Finally got connected

There is so much catching up to do. One of the interesting things we saw in Kentucky was a neighborhood of houseboats, that was kind of cool to see.

Right now we are in Arizona. We have been here since yesterday.

We stayed at a state park in Arkansas Petit Jean State Park, it was right on the Arkansas river. It was absolutely beautiful. We took a short hike to the waterfalls. We saw some baby turkeys. We had a nice campsite, nice and close to the restrooms and showers. So far that has been the only dinner that we cooked ourselves. The rest of our meals have been in restaurants. After we drove around and explored the park we headed to Oklahoma.

Of course we took the scenic drive to Norman OK, which is just outside of Oklahoma City. We just ate dinner and relaxed.

We headed out early and started driving on Route 66. We stopped at the first Rte 66 museum we came across, not knowing that every city along the route has their own museum. So we got a couple of souvenirs and hit the road. I saw my very first tumbleweed! I was so excited. We pretty much just drove and enjoyed the scenery.

We entered Texas in time for a late lunch. We stopped at a place called Big Vern's.
The food was really good and we learned that the woman who owned the restaurant used to live in Alexandria, on Duke Street. it really is a small world. She didn't like Alexandria because there were too many trees and she couldn't see where she was going and got lost a lot. We learned that when we were driving past the large cattle ranches that the people raise cattle as a hobby, their money comes from oil. We saw a lot of oil rigs (or whatever they're called).

It was really odd when we drove into Texas, we drove for miles and miles and saw NOTHING. It felt like we drove into a Stephen King novel or The Twilight Zone. Spooky. We decided not to stay over in Texas and drove into New Mexico.

We found the Santa Rosa Lake State Park, that was like a different planet. What we call bushes they call trees. They also call fish hatcheries trout rearing. We are really liking the state parks, the campgrounds are very clean and more importantly the showers and restrooms are clean. It is different there, the picnic tables were all made out of concrete. When we woke up there were no birds singing, it was really quiet. When we left the campground we decided to visit Santa Fe before taking our scenic drive. We visited the Indian Culture Museum. I knew there were a lot of different tribes, I just didn't know how many! Santa Fe was very touristy so we continued to our drive, we knew our general direction was Albuquerque, Marty was tired so he went in the back and took a nap. The highway system outside of Albuquerque is huge. I found myself all of the sudden on a super highway with a speed limit of 75. It's a good thing I have been through the mixing bowl in Springfield on Rt 95, so I was all good. I drove a little while longer and saw a sign for a casino and they advertised $10. in gas for all from out of state. I decided to stop. I didn't have the heart to wake Marty, so I left him sleeping in Ruby. He did come looking for me for an hour or so and when he came and got me I was $5.00 up and had a voucher for the gas, he was ok when he found that out, but he is very reluctant to ask me to drive. HMM I wonder why.

We drove to Red Rock State Park in NM and camped there for the night. We were very surpised to learn the elevation there was 7,000 feet. The campground was all sand, different. The campground was surrounded on three sides by these beautiful red cliffs, rocks. Still kind of strange that the only wildlife we've seen thus far were the baby turkeys and a roadrunner. It was a little chilly when we woke up but didn't think it felt at all like 21. There was no frost, no humidity, no frost. Did I mention that Marty got up before me and when I woke up in my pajamas in the back of Ruby, he was driving. He was kind enough to take me to a 24 hr. laundromat to go to the bathroom, after he got coffee of course. That was his way of getting back at me for leaving him sleep while I went in the casino. I made him take me back to the campground for a shower. We watched some hot air balloonists set up and take off in the morning. We decided to go for a scenic drive that we learned about from a man we met the evening before. So we decided to get another coffee for the road. While we were inside getting our coffee, this huge and I mean huge man came in for his morning coffee, this guy had to be about 7ft tall and weighed a lot too (Not good at guessing weight). Marty turned to me and said his coffee wasn't hot, that's when the big man said his coffee was hot. Without thinking, as usual, I blurt out "if I was that coffee I'd be hot for you too". After what seemed like forever, but all moments like that seem forever, all was good. Then I proceeded to tell Marty that there IS a double standard and if he ever had a slip like that, it wouldn't be funny.

We laughed about that for a while. We were taking a very leisurely drive that took us through an Indian reservation and ended up behind a school bus. When the bus stopped to let off the children Marty burst into song...one little, two little, three little indians.....sorry if that offends anyone but I laughed so hard I cried!! Marty is so funny.

We decided to visit the Petrified Forest, since we were given a pass to all the National Parks by Marty's sisters for Marty's birthday. I can't put into words how beautiful it is. Breath taking.

Today was a maintenance day. We got up and Ruby got an oil change and a bath and we did laundry. Marty found some information on the Grand Canyon Train, so we made reservations for tomorrow. We then went to Winslow Arizona and Marty took a picture of me on the corner. We then drove through the Cococino National Forest and Slide Rock Park. There were some vendors so we stopped for more gifts.

At the other end of the Park was Sedona, that was so congested and full of spas and spiritual voodoo type stuff and very very yuppie.

We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at "Hog Wild", a Chicago style hot dog restaurant. No sauerkraut or spicy mustard for the hot dogs. We watched Super Nanny while we ate.

Found a neat little store after that the "hippie store". Marty found some cool bumper stickers. Poor Marty, he's been collecting stickers for the back of Ruby, we have a stowaway, which is like a truck that connect at the trailer hitch, anyway, his goal has been to fill the stowaway with stickers and every time he puts one on it is gone by our next stop. He has tried all kinds of things to get them to stick. We lost one in a parking lot that said "if you lived in your truck you'd be home now" we did find it, but couldn't get it back because some lady in a BMW was wearing it on her car and we thought it best if we just let that one go. Anyway the lady at the hippie store gave us some advise and after our train ride tomorrow we will take care of that.

This will be our last night in a hotel for awhile because tomorrow night after the train ride we will be heading by Ruby to the Grand Canyon and that is definitely camping time.

I know there is a lot that I forgot to add, but I will when I get wifi again, now that I know what my problem was, this laptop is new and there is a switch on the side that I had inadvertently turned off so I couldn't get a connection. Thanks Frank for helping, sorry I called so late, you're my favorite brother.

Sylvia and Kyla, I hope you're tracking us on your map we sent you. I am so glad we got to talk on the phone! We miss you so much! Keep up the good work at school!

We also found out that Abel is doing good. He is loving it there playing with the other dogs. I heard he found a mud hole that he likes to visit and on his way back he likes to go through the woods where he picks us burrs and twigs and brings them in to Jody to pick off. Sorry Jody. Jody and the kids have been taking him on hikes and he is losing weight. Maybe she should open up a fat doggy camp. All I know is I am so grateful Abel is being taken care of so well and it sets our minds at ease so we can really enjoy this trip, even though we miss him like crazy!

This trip is amazing, I can't believe how much fun we are having. Each stop is like a vacation by itself! It is almost midnight here and we have a busy day tomorrow so I will say good night for now.

Check back soon!!