Along the way, Sunny has taken a few lumps. Owning an RV is a lot like owning a boat--something is always broken. As on our last trip west, we were again the target of a rock that cracked the windshield. Previous experience with Safelite on the road has exceeded expectations, so I'm confident they will take good care of us again. We have also experienced intermittent problems with the slide that showed up again when we arrived in Albuquerque. The slide refused to extend, which requires us to find any available flat surfaces for sleeping. The next night, as we approached Phoenix, the slide extended and later started to retract on it's own--a new feature we had never experienced! Yesterday we spent much of the day at the RV dealer where we purchased Sunny last year. They fixed the slide and another minor problem, so our 'vacation home' is functioning as promised again. We are setting up housekeeping in Phoenix for awhile. More to come!
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We've had a great weather-window for winter travel. Clear, dry, and moderate temps. On the way to Albuquerque Mother Nature served up a consistent 20mph headwind with 40-50 mph wind gusts. Doug did a great job wrestling Sunny through it. The trip from Amarillo consists of a steady incline across the Llano Estacado, the southern end of the Western High Plains. It's one of the largest mesas on the North American continent. The altitude increases about 2,000 feet over 150 miles east to west. It amounts to a rise of about 10 feet per mile. Between the wind and the incline, we made a lot of fuel stops! Although some might find it desolate, it's vastness and consistency has it's own unique beauty. Well into New Mexico, mountains come into view way in the distance, and eventually take over the landscape coming into Albuquerque. So we've been through Missouri and Oklahoma--two states I have never traveled before--and are working our way through Texas to Albuquerque, NM. We traversed the Texas panhandle, through Amarillo, a new route for us. I am sure there are some great things about Amarillo, but having not stopped to get sufficiently acquainted, we mostly experienced the not-so-great parts while passing through. Being one of the largest meat-packing areas in the US, the air carries a pervasive aroma of a barnyard. Pat Smith, you would not be happy here, the experience has made me seriously consider becoming a vegetarian. I insisted on a quick stop at the Cadillac Ranch. The creators of the installation wanted to encourage audience participation. They have succeeded to the point that a steady stream of visitors typically bring spray paint cans along and then leave them behind. It's a pretty good example of not only the artists' success, but how we treat our environment. Some additional snippets from Amarillo.
Our first stop was outside St. Louis. Saw the arch (from a distance), got lost in Eureka, MO (pop. 10,189), and spent the night in Pacific, MO (even smaller). It's always fun to wake up in a new spot and see what neighbors arrived overnight. That's us on the far right.
Here we go, looking for warm weather. The holidays were great--lots of time with family and friends. One of my favorite gifts was from Kate who made us some custom decor for Sunny, below. Our home-away-from-home is officially ready!
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AuthorAnn, Doug, Moose, Darla, Sunny, and with gratitude, Winnie and Chinny. Archives
February 2021
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