So Long MLR

 And here’s the hard part, the part of the trip we have been dreading. After seven months planning, fifty one RV parks across twenty seven states and Canada, we have been forced to cancel the Momentary Loss Of Reason Tour. This was to have been our last cross country rv trip, and we had planned accordingly, visiting wonderful friends who have become such a close part of our lives.

It’s bad enough missing some of the small towns, state parks, and restaurants, those things that we bought a small trailer to be able to see, but those friends were to be the reason for our excursion. Dave and Toni, Mary, Larry and Debbie, Bill and Diane, Bill, Cara, Chuck, Bruce and Cara, Jeff and Jina, Butch and Jamie were all on the “List”. Am I waxing nostalgic? Yes, and angry, and sad. But also hopeful that there are better times ahead.

We met a Southern Baptist woman the other day who had some words of wisdom to share. “We’ve worried and worried. We’ve prayed and prayed. Now, let it go.” She believes that. And we’re struggling to do likewise. 

Just before we left home a little over two weeks ago, I began to feel some numbness in my feet. Coming from a generation that vowed to “carry on and be responsible”, I was determined not to fail my assignment. Unfortunately, in the last five days the problem has deteriorated and we must head home to “get fixed”. Like the lady said “Let it go”.

Believing!

Amarillo By Morning

 We have arrived at one of our longest stays of this trip, the Big Texan RV Park in Amarillo. We’re here for six days while catching up for the next leg of the trip. The 171 mile trip east from Santa Rosa was reasonably awful, considering the condition of I40, the wind, and the traffic. Eastern New Mexico looks alot like northwestern Texas, with miles and miles of rangeland and we have already graduated bored with it 

Eventually we left New Mexico and entered Texas. 

The park is a fun Texas kind of place, with friendly staff, hints of the Texas oil boom, and some grass for Sasha!

At the entrance to the park off of the I40 westbound frontage road, a takeoff on the Cadillac Ranch is the first thing you see. Welcome to Slug Bug Ranch!

The RV park is connected to The Big Texan Steak House, just down the road. Established in 1960, The Big Texan lays claim to providing a free steak dinner to anyone who can eat it in 60 minutes. All 72 oz, vegetables, salad, drink and dessert. Some have done it and have their names on the wall, the most recent was a 70 year old! Look in the middle distance for the latest contestant, on the raised platform in the yellow shirt. He didn’t make it.

We contented ourselves with 10 ounces of filet and a 12 oz sirloin!

Texas is home to thousands of towns, large and small, but one has attracted our interest for some time and it’s not to far from Amarillo, at least in Texas distance.

Muleshoes claim to fame, along with grain elevators, feed stores, and truck repair shops is the Dinner Bell Cafe. Known far and wide, and a star on the television series Texas Country Reporter, we had to try the food at the Bell.

The customers were few on a Saturday afternoon, two tables of locals and a vacationing couple from upstate New York, so we had plenty of time to look at the menu.

Donna ordered the Green Chile burger and I had to have Grandma Bell’s Fried Steak. Both were delicious and huge, with a good bit coming home with us!

Try it if you’re ever in Muleshoe!

Eighteen miles east of Muleshoe, the hamlet of Earth, Texas, occupies the center of our lives.

And that is just about how long it takes to drive through Earth.

A few miles north of Earth lies the biblical town of Nazareth.

The city fathers have decided to capitalize on the name…

A replica of the Statue of Liberty, hand carved from a tree trunk, greets visitors coming in from the west, and is protected from the harsh weather by a modified water tank.

A short city block later, a sign advertises Nazareths most famous attraction: a truck stop…

4

This is a legit photo of the fence post that is the only thing between Canada and Texas! We finally found it! Al Roker will be proud!

Wind Again

 There are only 135 miles between the park we stayed at west of Albuquerque last night and the Loves Travel Center in Santa Rosa, NM, where we are overnighting, yet it took us just over four hours to complete the trip. We’re not fond of driving in high wind circumstances but the day started with great weather, so we said “ What the heck” and took off. Almost immediately the breeze became a gale, causing traffic movements to be more cautious. Even big rigs slowed down and several RVs pulled off the road. Our weather apps predicted better conditions, so we kept going, albeit at a much lower speed.

After what seemed forever, we pulled off the highway at Clines Corners, a small truck stop with parking for trucks and RVs. We recuperated for a half hour or so, then decided to proceed. Eastern New Mexico is unique in its own way and may seem boring to some, but long vistas of cattle country provide a look into the investment that cattle ranches have made in this arid landscape.

A positive side effect of the slower driving speeds was an unprecedented increase in fuel mileage. Knowing that our usual numbers while towing the rv hang around 10 to 11 miles to the gallon, we were pleased to see this:

Wow! Maybe there is something to the benefits of a slower speed!

We finally pulled into our rv site at Loves. Loves provides a limited number of overnight sites with full hookups and concrete pads across the nation, and while a bit noisy due to the big rig traffic, the sites are level, well lit, and have dog parks. Not a bad trade off.

We were once again presented with an awesome sunset!

Tomorrow we expect to head into Texas. Whoopee!!

Standin’

 We left Needles mid morning, and almost immediately crossed the Colorado River, the center of which is the border between Arizona and California.

Just a few miles into Arizona, we entered the Topock area of crags, fissures, and canyons.

 We eventually arrived in Winslow, Arizona, quickly set up at Arizona’s Homolovi Ruins State Park, and made arrangements to meet good friends Dave and Toni at the Relic Road restaurant, located a 100 feet from the famous Corner in Winslow, and on the southern side of the Mother Road, Route 66. Our friends have spent a good part of the winter in Yuma, Arizona, and are on the way home. It seems our paths cross most frequently in a restaurant on the way to somewhere!

What a great and positive evening! Laughs all around!

We decided to stay an extra day at Homolovi to relax and recharge. This park is situated among a number of well preserved Native American ruins, with moderate trails among them, and excellent signage explaining the sites. We have visited here in the past and anticipated another visit, but the 30 mph wind prevented us from venturing very far! The door to the trailer was almost impossible to open, putting us in mind of the phrase “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

We were treated to an Arizona sunset on our second night at Homolovi after a lazy day of listening to the wind blow…..

Leaving Winslow in the rear view, we headed east on I40. The eastern edge of Arizona is a beautiful area with awesome rock formations that once provided protection for local Native American groups.

New Mexico eventually showed up on the radar, complete with a fellow tourist.

We began to tremble at the thought of traveling on Interstate 40, as the section west of Albuquerque is historically a 35 mph road due to potholes and ruts. Well, we were pleased to find that New Mexico has actually been using gas tax money to improve the roads! 40 is now a decent highway! Wonder of wonders.

We slid in to site 1303 at the Route 66 RV Resort just a few miles west of Albuquerque in the afternoon. It’s a decent place, a bit overpriced, but what’s new. We’re here for a quick overnight stay before heading east in search of lower fuel prices…..

Until later!