Benson, AZ

Caution, guard cat on duty. We had an easy 170 mile day to Benson, AZ and

arrived a little after noon. The CG is nothing to write home about but it's a no charge membership park and Judy is sitting outside soaking up the 74 degree sunshine; & that's what we were after. We'll be here 9 days and have some exploring to do, I also want to get the truck serviced. Well, 3 consecutive days in the 70s, sweet.

Deming, NM & another 70 degree day

We had another long day & covered 335 miles. We stopped just before El Paso at a rest area for lunch and a break. Patches was well behaved in the back seat for 6 1/2 hours but was glad to get back inside her house. I have to say that that cat can sleep & sleep & sleep! We remembered passing miles of stinky cow factory pens when we saw them again today. LOTS of cows. Judy was excited and texted Jody when we saw the first tumbleweed of the trip. We are at the Escapee Dream Catchers RV Park for the night. I'd like to stay another night but after checking the weather tomorrow is the better day to travel because of the winds. The park managers are friends, Wanda & Wallace, we have met here, in Branson, MO & Gillette, WY. They told us of a Shepard's Pie dinner tonight so we went....boy, it was good! Looking forward to sitting still tomorrow after a short day to Benson, AZ.

Ahhh 78 degrees and sunshine in Ft Stockton, TX

j

We once again pulled out a little before 9am and covered 365 miles on the expressway through San Antonino and then the hill country. We really like the hill country and will plan to spend some time there this fall before and/or after the HHAI Rally in Montgomery, TX the third week on October. We are approaching the desert, low trees and no grass. We saw the large windmill farms with hundreds of windmills & saw several wild javalina (black pigs). The weather is GREAT. 79 right now at 5:10pm in Ft Stockton with a gentle breeze. We stopped at a McDonald's truck stop shortly before noon and that made today's trip very comfortable.

Patches finally let us know that she's had enough traveling for hours inside her small carrier in the back seat. We let her out and she stayed in the back seat but when we returned after lunch she was in my seat but easily returned to the back seat. She lounged in the sun and shade sprawled out on the seat & was quite content napping.

That's Judy & Patches this morning, Judy with her cereal while Patches checks out the back window.

Luling, Texas

We spent yesterday in Kinder, LA because it was an ugly, windy & rainy day. We didn't take the truck anywhere but we did take the casino bus, the ride cost us $47. Bummer. Patches had time to get in a few naps. We were on the road before 9am today and covered another 320 miles; Patches continues to be a very good traveler. The only time she had something to say was when we were going through Houston which seemed like it took forever, a very l o n g city when passing through on the expressway. We arrived at on overnighter CG beside I10 at 2:30 and set up home sweet home. A solid headwind kept mileage down to 8.6mpg but it was a beautiful day, almost 60 when we arrived at Luling. We drove the 2 miles to downtown Luling for diesel, Mexican for supper & a few groceries.

We three escaped Alabama!

Judy and I spent yesterday visiting with Jody & Bruce in Mobile & saying goodbye. Bruce's parents, Diane & Norm, have been there a few days helping get the house ready for sale. It's looking pretty good & their plan is coming together! We had a late dinner with Don & Zola at The Galley, Judy and I tried to eat all the remaining shrimp in AL before we left, we gave it a good shot but failed.....belly ache time.

Up at 7am hooking up at 7:45 but by the time we said goodbye to all the neighbors coming over we didn't pull out until almost 9am. It was good to see that we remembered how to tow this here home of ours. We put in a 7 hour day and covered 370 miles to Kinder, LA for our third stay at the Coushatta Casino, we like the place. We are back on the left side of the Mississippi River, passed miles and miles of rice fields, noticed that LA has green grass and the trees are budding out down here. Patches spent all day in her bag in the backseat without any trouble. She sat in her bag on the toolbox as Judy & I set up and when we let her in she gobbled up her food and water. It seems she will be a good travelling cat. We had a good day, everything still works fine. After resting we spent an hour or two in the casino, net loss was $6 (Judy lost more than I won). Good to be back on the road after 4 months stationary!