10-14-17 - (Day 75 - Marfa, Texas)

We traveled 239 miles easterly today.  We had a great day of traveling, although it seemed like forever because we stopped at Walmart, stopped for our lunch, and stopped at the slowest fuel station ever in Van Horn.  At least it was a pretty day and we weren't in a hurry.

                                                                    El Paso

                                                                     Hwy 90
We stopped for lunch at a very busy rest area.  It was the neatest bathrooms in a rest area we ever seen

We are boon docking tonight at the Marfa Light Viewing Area.  We are not opening the slides and we are keeping the blinds open so we can have a clear view out our bedroom window

We were here last year to see the lights.  We learned last year to get here and eat early.  This way we don't have to use lanterns to eat, so we  don't distract others with our camper lights on.  I didn't see any Marfa Lights last year, Lauren thinks he did, but by the time he woke me up they were gone.  Hmmmm!  We will see what happens tonight.

Ferny Kat got excited as soon as we got to the Town of Marfa.  I do believe she remembers familiar territory.   As soon as we parked, she started meowing to go outside.  She came out, ate green grass, which she hasn't seen for a while. After her graze, she decided to go back in and explore the small space between the wall and the slide.  Dang Cat!!

The parking lot filled at dusk.  Ferny Kat wanted in on the action and came outside and laid on a big rock.  She received a lot of attention from the other viewers.  As usual, she ignored them.

It was a really dark night.  The stars were gorgeous.  We kept looking and looking and finally we saw several colored lights dancing in the dark horizon.  They were gone as fast as they appeared.  It was eerie and phenomenal all at the same time!

CLICK FOR THE PICS:

10-13-17 - (Day 74 - Vado, New Mexico)

We continued in our Easterly direction for 248 miles today to Western Sky's RV Park  in Vado, New Mexico.

It was a beautiful day.  Shortly after getting on I 10 this morning, we saw some amazing big rocks along the interstate.  There was a lot more greenery the further we traveled.

Ferny Kat missed her day long nap yesterday and was in an ill mood today.  Hopefully, she will rest up this afternoon and be in a better mood for our travels tomorrow


more pictures right here:

10-12-17 - (Day 73 - Benson, Arizona)

After a 302 mile trek East, we are at Red Barn Campground.  We called a few campgrounds on the way over here, as usually, we had to leave a message.  On our way into the curvy, gravel road, that Lauren thought, I don't think we need to go here, I got a call back from Red Barn Campground.

                                                                  Plenty of cacti along I10

There was another camper ahead of us when we entered the campground.  The owner was a hoot and a half.  We both got a pull thru Passport America campsite.  It's not a resort, but we don't
need a resort.

We sat around at the back side of the camper, near the interstate, hoping for a pretty sunset.  That didn't happen.

I concocted our dinner tonight using Macaroni and Cheese and left over chicken, along with some sauteed onions.  Pretty darn tasty.

Ferny Kat wanted to come out tonight, but hesitated.  It's probably a good thing being there are desert stickers and a stray black cat that came over to check out our cooking. 

                                                             Afternoon visitors

We move more Easterly tomorrow.

More pics right here:

10-11-17 - (Day 72 - Hanging around Quartzsite)

We took an easy ride around today, looking at the Arizona desert.   We still can't get over how many boon docking campsites they have here, in addition to the 41 full hook up RV parks.  It must be a madhouse in January when the all the vendors and the predicted million snow birds arrive.

We spent the afternoon getting ready for our departure tomorrow. I washed our clothes and took advantage of the clothes line provided by the campground to hang out our bed sheets for that wonderful, fresh, scent.

The sunset was gorgeous tonight with the reddish fluffy clouds.

We head in an Easterly direction tomorrow.

click for pics:

10-10-17 - (Day 71 - Quartzsite, Arizona)

Lauren has been fascinated with Quartzsite, Arizona for quite a few years. We were just 143 miles from there when we left Laughlin, Nevada and are camping in a full hookup, Passport America Campground, Split Rail RV Park in Quartzsite.  We have all the amenities we need.

It was a very pretty ride along the Colorado River to get here on Highway 95.

The campground has some really nice managers that gave us a couple of must see spots.

We ate a late lunch/early dinner today then headed out on Amber.  We have never seen so many full hook up campgrounds, in such a small area.  And the boondocking, goes for miles and miles through the desert cacti fields.  We made a ride to the famous Hi Jolly Grave.  It's amazing what you find out about our country when you ride around 

Hi Jolly, was invited by  Jefferson Davis in the 19th Century to come to America.  Hi Jolly was a camel driver from the Middle East.  He and the camels helped the Camel Corp survey a wagon route, which became some of Route 66 between New Mexico and California.

Quartzsite is not the most elaborate scenery, but it is a Snow Bird Haven.  January is the peak month.  You can boon dock for $180 for 7 months, with access to water and sewage.  Pretty cheap living if you don't mind a little inconvenience of filling and dumping your tanks.

We sat outside tonight, thinking Ferny Kat won't like this gravel parking lot campground.  It was on, as soon as she woke up from her nap.  She likes it here.  Good thing, being we will be here at least another night.

We plan to ride around and check out our surroundings tomorrow.

More pics right here:

10-9-17 - (Day 70 - Heidi Ho)

We were awaken by an unbelievable 44 mph wind this morning.  I wasn't sure if it was going to flip us over the edge of the multilevel campground.  We had to scout around the campground to find one of our rugs.

We went to Riverside Casino to eat our last free buffet.  While waiting for the buffet to open, we went and played Ghost Buster's slot machine.  It was a hoot.  We kinda broke even, ate a great lunch, then went back to camp.

We had planned to go to Golden Nugget for Bubba Gump's appetizers tonight.  We had a couple of beers, was still full from lunch, and decided to go check on Heidi at Aquarius Casino.

                                                              Goldon Nugget Entrance

The Heidi Machine Lauren had played the other day, opened up shortly after we arrived.  My Heidi machine was occupied,  so I sat at Lauren's machine.  It was not nearly as exciting as the other day, really boring.    Finally the Heidi machine I played the other day, opened up.  I insisted Lauren play my machine.  He was adamant that someone just won and there was no reason to play it.

I thought he was right, when we were both losing our $20, I left and came back.  When I came back he won 87 free spins, and $248.15.  Thanks Heidi.

We cashed out way ahead of the $45 investment.

It has been a really great week here.  Tomorrow we head in an easterly direction.  Heidi Ho!!

10-8-17 - (Day 69 - Crusing on Amber and USS Riverside)

We rode Amber to Davis Dam this morning.  We watched boaters and paddler boarders in the tranquil Lake Mohave.  We made a  short trip into the Lake Mead Recreation Area to get a few more views of the lake.

When we got to back to the Highway 68 intersection, we decided to ride east.  It was a very pretty 12 miles of steep incline to Union Pass.  We turned around and took the steep 12 mile decline back to the intersection.

We made a loop on Bullhead Parkway then to Avi Casino.  We ate lunch for $4 after our comps they gave us for signing up for a player's card.  We gambled enough to pay them for the comps.  It was getting hot, so we headed back to camp and waited for the boat cruise.

We learned all about the history of Laughlin on this hour and 20 minute tour.  We first went to Davis Dam, amongst the numerous jet skis, then turned around.  Harrah's was the last casino before our next turn around.  Harrah's does not have the Riverwalk, but they have an awesome beach and river access for their patrons.

We learned a lot about Don Laughlin during our cruise.  We were really impressed that he had slot machines in Minnesota when he was 15 years old, and was told by his high school principal, that he had to close down the machines or he would get kicked out of high school.  Being he was earning more money on slots than the principal was making, he decided to drop out of school.  Mr Laughlin  purchased the 101 Club in Vegas, then sold it and bought a riverfront motel in Laughlin.

Riverside Casino started out in a 8 room motel, 4 of which housed his family, and the rest is history.  He donated money to build the bridge between Laughlin and Bullhead along with another major donation for the Bullhead Airport.  Who says, you can't make it without a high school education?

The other interesting thing, was a balcony on the top corner of Edgewater Casino.  We found out that one lady, (Mrs. Lafferty),  refused to sell her lot with her trailer on it to the casinos.  After unbelievable cash offers,  the casino's finally broke and told her they would pay her  an unbelievable amount of money, build her a suite at the top overlooking the Colorado River, build a fishing pier for her, and she would have attendants to take care of her every need.  She finally agreed.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Lafferty passed away before she could reap the benefits.

It was a very nice afternoon for this beautiful, informative, river cruise.

Click here for pics: