Leaving Tucson And Heading…Where ?

 

On the 1st of May we left Tucson and headed of towards New Mexico. Firstly I have to tell you, I love  Kokopelli. In Tucson and New Mexico there was more than my eyes and wallet could handle. I bought a few pieces for our out door table and had a Sticker made for the truck.

This set I bought  when we went over the boarder to Mexico.

The manager of the Agave Gulch Fam Camp outlined this for me from a picture on his office wall and gave me permission to go and make a sticker out of it. I LOVE IT !! On the top is the A and the bottom is the G, with the Saguaro Cactus taking centre stage. Arizona’s state flower is the Saguaro Blossom. Correct me if I am wrong.

Our 1st stop after leaving Tucson was Poncho Villa State Park in New Mexico. We stayed a few days and had a look around.We were 14 miles from the Mexican Boarder There was a great museum there but I didn't take any pictures. I don't know why, what was I thinking. It was here that I finally found out I don't mind Mexican Food. It was a one horse town with this really old run down Restaurant  run by the sweetest Mexican lady. But could she cook. We ate there for the 3 nights we were there.Breakfast and Dinner. I was in heaven..NO cooking again. On the 6th we pulled out of Poncho Villa State Park and headed for Holloman Air Force Base 6 miles out of Alamogordo.This was going to be our home for the next month. It was cheaper to stay a month.Not a bad idea as our funds were running low again. After 1 week I was ready to leave. DUSTY DUSTY DUSTY !!! The white dust from the White Sands Missile Range had moved into our 5th wheel. I really didn't like our stay at Holloman, but the free WIFI and FREE Cable TV made it bearable. We basically locked the doors and spent most of the time watching cable TV. The  times we did venture out side was to do some washing and Dann had a few repairs on the 5th Wheel to do. It was here that my back decided to go out. I couldn't help dann pack up for our departure, I was stuck on the lounge and that's where I was staying. I Couldn't do anything  much for 6 weeks.

This is Holloman Air Force Base Fam Camp, that's us with our nose poking out of the left.

Finally it was time to leave this hell hole. We went to Carlsbad to see the HUGE Bate Caves. The day we went my back was at its worst. I told Dann there is no way I can do it. So we missed seeing them. Next time maybe. From Carlsbad we went to Roswell. I just had to go see me a Alien. I wasn't disappointed, there was Aliens every where, on the top of buildings, on the side walks in front of shops, you name it, there was one there to. Below are a few Pictures I managed to take from the truck.

The most famous Alien of them all

While we were in Roswell we stayed at Bottomless Lake, its about 15 – 20 miles out of Roswell. Beautiful Spot. The temperature in the 5th wheel was creeping up to about 90 degrees, 35 Celsius  with the Air  Con going flat out. It was over 100 out side. A bit under 40 Celsius.  Lucky for us we had a beautiful swimming hole right there.The coldest water to.

The view of the swimming hole from our front step.

Close up of our Private Swimming Hole

We finally dragged our selves away from our little Swimming Hole  in Paradise and headed of towards The Rancheros Santa Fe Campground, still in New Mexico. We stayed one night here  and moved on next day. Our destination is Rapid City in South Dakota. This is where we are going to get our Drivers Licences and register our RV and Truck and to get a permanent  mailing address. The fun part was getting there. I actually like getting back in the truck after being in one place, the landscapes change from State to State. This part of our Walkabout Adventure was taking us to Colorado Springs in Colorado. OMG !!  This is John Denver country. The mountains there are absolutely beautiful. On the way to Colorado I noticed as I was gazing out the window enjoying the scenery as it passed me by the shortness of the telephone poles. It looked like they had been built by midgets They went on for miles. I grabbed my camera and managed to snap a picture of them.

   

I am learning now to have my Camera always by my side when we are on the move. It’s only taken me 4-5 months.As we approached Colorado Springs I was in Awe of the Mountains. One especially..”Cheyenne Mountain”.

Taken from the internet of Cheyenne Mountain, this mountain is HUGE !!

The entrance to Cheyenne Mountain

  And this is what is under that Mountain.

A lot to see here but so little time to see it all. We narrowed it down to eating out and visiting a beautiful place called      “ Garden Of The Gods”    We got going early to beat the rush of all them tourist that we knew would be there as well. We made it up there in good time, like 8am in the morning. It wasn't open because of a bike race that was in progress. we decided to kill a bit of time in the gift shop. I like to collect Iron on Patches of all the states we visit and Fridge magnets that I send home to my Mum in Australia. One day I “Will” iron them onto a vest or jacket of some sort. Dann realized in our hurry to leave the 5th Wheel, he had left his wallet behind. So back we went. Got to the gate and the security wouldn't let us back in. Rang the Air Force police, they couldn't help us. Finally after 2 hours a lady that Dann had spoken to on the phone (who we didn't know from a bar of soap)  sent her daughter out to escort us in. Its about 10.30 going on 11 by this time. Back to Garden Of The gods we went. By this time the tourist were every where. No vantage points to park so we could get out and get some  great pictures. My back is still out at this time so walking was not a option. So we basically drove around and snapped a few Pictures of what I could and left. Beautiful place.

Dann

In pain and it shows.

After a busy busy week of sigh seeing and finally being able to wash away the dust and dirt that had accumulated on the Truck and 5th wheel it was time to leave and hit the road again..Next stop on our trek to South Dakota was Fort Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming .

On the base here they had some B52’s. These are the planes that Dann loaded with Bombs while he was in the Air Force. He just had to go see for old time sakes.

Dann reunited with his baby.

And finally one more view of this massive plane.

This baby's wingspan is 185 feet (56.4 meters)

Its wingspan is actually longer than its length 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters) 

Our Stay in Tucson, Arizona.

 

On our arrival we were put out into overflow. This is where you stay until a full hook up site becomes available. They run a very fair system at Agave Gulch, everyone gets a site with full hook ups, Water-Electricity and a Sewer Dump Station.When in overflow you have none of these luxuries, that's when your beloved generator becomes your best friend. We didn't have one at this stage.You get to go into a full hook up site for 21 days and then you have to go out and back into over flow. This system works really well. At peak season you can be out there for about 7-8 days, but on a average it’s about 3 days max. Well for us it was.
After 2 nights in over flow it was our turn to go into the park.I was excited because now I could charge my computer in our 5th wheel. Second day in our site our neighbour pulls up in his car and strolls across to introduce him self..He says Howdy New Neighbour. This was the beginning of our great friendship with Jim and Rita Fitzsimmons the 3rd. A really fun couple to be around. I call them my feel Good Friends.Below is a picture of Jim and Rita.

Jim and Rita are both retired Nurses, Jim retired from The Navy, hence why he has a HUGE anchor hanging of the front of his Motor Home which I thought was odd when I first spied it.Jim and Rita were the first couple we met and made friends with, they reside in a special place in our  hearts. Cant wait to catch up with them again.

Jim like’s to fly these from the top of his RV, I had to remind him everyday about 2.15pm  to change it to a different one. They were pretty and I looked forward to a different one everyday. This one every section spun the opposite to the one above it.

Below is a picture of Dann relaxin in front of our 5th Wheel.

Below is a Beautiful picture of the moon as it was coming up.

Our Trip to Mt Lemmon  With Jim & Rita

Jim and Rita invited us to go with them on a trip to the highest Mountain in the area, just on the out skirts of Tucson.We had a great day sight seeing and enjoying the company of our new Coodas  (friends) It had snowed the night before, it was all good. Nice and cool. Just how I like it.

Fresh snow clinging to the trees.

Beautiful views looking over the valley.

Rita on Walkabout with her big stick

Dann and Myself.

Us out for Dinner.

After our trip to Mt Lemmon it was time to head home and do some serious relaxing. It was time again for me to hit the internet and tend to my Farm on Facebook, and post pictures so my family and friends could see what we were up to. Tonight my Old friend from Bunbury, in Western Australia Shirley who I went to school with and have remained best of friends since, sent me a video chat request on MSN Messenger. It was good to catch up with old chit chat. Below is a picture of Shirley and myself taken at our house before I left Australia.

 

Miss you my old friend

I have  2 Best friends in Australia, who have been in and out of my life over the years. My other Best friend is Gail ford. We have known each other for a long time as well, Both our boys went to Kindy together and they are now 37. A long time. Below is a picture of Gail and I taken on our dirty weekend away,

If you read this Fordy, I am still waiting for a MSN Video Chat.

Miss ya mate

Our time is coming to a end in Tucson, Arizona. In a few days we will be packing up and be on our way again..to where, who knows. Our friends Jim and Rita had already left for the summer.

In the last couple of  weeks in Tucson we became friends with Dennis and Lea, who were helping out with the camp host situation. The were full timers up until they bought a house in Tucson which made all their little animals very happy.  Dann and I slowly built up a relationship with Dennis & Lea while spending most of our time over in the office, Dann downloading movies and me hard at work farming on Facebook. I would wake up on certain mornings and ask Dann, I wonder if Dennis & Lea are on today? Lea always made a cake on the days that she worked. Gook cook !!! Now Dennis had a talent as well..he made some mean kick arse punch Margaritas  which I quiet liked and I usually hate Margaritas .He added Ginger Beer to it. Below is a Picture of Dennis & Lea which I stole from her Facebook page.

Arizona And Warm Weather Finally !!

 

We left the bright lights of Vegas behind us for the warmer winter climate of Tucson, Arizona, we were not disappointed. I have to admit the drive to Tucson was a treat after all that freezing cold weather that we left behind us. I didn't even mind the baron landscape that went on for mile after mile. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. I really wanted to go in and see The Grand Canyon as we went past. BUT we were low on funds and just wanted to make it to Tucson while we could afford it. The price of diesel had started its climb. It would have to wait for another time. I am getting good at waiting  for what i want

We finally pulled into The Fam Camp at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson around 5  that evening after about 8 hours on the road. I was over the travelling bit now and wanted a shower so bad. They call the Fam Camp here Agave Gulch which is appropriate. Agave is a blue cactus which is found in Southern Arizona and Mexico. Gulch is a dry river bed, which I found out to be true, it hardly ever rains in Tucson.  The temperature was around 70 degrees or 22 Celsius. Below are some pictures of this GREAT Fam Camp.

Yes it actually snows here..

The Office.

Jerry and his wife hard at work

My living quarters.

A map of all the sites, future developments is the Overflow area