TIME FOR A BREAK_Aug-15-2021

UTE LAKE STATE PARK NEW MEXICO

The great thing about being a full-time motorhome dweller is you are never tied down to one area.  Most time I live off-grid (i.e., No electric, water, gas, sewage, rent, mortgage note or property taxes.

However, if living in the forest, deserts, canyons or on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties is not your thing or dream. You can always pay to stay on Bureau of Land Management properties, State Parks or at full-service campgrounds that offers an array of amenities and utility connections.

Prior to covid-19, I was already living my current no-mad lifestyle which minimize my contact with members of the public. Furthermore, I wore a mask whenever I did my once-a-month grocery shopping in nearby towns, so I never felt covid was a threat to me.

When my brother, who is a nurse and has been working none-stop at his local hospital. Decided he needed a break from the many deaths and covid patients, who refused to be vaccinated but suddenly wanted to be saved by anyone working in the medical field. Though I was leery about my brother’s desire to take leave; travel and stay with me due to his profession. Upon telling him I had not had my covid-19 vaccinations or booster either. And did not plan to do so until I returned home to South Dakota.

Sis, I know the lifestyle you live, and I am willing to bet you have never been exposed to Covid. However, due to my profession it was a requirement that all nurses at my facility had to get vaccinations or not report to work until further notice, he said.

Meanwhile due to my brother’s profession and busy life commitments it has been thirty-years since we spent any time together as siblings. So, I swung through Georgia to retrieve him. Then drove to Ute Lake in Logan, New Mexico where we remained until I dropped him off at a nearby airport in El Paso, Texas on my way to Quartzsite Arizona ten-days later.

We had a wonderful time. Talking about life, walking Dakota, watching people play and swim in the lake, as well as play board games which, I quickly discovered my brother cheats! There is no way he fairly won every board game we played (i.e., Chess, Backgammon and Checkers.) Laughing out loud.

Playing Board Games

Furthermore, I must admit, my little brother turned out to be a compassionate, honorable, and awesome young man. I am so proud of his accomplishments. After serving this country in the military, I would never have guessed serving others would continue to be his calling which is his reason for being a Nurse at the nearby VA Hospital.

Steele Creek Park Campground, Morgan Texas

This campground is also managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and allows community residents, sight-seeing visitors and travelers passing though the State of Texas to live at the park 14-days for free. The entrance and roadways throughout this park are paved.

This is a huge twenty-site campground which is the largest property I have stayed at. Also, privacy space between campsites are large enough to accommodate three additional mobile homes and/or ten-primitive tents.

Otherwise, this property is like Soldiers Bluff Park Campground. Campers have access to city water faucets, public bathrooms, boat ramps, a beach, private fire-rings and covered picnic tables with benches but does not include grills. Argentina Ants have infested this park too, but not as vast as Cedar Hill State Park.

I love the quiet serenity and stunning views of this campground; seeing deer on and near campsites presents its own wow factor. I am sure, the sight of so many deer on this property have caused heart-burn for many hunters, because BLM property is federal land and hunting isn’t allowed.

Furthermore, the deer seems to know they’re protected from hunters and park visitors because they are everywhere and not fearful of humans or pets. For instance, I was visited my next-door neighbor, who owns Jacob, a hound dog mixed with blue-tick.

Two deer were slowly strolling by his campsite. Jacob starts to whine; barked several times then went into charge mode. The deer stopped; looked at Jacob as to say, “you’re on a lease – tied to a post. What are you going to do about us passing by?” These deer stood there looking at Jacob for a while then looked at each other. Finally, they continued their stroll to the lake. Jacob whined in disappointment as his owner and I laughed.

This campground is patrolled by the grounds’ host, police, a ranger and sheriff on a regular basis until security gates close at 10pm.