We left El Paso at 8am, eager to be on the road and chipping away at the miles that are Texas. Texas is big.
This javelina was nosing around in the trash at a rest stop. We watched a tractor trailer driver feed it.
We traveled about 400 miles today, arrving in the small town of Sonora after 4pm.
This evening we went into the market for a few things. We passed the local elementary school. There was a sign in front of the school that stated that some school staff were armed. I did some reading and about 30% of Texas school districts have implemented programs allowing teachers and other personnel to carry weapons during the school day. These teachers receive special training.
At the grocery we picked up a brochure about predator management on ranches. Coyotes and feral pigs are killing young deer, turkey, and quail. On one 1200 acre ranch where trappers worked to manage the predator population; 43 coyotes were killed in one season.
Every place that we visit has its own struggles. It might be immigration or earthquakes or wildfires or homelessness or drought or a myriad of other problems. As visitors we cannot even hope to fully comprehend the complexities of the issues and we shouldn’t endeavor to judge solutions. We don’t live here.
After exercise time, we left Tucson. We traveled on 10E to the New Mexico border.
This afternoon, we stopped at a rest area so Tim could nap. Once he had slept, he was ready to go. Today was about driving east and getting the miles done!
In Las Cruces, we stopped for another break. I like this roadrunner sculpture.
We drove into Texas and through El Paso. Again today, it took several phone calls to find a campsite. The place we finally found sits in the shadow of Interstate 10 and Tim swears that as he arrnaged the hookups, he was in the shadow of the passing cars. We are grateful we found a place. We were tired and ready to settle and we really try hard never to drive the RV in the dark.
On March 14th we left Blythe behind. We traveled all day on Route 10 East. We passed through Phoenix and dropped down to Apache Junction. We had hoped to stay overnight in this area but there were NO campsites to be found. We finally found Arizonian Travel Trailer Resort Campground in Gold Canyon. It was a very nice luxury type resort mostly for people who were wanting to stay for the winter. They were able though to accommodate us for one night. This place had all kinds of amenities…bocce ball, pickleball, a hot tub and pool, a wood shop, a ceramics room, a library, an aeromodellers runway, a dirt course for gas-powered remote-control cars and loads of other stuff and clubs and activities…if you wanted to stay in ONE place ALL winter! We passed a pleasant evening. On Tuesday morning I had a new place to walk. The complex was so large that I only had to walk 2 laps to get my 3.5 miles done. Tim had access to a fitness room as well.
We traveled again on Tuesday. We took the scenic route from Gold Canyon to Marana.
On our way, we stopped at a wayside for breakfast. Tim was chatting with some other RV travelers and I was walking. I encountered an 80-year-old woman who had her cat on a leash. She was doing her housework; cleaning her furniture cushions in one of the ramadas. She was traveling in a Class A motorhome by herself and I think she was a little lonely. I learned a lot about her life. She and her fourth husband, finally, her true soulmate, sold their house in 1994 to RV fulltime. He grew ill and passed away in 2009. Her kids asked her who was going to take care of her and she said she was going to take care of herself. This woman has been traveling on her own for all of the intervening years. She is quite remarkable. She is smart and sharp and knows a lot. She stands just 4 foot 9 inches tall. Her attitude is amazingly positive. She earns just $1,500 per month and that money must pay all of her expenses. That being said, she does not stay in campgrounds but rather finds places in the bush to stay. She had been at this particular wayside for four nights. She travels to Alaska in the summer and to Baja in the winter.
Tim was climbing into our coach and I told her that I should go if I wanted a ride to Tucson. She said “Let me tell you one more story.” When she and her husband had been traveling in Alabama, they stopped to get fuel. He was pumping gas and while she was sitting in the passenger seat, she smelled smoked turkey legs. She saw a stand across the parking lot. She decided that she really wanted smoked turkey legs for lunch. When the man was finished pumping, he got into the camper and assumed she was in the bathroom. He called out “I am going to go ahead and drive.” She was left standing in the parking lot, waving the turkey legs in both hands after him.
I wished her travel blessings. Whenever I think that I cannot do something…I am going to try to remember her strength and courage!
We settled in a campground in Marana just north of Tucson. We wanted to visit Lee and Claudia, our good friends that we met in Alaska. We again had trouble finding a place to camp. The campground owners have all been surprised by how busy it is. They are more astonished that people are booking to come into Phoenix and Tucson in May, a time when it starts to get fairly warm and it usually isn’t busy at all!
We were invited to dinner at the Harbers home. When we get to their place, it always feels like we are arriving “home.” They are such generous and gracious people. We had grilled elk (harvested by Lee) and fresh asparagus. We haven’t had dessert in such a long time but Claudia had homemade brownies accompanied by Lee’s homemade chocolate gelato and vanilla ice cream…so so good!
On Wednesday morning I wasn’t sure where I would end up walking. The campground is very small. I wove my way through Marana streets and found a nice municipal area with sidewalks and street lamps and benches. Following the walkway, I came upon a county park. There was a paved walking path on its perimeter and I did a couple of circuits before heading back.
Tim took a bike ride through the same area and by the local school.
Lee and Claudia met us this morning and we all drove to Saguaro National Park. We have been here before…but I just love it. This is a cactus forest. The saguaros grow so densely here, the environment perfect for their survival. The green desert is so different from the desert of Southern California. This place looks alive.
The wildlife is very rich and diverse but the animals are mostly nocturnal and we saw raptors and lizards but not much else. The saguaros are magnificent. They take such a long time to grow. It is usually about 70 years before the cacti get their first arms. They reach full height at about 150 years, growing 40-50 feet tall. I was always worried because when Tim and I have been out, we have not noticed small saguaros. I wondered if there was a future for the species. Lee showed me today though how the tiny cacti grow under trees, usually after seeds are dropped by birds. The larger trees serve as a nursery and protection for the smaller seedlings.
We walked at the Visitor Center. We would have liked to have gone inside but there was a crazy long line to get in. People had to take numbers and wait to be called.
We also stopped and hiked on the King Canyon Trail.
We went to lunch at Coyote Pause. We had great food and the very best company.
Soon it was time to say our goodbyes. We aren’t sure when we will see Lee and Claudia again. We are so grateful for their friendship.
We did our usual thing on Saturday morning and then got packed and ready for one last overnight adventure in the California desert. On our way out of town we spotted a billowing plume of black smoke in the town of Blythe. I guessed either a vehicle fire or tires burning. We could see the smoke from miles away.
We traveled back to the Mule Mountains, to a site that we had chosen on Friday. We were high above the desert floor at 740 feet.
We hiked around among the craggy rocks, finding hand dug mines as we walked. Tim is on the top of the peak in the distance.
Enjoy Tim’s video.
We enjoyed a peaceful evening with mild temperatures and a gentle breeze.
The sun slipped down behind the mountain at about 4:30. It immediately began to get a little chilly and the fire felt nice.
Pastel colors reflected in the eastern sky.
We slept well. We drove back through Blythe on our way back to the RV and went to the site of last night’s fire. Apparently, a man had been squatting on the property behind Alex’s Tire Store. He had been warned to leave several times. Last night, he had a fire that got out of control and spread quickly to the nearby dry grass and brush. From there it ignited tires and vehicles in the yard behind the shop. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control.
We spent Sunday afternoon being a little lazy. We leave Blythe tomorrow and will head toward Phoenix.
My walk on Thursday morning took me past freshly cut alfalfa fields. The sweet smell was heavenly! Later in the day neat green bales sat here.
I have been checking on mama owl at least once every day.
We got our workouts and walks and bike rides done early. Just before lunchtime, the winds kicked up. The dust was billowing and at times, we couldn’t see the surrounding mountains. Winds were sustained at 20mph. We found ways to stay occupied inside! I did venture out in the evening for a hair appointment. It is very interesting having different people cut and color my hair…no one does it quite the same as the person before…
Friday morning it was still quite windy. I walked along the river through the ecological preserve where I was more protected from the gusts.
We were thinking we might go out overnight but we changed our plans after checking the forecast. Instead, we took the Jeep to the Mule Mountains. We traveled along the power line trail.
We went to see the Mule Tank Intaglios, a set of circles in a circular pattern that were probably used by the Chemehuevi and Mojave tribes for ceremonial dancing.
We continued to wander, looking for a potential campsite for Saturday night.
We found a mine.
We thought that the road we were on might take us all the way around the mountains and back to the main road. We came to a very rough and rocky section and Tim went out to evaluate. There was an extremely sharp drop-off and so we turned back the way we had come!
It was a warm and sunny day and driving around and exploring was a great way to spend our time. The winds didn’t settle until after 2pm. I am glad we didn’t camp out today and I look forward to tomorrow’s adventure!
Before my walk this morning, I went to look for the nesting female great horned owl. I could only catch a glimpse of her eyes and horns.
She is sitting in a honey mesquite tree. At the point where the elbow just out to the right, a bowl of sorts has formed in the junction of the branches and here she sits. Soft downy feathers coat the inside of the nest.
Several days ago, she pushed a “bad” egg out of the nest. Yesterday, it was still up in the tree but today, we found it in the grass. It was a creamy color and about the same size as a chicken egg. This pair of owls has been nesting in this campground for years.
Great horned owls eat rodents and also birds including pigeons and ducks and geese. One woman has been staying here every winter for the past 26 years. She told a story of a picture that she took of the nesting owls many years ago. She used her cell phone. She could see that there was something white laying in the tree outside the nest. She put the picture on her computer in order to enlarge it and saw that the owls had killed a cat. These owls are 18-24 inches tall and have a wingspan of 4-5 feet.
Tim captured this picture.
I saw a brilliant vermillion flycatcher.
I also saw a coyote walking in a hayfield but he was very far away.
Tim did his stretching here and then went back to the gym.
We did a couple of errands. We have been getting purified water in a 5-gallon jug for our drinking water. The water here in the desert comes from desalination plants…water harvested from the ocean and made drinkable. This tap water contains salt and so we go to water stations to fill. We found a Mexican food market and got a couple of new things to try.
We both took bike rides and enjoyed a quiet and pleasant afternoon. The day was warm and sunny and it was nice to have the windows open. We could occasionaly hear the hooting of the owls.
This evening we went to town to try Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant. It was a very busy place. We had delicious food!
I had a great morning walk from the campground and along the farm fields. Tim did his stretching and yoga and then headed to Body Zone, the gym we found yesterday. The owners gave Tim the senior citizen rate. For $20.00 he can go every day this week!
We went to run errands. Our first order of business was to drive 4 miles into Arizona to get gas for the Jeep. In Blythe, California, regular unleaded gas was $5.89 a gallon. Just over the line, in Ehrenberg, Arizona, gas was $4.49!
This afternoon, we took a Jeep ride on gravel roads into the Big Maria Mountains. We were looking for potential camping spots for an overland adventure later this week. It sure is pretty there!
For dinner, we tried the brand-new restaurant in town. Stacy’s Kitchen features down home southern cooking. Tim loved his collard greens. The dirty rice and green beans were tasty too.
745 March 6-7, 2022 The Road From Mojave To Blythe
We left Spaceport RV Park early on Sunday morning. It was very cold and blustery and we just decided to move forward! We drove through scrubby desert and we were surrounded by chocolate, mocha, and caramel-colored mountains.
Tim drove for 3 hours and we arrived in Needles, California before noon. The KOA there was able to accommodate us. Tim watched the race and I walked and found lots of other ways to stay busy. This RV park sits right on Historic Route 66.
Sunset.
On Monday, I took a walk along the road to the campground. Here someone has erected monuments made of stone and honoring the various branches of the military.
Tim drove a couple of hours through the desert. It is so pretty here. When we are on the coast…we love it there…when we are in the mountains…we love them too…and the desert…we love the desert! I guess it is a good thing that we can find beauty wherever we go!
We got to Blythe in early afternoon. We are staying at Mayflower Regional Park right on the Colorado River. We have stayed here before and we like it a lot. It is peaceful. Shirley at the front desk set us up with a full hookup site. We were thinking we might stay for 4 nights but she said if we stayed for 5 nights…we could get two more for free. When she went to charge our card, the rate came up even better than that…7 nights for $210.00.
After some quiet time, we took the Jeep into town to find a carwash. We scoped out restaurants and found a gym for Tim to use this week.
This evening I grilled fish and peppers and onions for tacos. There is a pair of nesting owls here and I spotted one on the tree next door.
A nice walk by the river at sunset with my best friend.
I had a peaceful walk in the Hanford Cemetery adjacent to the fairgrounds.
Afterward, I wandered through the Saturday swap meet. There were lots of people selling all kinds of odds and ends and there were several produce vendors with beautiful citrus fruits and chilis and dried beans.
This morning we took one last look at the weather. In Three Rivers near Sequoia National Park, it was sleeting. In the Sierras, there was snow and a forecast for more. In Yosemite it was 16 degrees with a forecasted high of 23 today. After considering all this data, we conformed our decision to go south and east.
We drove on Interstate 99 through the heartland of America’s breadbasket past vineyards and farm fields and orchards. We passed oil fields as well. There is lots of wide-open space in the valley but it is all being used to harvest something. We stopped for a break and I walked to the nearby orchard to use my app and identify the trees…peach trees…miles of peach blossoms!
Bakersfield is a trucking hub and train station. There are all manner of industries and businesses to support the farming community. There are lots of cold storage facilities and packing plants.
In Bakersfield, we turned onto Route 58 toward the Tehachapi Mountains and drove up and through the Pass. At 3,793 feet, we saw snowcapped peaks. Tiny snowflakes splatted on the windshield.
We emerged on the other side of the mountains. The wind had been a factor all day. Here, there was a overhead road sign with a message for all campers and trailers to exit the highway in the next two exits because of high winds. We knew better than to ignore this sign! We exited and pulled over on the side of the road to make a plan. Fortunately, there was Spaceport RV Park just 3 miles away. We had phone service and we were able to call and they had two spots large enough to accommodate us…we went straight there. The wind is supposed to blow strongly until 2am. Meanwhile, we are safe and have a home for the night.
This afternoon we went to explore the town of Mojave. We had seen a bunch of airplanes sitting in a large field and we went there first. Mojave has the nation’s only inland Spaceport. In this industrial complex, lots of businesses coexist to further the idea of space travel. There is also a test pilot school and dozens of other enterprises to repair and construct aircraft. The schools here in Mojave have a comprehensive educational program promoting aeronautics and engineering. This begins in preschool and older students are able to apprentice or intern in the various aerospace facilities and at nearby Edwards Air Force Base.
We went to see the wind turbines. Apparently, Mojave is one of the windiest places in the WORLD! Now we know. This makes it an ideal location for windfarms. The Mojave Desert has over 5,000 turbines. The farm here in town is the third largest in the country.
This town is also a mining town, a trucking center, and a train junction.
We had light rain this morning which made it really hard to go out and walk…but I did.
It was moving day again. Our journey today took us through the fertile Salinas Valley past hemp fields and new cauliflower fields.
We could also see red strawberries on the vine for acres.
We took Highway 101 to 198. This is a scenic route. We have never seen landscape like this before, rumpled hills, the Cholame Hills. It was very pretty even on this cloudy drizzly day. It was very curvy and hilly and the driving was intense for a while…but well worth it!
We passed lots of cattle ranches.
As we approached the town of Coalinga, the terrain changed again…more trees, rockier, and more mountainous.
Just before the town, there were a bunch of oil rigs.
We crossed Highway 5 and we entered the San Joaquin Valley. This is another huge commercial agricultural area. Lots of America’s produce comes from right here.
We passed miles of pistachio trees.
Grape Arbors.
Rice fields.
Orchards in bloom…not sure what grows here.
And lemon groves and onion fields and lots of other stuff as well!
There were large solar farms, though today, they were not harvesting any sunlight.
We are staying at King County Fairgrounds. We walked the property late this afternoon.
This evening, we went into the town of Hanford where we found Zaytoona, a Mediterranean restaurant. Tim enjoyed lentil soup and a vegetarian platter with stuffed grape leaves, Fattoush salad, falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, and tabbouleh. I had a gyro with tzatziki sauce and Fattoush salad. Really tasty food and again…something different!
