Thus

Thus ends our winter travels as they began. Snowy country, northern Indiana. 

Helen

Columbus, Mew Mexico

Museum. 

Would this fly in Goshen?

El Patio Restaurant.  

Border Patrol. 

Historic inn. 

Social hall's patio wall. 

Helen

Poncho Villa State Park and Palomas, Mexico

We joined Al and Marcia at the park for a couple days of camping in our RVs and one of the days walked across the border to spend time in Palomas. 

Pancho Villa, both hero and villain, was the inspiration for the park's name. He was a Mexician revolutionary. When he ran out of funds to support his troops, he took to banditry. One raid took him across the border to Columbus. Incensed, US authorities sent troops across the border to catch him. They were unsuccessful, even with a major offensive of over 10,000 troops. 

Poncho Villa, attack mode (or defense?) portrayed in statue in Palomas. 

The Palomas Catholic Church faces the town plaza. 

The place most often visited by tourists is "the Pink Store," one block from the border and full of artifacts from across Mexico.  It also has a restaurant with delicious food and live music. 

It was good to be back in Latin America, if only for a few hours. (We even purchased some Mennonite Cheese, which tastes just like that from the colonies in Bolivia.)

Helen

Rusty's

National forests are wonderful places to camp. The forest service campsites are usually spacious with wonderful natural features all around. They have minimal amenities, water and pit latrines. 

The same can be said about the settings at Arizona and New Mexico State parks. But, they have all more amenities, including hot showers. Sweet!

A couple times we've needed to stay at RV Parks which usually have the rigs lined up close together like in a parking lot. (Well, probably you get two regular parking spaces.)

Rusty's RV Ranch just outside Portal, Arizona was quite different. The RV sites were generous, spaced far apart. And spring had arrived with blooming trees.

The only ranch like thing was open spaces and this horse.

The gathering place also had a $1.00 a load laundromat. 

Here's the view to the Chiricahuas and the entrance at Portal. 

Helen