New Mexico

From Arizona, we entered New Mexico and stayed in Gallup.  The temperatures have been 104+ every day since we left Palm Springs.  We knew what we were in for before we started so no use in complaining.

We rearranged things so we could have a little office space to pay bills, book RV Parks, etc.

Cactus Moccasins?  OUCH!

Poor Sandy.  This is my only profile picture....

Doing the Bald Eagle Dance at the Dancing Eagle Casino.  We try to plan meals at casinos because they have great food!

When we were in Palm Springs, our friend Chris Elliott got us interested in gourmet root beers.  We've been experimenting along Route 66.  These are but a few of our faves:

Another star party.  Tonight we saw Jupiter and 4 of its moons plus the Moon and Venus.  As luck would have it, the guy in the RV space next to ours was an astronomer at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.  He loved my old school scope and we gave a great show for the kids.  Here's a quick shot with my iPhone of Jupiter and 4 of her moons:

Today we drove to Brantley Lake State Park in Carlsbad New Mexico.  Many watercraft.  Tomorrow we head to the Carlsbad Caverns!  Stay tuned....

Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Ehrenburg AZ

After visiting the Meteor Crater, we spent some time camped in Cottonwood AZ and visiting with our friend Marty in Jerome AZ.  Marty just got a new telescope for his observatory and Doug helped him set it up.
I'm trying a couple of panoramic pictures, but they really can't show the magnificence of the view and the observatory dome.

Sandy's brother and sister in law, Steve and Sylvia came up to visit and we saw Sedona and much of the varied geology of AZ.

At each of our stops, I've tried to hold impromptu "Star Parties" for our other RV Park neighbors. We looked at the Moon in Ehrenberg AZ.

Giant Meteor Crater

50,000 years ago, a 150 foot meteor made of nickel, weighing more than a million tons hit Arizona.  The result is amazing!

Panorama view really doesn't do it justice.

Sandy took a picture of me taking a selfie.

Goodbye to California and Hello to Road Trip 2018! Next stop: Happy Traveler R.V. Park Palm Springs. (Notice Sandy’s Blue nails)

First Stop on Road Trip 2018

Happy Traveler R.V. Park, Palm Springs

105 degrees. We will wear hats.

 75 degrees in the “glamper"

We think we found a desert menorah?

        Riding the Tram to the top of Mt. San Jacinto for a sunset dinner.  Sandy ordered the vegetable lasagna and the server said, "Are you sure?"  Just what you want to hear.  Pretty much institutional fare...  The ride up has a prerecorded lecture about the history of the tram.  The ride down was disco music and dancing while the gondola rotated as the sun went down.  Way fun!  I got props from the driver for my backup vocals on "My Girl"  So fun to be with the prettiest lady on the mountain.

Our friends Debra and Chris Elliott came to visit and got the RV space next to us.  Chris played trumpet at the Palm Canyon Road House and absolutely killed. We are so proud.

Chris and I found out why it was so hot.  Hello?  Sun CENTER!

Standing in the Colorado River at the Arizona Oasis RV Park in Ehrenberg, AZ.

Impromptu jam session.  If Chris can do it, so can I....

Wiggling our toes in the Colorado River.   Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....Next stop:  Cottonwood and Jerome Arizona.  New Moon so astronomy awaits!