Heading Further East

After five nights at Quail Ridge we pulled out Thursday morning and continued our trek East. After two travel days we are presently, Friday (March 1, 2024), parked at the Walmart in Ft. Stockton, TX.  Thursday night we spent the night at the Las Cruces, NM Overlook Rest Area, or what we like to call it the Roadrunner Rest Area.

Looking out out door towards Las Cruces

Our last two days at Quail Ridge RV in Huachuca City, AZ

Tuesday, February 27. 2024

We had a surprise today when Kim and Ken, Journey with Ken and Kim, showed up for one night at Quail Ridge. Why is there story to tell but we did get in a last short visit for this winter and that was a great surprise for us. A picture would be nice to add here but again there is none. When ever I am enjoying the company of friends I just never think of a picture. Glad we got in one last visit Kim and Ken, be safe as you travel, and we are looking forward to the next time we cross paths. 

We made one last trip over to Tombstone.
Is that a snake in the clouds just over the hill in front of us.

We enjoyed a late lunch at Big Nose Kate's Saloon.
I tried a "I'm Your Huckleberry Margarita"
very tart and fun to try one time. 

Leaving Tombstone we continued south on AZ-80 then 
turned on to AZ-90 towards Sierra Vista. 
Another snake cloud?

Stopping in Sierra Vista we picked up an Amazon Order at a locker and then a few groceries at Fry's before heading back home. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

Today Tom took care of filing our Income Tax and I drove over to Sierra Vista to do some last minute shopping. I was hoping to complete my shopping and miss the predicted rain that was coming our way. Except for a few drops here and there I did just that. That is until I was in the Jeep headed home then the sky opened up and it came down. I lucked out again as it was just sprinkling while we unloaded the purchases. Though it did rain more during the day.

I stopped to take some pictures of the sky before the 
rain came down.

Again I stopped to take a picture of what would usually be 
the Whetstone Mountains in front of me at this point. I 
could just barely make them out through the rain.
Bottom picture is what we usually see along here.

You have probably heard me mention how much I do love the Ocotillos we see out here so I did some research and found out that you can plant them in a pot. I have a feeling it needs to be a bigger one then this but I decided to try anyway. I also read it does not hurt the Ocotillo to take cuttings from it. 

These three cuttings are already losing their leaves but I did expect that to happen. So now we wait to see if they will root; from what I have read it can take several months. Fingerscrossed they do take root if not there is always next year to try again and maybe in a larger pot.

Thursday, February 29, 2024 (Traveling Day 1--244 Miles)

It was somewhat chilly as we finished packing up and pulled out of our site at Quail Ridge RV Park. Our first stop was to top off our propane tank. While that was happening I took the pictures below. We then hooked up the Jeep, (side note: it slipped right into tow mode) and Tom drove over to the office as I walked over to take care of the bill.

The second picture down is of the Stinger "B" parked in front
of the office while I walked over.

Today's ride started on AZ-90 going north and when we reached I-10 we turned right to continue our trek East.

The Whetstone Mountains are on our left as we travel north.

This was a surprise we have not seen this open in awhile.
They pretty much waved us through. They were looking in
the backseats of the cars in front of us. 

Another picture of the Whetstone Mountains.

\

After topping off the diesel tank we have merged
on to I-10 heading East. 

Coming up on one of my favorite parts of today's ride

the Texas Canyon.

These three vehicles, all towing, went speeding by us only
to slow down as we started into the canyon.

It is always amazing to drive through here and see how these large boulders are balanced on each other and stay up there. I take quite a few pictures every time we drive through this beautiful canyon. Today I looked for other things besides the precarious balance of the boulders if you do not see what I see that is okay. I hope you enjoy the pictures just the same.

This is honestly the first time I saw this heart outline.

You may have to click on this picture and enlarge it to see the
face towards the right of the center of the picture.

Again clicking and enlarging can you see the bird pretty much
in the center of the picture.

We pulled in to have lunch here and this was our view.

This was also in our view. I know what I see what do you see?

Lunch finished we are on our way.

This semi passed us and I just liked what was on the back of it.

Views of our ride. The upper right is in Wilcox.

We saw a lot of these guys today and I am not sure what they

are. At first I thought Century Plant but they also look a lot
 like a Joshua Tree on the bottom. 

Again I liked the look of this semi. I mean it has the name
Stagecoach on it and I think that is perfect for out here in the west.

More views as we continue east.

Then we left Arizona behind and New Mexico's beauty
was in front of us.

I do like seeing windmills along the way.

I looked up just in time to see this sign and get the picture.

Today Tom steered the Stinger "B" pass six vehicles.
I think that is more then we passed our entire last Adventure...LOL

We can see Las Cruces ahead of us

;

and we are almost to what we hope will be our stop for the night.

Parked for the night.

We went around the circle twice then parked and waited. In no time the semi in front of us pulled out and we moved up. We then got out and took a walk and watched. Then as luck would have it a truck parked in the best spot, in our opinion, pulled out and Tom pulled into it and we are settled for the night.

Pictures I took while we walked and hoped the truck would move.

This is one of our favorite rest areas to stop in for the night. The views over looking Las Cruces are wonderful and it is always clean and fairly quiet. Plus, it is were the Roadrunner made out of "junk/recyclables" lives. 

It was a good travel day under beautiful blue skies and fluffy clouds. Most importantly it was an uneventful day and those are truly our favorite type of travel days.

I am going to stop for now, so the blog does not get to long, and will continue with Day 2 in the next blog. 

 

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Arizona in the Rear View Mirror and Looking Out the Window at New Mexico

                            (Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

Sunday, March 31, 2019

We pulled out of our spot around 8:15AM and drove over to the road in front of the office to hook up the Jeep. It is just easier doing it on a flatter surface. After hooking up we walked over to a 5th wheel back around the corner to drop off some information. When Tom was talking to the guy next to us he asked where we were from and he said they played cards with a couple from Escanaba. The couple stopped by but I was gone at the time and every time we went by their car was gone. So we took a chance this morning and their shades were up so we knocked. We chatted for a few minutes it seems they go by our house at least once a week on their way to church and see our rig parked in the driveway. They actually belong to our former parish and we only each had to travel about 1,900 miles to meet. Hopefully, next time we will get a chance to sit down and visit.

Hooked up and ready to pull out.
A couple of wild flowers in the area outside the office.
Saying goodbye to the Whetstone Mountains.

On the road by 8:50AM
our first stop, the Border Patrol Checkpoint and he waved us through.

We are on I-10 and crossing the San Pedro River once again.
Plus, we now know the "Thing" is ahead.

Ocotillos, not sure if I will see them again this adventure.

The road ahead and there is a lot of traffic going east and west.

It was not long and we were approaching the Texas Canyon.

This is one of my favorite parts of the ride on I-10 in Arizona.

It is amazing how so many rocks are balanced just right.

Not the best picture out the side window.
I could see wildflowers  for what seemed like forever into the distance

on both sides of the road.

We hope to never see these lights flashing..

Though we could see what looked like dust near the mountains
through out our travels today.

Along with the wildflowers we saw a lot of these guys today.

We pulled off 

at the San Simon Rest Stop for lunch.

Our views out our dining room window, which is tinted, as we ate
lunch. We even saw a train go bye off in the  distance.
The top right is out the front when we were leaving.

We can see the Peloncillo Mountains North of us, our last view of Arizona,

and we crossed into New Mexico.

It had been three months since we crossed into Arizona on December 31, 2018 just across the Interstate going west. Not planned just one of those quirky things that happens along the way.

One thing for sure New Mexico does have an interesting way of patching the

  road. One long stretch of blacktop on one lane deteriorating along the edges.

The utility poles just caught my eye going off in a straight line into the
distance. No other reason.

Crossing the Continental Divide.

Coming into Las Cruces

we could see the Roadrunner

looking down over his kingdom.

We turned North onto I-25 and then headed east on US-70.

On US-70 we are now making our way 

slowly up and over

San Augustin Pass
Elevation 5719 feet

You know what they say

what goes up  must come down

and down we went.

The views on the way down were fantastic.

It does not look bad here but

take my word for it we were moving.

Those views off in the distance were so beautiful.

Of course, I was not driving just enjoying the scenery and holding on.

.

Nothing like seeing a deer crossing sign as you are quickly going down hill.

The views never stopped

and neither did we.

Just about all the way to flat ground.

Going by the White Sands National Monument.
We hope to take a day trip back to go through the monument.

One last view of today's ride.

I had to add this. We hardly ever pass another vehicle.
 After all we are retired and are in no hurry.
Today Tom passed three vehicles.

Walking across the Walmart parking lot in Alamogordo
this was the last of tonight's sunset.

It was a long day, 324 miles, and the wind was hitting us on the driver's side all day. Our goal was to reach the Walmart in Alamogordo, I had called the day before to make sure we could park there, and we did.  Tomorrow we will only have about 120 miles to our destination were we will stop for at least three days.

"One way to get the most 

out of life is to look upon

it as an adventure."

             ~William Feather

So glad you took the time to visit. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

If you have a moment to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.