I began the day with another 4 mile walk from the campground and around the perimeter of Isla Blanca. I stopped for awhile at the mouth where the bay meets the gulf and watched dolphins feeding.
Tim prepped our bikes with lubricant to knock off some of the desert dust.
We cycled into town, down to the water tower. We took a more leisurely ride back, stopping on a pier.
We found this sandcastle exhibit as we biked on.
We took the pedestrian boardwalk under the highway and then back to the KOA.
This evening we took the Jeep to the bayside. We packed grilled salmon and salads for our meal. We watched kiteboarders grabbing wind.
I waded out into the shallow water.
As the tide receded, we watched grackles feeding on small flies at the water’s edge.
The sun appeared to melt into the water. Another good day on South Padre Island.
Last night the wind finally subsided a bit and we had a fairly quiet night.
This morning, I walked to Isla Blanca State Park. I saw lots of shore birds.
The park memorial to fishermen lost at sea.
The Gulf of Mexico.
Tim went back to the gym and then took a bike ride. I went to Port Isabel to get groceries. Raul came and washed our RV; it was desperately dirty!
This afternoon, we took the Jeep to the beach. The surf was rough and the tide was high. The beach was narrow but the Jeep had no trouble passing through. We found a spot and sat awhile to watch the water. It was very breezy.
We were given a trash bag when we entered the park. We filled it with debris.
Tim walked around and found a better place to park where we could still see the shore but where we were also more protected from the wind.
We enjoyed the afternoon. I cooked some very fresh red snapper on the cookstove. The fish was fresh and dense and sweet and delicious…the best fish I have had in a long time!
I took a walk this morning along County Road 402. I was walking along when two dogs charged toward me. The little dog was yipping and annoying and the bigger dog more menacing with spittle flying. I tried screaming at them but they continued to walk alongside me barking their “fool heads off.” They finally gave up and went back home but in the meantime my heart was pounding. I was done walking on this lonely country road. I went back to the pecan farm and walked back and forth among the rows of trees.
We traveled again today. We left Falfurrias and Tim drove to South Padre Island. The wind was relentless with sustained winds of 25-30 mph and gusts greater than 50. I know that Tim wasn’t having much fun driving, particularly when there were crosswinds.
The wind turbines were still today. I read that with winds around 55mph, they automatically shut off. More wind it not a good thing for them.
We made it safely. I took the laundry across the road to the laundromat. I walked again while the clothes were drying. Tim found a decent gym here in the resort and did his workout. Otherwise, we hunkered down in the RV protected from the wind.
When we watched the news this evening, the wind and weather was THE STORY.
This morning I was able to walk a portion of the Salado Creek Trail. This multiuse greenway was adjacent to the RV park.
Welcome Spring!!
This would have been a nice place to ride our bikes but we had plans to move on again today.
We drove from San Antonio south to a small town called Falfurrias. Here there was a Harvest Host site, the Boykin Pecan Farm. Larry is the host/farmer/cowboy/owner in charge of this beautifully kept farm. He met us with a warm Texas welcome and told us to make ourselves at home. He invited us to come to the house once we were settled. We met Larry’s wife Sophie and we enjoyed chatting around their kitchen table and getting to know more about their family and their farm. These were such kind and authentic, hardworking people. We left with a 5 pound bag of pecans and a dozen fesh eggs…so fresh that Tim went out and helped to gather them from the chicken coop.
We spent the remainder of the evening parked in the orchard among the pecan trees. It was peaceful and lovely.
I walked through Sonora this morning. First around the rodeo venue and the community park and then on the sidewalks through town,
Tim noticed this yesterday…the taxidermist and meat processor right next to the BBQ place.
We traveled in the RV again today from Sonora about 150 miles to San Antonio. Both yesterday and today I did some of the driving. Tim chose nice smooth, flat roads for me to navigate. I was able to merge onto the highway from a rest area and then eventually put it on cruise control and then just steered. I did have to pass a few other vehicles and I had to move over for stopped trucks on the shoulder. We switched both days before we got into town. It was good practice. I am feeling more confident and I think I might be doing better. I cannot ever imagine that I will be relaxed, there is just too much to be aware of.
Once we were settled at the Alamo KOA, we ventured into San Antonio. The camp host suggested that we use the city bus. She said that parking was difficult and expensive. The bus stop was right across from the campground. We had to wait about 25 miuntes but then we were on our way.
We started our exploration at the Alamo. This is the site of the most famous battle in Texas’ war with Mexico for independence. I did not remember that Texas was it’s own republic for about a decade before it decided to join the United States. The Alamo was crazy busy. All tickets for all tours were sold out. We were able to walk the grounds. We got to listen to an enactor tell the story of the Texas War for Independence.
Next, we crossed the street to the San Antonio River Walk. More than a century ago, this town was built very near the San Antonio River. The river flooded the town in 1921. In 1929 an architect deisgned a plan to divert and dam some of the river while creating a system of walls and paths along the water’s edge. This was the beginning of River Walk. It is quite a spectacle. Today was a Saturday and the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration on the river was underway. It is part Vegas. part Mardi Gras, part Duval Street and then there is the whole western element thrown into the mix.
The Saint Patty’s Day barge parade happened while walked. The float with the bagpipes was the very best!
The art, sculptures, city buildings, bridges, boat tours, the colors, the restaurants, the landscaping…this place was happening! Lots of music and food and throngs of people. We enjoyed walking the loop and taking in all the sights and sounds.
We found our way back tot he bus stop for the number 24 and made it back to the RV. It was a very different and fun day!
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!
