Goodbuy Tucson, Hello Ajo AZ

March 2, 2020

Update: As stated below, I drafted and THOUGHT I published this post last Monday. Several days later I discovered it failed due to the lack of AT&T service in and around Ajo.  After some adjustments,  I'm trying again.

There's still some "catch up" posts coming for the rest of the trip to Tucson back in January. However, I'm trying to be proactive and stay up to date from now on. So, here's where we are right now.

After the month of February at Tucson Meadows RV resort, we left this morning to have some preventative maintenance done on the camper. That all went well but while we were there I saw this Boo-Boo.

The trailer shop owner said they lost a wheel when a "never lube" bearing failed. Don't know how many miles they had on it.

Maintenance done, we headed for BLM land south of Ajo AZ.

Blue dot, lower center, is our location. 

The forecast was for rain starting about 2pm and we were heading right into it.

To get to our favorite site we'd have to cross 3 washes (dry river beds, ie: flash flood possibility). While on the dirt road leading to the site, we saw water already flowing in the wash next to the road. This is  only the second time we've seen water flowing in a desert wash.

Knowing a crossing was coming up, we decided to turn around and spend the night at a site we'd just passed. Not our favorite but not to shaby. Here's some pics...

Two hours later, the flow was almost over.

We celebrated our safe arrival with popcorn and beer, followed by leftover home made pizza... and more beer.

Ahhhhhh, it's good to be back in the desert.

Estero Llasno Grande State Park and Santa Anna Natl. Wildlife Refuge

Jan. 16, 2020

We were taking a southerly track in Texas to visit friends volunteering at Estero Llasno Grande State Park (link), Steve and Laura.  Making it a sextet, we were also joined by two more friends we met volunteering in Oregon, Wil and Kevin.

Estero doesn't have a campground so we stayed at Snow to Sun RV resort, just 4 miles north of the park.

Estero is known for it's birding.

Can you find the Common  Pauraque? (link)

In the US, the Common Pauraque is only found in extreme southern Texas.

Santa Ana Natl. Wildlife Refuge. (link)

 

About 15 miles away, we took a day trip to visit Santa Ana NWR.

Altamira Oriole.

Looking across the Rio Grande at Mexico.

The 3 Amegos... Joan, Wil and Laura.

Suspension bridge and an even taller observation tower gives you a "bird's eye view" of the refuge and it's feathered friends.

The Rio Grande valley was once a vast flood plane with lush forests.

We enjoyed our time visiting friends and seeing a very different part of the country.   But now it was time to continue the journey. 

Coming next, The Way West.

Traveling the Gulf Coast

Jan 2020

The first stop after leaving Florida was Gulf Islands Natl. Seashore.  We stayed here 3 years ago and spent an hour or so in the concrete block mens room waiting out a tornado warning (link, dated 4/28).  This time we were hunkered down waiting for somemore bad weather to pass.

White Oak Parish Park, Lake Charles LA (link).

This is one of the most well manicured county (Parish in Lousiana)  parks we'd seen.  It would rival any high end resort.  They have an excellant online reservation system that we used to pick our spot while traveling I-10, about an hour up the road.  The sites are all long, level concrete pads.  All this for $12 a night!  There are 5 of these Parish parks around Lake Charles, each having something different to offer. Next time we pass this way we'll be sure to check out one of the others.

We arrived to some locals having a Sunday afternoon street party and they invited us to join.

Joan playing a variation of Corn Hole where large steel washers replace the bean bags.

Unfortunately the rest of our time here was off-and-on rain.

White Oak park is on the west fork of the Calcasieu river.

Sampling some local Cajun cuisine. 

Calhoun's RV Retreat 

After traveling through The Belly of the Beast (Houston TX)  on a drizzly foggy day, we stopped at this little Passport America park (link).  Nothing special here, just a small river side campground near Tivoli TX. 

Arriving on a drizzly foggy  afternoon.

Guadalupe River

Here's an overview of the locations in this post, and the next.

Coming next, Estero Llasno Grande State Park and Santa Anna Natl. Wildlife Refuge. 

Falling Waters State Park FL, revisited

Jan 8, 2020

We stopped by Falling Water SP on our way west back in 2016 (link). The area was in a drought and there wasn't much ... falling water. On top of that, they were working on the boardwalk and access to the falls was limited. With the recent abundant rain we were hoping for a better show.

Late afternoon in the Florida pine forest.

Coming next, Traveling the Gulf coast.

Florida visit

Feb. 2020

Yeah, It's happened again. I'm 2... no wait... 3 months behind again!

Over the next few days I'll submit more post highlighting our trip west, eventually bringing everything up to date (February 2020) with our current location in Tucson AZ.

Dec 2019

We had a whirlwind visit in Florida, spending the month of December 2019 taking care of some long delayed business and visiting friends and family.  

Driveway surfing, Salt Springs.

View of Lake Kerr from the camper.

Saturday morning flee market in Salt Springs.

Christmas Light Boat Parade on Lake Kerr, Salt Springs.

Pasture surfing near Plant City FL.

A flock of Ibis wander through the pasture.

More pasture surfing near Grandon FL.

Coming next, Falling Water State Park FL, revisited.