March 23 - headed to Bowie Arizona

Although we enjoy New Mexico and the place we are camping, we decided to move on the Arizona. 

Some morning shots

Looking across into Alamogordo. You can just barely see the town. 

We passed the entrance to White Sands National Park. We had visited here before so since it was so windy we decided not to stop this time. 

Organ Mountains in the distance took our eye. 


Always love the overpass artwork in the southwest.

As we get closer to Arizona, we see more yucca in the landscape. 


We are headed to Bowie, Arizona. There is one campground there called Alaskan RV Park. We’ve stayed there twice before. It’s a no frills park but it has full hookups. 

The owner is a 97 year old country western singer, Judy Hall. She lives half the year in Alaska and have here. 

March 22 - Alamogordo New Mexico

Alamogordo is the pistachio capital of the world. However, those nuts aren’t any cheaper than back home. 

For awhile when we were driving the car, we had been hearing loud noises in the car whenever we drove over rough roads. Back in State Collage I said there was something wrong with the brakes but the Jeep dealership said they didn’t find anything. Now it came to a head!!  We are driving on lots of rough roads. So Bill, who can fix darn near anything, decided to take a look. Within about 5 minutes, he said he knew what was wrong. There is a bolt missing on the caliper that holds the disc brakes. 

Off we went to find a bolt. Unfortunately the one we found wasn’t the right one so we decided to call a Jeep dealership in Alamogordo and a brake place. The dealership was worthless but the brake guys knew exactly what he needed. Unfortunately they didn’t have the part but the one young mechanic took him to find the bolt. Came back and put it on for about $30. No more noise. Huge sigh of relief and very thankful. 

While Bill was getting the brake fixed, the boys and I took a short hike and sat outside basking in the warmth. Yeah, we had it pretty good. Here’s a pic our surroundings. Only a few other campers around us but none close. 

Second maintenance task was to install a new faucet. That’s done, too. Wow. What a man!!

Now what. Who knows but there is a quilt shop that doesn’t look like it’s too far away 😉.

Just got back from visiting the Pins and Needles quilt shop and taking a little hike among some cacti. 

Look at those prickles. 

There’s a house up there in the hills. See it?

All in all a very good day. 

Evening we took a short hike to the hills and sat outside and watched the sunset. 

White Sands is just at the foothills of the mountains. We can see the sand blowing. It’s been very windy. Glad we had already visited White Sands last year. Wouldn’t have minded visiting again but not with sand blowing in our eyes. 

March 21 - on to New Mexico we hope

The awakening of another day in Hereford, Texas. 

After a 2-mile walk along the wildlife refuge auto trail, we headed south , hopefully to reach New Mexico. 

The Wildlife Refuge we camped for the night is a large open space. We would definitely stay here again. 

As we drove south, we learned that Hereford, Texas, is known as the beef capital of the world!  

Guess what??  We found warm weather in Alamogordo, NM. Banjo says YAY. 

Before we left Texas, we had decided that we’d spend at least one day just south of Alamogordo in Dog Canyon Road dispersed camping. As we were getting close to that destination, we both said at the same time that we had been here before. And we had. This time though we drove further in on Dog Canyon Road. This is where we’ll be for a couple days. 

Had to put my sandals on. It reached 70 degrees and was sunny. Sitting in our chairs that Shan, Carl, Drew and Erin gave us for Christmas, plus one chair for Lenny (he’s under the blanket). 

The evening gave us this sunset. 

Match 20 - Still in Texas

We left Shamrock Tx and headed west and south, hoping to make it to Roswell NM tonight. 

We first stopped at a Home Depot in Armarillo looking

for a new faucet. Didn’t have what we needed. Stopped at a Camping World that didn’t have many choices. Picked one up anyway because the one we have isn’t working. 

Kept heading west and heard loud noises on roof. The awning that goes over the slide was flapping. It’s been soooo windy here. Lenny was trembling. Bill crawled up on the roof to see if he can duct tape it until we can find an RV repair place. Nearest place is back the way we came in Canyon TX. Starting to head there now. 

Billy’s RV Repair shop was just what we needed. They removed the offending awning and didn’t charge us anything  Said that it wouldn’t hurt to be without it for awhile. It’s main use is to keep leaves off the top of the slide. 

Since it had been a long day, we decided to stay just outside of Hereford, west of Canyon, at the National Wildlife Refuge. No hookups but very quiet and peaceful. Much needed. Bill had to check the roof one last time ( I hope) 

Tomorrow we will hopefully make it to New Mexico. 

March 19 - Route 66 Shamrock, TX

Made it into eastern Texas. Stayed at Texas Route 66 RV Park. Full hookups for $35. Yes there were blue skies but still cold and windy. 

Guess what this is. 

A tornado shelter. The winds have been blowing but thankfully not enough for a tornado. 

Historic Route 66 ConocoPhillips Gas Station, featured in the Disney cartoon movie Cars. Lights at night. 

March 17-18 - NCAA Wrestling Championships

This morning got us started with Nathan winning his match at 285

It’s been exciting to watch Nathan and his teammates at Lehigh and all the Penn States guys we follow. 

In the afternoon, Nathan lost his match which  puts him out of the medal round but so proud of what he’s done in his red shirt year. He has just gotten better and better with each match he won. Then to win 2nd in the EIWA championships that brought him to Tulsa is so fun to watch. 

Penn State sealed the NCAA championship early on Saturday with over a 40 point lead. The finals were almost anticlimactic. 

Where will we head tomorrow. Not sure yet. Looking for warm weather for sure. It’s been nasty cold and windy here in Tulsa. 

Stay tuned. 

March 16- Session 1 - Tulsa OK

Well, here we are in Tulsa for the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Excitement abounds!!

We are staying in the Mingo RV Park, about 5 minutes from the BOK venue. The BOK is about the same size as the BJC. It’s cold and windy here. 

Session one on Thursday is now in the books. Our seats are in the nosebleed section but we are here.  

Nathan lost his first ever NCAA match but then he came back to with a win so he’s still in the running.  Remember, he’s only a red-shirt freshman. 

Penn State did well. Facunda was our only loss, but Max Dean drops to the wrestlebacks. 

Tomorrow the excitement heightens.