Yuma to San Diego

The RV park in Yuma was relaxing and quiet so we tossed up about staying another day but decided to push on in the end.

As we leave Yuma there are miles of sand dunes and we can see the fence along the Mexican border for miles also. 

Border fence

The mountains before San Diego are steep and desolate with plenty of these signs along the way.  Fortunately it was a bit cooler also as we had the heat fan on and windows down to keep the temperature lower as we made the steep climb over.

The desert scenes we cross over... and down into San Diego - the temperature is just right, beautiful sunshine and a lovely place to visit so we book in for 3 nights.

 

Tucson - Yuma

We stay in Tucson for four nights in the end and were able to catch up with Tony and some of his mates again which was great.  We had lunch with the guys and then cruised around to Steve's house, then later Tony's.

Daryl has managed to sort out the coupe (we have indicators that work) and the trailer, which now has new tyres and a spare!

It was nice to stop for a few days and catch up with friends but we are aware of the need to get home now and this has somewhat mixed emotions.

Old aeroplane parking..........guess they have to go somewhere.
 

Finally we decide we have to keep going and choose to head along the 8 to Yuma as we have not been through this way yet.  We had intended to get some dental work done but the timing just isn't working out now.  I phoned a RV park in the morning which had good reviews despite a low rating in the guide, we decide to try this place so headed there.

Solar power plant along the way

When we arrived in Yuma we headed to the park but the area became worse and worse - the park turned out to be in a not very nice location surrounded by trailer parks and rough housing - we kept going and tried another one.....  the next one turned out to be a car park that we couldn't fit in so after paying and going in, we went back to the gate and got a refund!  Third time lucky and by this time we are getting sick of driving the RV & trailer around...... we try Araby RV and this turned out to be very quiet, very nice and had a great relaxing feeling - just what we needed by this time.  We virtually had the place to ourselves, so had a long soak in the pool which they joke about putting ice cubes in so people can get in it in summer - it could have done with a few more cubes as it was still warm (over 102F today).

Las Cruces to Tucson

Think we have been here before..............   Dejavu

 

So here we are again travelling across the 10 to Tucson - just as well we like Tucson as we seem to keep ending up here and this time it has been a full circle, having picked up the coupe here before setting off.  We have driven right across America from top to bottom, dipping our toes into Canada twice on this trip and a whole lot in between.

We head for Lazydays in Tucson again as we know the place well and we know our way around Tucson now. 



After settling in we head to a shopping centre over the other side of town but never quite make it.  It is over 100F today and the car starts playing up, eventually breaking down - luckily we were able to pull over into a church car park.

The next two hours are spent with Daryl pulling out the fuel pump again, and again, and again.......and just as we are giving up, Tony rings us and we confess we have broken down and he arranges to come and rescue us.  I now know how the fuel pump works (an important bit of information for any girl to know...Tui).  So we put it back together again and give it one last try......of course it starts and is running fine!  We quickly ring Tony and cancel the tow truck and arrange to met him at his work.

 

By that time it was well after 5pm and we set off back to the shops to get want we needed and then headed home - to stuffed to cook and it is already 7.30pm, so we try out the restaurant in the RV park - very nice.

 

Sunset at camp



Amarillo to Las Cruces

This morning we decide to head for Las Cruces via Roswell and see how we go - we will stop at Roswell if we need to.....

Trains as long as the eye can see

Small towns along the way

This is a long haul for us and we set off about 9.30am heading south west in an effort to avoid the bad weather.  The drive to Roswell is mostly through cattle farms - huge farming area.  I have to admit I find these farms disgusting and cruel but it seems to be the accepted practice here.

When we get to Roswell we refuel and continue on on our way, arriving in Las Cruces at 5pm and headed for the RV park we stayed in last time as we know it is good (but expensive)...

Las Cruces

We decide to stay in Las Cruces for two nights so we can relax a bit and the next day we revisit the Mesilla historic district which is having it's Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta.


It is totally different to last December when it was wet and cold with virtually no one around. 

Today it is hot & sunny and crowds are gathered for the fiesta.  There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere - we watch the dancing and amble around the shops before going to an authentic Mexican restaurant for lunch.

 

Las Cruces is close to the border of Mexico and has a real Mexican flavour about it inlcuding the Spanish style houses and shops.  Great place to poke around in for a few hours - lots of jewellery, gift ware and all sorts - love the bunches of hanging chillies but think customs would get a bit upset about me bringing them home.....

Sunset on the hills behind the camp.

 

Elk City - Amarillo, via Wellington

Early start again today and we are taking a diversion off the I-40 to meet a friend of a friend....... who hopefully will have a 40 dash cluster that we are after.

Our GPS takes us down the back road which would have been fine except the road was closed where we needed to turn which meant an extra 15 miles or so down back country roads...bumpy, bump bump.

We make it to Wellington (ironically as we live near Wellington in NZ) and find Bob Owens of Owens Salvage Co. who is a friend of Clive Taylor & Alan Mayo.  Unfortunately he did not have the 40 cluster that we were after but meeting him & his wife, Linda was worth the trip down there.


Bob took us for a spin around the yard in his work truck......to a car guy this is junk yard heaven.

Then we visited his house and man cave, signed his guest book which is a door in the house.  After this he took us back to the yard where we meet his wife, Linda and they take us out to lunch.  Such a lovely couple and we are so grateful that they shared their home and time with us.

 

Some of Bob's toys in his shed which has an awesome set up.

 

The guest book.....Daryl made sure his name is above Clive Taylor's........

 

The clouds were gathering and rain looked to be coming fast so we said our goodbyes and headed off towards Amarillo via the I-40 rather than trust the GPS again.  We head for the camp we stayed in last time, just stopping for groceries.  The weather forecast for next 24 hours is not great with nearby flood warnings and devastation in Colorado (got to feel for them), but we are probably in the best place and will check it out again in the morning before deciding to move on or not.

Checotah to Elk City

Hitting the road early again this morning, we continue our journey along the I40 west - driving the interstates is very boring and you don't see much but it is a means to an end in that it is the fastest way across the country & it is a big country..... we still have over 1400 miles to cross.

We negotiate our way through Oklahoma city and all the road works, eventually stopping in a town called Weatherford for a break, so go for a walk to stretch our legs and have nosy around.

Oklahoma City

After finding a couple of treasures in Weatherford we continue on our way.  Nice little stop and chatted to some of the locals.


A fire we could see from the I40

We arrive in Elk City and head to the RV park to get a site and then head down to the Route 66 Museum as last time we were here it was closed.

 

 

We can see the rain coming tonight and are watching the weather forecast as there is flash flooding in Colorado and the rain is in our path.  It arrives tonight and the morning is very wet.

Arkansas to Oklahoma, via Fort Smith

We left Little Rock this morning having had news which made our course clear, so we are heading straight across the I40 towards Checotah / Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma today.  On our way we stop in Fort Smith to have a look around the Fort built in 1817, in particular Daryl wanted to see the Gallows.















Next go for a wander and find a Trolley Museum, so we take a ride on a trolley - we were the only ones on for most of the tour, so very personalised.


 

The flags were flying at half mast today for 09/11.

After a couple of hours, we get on our way again and cross over to Oklahoma.