“Mexico 🇲🇽 ~Arizona to New Mexico to Texas USA 🇺🇸”

• October 25, 2023
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

Road Trip Time !!!

Our Mexico visit came to an end, just like any other place we adventure to, does. Time always goes so fast! Nothing last forever, so we just kept rolling along, like always.

We had some hits and misses over the last month for sure, but we were good getting back on the road, after taking a 20 day break from driving. The rest was great, and now we have just under 4,000 miles of driving and exploring ahead of us, to reach North Carolina, before Christmas!

We tried to get to NC last year, for Christmas. but our, then vehicle, “Rusty” the dodge truck, broke down while we were in Arizona; at the same time our Jonah was in the shop getting “restored,” or as we like to say, now; in the shop getting “screwed up.” Anywho, we were stuck till we could get a part for Rusty, and wait for our turn, in line at the mechanics … so we lost our window to get to the grandkiddos, back then, since our Alaska trip was already on the books, and we needed to be back for the east coast for that drive, on a certain timeframe. 

Leaving Puerto Penasco, Mexico, we crossed the border at Lukeville, Arizona. Driving through the land of the Saguaro Cacti was just stunning! It’s like another Saguaro National Park, except without other people around! It’s very remote, peaceful and quiet and the road isn’t bad at all, all the way to Ajo.

We arrived back at Ajo, Arizona, topped off fuel in The Whale and filled up Premium for Jonah. We spent another night at Coyotehowls West. It’s a great campground, and the perfect stop; both going to, and departing from Mexico.

…..BUT, This time, whilst in Ajo, we knew better than to go to the nearby “Granny’s Kitchen” Mexican food for dinner. (it’s so bad). We ate some left overs, instead, from a roast Daryl cooked, so it was all good. 

Photo Dump: Puerto Penasco, Mexico to Ajo, Arizona ⬇️

It was a three-hour-day with the border crossing inspection and fuel stop

⬆️ Brand new colorful flags that looked so pretty, had been put up since we’re there shopping, last week and also since we drove through in The Whale; arriving at The Reef RV Park. Unfortunately, there were two rows of flags that were lower than the rest of them, and we broke them, as we went through.
We require at least 13’ 1” clearance (which we had when we arrived)… so sorry, but it’s not like we could do anything about it. It is the way in and out to The Reef, after all. Yikes! Very glad it was only string!

The Next Morning

We left Ajo and had to continue back-tracking across the big paving project on State Highway 86. We dreaded this day, but oh well. The good news is, this route will be much improved in the near future, all the way to Interstate 10.

Today, with the construction, we had to follow a pilot car on a single lane section of road (just like we did coming to Ajo), but this time the cones weren’t set for an 8-and-almost-a-half-feet-wide vehicle, like The Whale. Cars were fine, but we took out three or four cones! It was ridiculous. We had a very soft, newly poured shoulder to the left and cones to the right.. it was one or the other. We sure weren’t gonna flip The Whale into the ditch.
The pilot car blew through and left us in the dust, so he or she did a bang up job. *sarcasm*

Finally, we got past the construction and through/around Tucson, and drove right by the turn-off to Tombstone, Arizona. In total, this was 3.5 hours, later… all back-tracking miles.
Whew! The drive from this point on, was more newish and interesting, and the worst part of Interstate 10 was behind us, as we headed for New Mexico.
There is so much more we would love to do by stopping and seeing sites in New Mexico, (we’ve been before, and really like NM), but we have enough miles to drive, and had to draw the line, somewhere. We will go back, next year.

It was a pretty long drive day, with the construction and bad roads that haven’t been paved yet, adding an extra hour. We drove on and on. Before we reached our destination, it started clouding up, got windy, and we had a drop in temperature. Then, it began raining! We hadn’t been back in the USA 24 hours, before it started storming!

Ha!

BUT, I’m very happy for the wildlife and plants in this arid part of the desert, as the rain was overdue, for sure.

We stopped in Wilcox, Arizona to eat a BBQ dinner, at Big Tex BBQ. It was good. While eating, the rain hit, again, big time. We couldn’t wait it out, and made a dash for it, back to The Whale, as we still had at least another hour on the road to reach Lordsburg, New Mexico, where we stayed for two night at a nice KOA. It continued to rain our first night.

⬆️ View from my bedroom the next morning. Back to sunshine. 

We are experiencing cooler and comfortable temperatures in New Mexico, for the first time in a while. No A/C or heat needed at this time, for sleeping hours, and woke up to needing the heat on! 

We stayed two nights, and not because of it being any kind of a destination stop, but because we needed to get some serious grocery shopping done. We were in Mexico a long while and between needing to deplete food items; prepping for the border crossing, and really craving American-bought food brands we have missed, food shopping was essential!

There were two ghost towns close by us, in Lordsburg, but one: Stein Railroad Ghost Town, now has a fence around it, since covid, with no entry signs….big bummer, as we wanted to walk through it.

⬆️ Photo from internet 

The other one is called: Shakespeare Ghost Town: I do have a phone number and will call to find out if this one is open for viewing.
Nobody answered the phone. Double bummer.

Photo Dump: Ajo, Arizona to Lordsburg, New Mexico ⬇️

This was a six and a half hour day for us, including an hour dinner stop. We also lost an hour, as we changed time zones.

⬆️ BTW, this additional border control (beyond the actual border) is unmanned and closed.

**************

Next Day; Heading for Texas ⬇️

We made it to our first stop in Texas, at Roadrunner Travelers RV Park in Study Butte /Terlinqua
We get to stay four five nights. 

Today was also Daryl’s Birthday!!!
I asked him (a little sarcastically) what he wanted to do on his big day and he said, a little sarcastically; “drive The Whale through Texas, ALL DAY!” 🤣

In all seriousness, it’s good, because Daryl was born in Texas, as well as his mom and dad, and siblings… (RIP to those who have passed).

Getting to be back in Texas, on his 69th birthday, is kinda special. The last trip he made to Texas, was in 2015; also on his birthday, then. He flew from California to Texas to propose to me, and of course I said yes!!

The birthday boy is a pie guy, more than a cake guy, so we enjoyed some Coconut Cream Pie (his pick) for his birthday, at least. I usually make him a homemade pie, but our life on the road and go-go ways, makes baking pies challenging, sometimes.

Have you ever driven through Texas, before? It is not Alaska big, but it is the next largest state to drive across. It seemingly goes on and on and on. Daryl and I both used to live in the great state of Texas, so we came prepared. AND, even though I lived in southeast Texas for seven years, I never took the time to drive to Big Bend National Park. So, for this trip through Texas, Big Bend got put on the itinerary. Daryl has never been, either, so we look forward to doing this, together.

This drive day, sure brought back memories. In 2015, I drove from the opposite direction; from the The Woodlands (near Houston) where we are going on this trip, to California; moving there from Texas, to get married to the big guy. That was one LONG solo drive for this gal (in my car). It took me two days just to drive through Texas!

We are also so happy to have experienced the best stretch of road system we have driven, in over six months. So yes, a long drive, but it wasn’t bad at all! We also got 8.2 miles per gallon in The Whale. That is the best mileage we have gotten, in almost two years with her.

We filled-up fuel in Texas. We were hoping for better pricing, since Texas has so many of its own oil refineries, but it was no different than New Mexico pricing. (around $4.59/gal diesel).

Before arriving at our RV Park, we had to leave I-10 East, (which we had been traveling on for several driving days), for State Hwy 90, South, and on to State Hwy 118, which is a 2.5 hour drive (big rig pace) from this interstate. This is the route, if ya wanna go to Big Bend National Park.

Heads up RVers: On Hwy 90, just before turning on to 118, there is a town called Alpine. Know your route and know your RV clearance height. There is a low overpass marked 13’ 7.”  We require 13’ 1.” I was much relieved, once we passed through, without incident. There is at least one other low overpass, but it is over 14 feet. (standard is around 15’ clearance)

West Texas has hills and rocks. and it is much greener than I thought it would be. It was a very pretty drive, once we left the border town area of Juarez, Mexico on I-10 East.

Photo Dump: Lordsburg, New Mexico to Terlingua, Texas

We got up and on the road very early for this day. The sun was just coming up. This was a 9.5 hour day for us, including one fuel stop and a quick DQ stop. We would also lose another hour, crossing into another time zone.

Rest assured…We have crossed so many borders over the last year, including coming and going to Mexico on two different trips. Here, we got stopped in Texas by border patrol, to make sure we were not illegal. Everybody must have proper papers. EVERY vehicle was stopped; commercial trucks cars, and RVS. In addition, through Arizona and New Mexico there are border stations that are closed, as in unmanned, since there is zero activity to be concerned about.  

We have driven through vast lands of desert, going out as far as the eye can see, in this last year of driving cross county. We have also, recently, skirted the borders on two sides in Texas, going the direction of Big Bend National Park. There has never been so much as a pup tent, let alone an illegal tent camp for the millions or thousands of immigrants the news keeps insisting are coming across our borders. If this were true, we would have seen some indication. We know what to look for, too, because we have seen such tented camps of immigrants in our extensive travels in many other countries, near borders.

A Happy, Healthy herd of Prong Horn

What’s Next?

A visit to Big Bend National Park, then on to Lake Conroe, in East Texas. After Texas time, we head for New Orleans…