Travels with CC and Dixie: Buffeted by Winds from Ozark to Arizona

November 27, we headed out of the Ozark, Alabama mountain landscapes and into the flat grasslands of Oklahoma. “Plen’y of air and plen’y of room, Plen’y of heart and plen’y of hope. OOOOklahoma where the wind is sweepin’ down the plain.”

The winds were high but we endured them until late afternoon where we pulled in for the night at the Sugar Creek Casino. We avoided the gambling and went straight for pizza and beer at the casino. All night we were buffeted by crazy winds that coated CC with dust and rattled the slide covers making sleep almost impossible. In the morning we waited a couple of hours for the winds to subside somewhat.

hundreds of blackbirds

Had to wear our armbands to prove that we were 21!

We tried to “Drive Friendly” as we entered the huge state of Texas under windy conditions. Continuing west on Highway 40, the Old Route 66 runs along beside us with its fading, rusted signs, shells of former businesses, gas stations, and motels, all with vacancies since 1985 when the highway closed.

We passed miles of cotton fields and windmills spinning in overdrive and stopped for a late lunch at the iconic Big Texan in Amarillo. Heeding the severe wind warning we settled in at the Oasis RV Park for two nights to catch up on our rest and exercise. Around thirty birds were using the giant park billboard as a safe place from the gusts. After the sunset, the quieter breeze provided hope for our next travel day.

November 30, we were lucky to have a tailwind helping to push us across Texas where we saw more of the same. It seemed like small flocks of antelope and trains were what broke the monotony of passing field after field.

How many of you stayed in motels like this in ‘the olden days?’

By early afternoon, the winds had pushed us in to “The Land of Enchantment”, New Mexico. The imagery of red rocks, foothills and distant mountains presented themselves. By early evening we were ready to stop and parked at the friendly Boot Hill RV Camp outside Alamogordo. I know about the Alamo but who is Gordo? Across the road was a Pistachio orchard and acres of grapevines, where else but Pistachioland! They sold their own wine and many “nutty” gift items. We bought some freshly roasted pistachios and pistachio brittle.

Pistachio trees.

The morning winds were calmer as we continued through New Mexico. It was fun to see the White Sands Monument that we visited a few years back. The hills and mountains were more barren and rugged and silhouettes of buttes appeared on the horizon.

and then head to the tubs at the Butterfield Stage Motel….

By noon, we crossed into Arizona. We were among the familiar plains dotted with numerous Cactus species; Cottonwood, Ironwood, Acacia, Ocotillo, Mesquite and Palo Verde; mountain silhouettes and amazing skies stretching for miles. We arrived in Benson unscathed by the winds and settled at the SKP Saguaro Co-op Park where we will stay until after New Years.