Day 6 - New State, Southwest Views and a Story

Deming, New Mexico (forgive me for so many pics)

Up and at 'em by 6:30 again on Friday, Oct. 23rd. It was a cloudy start to our day and there was to be some wind today but mostly in Odessa. As we got moving at 8 am, we're consistent if nothing else, we got on the I-20W easily with little traffic.

Good morning!

The clouds thinned out but I missed the real sunrise behind us. We didn't need fuel right away, still sitting at half a tank but we did stop an hour later at Monahans to fuel up. The Mudflap app worked again for us at an Allsups and the price for us was $5.50/gal.

We don't see adornment like this
on our highways at home.
The mountain views were beginning
slowly.

It was a straight forward drive on the interstate, not a lot of construction and none that interfered with our travels. Gibbs had his up and down moments, always panting leaving us guessing as to the reason. He piddled at the gas station and calmed a bit. 🤷‍♀️ 

Ocotillos blanketed the
fields along the highway in Texas.
Another metal water alien-like water tower.

We were starting to see the southwest views we love and it makes us a bit melancholy too. Soaking it all in, we'll be making the most of them this winter. *sigh* We stopped at what I have to call the nicest rest area so far. The Culberson County Safety Rest Area is beautiful and they are still working on it.

Again, overpasses and highways
are colourful and creative.

Back on I-20 and within 15 minutes, we gained another hour and are now on MDT. I-20W is a pretty good highway, as is I-10W. We have no complaints about the driving conditions. We do enjoy seeing the beautiful overpasses and are grateful to be under them rather than ON them.

And in New Mexico, 
their state bird, the Roadrunner,
is included.

Getting through El Paso was right at noon hour but although plenty of through traffic, we went with the flow and came out unscathed.😉 The construction of new overpasses was abundant but surprisingly stopped right before we turned off to a Rest Area that was 1/2 mile before the New Mexico state line.

This rest area just before
we crossed the state line into
New Mexico was tops in
landscaping. All kinds of
cacti, yuccas etc.

Such a pretty rest stop so I got pictures of a few local plants. The Yucca have been seen along our route, quite wide spread, and we've begun to see the lovely tall Ocotillo. Just around 80 miles to our next destination and it is only 12:45 as I write this. Somewhere  back there, around 12 noon, we had lunch on the road.

We stopped at 2 for fuel at a Maverick station and got our Mudflap discount. We were in Deming, NM. The fuel price here was $5.74/gal for us. We carried on to Exit 81 headed to Luna Rosa Winery for tonight's destination. So, things have been going really, really well for us.

And then.........Our gps's were confused and had us turning onto Oasis Rd. Immediately, we questioned 'what the?' We followed it (what else could we do, it was a single lane) and turned right at the dead end onto Ash Dr. There were 4 residences and we knew we were on the wrong path. (oh, it gets better)

Oopsie!!
Stuck!

One home had a huge gravel lot with room to turn in so we just pulled off the road to call the winery host for direction. When Bill went to pull out again, our precious 2-wheel drive Black Beauty decided to dig her heels in and the back wheel found a home in the mud. LOL

I knocked on the owner's door.
80 yr. old Susan was alone and did all
she could to help us by calling neighbours,
driving Bill to their homes, offer straps.
One of the best looking 80 yr. olds I've seen!

Poor Susan, the home owner, who was as sweet as pie, couldn't get her truck started (dead battery) to pull us out so she drove Bill to the neighbour's in her car. The owners there were two young ladies who'd just built their home and had a 4 wheel drive GMC. They offered to try and pull us out.

Snap! Okay, that didn't work. Bill's strap broke. They drove to another neighbour's home on our behalf and he came down with his 4-wheeler (?) and offered to go get his 4 x 4 truck and come back.

This is the 4th neighbour who got
involved. I think it was excitement in
the neighbourhood. Susan said it
was a bright spot in her day.
🤭

Meanwhile, his neighbour, came by in his 4 x 4 Ford and after hearing the problem, they got a rope out of the back and had us out in 10 seconds flat. By now, we've got all the people on the street involved within 30 minutes or less. Such kind folk. 🤣 All eager to help.

With proper directions we thanked each one, offered compensation for damages to Susan's property (refused), and I gave Susan a hug and we moved on. We sure left our mark but they help each other and would take care of ther mudhole. She was not concerned. Just down W.Pine St. we arrived at Luna Rosa Winery around 3 pm. Checked in inside.

When we got to the winery,
settled, we relaxed. There was
some chuckling going on too.

We got set up, the only ones arriving today, and after sitting for a few minutes we went in to meet Erica, the bartender/staff. Of course, what do you do at a winery but taste samples. We received 5 (!!) free and she was very generous. 

This winery is out of the way but
unfortunately right along the busy
highway and train track.
🤷‍♀️

Once more, we had the place to 
ourselves.

After an hour, we walked out with 3 bottles, stickers and a souvenir shirt for Bill. I walked out easily, 🤭😉, but I'm not saying I didn't feel it. I went for the sweeter wines, to heck with all the diet worries. Tonight. They don't serve food and we didn't want to disconnect so found something eat here at home.

Woops, some grapes got missed
in the harvesting.

We read for a while and Bill had a bit of a doze before I decided I wanted to get another bottle of the red wine that we both liked so walked in again to see Erica. Another poor man's meal but garlic toast & beans filled us for supper. We treated ourselves to a taste of fudge from Paw Paw's. That's sweet! 

A quick supper, we really thought
they served food inside. Our 
misunderstanding. Only
Tuesday night's they have pizza.

We did the dishes and sat with our blogs. Still no access to tv so our books are keeping us entertained. The sky tonight was unbelievable. We must be in the southwest! Gibbs was free to wander without a leash but we stayed outside with him each time. 

I knew we were in for a show tonight.

These put my first morning picture
to shame.

This has been a good day with only one exception. No one likes getting stuck in the mud except maybe my little 'red neck' brother. 💕 It was just one of those memories that we can laugh at later and an amazing show of humanity from people who don't know us from a hole in the ground.

Peeking through the grapevine
at the sunset.

Gibbs and I walked around and
around to capture the lovely sky.

We reached a high of 85F/29.4C today and we'll have a nice sleeping temperature of 56F/13.3 overnight. 

Featuring............Our Suite!

There is a train right across the interstate, all very close and probably loud so ear plugs will be inserted by 2 rv'ers! 🫣🤭😉🥴

Gibbs is following his nose.
He's very good at it.
Good night!

Thank you for your visit.

Day 5 - Routing Through Texas

Odessa, Texas

On Thursday, Oct. 22nd it was a dark 6:30 when I got out of bed. I'd woken up a couple of times, 4:10 and 5:40 but thankfully dropped off again. We like to be up and moving on our 400 mile days by 8 and it was 7:45 when we pulled out.

Good morning!
Beautiful sunrise and sky
but not a beautiful departure
on the roads out to the US380.
🥴🥴

That was an okay stay, but we wouldn't do it again. Mainly because of the way to it and certainly our exit roads to the highway were horrible. The lot itself, it was nice to be covered, it kept the Suite cool on the hot day. However, there was a 5th wheel behind us with large dogs. 🤷‍♀️

I wish I could have got in front
of this dummy.
It looked like Edward Scissorhands
but I'm dating myself.
I love the sense of humour!

I know, I know. Gibbs barks too but they were loud and no one telling them to stop was annoying, causing our mutt to want to join. It was a truck stop so it was noisy until about 9 when it became very quiet. 

What looked like a long way to go on
our Google map, was quite short when
we came to Denton.
This Children's Hospital is huge and very nice.
I'm just so sad that it is so necessary.
😟
That's a lot of sick little people.

Next to the hospital was
a Daycare.
Donna, here's an elephant for you!
🤭

We were pleased with the host, who came to get us hooked up to 30 amp (which was offered 'free' on the app) when our outlet was being used by aforementioned rv. We slept well and gave Muhammed a donation and good review. He was a nice man, introducing himself to Bill early on.

Runaway Bay
was a cute, pretty town and lovely
water access.

Downtown Runaway Bay
there were many cute displays.

Just a few views along the way.

We got on the US380W all the way through Denton, which was busy enough but steady and at Decatur we took the 380W truck route bypass (288N). This relieved us of a lot of traffic, bringing us back to 35S andthen 380W again. Roads are pretty good.

Yup, definitely a wide load!
Bill had to move over to the right side to
let him pass.
I love seeing the working oil rigs
around here, all along our drive today.

With a stop for fuel at Casey's, our Mudflap didn't work again but the price at $5.59/gal was the best yet. Just before Jacksboro, we went on 281S to I-20W. That was a long stretch and at 12:45 we stopped for 1/2 tank of fuel at Clyde, Tx at an Allsups. 

I like the fat ones, the chunky ones
but I love the tin man ones.
🥰

Our Mudflap worked again, strange as it is. We paid $5.58/gal and Black Beauty was full again. Before we pulled out, we had lunch and got back on I-20W at 1 pm. It seemed like another long stretch of traveling through a fair bit of construction. 

Our second train today.
This was a short one, the first one
had multiple engines, beginning and middle
but I didn't get a good picture.

Odessa was no different but we followed the gps instructions to Exit 115 where we got onto W. 8th Street to Belmont Baptist Church. This is our destination for the night with a nice big paved parking lot to swing around in and park. It seems pretty level. We were set up by 4:15.

Gibbs started out panting a lot,
sitting up but the afternoon was
laying down at least.
He keeps checking to see our house.
💕

My stomach was upset on and off throughout the drive today, mostly off but I was uncomfortable enough. When you're on the road you don't have the same options as you do at home, where I would have just laid down. Instead, I popped some Tums and they seemed to calm things down.

Driving through some of these
construction congested cities seems
simple enough.
But pulling a big rig, through cement
barriers on each side and semis at
every bend, it can be harrowing.
Bill gets my greatest respect,
especially after 7 hours.

I only ate half of the sandwich and some cheese and felt that I could have gone without it. I didn't feel sick, just an upset stomach. 🤷‍♀️ It was fine for much of the afternoon until we parked at the church and I had a cup of tea. I wonder if the glass of Coke from last night was the culprit. 

Belmont Baptist Church
is our stop tonight.
It is on a quiet back street so
we're hopeful for a good night's rest again.

So, for supper, I cooked 4 weiners for hot dogs but while Bill and Gibbs had theirs, I had some Pepto Bismol. That seemed to do the trick and I had a hotdog too. We cleaned up the few dishes and Bill sat to read while I finished up with my blog. 

I felt better so had a hotdog.
Giving my second weiner to
Gibbs with his dry food.
Gobble gobble, it's gone!
🐶

There is a slight breeze coming in my small window as I write and it feels great. I think getting used to sucking it up when the heat gets to be too much this winter will be my challenge. I'm spoiled and with no ceiling fan in the Suite, I'll have to get creative so I don't irritate my house mates too much!

With a lot of clouds, a
pretty sunset is mostly
guaranteed.
Our Suite in this perspective looks
as long as the church.
We were the only guests here.

We reached the 82F/27.7C again today and the clouds have moved in heavy. They aren't rain clouds though and it won't cool down much below 60F/15C overnight. We've had a great day, other than a fairly long day, we survived! Thank you, everyone, who sent good wishes for Bill. He was feeling 90% better this morning. 💖

                                   Good night!

Thank you for your comments and for visiting us.