.jpg "Gaelyn, Carson & 5th-wheel Vicksburg Arizona")
New to me 5th-wheel with Carson
Towards the end of my third season as a Park Ranger at Oregon Caves National Monument I traded my motorhome for a 5th wheel, had already bought a truck, to continue my gypsy life. I planned to caravan south with Darlene, and Cyndi and Audie who were moving from Washington to New Mexico. Met Darlene in Hood River, Oregon then we continued to La Grande where Cyndi and Audie were waiting for a mechanic to fix their bus. After a couple days we all hit the road but only made it as far as Mt. Home, Idaho where the rear end fell out of Darlene’s truck. Cyndi and Audie continued down the road while we waited a few days for repairs.
.jpg "Audie & Cindy with bus")
Cyndi & Audie
I guess it was inevitable with four rigs traveling together that something would go wrong. Yet we finally made it to Arizona and set up to sell at the Vicksburg flea market for a couple months.
.jpg "Darlene at Sweet Darlene's Quartzsite Arizona")
Sweet Darlene
In January we went to San Felipe, Mexico with my truck towing Darlene’s 5th-wheel and parked on a friend’s property about five miles from town and beach. This used to be a sleepy fishing town but is rapidly changing to accommodate the over 50% American population.
.jpg "San Felipe harbor Mexico")
San Felipe harbor
Our host, Chuck, took me hiking into the Sonoran Baja desert where we saw petroglyphs and even followed a creek that flows from Mt. Diablo. The end of the trail required wading in cold water, then swinging on a rope around a monster boulder to see a waterfall. I didn’t go there. Yet enjoyed watching a group of local young men return dripping wet and laughing as they retrieved cold beers from the creek.
.jpg "Gaelyn admires Cardon cactus Baja Mexico")
Gaelyn admires a Cardon cactus
.jpg "Creek Baja Mexico")
Chuck along the creek
.jpg "Baja Mexico")
Me, Chuck & Eric with the locals
We also took a very rough dusty coastal ride south to Puerto Cito.
.jpg "Baja Mexico")
Gaelyn traveling the road to Puerto Cito
.jpg "Sea of Cortez")
The Sea of Cortez from Puerto Cito
Because of the bad road conditions and limited hours of electricity less tourists have settled in Puerto Cito. We soaked in some hot springs amongst the colorful volcanic boulders at the edge of the sea until the tide chased us out.
.jpg "Puerto Cito Mexico")
Puerto Cito Post Office & Library with private home behind
After a month in Mexico, we returned to Vicksburg and I began a solo journey to southern Texas to visit my parents. Along the way I sold at a gem show in Deming, New Mexico and met some great rock lovers.
.jpg "Rockhound State Park Demming New Mexico")
Rock Hound State Park Deming, New Mexico
I stayed in San Benito, Texas for a month in an RV park living across the street from my Aunt Kay and only 1.5 miles from my parents. Great to be able to visit yet go back to my own home. Plus I got to really know my Auntie who is a creative artist and well traveled woman.
.jpg "Family on Padre Island Texas")
Dad, Mom & Kay on Padre Island, Texas
While there I got a job offer for the summer so I began my journey north to Mesa Verde National Park.
.jpg "Gaelyn & Darlene San Felipe Mexico")
Happy Birthday Darl!
.jpg "Ocotillo in the Mojave Desert CA")
.jpg "Siskyou Mts OR")
.jpg "Headquarters under construction Oregon Caves NM OR")
.jpg "Cave Creek campground sign Siskyou NF OR")
.jpg "Gaelyn's campsite at Cave Creek campground Siskyou NF OR")
.jpg "Carson in Cave Creek Siskyou NF OR")
