Headed home from South Padre

12 05 2024

After 3 weeks on SPI, we’ve once again crossed the Queen Isabella causeway bound for Harlingen.  We’ll spend 3 days in Harlingen cleaning and resupplying for our trip home. We’re planning a fairly rapid departure from South Texas, it’s gotten way, way too hot and humid!  We’ll spend 3 nights on the road across Texas and then 2 nights in New Mexico before arriving back to Colorado

Site #23, Isla Blanca RV Park, SPI

Our first night out is at favorite state park, Lake Casa Blanca in Laredo.  Normally we stay on the “100” loop, this year we’ve opted for a new location at site 303.  This is a long (over 100’) pull through on the far north end of the campground.  Providing 30/50 amp power and water this is a very private site and was perfectly level allowing us to stay connected to the truck.

Lake Casa Blanca, Site 303

Another 3 hours or so takes us to Del Rio at the Sleeping Lady RV park where we spent one night last year.  This is a well maintained park, gravel roads and concrete pads on pull through sites provide full hookups and even a bit of shade from the small trees.  As we arrive, the temperature tops out at 109 in Del Rio, and about 60% humidity, and we’re anxious to hit the road the next morning.

Sleeping Lady RV Park, Del Rio, TX

Continuing west from Del Rio, we leave the Rio Grande valley at Sanderson and turn north to connect with I-10 at Ft. Stockton.  We’ve stayed in Ft. Stockton many time but today decide to continue to Balmorhea State Park, home of San Solomon Springs which creates the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the world.  The campground at Balmorhea has been closed for refurbishment for years, and we’re anxious to check things out.  The pool is closed for cleaning this week meaning the normal throngs of people won’t be able to access the park.  We’re among only about 10 others in the RV new campground and have a very quiet evening.

Balmorhea State Park, Toyahvale, TX

San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea State Park

Our 4th day on the road takes us out of Texas, and into eastern New Mexico near Carlsbad.  We continue to Roswell for a quick overnight at Town & Country RV Park. The original plan was to spend one more night on the road in Santa Fe. But, we get an early start and decided to make the 6 hour run all the way home.

Spanish Peaks, Huerfano, County, CO

It’s been a great trip.  115 nights at 25 different parks and resorts for a total of about 4300 miles.  Our next trip is already completely planned, we’re headed to the Pacific Northwest through Oregon to Washington where we’ll spend the 4th of July holiday with family in Sequim, WA.  More from the road to Oregon…


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Off to see an Eclipse

8 04 2024

After departing Tucson, we’re planning a relatively quick transit across New Mexico and Texas hoping for clear views in the upcoming eclipse  “Path of Totality”.  We last viewed a total eclipse in 2017 when we were in Douglas Wyoming.  This time we’ve chosen Bandera Texas as our “prime” spot, with an expected totality of just over 4 minutes.

Our first stop after departing Tucson is at Hacienda RV Resort in Las Cruces, NM.  We generally stay at the KOA in Las Cruces, but with extra travelers in our group and eclipse traffic, the park isn’t available.  However, Hacienda works just as well for a couple of nights here.  The full hookup sites are wide and specious. From Las Cruces we’ll spend one night in Van Horn at the familiar Van Horn RV park and one night at Southern Living RV Park in Ozona, TX.  Both of these parks offer bare necessities and are just fine for quick overnights.

Southern Living RV Park, Ozona, TX

We’ve visited Bandera before, but this is the first time we’ve stayed at Riverside RV Park.  The Medina River flows along the southern edge of the park and in warmer weather would provide welcoming shade and calm quiet swimming holes.  From the easy check-in to the personable park hosts, this is a very nice place.  We’re parked in site #77, a wide pull-through site that is mostly shaded by a big tree overhead. The tree is a bit messy, but provides great shade for sitting outside or around the provided picnic table.

Riverside RV Park, Bandera, TX

Riverside RV Park, Medina River, Bandera, TX

As eclipse day arrives on April 8th, so do the clouds across the Texas Hill country. However, all preparations continue with huge tripods of telescopes and camera lenses positioned towards the sky all around the campground.  Around 12:30 through partially cloudy skies, we’re able to see the “bite” out of the sun.  As totality time at 1:30 approaches, the lights flicker on, birds are quieted and an eerie hush settles over the park.  Complete darkness lasts for 4 minutes and 4 seconds in this part of Texas, and very quickly the sun starts to reappear in the now mostly cloudy skies.  Not exactly the presentation we’d hoped for, but unfortunately it seems like most of Texas and many other places across the US experienced the same cloudy conditions.

Riverside RV Park, Bandera, TX – “Totality”

While we’re here primarily for the eclipse, we have a great time exploring Bandera and the surrounding area.  During an excursion to Kerrville, we check out the new Howdy’s Bar & Chill, formerly the Wild Ass Hey Barn.  Back in Bandera, we found a new favorite eatery – the Trail Boss Steak and Grill.  Located off the main street, this new restaurant offers a wide selection of steaks, seafood and burgers, combined with a full bar and excellent, attentive staff.  A special shout-out to Conner who serviced us during both of our visits – thanks for a great job! And, of course we had to check out the famous Cowboy Bar of Bandera!

Howdy’s Bar & Chill, Kerrville, TX

The Cowboy Bar, Bandera, TX

After Bandera, we’ll spend 3 nights at one of our favorite KOA’s, the San Antonio/Alamo KOA.  The park is east of town and provides easy access to the Historic Pearl development on the grounds of the former Pearl Brewery, the downtown Riverwalk and some of the historic residential areas in between.  We once again enjoyed the Black Laboratory Brewery and tasty Mexican food at Rosarios, now in their beautiful new location.

Historic Pearl Brewery, San Antonio, TX

Rosarios San Antonio

From San Antonio we’re headed to South Padre Island after a brief stop in Harlingen.  More from SPI…


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Apache Junction & Tucson

17 03 2024

From Lake Havasu we’ve arrived in the Valley of the Sun, just east of downtown Phoenix in Apache Junction.  As last year, we’re parked at Campground USA for our 2 week visit.  This is one of the newest RV parks we’ve stayed at and it provides nice wide sites, full hookups, a great pool/hot tub area and a beautiful clubhouse.  However, with its location right next to highway 60, it does experience some highway noise, especially with a southern breeze.

Beautiful Superstitions from Apache Junction

As in past years, we planning to attend Rockies spring training games.  We have gorgeous weather for our first game on Sunday, Rockies against the Brewers, and totally enjoy our afternoon at Salt River Fields – we think one of the nicest Cactus League stadiums. On the following Friday we have tickets to the Rockies and the Rangers.  Unfortunately after arriving to cloudy skies, the rains begin and the game is cancelled only a few minutes after the 1st pitch.  Along with baseball, we enjoyed some of our favorite restaurants around Apache Junction along with a splurge at one of the top Phoenix restaurant, LONS’s at The Hermosa Inn.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ

After what seemed like a very quick 2 weeks, we’re on the road again, headed to Tucson.  We’ll be joining friends for the next 2 weeks at Rincon West RV Resort just south of Tucson.  Rincon is huge, with nearly 1200 sites, mostly park-models, this resort offers something for everyone.  A very unique feature is the “G-gage” model railroad just outside the main office and clubhouse.  Model railroaders were cleaning and working on the exhibit almost every day as well as watching their trains chug around the endless loops through model villages and mountain passes.  Other amenities include a beautiful pool area, tennis, pickleball, a woodworking shop, pottery studio, card room, billiards, several laundry facilities and of course pet parks!

Rincon West RV Resort, Tucson, AZ

Rincon West RV Resort, Tucson, AZ

With a lot of friends in the area, we saw much more of Tucson than we have on past trips.  Just after our arrival we spent an evening star gazing at the nearby Kitt Peak National Observatory.  Kitt Peak does an excellent job of their nighttime program which include learning to read star charts, viewing celestial objects in their small telescopes and the one we enjoy the most, laser pointer “mapping” of the constellations and planets overhead.  Another highlight was a beautiful and relaxing tram ride into Sabino Canyon.  And, we spent an afternoon at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  This place is huge, with both indoor and outdoor displays – much more than can be seen in a single visit!

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Sabino Canyon, Tucson, AZ

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

After spending an afternoon wandering through the stalls at the Forth Avenue Street Fair, we returned a few nights later to check out restaurants.  We started at the unique Boxyard, a collection of stacked shipping containers with 3 pop-up type restaurants and a large outdoor bar area.  From the Boxyard, we moved onto appetizers at Ermano’s Bar, a beautifully remodeled historic building just down 4th Ave.  For dinner we enjoyed BOCA, by Chef Maria Mazon who prepares modern Mexican fare on a comfortable outdoor courtyard.  After dinner we found Corbett’s – self-proclaimed “restaurant with a beer garden, pickleball courts, live music and great provisions”.  Returning a few night later we agree – Corbett’s is loads of fun, great food with fun live music in the beer garden.

Ermano’s Bar, Tucson, AZ

 

We also enjoyed Oregano’s, “your neighborhood Italian joint” for pizza, and the Bashful Bandit Barbeque – with a welcoming outdoor patio where you can watch the smoke-masters in action. Their interesting  “Smoked Crack Pie” is an delicious gooey desert that might make you skip your entrée.   But, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their sliced brisket, green chili pulled pork, or chili relleno sausage, either by the pound, plate or  sandwiches.

From Tucson we’re off to the Texas Hill Country for the great solar eclipse of 2024.  More from Bandera, TX!


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Lake Havasu City, AZ

3 03 2024

We’re back to one of our favorite places in Arizona, along the Colorado River near Lake Havasu.  We’re parked at River Island State Park, about 2 miles south of Parker Dam.  This section of the river is impounded by the Headgate Rock Dam, just north of Parker which creates Moovalya Lake. It’s not as deep as Lake Havasu, but there’s plenty of bass boats and jets skis that put in right at the campground boat ramp.

River Island State Park, Parker, AZ

River Island State Park

River Island State Park, Parker, AZ

River Island State Park, Site #20

We’re parked in site #20, a long pull-through with water and electric.  None of the sites have dump ports, but there’s a convenient and free station in the park. There are a total of 29 sites, 1-4 back up to a tall rock wall, #4 would be furthest from traffic noise on highway 95.  Sites 24-29 are also back-in sites that back up to the boat ramp and parking, but most of the host sites are along this row.  We visited this park last year, but this was our first time staying here.  All of the Arizona park along this stretch of the river offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and river, but we think River Island suffers from a bit more road noise than Cattail Cove where we stayed last year.

River Island State Park, Site #4

One of the “excursions” with the Montana Owners group from Quartzsite that we missed was a trip to the Blue Water Grill at the Blue Water Casino in Parker, AZ.  On Thursday we decided to check it out – the casino is nice, but the dining wasn’t optimal.  We also visited the Black Pearl Restaurant at Pirates Den which we think is much better – waterside outdoor dining, great service and tasty food and drinks!

Pirates Den, Parker, AZ

From River Island we moved to one of our favorite parks, The Islander in Lake Havasu city.  This is one of 3 RV parks on the island, after you pass over London Bridge, and we think the best of the 3.  All sites are full-hookup,  graveled with a concrete patio.  All “transient” sites are pull-through along a central row in the park while most others are back-in.  All outer rows are park models, but this separation insures you are never parked between park models which we dislike in other parks.

Islander Resort, Lake Havasu

Islander Resort, Premium Coach Sites

Havasu continues to impress us with excellent restaurant choices – again this year we enjoyed great times at the Boathouse Grill with it’s convenient location right outside the RV park.  We also returned to College Street Brewery, the off-grid Bunker Bar and La Vita Dolce Italian Bistro.  And, of course ordered pizza from Rosati’s Pizza – the best pizza on the island!

The Bunker Bar, Lake Havasu City, AZ

From Lake Havasu we’re bound for the eastern side of Phoenix in Apache Junction.  More from AJ…


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Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort, Yuma, AZ

19 02 2024

From San Diego it’s a beautiful drive along I-8, up from the coastal plain and into the National Forest near Alpine, CA.  From here the terrain turns rugged with arid mountains of huge boulders along both side of the highway and beautiful vistas to the south.  From sea level at San Diego, I-8 climbs to over 4000 feet in elevation before beginning a fairly rapid decent – arriving 51 feet below sea level at El Centro, CA.  This is the former Sea of Cortez valley which was once connected to the Salton Sea.  At El Centro the evidence of irrigation from the Colorado River becomes apparent as you are surrounded by agriculture – lettuce, figs, broccoli and other leafy vegetables.  These fields extend all the to the Salton Sea on the north and the Mexican border to the south.  Past El Centro the desert landscape returns until arriving to the lush green fields around Yuma.

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort

We’re once again parked at Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort, site #547.  This isn’t a great site. Both sites behind us have permanent fencing which encourages leaving dogs outside (and barking) all day long.  We’re not sure we’ll be back to Cocopah – there appears to be very little in the way of upkeep happening in the park and obviously no rules about the amount of junk that can litter the sites. In some places, you can barely drive down the narrow lanes. On Sunday we explored some of the foothills RV parks.  As we found on our first visit to Yuma, The Palms is still one of the best, and most expensive! Right next door is Sun Vista, an older resort that has been very well kept.  And, with rates around $30/day on monthly, it’s a great value!

Sun Vista RV Resort, Yuma

Even with a shortened stay in Yuma this year, we spent an afternoon over the border at Los Algodones and checked out some of our favorite Yuma restaurants including a new brewery “Pint House” downtown on Main St.

One of the many farm products grown in Yuma is the delicious Medjool date.  Prices in grocery stores generally range from about $4-$8/pound. Buying “farm direct” at the Imperial Date Gardens just outside of Yuma, we picked up 11 lbs for $22!  Plus, we sampled wonderfully decadent chocolate covered dates with pecan filling…yum!

Medjool Date Farm

From Yuma we’re headed north along the Colorado river to the Lake Havasu area where we’ll spend one week at River Island State Park and another week at one of our favorite parks, The Islander.  More from Lake Havasu…

 

 

 


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Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay

11 02 2024

Good morning from Chula Vista, CA.  We’re parked at Sun Outdoors RV Resort on the southeast corner of San Diego Bay.  This is a beautiful resort.  Purpose built by Sun Outdoors and opened in 2021, the resort features nearly 200 RV sites, both back-in and pull-through and 50 rental cottages.  Amenities include a beautiful swimming pool/hot tub area that overlooks San Diego Bay, a café/bar, sports areas including Bocca Ball, Cornhole, a Playground and of course Pickleball.  There’s even meeting/event space, and an indoor/outdoor fitness center.  Individual sites provide full hookups including cable TV, 4 Adirondack chairs around a firepit, a picnic table  and access to park WiFi.  Basic WiFi service provides about 3 Mb down and 1Mb upload.  Premium WiFi is also available for 2 devices at $5.95/day or $14.95/week or a Family Plan supporting 4 devices and HD Video streaming at $7.95/day or $19.95/week.

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

We’re parked in site #135, a back-in towards the rear of the property and near the café/bar and pool.  Traffic noise from I-5 is noticeable, especially at night as well as the every 15 minute clanging of the train crossing on E-Street. Sites 15-20 offer the best views across the water toward downtown San Diego, but probably still suffer from the neighborhood noise.

Site 135, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

Site #20, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

From the resort we’re about 15 minutes to downtown San Diego and 25 minutes from the San Diego Airport and only about 12 minutes from the Mexican border at Tijuana. With the continuing flow of the onshore atmospheric river, it’s a great excuse to stay near the resort and in, out of the rain.  Just a few miles south is the Chula Vista Marina, home to The Galley.  A typical “yachty” type restaurant, they offer great daily happy hour and dinner specials.  On Thursday we enjoyed their unlimited Fish & Chips – quite tasty!

The Galley Restaurant, Chula Vista Marina

With the rain finally starting to subside on Saturday we hopped on the San Diego light rail for a trip into old town.  For $2.50 each way the trolley services much of the city, and on the blue line, all the way south to the Mexican border.  It’s about 15 stops and 50 minutes to reach the Old Town station.  Here we wandered among the shops and enjoyed great margaritas and appetizers at Café Coyote.

Cafe Coyote, Old Town, San Diego, CA

On Sunday we’re headed back to Arizona, to Cocopah Bend RV and Golf Resort.  More from Yuma…


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Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

4 02 2024

With 4 nights to fill-in between our departure from Palm Springs, and our arrival in San Diego, we fairly randomly picked Temecula.  As it turns out, there’s a lot to see and do in Temecula.  Based on a personal recommendation and RV Life reviews, we’re parked at the Pechanga Casino RV Resort.  Located nearly in the shadow of the casino hotel towers, this is a modern RV resort with full hookups, pools, dog parks and even some “elite” sites that include a gazebo, built-in BBQ and firepit.  Mature landscape provides nice shade and lush grassy areas.  During our stay the pacific “atmospheric river” brought plenty of rain over the Santa Anas, but we still enjoyed our stay.  Rates during this prime season run about $90/night and up.  Pechanga is a Passport America member, and with proper planning rates are around $40/night.

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, C

There’s plenty to do in Temecula – We enjoyed the shops and restaurants in Old Town, especially dinner of tasty pizza at the Goat & Vine.  And, no visit to Temecula would be complete without some wine tasting.  We had a wonderful lunch in the barrel room cave at the nearby Oak Mountain Winery.  Over at the casino, with 10 dining options from the upscale Great Oak Steakhouse to a Sushi & Oyster Bar, Pan-Asian, Italian and the 1882 Mexican Cantina where we enjoyed our departure day breakfast.

Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula, CA

Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula, CA

From Temecula we’re headed to Sun Outdoors RV resort on San Diego Bay.  More from the west coast!


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Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs

23 01 2024

Good Morning from Outdoor Resort – Palm Springs, actually located in Cathedral City, CA.  This is a gorgeous RV Resort!  We’re parked in site 784, a beautiful back-in site right next to the  4th tee on the 18-hole golf course. With over 1200 sites, this is a huge resort, providing nearly every amenity imaginable.

“Out the Back Window” – Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

In addition to the 18-hole course, there’s another 9-hole course, two large club houses with pools, 6 other “satellite” pool areas, 2 dog parks, pickleball courts, tennis, fitness center, a beauty/barbershop, a full service restaurant, convenience store and lots more.

Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

This is an RV-only resort – you’ll not find any permanent park-models or other buildings that have become predominant in so many other parks & resorts.  The 2 golf courses meander through the resort with beautiful greens, lakes, fountains and lush flower gardens.  Security walls extend around the perimeter of the resort, with buffers of green belts, the dog parks and a huge orchard filled with grapefruit, lemon. lime and orange trees – free for the picking to any resident or guest!

Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

Friends from Colorado recently purchased a site at this “all-RV” resort, so we’re here to check out their new place and enjoy the Palm Springs area.  After arriving on Tuesday, we’re off to the Tropicale restaurant, a Palm Springs institution of fine and fun dining.  On Thursday evening we wandered through the VillageFest along Palm Canyon Drive and ended the evening with the requisite photos at the “Forever Marilyn” sculpture.

“Forever Marilyn”, Palm Springs, CA

Saturday found us at the Salton Sea.  Less than an hour east of Palm Springs, this is one of the lowest land places on earth and was once the mouth of the Colorado River at the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez.  As the river carried silt into the valley and sea levels dropped, the Salton Trough was left high and dry.  Until, in 1905 when the Colorado River breached flood gates and refilled the depression.  It’s an impressive 35 mile long lake of high salinity and agricultural pollutants.  The area is thought to contain one of the world’s largest lithium deposits which is estimated to be worth over $500 billion!

Salton Sea, CA

After enjoying Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley we’re headed for San Diego, with a 4 night stop in Temecula.  More from wine country!


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We’re off to Quartzsite!

20 01 2024

After delaying our departure due to extreme cold and snow, we’re finally headed south to Albuquerque on January 17th.  Our first night is at American RV Resort, just west of downtown Albuquerque.  The park is about as expected, and suffers from highway noise from nearby I-40.  From Albuquerque we’re headed to the KOA Journey in Holbrook.  Some sites here have been upgraded to KOA Patio sites with privacy fences and pergolas. But, located just off of I-40, again this park suffers from constant road noise. Our final night on the road to Quartzsite is at Verde Ranch RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ.  This is a favorite park of ours with all the amenities of a nice RV resort.  From Camp Verde we transit around Phoenix and make the relatively short trip over to Quartzsite.

Holbrook, AZ KOA Journey

As we did last year, we’re in Quartzsite to meet other members of the Montana Owners Group. With our arrival there are 25 rigs in the “Circling of the Montana’s”.  The big RV show opens the day after our arrival and on Sunday we spend a few hours perusing the booths of RV suppliers from all of the US and touring some of the most recent floorplans in Montana and Brinkley 5th wheels.  Flooding rains moved into the Quartzsite area, so outside activities were cancelled on Sunday evening and again on Monday.  On Tuesday we pack up our muddy equipment and head towards Palm Springs where we’ll spend the next 8 nights.

February/March, Arizona and California

This will mark our first Spring Trip that includes stops in California.  In addition to Palm Springs we’ll visit Temecula and San Diego.  More from California!


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