Albuquerque, New Mexico – Day 4

Mary remains at home in California tending to medical issues.

I’m still in Albuquerque making preparations to depart the area. For the last few months I’ve been in rather remote northern New Mexico. Albuquerque is the largest city in the state and the only location where certain things are available.

Yesterday morning I departed the Sandia Casino where I had spent the previous night and headed downtown about 10 miles distant, The first stop was to get the RV washed. It had not been washed since January and really needed it. I pulled into the huge truck stop near where two major Interstate Highways (40 and 25) intersect. The facility where they wash the huge 18 wheel tractor trailers made the RV look rather small…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

One half-hour and $50 later the RV and Bronco were once again nice and clean. Next was a two-hour, $300 stop at Costco groceries and gas. I paid the lowest price for gas ($3.46.9) than in the last few months.

Then I needed to decide where to spend the night. It’s been a long time since I overnighted at a Wal-Mart, but this one has a really convenient location and a really large parking lot. I got way over in the back adjacent to a side street with little traffic. With a roving Wal Mart security car, I enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep.

I always like to show a photo out of the dinette widow of the RV wherever I park overnight. This view is of a high school across from a little used side street…

Today it’s finish my grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, then to then local Workhorse Chassis dealer to to have the RV ABS light re-cycled. If I’m finished by 2:00 PM I depart Albuquerque, if not I’ll spend one more night here.

My next planned stop is at Santa Rosa Lake State Park about 100 miles east of Albuquerque. The consensus of opinion seems to be that there is about a six degree difference in temperature for every 1,000 feet of elevation. I need to maintain a degree of awareness about this fact. Here’s why. My last night in Santa Fe at 7,000 feet only four days ago was 29 degrees. Brrr! Albuquerque has an average elevation of 5,200 feet of elevation and it was 76 degrees here yesterday. I spent about three weeks here in Albuquerque last spring and explored it quite thoroughly so I need to move on.

When you head east from Albuquerque you start leaving the Rocky Mountain chain and begin heading for the plains. Go too fast too means excessive elevation drop means hotter temperatures. Santa Rosa Lake elevation is 4,800 feet and the weekend forecast is for the low 80’s…getting kind of warm again! That’s why a traveler needs to pay attention to elevation.

Enjoying the freedom to decide when to get back on the road is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

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All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
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