The Best Drive On This Trip So Far

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We had spent the night in Tijeras just outside of Albuquerque.  It was very cold the last few days and we wanted some decent internet.  I found an rv park that seemed reasonable.  It was too cold to boondock and we wanted something comfortable.  The park I had chosen was pretty much run down but the services were good.  The manager admitted that things hadn’t been going well but the interesting part is that the place was packed.  So goes choosing an rv park off the internet. 

The next day we were headed to Springerville.  We had to do the I-40 for a short distance and it wasn’t too bad.  The winds were low and started to pick up.  We exited onto Hwy 36 towards Quemado.  What a fantastic drive through the Malpais Conservation area.  The sights were breathtaking. 

The highway wound its way down and around the rock.  The road was smooth and easy to drive the winds dying down and behind us.

We saw about 10 cars total during the drive that took us on to Springerville from Quemado.  Gas was expensive in Quemado so we got enough to get us to Springerville. 

We spent the night at a Passport America park.  When we arrived no one was there and the new thing is to use the QR code.  Good luck though should you have a problem.  The QR code connects you to a website and lists the discounts available including Good Sam, military, Taco, etc.   However, PA was not listed.  We went ahead and paid anyway and over the next few days I emailed back and forth with the owner who refunded the cost.  She said that the host must have been out running errands.  That said, it’s a sloppy way to run a business not leaving a phone number to reach the individual.  In the end it was all good. 

The next day we ran a few errands ourselves.  We had one of the propane tanks filled.  Of course the tank was expired and needed an inspection which was an additional charge.  No other choice, she ran her hand over the tank, poked it with a screwdriver on a rusty spot, bang, poke, and tap tap.  Then she put the sticker on and filled it up. 

We went to the pharmacy/general store to poke around and I found some very good wool socks for 50% off.  You can imagine what the color was!

Our next destination was the Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction just outside of Phoenix.  What a great park!  The rangers are very friendly and eager to give you details of the park and places to hike.  We spent the night there before heading on to Quartzsite.  Amazing sunsets and good showers.  It’s a rustic park and the rates are very affordable.

(Although we have now been in Quartzsite for a week, we will be leaving on the 31^st for the Roadrunner Campground which is a BLM site down the road.  On the 1^st, we will head back to the Lost Dutchman for two nights and then head south and southeast).  I’m slowly blogging my way to the Big Q, so hang on).

The Blue Hole

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I am running behind on our trip.  We arrived in Quartzsite yesterday afternoon.  That's a blog post in itself.

Waking up in Tucumcari, it was cold again, -3C.  I'm glad we have good heat.  We packed up and headed to Santa Rosa which is only an hour west.  We were searching for the Blue Hole.  It's a sinkhole or cenote.  It's a very famous spot for tourists as well as scuba divers and locals who use it as a swimming hole.  This is the largest in the area although there are more located on private land.

  

When we arrived it was a it confusing.  There is the sig for lue HOle ad a graded dirt road.  As we entered, it said Blue Hole Convention Center and also a sign that read, Santa Rosa DMV.  We parked and went to as for directions.  Inside there were vendors with tables set up selling different kinds of things:  Christmas decorationns gifts, baked goods, burritos and popcorn.  The place smelled like grandma's kitchen on baking day.  But where was the Blue Hole?  We found the information desk and behind it and the glass wall was the cenote.  Beautiful blue, crystal clear water.  That was it!  It is surrounded by a walking path an stairs that eter the water with a platform for the scuba divers.

It's not very large on top but expands to almost double the width at the bottom depth of 80 feet.  It maintains a constant temperature of 17C (62F).  Like most cenotes there are underground rivers that flow between them.  

In the past, scuba divers could enter the cave below and swim through it attempting to make it to the next opening.  Apparently, too many people were lost in the watery cave ad it was eventually sealed off.  

 

  

At the bottom are large boulders, bones, masks, a crucifix, and other objects.  The entrance leads to passages and rooms.  The cave extends to 194 feet, where it ends.  There are rumors that the labyrinth extends all the way to Carlsbad Cavern, but it has never been confirmed.  After about 15 minutes, we were done looking into the hole.

After, we headed down the road to the famous Silver Moon Cafe that catered to Route 66 travelers back in the day.  It's a pretty ordinary place but we wanted to say we were there.  An interesting tip, as the waitress seated us another couple came in.  Another waitress led them to their table and I heard the husband ask for the local menu.  We had the tourist menu but then Juan asked for the local menu.  Big difference in not only price but food.  Online, Juan had spotted a smothered burrito but it wasn't on the tourist menu we found it on the local one.  My plate of enchiladas was a price difference of $5.00!

On towards Albuquerque.  

First Stop On Route 66 – Tucumcari

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We left Slaton early in the morning and headed to Tucumcari.  We found a spot at the Ute Lake State Park about 20 minutes from town.  It’s a reservoir lake and is known for great fishing.  I had made the reservation in advance and booked two nights.  That would give us one full day to tour Tucumcari.  The spot was perfect, and the daytime weather was just great.  Nighttime temps in this part of the country are cold.  It was down to 3C both nights, but we kept nice and warm with the electric included in the site.  The showers had hot water that was not adjustable but scalding.  I sent them an email with youngsters in mind. 

We took off for Tucumcari and the town is pretty much like it says.  On Google, they show the highlights and the most popular Route 66 related things to do.  Pictures are always deceiving.  Although we enjoyed the sights, the town itself is depressed with a per capita income of $30,000 for a family of four.  As we drove around the back streets we saw may abandoned and crumbling homes.  We also saw two or three fairly new housing projects all of which were very nice, and well-constructed.  Small town or not, things can be the same price or at times more expensive.   

What took us by surprise was that there was a dope shop on each block of the main drag.  Looking for a mouse for the laptop (mine is pretty much shot and I hate to get out of bed to skip the commercials on YouTube), I ask a clerk in a store about the mouse.  She said they don’t carry any and there isn’t anywhere in town to buy one.  She said, “Ironic isn’t it, we don’t have a place for computer repair or to buy related items, but we have weed shops on every corner”.  That was a true statement.

The first stop was the famous Tee Pee Curio Shop.  It is exactly as it appears in the photos and offers quite a bit of nostalgia.  Lots of souvenirs and Native American-related items.  The family that runs the shop is not only friendly but amusing to listen to as you walk around the shop.  They have two cute little dogs, and I could tell one wanted to come home with me.

You may be wondering where the name Tucumcari comes from.  It is a Comanche word that means “lie in wait for someone to approach”.  The Comanche would have lookouts on the mountain in the picture to keep an eye out for the enemy.  That included the white man.

Those citizens of Tucumcari who fought in WWI and WWII.

Famous families responsible for the founding and growth of Tucumcari.

The next stop was one of the most interesting for me.  The Tucumcari Historical Museum.  It is in an old schoolhouse built in 1902.  The place is packed with memorabilia from the town's beginning.  The railroad came to the area and the town was first started in 1901.  Native Americans had lived and roamed the area though for over 10,000 years.  The initial start was called a “rag city” or tent city.  Within the first few years, construction began of small businesses and the town began to flourish.  Many famous cowboys have come from the area including Tom Ketchum, a famous outlaw who had worked on the Bell Ranch.  The Bell Ranch is one of largest in the U.S. even today.   The Bell Ranch covers over 2.2 million acres mostly used for cattle ranching. 

The museum also has displays of items used in the late 1800s including the advent of electricity and the use of small electric appliances.  Most if not all the items come from residents.  Many war heroes, businesspeople, lawmakers, politicians, and judges are included in the museum.

Juan likes to take pictures of murals so if you are on Facebook, you can see his posts.  Here are a couple I took. 

An "antique" car lot on the main drag.  Believe it or not, many people throughout the day would stop and look at cars for sale.  

We also used the day to buy water, do laundry, and do some grocery shopping.  The local Lowe’s supermarket had problems taking my debit card because I had to show them a driver’s license.  All I have is my Mexican license and they thought that was a bit odd.  In the end, though, it all worked out. 

The scenery on our drive has been truly amazing.  The changes that occur as you head west.  It takes a long time to get out of Texas, but we still find it an amazing state.  We are already talking about our drive home in January or February and heading through West Texas and all the towns and stops we have enjoyed on past trips.  Familiar territory.

Another Great Stay - Generator Repairs - Hill Country

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We had a few things to do in Uvalde and we wanted to continue to see the town.  It's a very nice place and the people are more than friendly.  At the Walmart the next morning I wanted to fire up the generator and use the coffeemaker.  We had the stove top percolator ready but we used to the other.  I know a good Walmart guest doesn't use a generator but it would have been for only a few minutes before I'd put it away.  No other rvs or semis on the lot and no cars on our side.  Getting it out of the SUV and hooked up took less than a minute.  I gave it one pull and nothing.  A little choke and then pulled and the cord broke.  Oh, brother.  That was our first order of business for the day.  We found a lawn mower repair and Mario said he'd have it ready by noon.  Sure enough, it was.

We went hiking at Cook's Slough.  A nice nature walk.  The slough (nobody here is sure how to pronounce it and we asked many) is a natural water purification system or natural shallow lake system.  There are four stages from sediment settling to mild chlorination to remove bacterias.  The water returns to the Edwards Aquifer which supplies water to a major part of central Texas including Austin and San Antonio. 

We took a nap here before they closed the gate.  We should have waited to see if they'd lock us in.  It would have been a nice place to spend the night.

Over to the town square and there is a huge memorial to the 19 students who were killed in the Rob Elementary School shooting two years ago.  So sad to see all those photos of innocent children and the two teachers.  

We walked over to a big rv park just to check prices.  The receptionist was nice but a bit of a snob.  "$40 for all sites, no discounts".  Good, we don't like rv parks much anyway.

We stopped by the Chamber of Commerce and a man was locking things up just as I pulled on the door.  He opened the door and insisted we come in.  He told us all about Uvalde and we asked if we could stay in their parking lot.  He went crazy and said by all means you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you want.  Well, he carried on for a bit and touched on the massacre and his family and the fact that he had gone to the elementary many years before.

Out in the parking lot, there was a runoff for mayor so the two were dueling it out talking to voters.  We met one of the new to be mayors and he was born in Coahuila state.  I guess wanting to exercise his hopeful position he said to be sure and hook up to one of the many outlets located on the light poles and we did.  

We had a nice happy hour and watched a movie with Raymond Burr and Angela Landsbury, dinner and off to bed.  Yesterday we headed out early, fuel is still around $2.59.  We were having such good laughs in the car that we got lost.  The GPS was on but I had inadvertently put the wrong city in.  It wasn't long (well actually it was 😀) before I discovered the mistake.  I thought I had entered Big Lake but it was changed to Lake City!  Well, I don't go back for anything or anybody.  I changed course and we headed to South Llano River and another Passport America rv park that was too good to turn down for the price.  

Waking up this morning it was -3C and the park was covered in frost.  It was warm inside the rv with the electric blanket and heater.  So much so that I overslept until almost 6:30.  Juan had an issue with his laptop and Microsoft Office.  He contacted our tech guy at home and tapped into the laptop and fixed a couple of drivers for Office and Juan was back in business.  

The drive today was through the northwestern side of hill country and it was a beautiful drive.  The winds had died down quite a bit from the previous day so it was a more relaxing drive.

Slaten Community Park 

We're currently in the town of Slaton, Tx. a town settled by German immigrants.  There are 5800 residents and the town was named after a famous Lubbock rancher and banker who promoted the continuation of the railroads heading west.  Today the town is pretty much abandoned and the streets and buildings in disrepair.  The median income is around $25,000.  While we were taking a quick nap an alert came through our phones that two minors had just been kidnapped.  We're spending the night in the city park that has seven rv hookups with electric at no charge to the public.  It looks like it will be a quiet night.

This morning we headed north again towards Tucumcari.  We should be there Thursday early and stay two nights.  We'll be at the Ute Lake State Park in New Mexico.  $14 a night with electric.  

Rain, Cold, And Fog

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We left McAllen Sunday (yesterday).  No rain when we left but it was 9C.  We stopped for a taco at the local Laredo Taco.  One Texas size taco is enough for me.  We headed on the back roads through Webb, Starr, and La Salle County.  The rain wasn't hard but it was steady.  We stopped for gas in Hebbronville, $2.49 a gallon.  An hour later in the middle of nowhere was a station for $2.39.  Either way, it's still less than half of what we pay in Mexico.  It turns out our gas mileage wasn't off it was just that we hadn't pulled the trailer for a year and I forgot how much more it uses.

The La Salle County rest stop on I-35 (we were on it for 11 miles), is a great place to stop but would be very noisy for an overnight.  They have good facilities and beautiful gardens.

We arrived to Uvalde and spent the night at the Walmart Supercenter.  Nice place, no other rvs and it was very quiet.  We looked for the manager and asked about overnighting and she said there was no problem just park out of the main flow of Walmart shoppers.

Juan fixed burgers on brioche for dinner with a great salad.  We started a Netflix movie but after 20 minutes it was putting us to sleep so we watched rv nomad videos.  The batteries are doing well and of course we put on the Heater Buddy.  It was nice and toasty all night, no need for the electric blanket.

This morning I wanted to use the generator to make a pot of coffee.  That didn't go well at all.  I gave the cord three pulls and half the cord ended up in my hand.  There is a Honda parts dealer 6 miles from the Walmart and a generator repair shop also nearby.  We're staying here another night to see the sights today so it's not an issue.  I'll give them a call in a few minutes, it's still before 8 a.m.

I found a county fairgrounds in Big Lake, Tx,, full hookups for $15 and also a city park in Stanton with 7 rv slots no charge.  Stanton is pretty far for us.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  Not wanting to sit in the car every day we are going to take our time and stop whenever we want or see something of interest.

They Said, "Go West"

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Some things always amaze me. We had a two-day delay on this trip.  The weather, a clacking pulley, and bad tensioner belt.  All fixed.  The toilet water leak seems to be fixed but we haven't turned the water back on yet 😉  I repaired the wall in the bathroom after years of looking at it all torn up.  It turned out really well and I'm proud of the work.   The SUV drove beautifully only because after 20 years of ownership we had the rear end raised.  What a difference in everything.  Funny thing is, this is our last trip with Fufi.  

I cautiously drove south and then north to Cadereyta and on to the autopista to Reynosa.  Before getting on the toll road we stopped for a technical stop only to be followed after by a transito.  He took out after me but when he got close enough I guess he saw our Mexican plates and made a U-turn.  

The highway was just great. After the toll road, we hit three checkpoints in a row, all 1 km apart: FGR, military, and then Guardia Nacional.  On the outskirts of Reynosa, we took the exit to Hwy 2 to Anzalduas.  It was a thirty-minute wait, but we had no issues whatsoever.  Immigration was a breeze and then to the RV park.  We're staying at Casa Del Valle in Alamo.  We used it on several occasions and one time with Croft and Norma.  We hope Croft will fly down soon and spend some time in Mexico!!!

We'll be here for two nights and then on to Uvalde, Tx, Big Spring, Tx and then to Tucumcari to start Route 66.  We have no idea how far we will get or what we will see although we have a ton of recommendations and our own research.

It's happy hour here and then off to a well-deserved dinner at Olive Garden.  

As Juan always says, "La Vida Es Bella" and I always say, "I'm just happy that I'm here today".