Cochiti Lake – COE

We drove the 250+ miles from Mesa Verde to Cochiti Lake in New Mexico.  Cochiti Lake is a Corp of Engineer park, $20 per night for water and electric, $10 with senior pass.  Click here for Reservations.  You will want spot 51 or 53, the only two spots that look out over the Rio Grande River and the gorge it runs through before it enters Cochiti Lake.  However, there are other sites which allow you to see the lake….

…or the mountains to the north…

…or like us, a view to the east which includes a little of the lake, the hills, and best of all..NO Neighbors!

Because we did not make reservations, we are in the “older” portion of the park..which also the quieter portion….but it means that the water and the electrical boxes are far away, up to 100 feet for the water.  We have one hose, and I am convinced now that we need another “just in case” because we just made it.  And did I say that the best thing is “No Neighbors”?  Well, this picture above gives you a hint of what is really the best…..do you see it????

Yes, there it is just above our TV antenna….it is a VERIZON Cell Tower….right there!!!!  4G, 5 bars, blazing at 25+mbps!

I use speedtest.net when I test my connection, and above you can see the results.  We are not going to complain about our Internet, nor the TV, which came up with around 50 over-the-air channels.

   

   

The ride over was anticlimactic after yesterday’s drive of one of America’s most scenic roads, right after a snow, with full fall colors going.  Above are a few of the interesting rock formations that Marcia got pictures of, except for the first one which is Angel Peak, and I got that one out my window.  Tomorrow is suppose to be a prime Balloon Day in Albuquerque, so the question is, are we going to get up that early for it or not. 

Camping Again! Fort Smith, Arkansas

Oh, it is SO NICE to be camping, really camping, again!!!!!  The drive from Houston to Fort Smith was ok, it is nice to be out of Houston and the traffic and the smog and the humidity.  It is in the low 60’s at 5:30 here in the Fort Smith area, very low humidity, and this COE park is quiet and not even half full.  The Corps of Engineers operate a number of parks, many near to the lock and dams they oversee. We are at Springhill Park.  Due to the senior saver, it only cost $10 per night for electricity and water, with a dump station free to use if you camp.  We got to choose our own site, and I got a nice, fairly level one.  Many are very, very deep, you could fit a 45’ motorhome, pulling a trailer and a car without any problem….well, except for how narrow the pads are.  But hey, we are not complaining because we are camping again!!!

    

The dogs, Bubba and Skruffy, could not believe their eyes….or their noses.  No more civilization, no more of those dreaded spurs which got into their fur, not much grass…but they are not complaining, that’s for sure.

And look at us…no neighbors to our right side, left side, straight across or behind us.  I think we will get some good solid sleep tonight, and tomorrow we will spend the day visiting Marcia’s relatives, and getting a little grocery shopping done. 

Someone emailed me asking if I apologized to “Joy” for my attitude over the phone when I first learned of the awning not being in.  Now this un-named person (Mom for short) knows me better than to ask, but I will share my email to her after we left ….

Joy,
Although I was a bit worried there for a bit when I found out the awning had not come in, you sure smoothed things out with your open honesty to the situation.  I am sorry if I came off a bit strong right at first, but we had a very bad experience at the Ford Dealership in Florida near our condo where they had the motorhome in their shop for 30 hours and never even popped the hood....and this was just for getting a tune-up.  I was promised it back after one day, two at the most....well needless to say they lied, and that work will be performed in Sacramento now.
Please send the awning to  ….
Thanks again, and thank your staff too.  Please just let me know you got this email, I did not get it off until we got to the rest area on Highway 59 about 100 miles north of Houston.
Dave Burdick

And her reply….

Thanks for your business, and I have always lived my life that honesty is the best policy and that holds true with life and work.  I appreciate you giving us the opportunity to work on your vehicle.  Once the parts get here, I will send it to the address below and will send you an email with the shipping number.

See you soon mom….love ya!  --dave