February 25-27, 2016
From White Sands Monument, we drove a few hours to Elephant Butte Park, which is on the shores of Elephant Butte Lake. This reservoir was part of the Rio Grande Project, a project to provide power and irrigation to south-central New Mexico and west Texas. It was filled starting between 1915 and 1916 after damming the Rio Grande in 1905 to provide flood control, five miles North of the town of Truth or Consequences...The name "Elephant Butte" refers to a volcanic core which is now an island in the lake. The butte was said to have the shape of an elephant lying on its side. Now for the name of the nearby town: the town's name was changed from "Hot Springs" to "Truth or Consequences" on March 31, 1950, after Ralph Edwards, the host of the popular game show "Truth or Consequences," called for any town in America to do so - in celebration of the show's ten year anniversary. On the following day, April 1st, 1950, Edwards and his game show entourage went on the air from the newly named Truth or Consequences, NM. Every year since, the town, which locals call “T or C,” has hosted a Truth or Consequences Fiesta.
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| Sailing in the desert? |
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| Why not? |
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| A lone, lost SEAgull |
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| A more likely local bird: scaled quail |
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| People enjoying a day trip on the shore |
After discovering a leak from our water heater, we contacted a mobile RV repair service. The very next morning, we had a replacement water heater installed and, in less than two hours, we were back in the hot water business. Thank you Rick O'Neill! An interesting side note is that Kim, Rick's wife, runs the only bus (in the country?) that is completely solar-powered. Way to go Kim! We regret not having gone for a ride...
All is peaceful as the sun sets over the lake...
We had our own water woes at Lajitas ... the hose for the kitchen faucet sprung a leak. It's part of the fixture so a new one (under warranty) is on its way, but we're without hot water at the kitchen sink until we receive it ... a bummer, but not mission critical as Mui says. Glad to hear your water heater replacement was swift and painless.
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