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.

Lajitas, Texas to Casa Grande, Arizona

 Maverick Ranch RV Park, Lajitas, TX

The Cemetery is at the entrance to the park. 

Not the best picture but I did get the roadrunner.

Ready to leave. Not hooking up the Jeep until
we get to Alpine, TX on US-90.

Friday, November 11, 2022

We are on our way and Tom is literally in my rear view mirror. Every time there was a hill I knew there was a chance the Stinger "B" would struggle I would slow down and was so glad to see her crest the hill. I took several of those pictures but I will only bore you with these few. I do not mind driving but it was strange not being in the motorhome as we traveled these miles.

Leaving FM-170 and turning on to TX-118

Making our way north on TX-118

Closed Border Patrol Check Point.

Then we were in Alpine Texas were we hooked the Jeep up
to the Stinger "B". It was nice to be back together as 
we traveled west on US-90

The Marfa lights, also known as the Marfa ghost lights, have been observed near U.S. Route 67 on Mitchell Flat east of Marfa, Texas, in the United States. They have gained some fame as onlookers have attributed them to paranormal phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs, or will-o'-the-wisp. Scientific research suggests that most, if not all, are atmospheric reflections of automobile headlights and campfires.(information from the internet)

Tom is interested in this sort of phenomena and already knew about this place.

Marfa Lights Viewing Area and Rest Stop.
Today's lunch views.

Prada Marfa is a permanent sculptural art installation by artists Elmgreen and Dragset, located 1.4 miles northwest of Valentine, Texas, just off U.S. Highway 90, and about 26 miles northwest of the city of Marfa. The installation, in the form of a freestanding building—specifically a Prada storefront—was inaugurated on October 1, 2005. The artists described the work as a "pop architectural land art project.(information from the internet)

I heard of this structure before but did not realize we would go by it today. There is a lot more information about it online including the vandalism that has taken place. 

Prada Marfa

The Marfa Welcome sign is several miles before Marfa.
The bottom yellow building is the Bee's Hive. 
I could not resist taking its picture.

I could see a small white dot in the sky for several miles
then this came into view.

Where it is tethered.

Radar System belonging to Border Patrol.

Then we were in Van Horn, Texas. After filling up the motorhome with diesel, $5.19 a gallon, we merged onto I-10 and continued west.

A couple of trains heading east.
I still miss seeing a caboose at the end. 

Stopped for the night at a Texas Safety Rest Area
east of El Paso.

We put several miles behind us today but the ride went smoothly and our plan for where we would stop for the night was accomplished. A good day.

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Leaving the rest area this morning we are headed towards El Paso with the goal to be in Deming, New Mexico this afternoon. 

We are passed El Paso and about to enter New Mexico.
They have the best sign.

I always look forward to seeing the Roadrunner up the hill.
Heading east we have spent the night at this rest area which
is not accessible when heading west.

We have driven through Border Patrol check points that are
closed before. This is the first one with a sign that said,
GO...😊

Views along the way and it looks dry.

We made it to the Low Hi RV Ranch RV in Deming just after lunch and will spend two nights here.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

This is our one full day at the Low Hi RV Ranch in Deming, New Mexico and I did not take any pictures. It is a Passport America Park and well kept up. It is our second time here and we would stop again.

Monday, November 14, 2022

Leaving the RV Park this morning our first stop was for diesel, $4.57 a gallon, and then we merged onto I-10 to continue our trek west.

Several more trains heading east.

Today's lunch view.

We have been lucky and never have had to follow these
instructions over the years.

Then there was water on both sides of the road.
We driven past here when it is bone dry, also.

Arizona!

One of Tom's favorite stops.
There is an apple pie in the Stinger "B".

Texas Canyon

Our stop for the night.

 

I always take way to many pictures when we drive through here. It is amazing to see all the rocks and how they seem to defy gravity staying balanced on each other.

Monday, November 14, 2022

Checking the lights before we pull out.

You had to know there would be more pictures...lol

We had a couple of semis pass us today with 
bales of cotton.

Passing through Tucson.

Picacho Peak

I usually spot the first Saguaro before Tucson. Today I was
distracted and did not look for it. I knew when we got here
though there would be Saguaros.

There they are our first view of them this year.

Our goal today was a RV Park in Casa Grande and we made it there about 1 o'clock. I will talk more about this stop in another post. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Thursday, November 17, 2022

We are stopped in Casa Grande and getting the Stinger "B" ready to be in storage. Also, there is packing to be done for the time we will be gone. I have been missing spending the holidays with our children and grandchildren so we are driving back to Michigan. It has been awhile since we have traveled and not been in the motorhome so there are several lists. Let the fun of packing begin...lol

Friday, November 18, 2022

We are up taking care of the last minute stuff  The Jeep is just about packed, and in a few hours we will be on our way. The new adventure begins!

P.S. I have finally gotten the blog into real time...😉

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