Trinidad, Colorado.
So here I am, as I predicted, at the Walmart parking lot in Trinidad, Colorado. I always spend one night and buy groceries for my travels. Buying groceries for my travels is a tradition, not a necessity, since I'm heading to Las Vegas, New Mexico, Where There's a Walmart about three miles down the road from Storrie Lake State Park, where I'll be staying.
I've been to Storrie Lake State Park so many times that I normally spend all my time getting the camper ready to live in while on the road and doing odd jobs here and there on the truck or the camper. However, this time, since the state park system in New Mexico has undergone some changes, I'll likely spend a lot of time talking with other visitors and Park Rangers to see what I can expect as I move from State Park to state park, which will probably be my last time in New Mexico State Parks.
Usually, when I'm at Storrie Lake State Park, I have access to electricity, which costs only $4 a night. With boondocking available for free, spending $4 a night for a little extra comfort is a very beneficial option. Especially since Las Vegas, New Mexico, is located at around 7,000 feet, and this time of year is still quite chilly. And I probably won't get into any warm weather until I'm down around Elephant Butte State Park.
However, the rules and fees have changed at New Mexico State Parks, and from what I understand, the electricity cost is now $10/night. Which seems like a major rip-off to me, since if I stayed there a month (which I never do), I would be paying $300 just for electricity. And I can't believe that's what electricity costs are, even in Las Vegas, New Mexico. I lived in a 4,000 sq ft house in Colorado, and my monthly electric bill was not even half that much.
But that's the way life is. It's seldom fair, and it usually doesn't work out the way we had hoped. But at least I'm here to experience it, both good and bad, so I'm always thankful for that.
Theboondork
I woke up this morning at sunrise in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot. There were only three other RVs in the parking lot, which is about half of what I would normally see. I suppose many people have already left this chilly weather behind and headed south.
Trinidad, Colorado, in the valley below.
My view of a part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range from the Walmart parking lot.