We hadn't been out camping for a couple of months. So we wanted to get back into practice: Thus, a week at South Monticello Campground on Elephant Butte Lake (about 70 miles north of Las Cruces on the Rio Grande River.)

Scenes from around our campsite

 

We also did a day trip up into the Gila National Forest. There were serious wildfires there in 2025, so we were concerned about how much damage we might find. The Ponderosa Pine forest was badly scorched, but very few big trees were killed - mostly the underbrush was cleared. 

The forest seemed healthy and beautiful to us. 

Then, we also spent a day in Truth or Consequences, NM.

Visiting the Charles Motel and Spa.

And visiting the Geronimo Museum.