Scorro, NM - 11/09/18

November 9, 2018
Socorro, New Mexico

We spent a restful night at the Rocky Point Campground located within Santa Rosa Lake State Park in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Our destination today is Socorro, New Mexico.

We will spend one night at the Escondida Lake County Park, located a few miles north of Socorro. This is our third visit to this park since 2014.

We had a late lunch at The Owl Bar & Cafe' in San Antonio, NM (located 11 miles south of Socorro on I-25). This is where we always come to enjoy their world-famous “green chile cheeseburgers.” These burgers are the best! Once again we left The Owl Bar & Cafe' very full and satisified!

Campsites at Escondida Lake County Park are now by reservation only. During our previous visits they were first-come-first-serve. Campers must call a phone number, posted on the campground information board, to reserve a campsite. We called the number and were fortunate to secure a campsite for the night.

Places of Interest Near Socorro:
San Antonio – 11 miles
Very Large Array – 40 miles
Pie Town – 84 miles

San Antonio

This small town (population 150 or so) is home to two establishments that serve up the best green chile cheeseburgers to be found throughout New Mexico.

Visitors worldwide come to San Antonio to sample the green chile cheeseburgers at the Owl Bar & Cafe' and Buckhorn Tavern.

Very Large Array:
The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array is a centimeter-wavelength radio astronomy observatory located in central New Mexico, between the towns of Magdalena and Datil. It is located 40 miles west of Socorro and open to the public.

The Very Large Array, or VLA, is a collection of radio telescopes that provide the same resolving power as a single telescope 22 miles in diameter. One dish this size would cover more area than New York City, with all its buroughs. The VLA is used primarily by astronomers from around the world. Radio telescopes look toward the heavens at planets and comets, giant clouds of gas and dust, and stars and galaxies.

Pie Town:
Its name comes from an early bakery for making dried-apple pies that was established by Clyde Norman in the early 1920s. The town is located 84 miles west of Socorro, NM on U.S. Highway 60. The town has a "Pie Festival" on the second Saturday of each September. There are currently three establishments that serve up delicious pies as well as other fare. Definitely worth a visit!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Travel Details:
Departed: Santa Rosa, NM
Departure Time: 8:30 am
Arrived: Socorro, NM
Arrival Time: 12:00 pm
Miles traveled: 177

Campground: Escondida Lake
Type: County Park
Campsites: 16
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: 34.12300 N
Longitude: 106.88904 W

Camping Daily Fee: $18.00 (no senior discounts)
Campsite: A15
Campsite Hookups: Electric, Water, Sewer
Campground Amenities:
Flush Toilets, Water Spigots, Trash Dumpster

Verizon Cellular Service: 4G-3 Bars
Verizon Internet Service: 4G-3 Bars (JetPack)
Dish TV Satellite Service: Excellent