Homeward November 16 through November 19

We’re headed home for a family get-together on the 21st and want to be home on the 19th.

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Evening on the Mississippi River

The weather forecast the morning of the 16th showed a massive storm front moving across the west.  Predicted daytime temperatures were all well above freezing.  Great, we could take I-40, the old route 66.  This is my preferred route across the U.S.  I love the views through New Mexico and Arizona.  Feeling confident knowing that we could hunker down for the storm front which was at least a day away, we decided to take an hour out of our morning and tour Stanton Hall then blast up highway 85 to I-40.

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We Snuck in a Bedroom Photo

Again, no photography was allowed in the mansion.  I have no idea why.  The half hour tour took about 45 minutes and we were on our way.

From River View RV Park in Vidalia, Louisiana we drove a very windy 500+ miles to Abilene, Texas.  The first few hundred miles were clear and relatively calm.  Then we were buffeted side to side mercilessly the last 200 miles.  With a predominantly head wind our mileage suffered as we maintained a speed of 65 to 70.

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Approaching Abilene Texas

We reached Buck Creek RV Park near Abilene Texas very late, around 9:30 pm.  Ellen had been watching tornado warnings on her iPhone and was very nervous. The last few hours of driving, the tornado warnings had moved to Abilene and points north east.  Shortly after setting up, the rains started and winds picked up.  Gusts of up to 60 mph were predicted for Abilene and it felt like it!  The rain was driven sideways.  Then the lightening and thunder started up with dramatic flashes that filled the sky from horizon to horizon.  Not bad enough, the hail started.  It was a crescendo inside the Beast, like an army banging on the shell with ball peen hammers.   We had lots of excitement as we settled in for the night, but we had no leaks whatsoever.

A cold front moved in behind the storm.  We awoke to clear skies and dropping temperatures.

   

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The Minimal Office Buck Creek Campground

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Mornig in Abilene

From Abilene we targeted Albuquerque, another 500+ mile day.   We took the short side-trip to see Billy the Kid’s grave at Sumner Fort New Mexico.  Only the foundation of one building remains of the fort.   Billy died at the old age of 23.  He was one disgruntled teenager who packed a pair of guns.  Not that unusual by today’s standards??

We arrived at High Desert RV Campground late; in the evening.  The statue below greets guests as they pull into the park.

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Lots of Cotton and Wind Farms in Texas and Arizona

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Sunset at High Desert RV Campground

 

DSC09045  Morning at High Desert

 

TO BE CONTINUED, WE HAVE TO BE A MOVIN’ ON.

 

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