The view from the Courthouse Loop Trail, south of Sedona, AZ., 3/12 @ 1:00 p.m. +/-

We left the frozen Santa Fe camp and took the scenic route along the Turquoise Trail to Albuquerque. Tried to see the Tinkertown Museum, but it was closed for the season. We had not counted on winter..the “season”. Luckily, the campgrounds have opened a day or so before we arrived.Albu. was great fun. We toured the old town Friday afternoon and had Slappy Hour and dinner at the High Noon Cafe, dating back to 1850, Billy the Kid killed nobody here either. Saturday was an easy day, more cruising through Old Town Albu.

Sunday was a long day. Andrea went to church at this beautiful place in west Albu. then the long drive to Holbrook, AZ. We crossed the Continental Divide and had lunch at the El Rancho Hotel, in Gallup, NM. The blue laws are in full force there…the whole town ( a tourist mecca) was locked up tight on a Sunday afternoon.

Monday was a glorious day… we spent the whole day touring the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert. Beautiful!! We are at the midway point of the Walkabout…6350 miles, 7.5 weeks, 13 states, 20 campsites, 2,543 smiles, 6 wrong turns (ha!), it just gets better each day.

Gidday.

J&A

Photo is Friday, 3/7 , at dawn.

Midway through the Walkabout. We are camped in Hollbrook, AZ having spent ten days in New Mexico, the Enchanted State, Route 66, America’s Main Street, the Mother Road. We camped in Santa Fe on the Historic stretch of Rt 66, before it was moved south in 1937, beginning a week of following the path of so many others westward.

We took the “low road” to Taos, along the Rio Grande gorge. Who whadda thought that the Grand River had a source this far north? Taos was cool, lunch at the Apple Tree and shopping, then along the “high road” through Carson National Forest back home.

We woke to a beautiful, sunny morning. Had to sleep in, too many long days of driving. We spent the afternoon in Santa Fe, time at the Institute of American Indian Art and a fun dinner at Harry’s Roadhouse. Thursday we spent at the Georgia O’Keffee Art Museum , Andrea is fond of her flowers, and then at the Miraculous Stairway.

Friday dawned 8F with 4″ of snow! We had to chip away the ice & snow & then head south along the Turquoise Trail to Albuquerque. We are having a great time. Lot’s of driving through some amazing places. What a country!

Keep those cards & letters coming!

J&A

We camped at the Seven Rivers Campground. The town was first settled in 1582 by the Spanish and had a very colorful history. Billy the Kid took refuge here for a time and didn’t kill anyone while here. The town was submerged under the Brantley Reservoir in the 1960’s. We toured the Carlsbad Caverns, truly spectacular! The weather has been fine, low in the 30’s but high to low 80’s.

Sunday was a very long day. We left for a day trip early; to Roswell so that Andrea could go to church. After, we toured the International UFO Museum and Research Center. What a hoot! Then a long drive over the mountains near El Capitain to Alamogordo to visit the White Sands National Monument. A severe wind storm was brewing so we couldn’t see much. A long drive home over “Big Hill”, started at 4500 ft above sea level, peaked at 8750 and then back down to 3300. All in about 26 miles. By the time we got back to camp in the desert the winds were blowing probably 40mph.

A winter storm is headed our way!

J&A

A new month On the Road.  Still no sign of Jack Kerouac.

After our one night stand in Junction, TX, we continued along I-10, trying to make it through Texas before the end of the decade.  On the 27th we pushed on along the flat, dusty and dry landscape. There were hundreds of windmills along the plateau.  This was once an inland sea and it is clear from the layers of sedimentary deposits, with the occasional “tower” that refused to wear down.  Arrived in Ft Stockton in the mid afternoon.  A very busy camp, 200 miles from nowhere in each direction.  Massive “motor coaches” rumbling in until dusk.

Thursday, 2/28, is a lay-day.  No travel, except for Jim to go into town to have the van serviced.  More than 4,500 miles so far so we need an oil change and tire rotation.  Got pictures of the largest road runner (the bird that is), gas ‘er up and get beer for the road. A hike along the Six Shooter Trail (see the pic).

Finally off I-10 and headed north along 285 to Pecos.  For those who care it’s pronounced Pay-kus.  Visited the West of the Pecos Museum, a fabulous gem, complete with markers on the floor of the old saloon where two men died in a shootout.  We arrived n Carlsbad at 2pm, changed the clocks and suddenly it was 1pm Mountain Time. Texas, 7 days, many miles, and not one compassionate conservative to be found.

For those who know Andrea’s 5 symbolism, we are nearing the 5,000 mile mark.  Sometime early Sunday morning raise a glass, or a cup as you wish, to this milestone.

On to the Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell, and …….

J&A

Here’s a shot from New Orleans.

We are camped in Junction TX, on the edge of the desert. The overnight low was 20F. Winter is still upon us.

By the by:  We have corrected our difficulties with the Epix account, so the jaharris3@epix.net email address is good to go.

J&A

Here’s a photo of Buddy keeping an eye on things from his perch in the van, while we were camped in San Antonio, TX.

We headed further west from New Orleans and stopped one night in Lafayette, LA. Drove through some heavy rain along Rt 10. On Friday we arrived in the outskirts of Houston. We are making much better time, but seeing little of America, now that we are using Interstate 10 as our principal route. Houston was hot and windy.

On Saturday we toured the Space Center Houston, more amusement park-like than Kennedy Space Center. Got to touch a sample of moon rock. Had lunch in a cute town called Kemah on Galveston Bay. Our final experience with the Gulf of Mexico. Houston traffic is unbearable.

Sunday dawned foggy but when the sun burned it off it was downright beautiful. Making great time on I-10, so we stopped for a two hour (businessman’s) lunch at Palmetto State Park. A CCC camp with very dramatic architecture, and trees filled with big, ugly buzzards.

We have developed a fairly comfortable style of living.  We have improved/streamlined the system of making and breaking camp and evenings are quiet.  Radio reception has been spotty but it seems that most everywhere has the  “Boomer” radio station. Andrea has been very creative in making a variety of lunch meals for the road.  Evenings in Texas are cool though the days have been warm/hot.

Cheers!

J&A

Andrea hunting ‘gators in the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi.

Next , the “Big Easy” – New Orleans. We are now in uncharted territory. After two weeks in Florida, we passed through Mississippi and camped in Fontainbleau State Park on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. A beautiful park, still somewhat devestated by Katrina. We had a wonderful sunset that included a photo-op of an great horned owl chick being fed by big momma ( I guess that this could also be a catch line for Bourbon Street act). Magnificent live oak trees resplendent with Spanish Moss (which neither Spanish nor moss).
We crossed the Lake P. Causeway – all 26 miles of it – and then did a walking tour of the Garden District. The homes are beyond belief. Stopped at the Thomas Mann Gallery. Thomas was in Baltimore! Then on to the French Quarter. Late in the afternoon the rain came and chased us in – to a bar! Go figure. Dinner at Commander’s Palace, a big night out for us campers. A four star eatery, with superlative service by Charlie – a very smooth young man who enjoyed his job as a waiter but had much bigger plans.

Today, we started the western jaunt and hit some very heavy rain as we passed Baton Rouge. Camping tonight in Lafayette, resting for the big push through Texas.

This is what retirement is all about.   Finally we had a chance to enjoy one of the country’s top 15 campgrounds,  great weather, and TIME to slow down and relax.   Jim was not struggling here.  The sand was so white it looked like snow….but it  wasn’t !  We boogied on over to Ole Miss thru some super cells of weather…so scary and the next thing closer would have been a tornado !…past Mobile and  a real good time in Ocean Springs, Miss.  What a sweet town !  Today’s drive brought us to Fontainbleau, La………….We go into New Orleans on Wed…..looking for Thom Mann’s shop amongst all the culture and gardens  and food.  Hugs to you all, A & J.

Finally back to the computer after a week off. On Monday, 2/11, we had the good fortune of finding the RV Medic. He was camped next to us in Ocala. He rebuilt the electric panel and sent us on our way. A long drive along the Big Bend, Route 98 travels in two directions, west and south. We were searching for some beach time along the North Gulf, to no avail.

Perry, FL is “good ol’ boy ” country. Obey those speed limits, there’s a “smokey” behind every tree. You can buy your liquor via the drive thru. A pint of whiskey, and a cup of ice for an extra $.25. Had lunch on Tuesday at the St Mark’s Cantina. We are beginning to see the damage from Katrina.

Wednesday, 2/13, we departed early for Destin, FL. Henderson Beach State Park. The most beautiful beach this side of Maui. The sand was very fine and snow white. This is by far the most beautiful campsite yet. Bob & Vern Smith are staying nearby. We had a wonderful dinner on Friday.

On Thursday Andrea got to wear her Hard Rock “pin” vest at the local HRC and got a great reception. We also had Saturday night dinner at the original Hog’s Breath Cafe. Our friends from Key West are familiar with the cafe there. On our last night we took a long “midnight” walk along the beach. Didn’t want to leave.

Yesterday, 2/17, was a long drive, hampered by a horrific thunderstorm, complete with tornadoes. Passed us by. Whew.

So, we’re happy to be back on line. The photo is of us visiting Walt & Betty Marriott in Ocala.

Cheers! J&A

After one more day in Canaveral, we have traveled west to Ocala to visit Andrea’s cousin, Walt and wife Betty. Finally, a day of true Florida sunshine. During our last day in Canaveral, we toured the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Saw this BIG Alligator up close.  He tried to pull himself further up on this little “island”, to no avail.  Also saw lots of Spoonbill, they fool people who think they are Flamingo.

We are having trouble with our Epix email. I think they are trying to get us to change to Frontier. If anyone needs to contact us, please try aphive5@aol.com or the cell phone. Cheers!