10-28-16 -Heat Escape - Day 78

                                                          Beautiful Day in Big Bend

WOW!!!  A great ride at a great destination.  We thought it was pretty when we drove in with the camper yesterday.  We never imagined Big Bend would be so spectacular.  After all, we are in the boring, flat lands of Texas.  NOT!!

We spent the afternoon cruising around on Amber in our sleeveless shirts and shorts.  Not too shabby for a couple of rednecks.  We toured toward the west side of the park.  At the end of the road, we took a stroll to the Rio Grande at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook.  The river cutting through the canyon was absolutely gorgeous.  We could have hiked, but we were in ride mode.  We ate lunch at the Santa Elena Canyon then motored to Chisos Basin.  A lot of people were coming in to stay in the lodge for the weekend.

After about 6 hours of gorgeous, we made it back to camp. The temperature was 72 at the basin, 89 when we got back to camp, what a difference a few miles and elevation makes.  Our campsite was surrounded by irrigation water, not here when we left.  Fernykat is in love with this campsite, not only does she have grass to eat; she can play in the water.  And she has her favorite stump to sit on.  Everyone is happy. 

                                                         view through the window

There are boxes to secure food on every site to keep out the bears and Javelina.  We actually watched a couple of Javelina walking on the edge of the woods behind our camper this afternoon.  The first one, was huge, didn’t get a pic. We haven’t seen a bear, although some of the hiking trails on the west side of the park are closed due to excessive bear activity. 

                                                          no sightings

The park ranger came by to take our report regarding the tree limb that tore up the roof of the camper when we arrived yesterday.  He gave us a bunch of great info of things to do in this area, we will be back to spend more time. Hopefully, the limbs will be cut back so we don’t have a reoccurrence.

While we grilled burgers, we cranked up the generator to cool off the camper, even though it was much cooler tonight than last night.  I didn’t want to take a chance of the after 8 o’clock, OMG it’s too hot in the camper, and you can’t run the generator, to run the air conditioner, so you can sleep in the south.  OK rant over.

                                           Ferny watching the water rise... Goodnight

Tomorrow we will start a slow descent toward home.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/32qJbZ843FtmpZoC6

10-27-16 -Heat Escape - Day 77

                                                     Morning from Marfa

We left the Marfa Lights Viewing Area this morning and drove 140 miles southeast to Big Bend National Park.  We thought about staying at the full hookup campground, so glad we didn’t.  We are not much for an asphalt parking lot.  Not the kind of place to camp as far as we are concerned.

We got here today, and had an immediate Fernykat approval.  She dove outside the door, to check it out.  Everything is great until we realized generator quiet hours are 8 pm till 8 am.  In this humidity, are you kidding??

                                                                 our spot
                                                     

                                                            Definitely Ferny approved

We took a walk to the store and the Rio Grande River.  Unbelievable that Mexico is right over there.  And she is so pretty to look at.

                                                           Kim playing in international waters

This is the first time I have sweated in quite a while, OMG, we definitely need to go full timing and find a much better environment. It has not been above 90 degrees and we are melting!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/YEAyd6XBn1FTeDSn9

10-26-16 - Heat Escape - Day 76

                                                        on the road

We traveled about 200 miles in a southerly direction to the Marfa Lights Viewing Area.  We are boondocking 9 miles east of Marfa, Texas at a rest area that is famous for the light viewing.  We left the Roswell Aliens for the Marfa Lights.

When we we got here we were the only ones here.  As the people rode in in hopes of seeing the lights, another camper pulled in to boon dock.

We had a beautiful sunset and a gorgeous star gazing night.  The stars are so much brighter and numerous when you are in the middle of nowhere.  We were told by an Englishman that has been here several nights that we had the perfect camp spot for the light viewing.  He said he had been coming the last couple of nights and had not seen any of the lights.  Maybe tonight was the night.

We saw a few white lights dancing way off in the distance, then a green light close by.  The Englishman said this is the first lights he has seen.  Around 10 pm we went to bed with the shades open.  We would wake and look out the window and go back to sleep.  About 3 am Lauren woke me up.  He saw multiple colors of lights dancing around on the horizon.  By the time he told me to wake up, they were gone.  At least one of got to see them.

                                                           Marfa Mystery Light ????      

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/eY4K3Ht9X22ktBv97

10-25-16 - Heat Escape - Day 75

                                                        the road to Roswell

Amber is back home with her air tight, expensive, new back tire.  Champion Harley Davidson and Revelation Towing in Roswell took good care of her.  She looks a lot better today than yesterday.

We went to Happy Hour tonight at The Ranch, enjoyed the social gathering, and we sang "Happy Trails," at the end.  I will always associate that song with The Ranch.

As we were grilling Venison Jalapeno Sausage, the neighbors invited us over.  Both couples were lease holders. We took sausage appetizers with us, they really enjoyed them.  It was a great way to end the day and the week at The Ranch.

                                                                goodnight

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/xzJiHfXLrtZTJaeW9

10-24-16 - Heat Escape - Day 74

                                                       Hawks were circling this morning

It was a cool start to our picnic destination today.  Although the temperature was upper 60's like it was yesterday, I zipped all my air vents on my jacket, that I had unzipped yesterday and it was still cool.  As we crossed a bridge on Highway 82, headed out of Artesia, NM,we hit a  bump in the road, and we heard an unusual sound from under my seat.  Hmmm, must of been just a bump in the road.

We continued on to Cloudcroft, NM in a westerly direction.  The road was pretty flat and straight for the most part.  It took a casual, curvy, 5000 foot elevation climb to town.  A very pretty, relaxing ride.
After touring Cloudcroft, we found our picnic spot at Sleepygrass Picnic Area, a very remote area with a pretty view.

We headed back toward Artesia, NM down the gentle, swaying, curvy road, down hill to the flat land.  We saw the sign for Elk Crossing in Cloudcroft, the only elk we saw was in the back of an elk hunter's truck that passed us.

                                                  

We stopped at the picnic area in Hope, NM about 30 miles from Artesia.  Had a walk around, and some water then continued on the flat, straight road.  When we got into the outskirts of Artesia, we smelled something unusual, then heard an unusual noise.  Amber's back tire was flat.  Wonder if that might be the unusual sound we heard this morning.   We will never know.

A fellow Harley guy saw us stopped on the side of the road.  He told us he owned the RV park across the road and had air.  He even offered to go get us a plug for the tire and a vacant RV for us to rest in if we needed.  Unfortunately, Amber's tire would not air up.  We called Roadside service for a tow to Roswell Harley Davidson which is about 30 minutes away.

Kevin, the Harley guy told us about when he and his wife were stranded on the side of the road on their Harley for 8 hours when they ran out of gas.  A passerby-er  drove 2 hours and came back with gas.  I can't imagine being stranded like that.

The Harley Shop in Roswell is closed on Monday, Amber will be stored at Revelation Tow Service tonight, Kevin drove Lauren 20 miles one way to the campground to get our truck, and would not accept any money for gas.

I am amazed that Kevin took time out of his day to help us like this.  Unbelievable, what strangers will do for you.  We were in the right place at the right time.

If you are ever in this area, stay at Kevin's place, West Main Artesia RV Park.  He is opening a pawn shop soon that is next door to the RV park.  We will definitely come here when we are back in this area.

                                             
   Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/CYZKifxMv56Mjo5J7

10-23-16 - Heat Escape - Day73

It was another beautiful morning, with the temp in the 60's when we left The Ranch.  Fernykat watched out the window as we were leaving.  She likes to watch us leave, (she needs her own space,) but is happy to see us return, (ready for her treats).  Spoiled cat.

We took a ride to Sitting Bull Falls.  It is a very pretty water fall in the Lincoln National Forest.  It seems out of place in all the dry desert area.  The camp host told us about a hike to the top that had more water pools.  It was well worth the hike.  We talked to a foreigner at the top, who asked if we were on our bike, (wonder how she could tell??), she said she heard the vroom vroom. She was bikini ready and took a plunge into the cold, pretty, water.  Youth!!

After we ate our picnic lunch under the cabana overlooking the beautiful canyon, we continued through the cattle ranches on Dark Canyon Road back to Carlsbad.  We rode around both sides of the Pecos River.  A really nice park.  It had warmed up to upper 80's, so we decided to head back to The Ranch.

                                                                    our spot for lunch

                                                                   cow crossing

                                                               Dark Canyon Road

                                                                  Pecos River

                                                                 back at the Ranch

We have had another good day even though we are back in warmer weather.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/V84ADrwL7BMSdYWPA

10-22-16 - Heat Escape - Day 72

                                                    Roadrunners were out this morning

It was a beautiful sunny day with very little wind in the 80's.  Perfect day to take a ride on Amber.

We rode about an hour to Roswell, New Mexico through the flat desert cattle ranches, saw a few horses and a few oil wells.  We checked out the Harley shop, (just gotta go check it out) then went to a park and had our picnic lunch.  We went back to Main Street and toured the museum, which we had toured about 5 years ago, we thoroughly enjoyed another venture through.

                                                                   Entering Roswell area

                                                                     Harley dealer

                                                                   Lunch stop

                                                                     Museum

We did a stop at a couple of souvenir shops then checked out the black light space walk.  A really cool replica of the alien encounter.  I believe!!

                                                                 Blacklight Usie

It was the final night of the Round Up at The Ranch.  For a very small fee, we had a great dinner of blue cheese dressing pork chops, 3 bean salad, a roll and strawberry shortcake.  Again the food was great, but the hospitality was greater.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the Round Up at The Ranch.  Too bad it is done until next year.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/2K2hhR78iZTSZBgw5