New Mexico or Bust!

Warren Mary Ellen

Warren Mary Ellen

Ranger
Got our trip planned to New Mexico in a few weeks. Stopping near Litttle Rock on the first day to camp at Maumelle park along the Arkansas River. Next night we’ll be at Sanford-Yake Campground on Lake Meredith near Amarillo, TX. Then a few nights near Santa Fe before heading up to Red River, NM. Seeing Ray Wylie Hubbard at the Motherlode Saloon and taking it easy. We’ve been to Santa Fe before and love the area. Looking forward to seeing another part of New Mexico.

Heading back to SC we will stop at Foss State Park in Oklahoma. Next night will have us in Hot Springs camping in the Gulpha Gorge campground in the National Park there. Glad they do reservations there now. Then home.

Heading out next week to a local campground on Lake Hartwell to get us ready.
 
Your trip sounds amazing! I love hearing about those trips!

I passed through the Maumelle area coming from Texas back in March, but developed a case of "get home-itis" and skipped Maumelle Park. It was too late for a mid-day stop, and too early for 'dinner' - I was so wiped out form 5 weeks of training and a long drive, that I didn’t think to slow down and enjoy Hot Springs then Maumelle. In hindsight, I should’ve taken it easy, especially since I had no schedule. But, I was solo and wanted to save those spots to explore with my wife later. She gets a bit jealous when I rave about places she hasn’t seen yet!

Your post is making me think about a quick trip to Eastern PA 15-20 year ago. I rode from Stroudsburg, PA (visiting the Frank Frazetta Museum) back home to Dayton, Ohio, and stumbled on this freshly paved road—maybe near Mexico, PA—along a river with sweeping turns and zero traffic. It was a 60-90 minute stretch of pure joy, the kind of ride you almost turn back to do again.

Your trip sounds like it could be one of those unforgettable adventures! Thanks for sharing.
 
One suggestion if you can work it in is El Morro National Monument. Fascinating, to me at least. It is at a spot that had year round water, making it a stop for everyone travelling through the region for the last 400 years. The sandstone rock is carved with the records of everyone from Spanish governors assigned to put down native revolts to cavalry soldiers to westward bound homesteaders. The "graffiti" stretches a good ways around the monolithic rock in more-or-less chronological order. Nice hike to the top also where there are the ruins of early natives. There is also a nice little free campground though it only has a few sites so you need to be there early to grab one.
 
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