29/01/08

Monday 28th turned out to be a nice sunny but cool day, not warm enough for a longish ride on the bike, so we used the RV for the 27 mile trip to Tombstone.
Tombstone. The very word conjures up memories of the lawlessness of the American West back in the late 1800’s. A town born out of the richest silver find to that date, and since all that ran out has managed to survive on its name and tourism. The nice thing about it is that it is not “in your face”. Yes it is commercialised but nobody pushing you to do this or that. Pictures of the real Wyatt Earp and letters from Doc Holidays family bring it all to life together with the Big Nose Kate Saloon which is still operating with staff dressed in period costume check out www.bignosekate.com. Life was cheap as is shown by the average age in Boot Hill Cemetery, rarely anyone over 40, with explicit indications of how they died. Killed by Indians, and hanged, but most were shot in gunfights. It all makes me want to watch the films “Tombstone” and “Gunfight at the OK Corral” all over again. Ain’t movie makers great, they can make a 30 second incident into a 1½ hour epic.

27/01/08

Guess who found the hidden wine whilst having a fag in the only room with an extractor fan?? It is the shower etc, come glory hole.
Just a rest stop with attractive amenities.

Ever onward, now in Benson another Passport America site just off the I10 again for two nights this time. It is 27 miles from Tombstone, scene of the OK Coral shootings by Wyatt Earp and his brothers. Have a look at the reports by clicking http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWokcorral.htm. We also set a new record today, counted a 5 engine header and 114 trucks on the railway

26/01/08

Didn't see any rattlers.










They knew I was coming apparently!!

Using our Passport America card at a site in Deming, 5 miles off the I10, in Luna County, New Mexico. Very flat with the mountains in the distance giving a wonderful feeling of spaciousness. Back in the 1860’s it was part of the Butterfield Trail, which carried the mail and people in stagecoaches from Memphis to California, just under 2800 miles in 21 days. Met a guy who is a retired professor from Orlando using the same size rig as ours, he has been full timing with his cat for the past 4 years, and free camping (boondocking) for most of that. No WIFI at this site though.



View from the top of the RV across the campsite to the hills.

25/01/08

25/01/08

The Mission RV Park at El Paso looked more like a truckstop, very little space between units, and not exactly cheap either, but for $37 we got a full hookup, so no going to the dump station. It was level and clean and people really do use it as a stopover. Our next door neighbours have been full timers for the past 5 years, driving a 40ft Winnibago with all the accoutrements. Going back to California to see their children, they told us where to go and what to see in CA. Crossed another time line today and are in Central Mountain Time so are 7 hours behind GMT, and this was the first time we had internet access for a few days so were a bit busy with updates and calls.

25/01/08

22/01/08 Pulled into a picnic bay on the way to Big Bend, the sign said we could not stay more stay 24hrs, but we were only stopping for lunch. They even provide BBQ stands tables and cover for the picnicers to use. Views from the dining table fantastic!!

Big Bend is a massive national park, costs $20 to get in, which gives you 7 days to go anywhere in the 800,000 acre area, just have to pay another campsite fee on top. The views are spectacular and ever changing, sometime you feel that the senses are going to go into overload. We have seen Deer, Cayotes, Javalenas (wild pig) and Road Runners (remember the cartoons). Apparently there is Mountain Lion and Bear in the park too but I am glad to say we haven’t encountered those.

There was a sign on the road indicating a hot spring, no contest, we drove the RV along this rocky road as far as was allowed and walked about another a mile downhill, then another small walk alongside the cliff edge to the water. There at the side of the Rio Grande was the natural rock pool at about 100 degrees F, I came out quite pink. You could have stood with one foot in the pool and another in the river, but the water in the river was freezing, so a no go. Thankfully it is quite popular, and another couple took pity on us and gave us a lift back to the RV in their 4x4, which was allowed further down the trail.

This trip also proved what a small world we live in. We met a guy called Travis, whose GGGG parents moved out here in 1790 something from a place called Routh in North Yorkshire, which is only about 10 miles from Hull. It was the first time he had met anyone from the area and was quite gob smacked that Jane knew the area well. Way back then the family name was Routh.

24/01/08
Apache Pines RV Park, Marfa, Texas. It is cold, and has been raining constantly since we left Big Bend 172 miles away, but the scenery we have seen when the clouds permitted was fantastic. Everyone seems to rave about the Grand Canyon, but the views of the Rio Grande we have seen today will certainly take some beating.
The roads are breath taking. Anyone who has driven from Buxton to Macclesfield along the bendy bit will know what I mean, only this was for about 65 miles, with blind crests virtually all the way. Not knowing what was over the next brow was, to put it mildly, exhilarating, and caused a few expletives to issue forth.

21/01/08

Here in Fort Stockton the sun was absolutely gorgeous, unfortunately there was a wind coming from somewhere that was very cold. Sit on the trailer in the lee and you could have sunbathed, but get in the wind and a topcoat required. Nice site, level and quite large, with most people heading South to Big Bend, which is our intention , but Jane is upset. We have had a train line close to us for the last week, and we do not have one here, I think she is missing the wagon counting bit and the wail of the warning horns. The second day here was like chalk and cheese, the wind had dropped and the temp got up to 68F, even got a short burst of sunbathing in on the afternoon. The post office here gives the same assurances as in the UK, Janes cousin sent a letter here by air last Friday for next day delivery, it arrived today, four days aint bad I suppose!!!
See you in Big Bend.

19/01/08

The views are something else, and photographs do not do them justice, you see tracks going off into the far distance, and not a house or shack in sight, just the distant hills, one expects to see John Wayne coming over the hill at any time.

On the way to Sanderson you virtually follow the Rio Grande river, and being so close to Mexico expect to be stopped at immigration check points. We climbed gently virtually all the way and were following the railway line, a goods train was moving along with 3 engines and Jane counted 108 trucks, quite long I reckon.
Sanderson is a one street town, with not much going for it since the railway company moved out a few years ago. The site owners said they built the first house here for about 30 years. Only one night here as well, off to Fort Stockton where we will hopefully pick up the titles for the vehicles.
Observation position overlooking the Rio Grande railway bridge built in 1944 and still in use. (Any similarities in look to the 9th hole at Akebar - purely coincidental!!)


Just to prove the temperatures, we came for some heat as well as sun, Fort Stockton = 29F, Hull 55F, guess we got it wrong, the water pipe froze again, ah well it has got to get better.

18/01/08

Del Rio. Quite a large town and eight miles from the Mexican border, and although we are now hoping to go into Mexico, it is not from here.Only stayed one night, but what a night. Went to check out the ablutions after setting up camp, at the same time went to see what the Buzzard Roost drinking establishment was like. It checked out as real Honky Tonk shack, with an amazing atmosphere. Electronic darts, pool tables and facilities labeled “Pointers and Setters”. We had a couple of beers then left to have a meal, but we had to go back it was too good to miss. After a crap game of electronics darts, we sat at the bar listening to the sh..t kicking music. I chatted mostly to a couple of budding airforce pilots whilst Jane was in deep conversation with a Kenny Rogers look alike, who turned out to be the bar owner. These conversations resulted in many G & T’s which made walking difficult at 01.00 when the damn thing closed.

18/01/08

We were going to go up an observation tower, but it cost $15, so we made do with an 11 storey car park instead.

You can see how lovely it all looks.

Wanna buy a hat buddy?
The Alamo mission.

Told you that is what they reckon.

but they do not like some things.

San Antonio, a delightful city, and a pleasure to walk around. That may not be so when the crowds are here, but with this cooler weather we are enduring, there were not many people sight seeing.

This is where Texan history was virtually born when the Alamo siege happened in 1836, the defenders were all slaughtered by General Santa Annas Mexican army, only two women, two children and a black slave were spared. The river walk is a boozers paradise, with cafes and bars along its whole length. The river meanders through the city and someone in the past built it up as an attraction, sidewalks both sides with small waterfalls at intervals. Every year they have a mud party, when the river is dammed and drained, people have a mud slinging session, just another excuse for a party, then the mud and silt is removed, and the river allowed to fill up again. The result is a beautiful blue river in the centre of the city, and well worth the four days we spent here, even had a Boddingtons in one of the places. There is a couple of Irish pubs too, one of which has an out of tune singer/pianist, and all the peanuts you can eat. Of to Del Rio today.

16/01/08

I don't think this has been published, a whim when in the Keys Jane bought this adornment for the front of the RV. For those of you who do not know, American vehicles only have number plates on the rear.

Very comfortable I can assure you, but you have to swivel the rear seat just right.

Just to show the awning works a different way from the way we usually have it, saves me banging my head on the diagonal struts.

We didn't like the cake, but this duck did, and quite tame. Usually brings his three mates with him, but a loner this time.

15/01/08

Arrived at the Alamo KOA site yesterday, nice campground, decent level site with squirrels, ducks and crows in abundance. Drove to the “Motorcycle Shop” owned and run by Fred Trott, an Englishman (www.themotorcycleshopsa.com). The shop is impressive when one enters, bikes and scooters everywhere, old and new, English and Japanese. Anyway he disappeared into his storeroom and emerged about 5 minutes later with the exact item, which he oiled up for us, and we left as very happy bunnies. It is as well that we had decided that the first day here would be a maintenance day, it rained nearly all day, well not exactly rain, more like “threw it down”. Not exactly sight seeing weather but the locals are pleased to see the rain. So the bike is on the road again, the heater valve is fitted and working, couldn’t change the thermostat without an awful lot of hassle, so will run for a while and see what happens. I did find out why the temperature gauge was not reading though. All those many moons ago when we broke down, the guy who changed the plugs knocked the connection off the transmitter, bingo. I am chuffed, and I only have four screws left over from the dashboard, so that should be OK.Guess what we are off to see the Alamo Fort tomorrow.

13/01/08

I knew where it was and finally got the offender free, well shot.

Local wildlife inspecting RV side panel





Almost like Alfie
Dad was a Wolf, but he is as soft as mud.
An impressive skyline, and a sight to make one drool.

The Lonestar State Border Crossing

Houston is BIG! 50 miles across they say, get in the outside lane and stay there when driving through, Janes philosophy not mine, but it worked OK and we arrived at Brookshire campsite without incident. When checking in I told them of our heater problem and asked if they minded if I worked on the RV. No problem and then told us of an English couple on the site. Malcolm and Lynn have been here since the late 90’s and have been “full timing” for the past four years, moving on when they fancy, a very helpful guy making sure I got the bits I needed to complete the heater job, and telling us of places to eat etc. This resulted in us having a super Mexican meal just about 400 yards away that we would never have found, but the locals certainly knew it was there, plenty of customers.The offending heater matrix was finally removed, it was held at one position, but brute force, and definite ignorance of why, prevailed. New matrix fitted, heater box replaced, dashboard replaced, needed a heater valve though, and it seemed the original was a vacuum operated thingy, as are all the heater and air conditioning controls, so left the bypass in. Picked up a manual valve from Napa store courtesy of Malcolm and left for San Antonio where we hope to get a clutch cable for the bike.