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…we certainly wouldn’t be in Spokane, Washington. But, since, we are here we may as well enjoy the mild winter.

Spokane, which apparently means ‘people of the sun’ certainly lived up to its name. We explored the city with “science daughter Chelsea” and her boyfriend Tanner. They showed us around the city, and took us to a couple of their favorite haunts. Beautiful city….we would love to come back….but maybe when it is a little warmer?!?!

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We camped at the Spokane KOA Journey, in Spokane Valley. The campground was nice, and the accommodations were great. The campground is walking distance from the Centennial Trail that runs for miles along the Spokane River.

Donna and I took advantage of the trail and ran/walked a couple miles each way. The trail is multi-use and was saw numerous people taking advantage. The Centennial Trail is 37 miles long, and has access points all along to take advantage of local conveniences. (The first time we hit the trail we came across a white rabbit…..if you’re a Monty Python fan you may understand our humor….)

We also decided to visit the quaint Northern Idaho town of Coeur d’Alene on our last day in town. We enjoyed a beautiful walk around Lake Coeur d’Alene and the downtown area. A knowledgeable gentleman in the visitor center filled us in on a little area history and best places to visit in town. We even found a coffee shop that served the most delicious huckleberry hand pie. YUM!!

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One of the local history bits we learned was that there used to be a U.S. Army fort in town that was named for General Sherman (of Civil War fame). Only two buildings remain, and they are tucked away on the campus of North Idaho College.

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February 6…….we woke up in Lompoc, CA and drank some much-needed Starbucks coffee. Our travel plan for the day was to drive around 6 hours or so and wind up near Sacramento on our way to Washington. We stopped at Pismo Beach to stretch our legs….and as we pulled up at Dinosaur Caves Park for what was supposed to be an hour or so driving break….the motorhome was making some pretty interesting noises. Long story short, Kevin wound up replacing the alternator in a parking lot. (This was way better than his initial assessment of a possible defunct water pump!). By the time he had figured out what was wrong, gotten the part, and replaced it we decided it really was not going to be very productive to drive on. So…we found a nearby RV park and made the best of it! (Lovely RV park by the way – very clean, great amenities https://www.pismosands.com ). And hey, there are worse places to be stuck than on the California coast on a beautiful sunny day!

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We stayed at the Bisbee RV Park Campground in Naco, AZ ( https://bisbeervpark.com) while exploring Southern Arizona. The RV park was very nice, and our host, Bruce, made sure we had all the essentials. The park was very affordable and offered monthly rates… We will likely take advantage of this location again.

The town of Naco is a historical border town. During the Mexican revolution, both sides fought to control Naco, because of its economic success and location on the US border. Fort Huachuca stationed US Buffalo Soldiers in Naco, AZ to protect US citizens who went to Naco to watch the Mexican fighting. Eventually the Army build a camp to house the Soldiers permanently. Parts of Camp Naco/Fort Naco still stand in the original adobe. There are apparently efforts to restore the site (it looked as if work had recently been done on a couple of the buildings), and it is the only remaining military site of 12 the U.S. built along the border between 1910 and 1920 during the Mexican Revolution. (If you are interested, find more information at http://www.azbackcountryadventures.com/naco.htm ).

What is a hash run, you say? A lot of fun with some people who like to run, drink, and socialize. Donna’s sister Diane has told us about hash runs for years…and we finally had an opportunity to tag along!!

Hash House Harriers are social groups that exist all over the world. From our understanding they meet roughly weekly for the hash (or hash run). The hashers will sometimes allow for walkers as well as runners.

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Here’s how it works. Everyone meets at a common start point. By this time someone is already designated as the hare (or hares). After everyone arrives, the hares begin running. The hares leave a trail (using chalk markings) for the rest of the group (the hounds) to follow. After the designated waiting time, the hounds take off, following the trail in hopes of catching the hares. The hares leave false trails, and decision points to confuse the hounds. And they can leave the trail marks in pretty non discrete locations, to further shake the hounds.

At the end of the course, there is a cooler of beer and sundry snacks. Our hosts, the Huachuca Hash House Harriers also provided non-alcoholic beverages. After the race, the hashers circle up and celebrate some social time. There are awards, and recognition and some good fun. We’ve left a lot out, because we don’t wish to spoil the fun for those who might find an H3 group.

Following the trail was a blast, and it kept our minds off the distance we ran. We are both interested in finding a Hash group when we get back home. And we would recommend you give it a shot, if you come across a group.

We were looking for a place to get out and get some exercise when we were headed into Sierra Vista, AZ to resupply and passed a road sign for the Coronado National Monument ( https://www.nps.gov/coro/index.htm ) along the way. We decided to check this out after discovering the Huachuca Hiking Trail was actually located on Ft. Huachuca and there were several signs indicating bear activity. We didn’t want to involve the Ft. Huachuca Military Police in our daily exercise. This turned out to be an excellent choice!!

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There are several miles of hiking trails at the Coronado National Monument with beautiful views of the Sonoran Desert. The National Park in the south part of Cochise County extends south to the Mexican border and includes the majority of a mountain range. The visitor center explains that the Coronodo Expedition came through this area in search of Quivira, the Seven Cities of Gold. Led by Francisco Vasquez De Coronado, the expedition started in Mexico and went into present day Kansas in 1540 by way of the Montezuma Pass located in this National Monument.

The visitor center provides information about the expedition, and how Spanish culture came to the region through the expedition. It also provides the opportunity to try on some replica Spanish chain mail that a foot soldier would have worn traipsing through these mountains… yes, we tried on the 57 lb garb…

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The park has a picnic area as well as several hiking trails, including one that ends at Coronado Overlook, one that ends at a Coronado Cave and another that will take you to the Mexican border. Unfortunately we did not have enough daylight to take that trail….guess we will have to save that one for next time…

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We visited on two separate days, and we experienced the overpass, the cave and the ridge trail. The overlook and the ridge trails were stunning. Unfortunately, our flashlights were not up to the challenge of cutting through the darkness of the cave, so we barely got into the opening before we had to turn around. We would love to revisit this park to explore a little more!

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Bisbee, AZ is the county seat for Cochise county and is a really fun little town with tons of quirky character. The large copper mine that operated here for 100 years used to be the main attraction in town. The Queen Mine went dry in 1975, but you can still take a tour of the facility. Although we did not get a great picture, the Lavendar Pit is a really visible reminder of copper glory days gone by ( it is quite literally a GIANT hole in the ground). Now it seems that Bisbee bills serves as more of a tourist destination. Incidentally, Bisbee is only about half an hour from the famed town of Tombstone, AZ (home of the OK Corral shootout).

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We spent a fun afternoon exploring Bisbee . Diane (Donna’s sister) generously served as tour guide for the day, and we learned a ton about this historic Arizona town. For example, there is an annual Stair Climb event (each October) that entails climbing over 1000 stairs. We did climb a few stairs….but nowhere near the full 1000!

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“Iron Mike” is a statue in town that honors the “virile” copper miners, and just on example of the captivating scenery available. Everywhere we turned there were amazing examples of the quirky, artistic nature of this fun town. We cannot wait to visit again!

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Among the many plants we saw while roaming around town was a pomegranate tree, which was new to both of us! We also really liked the purple fruit of the prickly pear cactus and the amazing size of the century plants.

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We also visited Arizona’s smallest bar (room for only 4 patrons….located in what used to be Room 4 in the Silver King hotel). Friendly service…delicious drinks. We will be back to visit the “Room 4 Bar” the next time we are in town!

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Finally, we took a few minutes to visit Warren Ballpark. Built in 1909 it is the oldest multi sport field in the United States.

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We have found that driving four to six hours in a day is pretty reasonable if you stop every couple hours to get out and walk around. And we like to frequent State and National Parks if we can. That is how we found Messilla State Park, in Mesilla, NM.

The Park had a couple of hiking trails and we took advantage of one. It took us through the landscape by the Rio Grande River. The nature trails are self-guided and provide examples of regional flora.

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The people at the visitor center were very friendly. One ranger, in particular, was very eager to share historical knowledge with us. He told us about much of the Civil War fighting that happened in the area with rich detail of the feeling of those involved and not involved. And when he found out we were headed further west, he shared more recent history about Poncho Villa, and the US reaction.

According to the ranger GEN Pershing was litigating the fighting against Poncho Villa, during the Mexican Revolution. He also informed us that it was one of the first military actions where motorized vehicles were used. He also quizzed us about the three prominent WWII generals who ‘cut their teeth’ out west. Two fought with Pershing as young lieutenants and one of the two actually crossed into Mexico. The third was known for his involvement in the Veracruz operation. Between Donna and I we got all three correct. Bradley, Patton, and MacArthur

It was a very interesting stop, and we enjoyed the conversation and the scenery. The Ranger suggested we make it to Poncho Villa State Park. We’ll have to check that out next time.

….and what stop in New Mexico would be complete without a UFO??? We found this one at the New Mexico Welcome Center…and it made us laugh!

After leaving Brownsville, Google Maps didn’t provide many options for RV parks in Western Texas. We did find the Kerrville KOA Journey, which turned out to be a very nice campground just on the outskirts of Kerrville, TX. The campground was very clean and neat. We had reserved one spot, but the owner helpfully suggested a different one a bit further from the main road, and it worked out nicely. The camp store was open until 8PM, and it had a surprisingly good selection of grocery and convenience store items. There was also a laundromat that was clean and tidy. Plenty of washers and driers to support the park. Definitely a good place to stay if you find yourself west of San Antonio.

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Since we stayed a couple nights, we took time to explore Kerrville a bit. And the major attraction we found was the Louise Hays Park in downtown Kerrville ( https://www.kerrvilletx.gov/829/Louise-Hays-Park ). Robert S. Hays donated the 35 acres along the Guadeloupe River to the city for the park on two conditions: it be named for his wife, and it be built in a single day. The city and 2000 workers met his conditions. The scenic and serene park includes Tranquility Island in the middle of the Guadeloupe. There are plenty of amenities, including picnic areas, playgrounds, and an amphitheater, as well as over seven miles of trails.

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Wildlife is plentiful throughout the park (a herd of deer accompanied us on our first visit), and they were less than concerned with our presence. The other prominent creatures were a number of water fowl. Mallards, geese, and other birds were floating down the river, or roosting in the massive cypress trees.

An old dam creates a nice area and small water fall in the river. We saw several people with young ones fishing along the banks when we were out for a jog in the park. Further away from the city center, we saw lots of stone cairns and stone people. Not sure exactly what they are, but they were very interesting.

The park was very nice, and it is apparently the venue for the city’s Independence Day celebrations. It is definitely a park that the city and Robert and Louise Hays should be proud of!

Brownsville, TX is the southern-most point of the Lone Star State. Why would someone from Michigan go there? Because on a cold day, it’s 60F. Also, because there is a population of mid-westerners who are winter Texans, and one of them is a friend of ours.

We arrived at the 4 Seasons RV Resort on Monday. Our friend, Jon (along with his friend Danny) met us at the gate and escorted us to our camp spot. We spent the next few days relaxing and exploring the area. On Tuesday, Donna and I trekked out to the Palo Alto Battlefield National Park. On Wednesday, Cindy and her friend, Sherry, took Donna shopping. Jon, Danny and I visited the “library”. And on Thursday we met with Ruben and Dorena, a couple of friends from Donna’s work, who took us border shopping in Progresso, Mexico.

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We didn’t make it to Boca Chica, so we will have to come back. The cloudy weather didn’t lend itself to a beach visit, so it wasn’t a big miss. We spent the rest of the time visiting with Jon and Cindy. There were a few beers drunk and we may have regaled one or more war stories from our time in the service. Overall it was a good visit.

The 4 Seasons MH and RV Resort is a 55+ park. The people all seemed very friendly, enjoying their winter in Texas. We arrived during fun week, and there were a host of tournaments, including darts, cards, boccie ball, shuffleboard, and pickle ball. We did not participate, but it looked like the resort was doing a good job keeping the residents entertained. The camp spot was big enough for our rig and the dolly. And it was full hook-ups. And the staff was super nice. http://www.4seasonsmhrvresort.com/

The Palo Alto Battlefield is on the outskirts of Brownsville, and site of the first battle of the Mexican-American War in 1846. General Zachary Taylor (which should ring a bell, if you’re following our posts) and 2,300 men were heading to Fort Texas as reinforcement. General Mariano Arista and his 3,200 men were trying to block the reinforcement effort by the US. Check out the National Park website for more details (https://www.nps.gov/paal/index.htm ).

This battle was a field artillery fight, and fortunately for the US forces, they had better range. They fielded 6 and 16 pound guns while the Mexican guns were 4 pounders. The battlefield has several placards that feature survivors’ quotes regarding the devastation the US Flying Artillery wreaked on the Mexican Troops. The battle lasted the day, and the Mexican troops retreated from the field.

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Interestingly, there were some notable US people involved in this fight. I recognized 2nd Lieutenants George Meade and Ulysses Grant as well as Zachary Taylor. Two future presidents, and the General that oversaw the Army of the Potomac’s victory at Gettysburg.

Another not so famous officer was James Duncan. He was a field artillery officer. A lot of people have goals, and this fine gentleman and I share a similar facial hair goal… Though I feel he has more practice… what do you think?

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The prairie in which the battle was fought has been transformed due to property improvement and invasive species. Mesquite and Prickly Pears are a couple of the invasive species in the park area. The National Park Service is working to return the area to its natural state at the time of battle.

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On our way out of the RV Park, Jon told us to watch out for the Nilgai. If you know Jon, you understand that we were confused about whether he was serious… As one of the invaders to the Park area, the Niglai is mentioned on one of the placards. This species of Asian antelope was brought to the US as zoo animls in the 1920’s and 1930’s and then apparently released.

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As we approached the last cannon display at the park (about half a mile from the park office), Kevin spotted something on the horizon. We did not know if Nilgai are typically aggressive, so we grabbed our phones and Googled as we slowed our pace. We also pulled out the camera and snapped a few shots. Our concerns assuaged, we made it to the final cannon. It turns out there were a herd of Nilgai and a herd of White Tail Deer in the area. So cool!