HOMEWARD BOUND

On our journey home we visited the Deming, NM SKP Park and saw this Smart car being hauled up in front of the 5th wheel. I had to have a pic of it! (3/08 and left on 3/15/09).

We also stayed at the Trapark in Pecos, TX, which is the home of the world’s first rodeo back in 1883 on July the 4th. In 1881, the Texas & Pacific RR arrived in Pecos. It was on the Ft. Worth to El Paso route. The Texas & Pacific RR dining cars served the sweet Pecos cantaloupe bringing its nationwide fame. And while Ken was filling the truck up with diesel at the local truck stop, I spotted a couple Rascal Flatts semi trailers and had to have a pic of their truck. I'm sure it was one of their setup trailers but I thought it was cool. I love their music. (Left on 3/17/09)

While in Hondo, TX, we drove up to Fredericksburg (considered TX Hill Country) to attend Trader Days: Six barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, etc. Also in Fredericksburg we toured Wildseed Farms. It is one of the nation’s largest working wildflower farms. All kinds of flowers growing-they were beautiful. Then the store had the seeds available for sale. I had to buy a few packets.

Then we went through the National Museum of the Pacific War that’s located right on Main Street with parking across the street. I got to see some of the things that my Father might have seen at Iwo Jima. It’s a place to see for anyone that might be traveling through this area.
Very Important: We had the best chicken fried steak at Bill & Rosas in D’Hanis-Just west of Hondo. Ask anyone at the park and they will tell you. It’s great and the waitresses are friendly. We will eat there every time we go through Hondo. (Left on 3/23/09)

3/25/09-Spent the day with my brother, Al, and sister-in-law, Judy, in Broken Arrow, OK. We spent most of the day visiting and then Judy and I had to get a little shopping trip in. My niece, Angela, and her husband, Larry, came over with their babies-Nicholas, Kaitlyn and Lauren for a hamburger cookout. We all had a great time. Kaitlyn and Lauren are winking at me. :)

Then it was finally home for us to Bella Vista, AR on Thursday, March 26, 2009. We got back just in time for the last snow storm of the season on the 28th. Boy where is that AZ sunshine??

COUSIN DON

This is my cousin, Don Crow, and his dog, Ladybug. Don and Ladybug live in Tucson, AZ.





We always have to give Don a call to get directions from I-10. We can get close to the right exit but then we can never remember how to get down to his neighborhood. So, when he knows we are coming, I’m sure he has his phone ready to answer because he knows we are going to call him saying, “Don, we are lost. How do we get to you from where we are?” He just laughs and I give the phone to Ken.

As we visited with Don sharing stories about our winter travels, we got to show him some of our travel photos on his computer. He had been to most of the locations that we had been to but we got to hear his interesting stories, as well. He saw that I had gone on a hike in Borrego Springs, CA, to see where the Indians had ground grain on top of big boulders. So, he gave me a stone that he had gotten on one of his trips that was actually used by the Indians to grind the grain. Thank you so much, Don, I will always treasure it.

Don also told us that he was writing his own personal memoirs. Way to go, Don! We asked for a copy when he was ready to share and encouraged him to keep it going. We had told Don that we wanted to take him out to eat. So, he picked a nice steak restaurant not far from his home. The food was really good and we all really enjoyed it. But, Don wouldn’t let us pay for the meal. He did make us a promise that next time he would let us pay. We love you Don.

Thanks again, Don! We enjoyed it very much and we will see you next time we are through Tucson.