Texas, Here we Come!

Amarillo/Texas Information Centre

On Saturday, Mar. 29th we all slept in. It was 10 pm when I finished my blog last night and went to bed. Bill was up until 11:30, couldn't sleep even though he was tired. We were obviously all tired. It was7:15 when I crawled out. 

Good morning!
This is where we spent last night.

I took another walk into the store as I forgot to look for my Sola bread. They don't have the good stuff but I found one lower in carbs than most. Bill adjusted the starting pressure of all the Suite tires while I did that. 

The landscape was flat but the mountains
in the background are rugged and different
in many ways from what we've seen all winter.

This morning before we left, we met another Ontarien in the lot, seemed very nice. A fellow from Kansas beside us, with 4 girls and 2 boys and 2 dogs in a small Passport RV offered help if we needed it. People in this life style are so kind.

We pulled out at 8:50 and into a Maverick down the road a bit to fuel up. Price of $3.04/gal beat anything we'd get on a fuel app so that's a bonus. We paid $3.59 yesterday at the Flying J. Lol

There are always interesting things
along the highways, no matter which way
we all choose to go.

There were a few rain spatters early on, but 59F/14C was a comfy temperature. At Las Cruces we took Exit 135 on to 70E and stayed on it through Tularosa (cute town) and Alamogordo. 

We approached White Sands National Park
Just look at how clean that sand is!

An inspection station had us all slowing to a stop.
Our citizenship was questioned and we showed our
passports. Friendly agent.

This water tower needs some colour.
Largest pistachio, so they say!

We ignored Bill's gps that wanted us to get on US-54 up to I-40. This US70 is a better route, this time at least. We love the optical illusion that while we are going down, we are rising in elevation! It is like a national forest although I don't know it's name. ❤️

One of my favourite pictures of the day.
You must know why. 💕

It's a bit of a joy ride, up and down and very scenic. On the east side of Ruisodo we found an Allsups/Valero fuel station at Tinnie to give BB a drink. Fuel was $3.39. While there, we ate the egg salad sandwiches we brought along. 

My pictures don't do it justice so you'll
have to take my word for it.

Gibbs rode much better today, getting used to the drive and less panting. 💕  The rain never lasted earlier but there was more going through the forest, light again. The mountains, cacti and shrubbery of the lower southwest have disappeared.  This area is very flat .

We drove through a 10 second dust storm
today again but this one was natural.
It was quite windy.

We counted 15 oncoming trains today
on this highway. 

Big displays in Texas too

US70 connected with 380 which we followed through to Roswell. Breaking off 380 here, we carried on up US 70 to US60 across the Texas state line. We discussed whether we've traveled that route before, usually staying on 380 through the little alien town. Bill will check his maps. 

He was 'fussy' this morning but
after we stopped for lunch, he was a different
doggie altogether.💗

It is a long, flat, albeit quiet route with little traffic but neither of us care to travel it again. There are no rest areas but there are small towns if you care to stop. We didn't. The biggest thrill was counting the numerous trains we met on the track right beside the highway almost the whole distance into Amarillo. 😁

There was a bit of this STUFF as we followed
US60. I hate these and I wasn't even driving!!

We crossed into Texas, around 4:30, without fanfare because I missed the sign. However, we did lose another hour on our clocks. We had no need to stop, no nature calls necessary, Gibbs was so content to lay in his bed. Thankfully, we reached our familiar destination in Amarillo, TX at 7pm. This is a regular stop for us whenever we come this way. It is easy to get in to, quiet and close to fuel stations and a restaurant across the highway if we need it.

Gibbs went out for a piddle when we arrived
but couldn't take his eyes off these 'puppy eaters'!!
They are flat metal statues and he wouldn't go near them.

We got set up, the nature business taken care of and I started supper. Simple and tasty. Brown beans and hot dogs. Bill started the generator if I wanted to use an appliance but it was late and I was too tired to 'create a meal'. Planning supper didn't come together in my morning routine today. 

Our supper was good and we deserved
the ice cream treat after the long day!
Good night!

This was a good day. It was long, too long but I knew we'd get through it. We will sleep well again and look forward to a shorter drive day tomorrow. It is a cooler 65F/18C with no sun today. We'll need our duvet tonight at 41F/5C. 

Thank you for your visit.

Hitting the Highway

Walmart, Deming, NM

On Friday, March 28th, as scheduled, the Jello was set well and good. We were up, packed and pulling out of site #39 at 8:05. Our neighbours were out preparing for their wash and wax so we exchanged information.  I've really enjoyed meeting them, Sue especially. 🤗

Good morning!
Leaving Yuma Lakes RV Resort.

Some very pretty views on today's
journey.

It was a pleasant 61F/16C under a blanket of cloudy skies. A good day to travel.  We turned onto Araby Rd. and jigged the roundabouts and hopped on I-8E. Yup, there it is.  Our first step towards the east and home. 

These Ocotillos were not even bright green
but their flowers were gorgeous.

The interstate was smooth and once we were out of rush hour, it was clear driving with little traffic. We watched Saguaros disappear, temporarily, but the Ocotillos were beautiful in their blooming glory. I couldn't get a picture worthy of showing until we stopped at a rest area near Dragoon. 

Sitting at the rest area, I asked Lila
what she thought of the trip so far.
She was enjoying it!

It was 10 am and the leg stretch felt good for all of us. Business taken care of, we pushed onward. We arrived at Denny's/Flying J Truck Stop at 11:30, fueled up, parked in behind the store, opened slides to let Gibbs inside and went in to meet Ken and Nancy.  How good to see them again!💕

Making the correct turn toward
Eloy and Tucson

Eggs Benedict and hash browns and
avocado. Yum!

This is the 3rd time we've met here
and hope to continue seeing them each year,
for as long as we all can!

After a great catchup and delicious meal, we were on our way again. They live at Picacho Peak RV Resort, just 15 minutes down the road. It was 1:15 when we got back on I-10E. We got a few rough areas but nothing bad at all. Bill was keeping our speed around 60mph in the 75 zone. He is monitoring our new tire minder, learning how it works. 

the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm that
Ken works at.
A pretty dragonfly overpass and the streets
of Tucson.

Pictures of Saguaro along the way.
They returned near Tucson and beyond.
Teddybear Cholla cacti here too.

We stopped at the Dragoon (?) Rest Area, aka the big boulders for another stretch and facilities break. I don't know the real name but it is 'the big boulder r.a.' to me.  They are amazing all along that route. 😁 We were on the road again at 3:25. 

About 10 miles before the New Mexico state line, I-10 got rough again.  Once into the new state, it was much improved. Their welcome sign was also new to us, it's large and beautiful! It was a loss of an hour for us when the time jumped from 4:55 to 5:55. 

Dust storm!! Not really, there was
construction to the right of the highway and it
was windy. We mostly missed it.

The Continental Divide was not very close to the well-advertised trading post so I missed getting a picture of that sign. However, we did see that it was 4,585' elevation. Whenever I see those large advertisements it reminds me of the trip Bill and I took in our Toyota Corolla to see Michael, my little brother in Cold Lake, Alberta. The signs there were for WALL drug store. Nice memories. 

The 'big boulder' rest area.

At 7:00 MDT we found a spot at the Walmart in Deming, NM for the night. We are not alone but settled in nicely, away from interstate traffic noise. Now, if the truck beside us would only stop running…,…🤔🤔  

Gibbs, was unimpressed.
He looks pretty scruffy here.

Neither is us is hungry for a meal so we may only be snacking before we crash for the night. We do have a few groceries too pick up in the store. Gibbs was pretty good all day and I may have found a solution too make the long drive more accommodating. One more day and I'll share it if it works again. 

We crossed into New Mexico, lost an hour
and it looked like we stepped into another world.
The land was flat for miles and all the cacti
and shrubs were gone.

We are sitting at 73F/21C and it is a clear sky tonight. This was a great day!

this greenery really struck me odd.
All the trees are brown............not!
Arrival at Deming for the night and a water
tower for my blog.
Good night!

Thank you for stopping in.