Terry checked all the tires a few days before we were to leave and when after we had slept in the 5er for an early start. He backed up the truck to hook up and I noticed a flat tire on it. So off to get that fixed before we could leave.  It was on an otter dully so we could drive the truck. 

All was well after going over a high mountain range to get to New Mexico.  Truck handled pulling well even in 100° temps. Knock on wood.

So we thought a good stop would be at Glenwood NM (on the map on HW 180 next to Mogollon) but they had had fires in 2013 and now the big Famous Canyon Walk    (Nice video of it) was destroyed and the ghost town of Mogollon had the road to it also washed away so the whole area is  depressed. We stayed our first night at a small RV park  there ... only one in it. 
 

You can drive to it now but the road high up turns into a not so friendly high clearance drive. 
But think that would stop us in our very low clearance new car. Nope we made it just fine. 

The RV park in Glenwood. $18.50 full hookups. 

BUT in the morning as I was having Terry remove the boards under the far side of trailer tires I pulled ahead toooooo far and the side of the 5th wheel collided with the side of our brand new car. 
Did you hear me right I pulled the trailer into the side of our brand new car. The trailer door step hit the rear side panel and pulled the rear bumper panel away. OK... stop...  laughing and please feel a little sorry for us. Duck tape is great and got the rear bumper back in place and it doesn't look toooooo bad.  But our pride is shook up quite a bit. Life goes on I Guess. Why Oh Why didn't I park it in the stall next door. We were the only RV in the place.  It was our first overnight stop and I guess we were not up to speed yet. 

It actually bent the lower rear plastic bumper panel away and we had to force it back in place. 
And then duck tape it.  Going to get some wite duck tape don't ya know. 

So a new rear panel and some body work above the wheel well. Could have been much worse. Could of taken out the whole side of the car. 

Our next stop was in Gallup NM at the Red Rock city RV park Nice easy access and where we stop when traveling through the area. 

Next on to our destination in northern NM for fly fishing on the 
world famous San Juan River

from Abe's Motel web site.

Now we got to Navajo Dam and went to the main Cottonwood campground. New campground fees. $14  PLUS $10 for extra vechicle.  So this is the year we brought our new car that gets 40 - 50 mpg so we wouldn't have to put day trips miles on the truck and we run into this nonsense.  New Mexico used to be user friendly NOT so NOW. Now like all the other state parks which have priced themselves out of the market.  We checked and they even charge a Motor home with a towed car the $10 IF they unhook it from the motor home.  Even if you get the out of state annual pass for $225 so you can camp for $4 for electric an site you still have to pay the extra $10 for a second vehicle. 

So we went to the Fishing Resort called Abe's Motel and got into their RV park for $110 a week. 
After thinking all this over we could of stayed in the state park for $14 PLUS $10 for the car each day... which included a day pass to fish the river. $5 day pass if not camped. So the extra $10 a day would amount to $70 a week ABOUT a small fuel stop for the truck for ONE days travels. 
 like it just fine, as we have stayed here before. But we may move back into the state park system next week. The cost isn't the main deal it's the thought behind changing the rules to soak it to the campers. May go up and stay overlooking the lake above the dam. 

fille photo of a past stay 

So the end story is we are happy and landed... That's all you can expect these days.

Update: Terry went fishing this morning and caught his first fish...  huge (13 inch) as he tells it. 
We will be here till we get tired of it and then move on. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?
 

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