Still moving West and South

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

December 20, 2017

Even though we were both up and moving before the sun showed up this morning we did not pull out of the park until just before 9:00AM. I think we are ready to not be moving and be stopped for more then two nights. We ended up putting 313 miles behind us today and we are in agreement there will be no need to do that again. We only have about another 312 miles to go and we will be doing these miles in two days. We will definitely enjoy the slower pace. 

Leaving Tucumcari, NM behind.

Our view out the front windshield as we merged onto I-40 for a short
ride to Santa Rosa, NM. Where we turned off onto US-54 then US-60 to
Bernardo, NM where we then turned south onto I-25.

Stopped for fuel at the Pilot in Santa Rosa
and you guessed it we are blocked in. The
guy is in his truck doing????.

Anyway, Tom had time to eat his Cinnabon while we waited. He then went up and asked him if he was going to be leaving and he said, yes I have to get going. We were beginning to think there was something wrong with his semi because he kept starting it up and shutting down. At least we did not have to unhook the Jeep so Tom could back out of there.

On US-54. Yesterday I mentioned this is a nice ride and it isn't a bad ride but
what we had forgotten was the wind with nothing to block it.

Plus, we found that the road has really deteriorated since the last time
we came this way. Still we would rather take this route
then drive through Albuquerque. 

We saw one other RV on this route today guess they were skipping the
drive through Albuquerque, also.
The one really nice thing about this ride is there is very little traffic. 

Passing through Vaughn and continuing down the road. 

Then through Encino.
Managed to get a few half way decent shots of their Christmas Decorations.
Not always easy in a moving vehicle.

Saw this train stopped on our right.
I always wonder why the engines are not all pointed in the same direction.

A little farther on and we could really see the dust ahead.
The bottom picture is just before we go over a bridge the above train
will go under.

When we stopped at this rest stop the train pictured above passed us on
our left. 

We stopped here when we went through in 2015. That time we got out and walked around today the wind was really howling and I took the above pictures through the windshield. The picture below is on the other side of the picture below it. It gives and explanation of what this spot is.

Several bullet holes but you can still read it.

This is a picture of the side of the sign you see from the road. You can now
see why there are holes in the explanation.
I took the picture on the left in 2015 and the one on the right today.

We spent time here in 2015 visiting the Visitor Center for the Salinas Pueblo
Missions. There are three different sites, Missions, to visit several miles
apart. We were able to visit two of them and would like to go back and see
the third one.

If you would like to read about what we saw click on this link Salinas Pueblo Missions . There are also more pictures of Mountainair.

Continuing on the scenery and road are getting better.

It is hard to tell but we are going down.

Things start to flatten out but we are still going down.

Things have flattened out and in a few miles we can see I-25 in the distance.

Just before we turn onto I-25 we passed by the Kiva RV Park & Horse Motel.
This is where we stayed last time.
I saw what I am pretty sure were Texas Longhorns. If they are not
please do not burst my bubble let me believe that is what they are.
In all our time in Texas we only saw Longhorns one other time.

A couple of windmills from today's ride. I have to learn how to use my
new camera so I can zoom in on these and get better pictures.

Some of the large wind machines.

This is where we are parked for the night.
More information about the area in the
following pictures.

I do not know which mountains are which all I know is they are all beautiful.
I stood in the parking area and just snapped in all four directions.

WHAT FILLS THE EYES FILLS THE HEART.

                                ~Irish Proverb

A side note: The new shower head works...yeah!

We had a long but enjoyable day, we hope you did also.

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

Stopped and Happy 8th Anniversary Nadine and Thomas!

December 18, 2017

Yes, I am a day late posting this but by the time we stopped last night, de-winterized, and did some organizing (all the stuff that could freeze that we put in the morning we left) I was just to tired.

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Happy 8th Anniversary to our son, Thomas, and daughter-in-law, Nadine!

This was a happy, wonderful day for our family. We are so glad Thomas found you Nadine and brought you into our family. We are proud of the life you have built together and are thankful for the the three little ones we call our grandbabies, Noah, Jonah, and Marcella. Enjoy your day!

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After driving 346 miles yesterday and a total of 1459 in four days we have stopped to catch our breaths. We have landed in Tucumcari, NM and will be staying here at the Cactus RV Park for two nights.

This was the view out the front window
as we headed out.

We had one re-route. As we turned onto the road "Hazel" suggested the first sign we saw said there was a 13 foot clearance ahead and we are 12'3" and did not want to chance a bump...:). Turned went around the block then down a few blocks and we had a clearance of  13' 6" so we felt a little better with that space.

We merged on to I-40.

The sun came out and we had blue skies.
Side note: the smoothest  road we drove on was in the construction zone.

We left Oklahoma behind and crossed into Texas.
This rest stop is also a tornado shelter.

Stopped for diesel just before Amarillo and we had time to eat lunch
before a space opened up to leave. The guy on the right pulled out and when
the guy in the middle saw us moving he moved up and gave us a little more
room to swing around and miss the large cement thing in front of the pumps.

Driving through Amarillo.
The last time we were heading East and stayed at the Amarillo RV Ranch
and checked out The Big Texan.

Just before we crossed into New Mexico.
We had seen a high fire risk sign as we drove into Texas but on our
route we had seen a lot of green until this point.
The picture of the windmill looks strange because I had to crop it quite
a bit. I love these windmills.

We have crossed into New Mexico. It looks dry at this point, also.

Settled into the Cactus RV Park in Tucumcari, NM located on Route 66.

We had stayed here going East in the spring of 2016  so we new what to expect. There are no amenities but we have full 
hook-ups with 50amps. It is clean and the sites are gravel but level. The owners are friendly and make you feel welcome.
The motel you see in the pictures is on the Historical Register and is from the 1930's, according to the owner.  


December 19, 2017

We spent most of today getting the Stinger "B" finally organized . I feel so much more relaxed when things are where they should be. On a not so great note when I went to wash our washer decided to not spin or drain. Luckily I was only doing a pair of Tom's old jeans because the door is locked and will not open so they are...soaking. Hopefully, we will be able to trouble shoot in the next couple of days and figure out the problem. It sounds like it may be a blockage in the drain line. Unfortunately, it is behind the washer so Tom will need help to pull it out. I think we are having a washer rebellion. I say this because our washer at the house quit working also. 

Tomorrow we will be heading west on I-40 as far as Santa Rosa where we will cut across to I-25, we took this route back in 2015 and it is a nice ride. We will then take I-25 to Hatch were we will cut across to Deming and I-10. We will then be on I-10 until we reach Benson and turn towards Huachuca City. Not sure how far we will get tomorrow but the goal is to reach Huachuca City by the 22nd. We have reservations at the Quail Ridge RV Resort and this is were we will stop and spend Christmas. (We spent Thanksgiving here in 2015 and this is where George and Suzie of the Our Awesome Travels spent this Thanksgiving.) It is a nice clean park and the sites are level. We have always felt welcomed and everyone we have come in contact with there has been friendly. Plus the price is great.

Tom has decided to change our shower head...I am hoping it goes well because I would like to take a shower before I go to bed tonight. I will let you know how that works out...:)

                                                       Today was a good day, we hope you can say the same.
                                      If you would like to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you