Monday, April 27, 2009 - Valley of Fires BLM campground, Carrizozo NM

Camped at Valley of Fires Recreation Area, site 15, April 27, 2009

From the department of best laid plans and all that

It only took me about 50 miles today to alter my course east. I had planned to head up I25 from Elephant Butte and catch US60 east at Bernardo NM and follow it east at least as far as the Mississippi. I like to travel by picking a route, generally on the old federal highway network, and follow it day after day without having to read a map. This is a holdover from my motorcycling days when it wasn't always so easy to consult a map while underway - especially in the rain.

But I didn't get far along with my plan today when on a whim I left I25 at San Antonio and headed east on US380 towards Roswell instead. I had never traveled this section of US380 and wanted to see some new country. All went well rolling along over the mountains and across the valley north of the Trinity site when I found myself so fascinated with the otherworldly landscape of the 5,000 year old Malpais Lava Flow I just had to grab the opportunity to stop for the night at the Valley of Fires Recreation Area when it hove into sight.

Night camp

Site 15 - Valley of Fires Recreation Area, Carrizozo NM

• This is a quiet, well maintained BLM campground with paved sites, some with electric & water
• There is good biking on the park roads
• Good Verizon cell phone service
• Good Verizon EVDO service
• Find other references to Valley of Fires
• List the nights I've camped here
• Go to Valley of Fires website
• Get a BLM map
• Check the weather