THE THING?
Monday - 29 December 2003 - Las Cruces, New Mexico:
So there we were enjoying the California sun, when My Driver decided that he
just couldn't watch the Sun Bowl (Ducks v. Gophers - December 31st) on
television, so we are on our way towards El Paso, Texas! We spent last night
just outside of Tucson at the
Voyager RV Resort and hit the road early this morning.
Another day, another state. Considering all we did today was drive from
Tucson to Las Cruces (around 280 miles) we had a pretty full day. It started
with an icy morning in Tucson - actually down to a chilly 25 degrees last
night. DT's first order of the day (given to him by me) was to get out of
bed, turn the furnace up, the coffee on and then go outside and hook us back
up to water! Today was one of those days when you simply don't want to get
out from under the duvet!
We spent the day on I-10, pointed east. Along this stretch of America, there
is not too much to grab your attention except cactus and the occasional
tumbleweed blowing across the concrete. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and
it was icy cold all day. But we still found amusement. You would not believe
the amount of billboards! This stretch of I-10 has gigantic "rest stops",
which are nothing more than tourist traps with huge, tacky gift shops,
greasy fast food and stale cookies. We decided to take a "rest" at
THE THING? in Dragoon, Arizona.
DT at "The Thing?"
Obviously, from the above photo, you can see THE THING? is a
high-class establishment. Anyway, P. T. Barnum saw us coming, because we
plunked down our dollar (each) to see THE THING? and followed the
monster-sized foot prints to the barn somewhere behind the gift shop to see
THE THING?. I am not sure, but I think THE THING? is a mummy. Actually, I
think we may have paid $1 to see a desecrated grave. For a buck, they could
have, at least, sent a clerk from the gift shop to dust the glass enclosure
sometime within the last year - when, by the looks of things, is the last
time the glass had been cleaned. DT thinks THE THING? must be a woman,
because THE THING? seems to be holding a baby mummy in her right arm.
Honestly, we could not learn the sex of THE THING? as THE THING? had a
strategically-placed Chinese straw hat. Oh, the THINGs that can amuse nomads
wandering around in the desert.
THE THING?
In the gift shop, we ran into a Big Boy wearing a University
of Oregon "Lightning Strikes" tee-shirt, and driving on the freeway today,
we were passed by two cars decorated for the Big Game. They honked and waved
when they went screaming past us. Okay, that is at least 10 Ducks we know
are going to the game.
We are back in Las Cruces, New Mexico - at the same fabulous campground we
stayed in 14 months ago. We just love this campground - it has a fabulous
door-facing-door lay-out - and a huge dog-run where you can actually let
your pooch off his leash for a good romp. Two spots down are a couple with
our clone RV that they picked up in Arizona the same week we received Our
Intrigue. They have a different paint job, but the same interior. They chose
to tile the entire coach, but did not opt for the heated tile. Bummer, they
say. But, they have electronic awnings over every window and that is VERY
sweet! We watched My Boys In Washington lose to the Longhorns on national
television. It was a big-time whooping too. Then I prepared your usual
camping meal: smoked salmon canapés; artichoke ravioli with fresh artichoke
hearts sautéed in garlic, olive oil and basil; composed salad with
cucumbers, tomatoes and avocado slices; and a loaf of garlic bread.
Well, at least one THING was nice today!
RV Park:
Hacienda RV Resort
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