Las Cruces. New Mexico!

Made it! Day 2 of eastward travel is behind us. Got to our site at the Las Cruses KOA and found this beautiful view of town and purple mountains majesty! Had a great picnic dinner and look forward to winding down for a good night rest.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Stopped at last stop and Bridget "had to go". In the lovely town of Marana, Arizona, she "has to go!"

White Line Fever!

Jodie's first trailer driving! We're behind a Toby Keith concert big rig. Jodie says she's not moving from the slow lane. Desintation descision...Las Cruces, New Mexico. Our butts hurt from sitting!

Arizona

Just gassed up in Casa Grande, Arizona. $2.93 for premium! Not too hot yet....keep on truckin!

Day 2 New Mexico or Texas?

Heading out now. Slept great, swam in the pool. Whipperwills and Crackles screeching at 0500 was a lovely wake up alarm. Heading for either Las Cruces, New Mexico or El Paso, Texas...don't know til' we get close.

Day one is done

After a grueling 12 hour car ride, we pulled into the Blythe KOA @ 2000 hours. Its right on the Colorado River, just the California border with Arizona. Jodie made quick work of making a hearty meal (the camper's microwave is so nice!). Afterward, the kids and I went to the pool and swam the kinks out. The pool and hot tub was just what the doctor ordered. Everyone will sleep good tonight! Tomorrow....Arizona!

Monkeys on the Grapevine?

Jack swinging the blood back into circulation after hours in the car.

Camp Tejon

Camp Tejon at the Top of the Grapevine Grade

Why Stop Here?

Well, things were going smooth until the Grapevine Grade. The transmission was getting pretty hot going up the grade, so we stopped at Fort Tejon to let things cool. How fun...our first break down! This Army base was home to the US Camel Corps. Interesting site AND we found a geocache there too.

Day 3, 2, 1...GO!

We have been so busy getting ready that we haven't had time to add more updates. Our plan was to get everything washed, packed, stowed, fueled, repaired and repacked so we could just jump in the car in the morning at 0600 hours and be on our way.

We left at 0815 hours, 2 hours late and…I forgot my camera! Yup, on a huge x-country vacation…no camera, except the cell phone.

Well, we are off! The kids are very excited and can’t wait for 5 days on the road. Florida here we come!

4 Days & Counting

Well, just sent the truck in for service. Funny how when you ask for an oil change, they call you back and tell you your vehicle needs another $300 in other repairs! Better safe than sorry. Don't want to be broken down in Armpit, Arizona and not have the ability to get the SF Giants game updates!
The house looks like we are getting ready to deploy to a foreign country for a year. Piles of things getting staged to stuff in to the vehicles. Barring any major vehicle issues, we leave on Sunday, April 25.

5 Days until Departure

Today is a work day for me, so most of trip prep is gunna be administrative. Do you think it’s a good idea to update my vehicle registration with DMV before we head east? Might be fun to be on national TV with 12 State Troopers with their lights and sirens on pursuing me down Highway 10! I'm probably going to get only 10-12 MPG, so it would probably be a short chase. I have no time for Troopers! Besides, I can write my own ticket! I'm heading out to register the vehicles now.