The holidays are over and we have RV freezers full of gator, boudin, oxtail, andouille, tasso, and lots of wild hog. We now set our sails and compass NW as we head to Washington once again to check on Mom. She had a rough summer this past year and although feeling much better, turning 90 this summer won't make things any easier. We need to get there to help out. This is a LONG journey, 2529 miles that will take us (more or less) several weeks, hoping to arrive sometime early February. The latest dates for clam digging in January and February have been released and we're now having to step up our travels. We'll be able to stay over an extra night a couple of places, but we have 20 days to travel the distance and make our reservations at the beach.
We leave Gonzales, TX heading NW towards the border. West Texas could very well be it's own planet, it is that large. Our first leg to Ozona, TX is 290 miles and our next is another 226 miles to Van Horn, TX, still 140 miles to the New Mexico border.
There were no boondocking opportunities our first 2 days so we stayed at Encino Park for a night in Ozona, TX. This was a side of the road gravel area with full hookups (probably for oil field workers) for $25/night. 13.5 mpg to this point. The next night in Van Horn, TX we stayed at the Desert Willow RV park. In fact we stayed two nights so as I could crank up a stock pot full of my chili. We've got some long driving days ahead of us, no need not to stop and catch our breath. Van Horn is one of those towns that DOES NOT allow boondocking and there are signs in every parking lot warning you. It is a $80 municipal fine. You must utilize a campground or RV park. Desert Willow is simple, but very nice park with full hookups, cable, and incredibly friendly staff at the very nice price of $22.50 for retired military/veterans. I highly recommend this place. A nice park at a great price. With the wind/rain coming in this leg we averaged 10.5 mpg. Diesel here in Van Horn is a whopping $3.11. It is a captive audience type of thing. The major interchange between I-10 (San Antonio) and I-20 Dallas/Fort Worth is just east of here. Lots of travelers come through here.
Tillamook Grilled Cheese, Salami, Green Olive Sandwiches w/Tomato Soup
Leaving Van Horn we coasted the 180 miles NW to Hatch, NM (Chile Pepper Capital of the Known Solar System) to do a bit of shopping, eating, and visiting an old friend. 15.5 mpg on this leg. Leasburg Dam State Park is on the Rio Grande River about 25 miles north of Las Cruces in a very scenic part of Southern New Mexico. Nice state park on the Rio Grande River with full hookups at only $18/night. We HAD TO STOP at Sparky's, one of the most eclectic eateries & jazz clubs you'll ever experience and the home of my favorite Green Chile Cheeseburger. sparkysburgers.com They feature some damn fine BBQ and Steaks as well. We also used this stop for laundry, groceries, and to shop at Target for a new Kindle for Barb as hers passed away the day I left for hog hunting back in Texas. We dined out one evening with Jon and Cheryl for her birthday. I have known Jon since high school.
Leasburg Dam State Park, New Mexico
Sparky's Hatch, NM
Sparky's Green Chile Cheeseburger (the BOMB)
Cheryl & Jon
On the morning of our departure we awoke to 16 degree temps and dump valves that were frozen shut. So we had no choice but to depart and carry the extra weight to our next destination. Mother Nature is a funny lady sometimes and today she provided us with a very nice tailwind so we still averaged 15.3 mpg even with half full grey and black tanks. We traveled to Tucson, AZ where we were able to boondock at one of our favorite desert places, Snyder Hill. This a patch of BLM land just west of Tucson on the Ajo Highway near the US Shooting Sports Range. You are completely off grid here. We needed to water up and dump tanks at the TTT truck stop (exit 268) just south of town on our way.
Fire Pit Rib Eyes.
Tucson, this is usually a fairly full area, but we got our best spot yet.
From here we traveled the 244 mile to Quartzite, AZ. West of Phoenix and near the California border this area is a haven for winter RVers. There are literally thousands of acres of desert on which to camp. Once free, they now charge the dastardly price of $40 for 2 weeks or $180 for a 7 month stay. This includes camping anywhere you please and free water fills and dumps. www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/quartzsite-blm.html There are other Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA) areas which are free, but do not offer any services. We are only staying overnight here so we gassed up and filled our water tank for $5 at Rose RV Park. We boondocked 3 miles north of town at Hi Jolly LTVA for free. Another good day for the truck, 15.3 mpg. I did run the generator this night for several hours just to top off the battery bank.
Leaving Quartzite we traveled 250 miles north on AZ and US 95 arriving in Las Vegas at Nellis AFB Fam Camp. 13.8 mpg today. Another one of those USAF retiree perks at $22/day. This park was recently enlarged now offering 200 sites in several different cloverleaf areas. Either pull thru or back in, most are full hookups although oddly arranged. Our original boondocking destination, RR Pass Casino Henderson, NV is under construction (no parking lot) and Las Vegas is very much like Van Horn, TX. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING ALLOWED. Two days later we skirted Las Vegas heading NW 211 miles on US 95 to Tonopah, NV. We arrived a day later than planned due to the 4" of snow and ice they received. Better wait out another day in Las Vegas and let them clean that up. Tonapah is 6000' elevation and at night it still got down to 18 so we filled our fresh water tank and ran tank heaters. The Tonopah Station Casino offers bare bones-no frills-parking lot-full hookup camping at 'bit steep' price of $27/night. By now the 'Slot Machine Therapy' was much needed by my Navigator/Wife. re: Chicken Soup for the Retiree Soul, March 19
These types of trips aren't as much leisurely fun as we would like. Lots of miles with not as much time as anyone needs or wants. Sometimes the extra day is necessary just so Barb and I can get some 'alone time'. We have traveled 1612 miles with a mere 917 yet to go. 12 days down, 8 yet to go. At least there isn't much traffic. There isn't much detail as to what our menu was as it really depended on what we remembered to thaw. It varied from BLTs, Chili, Tony's Cabbage Casserole, Italian Sausage Soup, Grilled Tillamook Cheese & Tomato Soup, and Cream o' Poblano Soup w/Middle Eastern Couscous (with our wild boar sausage). It was delicious. From here we continue north on US 95 towards Reno.
"Love knows nothing of short hauls because it has committed itself for the long haul"
Craig D. Lounsbrough
WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi
My comment may not come through as I've tried before. Just wanted to jot a note to say how much I appreciate your travel/food musings and places to stay. Thank you.
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