Merry Chrisrmas from Arizona

Merry Christmas everyone. We are in a Thousand Trails preserve in Cottonwood Arizona. We started our Christmas morning with church services and just returned from Christmas dinner with approximately 75 fellow RVer's. I have to share with you some pistures. This first one is the view we see from our front window every day. If you look closely there is a red clay structure in the center of the photo This is the ruins of a "Kiva" or ceremonial-type dwelling inhabited by the Sinaqua Indians and dates back to around 1300 to 1400 A.D.

Next is a photo of the red rocks of Sedona just a few miles away. This is the most beautiful area we have seen yet. The views are spectacular everywhere you go.
Yesterday we went 4 wheeling in a jeep with friends, Dale and Linda Francis, through the Prescott National Forest. We were on all dirt and rock roads that meandered through the hills. In Linda's words.."How can anyone see this, and not believe in a God". And what a better way to celebrate his son's birth than by admiring and sharing his handywork.

We wish all of our family and friends a very Merry Christmas.

Texas Route 90 drive

We spent a week traveling along route 90 enjoying beautiful scenery. We spent a few days in Alpine,Texas. From there we traveled in several directions.
I hope you can read the inscription on this stone about the mysterious Marfa Lights. We watched these lights come and go... up and down. We saw red, blue and white ones. 

                                                                                  We visited the McDonald Observatory which is run by the University of Texas and Penn State. It houses the 5th largest telescope in the world. We were able to go right into the dome, see, touch and manuver the telescope. It is housed outside of Fort Davis Texas, which is the highest point in Texas. Beautiful views and scenery.    We also went to the Fort which defended this area from Indian attacks and raids from the Mexicans prior to the civil war.

Eventually route 90 rejoins interstate 10, so we left Texas and spent a night in New Mexico. Las Cruses to be specific. Nice community and growing. we are due in Cottonwood, Arizona on the 20th to meet up with friends for Christmas and New Year's, so we didn't spend time here. Maybe next year..... I want to go to Roswel

SanAntonio..... a rose

We went with some friends into San Antonio. We visited the Alamo, the old mission, had lunch at a deli and did the river walk. It was a very plesant day and we both enjoyed ourselves. It was a cool (low 50's) day.

Our time at Medina Lake seemed to fly by. We were busy every day taking scenic drives and learning more about Texas history and culture. The state is so big and rich in our nation's history that it is impossible to do and see everything in one visit. We will definately be returning to Texas to spend more time. But for now we bid a temporary good-by to new found friends and headed out for the mid-South region.

Unfortunately John drove a little too far to the right on the way out of the park, so we will need to shop for another antenna (Number 3)...soon.

Lake Medina, North of San Antonio

I normally wait until we have completed our stay in an area before I write about my thoughts and experience, but I have some pictures to share. This campground is practically a nature preserve. And you know me and critters... meet my new best friend. He is standing at the door of the RV staring at me through the window waiting for me to give him something to eat. He eats apples from my hand. He follows me around the campsite when I take Sydney out to walk.... even the dog doesn't keep him away.... the distance is further but not much.

And John has made an impression with the ladies too..... the minute he walks out the door of the RV, they come running....  in herds.
The deer here are smaller than in PA.... but the rabbitts make up the difference. I have never seen such huge rabbitts....jackrabbitts. Much to Sydney's dismay they are VERY FAST.
I have a flock of Cardinals in the trees outside my window. I also saw a roadrunner yesterday. I am told the park is usualy full of them in the summer months but right now there is one left that didn't migrate yet.
We met 2 other couples here that will be in the same Arizona park over Christmas that we'll be in. We were invited to join their parking area in Quartzsite in January. That's a story for another day.
Today we found another gem.... Boerne. The town came straight from a Dickens story. Tomorrow is San Antonio and the river walk with our Arizona bound friends Dale & Linda Francis.

Coastal Texas

From Houston we made our way to the Texas Gulf Coast. We had planned to go to the  Corpus Christi area and some one suggested a place called Rockport....  so off we went. This was the first time I could complain about the weather. We had drizzle and misty rain on and off the whole time.... but the place was so quaint you really didn't mind.
We met several former RVer's here who discovered this area while traveling and came back to stay. We visited the Meritime Museum and learned all about the port and the offshore oil drilling and platforms. It was surprisingly interesting. This is the site of an old Spanish ship find. It went down in the port and most of the wooden hull was recovered.
There is also a National Wildlife sanctuary for migrating birds here. This is where they worked to save the whooping cranes and brought their numbers back up. We were unable to visit the interpretive center because of the weather, but put it on our list to do next time.
We next planned to complete our Gulf Coast journey with a trip to the Brownsville area which is right on the Mexico border. However EVERYONE from this area counseled us against it, stating it wasn't safe. So we changed plans and headed back north to San Antonio and the Alamo....  an attraction high on John's must see list.