Surprised us too.....

Our Location: American Girl Mine Road, California

I slept well until shortly after 2 AM but I also went to bed early around 8 pm as I was very tired. I've been driving for a few miles these past few days. I enjoy driving but it does get tiring after a while. 

Snow on those mountain tops way off in the distance.

You know we're close now, don't ya?

 

We were both up tucking a few things away and grabbing some snacks for the truck shortly after 7 AM. We were on the road by 7:45 AM. A kind of cloudy type sky and the temps reading 45F/7.2C. Pointing the Big Dog's nose west we once again ran along I-10 West. 

Sorry for the reflection from the window, but still a good photo.

We left Gage, NM this morning and crossed into Arizona a short time later.

Our original destination was going to be Empire Ranch for a week but a check of the long range weather forecast had very low temps, very strong winds, lots of rain and even some chances of snow, so we opted to head on down the road. We couldn't decided on any place we wanted to stop now as we would be there for a week with the holiday weekend coming up and so we agreed that with the weather being iffy at best in most of the areas we would just head to the surest thing. Yuma! And so that's what we did. We simply pointed the Dogsled in that direction and yelled,' Mush." 

Of course you know this is Texas Canyon rest area, right? We didn't stop but we still took photos.

It's a long way down there folks.

A few stops along the way and some leg stretches, a few phone calls and by 5 PM tonight MOUNTAIN time we arrived here at our spot for the next while. The long range forecast looks wonderful and we're happy to be sitting for a while again. 

Past this in Tucson, AZ. Some kind of big playland.

 

While we are actually in California we will keep our clocks on Mountain time as Yuma is the biggest shopping area near by and we will be using their 'time' to keep us in tune with shopping and stuff while in this area. 

 

HRH Miss Kitty was looking around as we drove. She normally stays in carrier but today opted for a different view.

Talked to both my SIL Janet and my dad today. Dad was happy to hear from us, knowing we are now going to be sitting here for a while just resting, soaking up the heat and enjoying the sunshine.  Janet was probably happy to hear from us too. Haha

We were happy to see this sign, knowing we were a short distance from our destination.

Tomorrow I'll catch up on the comments and my reading, for the past couple of days I've just been too tired at days end. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

I snapped this just as we finished putting the feet down.

 

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

This is one of the reasons we enjoy the desert. Good night!!

Deb 

 

Left Texas for New Mexico......

Our Location: Gage Rest Area, Gage, New Mexico

 

 

We slept well at Fort Stockton Walmart and were up, out the door and filling with fuel before 7:30 AM. On the road before 8 AM and moving right along. For future reference, the Walmart was easy to find but very crowded with rigs later in the day, the Dot Rest Area a few miles further down the road was very nice, spacious and not a typical Texas rest area. The parking area for all vehicles was not lineal but more like the others with individual spaces designated for rigs, cars, etc. Very big lot, lots of room and a very nice rest center as well. I would definitely stay there in the future. 

 

 

The flat views along I-10 in southwest Texas.

Can you see the mountains way over there?

We are getting closer and closer....mile by mile, minute by minute.

 

For the first time we actually drove through El Paso, usually we take a bypass of some sort, I think maybe the Loop but today we just headed on through. A pretty easy drive on a Sunday before lunch. In fact we moved to Mountain Time before we entered the city and so are now 2 hours behind Ontario. The roads were good, not too busy and we motored right along. 

 

 

Tiny little hill in Texas.

I think George calls these Century Plants.

This was hanging over the valley as we approached El Paso.

 

We checked out a few other stops and made note of them in our little journal for future use. Always nice to know things along the route that you've travelled before. Memories aren't all they should be when you get a bit over 19. 

 

 

Interesting sculptures in El Paso.

 

We climbed into New Mexico with ease and continued along I-10 West for the remainder of our drive today. Smooth sailing, only a few slow downs here and there even with all the construction areas. 

 

 

Neat idea, street names on the overpasses.

I think Patsy might have posted this but it's a new one for us.

 

We are close to Butterfield Station, just past their exit of #62, I believe. We would have pulled into the Cabana area to park but couldn't get to the roadway leading there. For future reference, to get to the lane take the car pathway. The big rigs park in front of the lane and you can't get to it. We pulled forwarded into a large gravel area some distance from the washrooms but still in front of the casitas. We can stay for 24 hours. Behind us are train tracks, in front of us is I-10. It's for one night and I think we will sleep well. 

 

The rest area at Exit 0 in Anthony, not sure if it's Texas or NM.

 

Called dad when we arrived and let him know where we are. He was happy to hear from us. The hunt is over and Jesse was the only successful one in our bunch. Congrats Jesse!!!! 

 

We have entered this fine state for an overnight visit.

 

Sunny, warm and blue skies, we are fortunate to have had such a wonderful travel day. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

 

The Roadrunner!!!!

 

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

 

They are not Louis L'Amours  Far Blue Mountains but they are still inviting, and addictive. 

 

Deb

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long travel day......

Our Location: near Fort Stockton, Texas

 

A quick post, we're tired and hungry and dinner is cooking while I type. We left this morning before 8 AM and our goal was Sonora, Texas but at some point we decided we wanted to go farther and turned the Big Dog's nose west on I-10 and let him run. He stopped twice to drink today, this morning before leaving and then again just before lunch time at Menard, TX. He's due for another sip soon, he's resting about the 1/2 full mark. 

 

 

Heading out this morning from Bellmead along Hwy 84.

Some nice colour and views along our travels today.

Gatesville water tower. A much larger town than I anticipated.

Sunny, warm, and fairly breezy but an interesting view out the windows. Rolling hills, a bit of the long, flat vistas as well but nothing mundane in colour for too long. We enjoyed State Highway 190 for most of the trip until shortly after 1 pm when we dropped down on to I-10. We had planned on making the rest area about 25 miles past Fort Stockton but found this cute little spot and so we shut down here for the night. 

 

One of the many little towns, cities we past through today.

Definitely not very busy, is it?

Sure is pretty.

 

Talked to dad when we arrived. They too are getting a bit of sun and nice weather. Nothing as balmy as we are but still nice for them. 

 

 

Lovely sign in Goldthwaite.

One of the little picnic areas that dot the landscape across Texas.

A huge armadillo. (not real of course)

Daughter Bradey sent a text today while we were driving through Brady, TX. How funny is that?

 

On that note I'm going to sign off and have some food. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the photos. 

 

 

Most of our roads today were pretty empty.

Prickly pear is growing everywhere.

Love the rock cuts here.

Pretty isn't it?

 

Until next time.... take care, be safe, 

 

Deb

 

 

Bellmead, Texas.....

Our Location:  Walmart, Bellmead, Texas

 

 

 

An uneventful travel day. The kind we all like, isn’t it?
 

Traveling through the edges of Tyler, Texas.

 

We left our spot in Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, Louisiana at 7:45 AM under misty skies, humid, sticky conditions. The temperature as we pulled out was 65F/ 18.3 C. That would be our high for the entire day.

 

I bet you can guess where we are in this photo.

 

We zipped along I-20 into the state of Texas but departed at Exit 571A, heading for Tyler. We journeyed along mostly on TX 31 with a few minor little pieces added in, until we came to the construction where this cute little road meets up with I-35 in Bellmead. Hm….construction, construction and more construction. However we hung a left, letting the Big Dog run along the on ramp to I-35 S where things smoothed out considerably. For future reference, this is a nice road (TX 31), a bit bumpy in places but overall very good. Except for a small portion it is a divided highway from the exit we took to I-35. I would certainly recommend this road for anyone looking for a way across that area. We took the loop around Tyler and Athens as well. We had to travel through Corsicana and a number of little slow down towns. Cute little towns and maybe one day will stop and check out a few things, but today wasn’t that day.

 

Corsicana, Texas under cloudy skies.

 

The interstate, meaning I-20 West was good except for a fairly long stretch (or maybe it just seemed long) through Bossier City, LA. It was awful, humpy, bumpy, dips, valley, hills and perhaps even a mountain or two in there. We stopped at the Texas Welcome Center but failed to see a Welcome to Texas sign. We noticed a sign that indicated the Texas State Line but nothing else.

 

I filled up earlier for $2.69 a gallon, but this isn't bad.

 

The skies continued to mist, drip and a couple of times for a couple of minutes each time it actually rained enough to use the wipers on regular speed for all of 3 or 4 minutes each time. The sun managed to show its lovely self once or twice but not for long. Tonight we are under cloudy skies still. When we pulled off the road for the day here in Bellmead the temperature on the dash of the Big Dog was reading 45F/ 7.2C. Going to get close to the freezing mark overnight but hopefully the further we move south and then west we will find some warmer weather and plenty of sunshine.
 

Sorry about the mirror but it's a great mural isn't it?

 

I spoke with my sister in law Janet a number of times today due to lingering family business. Hopefully it gets sorted out before long. I also chatted with my dad when we arrived here, letting him know we arrived safe and sound, where we are and what our plans for tomorrow are or at least what we think they are. Even if I don’t mention talking to my dad, I call him every time we travel. Once we are safely off of the road, it’s a quick call to let him know all is well. While talking with Dad I was informed that nephew Jesse was the lucky or skillful shot today, getting an 8 point buck. Congrats Jesse!! Not as big as Leah’s but still nice!!!! Haha.

Texas 31, not busy and a good road.

 

On that note I’m going to sign off. Tomorrow will be another travel day and I’m hoping to rid myself of this headache before morning. Thanks for stopping, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

Very informative sign.

 

Thinking of George and Suzie, wishing them good days and nights!!!

We are staying in this small city, just north of Waco, TX.

 

Until next time…. take care, be safe.



Deb

Our last day here at LPP.....

Our Location: Lincoln Parish Park, Ruston, Louisiana

 

Some very quiet days here in LPP. Not much going on with only about 8 or 9 rigs in the park. One or two come and one or two go, it's a tough life. 

 

 

The road in/out of the park.

One of the walking trails here in the park.

 

This morning we did something Riley's been talking about for a couple of years. For one reason or another we just didn't seem able to fit it in. We visited a Waffle House for breakfast. I've been numerous times but Riley hasn't. We both enjoyed waffles but Riley isn't too interested in going back. We will see as time goes on if she changes her mind. 

 

Love the reflection in the water.

Wouldn't this be a nice place to sit and read or just reflect?

 

Yesterday we enjoyed the sun and the warmth. The temps reached the 80F/ 26.6 C, an overnight with temperature warm enough to leave the vents open and still be comfortable putting non slippered feet on the floor. Even with the cloudy skies today our temperature reached 77F/ 25C.

 

Watching for breakfast.

Also watching for breakfast.

 

Today we had a little rain, lots of clouds and a bit of sun. Tomorrow is calling for rain along our entire route. Morning rain with afternoon clearing, let's hope they are right. 

 

Paved over tree roots are pushing upward and breaking the walking paths smooth surface.

Turtles sunning themselves.

 

Tomorrow we head out moving into Texas. We have been debating our travels there, and I think we've finally made our decision. We've decided to head off through Texas on a one night overnight stay basis until we pass through both Texas and New Mexico. We hope to arrive at Empire Ranch in Arizona by mid week, in time to sit out the American Thanksgiving without any worry about campgrounds being full and highway traffic.  We had tossed around a number of different ideas but we both like this one best. If our friends Ron & Sharon are going to join us, they can do it as easily in Arizona as they can in Texas. 

 

Our Waffle House visit.

 

All photos today were once again taken with my phone. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

 

Today we journey to the beach/picnic area.

 

Until next time.... take care, be safe, 

 

Deb