Saturday November 16, City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

New Mexican sunset

After a really good night, we slept so well at Walmart, no cars or noise that kept us awake, we were back on the I25 and heading south. Couldn’t get over how little traffic there was on the freeway and really enjoyed the drive, big open scenery with the Rio Grande lined with cottonwoods still with their autumn yellow glow.

First stop was the Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest lake in New Mexico. Drove through the town and couldn’t get over how many storage yards for boats and RV’s there were as well as RV parks and restaurants…this is a destination place for New Mexicans. But sadly when we got to the lake we could hardly see it, it was just about empty. Spoke with an old chap at the gas station who said that there had been 5 years of droughts, and the lake level was down quite a lot before that. He said though that if there is a good snow pack up north it will full back up within a year…..he didn’t seem concerned but I wasn’t sure. It seems that so many of the reservoirs that we have seen in our travels this year have been drastically low, and feel very concerned at what is ahead. If there is not a huge snowfall in the next several years there will be a real catastrophe.

Elephant Butte Reservoir...or what is left of it.

Passed through the town of “Truth of Consequences”….hard to believe a town was named this! Evidently the town was called Hot Springs (yes it does have hot springs!), but in 1950 the host of the very popular radio show called “Truth or Consequence” said that he would air the program from the first town that renamed itself….and that is what happened…hard to believe, but it has brought heaps of tourist to the area.

We were heading for the City of Rocks State Park so took the scenic route east. It was a great drive through ranch country and then the small town of Hillsboro, another ghost town that has been re-invented by artists shifting there. Just loved all the autumn coloured cottonwoods growing along the river beds obviously where there is a little moisture at times.

A "thriving" real estate business in Hillsboro!

The road up through Emory Pass was rather “interesting”, we climbed up over 4000 feet, with lots of very tight switchbacks and huge wind gusts that rocked us around, but Ruakiwi just cruised through it all. Got out at the top to take some photos, but had to hold onto a sign to stop me being blown backwards!

Down the other side and a much easier descent. Lots of ranches and small faming blocks, although have seen very few animals…can’t work out why!

Our destination was this state park, had read about it online, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Amazing rock formations that seem to have sprung up out of flat ranch country. After a quick cuppa, I headed off down a trail with the camera as the sun was getting lower, just wonderful…and a full moon to boot. Couldn’t be better. Decided to stay here for a few days and have a relax.