Travels with CC and Dixie: Sights and Signs from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas March 1-6

On the road East, overnighting at Walmart and rest stops, we saw familiar landscapes, interesting vehicles and fun signs.

Scary!

We spent a pleasant overnight at the Roadrunner Rest Stop in New Mexico. The forty foot long by twenty foot high bird can be spotted high above Highway 10, just west of Las Cruces. Olin Calk created the sculpture in 1993 for public awareness of trash on the environment, where it stood at a dump site for a few years. Later, he refurbished the Roadrunner and had it moved to its current location. The rest stop is up away from the traffic noise and provides great views over the city and farmland of Las Cruces.

Eyes are VW headlights.

Birds are building nests, it must be Spring!

Driving into the sunrise and ragged topped mountains.

Passed a large Army Base on our RV bypass around El Paso.

One of those times that a GPS is welcome.

We always keep abreast with what’s on our horizon.

Found no pot’o’gold at the end of the rainbow.

Arrived in the quaint German town of Fredericksburg in the rain but skies cleared soon after for our long walk to and around town. We had a great Nuevo-German meal in a lovely small restaurant, Otto’s. Chris had an amazing pork shank and I had a delightful duck schnitzel.

Duck, beets, sprouts and spaetzle.

A folding windmill in the backyard of a heritage home.

Cute air plants grow on the electric wires around town.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

Vintage train car serves as a motel.

On our second day, I visited the Pioneer Museum while Chris toured the National Museum of the Pacific War and Admiral Nimitz Museum. There was so much for him to see, we met for lunch and he returned to the museum for a couple more hours.

White Oak School (originally 15 miles SE of town

Early 20th C. firefighting equipment

Walton-Smith log cabin built in the 1880’s.

Barbed wire rolling machine.

Wooden belt sander.

Shave n’ a haircut, two bits.

The Admiral Nimitz Museum, formerly a hotel that Chester’s grandfather owned and where Chester, as a boy, grew up and worked. It tells the story of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz’ life in Fredericksburg as a young boy, his Naval career as Commander in Chief , Pacific Oceans Area during WWII and the evolution of the old hotel.

The National Museum of the Pacific War is dedicated exclusively to the Theatre battles of World War II. The gardens and pathway at the main entrance are carved to resemble waves where the conning tower and foc’sle of the USS Pintado (SS-357) sit.

Chris said the museum was absolutely incredible with pictures, facts, history, machinery and memorabilia both technical and poignant. Pearl Harbour, Iwo Jima, Coral Sea, and the other big battles are represented.

The Memorial Courtyard holds the Veterans Walk of Honor and Memorial Wall as well as the Plaza of Presidents. On site is also a Japanese Garden of Peace presented in 1976 by Japan.

We purposely had a late start the next morning as we were heading for a favorite Barbeque stop “The Salt Lick BBQ” in Driftwood. We had to have one more taste of authentic Texas before we left. The road to lunch passed beautiful vineyard country and many wineries. There were at least three recreations of French Châteaux perched on high land where people could holiday with a view, dine and sample the wines. The smoky indoor pit at the Salt Lick is a sight in itself. Our ribs, brisket and sausages were amazing and suffice to say we had many leftovers to take with us. Like the return of Robins to Ontario, the sign of spring in the south are the magnificent Azalea bushes blooming everywhere. Whether in town or country or abandoned lots, the pale pinks, fuchsia, red, salmon and white of the Azalea add pockets of light and colour everywhere along our route.