Day 14 – Colorado Springs to Douglas WY – 314 miles

It was another travel day, rather uneventful except for a few things. We actually saw a herd of 8 camels in Wyoming. Camels in Wyoming? There were also some elk along the way. It was wide open spaces and beautiful. I was also impressed with the gates that would close off the interstate highway, we are assuming for snow or high winds. And we saw some belted Galloway cows (oreo cookie cows) which were black with a wide white band around their middle. There was also the best town name of the trip so far, Chugwater WY. I put some of those photos on the West Photos link to the left.

We arrived at Douglas WY KOA campground. The staff was fussing about it being the hottest day of the season. It was 92 when we pulled in at 3:30. The sun is a killer, but it isn’t so bad in the shade, and it is going to cool down into the 50s tonight. The humidity is only 15%.

Day 13 – Santa Fe to Colorado Springs – 310 miles

After 5 good days in Santa Fe, we are on the road again. It was a pleasant and uneventful drive to the KOA at Fountain CO. It is a large KOA. The sites are not that pretty, but we pulled in, got settled about 3:30. We are having some problems with our hot water heater, so I took a nice, long hot shower in the KOA showers. At 4:30 we headed to the home of Terry and Cindy Roach. Bill and Terry grew up in Salem together. The Roaches live on a small ranch up in the mountains east of Colorado Springs. We had a good dinner and a nice time before we headed back here to the RV. I did post 6 new photos in the West Photos link.

Day 12 – Santa Fe

It was a cloudy day, but beautiful in Santa Fe. We did some laundry this morning. Cains picked us up at noon, and we stopped at Trader Joe’s for picnic items and took off for Aspen Vista Picnic Area a little northeast of Santa Fe. The scenery was once again beautiful – this time through pine/aspen forests. It got much cooler and started to rain a bit, but it stopped long enough for us to have a picnic. I put a few more photos up on the West Photos link. We came back to the RV and rested a bit before we went to Cains for dinner. After dinner Kenny showed us all the photos of the remodel on the Fairhope house. That was quite impressive. We got back to the RV at 11. Tomorrow we head out for Colorado Springs. On the road again after a great visit with Nancy and Ken.

Day 11 – Santa Fe

Today was a day of incredible scenery. Cains picked us up at 10:30 and off we went to Los Alamos. Driving up there, I couldn’t begin to capture how beautiful the scenery and geology were. We had lunch in Los Alamos at a Thai restaurant, Lemongrass, and then we went to the Bradbury Science Museum. We saw a neat film about the laboratories there. Then we drove to Valles Caldera. This is a huge caldera. As we came around through the forest, we saw a breath-taking valley called Valle Grande. It was a huge open grassland. Far in the distance were a couple of herds of elk. We drove on down into the valley to the visitors’ center. It was just an amazing area. What a wonderful treat! I have put more photos in the West Photos link of this great day!

Day 10 – Santa Fe

Today was a nice, pleasant day with the Cains. We hung out here at the RV relaxing until we left at 11 for Nancy and Kenny’s. They took us to the Club at Las Campanas for lunch. I had a really good hamburger. Then it was time for Bill and Kenny to play golf. I put a couple of photos of the golf outing on the West Photos. Nancy and I followed around in another golf cart The course was beautiful, and the boys seemed to have fun golfing. It was not too warm, and there was a nice breeze. We all quit after 9 holes and went back to their house to relax for a bit. Then it was home to the RV. We had a light dinner, and now it is time for bed.

Day 9 – Santa Fe

It was a pleasant day that turned into a really hot afternoon. The sun here is a killer. We left the RV park at 10, catching a city bus right across the street. We got all day passes for only a $1 each – senior rate! It took about 20 minutes to get to the Plaza. We wandered around a little bit and went to brunch at Café Pasquals. We got right in despite reading about long lines. Bill had a chorizo burrito and I had a breakfast quesadilla. Mine was quite delicious. They also had some yummy looking strawberry jam on the table so we ordered some toast. The toast was amazing whole grain bread that they make on site.

Stuffed, we walked to Loretto Chapel which has the “miraculous” stairway. What makes it miraculous is that it is 20 ‘ high and makes two complete revolutions with only the support from the floor and the balcony. It was a pretty church with a lovely rose stained-glass window. From there we walked next door to the Trolley stop to get the 12:00 tour of Santa Fe. It was full, and we appeared to be the youngest ones on the trolley. We had an hour and a half tour of Santa Fe, Canyon Road where all the art galleries are, and Museum Hill where many museums are located. It was just a tad bit too hot for both of us. We got some water on our return and tried to rehydrate.

We took the city bus back to the RV park and cooled off. All the electrical systems seem to be working. After a break we went to Wal-Mart to fill up our water jugs, but they had no filling center. Boo!! At night it cools down to a delightful temperature, so we can sit outside and relax.

More photos have been posted. Click on the West Photos link to the left.

Day 8 – Tucumcari to Santa Fe 177 miles

It was a very eventful day. We started off easy enough. Bill went to the KOA breakfast and got some pancakes, sausage, and coffee. I had my oatmeal, and we headed off for Santa Fe. It was a pretty day, and the drive through New Mexico was pretty. We made it to the Trailer Ranch in Santa Fe about 1pm. We checked in and the hosts gave us the name of a guy that would look at the air conditioner. He was out here quickly with his two helpers. It wasn’t the air-conditioner at all. They took the cover off the circuit breaker panel (which is at the end of the bed). They also took the cover off the wiring next to it and found charred wires. We could have gone up in smoke and flames. They rewired that and also checked our power cable and tightened some things there. Everything worked great after that! Really scary, but we came out okay, minus $110. A bargain for our lives.

Then we took off for cousin Nancy and Kenny’s place. They have an amazing home way, way out in the boonies on a golf course. We got lost, and Kenny came to rescue us. We chatted for some time, had a lovely dinner on their patio with a view of the golf course and the desert landscape and mountains. At 10, Kenny led us out to the main road, and we are now safely ensconced in the RV.

Day 7 – Wichita Falls to Tucumcari 329 miles

The rear air conditioner died last night. We aren’t sure what the problem is, but it should be cool at night, so we will get it looked at when we get a chance. It was a long day of driving across the nothingness that is north Texas. We were on the road at 9 and drove and drove and drove through nothingness. After Amarillo we did catch a glimpse of the Cadillac graveyard. I didn’t get a photo, but people were walking out in the fields to get close. At the New Mexico rest stop we took a break. It is a fairly new rest stop, but behind it was a dumpster spray painted with the message “No Dead Animals”. I loved that.

As we approached Tucumcari NM, storms were approaching. The big Tucumcari mountain was visible from a long way off. We made it to the Tucumcari KOA and got settled just before the storm hit. It was really windy, and the RV rocked and rolled a bit, but no harm done.

After the storm passed we drove into Tucumcari to drive that part of old Route 66. Lots of motels and gift shops and restaurants are still operating. I took some photos, and we came back to the RV. The KOA delivers dinner if you sign up for it. We had, and at 6:30 our homemade pot roast was delivered. It was really quite good. Bill loved the idea of dinner delivered to the RV.

I posted a few more photos, so click on the West Photos link on the left.

Day 6 – Shreveport to Wichita Falls 323 miles

Another travel day. We were up and on the road at 8:40, stopping to get diesel. This time it was almost a fill-up, and since I know you are all curious, it was a $278 fill-up. We did get 10.5 miles per gallon, so that is one good thing. Getting around Dallas wasn’t too bad. The Formula 1 race started at noon instead of 8am, so we stopped at a rest area in nowhere Texas to have lunch. Bill watched the last half of the race, so he was happy. We are now ensconced in a nice RV park in Wichita Falls. Bill is thrilled his satellite TV is working so well. But it was almost 100 degrees when we got here.

A couple of oddities …We took a ride around a Petro truck stop, and I saw many trucks hooked up to huge dryer type vent hoses – air conditioning! It was really weird. And here at the RV park, they have a doggie walk area with 15 fire hydrants randomly placed in the area. I thought that was cute!

I have uploaded a few photos. You can click on the link to the left to see just the West photos (I will add as I take photos you might like to see) or you can check out all of my photos.

Day 5 – Hattiesburg to Shreveport 397 miles

We were up at 6, got breakfast, packed up, and were out at 7:40. The road to our campsite went over a spillway. Bill just about choked every time we went over it, so I got a picture that I will post along the way. We really had no trouble getting to Shreveport. We took a couple of rest area breaks and got here at 3. The Shreveport KOA where we had reservations had a no vacancy sign out. There is a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses here which is why the park is full. Another reason to be glad we made reservations all along the way for this trip.

After we set up, we headed off in the Tracker to Barksdale AFB for old time’s sake. The big difference was that all the Capehart housing in our area had been torn down. What is left are three blocks of beautiful greens. The big houses that we lived in are now historic and well cared for. We drove around and then went to check out where Draughon Business College used to be. I also mentioned a barbeque place that was near but I couldn’t remember the name. After I got my photo of what was once Draughon, we found the barbeque spot, Podnuh’s Barbeque, and stopped for dinner. We used to get our baked beans and potato salad here for all of our parties. I got the brisket, beans, and potato salad, and it was every bit as good as we had remembered. I saved enough to bring home for a sandwich tomorrow. What a treat!!

The KOA here has two sites across from us – the deluxe sites – that have a huge hot tub and a large gas grill at each site. They also have wrought iron porch furniture instead of picnic tables at all sites. Not a bad campsite, and we are 10 miles west of Shreveport which will give us a head start tomorrow. Best of all, according to Bill, is that the satellite works here. He is torn between leaving tomorrow and watching a Formula 1 race at 8am.

Day 3 and 4 – Paul Johnson State Park MS

We came to Hattiesburg to visit with my Shreveport friend Susan and her family. The State Park campground left a bit to be desired. When we first arrived and drove to the assigned site, it was like a short ski slope that we never could have gotten the RV in. So it was back to the office where we were given several sites to choose from. Bill backed the RV into a rather tight slot like he had been doing this for years. We got to spend a nice visit with Susan on both days along with her son and youngest daughter and son-in-law. Bill went to the Military Museum at Camp Shelby while Susan and I went to Laurel to see her mom. We all ate out Thursday and Friday nights and had a great time. And Thursday night I finally slept in a bed for the first time in over 3 weeks. The ribs are healing!

Day 2 - Commerce Ga to Eutaw AL

After being really hot yesterday, it was 64 degrees when we got up this morning. I can deal with that. It was another travel day – 306 miles. No peach water towers, but we are now at Jennings Ferry Campground which is one of the nicest campsites we have ever had, and it is only $18 a night. Check it out here, and click on site 10 to see where we are. We got in about 3 (thanks to a time change), set up electricity and water, and took a walk around. There are only a few campers here, but it supposedly fills up completely on the weekends.

Day 1 - Travel Day

We are on the road. Today was a travel day – 346 miles from Raleigh to Commerce Georgia. I am healing from two broken ribs suffered 3 weeks ago when I slipped on some gravel at the RV and fell hard on my right side. The first two weeks were quite painful, but I am starting to heal and hopefully in a couple of weeks will be back to normal.

The only exciting thing today was the water tower at Gaffney SC. It is shaped like a peach, and you can read all about it here.

Schedule for the Trip West

Here is the tentative itinerary for the Westward Ho! trip. The dates are the nights we will be in each campground. Single nights are usually just a travel stop for the night.

June 17...............Country Boys RV - Commerce GA

June 18..............Jennings Ferry St Campground - Akron AL

June 19-20........Paul B Johnson State Park - Hattiesburg MS

June 21..............Shreveport KOA - Shreveport LA

June 22..............Wichita Falls RV Wichita Falls TX

June 23..............Tumcumcari KOA NM

June 24-28........Trailer Ranch RV Park - Santa Fe NM

June 29..............Colorado Springs KOA CO

June 30..............Douglas KOA WY

July 1-9.............Mt Rushmore/Hill City KOA SD

July 10-11.........Devils Tower KOA WY

July 12-13.........Hardin MT KOA

July 14-29.........Yellowstone Holiday RV Camp West Yellowstone MT

Jul 20-Aug 10...Mt Meadow Campground Hungry Horse MT

Aug 11-13..........Malmstrom AFB Famcamp Great Falls MT

Aug 14...............Mountain Acres Campground Lewistown MT

Aug 15-17..........Red Trail Campground Medora MT

Aug 18-19.........Bismarck KOA ND

Aug 20..............Lindenwood Campground Fargo ND

Aug 21...............Stony Creek RV Osseo WI

Aug 22-24........Brother John’s driveway Converse City WI

Aug 25-26........Wesley Manor Parking Lot Frankfort IN

Aug 27-28.........Salem IN

Aug 29-30.........travel home