Home Again!

After six days of travel, fun and frivolity, I made it home today around 2:00.

It was a long drive (356 miles worth) of mountains, deserts, ranchland and small towns. I left Tucson around 5:00 Arizona time. 

It was an easier drive than the one last Wednesday, but still tiring. I took route 77 through Show Low, Arizona up to Interstate 40 in Holbrook. 

I did make a stop at the Tee Pee Trading Post for some stogies. They expanded and remodeled their cigar room since the last time I went there. They are about 80% done, 

I was going to scan the photo I had taken at Madame Mustache's in Tombstone, but the matte is 11 x 17", too big for the scanning table. So I photographed it and have it below:

Off To Durango

Above, I'll be picking up another bottle of this. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Later today, I'll be heading off to Durango, Colorado to see Godzilla vs. Kong.

As I mentioned previously, the two nearest places to screen the movie is in either Show Low, Arizona and Durango. I decided to go to Durango, even though it is a little bit further away. At least the drive is more direct and is only 3 hours long and the scenery is great. Durango is home of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We rode it last September.

Above, the Animas River from the Durango train. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While there, I'll also snag another bottle of rum and jams at Honeyville. The bottle of rum I bought last September there is almost out.

I am going to try out another RV park. Lightner Creek Campground, where we stayed last year, is open, but it only has dry camping available.

Durango To See "Godzilla vs. Kong"?

Above, Durango, Colorado is the home of the Durango & Silverton Narror Gauge Railroad. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Despite McKinley County (my home county) in New Mexico has reached "Turquoise" level, which is the best, in regard to coronavirus cases, there are no indications that the theaters in the county will be reopening soon.

So, in order for me to see Godzilla vs. Kong, I have two choices of where to go. It is playing in Show Low, Arizona (about a 163 mile drive) and Durango, Colorado (around a 174 mile drive). Even though Durango is about 10 miles further, I am more inclined to go there to see the movie as I know the town. If I do, I will probably go next week, likely midweek. Durango, of course, is the home of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I would stay the night after the screening in The Beast. 

"Godzilla vs. Kong" In Show Low, Arizona

March 31 is fast approaching. That is the opening day for Godzilla vs. Kong.

Unfortunately, it will not be playing in New Mexico. All New Mexico theaters are currently under lockdown.

The nearest place to see the movie to the Gallup, New Mexico area (where I'm at) is in Show Low, Arizona, which is about 164 miles away. Window Rock, Arizona has a theater, but it isn't going to show Godzilla vs. Kong.

So it appears that I will be heading there to see it.

On The Road Again

Above, The Beast is all ready to hit the road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After nearly six months, I am finally going to do some RV camping in The Beast this weekend.

We'll be at Ashurst Lake in Arizona near Flagstaff. I will be joining several members of the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus and their families for a weekend out of the house. This is not an official Clamper event.

The only time I overnighted in The Beast was last January when I attended the Second Amendment Rally at The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. I stayed at a RV in town. Since then, the only real workout I've given The Beast was to pick up a chaise lounge in Show Low, Arizona. That was just a day trip.

It will be nice to be out in the fresh air with the gang, especially since the Spring Clampout was cancelled due to COVID-19. It was supposed to take place in Quartzsite, Arizona.

The Beast is already to go. The refrigerator inside is fully stocked with food, water, ice tea and, most importantly, beer.

Drive To Show Low, Arizona

Above, the new (and final) chaise lounge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a chaise lounge from Wayfair that was supposed to be "partially assembled". It turned out that the whole thing needed assembling.

The directions were terrible and the bolts and parts didn't line up and attach right.

I complained to their customer service that I didn't like it and wanted to return it. They instead refunded my money and said I didn't need to return the item. I'll see who around here wants it. It is probably fixable, but I don't have the patience to do it myself after several attempts already.

Above, my view of The Beast from my dining table at Speedy's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I noticed on Home Depot's website that they had chaise lounges for roughly the same price and no assembly was necessary. The only problem was that the Gallup Home Depot didn't carry them and they told me the nearest one that did was in Show Low, Arizona, 165 miles away.

Since I had nothing else to do yesterday, I decided that I would make the 330-mile round trip to pick one up (I verified that they had plenty).

Above, dinner at Speedy's Truck Stop in Lupton, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am glad that I did. I enjoyed the ride and was able to see a part of Arizona that I had never been to before.

The route took me west on Interstate 40 to Holbrook, Arizona and then south on Highway 77.

The views were scenic and the route took me through Snowflake, a nice horsey town with rolling hills and pines. There were a lot of horse and cattle ranches there. Then, further on, I reached Show Low. It, too, was a beautiful,but larger, town with mountains and hills covered with pines. It was also quite a busy town with lots of traffic. Thankfully, I was able to find the Home Depot through Google Maps.

I got the lounge and headed back to New Mexico. I was pleasantly surprised that the lounge was $11.00 cheaper than the posted price.

Once I got into the eastern part of Arizona, a storm pelted The Beast along with gusty winds. I decided to take a coffee and, as it turned out, a dinner break at Speedy's Truck Stop in Lupton. It was nice to be able to dine in somewhere instead of going the take-out route.

The winds and rain kind of tapered off by the time I was done and I made it home without incident.

Still, it was a good ride and gave me something to do for the day.