We got moving and headed over to family to have breakfast. - THANKS!
I stopped at Desert Oasis Rest Area for quick stop.
The necessary gas at Flying J.
Made it home and put everything down the drive way.
Mom M seems to have no ill effect from the heat stroke and everybody else is good.
This was a good vacation having the whole family together!
Today was not a long travel day. We left camp after 10.
At our destination, we stopped for gas and then made our way to the RV park - Zuni Village RV Park.
We visiting with family. We did go out for dinner at the Black Bear Diner and then back visiting with family.
We got moving later then normal - 10
We finally get to do the Walnut Canyon National Monument Rim Trail. Mom M stayed at the visitor center while the rest of us (J,C,A,E) did the hike. The most brutal part is the steps back up. So many steps!
We headed to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, but the parking lot was FULL and it was more hilly then we expected so we did not stop.
We stopped for lunch at Hideaway House.
We visited both Tuzigot National Monument and the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
Dinner at The Crown Railroad Cafe
Back at the RV to relax.
We left at 9 and headed west...
Next stop Flying J for Gas.
We stopped at KOA but they had no opening for the next two nights, so we got online to find a place and we finally found a place - Black Barts RV Park
Unloaded the 4Runner.
I lost the pins to my flag poll so we stopped at a Tractor Supply Co. to get some new pins and few other things. Next stop was at Home Depot to get stuff that Tractor Supply did not have.
I went ahead and topped off the 4Runner of the necessary go go juice.
We did several stop in the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.
Back at the RV to check on the animals. We had made some reservations. I did not know that it was a dinner and show at the Black Bart's Steakhouse.
We left camp at 9 and headed west.
In town we stopped to fill the RV up and start the slow climb over Wolf Creek Pass
We stopped at Aztec Ruins National Monument and A got another JR Ranger badge.
Stopped at Sam's Club to get gas.
We stopped at USA RV Park and because E is with us and he is active military we stay for the night free.
Went to dinner at Anthony's A Taste Of The Southwest afterwards we stopped at Sonic for some ice cream / shakes.
We left the campground at 9 and headed into town to get some stuff for the adventure.
We stopped at Smoothy's Juice Bar and had breakfast.
We stopped at the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center again.
Before heading up the Medano Pass Primitive Road, we stopped at the base of the big sand dunes. The sandy part was deep and the 4runner had no issues. We crossed the creek and it was not very deep. There was a section that had deep nogales. We stopped along the route to eat lunch, bugs were out also. There was one steep muddy climb and again the 4Runner did great. Once at the top the down hill side was just a easy dirt road.
Back to the RV to check in on the animals
Went to dinner at St Ives A Pub & Eatery
We got moving at 9.
Stopped for the necessary go go juice.
I was differently going slow up and over the pass from Walsenburg/La Veta
We had made some calls and found a campground that had an open spot for two nights.
Unloaded the 4Runner and went to the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center. The line to get into the visitor center building was stupid long. They were doing a Covid protocol, only allow a very small number of people in the building.
We headed to Zapata Falls. Mom M and I stayed at the car while C,A and E hiked up to the falls.
Returned back to the RV to check on the dog, before heading out for dinner.
IHOP was the safest and not busy for the 4th of July dinner.
Went shopping at Walmart and stop for gas for a full tank for our planned drive tomorrow.
No fireworks at the park but in the FAR distance we could see fireworks and mother nature also provided some lighting.
We left early today, because I have been having a tire that was loosing air very slowly. We left at 8 and headed to Discount Tire. It was determined to be a valve stem that needed to be replaced.
Of course gas is needed...
We stopped at Beaumont Rest area to eat lunch.
Then more gas....
Now stop for the night at RJ's RV Park. A VERY old KOA park (based on the building...) but this park is very run down!
Left shortly after 9.
along the way gas is needed, so we stopped at a Sam's Club.
Next stop was at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
Then the next stop is at George Washington Carver National Mounument
We stopped at a campground but they did not have a space for use for one night, so went went to Big Red Barn RV Park.
Unloaded the car, headed out for dinner - Lucky J Steak House & Arena.
We stopped at Walmart for some shopping and now back at the RV to relax.
We got moving shortly after 9.
Next stop for gas....
We stopped at several locations for Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
Next top for another gas stop
We are camping at Big Springs River Camp in Van Buren MO
Got moving late, our first stop is at Starbucks
We back to the Natchez Trace Pkwy and explored more the pullouts. Two of the main stops was Fall Hollow and Jackson Falls.
At the end of the Trace, we stopped for needed gas.
On the way back we stopped to check to see I could pickup new cups for the bike rack - nope has to be ordered.
Dinner at Caney Fork River Valley Grille
Back to the RV to relax.
We got a very late start for the day. We did brunch at Bob Evans.
We headed to Murfresboro to explore some battlefields.
We explored the Stone River National Battlefield, which also has Trail of Tears.
Back to the RV.
Dinner has to be early today - so dinner at the Opry Backstage Grill at The Inn at Opryland
We headed over to the Grand Ole Opry for some fun entertainment.
We left shortly after 9. our first stop was for gas just down the street at a Sam's Club.
We stopped at several pullouts along the way. We did Cave Springs, Buzzard Roost Springs, Colbert Ferry Park, Rock Springs Trail, Grinders Stand reconstruction.
from that point forward we did not stop at any of the pullout because we will come back to do the last part of them.
We first stopped at KOA but they did not have anything open for the time we wanted, so we stopped next door and they had plenty of room.
We are staying at Nashville RV Resort and Cabins.
On the way to dinner, we stopped at a place where C can eat some good snacks. - Sunflower Bakehouse.
Dinner at The Grilled Cheeserie.
Back to the RV to relax.
We left about 9:30 - Had to pull out of the spot and then load the 4Runner so that takes some time.
Our first stop was at Flying J's for the RV.
We drove 2 hours to get to the location were we left the trace the day before. Once on the trace, pulled into any pullout that I could fit. We even drove out to Davis Lake - they had were full!.
We stopped for the night at Campground At Barnes Crossing.
We unloaded the 4Runner and headed out onto the Trace for more driving. We stopped a the Visitor Center, Old Trace and Confederate Gravesites,
It was starting to get late and I needed gas for the car, so headed back.
We went grocery shopping and headed back to the RV.
Went out to dinner at Mugshots - it was as good as last time we where here.
Back at the RV to relax.
Well, again my back is not 100%, so we will go in the afternoon, so we planned to do more of the Trace.
Before getting to the Trace were we left of yesterday we stopped at Starbuck for our morning drinks.
The first stop on the trace today was at the Cowles Mead Cemetery, Next was the Clinton Welcome Center. We did several stops along the trace - Osburn Stand, a Old Trace location, Overlook at the Trace, Cypress Swamp, River Bend Picnic Area and then Kosciusko Information Center. We went into town to grab some lunch (McDonald's) before doing more of the trace north. We did some time Little Mountain to enjoy the views.
It took about 2 hours to get back to the RV.
I was checking things, I noticed that the bike rack cups is broken so did some moving of the cups to we don't loose the bikes.
We went to the convention center to check on the square dancing. We went ahead and picked up our packets and registered for the next few convention. Was able to talk to several people. The turnout was very low for this convention.
We headed out for dinner at Babalu - it was good.
Back at the RV to relax.
Because we got delayed, we went ahead and did the Natchez Trace Pkwy instead of going to square dance today. And I am still not 100% with my back so we want to do the sight seeing instead.
First stop was to get our morning fix - Starbucks.
We headed south to the start of the Trace, We stopped all the different pullout on the right-side (west side) of the road. We stopped Owens Creek Waterfalls, A sunken trace location, Mount Locust Information Center, and Elizabeth Female Academy.
We got to Natchez about 1:30 and we were hungry for lunch. We stopped at a small place - The Little Easy - truly southern food.
We stopped at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center and Melrose Estate. On the way north, just north of Mount Locust Information Center, I did some off-roading on what looks like the very old layout of the trace.
We needed gas for the car, so a stop was necessary.
Still heading north we stopped to find the Rocky Springs Cemetery.
Back at the RV, it is now dinner time, so out we go again.
Our first choice, the parking lot was FULL and it looked packed. So we went to our second pick - Logan's Roadhouse.
After dinner the Car needed more go go juice.
Back at the RV to relax.
We left close to 9:30 today.
Next stop is for the necessary gas.
We had time, so we stopped at Vicksburg National Military Park. We drove most of the grounds with the RV and trailer. We did not do all the grounds, we ran out of time and A needed to be able to turn her paperwork in to get her JR badge.
We made it to Lindeaire RV Park and setup camp under the trees. But what a dump. I would not recommend this park to anybody. My 30 amp connection was not grounded, and I had to park so I would not get stuck in the mud. They had several modular homes that were totally run down falling apart with no windows or doors.
We headed out to dinner - Aladdin Mediterranean Grill. We stopped at Joann Fabrics to do some shopping.
Back to the RV to relax.
We got moving about 9:30 - so a little late...
Well of course we need gas. I had used one of the tanks for airing up tires, so we found a welding gas supply location to exchange a tank.
Another stop of gas.
We stopped shortly before 6pm at Fernbrook Park (rv park).
Unloaded the 4Runner and headed into town. Best Buy, Dinner at Cracker Barrel, and then Walmart to stock up on things.
Back to the RV to relax.
We got moving shortly after 9.
Well of course the need for fuel is needed.
After about 6 hours (and 300 miles) its time to stop for the night at Whip in RV Park
Unloaded the 4Runner and headed out for dinner at Red Mesa Grill.
Now that it is a little cooler, the fridge is doing ok (not great) so we stopped at Walmart to get some food and do some spending.
We got moving at 9 to see if we can get out of the very hot area.
Next stop a couple of hours later for gas and lunch.
I could not wait until the next gas stop, so I stopped at an overlook over Las Cruces.
Next stop - gas.
Now it is time to stop for the night - Mission RV Park
Once the 4Runner was unloaded, we headed out for dinner at Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. After dinner they wanted something from Kohl's so we spend some more money.
Stopped for gas for the car.
Back at the RV to relax for the night.
Got a good wake-up call from Mom M. She sound normal and wanted to get out there. They never transferred her to the hospital because they did not have any rooms available for her. So I headed on over to pick her up. The doctor wanted us not to travel today and take it easy.
First stop was at a pharmacy to get her new meds.....
Back at the RV, it is still to warm for her so we are going to do some driving in the car where we can keep Mom M cool.
Next stop was for some cool fluids. - Starbucks...
We did the Saguaro National Park East driving loop,
Lunch we stopped at Coyote Pause Cafe and had a good meal.
Next stop was at Saguaro National Park Tucson Mountain District (West) Visitor Center, I drove several of the dirt roads.
Back at the RV, now we head out for dinner - Chef Alisah's Restaurant
Back to the RV for the night. The heat of the day has not been nice to the fridge, we lost all the food in the fridge because the heat was to high.
J&C did go to the pool for a nice swim.
Mom M appears to be good showing no signs of having heatstroke!
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