Tucson

Last night i arrived in Tucson. I have been here before. Many years ago my boyfriend and i came here on vacation. He had lived here before and was able to show me a wonderful time. He has since moved back and tonight we went out for a nice dinner and good conversation.
Thanks Todd.

I am getting tired so i decided to rent a hotel room for three nights. So worth it. Staying at a Sheraton. I worked for them for seven years, so they are taking really good care of me. The room is sooo huge. I could live here. Lol.

Today i sat by the pool, had lunch out there. Amazing thing happens when a bartenders stops working. I get a suntan. Lol. I have not had this much color on me in years. It is different, but i was happy with my pastey white ass. Lol.

Well today started good, turned very bad. I need a beer.

Today i decided to go to a place i another guest in Santa Fe told me about. Acoma tribes Sky City. About a 45 minute drive from the camp. So i get there after a beautiful drive. I arrive at the check in and am told it is 23 bucks just to go up to the Sky City. OK. Then it is a 17 buck charge for a picture taking permit. What the hell? I told her that was a bull shit charge and was not paying it. She did the right thing and gave it to me for free. The other people in line followed me and got it free as well. It was a short drive up a mountain to the village. Not what i was expecting. Kind of a dump. The tour guide was nice for the most part, but made it known we were outsiders. We walked around while she gave us the history of the area sand her people. She made it clear what the Spaniards did to them in graphic detail. the entire tour was interrupted constantly by her having us stop to see the next "vendor" peddling their items. The clay pots were very nice if you like that style. But what the hell? 200 buck for tiny little pots. Very over priced. Only one guy bought and over priced pot for his wife. At the end of the tour you were given the option of going back down in the bus or climbing down the "stairs" they have used for almost a thousand years. I thought, what the heck, i will walk down. Kind of crazy how steep some of it was. Non of the elderly dared to try it. I got to the bottom. Took tons of pics and headed out after i went to the museum. As i drove out i saw a road to turn off just before my road to the highway. I turned hoping for more scenic pics to take. Well, a minute into my drive, a truck comes flying up behind me. I move over thinking it was going somewhere. Nope, he flagged me down to stop. I realized i might be on private land. Se he gets out and starts to yell and cuss at me. I told him i was sorry but i did not see a sign and to stop cussing at me. He told me to fuck off many times. Told me i was disrespecting his peoples land. I told him i wasn't and he was disrespecting his people by talking to me that way. He got even more enraged about it. I told him to clam down and i would head out. He said get out now  or i will fucking shoot you. So now i am like "what?", over this. So he goes to his truck and grabs his gun. So i thought, maybe i will start to back up. He continues to call me names, telling me that he was going to put a bullet in my white ass. Wow! I didn't grab my camera fast enough to take a pic of him or his truck, wished i had. SO i realize that one time that i go out in the desert for and excursion, i did not bring my gun and it was the first time someone pulled a gun on me. Would i have used it? I don't know, But i would have made sure he knew i had one and it was better than his. I continued to turn around and he kept yelling racial slurs at me. Pointing the gun at me like a crazed mad man. I think what pisses me off the most is that they want us to come to their land and spend our money. Begging for us to but their pots and jewelry. Pushing home made food on us for way too much money. They don't pay taxes. Get government money for something we did not do to them. Have the nerve to look down on us for being there. And then they call us names, speak about us in bad ways (like we were the ones who took their land), and the moment you step out of what they think is against their custom, they freak out on us. Well that is fucked up. As i drove away, i decided to stop at the police station which was on the very same road. I walked in and looked at the guy at the front desk and told him a quick detail of the events. He looked at me and said "were you on Acoma land?, i said yes, he smiled and looked back down. So, nothing will be done by them, i left and decided that i will make sure everyone know how we are treated out there. I will post this to every travel blog i can find. To any reviews of the area. To any government website i can find pertaining to this area. Needless to say, i wont be coming back here any time soon. Gonna relax the rest of my last night here. Do some laundry. I guess i will let you see some pics of their area, if you ever want to come out here. LOL

Albuquerque new Mexico

Well, i arrived here in Albuquerque on Thursday. I am at a decent RV park, High Desert RV Park. Price is real good with my Good Sam's membership. Clean, understated and 3 dog parks in a small area. They care about  your pets. LOL.

I set up camp and headed out to see what this town has. I always seem to find the bad part of town right away. LOL. I was a big boy and got out of there and headed for a nice mountain drive. Found a great scenic drive through a mountain to a ski resort. Yes, ski resort in New Mexico. The road was very twisty. Clark (my truck) is an awesome truck, but he can only do so much in the twisties. This would have been a great drive in a Porsche convertible. Coming down, i really worked my brakes. Pulled over and let them cool off  awhile. later that evening i went out to a nice little dive bar where a very cute and way too young guy hit on me. So far, Albuquerque has been good to me.

Yesterday, i just relaxed and got lunch down in old Albuquerque. A very quaint little shopping and food area with people playing music. Very much like the downtown area of Santa Fe. Food was good. Margarita was good but way over priced. I then went for another scenic drive then back to the campground for the rest of the evening and relaxed. Opened the windows and a great breeze came in all night. A good sleep till the guy next to me started up his diesel truck next to my head. Oh well, guess i will get up.

Santa Fe

Last night i arrived in Santa Fe. I am at Santa Fe Skies RV Park. Nice place. Close to town. Cost a little more butit is real clean and in a great location.

Ventured out after i set up camo to the Plaza. It is where all the museums are as well as tons of shops and galleries. Walked around. Had sushi. Had a beer and headed back. Found a great rooftop restaurant. Stopped for more food and more beer. Service was non existant. But beer was good as well as atmosphere. Then off to the movies. Wolverine. Loved it. Hugh should never wear a shirt. Ever.

Still having fun.

Well, after leaving Carlsbad i headed north to a small town called Ft Sumner. Stayed at the national park. It was nice. I was all alone and secluded with a huge lake in front of me. I took my kayak out for the first time. That was fun till i turned down an estuary and it was very shallow. Did not know till i was well into it and got stuck. Took forever to get out cause the bottom was like quick sand mud. Yikes. Only stayed one night.

Ft. Sumner is home to Billy The Kid. He is burried there. I went to see it. Sad part is that the tomb stone has to be tied down with iron shackes cause it has been stolen so many times.

Brantley Lakes State Park

So today i arrived in Carlsbad New Mexico. I am staying at Brantley Lakes State Park. Another nice state park. I have a great spot overlooking a lake, presumably, Brantley Lake. LOL. It has a huge area with a covered picnic table and a private wall to give you privacy. They know me so well...... What? Post a pic below.

It was only and hour and a half drive, so a lot less stressful. Though the GPS lady will get punched in the throat when i meet her. That was not a road, it was a land mine. Ugh. I set up camp, hit the shower, then headed into "town" to get food. Not much for food but fast food. I opted for pizza, been a while. I headed back and got some supplies from Lowe's then i spotted the Living Desert Zoo and State Garden, http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/livingdesertstatepark.html. Only 5 buck and worth it. I was having fun till a huge wasp decided he had had enough of me and sank his stinger into me. First time i have been stung since i was maybe 12. Of course i was way out on the trail and no one had a cigarette (the nicotine in the tobacco mixed with your saliva will numb it and help the stinger come out). Oh well, that i why i now have beer. I also stopped for a salmon fillet for dinner at the park.


Take care everyone.

Roswell, New Mexico

So i arrived in Roswell yesterday. I had one of the best days driving. It was a longer drive but i went through some beautiful areas. Yes, it was a lot of cattle pastures and the smell was just...... delightful. But, you could see the road for at least 10 miles in front of you. Nice open plains. Big fields of corn. Just a very calming drive, unlike what i went through in Alabama and Tennessee. I went a long time without seeing another vehicle. 

So now i am in Roswell NM for 2 nights. Might stay longer cause i am at a state campground and it is super cheap. LOL But it is also a nice campground, other than the flies. It is called Bottomless Lakes State Park. I highly recommend it. the town is actually not what i expected. Kind of bigger than i thought. There is not much going on at night either. I will post more later. Thanks for checking out my adventure.

Sorry for getting behind.

So sorry for getting behind on this. I completely bypassed any info on Amarillo. Well, that is because i was there for 2 nights. Did not like that place. Did not feel welcomed. It was just a stop over place to get an oil change, tire rotation and  a complete check up for Clark(my truck). I also got my first injury of the trip. While in my campground, a truck drove by to fast and kicked up debris. Well, i got a big piece of dirty in my eye. Instead of rushing to flush it, i rubbed. Well, i have scratched the inside of my upper eye lid. LOL. So far, it has sucked. Burning and watery, hard to drive. Plus i wake up with my eye sealed shut. Today it feels much better so maybe the eye drops are working. Oh well,  One a good note, i had one of the best steaks ever at a place called The Big Texan. But it was marred by the worst service ever. Another customer at the bar had to ask the bartender if he planned on serving me tonight. The "bartender" looked right past me and said "who?".LOL, good times. Of course his tip was almost non existent and i spoke to a manger. Would go back for the steak, but sit at a table.

Oklahoma City

Well, I have been in Oklahoma City for the last two nights. This is an amazing city. Beautiful downtown area. Very active downtown.  Lots of arts and music was going on last night. I saw 3 weddings going on in the beautiful parks. I went to the Oklahoma City bombing memorial.  Wow, that really touched me.  Dont understand how someone could do this.

I could see myself living here. With one exception,  every gay man I met told me how unsafe the city is for the gays. That is sad. All of tge gay bars and restaurants were located on one street far from downtown.  They said it was that way to help keep an eye on each other.  But they still have muggings and bashings. The police don't help.

So this morning I am heading on a longer drive. Going to Amarillo Texas.  Being on the road is getting to me, so I am gonna start a more direct route and get this life started.

HUNKY'S cafe

So today I start my first full day in Dallas at Hunky's cafe. It is in the middle of Dallas's gayborhood.  Oak Lawn. I think. Gonna eat my chick sandwich then walk around to see where the happening night spots are for tonight.

Nice city so far. But damn the roads here in Texas have sucked so far. I know yesterday my truck and trailer hit a bump so big, we all were air born. Stressful. 

I am sooo grateful to be gone from that place. I was at Pleasant Valley RV park in Mt. Pleasant Texas. What a shit hole. No showers, toilets, WiFi, lighting, or any amenities. I had to make sure i used the facilities at the restaurant or gas station down the street. The grass has not been mowed in at least 6 months. They mow just 4 spots in case someone comes in. The place is run by a nice lady, but she does not clean the park. garbage everywhere. Parts of cars and rotted picnic table are everywhere. Her son, on his bike, had to show me my spot. He then had to show me my electric (which i share with the next spot cause that one is broken), as he opened the box, wasps came pouring out. So he and i had to remove the wasp nest. LOL The whole place is infested with grasshoppers, crickets and wasps. I didn't even bother to put out chairs or rugs, not even a picture. LOL

I turned in for the night with a very strong drink, animal crackers and a Laura Croft movie. 


Did i mention i was chased by a pitbull that belongs to one of the "residents"?

Leaving Arkansas

Stopped for some pancakes and eggs befor I leave Arkansas.  Staying in Mt. Pleasant, Texas tonight. Then off to Dallas tomorrow.  Maybe I will stay longer there.  Need to just decompress from all the driving. Go see a movie. Dance a little at a bar.

Hot Springs Arkansas

Getting a beer before I find a steak. Cute little town.

Arkansas

Well, made it to Hot Springs Arkansas today. Plan is to stay just one night, but if like tgen town, I will stay another. I have no place to be in a hurry.

Graceland

So today I went to Graceland.  Did the tour. Toured his planes and car museum.  What a great day it has been. His racket ball court......amazing. His house was really a neat experience.  Everyone should do it once in their life. Don't do it during Dead Elvis week (locals call it that). The die hard fanatics are here, and they will tell you EVERYTHING about him. The good, bad, and ugly. Not much bad or ugly though.   Pretend to be German...... I spreck na engrish...

Regardless, Memphis has been very good to me, once I found my way around. There are some serious ghetto places around here. Graceland is in the ghetto.  But Beale street and Cooper-Young areas are amazing.  I think this is a place I could live, if the opportunity ever arises. 

Freaking out

So, I am having a drunk freaking out moment.  Hoping this is the right decision.  Stupid beer. Hand me another.......

Memphis gets better

So, it was a little sketchy when I got here. But Memphis has much more to it than I thought.  This Cooper-Young area is really fricking cool. I will head to Beal St. tomorrow. But tonight,  Cooper-Young has a free concert, too buzzed to remember her name, but will post later.

Love y'all.

Graceland RV park.

So I pulled into Graceland rv park. It is ok. But the area is packed so I decide to go out for beer o'clock.   Tell the bartender what I am doing and where I am staying. She dies laughing. She looks at me and says " you came on dead Elvis week".   Lol. Today is the anniversary of his death.  So now the whole bar is laughing and tweeting what I did.  This bar, I like.

Savannah Tennessee

Yesterday I made it to Savannah Tennessee.  My sister Stacie lives here. Those that know me well are scratching their heads. Most know of my sister in Florida,  Angel.  But our father was.....how do we say it, got around, so I actually have two more sisters. I have only met Stacie twice before, but have been family on FB for many years.  We also have two more brothers. Lol.

This is very quaint town. Still no cell service, but I can get my WiFi from McDonald's.  Everywhere has a Mickey d's.

The camp ground, Green Acres, is nice. Nice people run it. Travis, one employee is just so friendly and helpful. Clean facilities.  But people need to pick uo after their dogs.

Tomorrow,  I head to Graceland RV park. Gonna see Graceland.  Stay in a big city so I can make some calls. Watch some tv. Go to a movie. Find a bar that I would be welcome to. Lol. I will keep you posted.

Beard or no beard

Still not sure if the beard is me or not. Being unemployed,  I am able to grow it. It grows in nicely.  But I think it ages me. Plus, it is upkeep. It feels weird when I swim and shower. But, I think it is also hot. Thoughts?

Have no clue what day it is.

So I am at Point mallard campground in Decatur, Alabama.  I have no clue what day it is and I am loving that.  Nice big campground.  They have a water park,  tennis, soccer, baseball,  ice skating,  baseball,  and more. Of course, it is extra $$ for the amenities, but the grounds are very well kept.

Tried to find waterfront dining for lunch. Nothing. Found a place for dinner on the river that is only open for dinner. I will report on that later.

I understand that the comments part of my blog is not working, I will try to fix that tonight if I can find WiFi for my laptop. Sorry, cause I would love to see the comments, good and bad.

Leaving Lizard Landing

Very sad to be leaving Lizard Landing Campground.   What a wonderful group of people I was honored to meet this week. I will cherish the memories and new friendships I made this week.  A special thanks to Greg and Les, two wonderful hosts that made me feel very welcomed. I recommend anyone coming through Alabama to stop in. Yes, it is primarily a gay campground,  but all are welcome.

Next stop is a few hours north to Ft. Toulouse campground. 

 I thought you might like to see where i am staying. How my view is. What my first cam site looks like. 

Wow, it has been a few days since i last posted. Sorry for all you crazy people who lives ended when i stop posting.......LOL. There is just limited signals out here and WiFi is very limited. Had to drive 25 miles into Georgia to find a McDonald's with free WiFi. 

The campground has been very relaxing. Kind of slow, only myself and one other guy in the camp along with the owners. A few more came in yesterday and tons more expected tonight and tomorrow for a fun filled weekend. I will head out of here on Sunday morning. Still not sure where i will go from here. Very anxious to get my life in Phoenix started. Fighting the urge to just head out there now. 

Yesterday i took a long drive and found a Damn and a nuclear power plant. I took many photos. Lets see if i can get some of those on here

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Left Florida

Ok, just now getting caught up on the blog. No signal out here.

Last night i arrived at Lizard Landing Campground. It was bitter sweet as it marked my leaving Florida. I have a nice spot right on the river.   Noisey cause of frogs and bugs, but serene as well. Lucky number 13 spit. Lol.

No signal.

So I am staying at this great campground called Lizard Landing. Two wonderful hosts Greg and Les. I just have no cell signal and I seem too technology challenged to get a wifi signal. Lol.

Day...... I think 4.

Jenn made my last night as a Floridian amazing. Tons of food, drinks, music, and capped off with the dog rolling in a dead animals carcass on the beach. Yep, maggots.   Showers for all.

Thanks Jennifer Wallace for being an amazing host, amazing friend, just all around amazing person. You will hold a huge part of my heart forever. 

Drunk

Ok. So now I  am drunk blogging. What the hell? Awesome last night in Florida.

Well, got yelled at for not posting yesterday. I will again post tonight of this evenings adventure. In the mean time.

 It was a nice day here in Niceville Fl. We went to a dive seafood place called Nicks. Great view of the water and peregrines fishing. Sandwich was ok. Then Jenn took me down to the town that The Truman Show was filmed with Jim Carey, Seaside Fl. Really cute town. Crazy parking though. Could not imagine trying to get through there with my huge truck and trailer. Hold my beer.....      

Then we came home and i got a bug in my ass to help her out with yard work. She has this amazing view from her house over the water. But the trees and shrubs have blocked it over time. I chopped, ripped, cut, fought with, and voila, a view. If i was staying longer, i could have gotten a shit ton more done. But tomorrow i must continue on my journey to Columbia Alabama to Lizard Landing camp ground. 

Day two evening.

So tonight involved a bar crawl in Destin. Me and my girls were playing corn hole. Sat down on a chair and it was covered in beer and sand. Lol.  yep, they talked me into putting my shorts on backwards.

Day 2

Last night was great. Went to dinner with my nephew and bro-in-law. Then his wife came home and we got a little trashed. I was teaching them how to bartend. Lol

Tallahassee is a cute town. But way too many hills for my truck and trailer.

In Niceville Florida

Spending the weekend with my great friend Jenn. She has a great house on the water. Time to drink, eat, and relax.

Need sleep

I am so tired already.  Getting up at 7am is not my style. Plus it is raining and that makes me sleepy. So I pulled over for a quick nap.

Well, today is the day. Time to hit the road. Kind of mixed emotions. Excited to start this journey. Sad to leave my friends and family behind. But it was a nice last night here at my sisters house. If anyone is around, call my mom and check on her from time to time. OK, see you soon.

Well, this is my 1965  Holiday Rambler travel trailer. I have had it for a year now. Doing work here and there. Did a final push the past few weeks. Still work to be done, none of the plumbing is working, lol. All new electric though.  But, i will get there. This is more about the journey, less about the stuff a cant worry about right now. 

Well, This will be my first attempt at blogging. This blog is about my journey to Phoenix in the summer of 2013.