Jim & Alice

Catching up here... US Hwy 60 from Vaughn, NM, to I-25 was a piece of cake. Road surface was good the entire stretch, light traffic, and good shoulders. Thanks to those that offered to share their experience. Not much there so any future travelers... be sure to gas up before driving the stretch.

Thanks for the affirmation, Rob.

We travel thru El Paso a couple times a year: Going East on I-10, get off at Anthony Hwy 404. Continue east to Hwy 213 - turn south there... continue on traveling south to Hwy 375. Turn east on Hwy 375 there, following it south & east until it loops around to join I-10. These are good roads, negligible grades,

Joel, THANKS for pointing out the 'color' changes in 1309. I just dusted off my laptop for Holiday toad travels back to Texas/Pennsylvania/Michigan... and in catching up on updates I installed 1309 - and then saw your comment on utilizing colors in the cursor... and it works wonders for 'aging eyes'. I am even trying out some of the color Filters to change the overall background of windows... Good stuff.

Thanks, podwerkz, appreciate the Mountainaire info... and the heads-up on Encino - US60. I think there is a similar turn like that close to Vaughn, where US54 heads South. We missed it once... We will be going this route next month, so this is quite helpful. Thanks again! Jim

Thanks, 2gypsies... and JRP... for the information & experience sharing. I think we will give it a try in a few weeks. We have always taken US-54 in the past (Alamogordo), but it has some rough areas, and congestion. Thanks again, Jim

Doing a little trip planning for this Fall... we are looking at traveling on US Highway 60 from Vaughn NM, to Interstate 25. This looks pretty desolate on google maps. Has anyone ever driven this stretch before and be willing to share their experience? Good? Bad? In-between? Thanks, Jim

Thanks for the update, Ellaine. Now we know for sure.

Quite a nuisance.

Followup: Drove by Spotted Bull Eatery today (Saturday, May 11,2019, 4:00 PM), traveling eastbound on I-10. The adjacent parking lot (listed in Days End Directory) had 5 tractor-trailer rigs parked... but no cars parked in front of the Restaurant... and a big sign on the front entry door (visible from Highway but not readable). By all appearances I think Spotted Bull Eatery is closed for business... but the parking lot is still being used.

Thanks, folks, for trying to help with this question. Appreciation to all! It's not a major issue, all things considered, so I think I will skip Vail this year, and just keep going on to Benson. I know we have options there for overnight boondocking, including an SKP park. If I should come across any further information to update this question, I will update this post... as well as the Days End Directory. Again, Thank You!

Thanks, Kirk. Mystified as to why no response to phone calls & emails... I'll keep checking... great overnight boondocking place with good food.

Will be traveling thru the Tucson area soon... and over the years we have boondocked at Vail Steakhouse... lately sold, and renamed "Spotted Bull Eatery" However, in trying to contact them I have had zero response to emails and phone calls. AZ, VAIL: Spotted Bull Eatery, huge pkg lot. No facilities. Free. Owners welcome O/N. I-10 x279, go N, TR on frontage rd, follow sign to restaurant. Easy turnaround. Truckers also use Does anyone know if they perhaps have closed down? Thanks, Jim

Scott hit it pretty well... We bought a 'used' membership, and got just about everything that one could get. However, we did not check the 'selling again' provisions and found out that the next owner gets just a 'basic' membership. No big deal as we will keep it until we are thru traveling... And YES, it is well worth it as Fulltimers to have one!

Hart Ranch in Rapid City, SD does so routinely. Mostly music aimed at the older crowd.

Sometimes... you do your research... then give it your best shot... and GO! In Summer 2012, we decided to retire a couple years early... so we set our job ending dates (December), bought a 36' Gas Motorhome, traded two cars for a toad, and left Michigan in January 2013. A daughter took over the house so that worry was covered. We figured if we liked Fulltiming, we would buy a bigger diesel motorhome. We hadn't even tent-camped in over 30 years. No idea of what a 'black' tank was... or a grey tank. First thing we did was to attend an Escapee's Boot Camp - great move! Then we just started moving from RV Park... to boondocking site... to RV Park... and constantly learned from others while making new friends of, & with, them. Biggest thing? - We adapted ourselves to our new surroundings while enjoying our retirement. We kept the house (albeit - only there few weeks a year)... kept the 36' motorhome while downsizing possessions... and found we had all that we need to be happy. We love the RV lifestyle, and plan on living it as long as our health allows. Retiring wasn't the end of our life... but the beginning of a new life segment and associated lifestyle. Good Luck, Mickey!

Thanks, bobsallyh! I am well aware of Arizona RV in Wellton... and was just thinking about them. You confirmed it. I think I will head down there Monday morning. Thanks, and have a good rest of the day! Jim

I Just noticed... that our living room slide out topper is beginning to tear at the seam on the Motorhome side. The rip is only a few inches - so far. Anyone know of a way to repair, or just slow down, this 'beginning tear'? Thanks, Jim

One of my most favorite authors, Derek. it's been years... but I think I read everything he ever wrote... and my kids grew up on "Have Spacesuit, will Travel". "Starship Troopers" led me into the Marines. I think the country could use some clear thinkers like Mr. Heinlein again.

Rich, we have seen a similar situation, and have nothing explanation or solution wise to offer. Most puzzling. I am going to track on this... Seems like when we are boondocking in Nebraska in the Fall, our detector goes crazy. Once I thought it was decaying banana peels in the garbage (boondocking), but am not so sure anymore. Thanks for raising the issue.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Diane & Tom! Enjoy the sunshine in Q... One of these days, Alice and I will make it there. We'll be in Yuma by mid January, but for now, we are in East Texas for a few days... then Ohio... then Michigan. Jim

That is a very good point. We went from two good full-time working salaries to retired & gone. Adjusting to living on a fixed income did take some doing. We got there, of course, but it is not to be taken for granted. HB

Well... in hindsight, I would have been better off If had stayed. But back then, in foresight, I recalled the market collapses of past history. To be sure, I rarely have trouble sleeping , and the reason I decided to park the funds is simple - I had just retired, my earning days were over, and I have very little confidence in the stock market with the Fed maintaining near zero rates. Things may change if we get back to an economy that is not fueled by low rates, but for now, I just hope we do not enter a recession or worse. Lowering rates is the first line defense of the Fed fighting such... and that defense is currently neutered. I think after the next presidential election will be a good time to review my personal 'cautious' management approach. For my kids... maybe sooner. Jim

Most of our personal retirement money (401k, 403b, IRA) has been on the sidelines (MM)... since the Bull market hit 16K over two years ago. Clearly, we missed some gains after that, but we also slept well. We do have a chunk that is placed with a long-time friend & Financial Advisor that is invested in a junk bond fund... and even that is just holding. But I am watching the market... looking for the 'bottom'... so that the funds that I manage for my kids and grandkids can take advantage of low stock prices. They have time to let the market do its long term thing. Interesting times we live in. Jim

Thanks, Tom & Diane. You folks have a good Summer up in Wyoming too! Hope to see you up there. Jim & Alice