From the Desert to the Mountains: Tucson to Las Cruces – Our Journey Begins
Since 1986, visiting Colorado has been a dream of ours—one that, for various reasons, kept getting pushed to the back burner. But when Cindy received a travel nurse contract in Pueblo, Colorado, we knew it was finally time. The road was calling, and our RV was ready. This is the beginning of our latest adventure, one we've been building toward for nearly four decades.
Leaving Tucson in the summer is always a good idea. By 7 a.m., the temperature was already approaching 90 degrees. We were hot, tired, and ready to get on the road. Fortunately, Felix had done most of the prep work since Cindy had been working leading up to our departure. After disconnecting the utilities and getting hitched up, we pulled out, bound for our first overnight stop: Sunny Acres RV Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Las Cruces holds a special place in our hearts. We stayed there back in 2020 during Cindy’s second travel contract, right when the pandemic started. In fact, it was in Las Cruces that we nearly gave up full-time RV life. The hospital canceled all travel nurses mid-shift via text. It was chaotic, uncertain, and scary—but it also made us stronger and more committed to this life.
Returning to Sunny Acres brought back memories—and cravings. Just around the corner from the RV park is Pepe’s, home to the best Mexican food we’ve ever eaten. Cindy, our resident Mexican food aficionado, still ranks Pepe’s at the top of the list. It’s family-owned, authentic, and delicious. On our first day back, we nearly missed the opportunity to eat there—they close early on Sundays—but fortunately, we extended our stay an extra night. (We swear it wasn’t just for the food.)
That extra night turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Severe thunderstorms were forecasted to hit Las Vegas, New Mexico (our next stop) right at our planned arrival time. We’ve hooked up in the rain before, and let’s just say... never again if we can help it. With Sunny Acres still having availability, we kicked back, enjoyed another meal at Pepe’s, and stayed dry.
On travel days, we keep it simple: coffee, protein bars, water, and we don’t unhitch unless we have to. It keeps things efficient and hassle-free. Before heading out, we topped off the coffee in our decades-old travel mugs and hit the road toward Las Vegas, New Mexico. But that’s a story for next week.
This journey is about more than miles—it’s about rediscovering places that shaped us, chasing long-held dreams, and savoring every part of the ride. We’re thrilled to have you along.
👉 Catch the full video on our YouTube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next leg of the journey!