While in Carlsbad, NM area, we stayed at The Ranch an SKP Co-OP resort located at Lakewood NM. This is a beautiful park which was built right out in the middle of desert ranch land. The park has many activities and many friendly people. While here we got our mail and had the car serviced.

While at Carlsbad we went to the caverns which were everything and more than we had heard about them. The caverns are massive, the big room as it is called is 750 feet below ground and has a foot path nearly a mile long through and around the spectacular formations.

Also in Carlsbad is the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park which has a great collection of native birds and animals and plants including all the cactus varieties and live animals including bear, panther, deer, elk, eagles, hawks, snakes etc. This was one of the nicest natural zoo’s I have ever heard of.

January 28th we traveled from Carlsbad west through the Guadalupe Mountains to El Paso and on west on I-10 to Deming, NM and stayed at Dream Catcher RV Park another SKP park located in town just off the interstate. While here we had the motorhome serviced at the Ford dealer in town. There is a lot to see and do in this area.

On Sunday we took a ride down to the Mexican border to Columbus NM where Pancho Villa made a raid in 1916. There is a nice state park and museum in Columbus.

On Tuesday we took a ride north up through Silver City and toured the Cat Walk in White Water Canyon where there is a steel walkway suspended on the rock walls of the canyon. While walking into the entrance of the canyon we met a grey fox coming the other direction. On the way back to Deming we saw a herd of elk grazing along the road. This is some more very scenic country with a lot of history and interesting things to see and do.

On Thursday February, 4th we left Deming and traveled west to Benson Arizona where we stayed at the Saguaro SKP Co-Op RV Resort. This is another beautiful campground in an equally beautiful setting in an area with many historic places to explore.

On Friday we went to Deadwood scene of the gunfight at the OK corral which is pretty touristy but still very interesting what with the Earp’s, Doc Holiday and the Clanton brothers actually being involved in their exploits in the same buildings and streets still in the same places today. While at Deadwood we met Virgil Wheeland and his wife who spend their winters at Deadwood. Virgil works in one of the daily gunfights they stage every day in town.

On Sunday we went down to Bisbee AZ which is an old copper mining town which was built around the Phelps Dodge mining operation. After Phelps Dodge pulled out in the seventies there wasn’t much left as far as industry goes. They have a nice museum and a lot of artisty shops and tourist type gift shops.

On Tuesday we went over to Sierra Vista and toured Fort Huachuca which was the headquarters of the black cavalry soldiers up through the World War II. It is now used as an electronic warfare base. They have a great Museum comprised of three buildings and is located in the midst of some beautiful mountains.

On Thursday February 10th we went to the Saguaro Nat’l Park where there is a large concentration of the beautiful Saguaro Cactus.

Friday we went to the Pima Air and Space museum near Tucson which has a real nice display of various aircraft in several buildings as well as outdoors. They also have tours to Davis Monthan Air Force Base where they have a giant aircraft salvage yard. Parts are stripped of mostly military aircraft and sold to foreign military etc. when all useable parts are removed from a fuselage it is then chopped up for scrap. It was really impressive to see all those thousands of airplanes setting there in row after row.

On Monday February 14th we left Benson and moved up to Casa Grande AZ. where we stayed at Rovers Roost SKP Resort. This is a quiet park located about ten miles out of town. We were surprised to see the extremely large cattle feeding operations located just west of here. While here we took part in some great pot luck dinners and ice cream socials. We also got our mail while here.

On Wednesday we took a ride to the Phoenix and Mesa area to see some people we had met last summer in Colorado and visit Camping World. The traffic around Phoenix is very impressive.

On Monday February 21st we left Casa Grande and traveled to Congress AZ and stayed at the SKP North Ranch. While here we toured the museum at Wickenburg and walked around town. This area is very mountainous and very scenic.

On Wednesday the 23rd we moved over to Holiday Palms RV Resort at Quartzsite AZ. This is where thousands of RV’s gather every winter and camp without hookups in the desert. There are RV shows and flea markets all over around the town. Most of the activity is in January and early February, When we got here it was pretty well wound down. We got to see what the area is like and satisfy our curiosity. The little town of Quartzsite was very busy yet, so I’m not too sure we would care to be here during the height of activity.

Friday the 25th we left Quartzsite and moved down to the SKP park at Yuma. This is a great resort located right in the middle of citrus groves and truck farms about eight miles south of Yuma. While here we went to Mexico with another couple and had a great time shopping and sightseeing. We had a very good Mexican lunch in a nice clean restaurant. We also had our first taste of great weather in some time here in Yuma.

On Tuesday March 1st we traveled to Sam’s Family Spa Resort at Desert Hot Springs, CA and visited Joshua Tree Nat’l Park which was really nice with a real pretty drive to the park.

Wednesday March 2nd we moved south to Jojoba Hills SKP Resort at Aguanga CA. which is about twenty miles east of Temecula. This is a great park located in the midst of beautiful mountains. While here we drove into Garden Grove and visited the Crystal Cathedral which is really a breath taking experience. Television does not do justice to the beauty of the architecture and history involved with this treasure.

While in this area we went on to San Juan Capistrano which was OK. This area would be much more inviting if it wouldn’t be for the horrendous traffic.

The next day we just took a ride through the mountains of the area surrounding Temecula and Hemet. When you get out of the cities it’s amazing how remote it is only twenty miles from all the chaos of suburbia.

Sunday March 6th we traveled to Pahrump NV about sixty miles north of Las Vegas. What a beautiful place! While here we went over to Death Valley Nat’l Park which is about fifty miles west of here. It is a beautiful drive through the valley. The elevation at the lowest point in Death Valley is 283 feet below sea level. The wild flowers are in bloom there and are very colorful.

On Wednesday we went down to Las Vegas for the day. That was an experience for a country boy from Pennsylvania. We walked the strip and enjoyed the sights. The weather was beautiful. Sandy tried the slots again. She didn’t do as well as she usually does, but she is still few dollars ahead.

Thursday was a day for laundry and housecleaning along with grocery shopping.