Author: harrylange

Tucson, NM – Navy Reunion – Monday November 6, 2016

During my time in the Navy I spent a year in Danang Vietnam (71-72) with a unique group of sailors and marines.   We had a large reunion in October of 2013 in Tampa Florida which was an amazing time.

Several months ago I was in contact with Jim Inks who lived in Norwalk Ohio and was in the process of beginning the fulltime RV life style.  I told him we would be in the southwest during September to November and to let me know if he gets into the southwest.  Last week we discovered we would be camping within 10 miles of each other.    We got together for dinner, the first time Jim and I have had an opportunity to talk in 44 year.  We were both in Danang from October 1971 to November 1972.
Here are a couple from years gone by:
That is Jim on the left and Mike Farmer on the right.

Jim is in the middle with the handlebar mustache.

Ok, I showed some pictures of Jim 44 years ago, here is a couple of me.

 

Tucson, AZ – Monday October 31, 2016

Travel day to Arizona.
We are at Gilbert Ray County Park on the West side of Tucson just south of the western section of Saguaro National Park.   In site H24 and we’ll be here until Monday November 7.
And this is the view out the motor home door.

Campground has 130 sites and my guess is 15 sites are occupied.

By the way, we picked up of ballots in Deming, NM on the way through.

 

Las Cruces, NM – Tuesday October 25, 2016

We spent the day visiting places in Las Cruces:
Museum of Nature and Science
the cultural and art museums were closed for updating
Basilica of San Albino
Building in which Billy the Kid was convicted of murder
Farm and Ranch Museum
This was the courthouse in Billy the Kid’s time.

Last year we were on the eastern side of New Mexico where he is buried.
The Farm and Ranch Museum had a whole section on bees, and Jean walked through the whole thing.

 

Caballo State Park, NM – Sunday October 23, 2016

In site 19.
We were here last year however this year we can see the Lake.
Don’t know how long we will be here.  Part of the plan is to go to Las Cruses for a couple of days.  This is the closest state park we could get into, the drive from here isn’t much different than driving to Seattle from our big house.  The weather is the important part, 86 today ( Monday) and lower 80’s the rest of the week.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM – Friday October 21, 2016

Today we went to the caverns and bat show.   This time I walked from the caverns up the natural entrance and Jean walked around the big room.

We went to the bat show it was very different this time.  We learn a lot of numbers and only saw a few bats.  The bat show started at 5:30 p.m. and the bats did not start out until 6:40 p.m.  They came out  of the caverns just clearing the top edge of the opening and they all headed southeast.  It was pretty dark by 6:50 and by 7:00 we could not see any bats however we could still hear them.  

We did get a lot of numbers:
793,000 most bats counted during a 2005 bat count
64,000  least counted that year
This year most of the bats left during July, very dry month at Carlsbad and the bats went other places, however they have returned.
They can fly to 10,000 feet, they go to this elevation because the moth they eat will go this high.
Come out of the caverns at a rate of 10-12,000 a minute.
Fly at 25-30 miles per hour
Can live up to 25 years.

 

 

Carsbad, NM – Living Desert Zoo – Wednesday October 19, 2016

It is a nice small zoo.  It is $5.00 to get in and they have a lot of information about desert plants.
This was in the nocturnal house.
Three bobcats and two mountain lions, these are the bobcats.

If you have one prairie dog you have a bunch and they had a bunch.

They have an aviary however it was closed because a new roof was being put on it.

We had a nice afternoon.  Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park.