Chloride, NM: We explored areas in southwestern New Mexico in January and February of 2023. We visited several locations that were new to us and returned to some favorite locations from past trips. Chloride, N.M., is a mining town established in 1879 and many of the original structures still stand today. History of the mining towns of the western U.S. is always interesting and full of surprises. Chloride was a boom town of 2,000-3,000 residents for a few years until the mines declined and the miners moved on to other sites. Chloride is home to about two dozen residents today who work together to maintain the town’s history. We enjoyed camping in the town for a couple of days in January. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Cedar Breaks Park: Cedar Breaks Park is operated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and sits on the shore of Lake Georgetown in Georgetown, Texas. We have visited the area a few times and always enjoy camping at Lake Georgetown. We visited the area in April and enjoyed the annual Red Poppy scenes and blooms throughput town. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
As we tie the bow and put a wrap on 2023, I would like to share a few of the places our RV has taken us during the past year, our campsites and sites we have enjoyed during the year.
There are many reasons that we love traveling in an RV. Since we retired about eight years ago, we have spent many weeks every year traveling around our magnificent country. The ability to “take your house and belongings with you” and the ability to stop and overnight almost anywhere makes traveling so much more enjoyable.
Our 2023 travels were generally closer to home as the majority of our trips were within Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. We did attend an RV rally in Montana but that was a quick trip with few stops other than the rally.
It is always fun to review recent travels but we anxiously await new adventures in 2024. You can travel along with us by following “Posts From the Road” in the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Ladybird Johnson Park: Ladybird Johnson Municipal Park is in Fredericksburg, Texas. The park named for former First Lady Ladybird Johnson. This park features a wonderful campground and Fredericksburg is a favorite ‘hub’ while exploring the Texas Hill Country. The bluebonnet season in the spring is our favorite time to visit the Hill Country. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Boat In the Bonnets: A small boat rests on the shore of a pond near Kingsland, Texas. among a beautiful blanket of bluebonnets. The granite rocks surrounding the pond add another level of interest to the landscape and scene. When time permits we spend a few days in the Texas Hill Country exploring every backroad we can find. 2023 was the first time we had seen this lake and surrounding flowers near Kingland, Texas. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Mr. D’s Night Reflections: It’s not just about camping while we are traveling. We love to visit local museums, parks and other points of interest. Another favorite is seeking out 50s era diners and other local restaurants. One diner that we visit every time we’re traveling on Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz. is Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner. When there this year a rain shower passed through while we were eating dinner which provided some unique photo opportunities after the meal. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Dumas: Not all of the campsites we visit are in beautiful parks or locations. However, location is important after a day behind the wheel and you know where you can always park for the night. One such place is Texhoma Park in Dumas, Texas, a small town a few miles north of Amarillo. This city park offers RV water and electric hook ups for a donation of whatever the travelers chooses to give. The nice part is there are several spots but it is rarely full and we have always enjoyed stopping in Dumas. Shown is our RV shortly before sunset last spring. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Mountain Ranch: Fall foliage season is a favorite time for local travel in Colorado. We have been by this mountain ranch several times and it is always beautiful. The ranch is seen from Keebler Pass Road on the west end of the drive near Paonia State Park. Keebler Pass Road is a beautiful drive in summer or fall but the road is closed in winter months. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
