Your GPS Could Be Leading You Into Trouble

Above, on the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I am on an RV road trip, I take routes that are easily mapped.

I keep a RV road atlas in my motorhome and check routes with it before even leaving the driveway. After doing that, I use the free Google Maps app on my phone. I have never encountered any problems of any major consequence. One gitch was that a friend and I were using Google Maps to go to a restaurant but the directions were goofed up and we ended up circling around a Houston airport parking lot. We never found the restaurant.

There are some people who have encountered major glitch errors with the GPS system they're using. 

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. 

They begin with:

Most RVers trust their RV GPS navigation. They also have at least one story about it being spectacularly wrong. Maybe it routed you toward a low bridge, down a dead-end road or to the back gate of a campground instead of the office. Chances are you caught the mistake before it became an expensive lesson. Not everyone does.

A recent highway closure involving a commercial truck that apparently followed GPS directions onto an unsuitable route is another reminder that navigation apps are remarkably helpful—but they aren’t perfect. While truck drivers have wrestled with bad GPS routing for years, RVers face many of the same challenges.

To read more, go here. 

McGaffey and Fort Wingate

Above, at McGaffey Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I took a Jeep drive up through Six Mile Canyon to McGaffey Lake Recreational Area. 

The lake was very low due to the drought. It was more like a mudhole. There were some people along the lake's edge. It looked like they were fishing, or trying to.

From there I drove along New Mexico Highway 400 towards the national forest campgrounds and, eventually, Interstate 40. 

In Fort Wingate, I stopped at the Veterans Park and snapped some photos, including a historical marker sign. From there, I drove on to Historical Route 66 that parallels Interstate 40. At Iyanbito, I got onto the Interstate as Route 66 ended there and drove it to Jamestown.

All in all, it was an enjoyable drive. Some photos below.

Above, McGaffey Lake, or what's left of it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, on NM-400 going north near the campgrounds. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly at McGaffey Lake.

Above, on NM-400 near Quaking Aspen Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, at Veterans Park in Fort Wingate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a historical marker at Fort Wingate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, heading east on Historic Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Drive In Six Mile Canyon

Above, the Jeep where Six Mile Canyon Road branches off. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday afternoon, I took a drive in Six Mile Canyon. The weather was nice with a few clouds and some wind. But otherwise it was sunny.

I saw a couple of other vehicles driving in the canyon and one camper. It was a relaxing drive.

Naturally, I took a few photos.

Six Mile Canyon Evening Drive

Above, the Jeep at the corral. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening after dinner, I got tired of watching television, so I decided to take a little drive in the Jeep.

I headed over to Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. It was still warm and there was some sunlight even though it was cloudy out. 

I first stopped at the old corral at the entrance to Six Mile Canyon and took some photos. Then I headed into the canyon. There was one other vehicle in the canyon (it was a side-by-side) but it was heading out.

So far, I haven't seen any cattle in the canyon this year, but they are probably in another section of it. 

After a drive of a few miles, I turned around so that I can head back home. 

I noticed that gasoline at the Flying J went up in price. It was $3.59 the other day for unleaded regular. It it at $3.79 today. I thought prices would be coming down now that the Iran war has ended. I guess the oil companies haven't gotten the memo.

Some photos:

 

A Jaunt In Six Mile Canyon

Above, the Jeep in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After having my usual Sunday breakfast at the Silver Screen Restaurant at the El Rancho Hotel and doing some grocery shopping this morning, I relaxed on the deck with a beer (Alien Amber Ale, of course!).

When I was done with that, I decided to take a drive into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. 

I saw only one vehicle there and he was leaving the canyon. I headed in. 

After a little while, I noticed a big black cloud coming in from the Southwest. We're nearing Monsoon Season and I know they can (and do) produce heavy downpours. It was getting windy and some rain drops started falling as it approached.

I decided to make a u-turn near where the windmill is located and head out. I don't need to get drenched and possibly have the road washed out.

Other than that, I enjoyed the drive, even though I had to cut it a little short.

Some photos:

Recreational Drive

Above, today at the corral and Six Mile Canyon entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today has been a relaxing one.

I took a little recreational drive in the Jeep around our subdivision and over to the corral at the entrance into Six Mile Canyon.

It was cloudy out and the forecast has possible thundershowers today. 

I cut my drive short as it was beginning to sprinkle. We can sure use it! Monsoon season begins there later this month. It is hoped that we get a good amount of rain here.  

Jeep T-Shirt

 Hmm. Maybe I should get one of these shirts!

Above, yours truly at McGaffey Lake in 2024. 

Senior RVing: Why I Am Not Giving Up RV life At 74

Above, yours truly at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana last summer.

Now that I am 72 (hard to believe, eh?), I noticed that the ol' body is not as agile as it used to be. Mentally, I feel just as good as ever, even though some things take a bit of prodding to remember something. That's why I do this blog. I am better at it now than when I started it in 2008. It is still fun for me to do.

Aging, if we're lucky, is one of those things everyone goes through. The main thing for seniors (people over 65, in my view) is to remain active. That includes traveling, especially by RV. I still enjoy mine. Already this year I attended a clampout in Prescott, Arizona with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus vitus, and a few days after getting home, I went with a friend to Houston, Texas for the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. 

Last summer, a friend and I took a long RV vacation and roamed around Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado. Before heading out, I was unsure if I could handle the long drives. As it turned out, everything went just fine. Besides being fun, it was also educational.

RV Travel posted an article in today's newsletter on senior RVing. It starts with:

At 74, John of the Gone with John channel’s biggest fear about RV life isn’t a breakdown, bad weather, or money. It’s the day he might be told he’s done, and has to give up the road for good. That thought sits behind the whole message he shares in the video at the end of this post.

Perhaps you feel the same way. I know these thoughts have crossed my mind from time to time. For John, full-time RV living for seniors isn’t only about travel. It’s about staying part of life for as long as he can.

To read more, go here. 

Drive To McGaffey

Above, McGaffey Lake today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After this morning's coffee/breakfast with the gang and watering the front yard trees, I decided to take a drive to McGaffey Recreation Area in the Cibola National Forest.

To get to McGaffey, I took Six Mile Canyon Road through Six Mile Canyon. The weather was pleasant (although a little windy) and the road was in good shape.

Once I got to McGaffey, I noticed that McGaffey Lake was pretty low. We hadn't received much precipitation this year. Hopefully the monsoon season (that starts in June) will add much more water to it.

Outside of trucks hauling dirt or gravel, I was the only one in McGaffey. I did drive around some ranch areas to the east. But turned around as the trucks were kicking up too much dirt. 

Still, I had a great time during this drive and did take a few pictures.

 

Evening Drive

Following dinner and the evening news, I took a little evening drive around the subdivision and the area near the shooting range.

There were people at the range and I decided to not go over there. But I still enjoyed driving on the dirt roads near it.

I finished up at my other acre (Barking Spider Acre). It is where I took this photo:

 

Year's First Six Mile Canyon Drive

Above, at the windmill.

For the first time this year, I took a Jeep drive into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. 

This was my first opportunity as either the culverts along the road were too muddy or I was out-of-town. It was cloudy out with some wind. 

I saw one camper in the canyon during my drive. I made a stop at the windmill and found that a solar panel was added to it. 

Naturally, I made use of the stop for a photo opportunity. 

Visiting The Longhorns

Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As yesterday was a nice warm day, I took an late afternoon Jeep drive around the subdivisions of Whispering Cedars and Mesa Ridge Ranch.

I stopped for awhile in Mesa Ridge Ranch where the longhorn cattle are at. At first, they were about 50 yards away, but two came over to check me out and then a mother and calf came over but remained a few yards back.

Naturally, I took some pictures of them. 

Yesterday's Drive

Above, the Jeep inside national forest property off of Mustang Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was perfect. It was about 70° outside, so it was neither cold nor hot. It was a good day for some more Jeepin'. 

I took a drive up the hill from home and reached Mustang Road, an east-west side street. It tapered off as a hilly dirt road.

I drove it for a bit and reached a barbed wire fence that had a sign indicating that it was national forest property on the other side. There was an opening in the fence at that point, so I drove in. 

Above, the national forest property beyond the fence opening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Up ahead was a square area (photo above) that had some sort of border that was of sheet metal. It may have been some sort of corral at one time. It looked as if it hadn't been used for a long time. I drove around it for a while then headed back out though the opening I came in. I think this is a part of the Six Mile Canyon area of the Cibola National Forest. This was the first time I had driven in it. As the canyon was still closed to vehicles, I didn't feel it was prudent to continue driving in it. I could have gotten a citation from a patrolling ranger. 

Still it was fun driving in an area I hadn't been in before. 

Above, after getting home, I fired up the mini bike. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After getting home, I fired up the mini bike. It had been over a month since I last did so. It took a while to start, but it eventually fired up.