Monday, February 4, 2013

Phoenix to El Paso, Texas, Nov. 6, 2013


We did not see much of Arizona north of Phoenix because we drove it after dark last night.  This morning we left the Phoenix Walmart and headed south on I-10 southeast through Tuscon to Las Cruses, New Mexico.  Then we went south on I-25 to El Paso.  Do you like the reflection of our motorhome in this tanker truck at 8:30 am?

These are Saguaro Cactus, if I spelled it correctly.  They have to be 100 years old before they grow an arm.

I don't know what kind of tree/bush this is but it looks like an overgrown yucca plant.

This national park is near Tuscon, but we did not have tome to stop here.  That will have to be for another trip.

This is an Arizona road scene southeast of Tuscon.

These are your typical cactii which we all see.  I do not know what they are called, either!

Here is a guy on his bike with all sorts of gear.  I admire him for traveling this way, but am glad that I am not him!

I love these old steel bridges, as you know. So this one is in Arizona.

There were several bushes in bloom in November, which I enjoyed seeing.

Another Arizona road scene with weird rock fomations.  A geologist would have a field day out here!

Arizona has many cases of red Oxide rock but this is just one scene on this rocky mountain slope.

This white stuff on the far away hills is unknown unless it is borax, similar to what they used to get out of Death Valley.

This is still Arizona, at route 191.  We did not stop here, either.

More blooming plants on Arizona or New Mexico's roadway.

I think this is New Mexico because of the orchards which are watered from the Rio Grande which runs alongside I-25 headed south to El Paso.

This is a shot of the orchard advertised above.
 

We arrived in El Paso about 4:30 that afternoon, found a Walmart which was recommended by our grandaughter, Jessica Chevrier.  We wanted this recommendation because of safety in this town which is right across the river from Mexico.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Page to Flagstaf and then Phoenix, Arizona, November 5, 2012

 We took Rt 89 south out of Page & headed for Phoenix, Arizon.
We went through this incredible cut in the mountain ahead.  

I am always glad that Jim is  driving on these steep downhills!

This is sure a steep cut.  It is amazing what road engineers can do!
 Once through the mountain, we had quite the view of the valley and the town of Bitter Springs.
 
 

This was a strange house we saw along the way.  I wonder what the story is behind it?
 This was interesting.  The land had these sharp ditch-like cuts through it.  The dark areas are the cuts or ravines or wahtever they are called.

The area near Flagstaff was elevated and had nice pine trees.
We had to stop and get a "re-repair" done in Flagstaf at the Freightliner Dealer.  We arrived there at 11am and did not leave until 6pm.  We drove to a walmart in Phoenix for the night so we have no photos of the trip from Flagstaff to Phoenix.

More of Flagstaff and the area.
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Page Arizona Balloon Festival, Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 3 & 4, 2012

Who would have thought we would be in Page, Arizona the very weekend that they had a Balloon-Type of Festival?  We lucked out!  Here are some of the balloons as they lit them up on Saturday night. 
 

This is my humorous shot of the local bar.  (Get it-Dam on the Colorado to make Lake Powell?)
 
 
 

Sunday, as we went to church, we were able to see the balloons flying again, this time with the backdrop of those beautiful cliffs & mountains.

How often do you think you could see balloons with this kind of beautiful backdrop!  It was incredible!  What a special treat for us!
 

I guess the view would be pretty good from up there! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This one is my favorite, Smokey the bear!
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