Mimi's Own Blog: Heading Home From Silver City

May 10th we head for Truth or Consequences New Mexico. Since it has been 5 years since we did much traveling in the Southwest, we try to hit all our favorite spots. First on the list is Riverbend Hot Springs. We know they are constructing a new addition, but they have two spots open in their small RV park across the street.

Construction area

The construction was fairly quiet

A deep therapy pool is part of the addition

In the private pool in the evening

William is floating flower boats

The night lights on the public pools are lovely

There is one restaurant we particularly like in Truth or Consequences, but they are closed the first day we are here. So we are really prepped for our visit on May 11th. We decide to go quite early, but still look for the old sidewalks on the way.


These agencies put people to work during the depression building anything. Federal Emergency Relief Administration built the sidewalk in 1935. Works Progress Administration built the curb in 1940. I'm glad to see these are still here.

We get to Cafe BellaLuca and the sign on the door said they were sorry to be closed tonight. But the back door was open, so we went in to find out why. They had a failure of the refrigerator. But the cook said he felt so sorry for us coming so far to eat there, that he cooked for us anyway. Just using no perishables. So none of their Calamari, which is just the best. But what he cooked was wonderful. Arancini di riso is not on the appetizer menu now. I pitched for putting it back on. Next year we might come to Truth or Consequences before working at the Tour of the Gila. I am sure the boys will want us back.

Our next stop on May 12th is at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area. The only sites left are double ones. Our close neighbors have two little dogs, but they are quiet. But there are five dogs in the other double site right next to us. In the tent trailer they have a Newfoundland, a yippy long haired chihuahua and an old fat bulldog. In the Cruise America rental rig they have two Pomeranians. The older couple with the poms took the dogs and two fishing poles to scramble down to the lake. But that's not the way. Bill says there is a cliff there. But we heard no blood-curdling shrieks.

Painting my nails

The lake really is a long way down there.

On May 13th we head on to Sedona. The down town looks like just a mass of shops. We enjoy the red rock views from the windows of the PW, then stop to eat lunch at The Wildflower Bread Company. Excellent food and wonderful decor of huge glass flowers in a stand up to order and find a seat place.We were lucky all around. We found a parking place, there was a lull in the crowd and we found a place to sit.

Real flowers on a cactus outside

Our stop for the night is Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood Arizona. It is 93 degrees but feels like 100. William gets out the hose and floats a spray of water over us in the breeze. So refreshing. Lots of fat bunnies and fat quail. There is a big rig with a few small dogs in it about 3 spaces down. The bunnies hop near to eat the nice grass and it sounds like a dog fight in there as all the dogs bark, growl and scuffle around because of the bunnies they smell. Hysterical!

On the morning of May 14th we stop at Tuzigoot National Monument. Tuzigoot is the remnant of a Southern Singua village built between 1000 and 1400. It crowns the summit of a long ridge rising 120 feet above the Verde Valley. The original pueblo was two stories high with 87 ground floor rooms.

On to Jerome and Jerome State Historic Park. The historic park preserves a historic mansion and tells the story of copper mining in the Jerome area.

The town of Jerome is up on the hill

outside the Douglas Mansion

Jerome is hard to get around in. It is a warren of tiny streets and businesses clinging to the side of a steep hill. It was once a copper boom town of 15,000 people. From that it dwindled to a ghost town. Now it is a tourist destination for art and history. The ghost of Jerome played a trick on us while we were here.

We were looking for a restaurant in Yelp and had picked one out and walked to it. But it was a gift store. The owner said it hadn't been a restaurant for 15 years. But there were recent reviews in Yelp for that same place at that same address.

We found another very nice place to eat after trudging back up the same hill.

at Grapes restaurant

On the street in Jerome

We spend the night of the 14th at Point of Rocks Campground in Prescott, AZ. Really a nice place with lovely rocks and lots of native vegetation separating the camp spots.

Rocks at Point of Rocks

May 15th and we are heading for home. Our last stop is at Bailey's Hot Springs outside of Beatty NV. Bill said it had mixed reviews (I'm sure), but he couldn't resist stopping. The big, blowsy blonde who shows up to check us in isn't much on paperwork. Just hand her the cash and pick out a spot. She is sure that Bill has been here before. "But he wasn't here with you." (referring to me) Later by ourselves we laugh hysterically about that. She claims to be a bit disorganized because of all the company that has stayed over after her daughter's quinceanera party. But that was a couple of days ago. Lots of animals and kids around. The typical quail and bunnies, but also a screaming peacock who comes around to bum food and a black pig also looking for handouts. The private baths are not bad with sand and rock covered bottoms.