May 1, 2013

04/20/2013

On Wednesday we left Kerrville, jumping on I-10 and heading west to Fort Stockton, TX.  Our plans were to spend one night at the Hilltop RV Park and then move on west.  Since our plans are usually cast in Jello and subject to change at the last moment, that is exactly what happened.

After settling in at the RV park, we drove into town to fill up with fuel and to look around the booming town.  We always thought that there wasn't much to see or do in this wide spot in the road but we soon found out there is actually more to Fort Stockton than meets the eye.

Driving down Main Street, just beyond the Pecos County court house we came upon the old historic Pecos County jail.  Since it was near 5 PM and closing time we thought we might not get to look around.  However, the attendant welcomed us and then gave us a guided look around.

Built in 1883 and in use until 1975, the jail housed inmates on the second floor while the sheriff and his family lived on the first.  The second floor had no window coverings, just the bars so you can imagine what the conditions were like.  Since it was so close to closing time, we decided to stay another day and return.

 This was the bathroom before indoor plumbing.

Our first stop the next day was at the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum.  Started in 1899 and opened 1901, the hotel was first called the Koehler.  Annie purchased the building in 1904 for $5000, $3000 down and the rest on terms.  Read more about the hotel here:  http://www.rvtravelog.com/riggs.dir/riggs1.htm

After leaving the hotel, we did the Fort Stockton driving tour.  Although we didn't stop at all the "attractions", we did check out:

Pecos County Court House
Zero Stone Park
The Oldest House
St. Stephens Episcopal Church
Fort Stockton
Cemetery

So, if you are ever out in west Texas, stop in Fort Stockton and smell the roses, er….the Yucca's.

We're now parked at the Fort Bliss RV Park.  The drive wasn't bad until we got into the El Paso area where we ran into a lot of traffic.

04/21/2012

Yesterday was a cleaning day.  I worked on the outside, washing half of the rig (I'll finish that today), cleaning out the basement and our storage bins.  Joyce worked on the inside cleaning the bedroom closet and our food pantry.  We moved some food items into the basement helping to lightening the load in the large slide-out.

I got an email from Tom and Denise Worley, who we met at the Army Recreation RV Park in Destin, FL back in March.  They were here at Fort Bliss when we arrived but actually left the next morning.  They are now at Fort Huachuca, AZ., where we are headed next.  After a couple of phone conversations with Tom and Denise, we have decided to leave here one day early and met up with them there on Tuesday.

04/22/2013

Yesterday Joyce and I took a "scenic" drive up Hwy 28 from El Paso to the old town of Mesilla, NM, just southwest of Las Cruces.  I wouldn't exactly call this a scenic drive but it was interesting.  We passed numerous groves of pecan trees, several fields of onions, a few cattle ranches and a couple of wineries but other than that, there wasn't much to see.

By the time we got to Mesilla we were both hungry so we had lunch at the La Posta de Mesilla, one of several Mexican restaurants there.

04/24/2013

We left Fort Bliss around 11 AM and made the short 111 mile run up to the Low-Hi RV Ranch, about five miles south of Deming, NM.  This is a Passport America park and is owned by the Loners On Wheels, a single RV's group.  The park is all gravel but had very good 50-amp power and water pressure.

After getting unhooked, we went into Deming in search of diesel which we found at a Chevron station for $3.60 a gallon, the cheapest we have paid since leaving Oregon in August.  At the Valero right across the street they had fuel for $3.70 and out on the main drag just off the interstate the stuff was $4.07 at another Chevron.  Go figure!

We then made our way out to see what was shak'in at the Elks Lodge.  As y'all know, Joyce likes to play bingo just a little.  Well, they had bingo at 5:30 so of course she had to play and actually came out winning $90.

We'e now at Apache Flats RV Park on Fort Huachuca, NM after a easy drive from Deming.  We were greeted with smiles and hugs from our friends Tom and Denise Worley which really brightened  our day.

Tom and Denise live on an eight acre spread at 9200 feet in Divide, CO.  Tom is a retired Army Special Forces troop.  After his retirement from the Army he became a Contra Costa County, CA Deputy Sheriff, retiring from that job a couple of years ago.

Last night we had a great supper at the La Casita Mexican Restaurant in Sierra Vista.

04/25/2013

Yesterday we did some errands and shopping at the Post Exchange and Commissary.  Joyce made a delicious pulled pork supper which we shared with Tom and Denise.  Denise brought a bean salad that was outstanding and some cold slaw.

04/27/2013

On Thursday evening Joyce played bingo at the Sierra Vista Elks Lodge where she met a lot of folks, including the Exalted Ruler who invited us to come out on Friday night for dinner.  So yesterday morning we hooked up and moved to the lodge's RV park where we have 30-amp electrical and water hookups.

After getting the rig settled into our parking spot, we headed over to the old mining town of Bisbee.  From the late 1870's to 1975, there were several copper mines in operation in "the Queen of the Copper Camps".  When the price of copper fell, the last one in operation closed down.  The city is now a mecca for artists and hippies who have set up shops all over town.

After walking around the town for an hour or so, we then took a tour of the Queen Mine.  In operation from 1877 to 1975, this mine yielded huge numbers of copper, gold, silver and other minerals.

Today we made the run up I-10 to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson and are staying at their Agave Gulch Famcamp, one of the largest in the Air Force system.  With our AF Camping Book and discount coupon's, we paid for one night at $19 and got the second night free.

Awhile back Joyce and I updated our internet device from a 3G aircard to Verizon's 4G, 890L Jet Pack.  It had served us well so far however, there are times when we will be in marginal coverage areas, like at Smith Rock State Park.  To help us get a stronger signal, we ordered a Sleek Signal Booster with the home office accessories and a charging cord from 3G Store.

When I turned the Jet Pack on today we had four bars of 4G service without the Sleek connected.  After connecting the Sleek, we now have a solid five bars.  That is a good sign that this thing is going to work for us but I'm anxious to see what happens when we have only two or three bars.  That will tell the tale.

05/01/2013

On Sunday we toured Saguaro National Park, the home of America's largest cacti.  After getting out National Parks Passport stamp and watching a 15 minute video about the park, we took the 6-mile Signal Hill Loop tour.

 The beginning.

 The end.

Our stay in Tucson was nice but the temperatures are on the march north and so are we.  On Monday we hooked up early and started the 300 mile trip to Kingman, AZ.  We don't usually like to drive that much in one day but we really wanted to get through the middle of Arizona and hopefully find a tad cooler weather.

We spent one night in Kingman and then made the 290 mile run to Edwards AFB, arriving here at the Famcamp about 3:30.  We plan to spend four days here, visiting Adrian, our daugther-in-law and friends who live in Lancaster.

More later.

Barry & Joyce