Columbus, NM to Rodeo, AZ

We return to Columbus and visit the Pancho Villa State Park.  The museum details the attack by this Mexican Revolutionary.  After the raid the U.S. Cavalry chased Pancho Villa over 500 miles into Mexico but he was never captured.

We head west toward Arizona.  We cross the Continental Divide at 4,500 feet.  We visit the Chiricahua Desert Museum in Rodeo, AZ.  This is a private museum and one of the best we've seen.  Most impressive is their herpetology room which contains rattlesnakes common to the southwest.

We stop at the site of Geronimo's surrender, and then on to Douglas where we resupply at Walmart and park for the night.  Peggy takes pity on a homeless woman and buys her tacos.

On the road again

Blue Mountains

Pronghorns

Arizona Mountain King Snake, Chiricahua Desert Museum

Albino Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Chiricahua Desert Museum

Queretaran Dusky Rattlesnake, chiricahua Desert Museum

Monument at site of Geronimo's surrender

Deming, NM

After another short hike we return to Deming and take an RV site so we can watch the Redskins play the Seahawks for the wildcard...Go Skins.

Deming, NM

We visit the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum.  This place has the largest collection of Indian pottery I have ever seen.  The Mimbres lived in this area from 800-1250.  They left about the same time as the Anastasi.  About a hundred years later the Apache took their place.

We drive on to Rock Hound State Park where we take a campsite and then go for a hike.  This park allows rock collecting and we return with several nice pieces of jasper.

Very Old Navajo Rugs

Small Navajo Loom with Rug

Bird Points and Beads

Mimbre Pottery

Florida Mountains, Deming, NM

Campground at Rock Hound State Park, Deming, NM

View from our campsite

Hiking in Rock Hound State Park

Cactus in Rock Hound State Park

The Sleeping Dragon, view from Rock Hound State Park

Deming, NM

It snows all night, even in Mexico.  El Paso gets an all time record of 4 inches.  I40 is closed because they have absolutely no snow removal equipment.  Consequently our brake parts don't arrive until noon.  The sun comes out and melts all the snow just as they finish the brake work.  We take another RV site because it's going to be another cold night.

Deming, NM

We hear grinding sounds coming from the rear axel.  The Ford dearler tells us we need new rotors and pads.  He tells us to come back tomorrow and he'll have all the parts ready.  The wind becomes really strong and it starts to snow.

Deming, NM

We leave El Paso and head west into New Mexico.  We cross the Rio Grand which is wide, sandy and completely dry.  We travel through the desert on the southernmost road in the state.  We stop at the historical museum in Columbus.  This is the border town that was attacked and burned downy by Poncho Villa in 1916.  It is the only city in America that has been invaded by a foreign country.

We go north and take an RV site in Deming.  We've been spending every night for the last two weeks at campgrounds because it's been consistently below freezing at night.  So much for my idea of escaping the cold in Virginia by going south.

El Paso, TX

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013 from the Mitchells in El Paso, TX.

We stay in camp today and work on the blog.