Travel the USA

After the country re-opened after Covid-19, we are
"On the Road Again."
Please enjoy the 'armchair travels' and feel free to make comments.

In September of 2019, we made the
'epic' trip to the east coast for the first birthday of our grandson Evan.
Since Evan's birthday is in September, we decided to join a 29 day RV Caravan for the New England fall color. The tour starts in Maine and ends in Niagara Falls. All told, we did about 12,000 miles with the new truck and trailer.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Desert Hot Springs, California

 Caliente Springs Resort





Beautiful view of San Gorgonio Mountain
(from the clubhouse)

and Mount San Jacinto

Fun in the sun - includes daily activities of 
Water Volleyball and Water Aerobics





Cabot's Pueblo Museum




This rather 'quirky' tourist attraction is a 
Historical Marker in Riverside County.

Cabot Yerxa discovered the hot springs that gave Desert Hot Springs
 its name. That was in 1914. 
He built the structure by hand until he died at age 81 (1965).

The house, never finished, has four stories, 35 rooms, 150 windows, 65 doors, and 30 different roof levels.

He bought abandoned CCC cabins for the wood, and mixed his own Indian-style mud bricks, and used articles from abandoned homesteads  to build the house.

In the 'quirky' category is this 
Ancient Weather Rock
The sign points out that:
"If the rock is moving, the wind is blowing"
"if the rock is wet, it is raining"


Cabot had a 'love of all things Indian' 


The weekend event featured Oaxacan weavers 
showing how they obtain beautiful red dyes from the bugs.
(these live on the prickly pear cactus)

and plants.
(Indigo)

They create beautiful rugs and tapestries.

We enjoy coming back to the hot tubs to soak in the mineral water.
(Our favorite is the"Lobster Pot")













Monday, January 22, 2024

Desert fun in Wellton, Arizona (near Yuma)


The Barry Goldwater Bombing Range
(formerly Luke Air Force Base)
is  a huge  2 million acre military base ranging from Phoenix to Mexico.


Permits are required to enter and for only specific roads
(as this is an active military training base).
This area allows ATV's, 4 wheeling, and camping (for 14 days).



Lou used to play with these when he was a kid (and he called them Horny Toads)
One of them got lost in the back seat of the car and his dad couldn't figure out why the car smelled so bad.


The RV campground group explores the desert weekly.


We get to travel some pretty rough territory on the way to 
the Fortuna Mine.
(even though it is very different from those at home)


The mine shaft was 800 feet deep and  covered with a 50 ft structure

 where men and equipment were lowered and raised in the mine shaft.




Fortuna Mine


Discovered accidentally -- 12/22/1984

Part time prospectors had made a stone circle in the campground fire to keep their coffee pot warm. The next morning one of the prospectors noticed that the fire had melted something that looked like gold, and that led to the discovery of one of Arizona’s most valuable gold mine.


The rich vein ended abruptly in 1904.


Movin on to find a lunch spot






The Ocotillo plants are beginning to bloom.


A nice day bouncing through the desert.


Naked Date Farm





Always a treat to enjoy some live music in the afternoon.


They have added "glamping" at the farm.



You can enjoy a unique stay at the Naked Dates for just $75.00



Tractor Rodeo

A new kind of rodeo for me!



Not sure what this sign meant--



People come from all over to display their treasures.
This engine has a unique water radiator.



These toys of working model engines were made in early 1900's 
for kids about 4 years old.



Can you collect too many antique tractors?
He has 3 other trailers full of tractors at home in Wisconsin, but he travels around the country to the tractor shows and lives in the van.




Lou, Russ and Oscar enjoying the sights.


Look at the size of those tires!


It has been a pleasant visit to Wellton, and we will be in Desert Hot Springs soon.



Thursday, January 11, 2024

Mimbres, New Mexico

Tanya's new place

Mimbres, NM

Another favorite - in "the middle of nowhere"!

We arrived on the (perhaps) coldest day of the year
and put our "all weather" trailer to the test.
Yes we survived!


Tanya is so excited to have her own horse 
( and adopted mule)  on her own property. 

Livin' the Dream!




I had to try my hand at being a "rancher".
Tanya is sure that won't work!


Feeding these two is a chore that Tanya loves, along with being
 'out in the middle of nowhere'.


Surveying the property, being careful not to touch the electric fence.


Lou and Larry are installing side panels to the shelter
in very cold and windy weather.


Celebrating Larry's Birthday at The Buckhorn Saloon, oldest operating saloon in NM
and it was a great restaurant! (also pretty cold)


and Opera House 
(circa 1803)



Last chore before leaving the ranch was
unloading 600 pounds of hay 
and getting it covered before the wind blew everything apart.



Next stop Tucson
Desert Trails RV Park


Great idea for a bird feeder??


Lots of quail and cactus
 in the Saguaro National Park




Such an old one (the cactus, that is!)


"Just sayin"
how bout this for a bird feeder?