NMTD Manuelito Visitor Information Center

Above, Manuelito Visitor Information Center off Interstate 40. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Drivers entering New Mexico from Arizona on Interstate 40 are welcome to take a break at the Manuelito Visitor Information Center which is about 4 miles east of the Arizona border and Lupton, Arizona on the eastbound side. Gallup is about 13 miles east on Interstate 40.

Above, parking is available for passenger cars, RVs and big rig trucks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here, maps and travel guides are available to visitors. There are restrooms and vending machines. There are also kiosks for picnicking.

According to the official website:

New Mexico’s four highway Visitor Information Centers serve more than half a million travelers annually. Maintained by the NM Department of Transportation or the General Services Department and operated by the New Mexico Tourism Department, they provide New Mexico True travel and tourism information. Visitor Information Center staff are knowledgeable members of the hospitality industry who assist travelers and work with the state's tourism industry to promote destinations, events and activities in New Mexico. Specific Visitor Information Center location and contact information and telephone numbers appears above. Contact the Visitor Information Centers directly to discuss special promotions, general travel information about New Mexico and the surrounding areas and/or events taking place across the state.

Above, kiosks with picnic tables are available to travelers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Texas Stops

We made a couple of stops in Texas while on the road. 

The first was at a rest area and the second was at the Big Texan in Amarillo. The Big Texan is famous for their 72 ounce steaks that challenge people to consume to get it for free. We browsed around a bit.

Photos below:
 

Overnighting In Rest Areas In An RV: Legal?

Above, Avenal-Coalinga rest area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I bought my motorhome in 2015, I stayed overnight in a roadside rest area once. That was in Missouri.

Luckily, overnighting in an RV was legal in the state as it was posted as such.

RV Travel posted an article on the legality of overnighting in rest areas in an RV.

It begins with:

Karen M.S. recently posed this question to RVers on a Facebook group: “Is it legal to stay the night in my RV at rest areas?” There are several opinions on this topic, but what’s really allowed? Let’s take a look.

Rest stop

A rest stop or rest area is a dedicated facility along highways designed to offer weary travelers a place to exit the highway and rest before continuing on their journey. Some state highways have rest stops, as do some county roads, along with all Interstate highways. 

To read further, go here. 

Salt River Canyon

In taking Arizona State Route 77 home today, I was treated to spectacular views when I stopped at a rest area in the Salt River Canyon.

I had no idea that this existed. The rest area was perched on a cliff overlooking the Salt River. Rafting trips are offered here as I passed a sign advertising such. The road winds down through mountain wilderness areas before reaching the bottom of the canyon and then crosses the river and winds up on the other side.

I took some photos from the rest area:

 

Can RVs Park Overnight At Rest Areas?

Above, the Coalinga-Avenal rest area off Interstate 5 in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One advantage of RVing is that when one gets tired while on the road, they can find a campground or RV park to stop for the night.

But what if there are no campgrounds or RV parks in the vicinity? An obvious solution is to stop at a roadside rest area (should one happens to be in the area). 

I have stayed at a rest area once to overnight. That was six years ago in Missouri. Fortunately, overnighting in the Missouri rest area was allowed.

RV Life has an article on overnighting in rest areas.

They begin it with:

Driving an RV or hauling a trailer when you are tired is dangerous. It just doesn’t make sense to keep going when your brain and body need to sleep.

Highway engineers knew this when they put many rest areas on most of the major routes throughout the US and Canada. These rest stops are usually set up with a parking area, restrooms, and a few picnic tables. Really awesome rest stops have some nice trails or walkways to stretch legs and refresh. There are even a few rest areas with Wi-Fi access and/or a small store where you can buy souvenirs and refreshments. These days, it’s not unusual to find rest stops with electric vehicle charging stations. 

Rest areas are plentiful along most highways because driving is hard work, and sooner or later we can all benefit from a visit to the restroom, a stretch of our legs, and maybe even a nap. If the sun is setting, it can be tempting to just park for the night. 

 To read more, go here.

RV Overnight Stays At Truck Stops

Above, an RV parked at the designated area at the
Jamestown,New Mexico Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is one thing I haven't done, although I almost did six years ago in Missouri, and that was staying overnight at a truck stop.

The reason why I didn't was due to the noise from the semi truck engines and their refrigeration motor noise. It was a bit much for my taste, so I stayed one night at a rest area instead. It was much quieter.

RV Travel has an article on whether or not it is okay to stay overnight at a truck stop.

They begin with:

Yes, you can stay overnight in an RV at a truck stop. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, some truck stops may have restrictions on how long you can stay. Second, you will need to make sure that your RV is properly parked and level. Finally, be aware that there may be noise from trucks coming and going or idling their engines throughout the night. If you can handle these potential issues, then staying in an RV at a truck stop can be a great option.

Some truck stops have special areas set aside just for RVs, so be sure to check with the staff before you park. If there is no special RV parking area, try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area near the entrance of the truck stop. This will help you feel safer and also make it easier for you to keep an eye on your surroundings.

I see several RVs parked overnight at the Jamestown, New Mexico Flying J at the designated RV parking area all the time.

To read the article, go here. 

Trip To Albuquerque

Above, yours truly at one of the hot tub dealers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent in Albuquerque for a dentist appointment.

I got into town two hours early, so I went to a couple of hot tub dealers to see what they have. I have been considering getting one since I moved to New Mexico. If I were to get one, it would be set up at the brick deck. There was one I liked at Hot Tub Albuquerque.

Along the way, I stopped at the Sky City Rest Area for a brief "pit stop". While I was leaving, I looked over the picnic shelters they have available for weary travelers. They definitely have a New Mexico pueblo motif style. It is located across Interstate 40 from the Sky City Hotel and Casino.

Above, one of the picnic shelters at the Sky City Rest Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I was done at the dentist, I headed on home. I had in mind to stop for dinner at the Kiva Café in Grants. I got there around 3:30, but they were closed for the day. Apparently, they just serve breakfast and lunch. So I pressed on ahead.

Above, this is the hot tub I'm leaning towards getting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I stopped off at Bowlin's Bluewater Outpost. They have a Dairy Queen inside and I ended up having a grilled chicken salad bowl. It wasn't bad, but I was looking forward to Mexican food at the Kiva Café.

You can't win them all!

6 Best Rest Areas In The U.S.

Above, Meteor Crater in Arizona, definitely not a "short walk" from one of the mentioned rest areas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most everyone has stopped at a roadside rest area at one time or another. Some rest areas are better than others.

Do It Yourself RV has an article of the "6 Best Rest Areas In The U.S. One of them is a rest area in Arizona on Interstate 40 that I've been to. But they wrote something about it that is so ludicrous and I just had to respond.

I wrote the following comment:

The rest area on I-40 in Arizona is not exactly a "short walk" to Meteor Crater as your article states. It is several miles east of the turnoff to Meteor Crater and Meteor Crater is several miles south of I-40. Granted, it is a nice rest area, but I wouldn't advise walking to Meteor Crater from it, especially during the hot summer months.

Other than that, it is an interesting article.

They began it with:

Rest areas are the Star Trek equivalent of coming out of warp speed. They give you a chance to slow down and pull over to experience a small part of your current location. 

Rest areas and rest stops run the gamut from travel plazas for truck drivers to stores and restaurants that cater directly to RVers. These stops usually have amenities such as dump stations, water, and travel information. In addition, they can have souvenir shops and other tourist attractions. 

The rest stops that are more commonly seen on the side of an interstate or major highway are government stops regulated by the state’s Department of Transportation. 

These stops are usually located in rural areas far from city services and are normally a basic parking lot where drivers can pull over to rest, use cell phones, and go to a bathroom. 

Some of these rest areas are better than others and allow for a several hour snooze or even overnight stops. These stops also have excellent bathrooms, picnic tables, maps of the area, and snack or water dispensers. 

With nearly 2,900 rest stops in the U.S., there are bound to be a few that are worth putting on the brakes for. These 6 rest stops have a little extra something for RVers.

To read more, go here. 

Roadside Rest Area Hotels Coming To Japan

Above, a roadside rest area between Tokyo and Koriyama. Screen capture by Armand Vaquer.

Ever been to a roadside rest area in Japan? If not, they are something to see and try out.

Back in 2004, while en route by bus from Tokyo to Koriyama, G-TOUR made a stop at one such roadside rest area. It was nothing like the rest areas one finds along U.S. interstates. They have restaurants and other shops in them.

With that in mind, a plan for hotels next to roadside rest area around Japan that involves a major U.S. hotel company.

The Asahi Shimbun reported:

A Japanese housing developer and a leading U.S.-based hotel chain operator are teaming up to open hotels in autumn 2020 on land plots next to roadside rest areas across Japan. 

Sekisui House Ltd. and Marriott International Inc. said they are banking on demand from inbound travelers who will be visiting provincial areas. 

Initially, the companies plan to operate 15 hotels in five prefectures, and increase total numbers of guest rooms by about 1,000 annually by opening additional hotels in subsequent years. 

The hotels will be operated under the “Fairfield by Marriott” brand, the first to carry that name in Japan. The rates are expected to be set at approximately 10,000 yen to 15,000 yen ($88 to $133) per room per night.

The article reports that there will be no restaurants at these hotels. Since the roadside rest areas have them, why bother?

To read more, go here.

Lost Photos Found

Above, The Beast at Los Banos KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For months my SD card was rattling around inside of my phone. Somehow, without me knowing it, it popped out of its slot.

The only thing I noticed was that I lost a lot of storage capacity.

Two days ago, I went with Jes when she went to get a new phone. While there, I opened the back of my phone to see whereabouts my SD card goes. As soon as I opened the phone there it was just sitting there.

I took a look to see where it was supposed to go and found it. After sliding it into its slot, almost immediately many photo files popped back up. I thought those photo files were gone due from accidentally deleting them.

Here's some of the "long-lost" photos:

Above, The Beast at Reseda Automotive. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Amoeba Music in Hollywood. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Museum of Death in Hollywood. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, inside Amoeba Music in Hollywood. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly speaking on Godzilla locations in San Francisco. 

Above, The Beast at the Avenal-Coalinga Rest Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Superman at Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Tokyo Skytree at dawn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Dodger Stadium. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rest Area Overnighting

Above, The Beast at the Coalinga-Avenal rest area in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in November, when I had my tire mishap in St. Louis, I had to buy two new tires which cost around $460. That put me in a temporary financial bind.

I had enough to last about three days or so in a campground, but not much left for fuel or anything else. So, I stayed at a rest area near Concordia, Missouri one night to save money (and I was too tired to go much further) and to figure out my next strategy (while waiting for the bank to transfer funds). It had posted signs of "no camping" but nothing about parking an RV to get some shut-eye.

Generally, as I have read, when a rest area says "no camping", that means not setting up a tent in the rest area's grassy areas. I took a chance and slept there. I wasn't molested and there was a Class B RV parked overnight as well. This was the first time I boondocked. I probably saved about $30 to $60 by staying there.

RV Life has an article on staying at rest area and lists six states that allow overnight parking. I was surprised to learn that California is one of them.

According to the article, here's what California allows:

“Stay up to 8 hours in any 24 hour period.”

RV Life begins their article with:

Whether you’re a new or experienced RVer, one thing is clear: sometimes it’s tough to know which states allow overnight parking at rest areas. We all know that some RV driving days can turn into grueling jaunts. So when you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B as fast and safely as possible, a quick overnight stop at a rest area is a hassle-free way to get some shut eye. Skipping the time it takes to locate and hook up at a campground saves time and helps you get on the road bright and early the next day. The only problem? Knowing where you can legally park your RV overnight.

To read more, go here.

Up The San Joaquin Valley

Above, The Beast at the Los Banos KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a very warm day in the San Joaquin Valley of California, where I am currently heading up to Marin County for the book signing event by former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill.

I am taking it easy heading up. I left around 5:30 this morning, only because I didn't want to mess with the morning rush hour.

Above, the Coalinga-Avenal Rest Area facilities. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I am not in any kind of hurry, I made a few stops. The first was for coffee and breakfast in Gorman. Next, it was for fuel somewhere near Buttonwillow on I-5. The next stop was at a rest area in the Coalinga-Avenal area.

I made it to my day's destination, the KOA Kampground in the Los Banos area. It was a good thing I got there when I did (around 11:30), I was starting to feel drowsy.

Above, The Beast at the RV and truck parking at the
 Coalinga-Avenal Rest Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I will be heading the rest of the way to Marin County tomorrow morning and will be staying at a RV park in the area. The event with Clint Hill will be Saturday afternoon. I am looking forward to it. So all I'll have to drive tomorrow is 125 miles.

Oh, yes, I did manage to see one Donald Trump sign along the way. It read: "Another Farmer For Trump".

The Beast is performing splendidly!