Leaving Quartzite...

Saturday the 23rd I came to the decision that I would pack up the next morning and travel towards New Mexico.  I found a state park online that looked promising but it would be a pay camping site.

One of the YouTube channels I follow, CheapRVLiving.com, had a video about New Mexico’s annual pass for camping in their state parks.  The annual pass costs $225.00 and allows you to stay for free in any of their primitive or basic campsites anytime for a full year.  They do have a requirement that after 14 days you must move to another park for a week or so but then you can return if you want.  NM has about 35 state parks, many with showers, so I thought it might be something to check out.

I packed up the van and drove into Quartzite to get some things done before I headed out on the road.  I found the Quartzite Laundry, it too was mentioned in a video, which also has hot showers and a restaurant.  I hauled my laundry in and got three loads going (which included my bedsheets and blanket too), then paid my $7.00 and got a hot shower while the laundry was in the washers.  Now in most of the campgrounds that have showers, you have to pay for shower use by the minute.  It’s not expensive, but I seldom go over 6-8 minutes because of the cost and the aggravation of having to add more quarters while showering if needed.  Well this shower had a limit of 20 minutes for seven dollars, and they supplied a towel, a washcloth, and liquid soap.  The rooms were very clean and they stated that they were sanitized after each use.  I had a nice size dressing room with a decent sized shower stall and the shower head wasn’t too stingy with the water. 

I got my shower, got dressed, and moved my laundry over to the dryers, and about 35 minutes later I was done.  This is a very nice place, the laundry area was clean and had some 30 washers and driers, no waiting, the restrooms and shower facilities were very well done and the people was really friendly.

Now, for a human interest story…

While I was waiting for my laundry to dry there was a man who looked to me like a farmer in his late 50’s.  A small man, thin and wiry, tanned and weathered, he had on cuffed straight leg jeans with a western style belt, old work shoes, and a plaid long sleeved shirt.  He got his laundry out of the dryer and was at the folding table when this lady he was evidently with, a big tall woman, came over to him and started running her hands all over him.  Up his leg, grabbing his butt, leaning into him and whispering sweet nothings into his ear (my interpretation) but this guy, he never flinched, didn’t acknowledge anything, never looked up, he just kept on folding his clothes.  When he was done they went outside and got into his pickup truck and left, for a good lounging spot I assume.  The things you see at a laundromat…

Anyway, after I left the laundry I found a water dispensing machine and filled up all of my water tanks, grabbed a cup of coffee to go and hit the road.