Sad farewells & Happy rolling

Don was up a little before 6:00 and I at 6:30.  We had done a lot of the preparation yesterday to be on the road by 8:30 this morning.  I finished packing up inside while Don got everything on the outside ready.  Thanks to neighbor Chuck Carstensen who helped Don with the heavy wooden leveling blocks.  Thanks Chuck!  At 8:00, Snookie knocked her usual two raps on the door.  [big inhale] "Good morning, Snookie.  How are you?"  Here comes that lump in my throat and nagging jab in my heart.

Joe from AZCI.net arrived and dismantled the Internet antenna.  Of coarse, Don has the truck under the 5wheel before I'm finished inside and the few neighbors that are left around us have gathered outside:  Lyell & Kathy Weyer (Nebraska), Janet & Chuck Carstens (Minnesota), Snookie & Bob Quinn (full timers/Delaware), Lenny Dexter (everywhere USA/Ginny was still asleep).  And the water works begin as I step out of the RV at 8:15. Pictures were taken, of course, and we pulled out of site #96 through a blur of tears waving goodbye to wonderful new friends and hoping to see them again down the road somewhere. I will insert here that as I was lingering with these wonderful friends, Don walked around the truck and got in as he was saying, "Goodbye, LaVon" and everyone laughed.  He knows me so well; I'd probably still be there.

George and Nancy are parked close to the exit of the park because they were one of three park hosts.  We stopped for goodbye hugs and well wishes for/from them as they are hooking up today, also.  More tears (more like sobs), more pictures.   Snookie walked up as we arrived at the Reid's.   More hugs, more tears, "I'll call you!"  Rodney (& Bev/Minnesota) & Harold Pace (Karen), both with park maintenance, pulled up to say 'goodbye.'  We missed Rodney and Bev, really sweet couple, at church yesterday. Here's Don & Rod shaking hands."We've got to have a picture of us taking a picture of each other," Snookie said. Until we meet again, wonderful friends!

We pulled out of Quail Run RV Park at 8:23 AM ahead of our 8:30 schedule, which pleased Don.  We turned on Batagllia and went down to Toltec to get on I-10.

Yeah!!! I have my cell phone back!! So I'm busy texting Leslie and she reports that Emma (Pook) is so excited we are coming and Camden (Diesel) has grown so much and walking everywhere.  I can hardly wait.  Talked to LaNae on the phone as she was driving home from class.  It's raining and threatening storms in Norman, OK.  Shocker.  We will see them in about two weeks.  Talked to Mama and she's doing great.  Left message on Stephanie's phone that we are on the road again!  Everyone is excited we are on our way to them and we are excited to soon be seeing all of them.

We were thru Tucson in less than 10 minutes!  Traffic was no problem, thank the Lord. (this is so cool! I'm typing this as we drive down the hwy. LOVE this Windows Live Writer, Snookie!)

Just east of Tucson, we saw the sign to the Pima Space & Air Museum and Don regretted that we didn't make it down there.  Would have been a great venture with Bob and Barb Ruesch.  Bob would have loved that.

Tried to call Darlene as we neared Benson, AZ, but didn't reach her. She then called and left a message that they were headed to Tombstone today and will get the trailer wheel fixed tomorrow.  They are parked in Benson for a few days to see that area. Send pics, D's, and I will post them for you so our QR buddies can enjoy what you are enjoying!!

I'm playing with the camera now, trying to entertain myself.  Don/sepia (concentrating on keeping it between the lines.) Me/sepia (looking like a librarian) 

Around Benson, Don had to slow down to about 55 mph to battle the crosswinds.

There are so many pecan & walnut orchards here in southeast Arizona, on both sides of the road.  Also, vineyards. And a dead tree! beside an orchard. Right along here were some beautiful rock formations, with some rocks looking like a good gust of wind could blow them down.  It was odd to see these red rocks in the middle of the white ones.

We stopped at exit 191 for gas: $3.49/gal (9.5 MPG).  It was right off the interstate and very easy on and off.  (What? No picture?) There was a DQ attached, but we resisted the temptation for a Blizzard.  That would have been the best... a Heath Blizzard with a little chocolate syrup added for breakfast!  What were we thinking????

It's a beautiful day.  The wind has picked up a little since we left.  It's now 11:55 a.m.  We have seen several large dust devils which reminds me that LaNae said a small tornado touched down in an addition in Edmond, Oklahoma this morning.

Don just said, "Yeah! a Rest Area in 4 miles".... he's hungry, after all, we didn't eat anything this morning.  Love having our kitchen and restroom right behind us.  Savannah is pulling really good and we're clipping along at about 65 mph.

Really nice rest area, easy off, pull-thrus, easy on, our last meal in Arizona as we were only about a mile from the NM border. Had yummy turkey "fold" sandwich with cheese, maters, lettuce, pickles.  And I made some fresh guacamole with the avocados we bought in California last week... delicioso with corn chips. Welcome to New Mexico!

ETA at Siesta RV Park, Las Cruces, NM: 3:56 PM (we lost and hour) not considering gas stops and crosswinds, which has eased up a bit.. now just a sway instead of a battle.  And no dust storms so far.

Oooooo, there's gas for $3.19/gal.and we are in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico.  Maybe the price will keep dropping. 

Pew-Weeee.  Smell black and white wildlife.  Didn't know there were skunks in the desert.  Learned something today.  Don's dad used to say, "Son, you should learn something new everyday."  Sure wish I had known him

Between NM mile marker 28 & 27, there are a couple of really old, rusty car bodies inside the fence on the south side of the hwy.  If they could talk, the tale might be really interesting.

There's another dust devil... too far away to photograph.

[really, LaVon???  pssst Don, tell her to close the laptop.] [but this is fun and it makes the time pass faster] [play solitaire, take pictures, or something] [ok, for just a little while, but there's nothing out here to take a picture of... not even a dead tree!]

Continental Divide @ MM 42. [uh, Solitaire?] Well, that was exciting. [not] MM 52 - Elevation 4,585 feet (looks level), and climbing. Temperature: 72. Not a cloud to be seen anywhere.

This is forgettable.  Where are the antelope? Nothing on the radio but Country and Mexican... wanna Salsa or two-step? [SOLITAIRE!]

2:42 PM and we just ran over a big ole tumble weed.  These Yucca type trees are getting thicker.  I really think they are Joshua trees.  Am I correct?

Fire warning:  too late.  Hey, dude, make sure that butte is out.  Fire sure got close to Butterfield Station, which sure has changed since centuries past.

[did you forget your game?] [I tried to play, so hey, feel welcome to stop reading... I'm having fun.]

Traffic's not bad at all, either.  Just a few trucks now and then..... oh! a dead tree!!!    Don and I are reminiscing that when we were kids and drove thru NM with parents, the jackrabbits were everywhere.  Are they an endangered species now?  We've seen a few as road kill.   THIS is desert, HIGH desert. 75 degrees.

3:00 pm - outside Deming,  Dust storm local south of highway.  57 miles to Las Cruces. ETA - 4:00 pm.

  Isolated scene. Horses & green grass in the distance.

[who told LaVon about Windows Live Writer??? oh yes, it was Snookie, well, thank you SO much] [I appreciate it... I know, I'm easily entertained.]

Random radio: Hubert Humphrey said:  "The right to be heard does not necessarily mean the right to be taken seriously."

I keep fighting the urge to call Snookie... I just left her, for Pete's sake.  I'll call you when we get to Texas, Snook.

3:45 pm - thru the ground haze, the mountains around Las Cruces are in view.

3:55 pm - stopped for gas.  It's really windy again. Granny, you made the Internet! $3.199/gal. 10+/MPG.

And then down the mountain to Las Cruces, Mesilla Valley, Dona Ana County, New Mexico; Organ Mountain range in the background.    Will be to our Siesta RV Park in a few minutes. 4:10 pm: arrived.  Thank you, Lord.  Don has gone in to register.   I hear a dove cooing... reminds me of QR.  Looks like a nice little park, and it's just off I-10.  I see a WiFi antenna on top of the office building... let's see.... "windows cannot find any networks."  hmmmm.  Oh, Yeah! We have connection!! Look at the little camper trailer, the modern equivalent of a 'tear drop.'  Cute.4:18 pm.. all registered.. took 8 minutes.  Fellow Okie from Owasso, bought this park about 8 years ago.  Who knew?  We're all set up for the night!  Don only hooked up water & electricity.  We'll be fine until we get to Waco.

After a stroll around the park, we had cereal for supper... something light for a change.  Played Farkel.  He beat me 3 games out of 5. :-( 

Got an email from Sharon Peterson and they had just arrived at home in Oregon last night.  It was nine degrees there this morning... brrrrr.  They had a perfect trip home, stopping for a visit with her sister in California and then on home.  Her horses we very happy to see her.  LOVE hearing from our QR buddies!

Dave & Darlene wrote:  Have a repairman coming right to our site tue. morn and they will repack all 4 wheels and put new seals in for $185.00. I 'm happy with that price and feel its fair. Heading to Tombstone in a few minutes. Have a safe trip you all.   D&D.

And from DeAnn:  She's been really busy and plans to post today on her blog, so check it out. (She's not going to get the VW or Volvo convertible) Thank you for the sweet and encouraging words, DeAnn, and right back to you, girlfriend.  ALWAYS fantastic to hear from you, too.

Now I'm ready to post all this randomness (it could be a word/Windows didn't freak out).

Good night and God Bless!