We made it into Sin City yesterday and met up with our old friends, Pete and Pat.  We're all staying at Arizona Charlie's Casino and RV Park.  Not a bad park for a big city facility.  The price is right, the casino buffet... not so much.  The spaces are roomy and level and all the utilities work reasonably well.  The WiFi isn't the best, but I have yet to find an RV Park with really good service.  It's almost always spotty and overburdened.  We plan to stay here for about a week while Cathy takes care of family business, and then we'll start to meander our way north toward Wyoming.  Presently the weather up there is a little on the inhospitable side, so we'll need to drag our feet on the way up.  We're not expected to be there until May 15.  Hopefully the snow will have melted by then.

An uneventful day on our nation's highways and byways today.  The finest kind!  We left Santa Rosa Lake Park at around 0700, and after gassing up we pointed the bow to the west.  400 miles later we are in Meteor Crater RV Park just west of Winslow, AZ.  Nice little park in which to overnight.  Nothing special, but clean and well run.  This is our fourth stay here.  We visited the crater site on our first visit.  Not much has changed in a million years.  It's still an enormous hole in the ground.  Glad I wasn't around when that baby hit!

Vegas tomorrow and the end of the first leg of our trip.

Wow!  Verizon never ceases to amaze me.  We are literally out here in the middle of nowhere at Santa Rosa Lake State Park, just north of Santa Rosa, NM, and I still have a reasonably usable data signal.  I'm impressed.  Granted, I have to lean my phone up against the rear window of the Airstream, but then again, that's often the case.  Radio signals just don't like passing through an aluminum skin all that much.

 As you can imagine, Santa Rosa Lake is rather remote.  The park is very nice though and supposedly very popular with locals on the weekend.  I'm not sure why, because from what we observed on our way in, there isn't a whole lot left of the lake.  Crossing the dam, you have to crane your neck and look way down there to see the paltry little puddle of brown water that is supposed to be the big recreational draw around these here parts.  I dunno.  Anyhoo, we stayed here on our way east a couple of years ago and liked the peace and quite.  So we're back.

It was a tough day on the road today and we are both quite tired.  As soon as I finish this log entry, I'm going  to pull up an easy chair in the shade and kick back for a bit.  The reason for the tough day under way was the nearly 40 mph head wind we experienced for almost the entire 400 miles we traveled today.  It got particularly bad once we reached I-40 at Amarillo.  At that point the wind which had been a few points off the port bow for most of the morning, decided to clock around to due west and freshen dramatically.  In other words right, square on the nose.  It was a physical force.  My right leg is actually tired from pushing down on the gas pedal all day.  Our poor truck ran in forth and occasionally third gear for nearly four hours.  It was brutal.  Tomorrow's forecast is for a slightly lighter breeze out of the north-east.  I look forward to it.  We plan to stop somewhere around Winslow, AZ tomorrow afternoon.  "Standin' on the corner in Winslow,  Arizona.  Such a fine sight to see..." - Eagles

A good day on the road today.  No problems, no malfunctions.  Once we cleared Louisiana, the roads improved dramatically.  We got off I-10 east of Dallas and took a series of US highways bypassing Dallas to the north and east.  Experienced some slowdowns while passing through a couple of bedroom communities north of the city, but after that it was clear sailing.  Planning to make it into New Mexico tomorrow.

We ran the Mississippi/Louisiana Baja on I-20 today.  What a God forsaken stretch of interstate highway that is!  It's a real travesty is what it is.  I wonder where all of those stimulus dollars went?


Be that as it may, we crossed the Mighty/Muddy Mississippi, so we're officially "Out West".  The weather was outstanding today.  Only a slight cross wind on the starboard beam, so no problems.


Livi is still adjusting to the traveling life.  She was a little out of sorts this morning - wouldn't eat her breakfast, but she started to lighten up in the afternoon.  By the time we reached our destination she was back to full-on terrier mode, and wow, did she ever love the campground we discovered.


Speaking of discovering campgrounds.  I simply can't say enough about RV Park Reviews.  I use their site every time before committing to a campground.  You will find up to date and accurate information there.  Bear in mind that some of the information is subject to the opinions of the reviewers, but for the most part it is just plain, good intel.  The site hasn't steered us wrong yet.  We are also regular contributors.  You can find this excellent service at: http://www.rvparkreviews.com/ .  Do yourself a favor and check 'em out.



Back to the pot of gold we discovered.  It's called Lincoln Parish Park in Lincoln Parish near Ruston, LA.  Its a wooded property with a beautiful lake, hiking trails, kayaking and canoeing.  The sites are paved and level, and for $25.00 a night you get full hookups, with 50A service should you desire it.  There is also park wide WiFi, free of charge.  It is a really lovely campground.  VERY dog friendly!

We almost hate to leave in the morning, but unfortunately we must press on.  Another 400 miles is on tap for tomorrow.  We hope to make Wichita Falls, TX by mid-afternoon.  I am very much looking forward to driving the roads in Texas.  Next to our home state of Florida, I must say that Texas has the next-best roads in the country.  From their interstate system to the smallest county roads, Texas keeps 'em up right.  After today's run through Mississippi and Louisiana, any smooth, asphalt surface will do.

Hasta manana...

The first four hundred miles are behind us.  FINALLY!  For a while there I wasn't sure we were ever going to get away.  Our new Ford truck performed exceptionally well, pulling our little Airstream almost effortlessly.  Well I suppose it took some effort... to the tune of 9 miles to the gallon.  "Ouch!"  Stopped for the night at a KOA in Milton, FL.  I know... Never heard of it.

It rained for most of the afternoon, but unlike the nut jobs in South Florida, the other travelers with whom we shared the road today drove safely and courteously.  Oh, and did I mention that the temperature plummeted nearly 30° since we left home this morning?  Currently it's 52° and pouring down rain.  The good news is that once this system passes by tonight, we should have clear sailing on to Las Vegas.  This time of year is known for some potentially very ugly weather patterns across the center of the country.  Clear skies are always welcome.  Planning to make another 400 miles tomorrow.  Hope to stop at a nice little Parish Park in Louisiana.  See you then.

By the way... Olivia, "Livi", seems to like traveling in The Bungalow.

Four days left until our planned departure date, and Cat and I are growing impatient to hit the road...

With our new Ford F-250 tow vehicle we hope to make an easy crossing to Las Vegas, the first leg of our journey.  We're hoping to make 400 mile days with five overnight stops planned along the way.

We're expecting delivery tomorrow or Tuesday of a new cap or shell for the truck bed.  Until that time there's very little we can load aboard the truck.  So we spend our time sorting through long pants and warm shirts and jackets rarely worn in Florida.  More thunder storms this afternoon...