DEMING NEW MEXIXO TO TUCSON ARIZONA: WHAT A GREAT FEELING DAY THIS WAS:)))))

WESTBOUND ON I-10 IN NEW MEXICO                                                     

Happily, first thing I saw stepping out with Pheebs this morning were not earthly.  In fact they were Planetary.   In inky black southeastern skies Venus and Jupiter shone diamond bright telling me yesterday’s cloud cover had finally and thankfully moved on.  It was going to be a scenic travel day for the Bunch.  And was it ever.

WE HAD US A FOGGY START TO THE DAY

We spent 4 nights at the El Rancho Lobo RV Park and I have to say again how much we enjoyed it there.  A big thanks to the Park owners, camp hosts, and resident volunteers for keeping this Park so squeaky clean, homey, and comfortable.   A wee bit of noise from nearby I-10 but it’s not annoying or uncomfortable.  I give this Park 5 stars and two thumbs up for sure.  There are several ways to reach the Park  and I would recommend the one at Deming’s east end where the Holiday and La Quinta Inns are located.  That way you only have half a mile of dirt road just before the Park entrance.  From I-10 at this interchange go south maybe a quarter mile then turn left onto highway 549.  You only go a mile or two before turning left onto road 377.  You really have to watch close for the 377 sign and the turn which is not an intersection but a turn across the medium can be hard to see.  Stay on 377 until the pavement ends then turn left for the last half mile to El Rancho Lobo.

HEADING WEST INTO DEMING NM TO CATCH I-10 THIS MORNING

WHAT A GREAT DAY HEADING WEST ON I-10

NEVER SAW AS MANY EAST BOUND FREIGHT TRAINS AS WE SAW TODAY

I’M GUESSING THOSE CAR CARRYING TRAIN CARS ARE CARRYING IMPORTED CARS EAST FROM WESTERN CALIFORNIA PORTS

IT WAS JUST THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MORNING OF EVER

FIELDS OF STANDING WATER NEAR LORDSBURG ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF I-10

Ground fog finally burned off and we were on the road at 9:23 Mountain Time under blue skies and big white and gray fluffy clouds.  Picked up some gas at Demings east end Chevron and climbed aboard i-10 heading west.

A SERIES OF SIGNS WEST OF LORDSBURG NEW MEXICO

BECAUSE OF A BIG DUST STORM HERE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE HAD TO DO A ONE HUNDRED MILE DETOUR TO GET AROUND THE AREA

‘YA THINK’!!

SEEMS THE FURTHER WEST WE GO THE BIGGER THE MOUNTAINS GET

FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE CHIRACHUA MOUNTAINS EMERGING FROM THE MISTS

WE HAVE MANY GREAT MEMORIES OF THE CHIRICAHUAS OVER THE YEARS

LOVE THESE QUIETER INTERSTATES OUT HERE IN THE WEST

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT FEELING IT WAS FOR BOTH OF US THIS MORNING TO REACH THIS VERY POINT IN OUR TRAVELS….WE AT LAST FELT WE WERE ONCE AGAIN IN OUR WINTER HOME…..ARIZONA WILL ALWAYS BE OUR SPECIAL PLACE

ARIZONA REST AREA

I LOVE SEEING OLD FAMILIAR MOUNTAIN RANGES AND THOSE ARE THE DRAGOON MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON….MORE MEMORIES FOR US OVER THERE IN THE DRAGOONS AND THAT’S ABOUT WHERE JANNA AND MIKE LIVE

IN WILCOX PHEEBS WAITS PATIENTLY FOR MOM TO COME OUT  OF THE STORE WITH AN APPLE PIE

AND HERE COMES THAT APPLE PIE NOW

What an absolutely fine morning it turned out to be and was by far the best day we had since leaving Bayfield two weeks ago.  To our north were dark brooding clouds while to the left white and gray puffy clouds rested on the higher mountain tops.  Sun splashes and cloud shadows played across the desert floor traveling along the mountain sides.  I-10 between Las Cruces and Tucson is mainly flat and with again very light traffic the Big E just purred right along on the valley floor from mountain range to mountain range.  This morning was the best I felt for long time as with each mile the mountains seemed to grow larger on the surrounding horizon, the sun shone happily brighter, and the air finally became warmer. 

I SEE A VERY ELONGATED CLOUD MONSTER UP THERE WITH MOUTH AGAP TRAVELING ACROSS I-10 FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

A TUMBLE OF ROCKS IN TEXAS CANYON ALONG I-10 EAST OF BENSON ARIZONA

ON THE FAR HORIZON ARE THE WHETSTONE MOUNTAINS

EACH OF THE NAMES ON THESE ROADSIGNS BRING BACK SO MANY PLEASANT MEMORIES FOR US

By the time we pulled into the Desert Diamond Casino parking lot on the southwest side of Tucson’s E Valencia Road it was mid afternoon and temperatures had come.  We tumbled out of the coach into the warm sunshine both knowing we had made the right decision to head for Tucson this morning.  It was 2:45 p.m. when we found us a spot in one of the spacious parking lots.  We always try to get an ourside spot no matter if it’s Walmart, Cracker Barrel, an RV Park or wherever but all the outside spots here at the Casino were already taken.  No matter, we were just so happy to be here and settled in for the night.

HELLO TUCSON

TURNING INTO THE DESERT DIAMOND CASINO

LOTS OF RV’S BUT LOTS OF ROOM TOO

I ALWAYS THINK OF OUR GOOD FRIEND AND FELLOW RV BLOGGER DOUG LANNING FROM MISS ADVENTURE TRAVELS WITH THIS BEING ONE OF DOUG’S FAVORITE OVERNIGHT SPOTS ON HIS TRAVELS TO AND FROM THE SOUTHWEST THESE PAST FEW YEARS

Despite our self doubts about this winter’s southwest travels before leaving home and pretty much all the way down here we both felt a change once we reached the eastern side of New Mexico and crossing Arizona’s State line this morning just put the icing on the cake for us.  There were no more lingering doubts.  We are so happy to be here in the land of endless starry skies, fiery sunrises and sunsets, towering mountain ranges, and long sweeping valleys with views for 20 or 30 miles.  And oh how great to once again see our first Saguaro Cactus right where we always look for it alongside I-10 east of Tucson in Davidson Canyon.  Can’t wait to rush up and give my first Saguaro a great big hug.

THIS IS A POOR PHOTO OF OUR FIRST SAGUARO SIGHTING THIS YEAR

Right now as I type this we have our side door open plus a couple windows.  Sunshine is pouring in and we are toasty warm with no furnace running.  Each year it is the same with me and I’m like an excited little kid as I once again take in all the beautiful scenery.  We stopped at a Rest Area just after entering Arizona and I felt like Japanese tourist wanting to run around and take a thousand pictures.  The southwest just does that to me each year when we finally arrive here.  Now where’s my Hopalong Cassidy hat and broomstick horse so this little boy can saddle up and ride the range rustling himself up a herd of cows or two. 

APPLE ANNIES APPLE PIE

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A new York Divorce Lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. Saint Peter asks him "What have you done to merit entrance into Heaven?" The Lawyer thought a moment, then said, "A week ago, I gave a quarter to a homeless person on the street." Saint Peter asked Gabriel to check this out in the record, and after a moment Gabriel affirmed that this was true. Saint Peter said, "Well , that's fine, but it's not really quite enough to get you into Heaven." The Lawyer said, "Wait Wait! There's more! Three years ago I also gave a homeless person a quarter." Saint Peter nodded to Gabriel, who after a moment nodded back, affirming this, too, had been verified. Saint Peter then whispered to Gabriel, "Well, what do you suggest we do with this fellow?" Gabriel gave the Lawyer a sidelong glance, then said to Saint Peter, "Let's give him back his 50 cents and tell him to go to Hell."

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“Impatience can be attributed to loss of wait!”

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Teacher: Whats the meaning of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder?  Student: Bambalakkadi Jimba.  Teacher: I don't understand anything you said.  Student: Same here.

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