Saturday  May 30

Days tend to blend into one another, as it's not like we have to get up and be somewhere.  We did on Friday have a family outing. Needed a new longer sewer hose [the old one didn't reach the septic tank connector] [our tanks were getting full] and a ht bulb for over the entrance door. They call that the porch light. I had a tendency to leave it on for days and it burned out. Two new 921 bulbs were a big $1.50. How can they make them for that, market them and get them to the dealers. I would have paid a solid $3.49 for two without blinking. 
Terry wanted some sheet metal (must be doing a new project in the metalworking shop he set up here at his sister's place) and when we drove over to Altoona east of Des Moines we found the shop was closed in the afternoons on Fridays. What was that about. So we got to pretend we didn't burn all that diesel to get there [we took the truck instesd of the car as it was still dirty yet from winter storage]. Now we get to go go back next week on another family outing. 

On the way back we stopped at Karl Chevy in Ankeny, IA to get the oil changed in our diesel. We we do that at their fast lube facility. Yes they do diesels right along with cars. I told them to check for leaks before they change the oil as we have a history of leaks. This dealer has repaired oil leaks for us now three times. All under warranty. Well they found more leaks and put dye in the oil and we are to come back in a couple of weeks to have it checked out. We are under extended warranty since they do back up their work. So we shall see what happens in a week or two. Karl Chevy has gone beyond what they needed to do make things right so we shall work with them again and see how it goes. 

Oh Boy Oh Joy.  Its been raining [about 3" this week] so the car is now clean and we can leave the truck parked. As for viewing the area we do have to admit the area is GREEN unlike what we see spending much of the year in the southwest. Vivid green grass, and corn and bean field crops growing as I type. Spring and early Summer in Iowa. It gets into your blood from birth me thinks. Must as kids, tasted the black earth, and it changed us in some way.  Just as people in other parts of this country did the same and are also bonded to where they grew up. 

Now today on Saturday Terry headed over to eastern Iowa to spend time with his family. As the oldest sibling he has been given a couple of projects to figure out and get done for them on the farm before we leave in a few weeks. His parents are in their early 80s so he wants and needs to spend as much time with them as he can get. Two remarkable people as they sure don't look or act their age, whatever that means. [His brother lives on site so we can travel as we know they are all fine].   I also feel of them as family, as they've welcomed me into theirs, now as both my parents have passed on. Knowing I'm accepted to be a part of their family with Terry makes me calm in though and mind. 

Life's a bitch and then you get over it as they say. But it's not fun loosing loved ones as we get older. All we can do is take each day as it comes and stay busy.  But you all already know that... I'm not reinventing life as we know it, just trying to comprehend the meaning of it all.  We have so much to learn and not much time, me thinks. One planet, one world, people loving their families, now if we could just encourage all to love each other, as they do their own. 

Anyway since Terry was off on a field trip, I worked on updating my new 2009 Microsoft Streets and Trips to accept .est files that I produce from converting campground locations etc. so they will show up as pushpins in the program. I'm using the locations in FreeCampground.com and typing them into the Streets and Trips program and saving them as like  [MontanaFreeCampgrounds.est]  file. I am having fun with this but it's a lot of work. 

I got a call back from www.RVdirections.com today and they told me their program download is about 120 MB (I later downloaded it and it's only 36 Meg) so I may download it tonight during my free bandwidth time (2 - 7 AM eastern time). They provide an extensive selection of .est files  for locations that work with S and T's. Kind of pricey at $45 but may I go for it. 

Also just ordered three books from Amazon.com 

"Pacific Northwest Camping Destinations: RV and Car Camping Destinations in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia 
"Moon West Coast RV Camping: The Complete Guide to More than 1,800 RV Parks and Campgrounds in California, Oregon, and Washington 
"Foghorn Outdoors: Montana, Idaho, & Wyoming Camping: The Complete Guide to more than 1200 Campgrounds"

As you can see I'm getting fired up about getting the jacks screwed back up and hitting the road ASAP. 

Need travel events to blog about... Don't Ya Know... I know you are tired of all this Streets and Trips technical stuff... 
 

Yesterday I had a wild hair up my butt and remembered I had been wanting to get a new version of Streets and Trips (when I retired in 2003 my co-workers gave me a copy of it) but when back in Navajo Dam at Farmington, NM this spring none of the big box stores carried it.  Well I did a search and right here in good old Ankeny, IA is a brand new Best Buy and online it sez they had 4 of them with GPS units in stock. So off we went to get one. 

Now I have been ingrossed with learning how to use it with the GPS feature, and improrting (.est files) so it will find campgrounds, Passport America RV parks, and OMG Super WalMart locations, etc. when we travel. This is so much fun. I found  http://www.laptopgpsworld.com   which has bunches of info and links for Streets and Trips and other GPS devices.  With my new little 10" Netbood computer it makes a small neat package to have in the truck as we travel. The Netbood has a 9 hour battery life. It will follow where we go and talk to us and give direstions or just tell us where we are at. No more asking Terry show me on the map where we are at.  I told Terry I can even put a paper bag over it and IT will find its way out... unlike the now replaced navigator I have in the passenger seat. So the bottom line is, Terry has been replaced... along with his outdated De Lorme Gazetters that he tried to used to give directions. 

Link for info on this company and PCs
This will work for geocashing me thinks... 

Now a little more on life as we know it on the road...

Remember when after a month or so with our new 5er our Nexus 32 HD flat screen TV that came as OEM on our 5er died. We were in Quartzsite and called Nexus service and got the run around on how to get it repaired. We then as you remember went to Yuma (Best Buy) and got a top of the line Sony and stashed the Nexus in the bedroom closet as they said a repair station was in CA 150 miles away and we would have to take it there and leave it. So they said it would be OK to take it with us and deliver it to a repair center back in IA in the spring. (We had a case # for reference later so felt good it would get repaired) Just wanted to get it fixed to give it to Terry's nephew as a present.  NOW that we are back in IA they tell us there is no repair facility here in the Des Moines area.  AND now they don't even have repair centers anymore for their 32 " TVs. Told I will have to ship it to them. Ya Right. I don't have the orig. shipping carton it came in as it was installed in our RV for gods sake. I went though hell just proving I owned it without a sales reciept as it was OEM and had to have NuWa call and confirm it to them last winter. This has all been a nightmare, so called Ron at Nu Wa and explained my frustrations dealing with Nexus. He offered to call them and see what he could do and call me back. If I have to box this up at a UPS Store and pay to return it to Oregon from Iowa I might as just take it to a recycling center and be done with it. 

We shall see what Ron (his office tag is (RV) from Nu Wa sez he found out when he called Nexus. 

Update: Friday 11:30 AM. Ron from NuWa just called.  I will have to ship the TV to Nexus but NuWa will pay for the shipping. Nexus will pay the return shipping. What a deal. How cool is that. 

We have always been more than happy with the extra effort all the people at Nu Wa have provided anytime we have delt with them. From the person who answers the phone. (no menu options, real people ans. their phone) to getting answers to any questions we might have. You know they are starting up again in June?  Visit www.nuwa.com  and get your order in for one of the best built 5ers you will ever find and the warrenty service that is the best in the industry. We did get service a couple weeks ago and Darrel in service treated us great and fixed our issues above our expectations. We only had a couple of items. And it turned out to errors on the orig. build and they corrected them in short order. Way to go Nu Wa service. I think you will have to go far and wide to find unhappy Nu Wa owners.

Time for a shower and a comfort food supper... meat loaf and green bean casserole. Terry sez that is all, but I know there is Blue Bunny fat free, no sugar added ice cream for desert. Later...
 
 

Made it through the big holiday weekend. Went yesterday to Tama to the Indian Casino to have a buffet with Terry's parents and family. 
And we did take time to give thanks to those who gave so much, so we could do just that. 

Many are out exploring this great land as we have a little down time here in Iowa where the big animals come out and show themselves. This critter must have had a ruff winter and is, I'm sure looking forward to us getting in a garden so he can be fed. May not do that, as we don't plan on being here for it to come to fruition.

 Let me think... What needs to be done so we can get back on the road... Oil change in truck, front end alignment (think I'll need a new front tire as it is worn on the inside edge) Why didn't I see that sooner. Ordered meds so they're coming, Doctor apointments (been feeling good but never know)(hard to keep that A1C numbr down) Dentist for cleaning and I need to make a boat payment for him, as a filling fell out this winter. Lucked out no tooth ache.

But one thing is sure we will have storms before we can get going. It's raining a cold slow rain right now so I suggested (or should say declared a new honey do project) that we get our ground anchors connected to the 5er axles. A little piece of mind is all it will really protect me thinks.  Might leave the axles in place when the top is gone. Knock on wood the big ones stay away... but know it's just a mater of time.  We lucked out in Kansas at NuWa in Chanute with fantastic weather coming north the last couple of weeks right after the big scare in Oklahoma with the Weather Channel storm chasers,

Don't get excited this pic doesn't show the chain connected just yet. Just looped over the axle. I'm rambling for no good reason so let's make it later.
 
 

Arrived early afternoon on Friday, and got backed on to our pad. It's a long lane around and between two buildings to get the 5er landed. Have to back all the way from the gravel road into the property to the spot marked with the red box. No room to pull in and then back. A tree between the house in the center and the big Morton building removes the chance to just pull in and back up. Pic from Google Earth, no leaves on the trees. 

Trees on both sides of the lane. We did it without too much yelling. 

Getting back in here is one reason we don't pull out and go camping on a whim. This spot is better than most any campground in th area anyway. Once set up right here we are done moving till we take off again. This summer, sooner rather than later we hope. We have teh northwest to explore. 
Notice the HD DirecTV dish is up and the internet dish is up and running on the roof. It took us a couple on minuates longer to aim the HD dish this time as I forgot to change the zip code in the DirecTV setup screen page to get the the correct azimuth and elevation setting for it. The tilt never seems to change so don't worry about that. THE big thing is to get the dish very level. Then just swing it from side to side till we get the best reading. Takes less than a minuate when all is level and you have the settings set correctly. Very slick. Not nearly as hard a I thougt it was going to be. No harder than settig up a regular dish. This one is just bigger and harder to store.  And here we also get the local broadcast stations in digital amd most have switched to HD. We can see the towers out our window. Oh and by the way Showtime is having a free weekend event again. So movie time it is. 

Terry got my car out of storage and it fired right up. He did have to charge the battery which was of course not left in the car. He is off to town to wash clothes and run the car through the car wash. First had to scrape the dirt off the windows so he could see out. It's stored in a shed and not tight to the weather. 

While he's of doing his thing I'm posting and playing on the web with twitter. I set up a account and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Not impressed but will give it time to sink in. My twitter name is Hitchitch.  Also a reader sent me a link to his new beta RV Social Networking software. www.logabout.com 
So I'm looking at that also. I don't think it is meant to be an in depth blog type thing, just where you have been type thing. I can see he has put a lot of work into it. Don't want it to compete with my Hitchitch site listings. So trying to understand its scope. He asked for my input. Not sure I have one yet.  Don't think the author will mind if you take a look. 

I've got a backlog of sites to review for possible listing on Hitchitch so should get to that and Gee maybe find time to relax. Not to worry will get to the last item in short order.  Might already be there and don't know it...
 

This is how you escape Kansas if you're in  Atcheson, KS  (Home of Amelia Earhart). But watch out the only out is to Missouri. The redeaming factor was diesel was $2.09 in the big MO. 20 cents below unleaded, about time diesel is cheaper than regular. 
Anyway we're only doing an overnight stop and had toured the land of the flying queen several times in the past so onward. 

Our destination on Friday is to be just north of  Des Moines and it is just up the road past this sign. But we are not in a hurry as this is only Thursday.

So we stopped at the Iowa Welcome center at Lamoni right off I-35. We drove the two miles into the town to look around. Got a few looks with us pulling the 5er down the narrow main street. Traversed around the downtown area and headed back out to the interstate to waunder through the Welcome Center / Amish Country Store. Terry was still looking for a gift for his mother who is now 80 something years young. Low and behold they had tons of baskets made by the locals, So we choose one just right for her,  and that was that. Those baskets were about the only locally produced items. Just like the good old USA when you turn things over you get a made in China sticker. (In a Amish gift store for god sakes). This is real Amish country after all, with wide roads for the horses and buggies.

Anyway connected to welcome center was a huge MAID RITE. restaurant. I haven't had one of those in years so we couldn't resist. One each and a small water.  $2.99 What a taste treat. Now I need to have Terry search the web for a knock off  recipe for them. 
I got tired waiting, so I searched..   www.topsecretrecipes.com
If you think what's the big deal about a Maid-Rite... We're from Iowa and this is a fast food seccess story that originated in this state. 
We've got pigs, beef, corn, and Insurance companies... But a loose meat sandwich, made some take notice. What you think a Runza is better! Who came up with that? Ok added the link to Runza since you hadn't heard of that either, right? 
You have to grab for what you can get, not being the elite mindset based on the coasts. Great traditions did start in the heartland. 
Sometimes we forget that, and it needs to be pointed out once in a awhile.  Stepping down from the box as I speak. No need to point out we are now are residents of South Dakota. Still in the heartland to be sure... Stop rambling, I say to myself...

The gift shop where the made in China labels almost stuck out at you. 

Next just a few more miles up the road in Osceola , IA was our destination for the night. 

As we picked a spot I commented I wish people would pick up after their dogs. There is shit everywhere. I told Terry don't track it inside or you're dead meat. AND he informed me all that stuff was from the critters in the picture below. What a brood of Goslings to be found. They have been busy. Gambling must agree with them. 

This is very relaxed as far a checking in and paying for a RV spot. We called the Casino and asked how to pay and they said, just ride the roving golf cart shuttle later and check in. No hurry. 
Now the HELP  part of the blog...  How did we get their number? Just called Google 411 at 800-GOOG-411 and it asks the city and state and business and gives you the results and then will connect you to your choice.  For FREE. Very cool, read more about it at Google 411. We use this all the time as we travel  and see a sign on a business. Just punch up Googel 411 and let IT find the number for us and make the call. Need a RV park just call 800 GOOG 411 and say  RV parks in the city you are in and it will list them for you ... and call the one of your choice. So Cool. 
Now back to the honking Geese out our window... Do they have a hunting season on these suckers. Terry sez YES but they are protected here in the day and fly to the corn fields at night. I should have it so good...

Our little bit of heaven for the night. Then off to Terry's sister's acreage north of Des Moines.  And we will have landed for a couple of months while we do the teeth and doctor appointment thing.  Waiting for the blood work test results is always a trauma producing time. I like to say I'm heading west if they don't keep me.

We left Quartzsite, AZ in the third week in March and now getting here just before Memorial weekend. Not bad for trying not to rush down the blue roads.  Been fun and now to do it again it a couple of months heading to the northwest and points unknown if the creeks don't rise and we stay healthy and such.

Would you believe I'm not gambling while at this casino. I have tried it, but didn't inhale deep enough I guess, as it's one of the few vices I didn't get hooked on. 
But I'm a man and could, I guess, If I have to...  I think this is where abstinence really does work! 
 
 

First things first, we had such a bad Pizza in Cherokee, KS from PIZZA HUT, after the storm went through. 
Terry insisted he could do better, and yes he did with this one when we hit Chanute, KS. 

Speaking of food and Chanute... These two terms don't go together.  Not even a KFC in this town. Not that, KFC is great food, but when you crave it, 
(that's why they can sell it, we're suckers for cravings) and when you have to go to WalMart for it. Stupid move. No need to say more. Their chicken sucked.... I'm embarrassed to say we bought it from there. Well I did I send Terry to do the dirty dead, so it must be his fault. Ya that's the ticket...

After we dropped our 5er off for service on Tuesday, at Nu Wa Industries Chanute we knew they would have it all day so we headed out to find a place for breakfast. In Chanute there is ONE place as we discovered, and it is in the downtown. The Grain Bin. 

We thought we must have hit the jackpot as the place was surrounded with cars and PUs. A sure sign this is THE place. Well it wasn't. It was THE only place in this city of 9500 people to get breakfast. Yes Google and Terry my research assistant found that out.  Lots of people but the food was to be polite, awful as far as the Western Omelet was concerned. Nothing it and cover in half warm Velvetta as in that's cheese? The only redeeming factor was it wasn't over priced and we had  a nice very attentive waitress. Wasn't her fault the food sucked, so I tipped her very well. People watching was worth it after we had several cups of Tea for Terry and I decaf coffee. 

We wondered why there was a traffic jam next to a donut shop on the main drag. Glad their is a health center in town with a portable MRI in the parking lot.  People eating all those donuts may need  a scan? 

Like they say people are now eating off the value menu during this recession so to speak. Cheap food is not good food.  Like going to a Family Dollar and seeing the great prices on all the can goods., and not knowing it is just old regular high fat and salt content items. Better for you if it costs more... some just don't understand it costs to eat well. 

After our disappointing breakfast at the Grain Bin we took off for Fort Scott 50 miles to the east to tour the town as we had all day to kill. We left the camera back in the 5er. So we screwed that up. 

We were surprised with the grandeur of the area, the city, and the fort. Since we didn't get pictures, do go to these links. Well worth it. 

Fort Scott National Historic Site. 
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

On our way back from Fort Scott we got a call from Nu Wa saying our 5er was ready. WOW it was only a little after one PM. 

We got the 5er back and were very happy with the speedy service and walk through explanation, or in other words, the hand holding they provided (or should I say trailer side manner). You know what they say about a doctor that has good bed side manner. That's what you get with Nu Wa service. If you are a RV owner you know or have heard about the customer service that Fan-Tastic Fan provides.  Nu Wa (HitchHiker) is the Fan-Tastic service provider of the RV trailer 5th  wheel industry. You do know that is the only kind of unit they have ever made. You want a Class C or MH go somewhere else. 

OK so here we go, you say, after hearing the next statement... Later Terry found a bulge in the kitchen vinyl floor while we were back in the city RV park. It looked like a screw was about to protrude through the vinyl flooring. They had just fixed the squeak in the floor and now this. We called them back, (yes they do answer their phone on the first ring) no press this or that button, you get a human right off the bat, and were told by Daryl in service who has been our contact all along. (hope I'm spelling his name correct) to bring it back in the morning. Another early day (we're retired and not used to getting up for a second day so early. Woah is Us... But we are getting good at hooking up and moving out so we got to Nu Wa 30 min. early. They looked at the new problem and we all agreed this was probably a new item and not a result of what they had done the day before. Told to unhook and leave it, and they would get to us as soon as they could. We knew they had other units scheduled for service. We left the rig and headed out to Oh My God breakfast again at the Grain Bin. We asked Daryl at Nu Wa where to go this time and he said there was only one place, and you already know its name. We still did drive all over town , up and down the streets and never found a cafe to eat breakfast at, so back to the Grain Bin. 
We sat at the same table as the day before (seat yourself wouldn't you know) w We had the same server, she even remembered we wanted hot tea and deceive coffee.  After studying the menus we ordered safe we hoped, hot cakes, sausage, eggs with sugar free syrup.  Now today the cakes were very good. Better than you make at home. So at last today it was better and we ate good.  We say other still eating the omelets. Must be they just don't know what they are supposed to look or taste like. Sorry. 

We had told the server and the cashier why were in town (getting our trailer serviced at Nu Wa so they would know that this local company is still active and bringing customers to their city and establishment. 
The cashier, stated that is what they figure when they serve strangers, is that they are most likely staying at the city RV park and getting service at Nu Wa. 

This city needs to understand how important it is that Nu Wa gets back up and running later in June as planned (on a limited plan) and that it is supported with everything they do.  When at Wal*Mart, hardware store, and the liquor store I told them why were in town and spending money. They were happy to hear it. Hope it sinks in. Thinking about it, sure many if not most, knew friends who had worked at Nu Wa and are slowly being (though in less numbers) being called back to work. See the NuWa site and the page on NuWa Production to Resume!

More on Nu Wa is the Owners Web Forum independent from  the company site, where you can and learn more about HitchHikers and join the forum and ask questions . 

We left Chanute after saying good-by to several people in the City RV park who we had met. RVing is a family and when in HitchHiker country even more so. 

I just to post again this shot of the city RV park. 48 hours free and then $10. 

We headed north on US 59 and landed in Atcheson, KS (link to CofC) the home of Amelia Earhard. 
They have a great, like to say, non commercial City RV park. $10. 
A view of the vast Warnock Lake Park leading to the RV section up on the hill. 

We were stopped and set up here by 3:30 PM after leaving Chanute about 10:30 AM.  How cool is that. 

 50 amp and a central water bib, (fill as you come in)  and did I say free fire wood. New Johns and shelters. Just a nice palce to spend a day or week. 

Going to have a beef pot roast tonight. Terry is browning it and has added the wine for slow cooking and will add the veggies to make a wonderful comfort food dinner.  And have a great evening watching American Idol. Adam , Adam all the way. What a rocker. We shall see if America can accept him as the next great  superstar which without a doubt he IS. Even as a old codger, (Am I really one of those?) I would buy his music, and I haven't paid money for many years for that. But way back then I did have a album collection to kill for, and later gave it all away for free along with the four channel Marantz fancy stereo and state of art 33 rpm record player.  Now trying to remember why I gave all that away and what I was moving into at the time. Think I was getting into computers and was loosing it.   Just an old 60s to 70s young at heart music lover. 

Have a great night. We will be heading from KS to MO, heading to Iowa to visit Terry's family and do the doctor appointment thing and hope they don't commit one or both of us. 
 

Looks like right now a stop at Terrible's Casino in Osceola, Iowa for Thursday night. Terry looked them up on our new netbook and they now have a buffet.  We have been eating heavy, so the salad bar would be a good bet,  until we see the other goodies. Wish us luck. He likes that we can both be online at the same time. How did we get away with only one computer connected to the internet?

Later... been a long day time for a hot shower and then  DVRed Idol...
 
 

I (Ron) got nervous thinking our service appointment might be for Monday instead of Tuesday, so waking up at 6:59 AM. I called the factory and the receptionest had me leave a VM for service. They called back and assured me we were not due till Tuesday at 7 AM. But could get us in early at One today if I wanted. I wanted to go back to sleep, so stayed with the orig. deal. 
Now am up and looking out our windows, our neighbor in of course in a HHer is washing his rig. What is it with these people, yesterday three or four others were also washing their rigs. And I mean they were not just washing, but detailing them. Is it mandatory you make your rig sparkle since you are within sight of where it was built, or should I say born. Get life, this means all day I'm going to have to debate the cleaning situation of our rig.  AS it is very dirty, damn... Guess it's like taking a shower before going to the doctor, I mean service department. We shall see. Terry is even thinking about doing laundry. And you thought life on the road was all fun and games. We have to make decisions once in a while.
Like Red Green on his PBS TV show sez.  I Am A Man, But I Can Change, If I Have To, I Guess. 
It's about time a for a mid morning nap, Since I got up so early. If I Have To, I guess. 

I'll let you know if anything more important happens later today...
 

Sunday  May 17
by your roving reporter Terry

We have landed in Chanute and are relaxing while we wait for our appointment at NU WA.  Meanwhile we are staying at the city Rv Park just down the road. 

The place is full of campers that have come to Nu Way.  One of our neighbors came by early this afternoon and invited us and the rest of the RVer's in the park to come over and get acquainted,  a Hitchhiker mini rally if you will.  We talked for 3:00 till past 6:00 when I had to leave.  The group was still going strong when I left.  Several of us are here for warranty work,  and one couple had come to see the Hitchhiker plant. 

Except for the class C in the front row this could be a Hitchhiker promo picture, all of the fifth wheel's lined up in your friendly neighborhood RV Park.  A small community of fulltimers, all of the rigs are lined up come together for a day or so then on to the next destination.  Sharing stories, tips and planning the next adventure. 
 

Saturday  May 16

A little update before we ge on with our story. 
As we pulled into the city RV park in Cherokee last night a guy came across the street from his leather shop to say hello and welcome us to the area. 
We had a good time talking to Phill and waned I to share his card with you. As soon as I said Terry was into arts and crafts they hit it off, 
threatening weather or not. 

If you're into leather and in the area DO stop by as he has a fine leather shop. Right across from the city RV park on Grand St.. 
(Thanks Phill for befriending to us) 

Here we go again with the maps and the general route for the day so you can follow along.
Staying on US 64 going south from hiding out in Cherokee from the storm and going east toward Tonkawa. And then to Pawhuska. 
Details below for heading north on HW 99 from Pawhuska.
We do take the back roads as you will see. Now don't get lost, or if you do, email Terry, as he's lost most of the time too. A map reader is not one of his talents. But he exceeds at all other skills. I can attest to that. 

We left Cherokee where we survived the storm trauma. The Weather Channel was replaying last nights events and had live interviews with the storm chasers who we now hold up in a motel just to the south in Enid, OK.  They have about 40 vehicles in their contingent. Go to The Weather Channel  and see what they are up to with their  Great Tornado Hunt.

From TWC web site: VORTEX2 - The hunt begins! Tune into The Weather Channel and take a 5 week ride with The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes and scientists from around the world as they hit the roads in search of tornadoes all in the name of science.

We were up close and personal with them more than I ever want to be again.  Their morning live report was that they DIDN'T get to see a tornado last night and were devastated. They were wet from being out in the rain last night. Mike Bettes their on air talent, said now they can be off line, and recoup for a few days in their motel rooms, doing mundane things like washing clothes. He sort of reached down and adjusted his clothes impling they needed clean underwear, as he stated they have been working 17 hours days for some time, chasing the weather. (Hope they poop in their shorts if they get right in the path of a F5 later).  They do several live updates each hour on TWC. The weather channel's take on reality TV I guess. Running around the country with 40 cars and big radar trucks with a crew is probably cheaper than doing a real TV show on like on commerical TV. It makes for good live TV and this is TWC after all. People will watch until  the big storm hits them and it's then, not funny or entertaining after anymore. 
They are set up to rush to any part of the midwest at the drop of a hat with the forecast. We hope we NEVER see them again, but wish them well as what an adventure they are on, not unlike what we try to do, but not quite with the same danger involved. 

So now onward for us with calm weather... WE checked before we left this morning. I do love this NWS site for radar's of the entire country all at once. We have people telling us all the time how they love this link. Enjoy. When you are over an area, just click and it will take you to the NWS local regional radar site for more detail. COOL. 

On the road for awhile Terry as usual expressed his desire for us to stop at a pulloff somewhere, (he wants to use our onboard john) since he had been drinking his hot tea, it is now time for his bladder to get attention. (He fixes a thermos of it each morning, drinking as we go along) That's when I do the water rustling sound to aggravate his condition while looking over and give a big smile... Saying... YOU want me to Stop  WHEN. 

So several miles down the road we come across this abandoned gas station and cafe. (That was after passing through a couple of pefferctly good local towns where I could have stopped along the side streets... I'm cruel)  He did say sometime down the road and not right away. I like him to ask a second time berfore I take notice. But this time it was a bit more, as the road didn't offer anyplace to pull over till we got to the location below. By that time I even had to do the pit stop thing. I had been sipping on a diet Dr Pepper. 
As we filled up at the local independent gas station when leaving Cherokee (at $2.09 for diesel) I said to Terry please go inside and get me a Diet Dr Pepper
Somtimes you just need a 10-2-4 when hitting the road after a storm event.  Check out their web site... Big bucks spent on that site with all the bells and whistles. Want to research how to do a site like that. Cutting line stuff. Love it. But they also have the big money to make it look great. 

Gone off track again... No back to real life... This is the place we stopped for Terry's potty break and lunch. 

High upon a hill with a good view, here it sits. Me thinks the life dreams of a couple who took over this old  rural gas station, tore down the old building a put up a new steel building and made it a dream, opening a cafe. See the hand painted sign. Not a franchise by any means. Now all gone... and only a pull off for us RVers to to take a  pit stop. Terry made us a sandwich, othwerwise we might have gone inside for a sit-down lunch. 

Next we got to Pawhuska, Plans were to head north to Hulah lake State Park to check out the camping. Or go further over to Copan COE  Lake and if not that, (continue as this is my mission to just keep on going till I drop)  head up US 75 to Chanute and Nu Wa to the free (for two days) city campground. 

 

When we passed through Pawhuska they were having a what we could see a Bikers Rally Day Event.
On one street  they had a free bike wash setup. The streets were full of happy people, and a neat old town we would have liked to visit but with no where to park a big rig, we kept on going. If we had been camped near, in a park, it would have been a good day trip. 

This town claims to have the first oil well in Kansas, As we rushed by Terry got this shot of the so called oil well set up for the tourists. 
Had to have been rebuilt several times along with the legend, me thinks. I could be wrong since I didn't do a google search on this one. 

North on very winding but good blacktop roads we got to the state park. The lakes are in flood stage big time.

The sign sez Swim At Your Own  Risk.  Now is not the time to mince words on this warning. 
We did go into the camping area but decided to keep on going. To think we would pass by a nice looking campsite in a state park in the middle of the day. There were only a couple of campers in the whole park. 

Might have been this shelter which turned us off. Weather was looking good but overcast, but kind of reminded us of last night.  We moved ON. 

The overlook of the COE dam which supports the state park. See the water on the pavement. And the high levels going over the overflow in the dam. Shelters and road were under water. This is not a normal event in northern Oklahoma by any means. 

I insisted Terry do his thing standing on the circular cement bench in the run down visitor pavilion at the above turnout. 

Terry had to take this shot of a Casy's. General Store. His first one of the season. He gets off easily on these things. 

They are everywhere in the midwest and it's like we now can see a bit of home turf when we pass one.  By the way they make great Pizza. Unlike the horrible one we had from Pizza Hut last night in Cherokee. 
Just to say he can,   Terry is making homemade Pizza tonigh. 

We have landed in Chanute in the city RV park just down from the Nu Wa plant. 
There are a couple of other HitchHikers and we shall bond I'm sure in the morning. 

We are here for our Tuesday appointment for service. Did I say there is a Supercenter just down the road.
Have a great Saturday night.  Showtime is having a FREE weekend on DirecTV, so sit back and relax, we are...

No storms in sight for next week to make things less stressful.
 
 
 
 

We came across the Oklahoma Panhandle on US 64 and found much to like. Dirfferent from what we expected. Here we go again finding what is around the curve in the raod again. Learning about the land and people who live here now and in the past.

But we had been worried about the weather forcast from the day before, so stopped at this road side picnic stop. As Terry was inside making a late lunch. I broought out our netbook computer from the pickup and placed it on the road side table. I clicked on the Icon and told the DataStorm internet dish on top of our 5 er to go up and sync up to the sat 22K miles up.  I love this stuff. What fun. Anyway I, read our email, researched the weather and all reports siad the heavy stuff would be in the upper midwest. Not here. So off we went without a worry as the sky condidtions looked good. 

Love the Oklahoma DOT.  Makes road side picnic shelters out of  used road gaurd rails. Take a look...  Heavy duty to be sure. 

Don't you just love this...  As we also traverse the semi, wide open west, that so long in the past Coronado might have stopped like us at this very spot. 

Well several miles down the road a weather warning came across the radio. What was this about. 

What can you do, check and recheck and Mother Nature sends you a new radar blip to get your butt in gear and pay attnetion, again.

We studied the county maps and the reports of where the storms were developing and rushed to stay ahead of it all. We were going 55-60 and the storm front movements as they reaported, were going about 25 mph. I have never tried to outrun a storm,  but now was the time to do so as we didn't see any storms out our windows so we were well ahead of it all. 

We landed in Cherokee, OK In their city park across from the police station. Per the sign we needed to go to the City Hall, to register for the RV park. 
It was right across the rstreet. 

Now why were we stoping in Cherokee for the night when we had panned to go south to the Great Salt Lake Plaines  state park. But as you can see from the clouds this was no time to continue on the road, and this seemed a good place to stop. City RV park right across from the City Hall Police station building. 

Do notice the semi truck traffic did pull over and take notice of their surroundings. 
After they started up again they waved to us big time acknowledging we had the good sense to stop and take cover in the City RV Park right on Main Street. 
I rushed across the street to the police station to see if we could park in the citry RV park... not in a regular designated site but along side a couple of them as I didn't want to be positioned north and south with the upcoming wind hitting us on the side from the west.  The police chief came out and looked across the street and said Ok. 
Now here is the kicker... This was just in time as we passed the National Storm Chasers just north of town waiting with their big rigs waiting on the side of the road, for the storm clouds to unwrap on us all. 

We got set up and raised our auto DataStorm dish just in time to watch The Weather Channel to see the same weather chasers liveon TV...  ME thinking this is just nuts as we are right in the middle of a major event and will be blown away as that is the reason they are here. 
The police station is right across the street (I went to pay for the City RV site) and I had a good conversation with the police chief about if it was OK to park like I did. The police station is open 24/7 for us to seek shelter if needed. What could be safer than a police station despatch center right acrosos the street in time of need.  Think we made a good deciesion. Once in a while we do good. We felt safe even though we might be toast.  Greenburg, KS came to mind. We have been their before and after and not a pretty sight. Could happen to any of us. 

This whole event is more than I wanted to experience in one day. We tried to not get into this situation as I tried to explain above. 
Now relaxed we found a Pizza Hurt in town searching the net and we went out and got it. Terry is eating PIZZA as I post, as  I'm doing this post to keep you all informed. 

Now Pizza for me...  Take care...

Tomorrow is another day and we shall see what direction we want to travel... Life is a trip... One last thing the town of Cherokee did us good to provide shelter in their city RV park, BUT the park is very rundown and was $20 a night. But who am I to now complain about money when we are sill alive, and not blown away. This was all as we went for Pizza... we saw a partial Rainbow... Must be safe... 

All kidding aside, we did find the local city office and police chief very friendly and helpful. Thanks and  Cherokee, OK. 
 

It was time to move on, and so we did. A short wait for the pilot car to let us on the HW going east as they had gotten the entrance of the campground with the blacktop surfacing. Off to points east and out and across the National Grasslands in NM. How boring this drive though this is vast area, must be experienced. I know each mile when fulltiming is supposed to be a treasure, but at times it gets to the point "Get me past this". 

Terry got excited when he spotted a Tree. 

Our plan was to get to Clayton, crossing over on US 56 form Springer as we left Cimarron and fill up with fuel and groceries and head up to Kenton on paved roads to Kenton to Black Mesa State Park. in Oklahoma. The road was paved but a little bouncy. I'm sure the locals are happy to just have a paved road to the outback and don't care how rought it is. Gravel is good, but rough paved is better me thinks for THEM.  Did I say that kindly enough... Our 5er is now broke in and road worthy. The off paved road was only from Clayton to Kenton on the above map. 
By the way the Dorsey Mansion State Park does not exist in the above map. Otherwise we would have stopped there. 

We stopped a car Kenton to ask directions to the park. There is only one road and we were on it heading east.  But we saw no signs and my tusty navigator was a little lost as we don't have a OK Gazetteer, as if that would help. 
She said 6 miles up the road, can't miss it. Later after 6 miles the right turn sez 4 more miles of wilderness to the park. No way did I think we would be going 
this far of the beaten path to a State Park. We could have gone just north of Clayton, NM  to Clayton NM Lake State Park   that we have stayed at before and found it to be VERY nice. 

But here we were go again...onward looking for what's around the UP and Down Cruves in the Road Ahead. As we have progressed over the years from vacation while still working, to fulltime we are now into the big rig stuff, but still TRY to find the off beat places to explore. Back roads are for us if we can just get TURNED around again... 

Should have stopped in to the Kenton Merc store to look around. We live and learn. Need to to stop at these places and at least get (a forbidden ice cream cone). The last one a Eagle Nest was soooo good. See the neon cone sign in the window. Screwed up again. 

This is the picture of the Black Mesa park which I saw on the OK state web site. If I had only known... 
The picture was way off, as the Lake is almost DRY. Should have paid attention ot theNOTE: Below that appeared on the state web site. 

This park is in Oklahoma's panhandle and got its name from the layer of black lava rock that coated the mesa about 30 million years ago. The Nature Preserve is located 15 miles from the state park and features Oklahoma's highest elevation at 4,973 feet above sea level. Black Mesa State Park is adjacent to Lake Carl Etling and offers RV, tent campsites, picnic facilities, boat ramps and a mooring buoy, trout fishing in season, a playground, restrooms with showers and a group camp with bunkhouses. 
NOTE: There is no boat access to Lake Carl Etling at this time. For specific lake conditions, please contact the park office.

Now for our picture of the lake. Even this picture looks like there is water in it. NOT. It is a nice park way out of the way, but without the lake, no reason to go there. So don't waste your time and fuel. There is no water like in the above state site picture.

So are we upset, Nah we are here, and are living fulltime in our wonderful RV. What's to be upset about.  It does help Terry is doing frying chicken in the oven and I'm having  a second vodka adult beverage. 
There are wild turkeys, mule deer, antelope running around the park and not about to be upset with us watching them. 
There is a big diesel pusher with FL plates in another site, they must be lost big time, or wise beyond our means. Otherwise this vast state resource is very empty. 

Think we got off... just a tad bit too much this time. The roads are ok (paved) but we will remember just how remote the panhandle of OK can be. 
Never knew that , and NOW we do. We are learning as we go and as I post this, we  are glad we did this side route to find out more about this land and the people who still live on it and the ones who proceeded them. Tidbits from the park brochure:

Black Mesa tells the story of a people that once inhabited the region. Over 65 million years ago, dinosaurs lived in this very swampy area. 
Native Americans lived here for thousands for years and hunted buffalo in this region. The historic Santa Fe Trail crossed near Black Mesa. 
Ruts can still be seen in the area. 

Oh and by the way camping rates in OK parks are reasonable we think. Base Rate $10.00 per night/per site Utility Fees (where applicable)
Water Service: $2.00 Electrical Service (30 or 50 amp): $6.00 Sewer Service: $3.00
So our site is $18  Our drop dead is under $20 for full service... Dump is fine at a central location. 

So it will be Friday tomorrow, and us fulltimers NEVER try to land at a campground right at the weekend. We shall try as we are not staying here two nights. AND it all depends on the weather forecast as were are heading out across the great unknown, Oklahoma and Kansas in mid May. God help us. We did just find our weather radio and put new batteries in it. 

Our plan for right now is to head out for another OK state park... Great Salt Plains State Park  Which is just north of the red star on the big map. 
Now if the map makes your mind go where is that... 

This is the extreme panhandle of OK.

We are now on the right of the map around Kenton and think this would be a good days drive. We shall se how far we get. 
Time to shut this down and get an off blog life.  You all take care...
Ron
 
 

Monday we did leave our great spot at Wild River and headed up HW 38 to Red River. This ski town is only about 15 miles up from the cutoff of HW 522 at Questa. Time to insert our little map again. Don't Ya just love it. 

So here is main street Red River. Quite a bit of activity so far from Taos. From the looks of it, this place must boom in the winter. And do not so bad in the summer also. I like this place. Did I jsut say tourest trap... Naw...

Looking back at Red River going up the mountain side and I mean straight up, then some more forever. Road crews were clearing falling rock and saw me coming and let me by. Thank god I didn't have to stop and then start from a dead stop. I was able to keep momentum going. And I'm not going to describe going down the other side. To just say I was in 2nd and thinking of trying 1st. Enough said. Made it fine and am here to tell about it. Have been on worse and am sure will be some again soon. I don't get scared, just have to concentrate so I don't screw up and over heat the breaks or something. I would take this route again. No traffic so wasn't holding up anyone and could go as slow as I wanted. I am confident in the Chevy 3500 Duramax w Allison transmission. I just don't worry about roads that much anymore. But I am pulling our home around with us so need to take that into account. 

The high views on the drive are somthing else. 

Slowly heading down into the high valley and below the first sight of Eagle Lake. 

 Picture Credit: Michael Gorback
This above one from the Eagel Nest Chamber web site. Looking at the town from the south. 
We came in from the north in center of teh picture.

And did I say Eage Nest is at 8200 feet. It takes all the energy I can muster just to get from the truck to the Ice Cream parler. 
Update: Later today, when we came back to town to make cell calls, we had our first cone in months, I sent him in while I waited in the truck in the alley out back by the fire station. No fire alarms went off telling the world, here we were, splurging on forbidden treats. 
Double chocolate with marshmallow chips.  It was a small cone. Damn. 

We had thought we would first check out the Eagle Nest State Park as they were adding a new visitor center and campgrounds on the lake. But we could see they wre not ready as the campsite shelters were still stacked up in the construction area.  We toured the loacl RV parks. But nothing turned us on so we said lets head down to the Cimarron River Canyon state park just a couple of miles east of town in the canyon and check that out. We kind of figured what we found. The only sites that we could fit in were taken and not a very pleaset place anyway. No water and the rest rooms were locked. This is the middle of May isn't it. 
SO I'm close to one of my let's just keep on going routines. So we did heading east adn not back up to Eagle Nest. Down river I like to say. Look what we ran into. It gave us time to comtemplate our next move. 

We had stayed in a lower campground in this state park in the only spot that we couild fit into years ago and had great sun for solar and satellite access and right on the lakes. Why not try for that. This 5er is longer and even if the site was open would we fit?

Well as you can see we found the site open and we got this 5er into it. The trailer tires are right up the the parking blocks. 

Notice the little lake in the background. Internet locked on and HD dish up and pointed. We are set for some great campfires and Terry fishing his heart out untill we have to head out into the midwest and get serious again. 

Oh did I say Terry fishing?  We are still in NM and his license is still good. 

They had a fishing durby last weekend so the place is stocked to the hilt.  The river is a class act above and below the samll lakes, and he can explore it while I enjoy a fire. We have a whole stack of firewood and all set. May stay here for a few more days before we have to start thinking about our trek into the unknown plains to see what mother nather can throw at us. I'm not looking forward to heading across Kansas Toto!  One of those nasty wicked witches could take a liken to us. Don't they know we're not very tender. We might have been raised on corn feed beef, beeing from Iowa and all,  but we don't need to spread that around, now do we. 
Now might be a good time to do a search for our trusty Radio Shack weather radio and get fresh batteries in it me thinks. 

I think we still have one more safe stop just inside the OK border at Black Mesa State Park. at Kenton, OK.

A background note... 

SKIP if you can see a soapbox appearing... We drove back up to Eagle Nest so we copuld get cell service because I need to call the SS office back in SD as they wanted to talk to me before they would approve my app. for SS benefits. We got up there and I had a good sig. so I called and didn't even get voice mail. Talked to them as they had a couple of income questions.  (Imputed Income for Terrys health Ins.) I get a W-2 for that and so I had to explain to them how that worked. I have to pay income taxes (wages) for the value of his health Ins. The IRS screws us on that ruling, but I gladly pay it, as I'm happy to just pay taxes on it instead of paying the total cost of it. Health Ins. in this country... How many could retire and go fulltime IF they had a way to get decent Health Ins. That would open up jobs for others. No, now people are working right up to 65. That is if they even have Ins. while working, if they still have a job. 
America is great, but parts of it are totally screwed up. But it is getting better day by day by day... 

I'm done...  Terry is out fishing and a campfire is in my future... Then later American Idol recorded on DVR. 
Not live but Memorex. Remember that old saying...
 
 
 

The pickup didn't even get started today as we just lounged around the campsite. If you are late tuning in we are in Wild River Rec. Area. Check below for the link. Have been here since Thursday and planing to head on out in the morning over to Eagle Nest, NM. Also see the map below.  And yes we are off the grid here just like we like it. Really quiet only a few vehicles go by each day. You can count the hours between them.  One thing we do have is extended cell service as we can see the tower way across the valley. (See the white spec in the center of the picture below. Right between the photo blending bars in the center.  Not sure we would get away with extended service all summer if hosting here without Verizon complaining we were off their net for too much usage. I was surprised I could call up voice mail on extended service. Have had trouble with that before. 
Now that the logistics are over... 

Did take a short walk (won't call it a hike) to check out the other campsites in the section. Wanted to see what the views were like from different locations. Esp. to check out the camp host site since it is empty. One of the volunteers told us the lady who has been host here for somthing like 19 years would not be back this year. So for now the site was empty. The rest of the volunteers are camped back behind the visitor center. Those must have a pool and hot tubs or something since no one has scarfed up this one. We wanted to see what she must have experienced sitting in her site comtemplating life as only she knew it, all those wonderfull summers. Can you imagine the memories she must have aquired offering her time to the betterment of the Wild River Rec. Area. We say many thanks to her, whoever she is,  and wish she could be here, one more year,  this year. 

Power, water, dump, storage shed, covered patio, wind - privacy fence, and phone connection. Home in the high country. Alt. 7500. 

Needs a little work as things are getting grown up a bit. Bet this looked immaculate when she was here. 
 

We had another visitor in the campground this afternoon. 

Me thinks you guys should leave me alone... I'm trying to take a rest on the trail right now. After all this is MY park. Get Lost. 
 
 
 

Saturday  May 9

Yes here we go again, so busy we didn't post for awhile.  But we did take pictures along the way. There are times when you get to a point in your travels where you are just so relaxed you just want to step back and unplug from all this electronic stuff. Even though it has been our life. Kind of like people who have a hard time getting out of the vacation mode of travel. At times us fulltimers need to get off of the online mode of travel and just chill out as they say.   So now posting our travels over the last few days.   Now on Saturday night in our $7 a day campsite in Wild River National Rec. Area. It includes the $3 a day use fee. 

We left Orilla Verde Rec Area on Thursday morning after a fun couple of mid week days watching the 2009 Rio Grande River Guides Rendezvous come into the group site area next to us. We got to watch them entertain us from the comfort of our RV.  They had one of there own cater the whole event with food, etc. We could see Native Sons Adventures had their act together. They even had the open sides to the group shelter boarded up so the wind would not effect them. 

One their last day they all took off and headed down the river and we later caught a picture of them below on the river. 

Later that same day on Thursday we hooked up and headed up the road through Taos. We had orig. planned to go straight up US 64 over to Eagle Nest and the State Park but Gordon and Marlene Richards emaild us and said to we should stop at Wild River Rec Area further up north so we checked it out and said that's what we should do. Might as well do the north and south access points of the Rio Grande. 

Stopped in Taos, dumped for $10 at the RV resort behind ACE hardware and got food at Albertson's and headed north. I worried about teh tight fits on the narrow roads in Taos but Albertson's parking lot was not full on a week day so all was cool. Except the prices in the store. They don't take their national Shoppers Discount card. The check people say we give discounts to all.Don't need teh Card.  Good Luck. 

Next we stoped at one of the overlooks on our way into at Wild River Rec Area. WOW.  I normally get campsite anxious and don't stop at anything untill I get my "I can be happy here" campsite. But this was right off the road and we wanted to see what we were in for and if we would have views to write home about. 

They camp down there after a long hike down. At 7500 feet on the rim I'm short of breath just getting to the overlook let along hiking down THERE.

The campgrounds below on the river on a zoomed in picture. If you have the strength and body to do it,  the cost is day use $3 and to camp another $2.  A big $5. They should  pay us to do that. The trails are more like climbing a ladder then a nice hike. This is big time and some people do, do that and love it. More power to them and the BLM for providing them the opportunity. 

We are at the site we found.  When you drive up this one you no longer need to drive on looking for a better one, you know this IS the one, and hit the break and tell your partner to get out and help you back in. 
Gordon and Marlene Richards told us this was the one in their email and it was.

Terry sitting with his tea.

The next day on Friday we had to take a drive again as Terry had been studying the maps. We were off to points unknown as he didn't tell me where. Going south on HW 522 we came to Arroyo Hondo and the road to the canyon crossing that was one of the original stage coach crossings across the Rio Grande. Below is the John Dunn bridge. Here and further south where we stayed at Orilla Verde (Taos Junction were the crossings). Can you believe people had so much trouble crossing this Gorge. 

Must have been a tough time getting around in this wilderness a hundred years ago. This was one of the only ways to Taos back then.
Now we get to explore with ease in our truck and think nothing of it. See the road going up the far side to get up and out to the west on the other side of the Rio Grande. This gorge is a big barrior to movement in the upper land now called New Mexico. 
 

The bridge across the river. No camping here. 
On the far side the road or should I say narrow 4X4 trek up the west side. I said to Terry NO way am I going up that.

This was bad enough just getting back out from where we had been. 

Now an overlook stop on the raod back in the Wild River Rec Area. 

The overlook where the Red River and the Rio Grande come together. 

It was super windy here and hard to even look down at the canyon. The thermals work there thing here. 

Where the Red River and Rio Grande converge. 

 

You want to take this trail. The trail head warning sign sez Very Difficult and we could believe it. 1.2 miles down. A little further we saw metal steps that looked more like a ladder than a trail. The kick I got was a the trail sign it said no bikes, jeeps. or horses. (Standerd BLM signage) ... but jeeps and horses with a red alash in them) You could try but you would have to carry them on your back. Good Luck.
I was winded just walking to the trail head from the parking lot. We met the ranger who was showing a new campground host around and asked us what we though about the big hole in the ground. Me thinks it is a little more than that. Might be \ time for a new assignment. 
I do wonder how many times a year he and his rangers have to go down and rescue people and carry them out. Or just climb down and clean the outhouses and add toilet paper.  Let alone maintain the trails. This could be a tough assignment. At 7500 alt. me think you need to be in good shape and really love your BLM position. Do they make the volunteers take to the trails while the stay in the visitor center. Me wants to read the duties of a volunteer at this park before I sing up to be a host. 

Terry later went for a hike next to our campsite where there are other trails and came up with these pictures. 

Do you think you would like to take this one. 
 

Time for supper ... more later... 
 
 

Tuesday  May 5
by your roving reporter Terry 

The "high" point of my day, doing laundry in Taos.

We found this laundromat when we came through a couple of years back.  The other laundromat that we found on the south side of Taos was not very appealing, this one has an attendant on duty to keep everything cleaned up.    Just across the street is the Smith's grocery store, which we have used in the past, and a fly shop around the corner to look through while the laundry slowly circles the washing machine door in a pool of suds.

Laundry took up most of the morning,  not a very strenuous job but lots of hurry up and wait time, followed by a bit of folding and hauling to the truck.  People watching is about the best part of the whole ordeal.  you get a cross section of the local populace to watch and observe while waiting for the machines to do their thing. 

Ron did not want to go to Taos, but did not care if I spent the day strolling the plaza and going to the museums.  Went to the Millicent Rogers Museum,  they were supposed to have a large collection of native american silver jewelry.  There were a few unique pcs, but I was not overly impressed by the collection,  It was nice enough, but there is better browsing in the galleries and antique shops in town. 

On the way home i stopped in the St. Francis plaza to see the old adobe buildings.  there is a very large adobe church surrounded by other historical  adobe buildings.  Most of the buildings are in very good shape and are well maintained, but a few of them are in various states of decay.  Stopped in the bead shop at the entrance to the plaza.  The shop proprietor was very friendly, and wanted to talk about Quartzsite, Az. when he found out that Ron and I winter there.  He has set up in the Main event at Quartzsite in the past but did not go this year.  He wanted to know how things were going in Q, and he talked about setting up at Desert Gardens next year.

The mission church of St. Francis.

 Another picture from hwy 68 South of Taos, with a view of the Rio Grande Canyon.  there is a rest area here with picnic tables and sun shades. 

And a final view of the town of Pilar from the Hwy.  Our campground is on a side road going along the river, and we turn here at Pilar. 
 

The receipt on our campsite post said we were paid up to today.  We had decided we would stay another night and go from there.  Terry wants to do laundry and that will take a day. So we are staying longer. He can also explore Taos without me. He loves tourist traps and I just tell him to go and if need, stay overnight. Have fun. That's when he sez "Wait a Minute"... 

Back to trip plans. We need to find a place to dump in Taos when we leave here. No dump in this Orilla Verde rec. area, so researched that. We had the wild idea since we have that 50 gal type blue boy we could pump our stuff to it and visit the camphost site (that have a dump connection) since they were not here yet. But they showed up right on que on May 1.  As a rule of thumb fulltimers don't need those tank level indicators, we just know how full we are of it don't ya know.  (They don't work well anyway) We are good for several more days and not a problem. 
Looks like we found Taos Valley RV park for $10 + tax, Sierra Village RV at ?, and the ACE hardware store ?. We need to call them when we are nearer when we get cell service. The other day I said no Verizon service in Taos. Might have been just my phone. I think Terry's might get a signal.

We though we would maybe stay at a RV Park at Eagle Nest for the weekend and dump there. We have been to this area several times and love it but the (new) Eagle Nest Lake State park has no camping and no dump and the local RV parks are shall I say expensive. About $40 a night. Sure this is a resort type area and they need to make a living in a few short months, but those rates are not for us. So we'll pay to dump in Taos and end up at Cimarron Canyon State Park in a dry site (they only ones they offer, no dump) and be happy. 

We may stay here even over the next weekend and head to Eagle Nest on next Monday (need to check the extended weather forecast for Eagle Nest as it is much higher [8.2K] there and could get cold and nasty) It's 6K here. We have learned not to move and try to compete with weekend campers. 

Another view of this campground. Terry like his hikes an got this. We are not in the picture, this is of the campground host site on the south end. We are to the right behind the scrub pines. 

We are not as they say in vacation mode. Think we got over that. That is until you get me behind the wheel and I just don't want to pull over and stop early in the day and go till it gets late which causes the grumpies setting up in a campground. It's that, just wanting to see what's in the road just around the curve. The need to see what's ahead that's neater than what we just passed. That's my only fulltiming flaw that I admit to, today anyway. That's why I started Hitchitch.com so I could see what others have already found around that next curve in the road ahead. 

It is calm and sunny and warm and a perfect day in this Taos area right now. 

A shot Terry got while on his hike above the campground. . 

We at last went today for our High Road drive. From Orilla Verde Rec Area where we are camped, headed down US 68 to Espanola and over to Chimayo on HW 76. 76 on up to HW 75 and all the way over to the Mora area. Deadheaded back on 75 and after a detour up the Ja Junta Canyon (detour trip details below) headed back up HW 518 to Taos. All and all a very good drive and it really does goes way up on top. Very modern paved roads. If you are ever in Taos do take their published High Road day trip adventure. Taos Vacation Guide

Also take the Circle Drive (we have done it in the past) North from Taos to Questa east on HW 38 to Red River - Eagle Nest and back to Taos on US 64. Another easy day trip. 

Now on with our day adventure...

Winding high roads that just go on and on. We can see why this is a popular weekend drive for locals from Taos or Santa Fe. And not to mention the motorcycles out for a day trip. It is still early in the spring up here and many of the tourist shops were not open yet. Terry wanted to have lunch on our drive, but we didn't see anything. 

We saw several Mission churches. Across from this one were a bunch of dogs [above] guarding their fire hydrant. Not a worry in the world except when they had to use the facilities. 

When driving HW 75 we just had to take this side canyon road.  Just because. Sure glad we did. 
We found: But don't tell anyone as we want to come back and find it all to ourselves. 

Carson National Forest web site for more of that read more about it. 

Here is a review of the La Junta Canyon Area this campsite as reported in 

Click on the graphic for much more info on forest campgrounds. 
We love this site and have had it listed in our RV Travel Resource section.

La Junta Canyon Area 
DIRECTIONS:
From Penasco, NM, take State Rt. 75 east 4.8 miles to "T"
intersection (State Rt. 518).  Turn right onto Rt. 518 (unmarked) 
and go 8.3 miles to La Junta Canyon (Forest Rt. 76) sign.  Turn 
left at sign onto Rt. 76 (dirt and gravel) and go 0.2 miles to 
campground. The elevation is 8,200 ft.
The campground stretches 4.5 miles up through the canyon with
sites scattered along Junta Creek in grass fields or under
spruce.  The campground is composed of two sections, one of which
is called Upper La Junta where the sites are more formally
designated.  The other area is along the road (sites numbered 1
through 30) and has a more dispersed camping feel.  This section
may have cattle wandering among the sites.
CAMPGROUND SITE CONFIGURATION
No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 23
RV INFORMATION
Hookups: None
Group RV Sites: Yes
No. RV Pull Throughs: 8
Waste Station: No
Average Parking Apron Size: Open field
Comments:
The parking aprons are grass and dirt.  The aprons are poorly
defined and irregular in shape.  Access to some sites is not
trailer-friendly.
HIKING
La Cueva Lake #8 (foot, horse, mountain bike & motorcycle) - 4.4
miles
FISHING 
Rainbow trout (stocked)

Now a look at some of the campsites and road conditions. 

And to be sure fishing should be fantastic. Look at this beaver dam amoung many.
The whole area is more than anyone could ask for in an outdoor camping and fishing adventure. This is why Cabela's made it big. It brought back thoughts of our many years camping in pop-ups in places like this in Colorado. A little spoiled now in our big 5er but I can dream can't I. And here we could get our big unit in and stay awhile me thinks...

This campground was across the river and since at this time of year it is high water, didn't think we wanted to risk it. It was a couple feet deep and very swift. Could you see our truck pushed right off the slick crossing and down in the hole next to it. That would not be a a good camping day for us. There are tents back there. And we see tire tracks on the drive. BUT not somthing we would attempt. So does that make us whooshes, me thinks NOT. Just cautious. I'll try it if you all promoise to send big bucks to replace our water logged truck.  No takers, didn't think so... 
Guess I got used to the AZ  road signs "Do Not Enter When Water Present" 
Spent too much time in Quartzsite.

One of the campsites a trailer would fit nicely. Right on the river. Now that's a site I could fall in love with. As a matter of fact I liked any spot big enough that I thought we could our 5er in. And the larger point was if we could get it out again. 

We continued up the canyon as far as we could till the road turned into 4 WD and muddy from melting snow. 

It was a fun day and we found a new area in Carson Nation forest we would like to came back to someday. But remember it is 8200 feet up here and a long pull to get here. Let alone going back down. 
 
 

Plans as you all know are meant to be broken. No Terry didn't screw up, this time, nor did I,  it was mother nature... How could she.  It started out with a sprinkle this AM and we checked the National Weather Service Enhanced Radar Image Loop (this site is better than sliced bread) after the nation radar loop view, zoomed in on NM and saw rain in our future. So we decided we would just drive into Taos for today.  Look around and get some supplies for next week. As we were leaving it started to hail. Yes I did say hail. So today's drive on the High Road south of Taos was for sure not in the cards. Glad we had made that decision earlier. Going to regroup and plan it for Sunday. 

No if you thought it was just us upset with the weekend weather how would you like to be the multitudes who were rushing around to do their rafting trips today down the Rio Grand. They thought  it would just be a sprinkle or two and after all yesterday it was in the low 80s. They are on a white water rafting trip after all. 

This would be great fun on a hot day in summer but today me thinks this could be torture. 
But we won't go there. Now if these pictures turn you on. Go to  LOS RIOS RIVER RUNNERS  as they say New Mexico's oldest, most experienced rafting company.  They have overnight trips and fishing float trips. Nice site. 

But later in the day we could see they would not be in a good mood as it was about 45 on the temp sensor readout on our truck rear view mirror, and a steady cold rain. How would you like to be caught out on a river under those conditions? Not me, nor them I'm sure. It was a bitch just getting across the Albertson's parking lot in shorts [I had them on as we left the campsite and thought like the rafters it will get nicer... Wrong] and my hooded sweatshirt. 
Much later as we were heading back to our campsite, we saw bus loads of them returning with the rafts towed behind. Don't think they were singing Kum By Ya. More like get me the hell out of here... I'm cold!! 

This has been the routine we have found in the last few spring weekends in campgrounds where the locals come out for a couple of well deserved days off, to find shitty weather, till of course on Monday, when they are all gone and it turns clear and perfect. .  So sorry. These people need to work flex days this season I guess. As I have posted before, we used to be in the same boat and watch fulltimers still spread out having fun when we had to leave on Sunday as still working stiffs.. But now we are on the other side and loven it.
Sorry. Your time will come... 

The one event that sticks in my mind is once in IA as we were leaving a state park after a nice weekend of camping in our very small Jayco trailer. We were at the dump station and a fulltimer was just coming in and we were both dumping side by side and talking about how they were just getting there, and we were leaving. It reminded me my dream was to be able to do just that.  Come in as others were leaving... Now we do it all the time and it seems now like no big deal.  BUT it should, because we are living our dream and IT does happen just like that. 
 
 

We relaxed and I applied for SS Retirement Benefits online. How simple was that. First payment will be deposited in my bank this August. In five days I can log back in and see how the application is going. It was user friendly. No appointment to a SS office for me, thank you. 

Before I share today's road trip. I just have to post this picture scanned from the Taos Vacation Guide we picked up at the visitor center. Now I see they have an online site for the 

(click on the graphic)or this link   Taos Vacation Guide. 
Do go there... a very slick web presentation. 
This picture is looking south to where we are camped on the south end of the picture down in the canyon. We drove across this bridge on US 64 going to the left to Taos.  That is the rest area on the SW side of the bridge. 
See below as we are going for a day trip drive in the mountains to the south... later..

Read more about it from the Taos County Historical Society. 
The Rio Grande Gorge and the Geology That Formed It

Feeling good we next decided to go for a ride up and out of the canyon. Per the map below north out of Rio Bravo campground to Taos Junction Bridge. and then up and up and up on a very washboard, narrow road. Never try to pull a trailer up or down this thing. At the top we drove over to Carson. A rundown wide spot with a house or two and an old rural schoolhouse. 

Below is the Taos Junction bridge and campground and the road just goes up from there. 

We did drive along the river north of the bridge investigatiing the camper trailer we saw yesterday. It was a spot for a campground host for the primitive camping area. No power for this host. The other hosts in all these campgrounds have power, water and sewer. How they go someone for that spot as it gets very hot in the summer down in this canyon. 

Looking down river to the south from again above the Taos Junction campground like above. 

This is the corner where the above pictures were taken. Not a good place to stop as one lane and blind for traffic. 

The view form the top as the road  tops the canyon and come to flat ground. The view back down.

The old school house at Carson. Looks well built in its time. This side of the Rio Grand is pretty isolated with crossing over to Taos way up to the north on HW 64 at the Gorge. 

A little further up the now paved road is a convince store. This is where we turned around and headed back to drive back down the fun filled canyon drive. 

As you come to it form the flat, a warning sign, but you would not believe what is just around the curve. 

Wonder how may people come tooling down the flat smooth blacktop road, hit the gravel, start down,
and regret it BIG TIME. 

Back at the campground and waiting for more campers to show up on a Friday night. Looking for some excitement. esp. if a huge group of tent campers move into the group site next to us. Last year a group of Air Force recruits camped and went rafting down the river. This stretch of the river is huge on rafting and now with high spring runoff the rapids are looking very adventurous. And did I say the temps are around 80. Warm but we don't need the air. Kind of nice. 

Now for a sneak peek of an upcoming road trip to the high country southeast of here on Saturday or Sunday. 

We are in the Pilar area in the center of the map. By the way there is a super Wal*Mart in Espanola. Going down 68 and back up 76 and 518 should be a fun trip. Of course without the 5er. which will stay in the campground. 
So later it is...  Much later on looking at the map when we leave the area, we will be going east on HW 64 over to Eagle Nest and points east. Just for reference...

If you just clicked on the May post to get here...
do click on Go BACK for our late April posts on how we got to this great location. 
Or click on Go to INDEX to see what else you missed. 
We are having, fun so should you...
 
 

Go  BACK       Go to  INDEX  Page     Go FORWARD

See where we are at right now. DataStormUsers map ID 98  Have question or comment about our blog life... We love email.   Just email rbunge@hitchitch.com