New Mexico

After the Canyonlands I went to a park called Canyon De Chelley National Park in northeastern Arizona. Pictures made it look pretty cool but when I got there I found there wasn't much I could do. The park is dead center in the Navajo Nation Reservation. Many Navajo people still live in the Canyon the way they did a hundred years ago. For this reason, access to the canyon is very restricted. To go down into it, you must make arrangements with a Navajo guide, which costs money. Also, to take pictures of buildings, people or anything belonging to the Navajo, it costs money. Camping, however, was totally free. So I pretty much just hung out and relaxed at my campsite. I needed it after all that hiking.
The next day I went to Albuquerque. I ment to leave earlier, but an older couple traveling in a Chevy Van talked my ear off for a good hour. They were very sweet people, but man they had a lot to say!
Driving into a metropolitan area was like a culture shock. I wasn't able to find any place to camp in the surrounding area. I've found in this state that they'll have signs from the freeway that say 'camping, next exit' but when you get there what they mean is RV's only. They wouldn't let me stay because my van has no electric hook-up.
So, I weant down all the way to Truth or Consequences, NM and found a nice little state park to stay at. The next day I explored the town, which is a nice tourist spot with lots of hot springs. I went to one of the hot springs spot and it was an unusual experience. It was at a little hotel in the middle of town. The person in the office was a tiny little old lady who couldn't hear a word I was saying. Eventually, I managed to convey that I wanted to take a soak, and she lead me to what looked like a shed in the parking area. It was not like any hot springs I've been to, but it was kinda cool. You close the shed door and get the whole thing to yourself. It's a little grotto with enough room for just about one or two people. I soaked for 30 min for the cost of $3. Not bad.
Truth or Consequences gives a strange vibe. I get the feeling it's the kind of place when Y2K came around, everyone ran out and bought lots of water, duct tape and amo.
When I was done I drove west to another state park called 'city of rocks.' It's a very cool place but the afternoon winds were intense! Also, there was a guy in the next campsite actively looking for rattlesnakes. When he found one he'd get a big pole out of his truck and try to pick it up. I sat in my campsite with my phone ready in case I needed to call 911. Thank god he didn't get bit.
Today, I'm heading for the Gila Cliff Dwellings to spend a couple nights.