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Hi Everyone
We are now in sunny New Mexico after finally setting off from Cottonwood a few days ago.We've never stayed in one place for so long before but we can tell you anything you want to know about Cottonwood and the surround area now.We definitely could have been caught in far worse places I can assure you and we have met some lovely people in the town.
16/12/10
It rained solidly all night long and as it was our first night in the new motor home we were kept busy putting things away, so went to bed tired and the rain made it easy to fall asleep last night.The downside though is that today we had to finish loading everything from the old motor home into the new one in the pouring rain.Poor Noel did most of the shuffling in the rain though.We packed everything up in the old one and then he carried it all across.I then started putting things away while he emptied the outside storage compartments.He had a rain poncho on so the only things that got wet were his legs/pants so when he was finished he just had to change his jeans and he was fine.Nothing that a nice cup of tea couldn't fix.We put the old motor home into the storage facility and finally left Cottonwood just after lunch.We headed down the highway and through (or rather around) Phoenix where we experienced peak hour traffic at around 4.30pm.It rained the whole way and we finally made it to Tucson, Arizona although it was well and truly dark when we go here.We watched the scenery change on the way down though as the mountains disappeared into hills in the distance.
17/12/10
It's stopped raining and looks like another beautiful day ahead.Last night we had a problem with the heater and hot water and Noel discovered this morning that there had been a short in the electrics (or something like that).We phoned around and found someone who could have a look at it for us today so we dropped it off there.The shop looked like something out of Samford and Son (for those who can remember the show).There was stuff everywhere but they certainly knew what they were talking about and as soon as they saw the problem knew what it was.We caught the local bus just up the road from the workshop (the lady in the office told us where to head to) and headed to the other side of Tucson to visit the Tucson Mall.It was certainly an experience and the bus ride might not have been anything too exciting but the 'people watching' was!We wandered around there for a few hours while they fixed the motor home then caught the bus back again to the repairers.Apparently a spider had built a nest in the pipe or something which blocked it off enough to overheat everything.Looks like we will have to wrap the whole motor home in glad wrap before we store it!We headed back to the RV Park and had a nice chat with the couple beside us who are from Virginia and travelling around USA as they have not long retired.He was (or rather still is) an artist and he gave us a little print of one of his works which they use as a card with their address etc. on the back.We watched a spectacular sunset behind the hills tonight and went for an evening stroll around the RV Park which was nice as it's been too wet and/or cold to do that lately.
18/12/10
This morning we caught up with our washing (never stops even on holidays) then we headed off to the Pima Air and Space Museum just outside of Tucson.They have acres and acres of planes on display there.Some are inside of hangers and the rest are outside.Luckily they have a tour on a little open air trolley that goes around the outside ones and it was good because the driver could also do a commentary along the way which is better than stopping and just reading the plaques on everything.Just as we were getting on the trolley the air base (which is next door) decided to put on a show for us and dispatched 4 of their F-16 fighter jets.They took off one by one and each one went straight up into the sky, turned upside down, then right side up and just when you couldn't see it anymore the next one took off.WOW!We really felt at home there with the jets buzzing around.It was like watching and listening to Amberley!There are some amazing planes on display here.We were able to walk right up to and touch an F-111 so of course I had to take Noel's photo!They have been such a huge part of our lives in Ipswich since they came there in the early 1970s.We're sorry we missed the final fly over of Ipswich last weekend so hope someone got to watch it for us.We even saw one of the planes that the American Presidents used to use.In fact it was used by President Kennedy and whoever was the President after him (can't remember).We even found out that it was Jacqueline Kennedy who chose the current colour scheme of the president's planes.... how's that for a piece of useless information?Their Space Hanger wasn't as good as I expected but was still ok.They haven't even got any astronaut's suites on display, or dried spaced food.They have a piece of moon rock there on display which they brag about but it is only the size of a 5c piece and they say it's worth billions of dollars.Imagine what the piece of moon rock at Tidbinbilla is worth! We really enjoyed the visit here, especially Noel.We left just as they were closing and started heading down the highway again to the town of Tombstone. The people who were beside us in Tucson had just come from there so have given us the name of an RV Park right in the middle of town but most importantly they told us there were no supermarkets in town which was great because we needed to top up again so stopped in the town of Benson on the way.It doesn't appear to be such a large town but they have got a Walmart and Safeway so obviously they must service a lot of the smaller towns around here.They do go out of their way with Christmas Lights in this area which was nice to look at as we made our way to Tombstone.
19/12/10
Staying right in the middle of Tombstone was great because we were able to walk everywhere instead of having to pack up and move the motor home.We are definitely buying a tow car next trip.We went and had a look at the house where Wyatt Earp grew up and walked to Boot Hill Cemetery.We also walked all around the town and looked at the shops which sell so much cowboy stuff....They are interesting to look in though.They do horse and carriage rides around the town also so it is funny to see them in the main street, in fact the main street is closed to traffic.We went to the OK Corral and watched a "Gun Fight" there.Everyone was all dress up and they did a few skits and a re-enacted of the shoot out at OK Corral back in 1881.The entire town is either old or made to look old and most of the shop keepers dress in costumes, which really adds to the atmosphere of the town.We're having an early night tonight as we are setting off early in the morning.
20/12/10
We managed to leave Tombstone around 9am and headed off down the highway again.We're heading for El Paso, Texas. The scenery was so different along the way to what we have seen so far.Everything is just so flat, or so you think.We were constantly climbing even though we weren't going through mountains, although New Mexico and Texas don't use height markers like Arizona do.It would have been nice to know just how high we climbed today.We stopped at the New Mexico Tourist Info Centre and got some info there and had a cuppa before heading off again.We are now on a mission to see as much as we can before having to head back again.We (or rather Noel) just kept driving.We passed over into Texas and stopped at the Visitors Info Centre to get some info there about the things to look at in El Paso that we had heard about.One thing we really wanted to do was the Aerial Tramway which takes you up the mountains to look out over the 3 states of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.They say the scenery is spectacular BUT we can't confirm that as the info centre told us that we wouldn't be able to take our motor home up there as the road is too narrow and windy and if we did make it up there we would bottom out trying to get into the car park which isn't designed for larger vehicles.Apparently you can park further down the mountain and then walk up to the base of the tramway but they warned us that it is a really steep and long walk.Because my knee still isn't right we decided that it wasn't worth the problems the walk would cause so Noel made the decision not to stop in El Paso and drive on through to Carlsbad, New Mexico.It was such a long drive but he decided that he could do it so we set off.We finally arrived in Carlsbad around 6.30pm which doesn't sound too late but it has been dark for 1 ½ hours already.Noel drove around 640 miles today which doesn't sound too bad until you convert to 1185 klms but he says he's not really tired though.
Well we hope that everyone is well and that everyone is getting excited with Christmas just around the corner.We will be thinking of you all.
Take care of each other and we look forward to hearing what everyone has been up to there also.
Lots of Love to everyone until next time
Noel & Pam
- comments
Carmel Just read your book - I remember Tombstone Territory was a TV show. Raining here again today but we don't get bogged with the new drive way. Hope you are enjoying your anniversary as seeing as everything si big over there guess you got a big present. Continue to enjoy your travels and your new motor home. Take care & love hearing about your adventures.
Graham and Wilma Just read your email and we enjoy reading about all the places you are going too. Please take care on the roads we want you to come back to Aus. safe and sound. Enjoy Christmas where ever you are. Take care Love A Wil and U Graham
Bailey I'll just have to go to Tombstone. You made it sound so interesting. Glad you are not on the west coast ( or here for that matter with all the rain). Merry Christmas to you both. Bailey
donny Sounds like your having a wonderfull time have a merry chrismas today thinking of you all and a wonderfull new year we are heading to melbourne for new years to spend with zoe. Love Donny katrina and family XXXXXXXXXXX