Westward Ho! - Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017

In the American Old West, about 1830-1870, the Westward Expansion was in full swing. Wagon trains carrying settlers fanned out on different trails across the West to settle in new places with the promise of a better life. Some would strike it rich in the gold rush, others would farm, or bank, or open businesses. 

Getting from their old home to a new life was fraught with danger - everything from disease, Indian attacks, starvation, inclement weather, dehydration, and robbers - seemed destined to set them back. If they were able, they continued on through whatever obstacles or setbacks came their way. Over 500,000 people are estimated to have moved along the trails.

This week we are traveling west in our covered wagon (Rigamarole). On Friday afternoon, we drove from San Antonio to Fort Stockton Texas, and stayed overnight at Hilltop RV Park where we've stayed twice before on cross-Texas trips. We arrived about 9:30 p.m.

By 7:00 a.m. this morning, we were on the road. Our destination for today: Picacho Peak RV Resort in Arizona.

All morning we had rain showers, and then we hit thick fog. The fog was so thick, we had to keep our windshield wipers on. It was hard to see semi-trucks in front of us. They looked like ghosts in the fog. 

The fog lifted where I-20 meets I-10 in west Texas. I checked myradar.com to see what weather would be ahead of us. I saw a big band of heavy rain showers. Really? In West Texas? 

Sure enough, before El Paso a drenching rainstorm hit us. We could barely see to drive. We were glad it was daylight and not night. The rain showers lasted about 25 minutes. From then on, we had beautiful skies all the way to Picacho Park RV Resort.

New Mexico's awesome scenery...

Dramatic shelf cloud descended over the mountains

Awesome cloud formation on the way to Las Cruces

We were amazed by this shelf cloud

Photos taken from Flying J

Franklin Mountains

Franklin Mountains, New Mexico

Driving in New Mexico toward Arizona

Once in Arizona, we needed a rest stop and we found one of the prettiest in the Southwest: Texas Canyon Rest Area between Benson and Willcox (in southeast Arizona). It reopened in June 2016 after getting a six-month makeover. They didn't have to makeover the scenery though; it's pretty spectacular.

Texas Canyon Rest Area, Arizona

Texas Canyon Rest Area, Arizona

At Texas Canyon Rest Area, Arizona

Texas Canyon Rest Area, Arizona

Texas Canyon Rest Area, Arizona

We arrived at Picacho Peak RV Resort a little after 3 p.m. Mountain Time. We had gained an hour. The temperature was 98 degrees. Upon hooking up to shore power, we had issues with our electricity (which had all worked fine the night before). Our refrigerator, microwave, and bedroom AC were not working. The living room AC worked fine. We had the electrician in the park come out and test the post and our rig. Things just didn't make sense. For a time the bedroom AC came on, but then went off. 

What the guys in the RV park told us is that in the Tucson//Eloy/Casa Grande area in the late afternoon on a hot day, the power grid takes a hit with the draw from everyone using it. They told us as the evening wore on and there was less draw on the power, we should have both ACs working. Sure enough, we went out to look for ice to put in our refrigerator. When we got back to the 5th wheel, the bedroom AC worked and the refrigerator was back on. The microwave, however, seems to be kaput. It will not come back on.

So, even though we had some issues, they were nothing compared to what wagon trains faced in the 1800s. I could not imagine walking next to a wagon in the heavy fog/mist this morning, only to travel a few miles farther on and encounter a drenching rainstorm. 

Our modern "wagons" are so much more comfortable! Travel on.

Tomorrow night we'll be in Las Vegas. Woo hoo!