So, we left Borrego Springs and went back to Tucson. You can do that stuff when you are retired and do not have to explain to anyone. Just do it, as they say. But, if anyone wants to know, we did it because we were happy in Tucson and because Tucson may be the most perfect place on earth -- at least this time of year.
But it occurs to me that there are a lot of things I wanted to show you that we didn’t have time for on the way to Borrego Springs.
Marfa, TexasBest known for the “lights of Marfa”. They are mysterious. That is pretty much what I know. Lights that appear for no known reason and some residents, apparently spooked by such an event, link them to UFOs. We had left Big Bend on our way west and Marfa is along that path. There is not much out there, but my eye catches something. It looks one of those cubical things that people shelter in as they wait for a bus. No, no … it’s a tiny Prada store? Yes, that is it exactly.
Well, it isn’t really. It’s art. I knew that. And I knew just who to ask about it. Brian, of course, and he knew the people who created it. On the internet if you wish further enlightenment, but it’s definitely the coolest thing in Marfa.
Van Horn, TexasVery nice little town full of very nice people. We were there one night. Everything was fine until time to go. The jacks wouldn’t go up and the slides wouldn’t go in. This is a fairly serious problem in that you no longer have a moving home, but a fully stationary one and that home is now located at the KOA in Van Horn, Texas. Phone calls were made. Mike at Thor Motor Coach became my new best friend. A jerry-rigged solution was found and we were on our way to Las Cruces, New Mexico where permanent repairs could be made.
Las Cruces, New MexicoI loved New Mexico years ago and was happy to discover that I still do. Just crossing the state line made me smile. Part of it could have been relief at having made it through El Paso in one piece, but mostly I was just happy to be back in New Mex. And I immediately loved Las Cruces as well.
The KOA there was great. Situated atop a high hill, it overlooks the city and faces the mountains on the other side making for amazing views. We had the high rent real estate on the edge for our site, so no one between us and the view. I could hardly make myself go to bed at night. I just wanted to sit and look.
New Mexico has without a doubt the most spectacular sunsets of any place I have ever been.
I am speechless.
Reminder - it's close to100 degrees F
Interesting thing: The white stuff is not sand. It is gypsum. (White Gypsum National Monument? Not quite the right ring to it) If you walk barefoot on it at high noon mid-summer, it will feel cool on your feet. It will not stick to your clothes. I tested this out. See below.
I am assuming that none of you would take the trouble to go to New Mexico and then drive on past White Sands, but just in case DO NOT MISS THIS!!!
Tucson, ArizonaI was here maybe 10 years ago, but had either failed to notice or forgotten that Tucson is surrounded by beautiful mountains. (had a lot on my mind apparently) There was nothing I did not like about this place. Well, maybe one thing -- there is no good way to get from the city into the mountains. It is not far and it is not far even to the top of Mount Lemmon, but stop and go traffic, traffic lights all the way to the base of it? Tucson, build a parkway, expressway, whatever, but fix this! So, it takes an hour to get there, but oh, so worth it.
You pass through the dessert with its emblematic saguaros, climb quickly, the saguaros disappear and other trees and plants appear and then disappear to be replaced themselves by something completely different and then you are flying above the city, seeing beyond the city. You are at 8,000 feet amid tall pines and outside where it was quite hot when you left, there is now snow in places. You can’t quite believe this even though you have stopped at every single turn out along the way to verify this was indeed happening. I know this sounds like I have not gotten out of Marshall, Michigan in the last half century, but I don’t care -- I was completely wowed by it all!
And at the top of the mountain, one of our favorite birds, the yellow-eyed junco -- who is at once cute and fierce-looking.
Wellton, Arizona
An overnight here. I thought it a strange place as it seems to be nearly completely comprised of senior housing parks. I mean acres of them. Trailers, prefab houses, RV’s, whatever you can think of to live in, they’ve got them. There is really not much else there.
Between the various housing parks, are large agricultural fields. I don’t know what this is -- garlic? -- but I do like the picture.
Los Angeles, California
A short but rather harrowing drive from Borrego Springs. Bob thought it might cheer me up to see my grandchildren. It did.
Jakob studies a flower. Megan is sure he will be a botanist now.
Misha took her blanket with her on a walk in case she got sleepy along the way.
WOW! And I do mean WOW...the pictures are absolutely stunning! The White Sands pics are my favorites. Thanks for sharing!!
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