Goodmorning! I read about your drive through Dallas/Ft Worth and feel your pain! In 2014 I went on my Grand Western North America Tour & Shakedown Journey in a 1994 Class A Holiday Rambler, my full-time home-on-wheels. My trip was a 5,200 mile circle from San Marcos TX to Los Angeles CA up the west coast to Port Angeles WA and then back south through Colorado and Kansas to Houston TX and finally San Marcos. My strategy for traffic congested areas such as Los Angeles and Dallas/Ft Worth is to pull into a rest area 50 miles outside of the area and then wake up at 2am and drive through the area. Much less traffic and you’ll typically find another rest area on the other side that you can pull into and complete your nights sleep.
I haven’t really explored New Mexico but I’m loving southeastern Arizona. This is my second winter here and I’m having so much fun hiking, hunting and exploring the beautiful high country Arizona countryside. Life is good.
Steve
BTW actually finding running water in most southwestern rivers is optional.