Day 5 of ALAA-Wed, May 18th, 2011. El Paso, TX to Douglas, AZ



The thriving metropolis of Columbus, NM

 Today led me from El Paso, TX about 250 miles to near Douglas, AZ. It took 4 days to get out of Texas and today took me from Texas through Southern New Mexico and into Arizona. I went through some interesting small towns today: Columbus, NM which Pancho Villa attacked in 1916; Hachita, NM with 8 houses, a community center, and no businesses; Rodeo, NM where the only paved street is the highway; and Apache, AZ where there is a monument where it says "Gerinomo surrounded here." (No historical markers-just that sign!). The section of road from Santa Teresa to Columbus, NM must rank near the top of the most desolate roads in the USA. It's only 52 miles but there is NOTHING there! Nothing-no cross roads, no businesses, no signs, nothing except cactus, scrub brush, and the inevitable Border Patrol! There was a brush fire near San Simon but I avoided it by turning South toward Douglas and the Mexican border. Tomorrow will bring other new experiences as I head for Yuma while trying to avoid the dreaded Interstate I-10!

I met a guy at the campground here who was somewhat interesting. His name is Wayne and he originally retired from Pennsylvania to Florida but couldn't stand the heat and humidity. He was on his way through AZ and met the people that own this campground. They asked him to move here as a manager so he "went into town and spent $600 on a 1955 mobile home" where he currently lives here at the campground. He told me he's been here since last October and he hasn't seen rain here yet! WHOA-Now THAT'S the desert!