9/26-9/30/21 Visiting. Benson, AZ, Silver City, NM and Junction, TX then home.

 9/26-9/30/21

51 degrees this morning and light rain and fog.  We head south and hit heavy rain and heavy traffic going through Flagstaff and into Phoenix. 

 We stop for gas a little further south and find more reasonable prices at $2.94.  We often use an app called "Gas Buddy" to find gas stations, as it gives locations, distance from you and prices.

Stop at a nearby In-N-Out for lunch.  This is the second time we have tried them and will probably be the last - overrated.

We reach Tom & Sue's house in Benson about 1:30 and enjoy a good visit.  Lots of catching up to do! We feel honored to be their first guests since COVID! Tom makes some great breakfasts and we enjoy a long walk with Sue, who just completed her second cataract surgery and is thrilled with the results.  The cloud cover makes for pleasant temperatures - much cooler than we expected - 70's! Lots of hummingbirds at Sue's feeder this time of year!

 

We work on a complicated jigsaw puzzle, chat and eat.

Sue spotted this love - ly cactus on our walk. 

And we were surprised that fire ants in Arizona are larger than in Texas and build these concave cones rather than the mounds in Texas.  But all of the dang little things bite!

Wednesday, 9/28

After delicious blueberry pancakes, we set out for Silver City, NM.  Cloud cover continues and the Chiracahua Mts are socked in. There are signs that the rain has preceded us as we travel east on I-10 before cutting north.  

 Great to see Anne again!  We visit a bit and then Beth goes with her to pick up lovely Ginger who just got a haircut.  Sweet dog isn't too sure what to make of Greg and I.  Anne says she hasn't had much company since COVID, so this is kind of new for Ginger.

  Good catch-up visit including a game of Mexican Train and a wonderful dinner which includes enchiladas and green chili stew. This IS New Mexico.  Fun discussing camping, travel, family, COVID, education (Anne was a teacher and administrator for years) and more.  

Wonderful scones from Diane's Bakery in the morning - a bit of a delicious tradition.  And then we are off towards home. Anne has a small rv similar to ours and will be heading out herself in a few days.

Lots of truck traffic on I-10 and crazy busy through El Paso (about 10 times the traffic in the photo above).  Then the long haul through west Texas. Greg spots one driver doing jumping jacks behind his pulled over rig (to break the monotony?)  We pass through a busy border patrol station, as we aren't far from Mexico. 

They asked if we were citizens and whether we had anyone else with us in the back, wished us a pleasant day and waved us through.  We think they only check out suspicious vehicles or one of every so many vehicles for random checks. 

 600 miles to the small town of Junction, Texas, which has a city park with free camping. We arrive as the sun is setting. We've stayed here before, along the Llano River. 

Thursday,  9/30

Back to I-10, with little break in the mostly flat land.

Don't remember the name of the town that put this huge roadrunner alongside the highway.

Through San Antonio and east toward Houston. Back to horrible traffic and toll roads. 

 We find everything in order at home, thanks to neighbors.  The squirrels have left a mess on the patio, as they do every year, gnawing pine cones and leaving debris.  Still good to be home. 

Seems we've brought the rain with us!