| Please click on picture to enlarge |
| Each comments entry box in the guest book is limited to approx. 250 characters including spaces. For longer messages please e-mail us at morton@rmortonc.com |
The travel journal for this month is quite short, since June was devoted to work/maintenance and major dental work. On the first of the month we visited the Eagle Ranch Pistachio Grove (< -- please click) north of Alamogordo to purchase some of their unique products, then on the following morning we drove via Las Cruces to Leasburg Dam State Park (see travel route). After choosing a campsite, we called our friend, Dick in Las Cruces. He invited us to supper at La Posta in Old Mesilla (< -- please click), which is one of the authentic and best restaurants in the southwest. We picked Dick up at his house and then went to La Posta and enjoyed an excellent meal together. The following day Chuck took the truck to the local GMC dealer to have the recommended services performed on the transmission and engine. Renée stayed at home and tried to contact the Alderete’s, our friends and former next door neighbors in Las Cruces. After not receiving an answer on any number she tried, she began researching the local newspaper archives online. We were sad to learn that less than a year ago, both of them had passed away within two months of each other. |
The truck had to remain overnight so Dick brought Chuck back to the campground and spent two nights with us (see photos), complete with campfires and mesquite smoked ribs. During our stay at Leasburg we also had lunch with Madeline and Rex Berryhill in Las Cruces, along with Dick. On the 7th, Barbara Bowser came by to visit. It was nice to see everyone again! On Monday, the 9th we left Leasburg Dam State Park for Columbus, NM (see travel route) where we would remain for a while. Pancho Villa State Park is in Columbus and the Mexican town of Palomas can be seen in the distance (less than three miles) (see photos). Palomas has a dental clinic which has an excellent reputation and we have visited it many times in the past. The pricing is significantly lower than the US; however, last March the police chief of Palomas, Emilio Perez, requested political asylum at the US Border Checkpoint. The majority of his police force had resigned or quit since it had become so dangerous with the drug wars between rival factions. Since he was apparently not on any drug lord’s payroll and without a police force, he felt that his life in Mexico would soon come to an end. Around the same time, the Mayor of Columbus went to the dental clinic in Palomas to have a root canal. While he was in the dentist’s chair, bandits entered the clinic and robbed the place. Since it is one of the money-producing places in Palomas, it appears like a good choice to rob. However, the clinic accepts all major credit cards so it might not have been very profitable after all. In light of this, we were somewhat concerned. We spoke with the supervisor at the state park and he assured us that visitors were not experiencing any problems since the Mexican government had stationed an army unit in Palomas to maintain civil order. We did see the military on the streets in Palomas and felt quite safe while we were there. Renée knew that she would be having some major dental work done since a tooth holding a bridge had been bothering her for several months. It turned out to be worse than anticipated. The best solution was two implants and accompanying bridge. The removal of the old bridge, extraction and pins inserted in the jawbone was the initial part of the procedure, with the rest to be performed over a three month period. This has caused our summer plans to visit Manitoba and Saskatchewan to be changed and we now plan to stay in the Southwest for a while. The initial procedure went as planned, although for about ten days, Renée looked as if the dentist had implanted several golf balls in her jaw. The swelling eventually subsided. We will have to return in August for the next step. Chuck chose to have three crowns installed to compensate for wearing down of the teeth which might eventually cause a problem. Total cost for three crowns installed was $520. With these prices, we have elected not to have dental insurance! As planned, Chuck spent the three weeks at Columbus dedicated to RV maintenance and cleaning. This included a completed scrubbing, cleaning, caulking, waxing, polishing, etc. This was a major undertaking and was completed at noon on the day before our scheduled departure. However, we did take a couple of breaks, making a day trip to El Paso, TX and since Columbus has only a small grocery and no hardware store, we traveled to Deming (about 30 miles) to shop for groceries and hardware items, such as a new ladder since the old one decided to collapse at a most inopportune time. Lobo developed affectionate feelings for a 14 year old female Chihuahua-Dachshund mix named “Puddles”. Puddles lives with Tillie who was our neighbor. Lobo went to visit Puddles quite often. A power problem caused them to move in the middle of the night to another location several sites away. Lobo was quite happy to find they had not completely left the campground. Several times a day he would decide he wanted to visit with Puddles (see photos). Since the campground was almost empty, the two of them could run loose, even though there was very little running, considering their age, just sitting down and being together. After Renée had her stitches removed on the 27th, the dentist said she needed to return in early August, so on the 30th we left Columbus and drove to Caballo Lake State Park (see travel route). Dick met us there and would spend a few more days there after we left. To be continued…… |
Travel Journal June 2008
Our Motto: Home is, where our RV is.
| To view photos click on “Photos June 2008” above. |
| Each comments entry box in the guest book is limited to approx. 250 characters including spaces. For longer messages please e-mail us at morton@rmortonc.com |
 |  |  |  |
| | | |
| Pancho Villa State Park |