GOING TO SEE MY DAUGHTER

YES, I HAVE A DAUGHTER---I'VE KNOWN IT FOR SOME MONTHS NOW.
BUT I'VE NOT SEEN HER IN THE FLESH.
SHE'S 500 MILES AWAY IN EL PASO, TX.
AND NOW I WILL GO SEE HER--AND TAKE YOU WITH ME.

I begin in Yuma, Az where I've been wintering.

This draatic sculpture atop Yuma's tallest hill.... 

overlooks the Paradise Casino and it's welcoming parking lot.

That's about 50 of us down there in our cozy rigs--camping free of charge--seeming indefinitely--in this most convenient spot, within walking distance of Old Town Yuma.

I leave--drive a hundred miles--pull off the interstate onto this side road at the eastern fringe of Gila Bend, Az and find this nice spot to camp.  How wonderful that the West has millions of these little nooks to camp free in.

Next morning I walk a hundred yards to see this historic stretch of road used by the BUTTERFIELD 

OVERLAND MAIL TRAIL.  Read the story here

Read the story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfield_Overland_Mail

Butterfield was declared a genius at organization.  Imagine all those stage stations, mules, personnel etc.  He got it done!

Moved on through Tucson to this odd place.  I've been here before but now I'm ready to spend the night with the THING. What will surprise you is the more than a hundred billboards that advertise this place.  The price of admission is only a dollar--it makes no economic sense.  Can anyone explain it to me?

I paid the dolar fee and made my way through these odd exhibits

of oddly shaped pieces of wood

and mildly interesting display cases.

Till you end up at the THING.  It's inside there.  

I won't show it to you---pay your dollar and have a look.

I charmingly requested and received permission to spend the night in their parking lot.

What is charm? Display of the free child ego state within you.

And this was my view.

Moving on next day---got sleepy---napped in the small town of Bowie, Az in a vacant lot.  

Then I walked the town.  These roosters and hens followed me a bit.

And this horse came over to ask for some grass and some love.  I gave both.

Spent a rainy night parked in the Lordsberg, NM welcome center then moved on to Deming, NM.

Remembering a post I made on this town: http://mobilecodgers.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-find-bottom-of-city.html I decided to return to its bottom and note any changes. Here's one of the two tent camps that I found.

Here's the other.  No one home.  I waited awhile.

And surprise! A lady came home--I surreptitiously watched her climb into her tent.  No sign of a guy.

The hole where a guy was escaping cold winds was filled in.

Moved on to Mesilla,NM.  Me and Billy the Kid spent the night here. (he was in the nearby jail)  I stayed  at Walmart with several other rigs. (they left early)

Then on to EL Paso.  See those houses?  They're in Mexico.

I settled in the parking lot of the American Legion--post 58.  (I had made arrangements in advance)

I share this convenient spot with  retired  equipment of a carnival show.

AND THEN!  AND THEN---MY DAUGHTER DROVE UP.  This shot marks the very first instant I ever laid eyes on her. I will pick up the story from here in a day or so.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  NOTE THAT IT TOOK ME 4 DAYS TO DRIVE 500 MILES.  That is the way I travel and I recommend it to you.  Marathon drives usually denote a beginner.  Rich fullness of being is rich fullness of experiences.