Texas to Mexico

From Arkansas we passed through eastern Oklahoma, then to San Antonio to visit with friends, my boss from Vietnam days and his wife, before we headed further west to Arizona. They took us to a nearby campgroud that they belong to and we had an enjoyable time feeding the deer. We continued south through Big Bend National Park for a few days of relaxation, hiking and birding and then headed west.

We made it to Tucson where we spent about a week enjoying the Arizona sun. Tucson is a great town. We stayed at the Fam Camp at Davis Monthan AFB and know why it is the number 1 rated military campground. During our short stay there we had three of our RVing friends whom we haven’t seen in well over a year, stay in the campground. The visit was short but fun. Sandi and I went up into Sabino Canyon in the Sonora Desert and also drove the Mount Lemon road to where either chains or four wheel drive was required somewhere near the 6000’ foot elevation point. They were forecasting 22’ of snow above 7000’ and we did not want to see snow that bad. Back in the valley I managed to get in a few more rounds of golf including one with Gen Don Sheppard, my former boss and one of the best supervisors I ever worked for.

We left Tucson for Douglass, Arizona where we rendezvoused with members of an RV group we belong to – Escapees, Chapter 8,”The Mexican Connection”, for an annual rally into Mexico. We spent several days preparing in Douglass with some great food and special events in Douglass and Agua Prieta, Mexico, Douglass’ sister City across the boarder. They are actually one city that has an international boarder passing down the middle.

Sandi and I were team leaders so we got to lead a six RV caravan from Douglas to Guaymas, Sonora. It was a non eventful trip with most of it being on either four lane highways or very good and straight two lane roads. This is a trip we’d take again if we could convince any of our RVing friends to venture into Mexico.

In addition to acquainting folks to Mexico and the wonderful Mexican people, one of the missions of Chapter-8 is charity. This year we will give between $10,000 and $12,000 to various needs that our charity committee finds. In Agua Prieta a home for the elderly and a rehabilitation center each received gifts from us. Each of these are projects supported by the efforts of volunteers and both had needs that few of us can imagine. At the rehab center, men in one room slept across beds that were just patio chairs with a few blankets and pillows. At the old folk’s home, the patients lay naked between their sheets on wash day when their only set of clothes is washed.

Our mid-point overnight stop was in a town called Benjamin Hill. Children came out in droves to see us. The younger ones very eager to walk people’s dogs and the high school aged kids wanting to practice English, some carrying Spanish-English dictionaries. The town threw us a festival with cultural dances and singing in the town square, a part of every Mexican town I’ve ever been in. We visited the church and heard from the priest through an interpreter. He has a daily kitchen for the poor and feeds 40 – 65 people a day, many children. For most, this is their only meal. When our charity chairperson asked him what we might do to help, he said his greatest need was for beans for the kitchen. Each day he never knows if he will have any food to serve on the next.

We made it to Guaymas (way’ mas) and played and partied and ate to excess. Located on the Sea of Cortez, this place is beautiful. Mountains meet the sea and birding has been exceptional. Some of our group went fishing and except for one tuna and a handful of smaller fish that were served up on the boat in fish tacos, they caught several Humboldt Squid. These Giant Squid (up to 30’ I’m told) have been known to attack divers. Needless to say, calamari is a common menu item around here.

We will head further south and expect to stay in Mexico until about the end of March when we will head north toward Yellowstone National Park. I have been offered and have accepted a position at Madison as a seasonal ranger and Sandi is hoping for a volunteer position at the Junior Ranger Station at Madison.

We’re having fun but miss seeing you all. Keep in touch.

Jay & Sandi

Alabama to Texas

Happy New Year.

We are on the road again; this time heading westward with no place to get to in the immediate future and no particular time to get there.

Since the last posting, I continued to mow greens and play a lot of golf and lowered my golf handicap to 12. Sure would like to drop it down to a single digit number. Shooting a rare round every now and again in the 70s has been fun but I would like to see that happen more frequently than two or three times a season. That probably won’t happen since my 3-4 rounds a week schedule will probably change to less than 3-4 rounds a month since we pulled out of Alabama. Sandi has finally finished one of her quilts in time to give it as a Christmas gift to our son. The quilt was made of a collection of squares made from his old corduroy pants and strips of velveteed from an old bathrobe of Sandi’s that she wore when Bill was growing up. I wonder what project she will start next.

We recently travelled by car to Maryland for a visit with Bill and his wife Ann, and Marisa and Sam, two of our grandkids. It was a short but wonderful visit. Our daughter Jayme brought the other two grandkids, Braelyn and CJ from Alabama and all four of them got to interact together. It was a great, warming show for Sandi and me. Unfortunately Jayme’s husband Chris was unable to get away during the busy Christmas retail season.

For the Sunday after Christmas, we all went north from Maryland to Pennsylvania for a surprise birthday party for my Father. Nearly 100 people showed up to wish him a happy 90th birthday. It was great getting together with so many friends and family members. This was the first time my folks had seen their youngest great-grandchild and was probably the first time in a real long time that they had my brother and I with our entire families together. We got great photos of my parents, their two kids, their grandchildren (4), and great-grandchildren (4).

Sandi, Jayme, and I made the 880 mile trip back to Alabama in an evening and a day. We were all tired after the trip. For the past several months, Sandi and I have been battling a series of flu-like illnesses that ranged from a mild cough to pneumonia. Looks like we have finally put those behind us. Sure hope that getting to a warmer and drier climate gets us back to being healthy enough to get out and enjoy. The time finally came to depart Alabama. We had been in one spot for the longest single time in our RVing history. We have made several car trips up to Maryland and Pennsylvania and took a three week break to go on the cruise, but the rest of the time we have been here babysitting and playing golf. Having this much time with the grand kids has been special. What a treat to be able to see then maturing. We are so blessed. As good as it has been, it is time to move on. .

We left Birmingham on Saturday and stopped briefly in Red Bay, AL for some minor RV maintenance and a parts pick-up. We then crossed Mississippi into Arkansas. Our plan was to head northwest to Branson Missouri but icy roads put a quick end to those ideas and we headed southwest to Hot Springs.

We pulled into the campground in the National Park for the night and headed into town the next day. We liked the hot springs. This is the first natural area protected by the federal government and was later made a national park. We toured the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center that is operated by the National Park Service. No bathing is available at the Fordyce so we went to the Buckstaff which is the oldest continuously operating bathhouse in the park. It is one of two bath houses that are operated by concessionaires in the park. This was a new experience for Sandi and me. The Traditional Bath and Massage that we enjoyed included a whirlpool mineral bath in water from the hot springs, a sitz bath, hot packs, a pin shower, steam sauna, and a Swedish massage. We went separately into either the men’s or women’s area and were introduced to our attendant. Swimming suits are not required and to wear one would take from the experience. The attendant catered to our every need, providing towels for drying off between treatments and sheets to wear roman-toga style to move from treatment room to treatment room. We both found the experience exhilarating and will probably return again.

From Hot Springs we went to Murfreesboro, AR to stay at the Creater of the Diamonds State Park. This is the only diamond mine in the US and the only mine in the world where the public is able to collect diamonds and keep what they find. The 37.5 acre field is an old volcanic cone that erupted several billion years ago bringing the crystals to the surface. After a few hours of searching, our only treasures were a few tiny and worthless quartz crystals. The dozen or so folks that were “working” the mine included tourists like us with no knowledge of what we were doing to enthusiastic rock hounds to some professionals who actually try to make a living out of the hobby. Bill Williamson a professional has witten a book and published a DVD on Diamond mining in Arkansas (diamondsinar.com). One professional showed me two he had found in recent days. He sells most of his finds to tourists. Over 70,000 diamonds have been found some over 40 carats. Although most are not of the highest quality, one 3 carat diamond scored a perfect 0/0/0 and was cut to a 1.03 carat stone.