Monday, August 17, 2015

Heading out tomorrow....

It's been so hot here at Elephant Butte, NM that Katie and I have been staying inside 24/7 with the A/C on except for potty walks.  This is the longest I've had an electric site since I started full-timing over four years ago.

First thing in the morning, which for us us between 9 and 10 am, we go outside and I let Katie walk by herself until she's done.  For our afternoon "outs," the ground is way to hot for Katie's feet, so I put her in the stroller and walk her over to the shower house where there are trees and she can do her thing in the shade.  I sometimes walk 1/2 the loop which is a third of a mile (I've gotten acclimated to the heat) and Katie jumps from the stroller right into The Palms when we get home.  In the evening, usually around 7 pm, the rocks and pavement are again cool enough for her to walk a little by herself, then I put her back into the stroller and we take a walk around the park. 

She's having problems with the Seroma on her right ankle swelling up a lot, so I'm restricting her walking.  Poor thing, she wants to walk more, but the one time I let her, it took three days for the hard lump to finally get smaller and softer.  Sometimes she gets back into The Palms and wants to play:




Yesterday afternoon and this morning I had to clean and sanitize our fresh water tank.  It was starting to smell and taste bad even with the blue hose filter and the whole house filter.  I think the extreme heat here encourages bacteria to flourish, but honestly, it was time to take care of this task, anyway.  When the water tank was empty the first time I also changed the whole house filter. So those two jobs are done for a while. The only issue was that between filling the fresh water tank three times and dumping the black/grey tanks after filling them with the fresh water twice, I was outside in the hot sun waaaaay to long.  When I was done I couldn't wait to get to the showers.

We also topped off the pantry and fridge at Wal-Mart and I got an inside/outside thermometer so I could see how hot is it outside.  

Other than that, things have been very quiet here, and tomorrow we are moving on.  I'm looking forward to being in a new campground and campsite, but will probably be back in Elephant Butte when our 14 days are up at the next campground.  This weekend is Elephant Days (August 21-23) with arts and crafts, food, a pet parade, balloon regatta, balloon glow, car-truck-motorcycle show, hula hoop contest and live music and dancing.  It sounds like there is something for everyone.  I don't know how crowded it gets here, but I'll miss it.  They are launching balloons over the lake - that would be cool to see. 


Here are more photos from the last few weeks - after being on the road for more than four years, and re-visiting a lot of the same places, I don't have many new photos to post.  But I still love the jack rabbits and lizards, which is about all I see here.  :)

This guy runs in front of The Palms twice a day, at least I think it's the same rabbit.  I love the loping gait of the jack rabbits. 


These are such pretty lizards.  We see them during our late afternoon walks.  This one was pushing up and down like push-ups:


Look how large and strong his back legs are:


I got a good shot of one that shows all his colors, even a little turquoise on his belly:

Pretty butterfly:

We've seen a couple of these millipedes.  This one was crossing the road and was on the middle yellow line:


I think they are kind of creepy, but from what I've read, even though they can be pests to homeowners, they are harmless to humans:

We've had some pretty and unusual looking cloud formations:



Pretty sunset sky:

And that's about it - maybe something interesting will happen sooner rather than later and I'll post if it does.  If not, I'll at least check in.  Just know, all is well in and around The Palms.  And I'm looking forward to Social Security Wednesday this week, yaaaaaay!  :)

From me and Katie, have a great Monday evening, everyone! :)

22 comments:

  1. It has been hot here in north Alabama but not nearly as bad as Elephant Butte NM. Our temps have finally entered the fall cool down. It was a high in the 70's today. Have fun and please leave tracks, blog tracks that is.

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  2. I can't help wondering why you stay where it's so hot? You have wheels under your house, why not head for a higher elevation where it would be cooler? Maybe up into Colorado into the mtns. It's been really hot & muggy here in NE Nebr. until today...just made it into the low 60s. Quite the change!

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  3. Safe travels, hope you find some coolness. By the way I'm back in Mission and it's been triple digits since I got here. 107 the other day.

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  4. I, too, think you ought to head somewhere cooler. All that heat wears on a person.

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  5. Look at the fine pair of ears on that jackrabbit. I've never been crazy about rabbits, but I find the jackrabbit, or hare (as they call them in Europe) to be much more interesting.

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  6. I totally understand the heat and keeping the girls' paws safe. We try to keep them in the shade or under the trailer or truck during the day. It's really getting boring but I'm afraid when we get out of here and go somewhere cooler I am going to freeze to death because I have become used to the heat. Safe travels and have fun on your new adventures.

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  7. We had one of those creepy crawler things somehow get into our ventilation system and it dropped down out of the vent onto the rug in front of us. Quite a shock!

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

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  8. Temps haven't been too bad at Storrie. Hot in the afternoon but cool in the evening, night and morning. Head on up!

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  9. Add me to the list of people wondering why you don't head for someplace cooler. :)

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  10. I shudder when thinking of the terrible heat you have there. You sure you wouldn't like to come up north and cool off around here?

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  11. Sounds like you are keeping your cool. Its always nice to relocate and move on down the road. again.

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  12. Interesting post even if nothing is going on but the heat.... I love looking at pictures no matter what they are because I've never been out west so it is all good to look at for me.... I love looking at pictures of Katie also.... so to me none of your post are boring thanks for sharing

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  13. Maybe that thermometer isn't a great idea. It might be better not to know the outside temps.

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  14. Wow back at the Butte already! Maybe headed that way Octoberish. Enjoy!

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  15. The northern parks, Heron and El Vado, are comfortable without AC. 82° at 13:34. The duck claims the Internet signal at El Vado is poor, but I have been volunteering here all summer with two bars of 4G on my Verizon jet pack almost non stop.

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  16. The northern parks, Heron and El Vado, are comfortable without AC. 82° at 13:34. The duck claims the Internet signal at El Vado is poor, but I have been volunteering here all summer with two bars of 4G on my Verizon jet pack almost non stop.

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  17. Hope you're enjoying your new campsite, and hope it's cooler too!

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  18. Hi Barbara,
    too too hot for me, I am looking forward to seeing you this winter.

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  19. I just walked past your campsite and waited for Katie to bark at me. She didn't, so I began to question if it was really you. :D

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  20. Love your photos!!! Gorgeous. I heard today that it's been the hottest since they started recording temps back in 1880. I'm always careful to walk the kids on the grass. Could you see my three in a stroller??? hahaha. and yeah for SS Wednesday!! We like it too!! :-) Sheilaxx

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  21. It has been hot here, but not as hot as there. Lately we have had fog in the morning, but it burns off by 9:00 am.
    Angel says Hi to Katie.

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  22. You know you are ALWAYS welcome to come to A-1 Mtn. Road where I am and get cooled off for a few weeks!! The weather is just gorgeous! I would love to see you! John......

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