Troy Missouri

I finally have a moment to catch up. I spent three days visiting my sister and her husband at Crystal Beach, then a quick trip to Missouri and I'm now visiting my sister in Troy Missouri. At least now I have time to download the USS Lexington. Here they are:

Rockport Texas

The dogs are barking. I left Mission this morning at O dark thirty and made a stop at Corpus Christi to tour the USS Lexington. After several hours of walking steel decks I discovered the USS Lexington is a rather large ship and the ladders from deck to deck are a lot steeper than they were 50 years ago. 

Some facts:

Flight deck length 910 feet (3 football fields)
Width of the flight deck 191.6 feet.
Decks from the keel to the pilot house = 16
Maximum speed = 33 knots.
Arrested landings = 493,248

I have pictures and I will post them when I get them downloaded.

I,m spending the night in Rockport and tomorrow it's on to Crystal Beach to see my sister and brother-in-law's new home. 

Mission Texas

After a week of doing virtually nothing in 100+ degree heat I am about ready to depart for Missouri and Illinois. The motorhome has been secured on it's site with the wheel covers and windshield cover in place. The car got a good washing and I had mail sent from North Dakota which has arrived. I also received a Amazon order that became a bit of a test. One of the things on an Amazon address form is a place to enter the gate code, which I did and at this park, even though it's gated all you have to do is arrive at the gate and honk and you will be let in. Anyway the Tuesday driver returned the package to the terminal saying he couldn't get in and the it two days of conversations with UPS and Amazon before I could get my package delivered. Mild frustration is probably good for the blood pressure.

Wednesday is the planned departure day with a visit to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi and then a visit to my sister in Crystal Beach on the Bolivar peninsula. From there it will be off to the north. 

Mission Texas

After a couple of hard driving days Mel is safely back in Mission Texas and snuggled into his space for the winter. The rest of the summer travel will be done in the Fiesta. One unpleasant event between Gallup and Bosque on I-40 in New Mexico, I had an encounter with a thrown tread (also known as a gator). It jumped up and bit Mel's underside. I didn't think any damage was done when I first surveyed the underside, but the next morning when trying to fill the fresh water tank the water went straight to the ground. Apparently there is now a hole in the fresh water tank. A further assessment will have to be made. I'll wait until I ready to depart for this expense, after all why do today what can be put off until tomorrow.

I expect to be in Mission a week or two before continuing my summer travels. This will give me time to review travel plans and schedule accommodations.

Rain event

After leaving Kingman Arizona on Thursday morning I drove to Gallup New Mexico with the last 100 miles in a driving rain. When I pulled into USA RV Park half the roads had standing water, a couple more showers and the things settled down for the night.  The park is a nice one, unfortunately it abuts an airport and the I-40 corridor of the BNSF railroad. If you like trains you can enjoy one about every 15 minutes.

Friday we made a short day of it stopping at Bosque NM where I stayed over the 4th. Again the rain showed up in the afternoon, but dissipated after about an hour.

The plan: currently we are heading for Mission Texas and Val's Kountry Corral where I plan to park Mel in his site, stay a few days to get everything settled in and then head out in the car for some motel camping. I plan on heading back to the Midwest to visit with family and friends. As you know any plan is made in Jello so we shall see what happens.

Kingman Arizona

After hanging out at Bosque New Mexico for 5 days Monday was departure day I headed west through Los Lunas on Route 66. A stop at Walmart to stock up and then on to Gallup where Mel got a much needed bath at the Blue Beacon Truck Wash. Then onto Sun Valley for the night.

Tuesday was a very uneventful day driving to Seligman Arizona where I got back onto route 66. I stopped for the night at Grand Canyon Caverns RV Park. A way over priced, run down park that probably saw it's peak when Route 66 was still active. Water and electric for only $38.00 per night. To top things off for the day rain and hail capped the evening.

Wednesday has been the best day of the week. It included a visit to The Keepers of the Wild animal sanctuary. Here is what they are all about:

Keepers of the Wild is a 501(c)3 non profit organization dedicated to the protection of abused, neglected,  abandoned and retired captive wildlife. To provide the best standard of care and help enforce the humane treatment of all animals.

The preservation and protection of wildlife and the environment is paramount in our goals.

Through education and public awareness we seek to alleviate all animals suffering and help eliminate use of wild animals as pets and their exploitation in show business.

Keepers of the Wild provides a permanent home and true sanctuary to all the animals it rescues.

The wind flared up after leaving Keepers of the Wild so I completed Route 66 into Kingman and then headed to Blake Ranch RV Park for the night. I think this will be my farthest west this year and will start back east tomorrow, weather permitting.

Bosque New Mexico

I made my goal of Tucumcari New Mexico on Tuesday night and Wednesday I stopped in Elephant Butte to let Chip Baker do some repairs. Seems though the anti siphon valve on the toilet had become encrusted with calcium shutting down the water flow. After an hour everything was working and I headed north. Looking for a place to hide out for the fourth of July. I found a little gem at Bosque New Mexico. This is a Passport Park at $14.00 a night for full hookups. The Kiva RV Park and Horse Motel has seen me pass by many time, today it serves my purpose and I'm glad I stopped. I will be here until Monday.