On The Road Again for Summer 2019

We were delayed about 3 weeks from our 'normal' leave time in the spring to head to cooler areas of the country.  Started out with Dave having a toothache with ended up in doing some major dental work.  That started before Iceland and did not finish up until the 20th of May.  Next - me - again - diagnosed with pneumonia after we got back from Iceland. 2 times in 6 months is not good - I have to be careful!  Then next up with doctors was Dave - had to have some minor skin stuff done, started with trying to get appointments with regular Dermo doctor and searched for new due to being booked up, got appointment elsewhere, but could not get in to have follow up done until beginning in June.  Scrambled and got to original doctor and had that taken care of and as we sit here now, he still has stitches in, but the surgeon showed me how to removed them.

Bye, bye Tucson - see you late fall 

Dropping down into Benson, AZ

Texas Canyon of the Dragoon Mountains east of Benson - fascinated with this area

Last - the cats were in for their yearly check and vet said he wanted to clean their teeth.  Well, 10 days later we had them in for day appointment and poor little Pache ended up with 4 teeth extracted and stitches.  8 days later we had him back in for a check and he is good to go.  Watched the weather and packed up the RV and took off yesterday.

Pache did not feel so good after his teeth extractions

Buddy helped Pache heal, he stayed close to him after his surgery

We headed east bound out of Picacho towards Tucson and eastward we traveled.  This was our longest mileage out when we leave for the summer, wanted to get as far as we dared and still be in a place that if something went wrong with the RV, we had resources near.  Got to Deming, New Mexico by 3pm, worked on getting all the hookups done, the water and electric going, and then worked until 6pm putting things in their place.  Buddy did great now that we know the secret to his medicine, waiting at least 2 hours after he gets it and no food once the medicine is down.  He stays in the closet in the bedroom, I have made up a bed for him to stay there.

Crossed into New Mexico and the winds started to climb

We are shocked that the drive was uneventful, at times a bit gusty, and that the mechanics of the RV went smoothly.  Every year something has gone wrong and that's why we stay put for a number of days, making sure everything is stowed away, things are working, etc. before continuing on.  And - learning how to live full-time in the RV again takes some getting used to.

Area east of Lordsburg, NM where dust storms typically shut down I 10

Only time we will be crossing the Continental Divide going eastbound.
Will cross again when we come back

Today, we drove the car to Hatch, New Mexico which is about 45 miles from here, to Sparky's Restaurant.  A treat, they make the best green chili sauce. Hatch is the chili capital of the world - as they promote themselves.   The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday so our window of opportunity was small.  On our way back to the campground, winds were really beginning to howl,  and this afternoon and tomorrow high wind warnings are out as well as dust storms.  The RV is rocking right now, visibility is quite bad, we are lucky we got here yesterday and we are secure.

Inside of Sparky's, tacky but good food!

Crazy place - we were in a line up outside at 10:30am

Our plans for the summer are to head up through Colorado into Wyoming and then north to Montana, heading eastward from there through North Dakota and into Minnesota.  Tentatively. Things may change - stay tuned.