Roger and Josephine

full-timers since 2005

She makes amazing jewelry among other things and he does wonders with gem stones and makes these amazing bowls out of larriots

The Blue Hole

Cactus in bloom

Santa Rosa, NM: Another beautiful day. Sat outside reading for a while and then we decided to go into Santa Rosa proper and check out the Blue Hole and the part of Rt. 66 that was pre-1937. This part of Rt. 66 is a gravel road in a rugged area and the “billboards” were cement slabs that were attached to boulders. They have graffiti on them now but wow—pretty historic! The Blue Hole is a natural spring that is 81 feet deep and they allow scuba diving and swimming. The temperature is 61 degrees year round. Way too cold. We asked our neighbors, Roger and Josephine Ewing, if they wanted to join us. Their truck is in a service shop in Santa Rosa for repairs, so they’re stuck without wheels. So they came along and we also stopped for lunch at one of the restaurants on Rt. 66. Sat around talking with them for a while and then had left-overs for dinner. Leaving tomorrow morning for Truth or Consequences, NM.

Cadillac Ranch on old Rt. 66

Just west of Amarillo, TX

Old Rt. 66

Just west of Amarillo, TX

Our shredded tire

Elk City, OK, to Santa Rosa, NM: Today was a challenging day to say the least. Left the pretty little KOA in Elk City, OK, at 9:10 a.m. and I started driving again. I drove until noon and we stopped at a Flying J truck stop for fuel and something to eat. The truck shifting points are still off, but it’s manageable. Seems to work better without the cruise control on. After eating Mike started driving. Drove across the Texas panhandle on Route 40 and it’s now getting more arid and mostly flat ranchland. Just before the Texas/New Mexico line a car passed us tooting his horn and indicating something amiss with our rear tire. So, we pulled onto the shoulder of Rt. 40 and, sure enough, the rear passenger side tire on the fifth wheel was shredded. This was a very dangerous situation since there was a lot of traffic—especially semis. Called RV road help and they found someone about 20 miles away in New Mexico who sent a truck. I didn’t feel safe sitting in the truck, so I got out and walked through the scrub onto a sort of farm road to wait. Mike did also. The truck thermometer was reading 102, but I don’t think it was that hot. Besides, the humidity was very low with a brisk breeze. The service truck finally showed up and changed the tire. We followed him back to the service center and Mike had them put all new, much stronger tires on. Cost a lot, but it will be worth it (we hope). So after about a two-hour delay, off we go again west on Route 40. And then the “check engine” light came on in the truck. Checked the owner’s manual and all they talked about was an emission problem. Didn’t sound too serious and the gauges were all okay so we kept going. We reached Santa Rosa about 6:30 and got set up. We gained an hour because we’re now on Mountain Time. Anyway, it was an interesting drive, paralleling the old Rt. 66 most of the way. We are so snake-bit so far on this trip. No, wait—that will be next. Jeeze.

This beautiful, old cemetery was just across the street from the GMC dealer.

The brick wall was very unusual.

Joplin, MO, to Elk City, OK: Left this morning at 8:30 with me behind the wheel. An absolutely beautiful day—warm and sunny. I drove for a little over 2-1/2 hours and then we stopped at a service area on the toll road and had lunch at a MacDonald’s. It was the nicest MacDonald’s I’ve ever seen. It even had a fireplace! I got my big mac fix. Mike then took over driving after fueling up and after about a half hour we started having problems with the truck. On cruise control it would shift down going up a hill but wouldn’t shift back up. Stopped at a GMC dealer just outside Oklahoma City and they looked at it. Said they couldn’t find anything. So, back on the highway heading southwest again. Still doing it, but not as much when cruise isn’t on. So, I guess we’ll have to see someone when we get to Tucson. There’s a lot of the old Rt. 66 along Rt. 40 in Oklahoma. We followed it for quite a while. Saw an old filling station, an old drive-in theater, and some old bridges on this historic route. In fact, the KOA we’re spending the night at is right on the old Rt. 66. If I get some energy I may take the bikes off the back of the camper and bike it for a while. It’s 89 degrees right now though. Like last night, we’re not going to unhook—just put the slides out and hook up the water, electric and sewer. We’ll leave early again tomorrow morning. Should be in New Mexico tomorrow night.

Thursday, May 28, 2009:

St. Louis to Joplin, MO: Left this morning at 9:00 a.m. in a cool rain. Arrived at the KOA in Joplin by 3:30. Drove down Rt. 44 through the lush forested hills of the Missouri Ozarks dotted with sparkling Ozark streams. Stopped at Sullivan, MO, for breakfast and I started driving. Rained off and on and never got above 65. Supposed to be in the upper 80s tomorrow. Enjoyed our two months at home. Spent as much time on the deck as weather would allow. The little wrens are back in the bird house again this spring and they didn’t appreciate our presence on the deck. They’re so cute!

Miracle of miracles--the plant I brought home from the Keys is still alive!

Spent a lot of time on the deck reading my latest book...

...which didn't make the wrens too happy

Sun, 4/5/09

KOA, Hayti, MO, to St. Louis, MO: Left this morning at 9:30. With severe weather just north of us we thought about holding off for a day, but it’s supposed to SNOW tomorrow in St. Louis, so we decided to go ahead. I started driving. The wind was very strong, but coming from the south so it just kind of pushed us along. Stopped in Sikeston for breakfast and refueling and then I continued driving. The sky started looking really ugly around St. Genevieve and it started raining some. Fortunately, it was Mike’s turn to drive. We managed to get back home without encountering any severe weather. Arrived at the storage area by 2:00, but there was another RV in our storage spot. So we parked it where we could find a safe spot and left a couple of messages for them. Got home and put everything away and relaxed. Good to be home in one piece. We go out again on May 28.

Our last day at Lazy Lakes

(picture by Charlie)

This is us leaving Lazy Lakes RV Park on Sugarloaf Key

(picture by Charlie)

Moviepark RV Park, Canton, MS, to KOA, Hayti, MO: We left Canton, MS, this morning at 9:30 with me behind the wheel. Stopped at a little town an hour or so up I55 and had breakfast. After breakfast I continued driving for another couple of hours. Stopped and switched about 20 miles south of Memphis, TN. Going through Memphis they had I55 shut down to one lane for a few miles, so that slowed us down some. Then we stopped in W. Memphis for fuel and continued on. The area between W. Memphis (across the river from Memphis) to Hayti, MO, is flat, flat, flat. They grow cotton and rice in this area—but mostly cotton. Hayti is in the “bootheel” of Missouri. Isn’t that a great name—Hayti? Shades of something—not sure what. Probably the Old South. Staying at a KOA in Hayti. Arrived and got set up by about 4:15 or so. Took longer than we expected. Hate these long drives. 73 here though. Tomorrow we leave for St. Louis. Should be a much shorter drive. We’ll get home Sunday afternoon sometime. Monday the weather is supposed to be rain/snow mix (sigh). 39 for the high (sob).

Spanish moss--they used to stuff mattresses with this stuff.

That's where "don't let the bed bugs bite" came from

Cyprus Tree in the Marsh

Fairview-Riverside SP, Mandeville, LA, to Moviepark RV Park, Canton, MS: Before we left Fairview we walked the boardwalk through the marsh area around the river. It was really marshy now because of all the rain and flooding. But it was really pretty with lots of these pretty wildflowers blooming. They looked like iris, but I’m not sure what they were. We left at 10:15. I started out driving. Went west on Rt. 12 and then hit Rt 55 north. Stopped at some little town in Mississippi and had breakfast and then Mike took over driving. We stopped for fuel before pulling into where we’re staying for the night. Not unhooking at all. We were set up by 3:30. Will relax and watch TV and leave tomorrow for Hayti, MO.