We've managed to empty one of our 30-lb. propane tanks and there's a refill place on our route today that we've used in the past. When we pulled up to their pump we saw an "Out of Order" sign posted on the gate! Oh well, it would have been nice to have filled the empty bottle, but we still have 1-1/2 30-lb. tanks filled with gas in them in.
Next, right across the street is a Travel Center with a FREE dump station that we've also used in the past. This time around there is a sign that says it's only FREE if you purchase $50 in fuel, otherwise it's $10 to dump your tanks. With gasoline at $2.87 a gallon that shouldn't be a problem.
Try as I might, I was only able to get $47.25 into the tank, close enough! We went inside the Travel Center and spent another $34.30 at the Dickie's BBQ Outlet on lunch, so they can put part of that towards my fuel purchase requirements.
Next it was time to cross under Interstate 10 to the south side of Demming, NM to stop at a local grocery store. While Tricia was shopping I walked across the street to the Ace Hardware store to purchase what I need to finish up replacing our outdoor camp chair handles.
With everything we needed purchased we headed towards the Rockhound State Park where we have a 4-night weekend reservation. Having spent 4-nights at Manzano Mountains State Park and 7-nights at City of Rocks State Park, we have fulfilled the needed 7-1/2 nights required to break even on the purchase of our $150 Annual Camping Pass.
That simply means that our camping cost for the weekend (plus the last 3-nights at City of Rocks) is going to be $0.00, that's right FREE! That's only if you don't count the $10 Reservation Fee.
As luck would have it, Tricia spotted another propane dealer on our way to the park. So I pulled a u-turn, something I try not to do with THE POD in tow, to head back up the road.
Sure enough, there was a business with very little signage out front that refills propane tanks. They obviously cater to refilling larger tanks at homes and businesses, but the lone employee at the shop was happy to fill our tank at a very reasonable price of $24.
Now we have everything we need, so lets finally get to the campground and get set up.
This is what our sunrises look like here at Rockhound State Park.
Oddly enough, the mountains that surround us on three sides here at Rockhound State Park are called the Little Florida Mountains.
When we gaze out at the horizon we are looking at the 12-mile long Florida Mountains along with the 7,295' Florida Peak dominating the ridgeline. That's what you are looking at in the above photo.
The good news is we had a few clouds in the sky at sunset time. It made for more interesting photos than the night before.
It started way back on September 23rd with a visit to the Taos Pueblo, included a 14-day stay at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and finished with visits to 4 New Mexico State Parks, 2 of which we hadn't seen before.
Tomorrow we'll be in Arizona for a 30-day visit before we finish out the year heading back east towards our home state of Florida.
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