Tuscon - Fort McDowell

Old part of Tucson

After a few more days in Tucson, we head north on our way to meet Aaron in Las Vegas and end up in Fort McDowell, just west of Phoenix. 
We visit the So-Cal shop in Phoenix just in case there is something we might need, which we found..... 

So Cal Arizona

Then checked out Classic Cars yard which had heaps of cars for sale on behalf - some very tempting. 

Only $69K USD

Their own Transporter.

All the above are For Sale at Discover Classic cars, worth having a nosy around.

Next day we check out nearby Fountain Hills park with its 560ft fountain.  Very nice area and we stop to walk around the lake, poke around the shops & have wine and cheese to watch the fountain go off on the hour. Where does the time go.......  Later we check out the Casino just down the road and lose another few dollars.....!  Seems to be a common thread here.

Last day here, we head over to Mesa to view the Commemorative Air Force Museum which has quite a lot of memorabilia and some cool planes.

P51 Mustang

B 17 Bomber, you can get flight rides for $400USD a head.

Beautiful
 

Tomorrow we head west for the next few days over Christmas.  The hardest time to be away from family and friends and we miss you all.  Great to hear from some of you & please keep up the contact.

We wish you a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year
xxxx

Tombstone

We like the city of Tuscon and it is easy to get around and has some stunning scenery.   Today we headed out to Tombstone, famous for the Gun Fight at the OK Corral , which is just above the Mexican border for a look around...

Main street Tombstone



 

The Famous OK Corral, Wyatt Earp & Doc Holliday etc had the big Gun Fight  that saved the town

Trying for size!!!!!



Had my own gun fight.

Border control is veryyyyyyyy active around here and we go thru yet another check leaving Tombstone even thou we are still in the US - this is the third border check in this area with sniffer dogs checking every vehicle.  However this time we must have looked okay as they told us to have a nice day and waived us through - last time we had to produce passports.

Las Cruces - Tucson

A couple of days in Las Cruces - we went back to see the White Sands Missile Base - had to produce our passports to get on the base & the day was freezing, literally.

USA Squd Buster

Part of the White Sands Misslle Park.

This is where they tested the atom bomb before setting it off at Hiroshima.


Later it warmed up a bit and we went to Melissa Old Town, where Billy the Kid hung out and had some authentic Mexican food.

Next day we headed out towards Tucson and back in Arizona, cruising into Lazy Days RV Park which is a huge set up with sales, services, repairs, campground.....  


Following day we mucked around doing laundry and catching up on the good stuff like cleaning.....
In the afternoon we went out and decided to head for Old Tucson Studios, which turned out to be the old movie sets for many westerns such as OK Coral, The Gambler, Young Guns II, Alamo, Bonanza, The Three Amigo's....etc.  We watched the musical of the silver screen thru the years and the gunfight before heading up 'Gates Pass' to watch the sun set - really magical but brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Movie sets for some famous old movies.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset from Gates Pass, Tucson, Arizona

 

 

San Angelo - Carlsbad - Las Cruces

We heading back towards Las Vegas and leave San Antonio going north via Fredericksburg, a German town in Texas hill country - had the most wonderful kitchen shop and full of gift shops and christmas things.

Fredericksburg

Back in the RV and headed to San Angelo where we stay for the night.  In the morning Daryl goes for a run - the office lady said it was 2.6 miles around the lake.  Some time later I am getting very worried & finally find him heading back - he ran 6 km's round to another RV park to be told he had to go back the way he came!  Needless to say he ran off last night's bourbon and some.....


Up the next morning we head for Carlsbad, a pretty uneventful drive through cotton fields and oil fields.  We got gas, food and then LPG at the camp before settling in for the night.  We have lost an hour as we are now in New Mexico again.  We unhitched the water pipes as they froze last night & tonight is to be another cold one.

This morning we are up & on the road - we decide to visit Roswell where all the aliens land......

Watch out UFO alert

The Roswell UFO.......

We thought this would be a bit of a tourist exhibit but were both disappointed in the little museum there and not much else.    On the flip side they were filming some redneck TV show, so you may catch us in the background of the programme.





Along the way we have seen old cars everywhere and finally Daryl can't help stopping at a wrecker's yard and disappearing for half an hour to get his fix.

An old chev pick up

Old Pontiacs & chevys



A stock car grave yard

We head out and pass through White Sands Monument which is sand dunes that are white - really quite cool. 

Looks like snow...but no only sand dunes

WEEEEEEEEEE

Playing in a big sand pit.

After a short break in the sand, we head off to make Las Cruces so we get there before dark...and we are low on petrol again.... but make it over the hill to a gas station.

Checked in for two nights and gone grocery shopping, ready to put our feet up & relax for a couple of days.