Catching up

After spendin g two weeks in Tijeas, NM looking out our back window at the motor home two feet away we moved to this spot about 100 miles south of Moab UT.
Much better view. Then we spent a week in the Moab area and had a view of this
But we were staying much farther away than where this picture was taken.

It was then across UT and into Idaho for about 5 weeks in Boise visiting the grandkids. When we left Boise we took our oldest grandson, Dawson, with us to western Washington. The other two grandkids and their folks followed about 10 days later and picked Dawson up at Diablo Lake so he could spend some four wheelin time over in Twisp. Then for two nights all five of them were with us at Skagit River Woods. This is when Grayson, the youngest learned to go up stairs

Since they have left we have been busy observing the local full time inhabitants
We even had three of them trying to get into the house at the same time, that sure caused a ruckus. Then this morning we saw out our rear window two black tail deer wonder across the road and through the campground.

Will have to write more when we have regular internet access.

SNOW

Left Lakewood, NM on Thursday the 17th. Weatherman said that there would be a headwind of about 15-20 mph and if I went about 300 miles north I had a 20% chance of hitting a little snow, less than an inch. So headed off. Passed through Roswell, NM with the sun shinning and only one alien spotted. Got about 140 miles down the road, about 10 miles south of Vaughn, NM, which was the planned stopping point for the day, and things started to get damp, not with water but some snow. Lightly at first but it increased and with the wind we were close to being in a blizzard. Since there was no where to stop, there is nothing between Roswell and Vaughn except open range farms, we slowed down and kept going. Got into Vaughn at about noon and parked in a small park. Took this picture out the back window after the snow let up some.

The gravel campground road on the near side of the fence and the paved city street on the other side of the fence did not get covered. But the rest had about one and a half inches. The day before this it was about 80 or 90 degrees and the dark roads absorbed some of that heat and kept the slippery stuff off the roads. By about 3:30 pm almost all the white stuff was gone.

The next day we went farther north and did not see any more than a little snow in some of the shady spots. We arrived in Tijeras, NM (about 10 miles east of Albuquerque) and at 6,600 feet with the tempature about 60 degrees.

On Sunday April 20th we got a call from a friend in Sedro-Woolley, WA and she told us that she woke up to about five inches of snow and it was still coming down. And this was happening on the 20th of April! The day, 34 years ago, we got married. I do not recall any snow falling after the first of April the 48 years I lived in the Skagit Valley.

To "celebrate" the day we went with some people that we meet in Lakewood who were from Anacortes, WA, to old town Albuquerque. This is the site of the original town and the old buildings are currently used as stores. Albuquerque was celebrating it's 302 birthday that day. Then we went out to dinner.

We have been slowly moving across Texas. Spent a week in Pecos waiting for our mail to arrive. Then we crossed into New Mexico and are currently in Carlsbad. On Wednesday we went to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

View out over the valley from the Visitors Center at the park. We entered the cavern via the Natural Entrance. To reach the bottom it is about a mile and a half and goes down about eight hundred feet.
View down the opening.
As you can see it is a fairly steep down hill route. This route has three sets of switchbacks with a short level spot in between. Even though there are signs warning about the down hill trip Diane deceided to try it and made it all the way down. The entrance is home to lots of swallows and they can be seen flying around. Once partway into the opening you can look back at
Took lots of pictures in the cavern, some without flash to see the farther away features and some of them turned out fuzzy. they can all be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/Scubadave2000/April

After reaching the bottom Diane stayed at the snack bar and I made the mile and two tenths treak around the Great Room. This is fairly level trail that can be made by wheelchairs.

We could have taken this way down instead of walking
It is amazing what a little acid and water can do to rock!

Stopped by a little town today called Langtry, TX. Founded by a character named Judge Roy Bean and named after his supposed sweetheart, Lilly Langtry. She never even visited Langtry until a year after Judge Bean died. Judge Bean made his fame and fortune by doing such things as sponsoring a fight that was illegal in TX. But when the Rangers showed up they could do nothing because the fight was being held on the south side of the Rio Grande. He was also known for recessing court proceedings to tend to his other interest, the Saloon and Billiard Hall

This is the second Saloon as the first one burnt down. The first one was also Judge Bean's home.




No swinging doors on this Saloon.


Second half of the building, Billiard Hall entrance around the cornor to the right. No entry from the Bar?


Can't stay away from the Bar!


View from the Bar.



This is a copy of the House and Courthouse Judge Bean built after the fire. It is only one room.

On the Road Again

On this last Tuesday we meet up with Diane's cousin Norman in Hidalgo. He was dropping a load of produce at the terminal and had to wait until all the proper paperwork came through and he could drop the trailer. After talking for a couple of hours we left him there. On Friday we moved out of Mission and spent the night in Zapata. Small park on Falcon Lake. Suppose to be a national bass fishing tourney there starting the day I am writing this. On Saturday we moved to Crystal City. Home of the Spinach Festival and it even has a statue of Popeye in the center of town. The park is actually 3 miles out of town on the Nueces River.

These ducks were just ahead of the spot we were given for the night. A little ways behind us is the Nueces River.

In the center of this shot is the first deer that came out for some food and drink. It is hard to see because they blended into the background very well.


There are a couple of deer at the waters edge near the center of the picture. This was by far one of the best parks we have stayed in during our travels. Most of the sites are in the trees and a lot of them back up to the Nueces River.

Parakeet attack

Woke up the other morning to a tapping sound on the bedroom window. Looked out and saw a wild parakeet pecking on the window. It had somehow managed to land on the 3/8 ledge that is outside the windows. It soon lost it's balance and flew away. It, or another, returned two more times to do the same thing. The last couple of mornings Anne May has been coming up and staring out that window so no parakeets.

Pic of what is outside our bedroom window.


The Boganvillia has been in bloom since we have arrived here last December. Just the other side of that is
No wonder the birds like to spend time outside our bedroom.

We attended the Winter Texan Fiesta today. This is a festival put on by the Mission Chamber and if you get a ticket from the Chamber or Member then you get a free lunch. Lunch was a deli ham or turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato and cheese with a pickle and chips. They said they made 3200 bag lunches this year. Then to top it off you get to enjoy the music and some poetry from some nationally known singers and cowboy poets. While these were not the "Big" names they were people that regularly perform in Branson, MO and Nashville. Also spotted today was this Kenworth from Ontario, Canada

This rig said it was a 1969. Sure is a nice looking rig to tow a fifth wheel with.

Orchid Tree

There is an orchid tree here in the park and it has come in bloom recently.
I know that those of you that still have snow on the ground, or the threat of snow, really want to see nice flowers on a bright sunny day so.....

Went to Mexico today to get some medications. Saved over a dollar a day for the ones we bought. Also about half price for Revolution for Anne, so she can get rid of the fleas. First time on the road she has gotten fleas.