Chapter 5
One Last Adventure
It’s funny how quickly a camping trip can fly by.
When we first arrived, the weekend stretched out before us with endless possibilities. Before we knew it, we were already talking about packing up and heading home.
But first…
There was still time for one more adventure.
One Final Ride
Before breakfast dishes had even been cleared, several of us decided to squeeze in one last ride through the mountains.
The trails looked completely different than they had just a few days earlier.
The recent rains had transformed the landscape.
The trees looked greener.
Wildflowers seemed brighter.
Even the air felt cleaner.
Every overlook tempted us to stop for just one more picture.
Every curve in the trail revealed another view that reminded us why we keep returning to this beautiful corner of New Mexico.
No one was in a hurry.
We all knew the trip was coming to an end.
Sometimes the last ride of a vacation becomes the one you remember most.
Packing Up… Again
Eventually, reality caught up with us.
Camp chairs disappeared into storage compartments.
Power cords were rolled up.
Water hoses were drained.
The RZR was loaded back onto the trailer.
As always, breaking camp seemed to happen much faster than setting it up.
Maybe that’s because by the end of a trip everyone has become pretty good at their jobs.
Or maybe it’s because there’s always a little motivation to beat the afternoon heat.
Before pulling out, we made one last walk around the campsite.
It’s a habit we’ve developed over the years.
One final look helps make sure nothing gets left behind.
Well…
Usually.
Saying Goodbye Isn’t Easy
Before leaving the campground, we made our way to the office to say goodbye to Dewey.
Just like when we arrived, he greeted us with that same friendly smile that had made us feel welcome from the very beginning.
We thanked him for another wonderful stay, visited for a few minutes, and promised we’d be back.
Because honestly…
We already knew we would.
We also said goodbye to Scott and Kerri, along with Dan and Nancy.
One of the things I love about RV travel is that friendships seem to grow quickly.
When you spend several days camping together, sharing meals, exploring trails, and laughing around picnic tables, it’s amazing how close people can become.
Fortunately, goodbyes in the RV community are rarely permanent.
They’re usually followed by one simple sentence.
“We’ll camp together again soon.”
The Road Home
The drive home was quieter than the drive out.
Partly because we were tired.
Partly because we were already replaying the weekend in our minds.
Tracey and I talked about our favorite moments.
The mountain trails.
Nancy’s incredible Italian beef sandwiches.
The Poker Run.
Watching everyone laugh during the campground activities.
And yes…
The infamous picnic table.
I’m not sure Tracey’s shins appreciated being part of the memories, but the rest of us certainly enjoyed reminding him about it.
Every camping trip seems to produce at least one story that gets retold for years.
This one definitely had several.
Why We Keep Coming Back
People often ask us what makes a campground special.
Is it the scenery?
The hookups?
The amenities?
The hiking?
The off-road trails?
While all of those things certainly matter, we’ve learned that they aren’t what make a destination unforgettable.
It’s the people.
Burro Mountain Homestead isn’t the biggest campground we’ve ever visited.
It isn’t the fanciest.
It doesn’t have luxury pools or elaborate clubhouses.
What it does have is something far more valuable.
A welcoming community.
Friendly owners who genuinely care about their guests.
Beautiful mountain scenery that encourages you to slow down.
And an atmosphere where neighbors quickly become friends.
That’s becoming harder and harder to find.
Looking Back
As we pulled into our driveway back in Arizona, I couldn’t help but smile.
We had left home hoping to introduce friends to one of our favorite camping destinations.
Mission accomplished.
Dan and Nancy experienced their first Burro Mountain adventure.
We spent quality time with Scott and Kerri.
We made new memories with wonderful people.
And somehow, we came home loving the campground even more than we did before.
That’s the funny thing about places like Burro Mountain Homestead.
You arrive because of the campground.
You return because of the people.
Years from now, I probably won’t remember exactly what time we left home or what we packed for dinner the first night.
But I’ll remember laughing while Tracey wrestled a tarp in the rain.
I’ll remember him losing a battle with a perfectly innocent picnic table.
I’ll remember mountain trails stretching toward the horizon, evenings around the campfire, and the kindness of people who welcomed us like old friends.
Those are the memories that stay with you.
And those are the reasons we’ll keep making the journey back to Burro Mountain Homestead.
Some places are simply worth returning to.
Again and again.