Camping in Cutie RV: Isleta Lake RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico

We got up before daybreak to see the sun rise over the mountains and it was freezing cold. It was less than an hour's drive to Albuquerque and to Isleta Lake RV Park which the winemaker recommended. It is a beautiful park along a lake and near Isleta Lake Casina and the railroad station. We stopped at Isleta Grill for a delicious breakfast burrito and breakfast bowl. It turns out that you pay for two nights and get the third night free so we canceled our Harvest Host stay at the brewery for Friday after we visited with our cruising friends Rick and Carla from Montana. We headed out to the Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center and then out to the Piedras Marcadas Canyon 2.2-mile trail. It was spectacular to spot the petroglyph rock carvings with our birding binoculars. After the hike, we stopped at the REI Outfitters store and they had everything except for the fingerless gloves with mitten flaps. Glenn did a chicken stirfry for dinner using local salsa and it was spicy.

Sunrise over Black's Smugglers Winery

Our campsite at Isleta Lake RV Park

Petroglyphs National Monument

Canyon towhee

Nicely roped off sandy trail

We headed to Sunset Grille for breakfast for another authentic breakfast burrito. We then drove to Rio Grande State Park and Nature Center. The nature center had a great gift shop where I got a handmade pottery magnet with hand hand-painted road runner. The nature park was filled with bird feeders. We crossed the bridge over the Rio Grande River and took the nature trails into the woods and along the river. We enjoyed the gardens and the natural setting along the paved bike path. Next, we drove to nearby Casa Rondena Winery for a delicious red wine tasting, cheese board, and glasses of our favorites with two bottles to go. Back at the campsite, we walked along the fish pond and had fantastic sunset views, and watched the ducks come in to roost.

Wild Bird stores help support with seeds for numerous bird feeders

Ducks seen from behind duck blind

Seagulls gathering in shallow water

Flocks of American Crows

Decorative gardens

Fence decorations with berries for the birds

Cactus and other native plants

Homes for Cavity Bees

Shady resting spots in the garden

Birds galore

Casa Rondena Winery tasting room

The beautiful Spanish event center

Also custom clubhouse and restaurant

Beautifully tended vines

Cozy tasting bar

Formal arched entrance gates

Isleta Lake fishing pond

Gorgeous sunset over Isleta Lake

Our solar tiki torch lit for happy hour at our campsite

We set the alarm and then crawled back to bed until 8 am to drive to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. We were the first ones on the Bosque Loop trail. We were passed by a volunteer in her car doing a bird count and we chatted for a bit. We got close to the sandhill cranes as they were feeding in the grassland. We left there for Albuquerque Old Town to meet up with Rick and Carla at the museum. We walked along the old town plaza stopping at High Noon for an excellent Mexican lunch. We stopped by the historic San Felipe de Neri Church and by the shops before returning to the car and saying farewell. We headed back to the campsite to get ready to depart in the morning while it was a warm 52 degrees.