New park, new state, new people....

Our Location: Quail Ridge RV Park, Huachuca City, Arizona

Our condolences go to Gary Duggan and his family in the passing of his mother Bernice yesterday in Ontario, Canada. 

My day started about 5:30 am today. Reading blogs and checking facebook. A couple of notes to my sister and then I will be up and starting to pack up my bedroom and bathroom. Today is moving day. We're heading into another new state today. Arizona!! This is where we will spend our winter months. Other than a  side trip to Palm Desert, California to visit with my sister in law Janet and her hubby Dennis. We stayed on their farm in Roseneath, Ontario for a couple of weeks earlier this fall. They flew out of Toronto on Nov 11 and have been enjoying the golf course every day since.

Electric cars plug in here...

We were packed up, hooked up and pulling out of City of Rocks State Park at 8:20 am this morning. A drive to Deming to the Valero Fuel Stop and their free rv dump station. We also topped off our fuel tanks while there. A great spot to stop, easy in and out. Big parking areas, lots of space to get around. Separate RV island with gas and diesel. The dump station was free. Diesel was a bit on the high side but we noticed higher on our drive today. It was $3.04 at the Valero this morning, and we noticed a high of $3.13 during our travels today. I don't recall where it was though. An interesting feature at this location is 8 spots to plug in electric cars. I've never seen them before, and to have 8 in a row seemed very innovative with an eye to customer needs. 

I kept looking but didn't see anything.

After our stop there we proceeded on to I-10 West bound which is the main road we travelled today. Beautiful scenery was available out almost every window almost all the time. We enjoyed the long lazy drive today, only 155 miles. We stopped at pretty much each rest stop and enjoyed a few minutes out of the Dogsled.

Those hazy mountains are where we're heading.

It was 10:11 am when we crossed the Continental Divide. I happened to look at the clock so that's how I know. There wasn't much to it, just an imaginary line on the roadway. Still  it was a milestone for us. 

They even tell you what to do if you get caught in a dust storm.

We crossed into Arizona shortly after, pulling into the first rest area we found new to us signs indicating rattlesnakes and poisonous insects. I can tell you I kept looking around but didn't see anything. Love the rest stops here, they are so spacious and inviting. Lots of areas for picnic lunches and exercise for both human and four legged folks. NO grass. Still interesting though. 

The dark at the front is rail road tracks.

Our second rest stop in Arizona had a very unique type of view, a wall of rocks behind the rest area buildings gave one a feeling of being very small. The rocks rose a number of feet dwarfing everything around us. Across I-10 on the east bound lanes the view was just as spectacular. A great choice for a stopping area. Lots of folks taking pictures in this location. It's just a few miles from Benson, Arizona. 

Our first rest stop of the day.

Following the signs for Huachuca City we headed southward. More picturesque views along the way as well. Not a far drive, a very pleasant jaunt closer to the Mexican border. 

We've arrived in Arizona

We arrived at Quail Ridge RV Park about 1:30 pm. A stop at the office we met a fella named Kurt or Kurk who was also checking in, he is from Kincardine, Ontario. He even knew where Manitoulin Island was!! It is a small world!!

Love the rocks!

We checked in, pulled around the end of the clubhouse looking for spot 137. We found it, second from the end and pulled in without any difficulties. We set up house and hooked up our necessaries, and managed to get everything put back where it should be all by a bit before 2:30 pm. 

The Dogsled wasn't even panting in this heat.

Lunch, we were hungry, as we had only had a small snack in the Dogsled and no breakfast. We never seem to eat breakfast on travel days. Instead we have granola bars, or small biscuits to settle the stomach and around 10 am, coffee time, we have another little snack. That will usually hold us over until lunch.

His hideout in the Dragoon Mountains.

I called my dad before we started prepping lunch. Wanted him to know we've arrived safe and sound. He was happy to hear from us. The deer hunt is over or just about over on Manitoulin Island. The four hunters, Dad, my brother Rick, and his two sons Jason and Jesse netted two deer this year. Jason got himself a nice doe, while Dad shot himself a buck. Actually it was more like half a buck, only had one horn. I asked if it was old, perhaps came out and said 'Shoot me please!' He assured me that wasn't the case. 
 

Arizona Rest Stop

Lunch was a quick affair today. A nice big green salad and a chicken taco seemed to just hit the spot for us. Easy to prepare, easy to cook, and easy to clean up afterwards.  

Leaving the rest stop, heading west on I-10

 

   Clean up finished we headed outside to read in the shade. The temps when we arrived today read 81F /27.2C for those Canuckies back home. With beautiful blue skies who could ask for anything more? Not us, we're are loving it. 

Extremely beautiful. 

Around about sunset time we grabbed the camera and walked around our area of the park trying to catch a few pictures for tonight's blog. Love some of the huge plants here, they're bigger than me. We stopped in to check out the laundry, $1.25 a load for washing, and I didn't look at the dryer as I'm certain it will be very reasonable too. They take credit cards here in the laundry room. How cool is that? We also checked out the clubhouse. Nice area. The nice lady at the check in desk told us we can have full use of the full kitchen in the clubhouse and the poolroom building. If you don't want to use your propane to cook your food, you can pop it in the oven in the clubhouse at no charge. Pretty nice of them. From there we headed off around the park and back home. Close to the road but still pretty nice here. 

Love the colours on this plant. See the picnic table, this thing is huge.

Back at the Igloo we left the camera behind and headed two spots over to introduce ourselves to George and Suzie (Our Awesome Travels). Extremely nice, helpful people, we look forward to visiting them a time or two while here in the park. I've followed their blog for a number of years and have enjoyed reading about their journey's. They were extremely nice offering up tips and advice. We very much appreciate it. Nice meeting you George and Suzie!!

Sun sinking quickly.

Back home, I called my sister for a quick chat and catch up. My sister is very crafty and has been doing a new hobby for her, book folding. She's very good at it and has been taking orders and selling her goods for the past number of months. She is currently making the rounds of the small communities fall craft shows. She completed one today and has two more in the up coming weeks. Seems like she is doing well. My sister got the crafty gene from our mother who could knit, crochet, quilt, and garden. My sister also paints, makes hand made leather mittens, and gloves, and does a number of other crafts as well. Me? Not so much. I walk down the craft aisle at Walmart and that is the extent of my craftiness. Glad you're enjoying your new hobby sister dearest! 

Slipping down....

After hanging up from chatting with sister Jan I started editing pictures. We took 215 pictures today and I whittled them down to 51. Don't worry I'm  not going to post them all on here. Finishing those up I opened up blogger and continued on my post.

More pinks to the east in the mountains.

That was our day, a great one in my humble opinion. Seen a lot of new country side, passed into another new state, met new people, and managed to keep the Dogsled between the lines and the Igloo behind the Dogsled. It was a winner of a day!

Mountains to the East of Quail Ridge Rv Park at sunset

Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment. 

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

Deb

New Fuel Filter, toured a museum, and not on the list...

Our Location: City of Rocks State Park, Faywood, NM

Morning followed a wee bit cooler night, the outside temp this morning around 7 pm (MST) was about 40 F/ 5C. The Igloo was much warmer hovering about 55F/12C but I turned the heater on for a few minutes anyway. We were toasty in no time. We didn’t have time to dawdle this morning as we had an appointment in Deming for ‘this morning’.  We took the camera, a change of clothes, hats, water bottles and some new CD’s with us as we headed out about 8:35 am. 

This marks the way to the basement entrance

The drive was pleasant and we didn’t need the aid of Pheobe or Bella, our GPS devices.  I figured out the way all on my own. Damn I’m good. ~laugh~ We scooted through the town of Deming to Auto Tech  arriving at 9:10 am. Jerry the fella behind the desk took us right in to change the fuel filter with an original GM filter (He assured us yesterday). They even checked out an annoying noise that occurs when we travel rough roads or manage to hit a bump. The noise is a spring, not broken or out of place just noisy. The total bill was $128 USD. I thought that wasn’t too bad. The service was quick, courteous and informative. Jerry has lived in the area most of his life and gave us a few ideas of things to see, places to go, etc. 

Some of the bigger pottery pieces

Leaving there we headed for the Deming Mimbres Armory Museum. We found it with little difficulty. Don’t be fooled by the front doors which were gated, the entrance is around the side and down the stairs. We were greeted by a very nice volunteer that gave us a small glimpse of what the museum holds and was able to drop a couple of well known historical names of people that passed through this area. I found that to be very cute. ~laugh~ 

This doll survived the Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan

When asked to sign the guest book, Riley chuckled as she looked over my shoulder, it asked how I’d heard about the museum, I simply filled in : Another Canadian. Thanks George and Suzie. (Our Awesome Travels) The lady looked kind of questioningly at Riley when she chuckled and since she already knew we were Canadian I explained my ‘how did you hear of us’ answer to her. She laughed along with Riley. 

North Bay's Dionne Quints also are in this doll display

It is an amazing place. Truly with a number of very interesting things to see, we started with the local area and the dolls first. The local area didn’t hold a lot of interest for us but it was well covered with pictures of various peoples.

Riley offered to do the laundry!!

The doll room was truly something to see. I couldn’t begin to guess how many dolls might be in that room. Hand sewn, porcelain, plastic, etc. Dolls of all races and backgrounds, shapes, colours, sizes and gender. There is a doll there that was picked up after the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and brought back to the USA. It is still intact and an interesting addition to the display. The Dionne Quints from North Bay, Ontario also made an appearance in this museum. 

1883 Navy Colt, .36 Cal pistol

We moved on through the museum taking in displays of pottery, clothing, furniture, appliances, medical advances, dental equipment, barber shop equipment, as well as some old vehicles including a horse drawn hearse, buggies, sleigh, and a few old automobiles as well. The chuck wagon and western displays  were well done, with numerous saddles, chaps and hats hanging around as well. 

City of Rocks sign in the park

It took us about an hour and half to get through and we didn’t take long to look at any  one display as there is just too much to take in on one visit. It was truly an enjoyable way to spend the morning. 

Love the hole up there.

We dropped into Walmart to pick up a few things, and realizing that tomorrow is Thanksgiving we think it will be a day around the park since pretty much everything will be closed. We may just not get to do much more sight seeing here as time is running out. Just more reason to come back another time. 

This fella was very still.

Today for lunch I had a large garden salad with some chopped chicken tossed in. Riley had chicken and a few little finger foods on the side. We cheated and bought the chicken at Walmart. 

Love this cactus

The camp host Bob and his wife Ruth came by to ask if I had a reservation for my site and how long I was staying. I had mentioned before that we had no paper work because we had reserved on line and was assured we didn’t need any. It seems the computer print out of reservations doesn’t have me listed on it. I showed them my confirmation letter which stated I’m here until Saturday 25, 2017 and they were happy. Said they’d mark it in the calander. They told me they didn’t need to see it but I felt better knowing they KNEW I have a right to the spot. A lot of folks are looking for electric sites for the long weekend. Later talking to Bob and Ruth I was told I was on the print out for yesterday but not today. I’m also on line at the Reserve America site but not on their print outs here at the park. They’ve fixed it by hand writing me in and telling everyone that needs to know we do have a reservation.

Noticed this water fountain in Deming

We noticed a camper parked in one of the boon docking spots when we made it home after our morning out. He packed up and moved into the spot beside us, and was starting to set up when the camp host had to tell him to move as the site was reserved. I see he has returned to the boon docking site.

A stroll around the park netted us about an hours worth of exercise and today we stuck to the road all the way. It appears about 1/2 of the boon docking sites are taken now. 

Sitting outside in my shorts and t’shirt at 3:45 pm enjoying the sunshine but thinking I should put on a shirt as the slight breeze can be a bit chilly, but I’m comfy where I am and have no desire to move. I truly am lazy. ~laugh~ 

I’m currently reading a book by Scot Turow, The Burden of Proof,  it’s very slow and I’m having a hard time getting into it. I may just chuck it for something more lively. I’ll give it one more try and see if I do any better. 

The park is filling up with the weekend approaching, the sound of children can be heard among the rocks. It’s nice to hear them having fun.

Always pink sky in the east at sunset.

I interrupted writing this post to go out for sunset pictures. I can tell you they weren’t very inspiring. No clouds tonight and so the sun simply sank with a bit of a light show but nothing too major. It was still nice though.

Nice among the rock formations here.

I wandered around the upper garden (by the boon docking area) waiting for some light show and managed to find some new cactus there.

A nice glow in the sky.

Chatted with Bob, Ruth and Ruby (14 year old deaf dog) as they strolled off to see if they could get a good look at the sun set too. 

About the best of the pics tonight

Back home, had a shower and settled down to edit pictures and finish my post. Confirmed our reservations for the upcoming move on Saturday, so we’re all set. It’s been a good day. 

Ruth, Ruby and Bob catching the sunset.

Not an exciting day, but definitely an interesting one. Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment.

Until next time…be safe, take care…

Deb

A lazy sort of day, just keeping warm....

Our Location: AOK Campground, Amarillo, Texas


(yesterday's post)

A cold night with small sounds against the roof off and on thru the night, not snow but freezing rain or sleet perhaps. The cold, dull days are starting to wear on me and I’m for just packing up and pushing on tomorrow even if the weather man says it’s going to warm up and be sunny. I would suggest we go today but it’s too cold for me to pack up all of the outside as my hands would give me trouble for hours and driving that way wouldn’t be fun. So we’ll stay put today, stay inside and have a very lazy day.  After talking with Miss Riley I guess we'll chance the weather man for another day or two. We're going to pull out on Friday and head for Roswell, NM.

We have been searching the New Mexico area and I believe we will alter our original plan and strike out away from I-40 West, head south toward Roswell, NM, for a few days. From there I think we'll follow George and Suzie of 'Our Awesome Travels ' and head along US 380 to I-25 south. From there we'll check out the Deming, NM area for a few days too. Resting in the warmth is much more fun than resting in the cold.  We are in no hurry to reach the Arizona area but those warm temps are calling my name and just laughing at me being stuck back here in the cold on the Texas Panhandle. ~laugh~

Although for all my whining I will say I’m happy to be where I am and glad I’m not back in Ontario, Canada. The weather there doesn’t look too nice at all. A weather alert popped up on my phone for the Manitowaning area, or maybe Manitoulin Island in general, I didn’t check. Rain and snow flurries turning to snow with an accumulation of about 5cm or 2”. Doesn’t sound like much but that stuff could be the first of the stuff that stays all winter and it’s too early for that kind of crap. ~laugh~

The day continued to cold, never reaching more than 47F /8.3C with a chilly wind blowing. We made it to the office to pay for two more nights, and the dumpster to leave a deposit, I dumped the tanks and that was it for the day. We pretty much read, watched some movies, and rested for the remainder of the day. 

Sorry I was late getting this post out but well, you know how it is, some days it goes well, some days it doesn't. ~laugh~ Bet you can guess which one it was!!

No pics today, sorry but since we stayed inside most of the day there wasn't much to take pictures of. 

Thanks for stopping by, until next time...be safe, take care...