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Published: November 21st 2017
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Heading back East...we have seen and experienced so many amazing people, places and things. The gift of time is a blessing...we have a list of ideas and thoughts ? that we are anxious to explore when we get home ?
On the road again, 10E - Pearl Harbor Memorial Hwy. Pit stop ? on Bob Hope Drive.
Our plan is really no plan, other than different highways and stops - not as many parks to check out. First destination is Saguaro National Park, home of the largest cactus ??. Camping ⛺️ nearby since the national park does not have a campground. Gilbert Ray Campground, only 3 miles from the park visitor center. Perfect spot for the night and only $10 ? We are ready for some fresh air and sleeping ? again under the ✨ stars. I grill tuna and we have that with a nice salad ??
Karen has a migraine ?so we get into the tent early to sleep?
I met a really nice lady on my way to/from the bathroom ? who comes to this campground regularly...she and her husband are there for the week to spend Thanksgiving with their children. She shares what
we should see, do, etc. The next morning we wake up and enjoy instant coffee ☕️ from Trader Joe’s...pretty good actually ?I think this is the first time we have had instant coffee...the lady I met the night before stops by to check on Karen and her migraine. People are wonderful ?Time to pack up and check out Saguaro National Park...beautiful and ominous, the only National Park in the U.S. separated by a city, Tucson AZ. There are 2 districts - West and East. We are at the West District...a fascinating desert and the Saguaro cactus ? are cool sights to see. The cactus ? only grow arms/branches after they are 75 years old! The NPS ladies ????that were volunteering at the visitor center were super nice...we check out the film ? and learn about this fairly new desert, only 10,000 years old, and enjoy a short hike.
Time to continue on our journey...we decide as we are venturing closer to home, let’s be somewhere neat for Thanksgiving ? We pick New Orleans - let’s make our last destination a party ???
Continuing on 10E we pass some interesting sites and road signs...
The Thing?!?!? Tons of
billboards along the way...reminds us both of South of the Border on I95. We cross into New Mexico and the Continental Divide - elevation 4585 ft.
Blowing Dust Area
Dust Storms May Exist
Zero Visibility Possible ?
75 mph ?
Prison facilities in this area...Do Not Pickup Hitchhikers - No problem ??no room in the Subie ?
Luna Rosa Winery ??
Welcome to Las Cruces - Rio Grande
Lots of ? transporting goods along the highway...
Mesquite NM - Eat More Ice Cream ?
Stinky cows ? biggest dairy farm we have ever seen - thousands of ? cows...
The smell ?...ugh! How do people live here?
Welcome to TX ⭐️
Drive Friendly - The Texas Way
UT El Paso Sun Bowl, Gateway to Juarez Mexico...Texas Tech University
Lee Trevino Drive ⛳️
World ‘s Largest Harley Davidson - Barnette TX ?
Of course it’s the largest and it’s in Texas - everything is BIGGER in Texas
As we are driving, we can actually see the lights across the border - Mexico ?? ...
10E pretty much runs along the
southern border of the U.S. and Mexico. Weird and a little scary...80mph ?
There are no highway lights and the sky is completely dark - pitch black. Spooky ?
We must stop at an Inspection Station...US Border Patrol with sniffer dogs ?
Uh oh, not sure why we are nervous. This time we agree that I will respond and Karen will not speak??
Reminds us of the movie, We’re the Millers ?
There was a camper in front of us that had to pull over...
Culberson County - Entering Central Time Zone.
First time we have ever seen a road sign announcing a time zone change ? Interesting...
We stop for the night in a small town called Van Horn, TX. Karen researches the few dinner options available and says ‘we are going to Chuy’s - delicious Mexican food since 1959 and the John Madden Haul of Fame.’ So, Monday night back in 1987, John Madden made a surprising stop at Chuy's with the desire to view the Monday night football game on television. Not only did he enjoy the football game, but traditional, homemade Mexican food.’ Check
it out -
http://chuys1959.com I am not interested in watching Monday night football ??, so we order to go the John Madden Special, “Chicken Picado" No. 21 ?Just sharing...not necessarily a stop we would recommend, but funny & interesting, as many people ask if we are related to John Madden ??
Next destination, Galveston Island State Park. Camping ⛺️the next few days, enjoy sleeping under the stars, hikes, fresh water ? and saltwater fishing ??
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Happy Thanksgiving!
We are thankful for you both. Have fun in New Orleans!