[Baxsie]

We ran long and hard south to avoid the cold weather.

At this point, it may be time to concede defeat. Photos by Ms. Baxsie -- I was cozy in the warm van posting on Vans In The Wild (Corgi for scale):

We are in the $15 "overflow camping" at Kartchner Caverns. There is "real camping" for $30, which adds a water spigot and power, neither of which we need. Both the overflow camping and real camping have access to restrooms, showers, water, and a free RV dump. It is a bit longer walk from the overflow, but entirely reasonable.

The caverns are fantastic and pristine. The cave is ADA compatabile.

 

[Baxsie]

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument New Mexico:

Obligatory ProMaster shot at Lower Scorpion Campground dry camping. It is also parking for another small cliff dwelling and some petroglyphs:

Stayed at the very nearby Gila Hot Springs Campground ($20/night for dry camp and hot spring access) Liked it so much we stayed a second night (photo by Ms. Baxsie):

 

[larry barello]

Frenchman Coulee, wa

Taking advantage of three days w/o precipitation here in the pnw. Still deciding what will be the next van remodeling project when the rain starts again Thursday...

 

[Baxsie]

Are you an Ice Age Floods / Geology fan?

 

[Jing]

Arch campground in Valley of Fire. Got to be in the top 5 of all time cool camp sites. Nice hiking in the area too

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[Baxsie]

Bandelier National Monument, NM, near Los Alamos.

Dry camping, $12, nice, clean, warm flush toilets. Includes access to RV dump. Useable Verizon with external antenna, no T-Mobile.

 

[Olaboss]

 

[furnitureguy]

We have stayed in that exact same campsite! Valley of Fire is pretty awesome...there is a lot of "off trail" terrain to explore but one must take care not to damage any vegetation.
Arch campground in Valley of Fire. Got to be in the top 5 of all time cool camp sites. Nice hiking in the area too View attachment 94545

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[larry barello]

Schwana, WA, near the Milwaukee crossing of the Columbia River (Vantage, Frenchmans Coulee, etc)

Watch Inside a Precisely Designed Lunar Lander Replica House | Unique Spaces | Architectural Digest

 

[Baxsie]

Schwana, WA, near the Milwaukee crossing . . .

How did you find that? Is it an AirB&B?

 

[Baxsie]

White Sands National Park:

There is sand there. The sand is white. Sunset was nice:

(Photos by Ms.Baxsie)

 

[larry barello]

@Baxsie , I totally love all the places you visited over the last two weeks. It has been a while since I've been to bandoliers or white sands. As long as you are in the area check out Aguirre springs and the hike to the pass.

As for the lunar lander, it was a blip on Google maps. I am finding all sorts of cool sites and sights that way, like "valley of dreams", which you should visit on your way back west.

 

[Baxsie]

Visited Jemez, NM. There is a cool Soda Dam geological feature:

Camped in the Forest Service Vista Linda campground just south of Jemez. First Come-First Served, pit toilet $12/night, squeaked into the last spot:

The temperature was 28F this morning. The darker, frosted areas show good insulation in the center of panels. Lighter areas with no frost indicate more heat loss at the ribs.

(photos by Ms.Baxsie)

 

[Winston]

Explanation to follow . . .

b

 

[Baxsie]

Explanation to follow . . .

That is kind of a small spot, but I guess if the bathrooms are clean, then good find!

 

[Jing]

Hubbel Trading Post

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[Jing]

Drove up the Moki Dugway in a light rain, wouldn't have wanted to if it was much wetter but the van did fine. View attachment 94779

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[larry barello]

Isn't that the goosenecks of the San Juan river? Moki looks like this:

 

[Jing]

Isn't that the goosenecks of the San Juan river? Moki looks like this:
View attachment 94782

Yes, those are the goosenecks, the Dugway is just up the road from them.

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[cahaak]

Yes, those are the goosenecks, the Dugway is just up the road from them.

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Did you get a chance to drive through valley of the Gods? It's a great drive.