End of this winters Trip to Mexico

I know I’m late in writing this but there are extenuating circumstances – really there are.

First and foremost – lack of Internet access. We can only get on line when the modem feels like cooperating. Called Hughes Net and they are sending a technician out next Tuesday. The joy of living in the sticks.
Back to the end of the trip. Thursday morning was our last day on the road. This year we did 6613 miles in Jennie – and God Knows how many in Willie going here and there. We were on the road 149 days.
As you can see from the map most of the driving was in the U.S. coming and going.

The final day of travel was pretty uneventful. There was a storm moving east but luckily we were moving east faster than it was. Drove through Illinois and into Indiana. Only stopping once at a Flying J for brunch at Denny’s (sure liked their old restaurants better but….) Just inside the Indiana border we left the I-70 and took State Road 46 towards home. Lots of pretty scenery. Green fields and blooming trees. Around 2:00 we turned on our road and soon were home.
First look at the house through the barren trees as we made the last turn.

Home Sweet Home

And here Jennie is right where she started out in November. The wild daffodils are blooming like crazy.

And the tiny violets popping up here and there.

Checked out the pond and there are still lots of fish in there.

Just a couple of the fish in the picture

So that is the end of our trip this past winter. Now we have lots of work to do around here. Lawn cleanup, house cleaning and repairing, Internet repairing, etc. etc.
For more on that check out my Brown County blog as that is where I’ll be writing from now on – or until our next trip somewhere. In case that doesn't work the URL is http://lifeinbrowncounty.blogspot.com/
If the Internet stays working I’ll try to post some of the interesting (annoying) ways of getting things done here in the country. And we have dealt with plenty this week.
See you over there.

Sorry - Not been able to post

Our Internet here at home keeps going off and on. Have not been able to stay on line long enough to post. Hopefully this will work. A lot going on around house I want to share so will try later again.

WE ARE HOME

Got home around 3:00p.m. yesterday. More later....

Almost Home

Wednesday p.m.

The Driver battled the wind every mile today – finally gave up just west of Saint Louis, MO. Lots and lots of heavy wind. Depending on the weather tomorrow – it’s supposed to be raining – we might be home by late tomorrow. Less than 300 miles away. If it rains we will stay here until it quits.
Our TV and Internet are working. We did have to change spaces to get away from the trees to get the Direct TV working. We’re staying at another KOA campground and it’s quite nice. Next to us is a trailer with a family with four young boys – right now they are roasting marshmallows – smell good. On the other side is an RV that belongs to a bicycle group. It says on it “Cycling 50 States for America’s Veterans and Military” – has a great paint job. Big eagle and red, white and blue. And their tow car matches it.
Not much else to say about today’s trip – good road lots of green rolling hills and trees starting to bud. If it hadn’t been for the wind it would have been a nice drive.
Thursday a.m.
Well we're up and getting ready to leave - no rain here yet but it is about 200 miles behind us. Hope we can drive faster than it moves.
Cannot believe the mess the government is in.  Enough said.

Ate at Worlds Largest McDonalds in Vinta, OK

Tuesday p.m.

Another day another state – actually a couple of states. We’re at a KOA in Joplin, MO. Left Wichita Falls, TX this morning around 8a.m. Took the I-44 north planning on stopping in Tulsa, OK. Guess we overshot it a little.
The I-44 through Oklahoma is almost all a toll road. 353 miles and only cost us $31.75 – quite a bit cheaper than the toll roads in Mexico. Part of it was good road and part of it was purely Oklahoma road. Shake, rattle and roll. Mostly shake and rattle. I have a question. Why is the pavement on bridges always so much worse than the pavement on the road? Can’t find it on Google. But kind of figure that it maybe ‘cause bridges freeze sooner – the contracting and expanding maybe?
So far we’ve been on the road 147 days and driven Jennie 6088 miles in Jennie. We’re only 550 miles from home now.
The wind is picking up again – sure glad it wasn’t blowing so hard while we were traveling – The Driver says it was coming from behind us most of the day. Again we were thankful we were on the western side of that terrible storm that just passed through the east. Did have a moment last night though – all of a sudden the warning sirens near the RV Park started to wail. No one else seemed to get excited – turns out they check them every Monday. Wish they would have told us when we checked in.
Not much to write about – saw lots of rolling green hills, nice fat cows and trees just starting to bloom. The one item of note – we had lunch in supposedly “The Largest McDonalds in the World” It is between Tulsa and Joplin on the I-44. It is built over the highway so you can go into it from either direction. End of exciting news for today.

White Sand, Aliens and Texas

Monday p.m.

We’ve been looking at the weather and it looks like the next few days will be good for travel. Here in Wichita Falls the winds have let up and the temperatures have gone down. Have finally decided what way we are going to go from here. We’re heading north on the I-44 through Oklahoma City and Tulsa then into Missouri. Probably only get as far as Tulsa tomorrow. In Las Cruces after getting back from the Missile Range we visited Mesilla just south of town.
It was founded in 1848 after the Mexican War by a group of Mexican settlers. The town was once a major stop for the Butterfield Stagecoach. This is one of the original brick buildings built in 1860. It is still in use as a gift shop.

One other claim to fame the town has is Billy the Kid stood trial for murder here and then escaped. Didn’t take many pictures as most of the buildings were plain adobe and have been fully restored and now are gift shops. Kind of reminded me of our hometown in Indiana except with a southwest look. Lots of places to eat and gift shops.
From Las Cruces we drove over the mountains to Roswell. Past White Sands National Monument – just a glance of some of the white sand.

And what is this? A check point? Yep, a border patrol check point. All vehicles had to stop. All they asked was, “Where is your next stop?”

“Why Roswell of course,” we answered. The Border Patrol agent laughed, shook his head and waved us on.
On the outskirts of Alamogordo we passed this giant pistachio nut. I’d just seen it on line a few days earlier as one of the strange roadside sites in the U.S. Wow – I can cross it off my list now.

Now that's a big nut!

Over the mountains through the big Mescalaro Apache Reservation.

Then through Lincoln County where Pat Garrett was sheriff and where the Lincoln County War was. Kind of interesting reading Link http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-lincolncountywar.html We also passed through the little town of Ruidoso – why do I mention that? Well today I saw on the news that there is a wild fire there – glad we got through when we did.

Stayed at the Trailer Village RV Park in Roswell. Very nice park just on the east edge of town. If you’re ever there I recommend it. Also recommend the Cowboy Café for breakfast and/or lunch. It’s just a little place but very good.
Drove around downtown Roswell for a while – just looking at the residents.

Well Hello There!

Copy of a newspaper from the time.

Was there a flying saucer crash or not? It's still a mystery.
Just some fun things - party time.

A body?

We left the next morning for Lubbock where we spent the night. The trip was uneventful – lots of country without much scenery and lots of wind.

From Lubbock we continued on to Wichita Falls. Did manage to watch both NASCAR races over the weekend. Go Kyle – he is now first in points. Two good races.
We’re staying at the Wichita Falls RV Park here. Very nice place. Big level spaces, good WiFi. Haven’t done much of anything except go to Home Depot – still looking for the spigot and to Wal*Mart – where we finally found the spigot.
Going to watch the basketball game tonight then get ready to leave tomorrow morning.

Visit to White Sands Missile Range

Monday a.m.

We have been making tracks the last few days. Now in Wichita Falls, TX. We’re going to stay here for a couple of nights and hopefully the wind stops blowing before we take off again.
Thursday morning we got out early had breakfast at IHop and headed to the White Sands Missile Range Museum and Park. Had to drive through the jagged mountains – 7200 foot pass.

A beautiful view of the valley – looking out at the many many empty square miles of the missile range.

The Missile Range was established in 1945. It now occupies 3,200 square miles of what used to be a private ranch..

Entering the Range - No Photography allowed except in the Missile Park and museum
We had to park outside the gate and walk in to the Missile Park. I had read that you could drive in but guess things had changed since that was written. Luckily it wasn’t too far as we were still over 5000 feet in altitude and it was pretty warm out. Heard the gate guard telling a couple of people that they couldn’t take pictures of the gate – just of the sign next to it. [Just a thought but doesn’t Google Earth take pictures of it?]
Any way a shot of the missile park – Lots and lots of different kinds and sizes of missiles.

This was interesting to me – it is a Patriot Missile – had no idea they – the whole thing – was that big. These are the ones Israel uses to shoot down the Scuds. It is designed to defend against high performance targets.

Interesting graffiti on it

Another shot of some of the park

This big gun was originally installed on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Weighs over 73,000 lbs. In 1977 it was relocated to White Sands and was used for testing.

A Flying Saucer? Nope part of the Voyager Balloon System that was launched near Roswell, NM Hummm???? The information goes on to say “It is the only one in captivity.” Captivity? Weird.

This is a missile that was making groaning sounds – Did it want to go somewhere? Was it crying? Tried to get a video with sound but all I picked up was the wind noise.

After walking around checking everything out we went into the museum. If you ever get a chance it’s a very interesting place to visit.
One of the displays – a display of the old ranch house that was used as the assembly point for the Bomb. The house survived the blast with only broken windows.

It was pretty interesting. If you want to know more about it just Google  Trinity Site New Mexico.
More later after we go shopping.

Lubbock, TX Closer and closer to home.

Saturday p.m.
Haven't got the pictures together yet - maybe tomorrow evening.
We made it to Lubbock, TX where we are spending the night. Will leave very early tomorrow a.m. as there is a Cup NASCAR race tomorrow at 12 Central Time.......!!!! Kyle came in 2nd today in the truck race.
Tomorrow we are planning in stopping in Wichita Falls, TX - there is only one RV park there according to Woodalls - hope we can find it okay.
Paid $3.599 for gas today for Jennie then stopped for breakfast at a little cafe in Tatum, NM 
Road was good all the way but lots of wind.
Had a couple of problems with the TV and Internet when we got here - had to change spaces to get away from the only tree around. Weather is very warm here - it's 10:00 at night and still warm enough to have the windows and door open. Lots warmer than Arizona.
Promise I'll catch up tomorrow with photos of White Sands and aliens.

Spent Night in Roswell, NM - didn't see any flying saucers

Saturday a.m.
Getting ready to leave Roswell. Spent the night here. While in Las Cruces we visited the White Sands Museum and Missile Range and a short walk around Mesilla where Billy the Kid escaped from jail. Yesterday we crossed the mountains - up to 7000 feet and stopped for the night in Roswell, NM. Weather is getting warmer - go figure.
Today we plan on stopping in Lubbuck, TX - then the weather will decided which way we go from there.
Today we'll have even hotter weather, gusts of wind and lots of Texas. Fire danger is the weather alert for today.
Will do more updating today after we stop - including some pictures.