When I retired from working full-time, I took a part-time position inspecting HUD-owned foreclosed homes. The work was both stress-free and fun. I awoke each day and opened my computer to read each day’s assignments. I would then drive to the properties in Eastern Tennessee or Western North Carolina to complete the inspections.
The above summarizes the work portion of the job. The fun began when I would travel through the small villages and towns in our region that I would never visit without this position. Eventually, I learned many of the small diners where locals gathered, browsed the unique thrift shops and antique stores filled with someone’s discarded treasures, and met friendly people who greeted me along the way.
That describes a large part of why we RV…
Helen and I have visited countless small towns and villages as we’ve crossed our beautiful country from Key West to Seattle, Northern Maine to San Diego, sampling diners, drive-ins, dives, local shops, and unusual attractions. A recent example is our drive from New Orleans, LA, to Tucson, AZ, earlier this week.
We spent nights in Beaumont, Van Horn, and Fort Stockton, Texas, on this leg of the trip. Each town had its assortment of small diners and coffee shops offering barbeque varieties, Mexican specialties, waffles, and biscuits. There were thrift shops, the local mechanic, T-shirt stands, even a Dollar General. Fort Stockton featured a large Road Runner Statue and mock-ups of cowboys on the plain. Each town had a style and charm of its own. You don’t get this fun sitting in an airplane.
Las Cruces, New Mexico, came next—more significant than the others, but small. We checked into a well-run KOA campground and issued a prime campsite overlooking the town of Las Cruces. The picture below is our view of the city and the mountains. I also captured a night shot in the same direction. We were fortunate that our view was completely unobstructed
The following day, we ventured into Mesilla, a historic village and once the territorial capital of the region. Helen and I parked near the town square and walked through the shops and the square itself. Mesilla reminded me of a miniature Santa Fe with its Hispanic touch and without people around. On one corner was the building where Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang for his crimes. It’s now a gift shop and tourist attraction (of course). Las Cruces was our last stop in a small town. The next day we left for Tucson.
On the recommendation of our friend Pete, a former Knoxvillian and resident of Tucson, we drove to Saguaro National Park on the outskirts of Tucson. After a short drive from Voyager RV Resort, we left the residential and business district and entered the Sonoran Desert. The scenery was stunning. Giant Saguaro Cacti filled the expanse of land in front of us several miles before we reached the park entrance. We stopped at the Visitor Center for recommendations on short hikes.
The friendly and very helpful Park volunteers suggested we take the Desert Discovery Trail first. The hike followed a loop through the desert marked by informational signs about the Saguaro Cactus, the wildlife found in the area, and the vegetation that thrived through long periods without water. The experience was delightful.
Next, we drove to the Signal Hill Trail, an area inhabited between 450 and 1450 A.D. We hiked from the parking area to the top of Signal Hill to see the petroglyphs, ancient rock drawings, and designs left by people of the Hohokam culture. The hike covered about a half-mile up Signal Hill. Helen debated doing the climb because she had a touch of bursitis in her hip. This condition was also complicated by Helen’s lifelong affliction of the FOMO curse (Fear Of Missing Out). There was no way she would sit in the truck and miss the adventure of the day. With assistance from her husband, she climbed the hill and did fine. The petroglyphs were as fascinating as the entire National Park.
We met Pete and his friend Barbara at the Silver Saddle Steak House for a great steak and prime rib dinner. We thanked him profusely for his suggestions for seeing the best of Tucson.
At this point, I’m going to have to sign off. We’re in Apache Junction, Arizona, at Lost Dutchman State Park. We have no electricity at our campsite, and my computer battery is about to shut down.
We’ll see you next week. We’re Easin’ Along and loving it!
Joe! You just nailed the delight and charm of small towns … the very reasons those of who live in them wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. IF ONLY all these “woke” folks could understand where the heart of our country is and “get” what genuine “tolerance” is. Love following you and Helen!
Roberta,
Small towns are the backbone of the country in my opinion. We take great delight in browsing through Thrift Shops in small towns. Quite often, they’re as good or better than a museum. Thanks for Easin’ Along with us and please stay in touch! Joe
what fun to travel with you. Our granddaughter is a freshman at U of Az…so , I am forwarding Easin Along to her. If she needs a little break..sounds like checking out your recommendations would be a fun thing to do. thanks,
Hi, Jennie,
Saguaro National Park is fascinating. I’m sure she would love it. If she is into hiking and camping, we highly recommend Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, AZ (near Phoenix). Great trails and very scenic. Thanks for stopping by! Joe
Love to read about your adventures!
Hi, Ginny,
Glad to have you along. Was wondering if y’all got caught in that winter storm. Hope you’re not digging out! Please stay in touch! Joe
Just salivating at the wealth of your experiences. The excellent photography makes it seem so real!
Nice work
Good afternoon, Harriet,
Thanks for checking in and for the nice comments. This trip has been kind of a whirlwind so far, but we’re about to pause for a month or so, and that will be nice. Helen will be in touch soon. Have a great week! Joe
Sounds like my kind of fun!! A Vespa trip around and through the Saguaros remains one of my unfulfilled fantasies; if that ever happens, I suppose it’ll have to be on an electric-powered bicycle, not a Vespa….. If your route takes you through (or near) Prescott, I think you’ll enjoy that little mountain town, Joe!
Guy,
A Vespa trip through the Saguaros sounds like something I would enjoy very much…don’t give up on it! We visited Prescott several years ago and enjoyed it greatly. Thanks for stopping by. Please stay in touch! Joe
My kind of traveling, Joe! I love it. I have often daydreamed about a bicycle ride through the Saguaro Natl Park. I guess if that ever happens it’ll be on-board an electric bike (sigh)…
Sorry about your low battery, Joe, but wowee on the beautiful desert images! Like you, Hans and I prefer to use the RV whenever we can. We are talking about delaying our so-called winter road trip and taking the trailer for some long late spring drives south and east. With our dogs, staying in motels and homes gets complicated. I agree with Helen about FOMO–I want to see it ALL! Glad you are enjoying your trip!
Hi, Terri,
We made it to Phoenix and Luke AFB so I have a good internet connection and battery is powered up. I hope you get to take that long late spring drive. How far east are you going? Tennessee is lovely in the spring. Have a great week! Joe
Hi, Joe and Helen – I absolutely love following your travels. Your photos are stunning. Petroglyphs always fascinate me.
Thank you for staying up until your battery died to share this post with us. Enjoy Apache Junction. See you next week!
Good morning, Donna,
I would love to know what the ancient artist had in his or her mind when they etched those drawings on a rock. Did they have a message, or were they just doodling? We’ll probably never know, but you’re right–they are fascinating. Battery is good now, so thanks for giving me a shout to read and reply. Best wishes to you and Richard for a great week! Joe
“You don’t get this fun sitting in an airplane”. Your comment pretty much sums up the reason so many of us choose life on the open road, Joe. Love the view you had of the mountains on the far side of Las Cruces, and those petroglyphs are amazing! You and Helen keep on having fun and I’ll keep on enjoying your adventures. Safe travels!
Hi, Mary,
I avoid airplanes like the plague and when I learned that RV travel could keep me out of them, I felt incredibly liberated. There is so much to see at road level where I can cook my own food, and sleep between sheets that I know are clean. I’m RV all the way! The area around Las Cruces is beautiful and the Saguaro National Park is a hidden gem. Glad to have you along, Mary. Hope you and Alan were not in the path of that storm! Joe
We were not; it passed well to our south, so we dodged the bullet this time around. Would appreciate some warmer temps though! Enjoy your sunshine!
Mary,
We are! Phoenix is great and San Diego is lookin’ pretty good. Have a great day!
We love RVing for exactly the same reasons! We love having our home with us, and we love having the opportunity to explore whatever catches our interest at our leisure.
So glad you enjoyed Saguaro NP. It’s one of our favorites. Your beautiful photos take me right back to those wonderful petroglyphs and the stunning saguaro. And Lost Dutchman is one of our favorite state parks. Tell Helen I also have a bad case of FOMO, lol!
Hi, Laurel,
I was very surprised by the beauty of the desert in Saguaro NP. Helen put it in her top three and it’s certainly in my top five of the Parks we’ve visited. We love Lost Dutchman, but it was very crowded so we got a campsite at Luke AFB for two nights. Lovely campground and convenient to the Phoenix area. You and Helen would get along great–ain’t missin’ nothin’! LOL! Have a wonderful week! Joe