#64 Feb 2015 Cowboy Mardi Gras!

As we entered Texas we started to discover the variety of terrain in this very large state. First came the plains with mountains in the distance and increased speed limits. Ralph keeps close to 60 mph and is passed by most of the traffic. We will arrive in our own time using less fuel.

In Texas you can see forever.

Once again the overpasses are very attractive.

There is all kinds of energy production everywhere.

We booked into Kerrville TX intending to explore the history of nearby Fredericksburg. The next morning we looked at each other and said “not this time”. We have learned to recognize when we need time off from travelling and being busy. This was time to do laundry and other chores and just take it easy.

Before we left Surrey we investigated various membership RV/camping groups. Many are only useful in the US and many are too local for the amount of travel we are planning. Coast to Coast seems to fit our travel plans. The program is similar to timeshares but with a much more reasonable entry cost ($500 USD) because we used a reseller who set us up with a home park in the state of Georgia that we will likely never visit.

All of the groups have restrictions about length of stay, time of the week or season and reservations. Keith and Karen are members of Coast to Coast and gave us a better understanding about how to use the program. The parks are across the US with a few in Canada and the cost is $10 or $15 a night. Some parks are not close to points of interest but for the cost we can drive a few miles in the car rather than paying higher park fees to be close to the action. We stayed in Kerrville for 3 nights at $10 each.

Kerrville is a mid size city with grocery shopping and a good BBQ restaurant. We heard about the nearby town of Bandera (population 987), which is dubbed “The Cowboy Capital of the World”. Friday afternoon we wandered the town to see the Mardi Gras preparations. It seems the most popular activities are parades and drinking, all carried on in the streets.

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar is the centre of the action inside and outside.

There are many original buildings still in use.

The stores and restaurants all decorate with the Mardi Gras theme.

Saturday morning we packed up the RV and headed for Bandera's “Cowboy Mardi Gras Parade”. Small town parking was easy.

Many of the audience dress up and the “throwers” on the floats aim for the best dressed.

Throwing beads and treats is a serious endeavor.

Colour is the order of the day. The official colours are purple, green and gold but everything goes.

Floats are packed with throwers.

Modern riders also participate.

And the animals.

The cowboy theme draws lots of attention, after all, this is Texas.

Genuine Indian ponies and riders enjoy the attention.

Ralph was on the street catching beads while I was standing on a retaining wall catching photos.

The party continues all day.

#63 Feb 2015 Carlsbad Cavern

The next morning when we left Deming NM there was ground fog from all the rain. Eerie!

Our first stop in Texas was a truck wash. The manual one would have taken hours. The hand wash was $60, 4 people, 20 minutes and clean vehicles. Money well spent!

In the future we plan to visit the western states as far as Texas. Therefore, we chose only a few points of interest on this trip. Carlsbad Cavern was a “must see”.

We planned 2 nights in Van Horn TX at Oasis RV. This vehicle is a diesel VW Rabbit 2 door front welded to a 4 door rear (or vice versa 4 door front to 2 door rear). It was the only redeeming feature of the park, however, it is 90 miles from the Cavern and just off Interstate 10 which is most of our route across the Southern States.

It is impossible to describe or photograph Carlsbad Cavern which equals about 14 football fields. An elevator takes visitors down 750 feet. The walk around the Cavern is 1 ¼ miles and the suggested time is 1 ½ hours. We took 3 ½ hours and were euphorically exhausted at the end.

The view in this photo is ¼ mile across. If I had not taken the photo I would not understand it.

Can you see the “Cave Man” in this part of the cave?

Notice the person in the lower left of this photo. It gives some sense of perspective.

Stalagmites (might reach the ceiling) meet stalactites (hang tight to the ceiling) and become columns.

Columns may become immense and very fanciful.

The Cavern is lit by more than 1,000 bulbs and tubes, and 19 miles of wires. All of the lights are designed to reveal the cavern’s natural colours. None of the bulbs are coloured. The park is in the process of replacing the current lights with LED bulbs.

Our next overnight was in Ozoma TX and then on to Kerrville TX. As we checked in another couple arrived and asked if we were from British Columbia as they had noticed our license plate. They live in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. As we chatted the receptionist looked at us with a frown. She had no idea where British Columbia is located. We often say it is north of Seattle with similar weather. That didn’t even help.

We visited with Bruce and Cathi that evening and enjoyed sharing our experiences. Meeting new people is one of the pleasures of our travels.

#62 Feb 2015 New Territory

January 27th was Ralph’s birthday and we planned to celebrate with Keith and Karen in Tonopah AZ (about 1 hour west of Phoenix). We arrived to find Karen had the flu so we had supper with Keith and saved the dessert until Karen could enjoy it with us.

We took 2 days to catch up with laundry, shopping, etc.

Last winter we bought a hotspot and phone from Verizon in order to communicate in the US. We were very dissatisfied with their payment options and vowed to look elsewhere this year. In Washington we changed the SIM card in our Telus IPhone to AT&T. We had researched the plan in advance and the change was quick and easy.

This was our opportunity to check out the hotspot options with AT&T. We want a personal hotspot for online banking and often to upload this blog. It took several hours but we are satisfied with the results. Most RV parks advertise Wi-Fi but the quality varies dramatically. We use it when we can.

On the 29th we finally had supper and dessert with Keith and Karen and caught up with our families and travels.

On the 30th we headed for Willcox AZ for one night. That was now new territory and the real start of our next adventure.

We didn’t even see Tucson for the rain but it finally stopped as we entered New Mexico. We have heard about the damage caused by dust storms but that didn’t apply this time.

Crossing the Continental Divide in New Mexico is very different from crossing it in British Columbia. In BC there are signs with geographic information. Here it’s a tourist opportunity.

Our destination in Deming New Mexico was Hidden Valley Ranch RV Resort. It is 12 miles off the highway and the last 6 miles are gravel.

Fortunately the site was pull through as we did not want to touch anything, particularly the car and hitch.

The resort is a working ranch in the middle of the desert. Each site has a cacti and rock border.

In the evening there was entertainment by a couple who are traveling and performing cowboy music. Their mission is to preserve the cowboy music and poetry. Their little dog joins the harmony during the cowboy crooning.

You may have noticed that I am enthralled with the desert. The changing colours and shadows are endlessly fascinating.

As we went to bed I opened the door. There was complete silence and brilliant stars. No traffic, no streetlights, no music or talking. During the night I checked again and heard coyotes yipping and saw even more stars.

Words cannot convey the feeling of standing in the beauty of God’s sunrise on a new day.

When I came inside to warm up with coffee the view changed again with long shadows from the brush.

#61 Jan 2015 Back to the Desert

We arrived in Desert Hot Springs (just north of Palm Springs) in time for a beautiful sunset. Wind turbines highlight the horizon on the bottom right of the photo.

The next day we headed for Riverside to visit Uncle Bob and Auntie Gwen. They are still in their own home and managing well. Uncle Bob was 90 that week so we were able to extend Many Happy Birthdays from family. We had not seen their son Robert for decades. He stopped in unexpectedly and we had a great visit.

We knew Paul and Marg would be in Desert Hot Springs at the same time and we managed to park right beside them in Sands RV and Golf Resort. As always, we visited easily and enjoyed happy hour.

The four of us took a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Paul and Marg have been there before and pointed out the highlights.

Joshua trees grow in a very limited area of the Mojave Desert. They are unique and ancient.

The cholla cactus also grows in a very limited range.

The cholla blooms are small but beautiful.

Enjoying and appreciating the desert requires patience and a close look.

Boulders strewn and jumbled by giants dramatically display the power of nature.

It only takes a little imagination to visualize Skull Rock.

In Peace Arch Park, Surrey we became acquainted with Greg and Josie who were also in Desert Hot Springs. They have been there many times and took us on a tour of Old Palm Springs. The homes are individual and unique to the heyday of Palm Springs and the magic of the early Hollywood stars.

The Eagles based the song Hotel California on this hotel. We both enjoy The Eagles music so this stop was special.

Many roads through the desert warn about dips to allow water from sudden storms to follow its natural course.

When it does rain in the desert the water can’t soak into the hard, dry ground.

The desert shows its many colors and shapes as we travel.