Our journey west continued with a stop at Bay St. Louis Mississippi for one night. There wasn't much to the town, but it was OK for one night. We were there for the night of 1 Feb 2024. We drove into town after we got set up and took just a couple of pictures and one of the sunset.
Downtown Bay St. Louis Mississippi 1 Feb 2024
Downtown Bay St. Louis Mississippi 1 Feb 2024
Sunset Bay St. Louis Mississippi 1 Feb 2024
On 2 Feb 2024, we headed to Toledo Bend in Louisiana. We stayed at Cypress Bend SRA (State Recreation Area) and really liked our campsite there. It was right on the water and gave us a beautiful view of the sunset the day we arrived. After that, it sort of rained the whole day on Saturday. The bright part of the Saturday was that Anita's niece (Kassi) and her husband (John) came to visit and brought some boudin! They stayed all afternoon and we had a great time. The rain had finally stopped by the time they were almost heading out, so we got a picture of the four of us outside. I should say John took the selfie of the four of us.
On the Sunday (4 Feb 2024) we went to check on our boat, which is stored at the Army Rec Center in Florien LA, about 30 miles from where we were staying. The boat was great, just as we left it a year ago! We left our bicycles and Steve's hunting weapons that are usually traveling with us. We don't want to have those crossing into Mexico or Canada or have to worry about the bikes while we're out site seeing.
Our home 2-5 Feb 2024
Toledo Bend LA Sunset 2 Feb 2024
Kassi and John 3 Feb 2024
John, Kassi, Anita, Steve 3 Feb 2024
How we left our boat and bikes 4 Feb 2024
4 Feb 2024
4 Feb 2024
On 5 February 2024, we drove to Bossier City to have our kitchen slide out looked at. They diagnosed it as needing the Schwintek motor and system to be replaced. In the meantime, they greased the rails and we'll be back in March to have the repair done. Steve has to help push it in, but thankfully it goes all the way in that way. We went to the Dodge Dealership in Bossier City after to get our truck's oil changed. They had a place for us to leave our fifth wheel while they serviced the truck. We got on the road around 12:30pm that day (Monday), so we decided to head to Houston, halfway to San Antonio, the next place we had reservations. During our drive to Houston, we started hearing a tone followed by an icon of the battery coming up on our instrument panel. The running of the truck didn't seem to be affected and it started right up when we stopped, but Anita decided she wanted to stay at a Walmart that night instead of just any dry camping spot, in case we had a dead battery by morning. We found a nice Walmart in Katy TX, and got a good night's sleep which was much needed after a 5am wake up that day and all that transpired. We started out Tuesday (6 Feb) morning, but the battery light bothered us, so we stopped at a Dodge Dealer in Sealy TX to have that checked out. They said both batteries (Anita was surprised to learn that the truck has two batteries) tested out fine. There was speculation that the light was coming on because it was charging two batteries in the camper. We had had an additional battery installed in the camper back in Dover Florida. We were going to leave for lunch and then return to get our camper (which again there was a place to leave it) but when we started the truck a "Perform Service" message came up. When we returned from lunch, they found that the CCV filter had to be replaced and that a 250amp mega fuse had to be replaced. Thankfully, we then proceeded to San Antonio TX with no further warning lights. Oh, almost forgot, we had gotten stuck in Houston 5 o'clock traffic on Monday evening, and then we got stuck in San Antonio's 5 o'clock traffic on Tuesday! That was no fun! We got settled in our campsite on Tuesday (Feb 6th) around 7:30pm. Needless to say that was another night when sleep was very much needed and appreciated. We got some admin type things done and got a few groceries at the commissary while we were at the campground at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston.
We stayed at Fort Stockton RV Park in Fort Stockton TX 8-10 Feb 2024. The campground was formerly a KOA campground and very easy on/off Interstate 10. The town of Fort Stockton really touts the Road Runner, but we didn't see one while we were there. We checked out the town, although there isn't much to it. We visited a museum memorial to Annie Riggs, a lady who had a boarding house there in Fort Stockton in the early 1900's. Besides walking around the town and attending mass there at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, we just sort of rested and did a short hike from the campground. The driving of 300 miles per day with a couple of nights at each stop gets tiring after a few times of doing it.
Our home 8-10 Feb 2024
TX Sunset 8 Feb 2024
TX Sunset 8 Feb 2024
TX Sunset 8 Feb 2024
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Now Dry the Blue Hole 9 Feb 2024
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9 Feb 2024
We also read in the museum that one could get half a bed for the night for 50 cents!
9 Feb 2024
9 Feb 2024
9 Feb 2024
9 Feb 2024
A weekly chore...
Six shooter trail at campground 10 Feb 2024
Six shooter trail at campground 10 Feb 2024
Another TX Sunset 10 Feb 2024
TX Sunset 10 Feb 2024
Next, we stayed in Deming New Mexico and Rockhound State Park and we were blessed with a beautiful campsite and view! We were there 11-13 Feb 2024. We did three hikes in our two days there and were a little challenged by the ascents (17% grade on one of them and about 4500-6000 ft elevation). We made it though and were happy we persevered. The scenery as we hiked was so beautiful! We highly recommend this place and would definitely stay there again.
Where we stayed 11-13 Feb 2024
Campground is in the background to the left
Outside campground office
Entering Rockhound State Park
View from our campsite at Rockhound State Park in New Mexico
What we saw out our back window 11-13 Feb 2024
Lover's Leap hike and shorter hike were at Spring Canyon
Lover's Leap Hike 12 Feb 2024
We met another couple from Quebec doing the same hike that day. We passed each other at various points and chatted for a while at the top. Luc and Marie Josey are very nice and also have a Grand Design. We compared notes on our Grand Designs and they gave us a couple of cities to check out when we're in Canada this summer.
We can attest to the validity of this sign (12 Feb 2024)
View 12 Feb 2024
Top of Lover's Leap 12 Feb 2024
Top of Lover's Leap 12 Feb 2024
40 mile visibility
NM Sunset 12 Feb 2024
NM Sunset 12 Feb 2024
Morning hike 13 Feb 2023
Snow still at Spring Canyon Trail 13 Feb 2023
Spring Canyon Trail 13 Feb 2023
Spring Canyon Trail 13 Feb 2023 (Spring was dry)
Rockhound State Park 13 Feb 2024
Rockhound State Park 13 Feb 2024
Afternoon hike from our campground 13 Feb 2024
Afternoon hike from our campground 13 Feb 2024
Afternoon hike from our campground 13 Feb 2024
Afternoon hike from our campground 13 Feb 2024
Afternoon hike from our campground 13 Feb 2024
Last NM Sunset 13 Feb 2024
On 14 Feb 2024, we drove to Tucson Arizona for a two night stay. We attended Ash Wednesday mass at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Tucson at 3:30pm. The church had masses at 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30pm for Ash Wednesday. It was packed at the time we went. After mass we went to Walmart to stock up on a few things before Mexico. After putting away the groceries, we went out to dinner at Rancho Rustico, sort of a new age Mexican restaurant. We both liked our meals.
On the 15th, we went to Saguaro National Park. What a beautiful place! We did the nature walk, which was about a mile. We took quite a few pictures at the park and a couple on the hike.
Feb 15 2024
We learned that the "g" is silent in the pronunciation
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Tucson Sunset 15 Feb 2024
We arrived at Desert Trails RV Resort and Golf Course in El Centro California on 16 Feb 2024. This is where we meet up with our caravan leader, Scott, and the six other campers' couples for our venture into Mexico on Sunday 18 Feb 2024. While in El Centro, we purchased a 7-gallon water container to fill up at potable water stops along the way in Mexico. We filled it up here in El Centro, as well as filled up the truck with diesel. All we know so far is that the caravan leaves at 7am tomorrow and we have about 175 miles to drive on our first day. With all the campers it'll take about an hour at the border. These details are according to Scott who came by today to introduce himself. The whole gang is meeting at 6pm this evening for introductions and last minute sharing of details. We had to go to Calexico for getting Mexican money. The place in El Centro was out of Mexican money yesterday (16th) when we tried to exchange cash. We will cross the border into Mexico at the Mexicali Port of Entry (POE) and travel south to San Felipe where we will make a brief stop for fuel and groceries. Our first night in Mexico will be on the shore of the Sea of Cortez in Puertecitos at Octavio’s Camp. Dry Camping. I won't be posting to our blog till after we return from Mexico.
Home 16 & 17 Feb 2024
El Centro Sunset 16 Feb 2024
Beautiful pics sure are making awesome memories.. safe travels. Diana & Joe
So happy, so excited for you guys! Stay safe!
Jill & David