Orygun, Sweet Orygun!

WIDE OPEN SPACES! Open range land near the Nevada Oregon border.

Santa Rosa Mountain range - Northern Nevada

Stream along Highway 395 between Lone Pine and Gardnerville

. Eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains - Highway 395 North between Lone Pine and Gardnerville.

Despite the high wind warnings advising against travel by high profile trucks, RVs and campers, we put our heads down and pushed ahead from Lone Pine to Gardnerville . . . North up highway 395 on the East side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Larry had a death grip on the steering wheel for the entire four hours it took us to get to Gardnerville, where we were welcomed by Aunt Holly and Uncle Bill. After we enjoyed some "friendly" Manhattans at cocktail hour, blended artfully by Bartender Bill, the stresses of the day melted away!

Fickle Mother Nature threatened us with more wind and some snow added to boot, so we were up early and on the road.

Susanville or Winnemucca? Siskiyou or Santiam Pass? After calls to the Nevada, California, and Oregon road report numbers, we decided on the route through Winnemucca, Burns, Bend and Oregon City. Burns is our resting place for tonight.

It's good to be back in the Beaver State, even if we WERE greeted with squalls of hail as we made our way to Burns! NICE WELCOME!

Tuesday, we will head home, with a stop in Sisters to have a quick visit with friends and fellow "vagabundos" Kathy and Lonnie. It's always fun to compare the "war" stories of the travel home!

Galloping Home

Alkaline lake just South of Lone Pine on Highway 395. The air was white with the salt whipped up from the dry lake bed, by the howling wind. We camped in a very nice RV Park just North of this lake/South of Lone Pine. The camper teetered and shook all night long!

The LONG road headed across the desert! Nothin' but wind, sagebrush and jackrabbits!

Joshua Trees - named after Joshua by the early (Mormon?) pilgrims who thought they looked like Joshua lifting his hands to God

The plan today was to head from Yuma to Joshua Tree National Park. HOWEVER, it seems that once the truck is headed North, the horse is headed to the barn! Starting at a trot - -then a canter - -and then a full-on gallop!
Despite high wind warnings, we made it up highway 395 to Lone Pine.

Over the Border and Into the Cacti

Coffee'd up, we departed San Carlos/Guaymas as the sun was just peeking over the horizon.
Though not as long a trek as yesterday, we were road weary and anxious to get across the border as smoothly as possible. Onward North to Hermosillo; then Santa Ana; turning Northwest toward Caborca and finally to Sonoyta. The new cuota (toll road) from Santa Ana was almost complete, so we had smooth sailing. Not so for the truck drivers, who lined up for FOUR miles, awaiting inspection South of Santa Ana. We drove by a sad situation - a truck which had been destroyed by fire. Help was there to assist - a benefit of traveling on a toll road.
The border crossing was the easiest we had ever experienced! After showing our passports to the US Immigration officer on gate duty and answering a few questions, we were sent on our way with a wave and a smile.
We headed through Lukeville and ten miles up the road, to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where we enjoyed a peacefully quiet evening, with a midnight-blue sky freckled with stars. Coffee mugs in hand, we walked the park at dawn, studying the cactus blooms and spying on wildlife - birds and rabbits - all more active in the cool of the day - - before departing for Yuma about 10 AM.

Once in Yuma, we connected with friends Jim and Joyce EWeathers for a yummy Italian dinner.

Today (Satrurday, April 10), we will head to Joshua Tree National Monument.

We're going to be happy to get home!

Celestino Gasca to San Carlos/Guaymas

First evening on the road was a bit of heaven! The picture above of the sunset at Celestino Gasca explains why we return to Mexico every year.

Once across the Sinaloa - Sonora state line, we were greeted by this silhouette of a dancer.

Tonight, we are settled in at San Jose, near the city of Guaymas.

After a hot shower, a cold beer and a simple dinner, all is well tonight in the Taylor Casa on wheels! On to the border and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument tomorrow.

Enjoying Mexico! Home soon!

Our last dinner of the season at The Last Drop with good friends and good food!

Blog entries have been non-existent since we returned from our travels to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, because we have been busy! We are pleased that our Costa Veleros condominium unit has been sold to some folks from Minnesota. We've REALLY missed the vagabundo life on the road and there is just WAY too much left to see here in Mexico!

Oh and there's this OTHER little detail . . . . a grandson due to arrive in June!

This blog entry is being posted from the Celestino RV Park - - on the beach about 50 miles North of Mazatlan. We departed Maz early this afternoon and will head to Guaymas tomorrow.

Thursday, we will cross the border at Lukeville.

It'll be good to get back to the Oregon nest!!!!

Liza and Tallulah Meet Attilla and Company!

Liza and Tallulah on the Road
Attilla - Leader of the Basura Bunch

THIS sweet kitty needs a NAME!

This kitty has some serious eyeliner !

"Anything in that grocery bag for US?

Liza: "WHAT a welcoming committee! They look REALLY hungry! What do you think, Tallulah? Are we on the menu?"

Tallulah: "Well dahling, I come equipped with a casita on my back, so I have no concerns about being on El Plato del Dia! And actually Sweetums, I think you're not terribly at risk either.....not enough meat on your bones! Besides, Larry and Bonnie have been sharing some after dinner morsels with these ruffians since we've returned from the road trip."

Liza: "WHEW! What a relief! Oh! I have an idea! Maybe the reading audience would like to help name the "Basura Bunch". The first in the "leo lineup" already has been christened "Attilla". That dude has some SERIOUS attitude!".

Tallulah: "What about it, folks? Any good handles for the kitty krowd?"

Returning to Mazatlan

The road trip today from San Miguel de Allende to Villa Corona was taxing on both driver and navigator, to say the least! Friends and fellow Mexico travelers, Kathy and Lonnie, will attest to our shared ghastly experiences from past years, navigating through the city of La Piedad. There seems to be eternal road construction in the city, and a maze of twists and turns and multiple route options - -NONE good!
Driver and navigator developed badly frayed nerves, which resulted in some spirited verbal exchanges as we negotiated through the dusty, torn up streets, forced to make split second decisions at numerous junctions, with traffic weaving impatiently in and out around us.
We are settled in at the Chimulco RV Park in Villa Corona, and amends have been made over a couple of cold cerbezas. We're looking forward to a nice morning spa soak in the freshly filled pool, before we start our last leg of this year's journey back to Mazatlan.