Onward to Ft. Stockton, TX

We had a good but all too short visit at the Ranch Escapee park in Lakewood, NM. Probably the friendliest one of all so far. We had an easy run of 150 miles down US-285 to Ft. Stockton, TX. We stopped in Pecos, TX for fuel ($4.03) and 52 gallons gave is almost 10 mpg for the last 500 miles. Awesome!! That's as good as it gets. We were going to stay at a Passport America park but instead we are at the Fort Stockton RV Park. This is our third stay here over the years. The first time it was a KOA and the A-frame is still here but the park is much better. Very friendly staff and a good restaurant to boot. This place has many pull-thrus and can accommodate 45 ft rigs. There is a new Prevost Marathon ($1.5Mil) next to us. I think we make him look good  lol! Tomorrow we will try to make it to the Hondo, TX Escapee park for a 1 week stay. We are considering leasing a lot here and we figured we ought to look the place over first. Its close to San Antonio and we'll get a Taco Cabana fix and see Sam's Club for groceries. After that we move on to the Colorado River Thousand Trails Preserve for 3 weeks.

At The Ranch in Lakewood, NM

We did a little more than 200 miles today. What an easy run south on US 285. Four lanes all the way with very little traffic. We're at the Escapee park "The Ranch" in Lakewood, NM just 16 miles north of Carlsbad. This is probably the friendliest SKP park we have ever visited. As soon as we arrived, a loud bell was rung announcing a visitor. Hugs all around. The a fun and funny happy hour. We'll probably stay here one more night and then on to Ft. Stockton, TX for a night and then a 300 mile day to The Escapee Park in Hondo, TX for a week.

Onward to Albuquerque

We did a short, 200 mile run today to the outskirts of Albuquerque. We are staying at the High Desert RV Park. It is just off I-40 Exit 149. Very nice park with 50 Amp full hookups. We get the network channels on the batwing antenna. Pay Wifi is available. We would stay here again. $21 for a wide 50A pull-thru.

Tomorrow we're off 240 miles to the Original Ranch Escapee Park just north of Carlsbad, NM

Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly (Pronounced SHAY) is about 45 miles North of the Hubbell Trading Post just outside the town of Chinle. We've seen a lot of Canyons, but this one is among the top 3. Canyon walls 30 feet high at the entrance and rising to over 1000 feet further down canyon.

Navaho still live and farm in the wash below the rim.

 

 

 

 

This is 800 ft. high Spider Rock from the 1000 ft rim.

I wonder if anyone has filmed a commercial here?

 

This is called Face rock.

Just after the above picture the wind, dust, lightning, and rain started. We took shelter at this overlook and this was the view out the window.

5 minutes later. The 120 mile ride home was interesting with 55 mph crosswinds and some near total brown outs from blowing sand. Its good to be back in the rig. Tomorrow we're off to Albuquerque, NM for one night and then southeast towards San Antonio, TX for several months.

Hubbell Trading Post

We visited this wonderful old Navaho Trading Post. Established in 1873 and in operation continuously since then.

Not too busy today.

I asked this Native American woman for permission to photograph her weaving a beautiful rug.

 

Some old-timey stuff but mostly modern

 

The basket room

Beautiful hand hewn beams.

Painted Desert and Petrified Forrest - part 2

This is Pueblo Puerco, a settlement occupied in the 12th century. It apparently had as many as 100 rooms and was home to about 18 families.

 

There were many petroglyphs.

 

 

 

The kiva was where the men worked and held religious rituals

I got pretty tired by the end of the trip and these are the only pictures I took in the last 10 miles. Sorry about that. I guess you'll just have to come out here and see for yourself.

 

There was way more petrified wood then this one. 

Painted Desert

We started this trip at the North entrance just off I-40 at exit 311. This actually is the Painted Desert part of the park. We were blown away by the subtle shades as well as bright colors.

It almost looks like the SD badlands with color.

 

 

 

Every one of these points is a lookout with a name. You'll have to go yourself to find out the names.

 

 

 

This was only the first 3 miles of a 26 mile drive through the park

We visit the Meteor Crater

This is the entrance to the museum and theater of the Meteor Crator located off exit 233 of I40 east of Flagstaff, AZ. We spent the night at the Meteor Crater campground and visited at 8 AM

Hard to believe the meteor was 150 feet across and most was vaporized

Got to do something about that balloon in my gut.

Awesome!! a mile across

This is the Snowbowl North of Flagstaff

Detail from inside the crator.

That's the campground in the distance.