Day 15 - March 31, 2008

The Big Adventure has come to a halt for the moment. We lined up for emergency service at Sunland RV @ 7:45 am. It has been determined that our air conditioning problem is a compressor (not good). However, it is still under warranty so that is good news. Hopefully, they will ship it tomorrow. The arrival date has not been determined yet. Should have that information tomorrow morning. So, we will stay here in Las Cruces for several more days.

Las Cruces is a lovely city so we do not mind the delay. There are lots of things to see and do. The people are very friendly and the weather is awesome. This campground is really nice. When we checked in yesterday they had homemade chocolate chip cookies. Each morning they have a great breakfast bar and also a complimentary USA Today. If we are still here on Friday, they have a margarita party. So, this is a good place to wait for service.

We ate lunch today at an awesome Mexican restaurant - Adele. We also met several local people there and they gave us lots of good ideas for sight seeing.

Day 14 - March 30, 2008

We have deviated from our schedule as our air conditioning needs to be serviced. Rather than staying in Alamogordo, NM we are staying in Las Cruces, NM in a 5 star campground. We will be lining up for emergency service tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. But as for today, we started our touring with Organ Mountains. Then we went to White Sands National Monument. It is truly a wonder of the world. Words cannot explain how awesome it is to see miles and miles of pure white sand dunes. There were even people who had saucer type things which would "sled" down the sand dunes. White Sands is truly an amazing sight. Then we went on to Cloud Canyon, NM. The town is at 8,700' elevation so we climbed a bit to get up there. We had some great BBQ for a late lunch.

Camp site at our "Ritz Carlton" campground

Organ Mountains - named for resemblance to a pipe organ

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

Me on one of the dunes at White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

View from Vista Tunnel

Restaurant we ate lunch at in Cloudcroft, NM

Day 13 - March 29, 2008

Today we leave Texas. It was been quite an experience. Big Bend was truly awesome but it is so remote. The nearest Wal Mart is 180 miles away. I have attached some typical West Texas real estate. There is no grass down here - every thing is dirt and you must have at least one junk car in your yard. We stopped in Las Cruces, New Mexico as we are hoping to get our air conditioner fixed on Monday at the RV place here. We stopped at a "Ritz Carlton" campground - really fancy!!!

Border Patrol Check Point West Texas real estate
More West Texas real estate

Day 12 - March 27, 2008

Our second day at Big Bend National Park. We started the day with a great lunch at Chisos Lodge. We had a fantastic view of "The Window" as we ate lunch. We hiked the Chisos Basin Trail. It was really spectacular. Then we drove to the eastern boundary of the park and hiked the Boquillas Canyon Trail. Man it sure was windy down there. All you had to do was look across the river and there was Mexico. There were a couple of little displays asking for donations but it was clearly stated at the beginning of the trail that if you purchased any goods from Mexicans you could be fined.

Appetite Hill - when the CCC workers were building the Chisos Lodge and they complained about the food, they were told to climb this hill and then they would be hungry for the food that was supplied.

National Geographic here I come!!!

We braved the Mountain Lion warning on this hike.

"The Window"

Casa Grande Mountain

Mexico is just right passsed the Rio Grande River.

Boquillas Canyon

The Rio Grande River. Mexico is on the far side of the river.

Day 11 - March 27, 2008

We left Ft. Davis and headed to Big Bend National Park. Along the way we went through the city of Marfa which had a very neat old style courthouse. The scenery along the way looked like a John Wayne movie. In fact, the movie Giant was filmed in this area. We arrived in Presidio, Texas and stayed at the Loma Paloma campground. Then we headed to the incredible Big Bend National Park. We hiked several trails. The most awesome sight of the day was the Santa Elena Canyon. If you ever get a chance, visit this park and be sure to hike the Santa Elena Canyon Trail. It was truly a memorable sight to see.

One of the many mountains at Big Bend National Park

Sotol Vista Overlook

Burro Messa P0uroff - The pour off is a long, narrow chute that is usually dry, but the extensive cut gives testimony to the power of rushing water after a heavy summer rain. Basically this is where a waterfall will be after a summer rain.

Mule Ears

Tuff Canyon

Is it Indian Jones or is it someone from National Geographic?

Hiking the Santa Elena Canyon Trail

The fantastically awesome Santa Elena Canyon!!!

Day 10 - March 26, 2008

We started the day off right with a good ol' ranch hand breakfast at the Prude Ranch. Then I went on a trail ride. Wow, it certainly wasn't like the trail rides at Disney World. We went up and down dry creek beds - all those rocks and elevations. I was holding onto the saddle for dear life. Next we drove on the 72 mile Davis Mountain Scenic Route - beautiful mountains and prairies. The town of Ft. Davis is the highest town in Texas!! Then we toured the Ft. Davis Historic Site. The fort is very well preserved. The Fort Davis Retreat Parade Sound Program was awesome - made you feel like the cavalry was right there today. Fort Davis was established in 1854. We then went on an adventurous hike up the mountain at the fort. We had some great views from the top of the mountain. Last but not least we went to the Davis Mountains State Park & Indian Lodge and had some delicious fajitas at the Black Bear Restaurant. At dusk we saw some mule deer and javalinas (they look like wild pigs).

Our Camp site at the Historic Prude Ranch at Ft. Davis, Texas

Trail Ride on "Blue Moon"

Davis Mountain Scenic Loop Drive.

Check out these views!!!!!

Wow, did I really hike up that mountain??????

Dinner at the Black Bear Restaurant at Ft. Davis State Park. We had some delicious fajitas!!

Day 9 - March 25, 2008

Today was a big travel day - 413 miles from San Antonio to Ft. Davis, Texas. Man, Texas is a big state. It is quite amazing when your GPS doesn't show a turn for 336 miles.

In the evening we went to the McDonald Observatory. This was awesome. We had a great show on astronomy. The moderator pointed out several constellations. Also we saw satellites going across the sky and meteorites. This is one of the best viewing areas in the whole world as the skies are so dark here. We even got to look through telescopes at Saturn and galaxies. What an amazing evening!!!!

Day 8 - March 24, 2008

We had a great visit today with Frank's Army buddy - Larry Lewis. What a special day that we spent with Larry!! We had a very nice lunch with Larry and his mom. Then Larry took us to the BX and commissary at Lackland Air Force Base. Larry had to get used to shopping with a female - you know how we love to spend money and look at almost everything in the store.

It was wonderful day in San Antonio to be with a good friend. Thanks Larry for a great lunch and a good time.

Day 7 - March 23, 2008

Travel day from Broussard, LA to San Antonio, TX. Nice flat drive = good gas mileage. That is important when you are getting about 6 mpg on the coach. It is quite a shock when you are the eastern border of I-10 and the mileage marker is 888 miles. Wow, this is a big state!!!

T Day 6 - March 22, 2008

This day was devoted to Eunice, LA - the Cajun equilavent to the Grand Ol' Oprey. What an experience!!. The admission to the show was only $5.00 and the popcorn and cokes were only $1.00 each. These prices and the stroll around the town made us feel like we were back in the 1940's. The show was Cajun (of course) and I did not realize that the moderator and the singers would all speak french (Mike where are you when I need you). The locals would do a two step to the music. This was truly a heart warming experience. Wow, let's all forget the stress of today and just go back and do a Cajun two step.

Day 5 - March 21, 2008

This was a very busy touring day. We started with Avery Island. The azaleas were in full bloom and it was totally awesome. The majestic live oak trees were incredible.

The nesting areas at Bird City were something to behold. Next we went on a tour of the Tabosco factory. I even sampled hot and spicy ice cream.

Then it was on to New Iberia,LA to tour an old plantation - Shadows on the Teche. Last but not least we saw the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Evangeline and her old tree.

Day 4 - March 20, 2008

We started off with a fantastic lunch at Mulate's. Ummm, Umm we had some great Cajun food.

Our next stop was the Acadianna Park Nature Center. Really good trails and a fantastic boardwalk.

Went to Acadia Cultural Center. We saw great exhibits and an outstanding film about how the people were forced out of Nova Scotia and many came to Louisiana.

Day 3 - March 19, 2008

Drove from Mobile to Broussard, LA. Very windy and rainy travel. Another boo boo on campground choice. Be sure to go to http://www.maxiescampground.com/ and compare to the attached picture.

Day 2 - March 18, 2008 Next stop is Mobile, AL. The highlight of Mobile was staying with Frank's high school buddy, Robert Moore. What a treat!! Robert has still maintained his independent spirit. As you can see from the images above, Robert is still a wonderful independent spirit. The picture with the clothes pin is what Robert plans to wear to the election polls as he thinks all the candidates stink. Robert frequently wears his signs on street corners or election places - as he says those other folks hand out their brochures, he is just wearing his brochure. Thank you Robert and Diane for all your hospitality and the strengthening of an old friendship