Timing is Everything

Along the way to Pedernales Falls State Park Bill had some concerns about a  bad tank of Diesel fuel. The engine light was on and various warnings about cleaning filters, keep driving, and other fill ups to try to use up the bad gas and still the lights stayed on. We started to think about dealership locations and we were in need of regular maintenance anyway. Well, we made it to the campground and began the drive in. The engine power just fizzled out. A new warning of reduced power began to appear. Bill had the truck floored and maybe we were going 15 mph Of course this road was hilly, steep and curvy. Oh my gosh, I hate this stressful stuff. At least we weren't on the side of a mountain, and on the outside lane. 

At the rangers station we picked our spot and got the number to the Chevy dealership in Marball Falls. We parked the trailer and Bill was able to get an appointment for the truck the next day early. We planned on staying at the park for three days and felt we could get the truck repaired. Also the campground said they would work with us if we needed extra time, even though they expected to be full over the weekend. Really nice staff.

Bill headed out the next morning and I stayed back with the dogs in case it was an all day ordeal. Well he was back in about three hours with a loaner. They would let us know about the truck.

 

Not going to be able to tow this baby!

 

The Blue Lupine are beginning to flood the fields.

 

This little deer was not interested in us or the dogs.

 

Pedernales Falls. You can walk out on the rocks.

 

When the river is high, these rocks are covered and rapids appear.

 

A closer look at one of the Falls

 

There are a couple of pools. There is no swimming in this three mile stretch up and down the river due to unpredictable flooding potential.

 

We saw this little creature trying to hide on this tree while we were walking. Cutie.

 

A better shot

We heard about the truck, something with the fuel injector, they have to order the part but we should have the car back by Friday.. We will stay an

extra day and leave here on Saturday.

 Plenty to do in the Hill Country.

Off to the Texas Hill Country

We are looking forward to driving the next few days to get to the Hill Country of North Western Central Texas. We made it the first night back to Deming New Mexico and spent the night at the Low Hi Ranch  RV Park. It is a singles camping group, for individuals who are legally single and who want to enjoy camping, travel, and adventure with other singles. They have dances, rally's, games and volunteer at events. It is a group for the "Young at Heart", where singles mingle in safety. They have international chapters and winter in Florida, New Mexico, California, and Texas.  It was a very nice  park. 

 

Along the way

Day two took us as far as Van Horn,Texas which on the map looked a very easy travel day. Van Horn is a tiny little city that has a captive audience of people leaving the El Paso area trying to get back to a big city.

 

Never found the pool, and we missed karaoke night, darn.

 

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder

 

There were chickens and bunnies. The gal sold fresh brown eggs. I'm not sure what she did with the bunnies.

 

They also had furnished tepees for those that were feeling the need to sleep in a tepee.. Dirt floor and all.

 

Bed with pad and night table. Nice!

They did have a nice Mexican restaurant across the street called Chuy's

 

Nice Sports bar too! John Madden stopped here He was a football player, coach and broadcaster.

 

Old cars , everywhere.

The next night we stayed at the South Llano River State Park

 

This was a beautiful park and is on our list to come back next year and spend some time.

 

Freshening up!

 

A nice river for kayaking.

 

There was a herd of these guys

 

We cut our walk short in the turkey roost when we saw mounds of these fire ants. We had the pups with us. Unfortunately we didn't see any turkeys. 

 Tomorrow we are heading off to Pedernales Falls State Park, finally the Hill Country. I heard they have wine there. 

Behave yourselves! Love you all! See you soon.

Catalina State Park, Arizona

Wait, before we go out we need to get our sunglasses. Another beautiful day is at hand. It's crazy that this whole time since we left the end of January we have had maybe two brief rains and always at night.  In the morning after the rain you could see how all is refreshed. Flowers popped, fields greened and the birds are quenched.

 

Orange

 

Lavender

 

Desert thistle

 

On a hike we were surrounded by cacti, big ones.

 

Some trying to bloom

 

Pickers for sure

 

This lady was holding a  counseling session with a young couple. She was burning intense and playing a tamberine type instrument. The young lady had a drum she was beating on. Weird.

 

Another beautiful sunset.

 

Off to Picacho Peak State Park

 

Our campsite with the Peak behind. We have stayed here many times over the years. It is a great spot, very scenic, right off the highway and the people are very friendly.

 

More of the Saguaro cactus giants. They can be fifty before the start to grow arms. This cactus is the symbol of the American west. We are outside Tucson.

 

We hunted our second geocache.

 

Almost missed it

 

It was a film canister filled with a paper roll. So we unrolled it, signed the paper and returned it to the hiding spot for the next treasure hunter. The hunt was fun.

 

A beautiful evening. 

Tomorrow we are heading back toward Texas. 

Love to you all. Hope you are well.

The Road Back Home!

Well we have begun our slow merandering home. We have almost two weeks until we need to arrive, so we are planning to hit a few spots we wanted to look at for next years trip. It has been really helpful this year to revisit places we have been to and enjoyed in the past. Also it was helpful when we needed to catch up on laundry or grocery shop. The biggest challenge was finding a place to get the dogs groomed. I also did a little barbering for Mr Bill and got my new do from Walmart.  Not bad!

I don't have too many pictures except the scenery and the campgrounds we stayed at. So here we go. 

Spring is calling for the wildflowers to paint the foothills with color.

 

The palate of colors is breath taking. These are Mexican Poppies.

 

The pups got their haircuts at the Torquoise Poodle in Deming, New Mexico. They feel so much better without all that dust.

 

Mr Bill decided to step on a cactus thorn while looking for walking sticks to make out of yucca stems for all the kids when we get home. Ouch, it went through his Keens. It was quite sore for a few days but no problem after that. Phew!

 

This is a Border Blimp we saw after leaving Pancho Villa campground in New Mexico

 

They have these boulder fields along the interstate on the way to Arizona.

 

 

They just seem like they are hanging there

 

Or leaning.

 

We got to Catalina State Park in Arizona in the later afternoon.

 

This is practically the same shot later. The sun light really paints the landscape.

 

The sunlight on the mountain was unbelievable.

 

The morning looked like this.

 

Just love the Saguaro Cactus

 

These little prairie dogs had quite the underground network and really kept us entertained

 

This little guy popped out of his hole right by our carpet next to the trailer.

Eating the posies.

One more day in this park then off to Picacho Peak , Arizona.