2013 Mar 22 - Amado, AZ

Friday - De Anza RV Resort
We arrived here at 1440 hrs in the middle of a heat wave which isn't so surprising since it's Arizona, but it's only March. It has been in the 90's here instead of the normal 70's it usually is at this time of year.

De Anza RV Resort

Being from the computer field, I am very familiar with "Murphy's Law" and I have found it carries over into the RV world. It figures, our air conditioner stopped working in our time of need. I tried to evaluate all the RV service possibilities available. One explained that their were no accessible service areas from outside and the unit would have to be removed to be evaluated and repaired or replaced. And sometimes the cabling is wrapped around the framing which adds to the removal time. The Horizon has a residential central heating/air conditioning unit in a rear side compartment.

Fortunately I found Lance's RV Mobile RV Service in Tuscon. Lance Davis came out to our site and traced the problem to a bad circuit board. He didn't have to pull out the the unit but opened a large inspection plate on the front side. He was able to order a replacement and have it overnighted. The next day he came back with the new board. He was able to read the circuit diagram to make some necessary changed and after installing, it is working great. The valuation of Service Performed: Excellent
Value of Service:   Excellent
Quality of Service:  Excellent

Elephant Rock on Left and Observatory on Right

A view out the back of the camp ground. Below is a closer look at Elephant Rock.

Elephant Rock

He's looking past us to the right. His head is the top of the rock and you can see his black eye and ear while his trunk lays down the right side. You can also see his rf leg and his hind quarters. He appears to be smiling at me for taking so long in recognizing him.

As the sun is setting, you can already see the difference in light and color between the two images. After staying here many times in the past, while pulling out these images I finally saw the elephant.

 Color moves to the sky from the mountains as the sun begins to sets.

Debbie's mother had been in the hospital and returned home just before we arrived.  We'll be here for a month visiting and helping out a little.

One day a RV/Boat spent a couple of nights in the campground in a site across from us. Cruising on the highway or waterway.

Debbie has been putting out a humming bird feeder and she finally has attracted a bird, although it's not a humming bird.

Ty didn't seem to care what kind of bird it was, he studied it for some time before he tried to touch it.

The bird didn't like the sound of claws scraping on the window and moved over.

The month past by way too fast. We have spent most of the time just hanging out with Debbie's folks, visiting, eating and relaxing.

We'll be leaving for home tomorrow Sunday, April the 21st.

2013 Mar 21 - Las Cruces, NM

Thursday

Today is a travel day as we leave Fort Davis and head to Amado, Arizona. We got underway at 9:30 and traveled up highway 90.

At about 1300 hrs we stopped for fuel at Love's Travel Stop in Anthony, TX. I pumped just over 50gal of diesel fuel at 4.029 a gallon for a total of 202.89.

At 1448 hrs we checked into Hacienda RV and Rally Resort, which is just off of I -10, at exit 140 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The elevation is approximately 3900 feet.  We have stayed at this park many times and have seen it devolve from a resort which provided pet treats and breakfast and other amenities to a run-of-the-mill RV park.

This is only a layover for the night. Tomorrow we are back on the road.

2013 Mar 20 - Alpine, TX

Thursday

After our visit to Marfa, we went down, southeast, to Alpine to visit the Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus. The museum didn't disappoint and was well worth the drive down from Fort Davis.

An Example of the Excellent Displays

As it turned out, our timing was perfect, because just as we were coming out...

A Class Visits the Museum

As dusk fell we traveled north, this time to the McDonald Observatory for a Star Party. The parking was down hill from the observatory and it was a long walk uphill. We explored the visitor center while we waited for the event to begin. Learned a lot about the facility including that the program is very popular as the Star Party was a full.

As Darkness Approaches all the Lighting is Red

We took our seats which are outdoors, cement benches. We learned you should dress warmly and bring a cushion to sit on!

The program was great and we identified many constellations with the help of the presenters.

Tomorrow we leave the Fort Davis and Texas after a fun-filled time with my aunt and uncle and head back to Arizona.

2013 Mar 20 - Marfa, TX

Wednesday

Today Debbie, Shirley, Frank and I traveled south a few miles to the town of Marfa where we found another, more impressive court house.

Marfa Courthouse

We stopped at the The Hotel Paisano on main street, mainly because the girls saw a couple of stores they wanted to browse.

  The front of Hotel Paisano and inside looking back at the front doors.

Hotel Paisano Lobby

Frank and I explored the hotel interior which proved to be very unique.

Off the Main Lobby

After a fast food lunch in town we returned to our respective temporary homes to rest up for the evening quest to see the famous Marfa Lights.

As darkness neared we again traveled to Marfa and then east on state highway 90 to the Marfa Lights Viewing Center. There's a long parking lot there so you can stay in your car to view the lights.

Marfa Lights Viewing Center

Debbie had made popcorn and we brought drinks. We settled down and waited. I was dubious that we would see anything. But then I saw what appeared to be car lights in the distance. It appeared the car was driving down a mountain road as is disappeared and re-appeared as if going around curves. False alarm, but as I watched it suddenly shot up and then straight very fast. As I watched it and other lights continued like fireflies. Just as strange was in the light there are no mountains in that direction, its just flat to the horizon.

2013 Mar 19 - Fort Davis, TX - Afternoon

Tuesday

We're exploring Fort Davis National Historic Site this afternoon.

The Museum in the Background 

Officer's Quarters on the Left (White)

Looking Down the Row

The Officer's Quarters' have been restored and are in excellent condition. Most are furnished including the Commanding Officer's quarters, located in the center of the row. Unfortunately the housing is locked, but the interiors are visible through he windows. The fort grounds are huge and it was a long walk down the row to the end.

A Group of Officers' Two Story Quarters

Only one of the two story quarters is restored. The others are in various condition.

Old Subsistence Storehouse and smaller Commissary Office

After exploring the Fort Davis site, we had to drive back past the drug store, so we stopped there for a snack.

Afternoon "Snack"

It Looks Big, Because It Is 

What Happened?

Without any help from our side of the table!  Well it was two of them sharing. 

2013 Mar 19 - Fort Davis, TX - Morning

2013 Mar 19 - Tuesday

Arrived at Davis Mountain State Park around 2pm. Drove through the park and picked the last level site, #14.
We met my aunt and uncle, Shirley and Frank as we checked in. We staying in the campground and they are in the lodge. We got together for dinner in the lodge dinning room. I tried their pulled pork which was pretty good. That evening Javelins walked through the camp site. They actually walked through every morning and evening checking out each camp site.

Visitors going through the campsite

This morning we went into the town of Fort Davis for breakfast at Fort Davis Drug Store & Old Texas Inn.

Frank and Shirley

A step back in time

Some of the streets in town dead-end!

Jeff Davis County Courthouse

Walking around the Courthouse grounds

March 2013 Part 2

San Antonio, Texas

Thirty miles to the east of our RV Park is the Texas Pride Barbecue. It’s out in the middle of nowhere. We went out for a late lunch and it was not very busy.

 

I had a sample of their ribs, brisket, and pork. It was very good but didn’t match our first barbecue in Midland.  Barbecue is commonly served on wax paper.

Debbie is walking across one end of the LARGE dinning area. The cafeteria and barbecue area is located adjacent through the door.

This is a huge covered, outdoor area where live bands perform Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The afternoon we revisited Mission San Jose

Debbie sitting on a rental bike at a rack outside the mission walls.

March 3rd

We left San Antonio heading south to Corpus Christie and on to our destination on Mustang Island, Gulf Waters Beachfront RV Resort. 

Our site is on a small lake.

On the opposite bank turtles sun themselves.

The beach is just a short walk from the Horizon. Port Aransas is in the background.

Oil platforms off the beach in the whitecaps

Looking across at our site.

We found Andy's Country Kitchen in Corpus Christi and had several breakfasts there. One of the best restaurants we found on our trip.

March 2013 Part 1

San Antonio, TX

Wait, I forgot I stopped blogging after Fredericksburg. so I am going farther back to add the rest of our spring travels.

Leaving Fredericksburg we traveled down through the Texas “Hill Country” and on to San Antonio. We stayed at Travelers World RV park.

Our space at Travelers World RV in San Antonio

We had list of several restaurants to visit in the city which had been shown on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”.  Our first stop was Magnolia Pancake Haus.  It was an early morning week day when we arrived and we anticipated a quick table. Seeing the shopping center parking lot full, I hoped it was shoppers but it was to early for the shopping center stores, so we got in line and joined the crowd.  The breakfast was worth waiting for. 

Picture from Magnolia Pancake Haus website

Guenther House Restaurant was our next breakfast stop. Located at the foot of King Williams Street in the mansion of Pioneer Flour Mills founder Carl Hilmar Guenther and located on a corner of the mill complex.

Guenther House

The green tent serves as an overflow dining area. We were early enough to be seated in the mansion’s small dinning room. When we left the overflow was full and there were people waiting.

After our breakfast we took a stroll up King Williams Street which is lined with trees and mansions. We returned on a path behind the mansions along the river.

   

A disappointing lunch stop was Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, which we must have visited on an off day. The fact that they had empty tables should have been a caution. Our pizza wasn’t very good and the servers were busy talking to bar customers and each other.