so fun.
We only stayed in Texas a couple days before heading to Oklahoma. On our way in the middle of nowhere, we got a flat tire on the RV. It was the interior passenger side rear tire. The most complicated one to get to. Thankfully we have great roadside insurance and they were able to find us and get the tire repaired pretty quickly. It was also a good experience to happen while I was driving, because I was afraid of a flat tire, but it wasn't as scary as I thought, so it actually eased my mind a bit. Paul had to start a meeting while we waited for the repair guy to get there, so we set up shop and put up the Starlink and solar panels.
When they got the tire off, he told us the tires were really old, which was weird, since when we bought it, that was part of the deal, they were going to add new tires. The repair guy taught us how to date the tires, and we called in to the RV place and let them know what happened. They paid for a brand new set, including the spare, and apologized for missing it. I was glad they were so honest about the mistake and helped to make it right.
We kept driving to a little boon docking campground near a small lake. The kids got the paddle board out and went to the other side to explore. I worked on lesson planning and grading schoolwork, and Paul worked. It was a nice end to an exciting morning.
By the time Paul and I got up, we heard the kids outside airing up the paddle board to go back out on the lake. They found a baby turtle, caught it, named it, built it a little habitat, and then released it. They played a million rounds of king of the log, and had a great time there.
Just a couple days before getting close to Oklahoma City, I bought a plane ticket for myself to head back to Wisconsin for Ryelle's wedding. We parked and slept in a Walmart that night so we could swap out all the gear Paul and the kids would need in the camper, because I was taking the car to the airport. The Walmart was near the airport and lit up so Paul and I could work, while the kids slept. It worked out great.
Not asleep yet, still reading books.
All day flights, got me to Wisconsin at the very end of September. My mom picked me up, we got chocolate milk, as is tradition, and went back to her house. Phew! What a September!
