Snow Birds

It took two solid days of effort to winterize the homestead, and get the van ready to travel south.

We left the homestead five days ago. We left a day early to avoid an incoming snow storm, and that plan worked out great! No snow, just rain.

Fast forward through four excellent days of southwesterly travel through the plains, and here we are: Smack dab in the middle of a snow storm. Ha!

This morning I had an option: Head south and keep going south keeping it rainy. Or head west, and go to the hot spring, and probably get “an inch or two of snow.” An inch or two?? Pffft!

I opted for the hot spring, and instead got a snow storm.

I KNEW better, but the allure of hot springs will always sway me. Crossing the high plain from Clayton to Springer was fine. I had high hopes I’d be in a hot spring within a couple hours.

We turned south just as the first flakes began to hit us.

We drove for an hour through quickly deteriorating conditions. Then it got real bad. Two ruts and sloppy snow. Blowing snow, shaking the van. Other drivers speeding along, skidding out. Once we passed a jack knifed semi, we decided to get off the highway and hole up for the day.

Hello Las Vegas! New Mexico, that is… Not nearly so glamourous as Nevada, but just as welcoming.

We found a motel where we could check in at 10:30 am and a Mexican restaurant across the street.

So it’s a chill day. We’ve earned it. We have dramatically imprived our predicament! And we still have enough time tomorrow to drop the van off and catch our flight to Paris.