Van made it to USA

Well,our last day on the rally was best.Morning they had full buffet breakfast.Followed by games in the sunny 24 Deg afternoon.At 5pm it was a large buffet supper .Then at 7 pm we had the Halloween costume parade.I had a little make up on to join in but could never beat their efforts.
Too much Bingo but we did win a nice prize of a wooden wall hung cabin .
What a good time we have had with this friendly bunch and such interesting stories.One lady in particular surprised us with the fact her great,great grandad was Wyatt Earp !
A full explanation of hunting the various animals and the rather expensive cost to do so with some spirited political discussions.
A number of them have a town property and a ranch but no owners of oil wells which they say foreigners perceive every Texan owns.
We leave them with their pink flamingo grass ornament,two mugs with their motif,our prize and their fun certificate of Honorary Texans.
No chance of forgetting this group.
They have insisted on feeding us from start to finish and ply us with their cocktails,sangria and beer.
Many have swapped email and address should we need any more advice and info beyond what's already been provided.Loads of info from Brad & Kim who lead motorhome tours all over the USA and Mexico once.Promised to visit and stay over with Leon & Charlotte in Houston in a few weeks.As we say our goodbyes they remind us that you will not meet a friendlier American than a Texan,so true it seems.
Sure this rally will be remembered as one of our
highlights .IMG_20181027_213951.jpgIMG_20181027_190953.jpgIMG_20181028_095527.jpg
 
Hinton, Oklahoma 30 October
We now have a standard method of visiting the cities.Find a Walmart or public park to leave the van and scooter the 5-10 miles in to centre.The scooter is a success but sometimes the cities aren't.The world's largest working Stockyards were empty although the web site says Tuesday is auction day.Then the Art museum was not open.At least the Oklahoma bomb memorial is accessible unlike the state capitol building surrounded by road works.All rather disappointing but at least I purchased some authentic cowboy shirts in the Stockyards .
So with the city visit cut short we set forth on Route 66 westbound.
Much of the original road has been assimilated in to the modern road system but you can travel long sections .The problem is that it is a real bone shaker giving the van a hard time.Tempting to move on to the i40 running parallel on this section in Oklahoma but it has to be done.Well maybe only parts of it or the vehicle will start to disintegrate .
Ate in our first R66 eatery called Sid's Diner in El Reno . Nostalgic style diner and the food was great .Only order half portions and one milk shake ,it will feed two.
Rattled our way further to Hinton for a overnight at the Oklahoma Casino.The atmosphere in there was flat with no tables just machines
 
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Don't be tempted to buy a large cowboy Stetson and boots. We did and only wore them for the odd fancy dress in 15 years.
Route 66 past Kingman AZ and into NV was also a boneshaker but lovely old bars and cafe's.

Ray.
 
Hi raynipper
I thought that so went with undertstated shirts.We have visited AZ and NV in the past so we are heading as far as Mesa Verde NP then head south through NM .
 
Mesa Verde is amazing but you must be near the end of the season. It's high up there and the campground at the bottom of the hill closes about now. We almost got snowed in.

Ray.
 
Your right to warn us,we will go north as far as Taos then south.Will see some pueblos and cave homes in Bandelier National Monument.
 
Our quote for camping in Florida this winter.Not as cheap as Spain !

Our rates for a 28’ RV are $150 nightly for waterfront and $120 nightly for inland sites. Due to the size of your RV, you would still need to park in a full hookup site, regardless if you use the amenities or not. All our primitive sites can only accommodate a tent. We want to make sure you fit well into your site and have an enjoyable stay.
 
It helps to have friends in FL especially with those prices. We had RV friends in Crystal River, Spring Hill and Ormond Beach.

Ray.
 
Any recommendations Ray ?
We plan a week somewhere on the west coast,then a week on Big Pine Key ,booked.
Then a week going north on the east coast.
West and East yet to find something.
Usually use SP / NP sites but think commercial at this time of year for socialising.
 
As your experiences of expensive sites in FL, apart from staying with friends the only site we paid and stayed on was close to the Walenius port at Brunswick. Not sure of the name but it was directly across the freeway from the Port turnoff across I-95.
We did venture down to Jacksonville by car and visited a wildlife rescue park and was eaten alive by the bugs. Okefenokee Widlife Refuge and they do have camping. But thats about as far south we used paid for sites. I will try and find the name later.

Might be one of these ............................
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...!5m1!1s2018-11-20!8m2!3d32.04448!4d-81.179947

Ray.
 
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Taos,New Mexico 5 November

A successful day today with no parking problems and all sights visited as planned.Often time runs out and parking is a challenge.
Up early and buying our entry tickets for Taos Pueblo at 8 am opening time.We had the place to ourselves enabling the right atmosphere with no tourists.
The adobe multi storey buildings have been inhabited for nearly 1000 years.No toilets,running water or electricity .We walked the quiet site other than dogs and captured our shots before the first 9 am walking guided tour.So different to everything else we have seen on our trip.
Off to view the canyon bridge said to be the second deepest crossing in the country.Then in to Taos itself.Free parking for RVs just outside the plaza.The Spanish influence is everywhere and a nice place to walk although nearly every shop was a art gallery.
Just south of the main town on our departure we could park easily next to the mission church of San Francisco De Asis.
Built around 1776 it's an impressive colonial building .Planned to drive at least a hour but after 10 minutes we came across a fantastic viewpoint parking area with no signs forbidding overnight.Sorted.The four mile walking track to the canyons edge was completed just in time for sunset.Dark here by 5.30 pm .

Espanola,New Mexico 6 November

Drove what they describe as the high road No's 75 & 76 for the views and the villages.
Views great, villages not so great.The very old churches are worth the effort at least.The housing,as everywhere it seems,old run down caravans so no effort to retain the old Adobe properties .It's like visiting a UK country church but with all cottages removed for delapedated static caravans.
Will overnight here in Espanola as time is short before darkness at 5:30 .
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Los Alamos ,New Mexico 7 November

A day of contrast between man's understanding of his world six hundred years ago to seventy years ago.
This morning spent walking the ruins of Bandelier National Monument .You can explore the ancestral Pueblo dwellings in the steep canyon.Climbing ladders to reach the dug out rooms and view the wall paintings .
We jump from cave living to the Atomic Bomb Laboratory in Los Alamos only twenty minutes away in the afternoon.
We passed through security to enter town for the museum.Very interesting dealing with the historical aspects of the Manhattan Project to present day nuclear armaments and the role of the scientist's today.
Parked right in middle of town on some waste land and cheekely plan to overnight .Hope security does not knock in the night.If they do then plan B is to drive 50 mins to Sam's Club in Santa Fe.
 

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