As far west as we're going, this year.

As I write this I am watching out our dining room window as the setting sun plays its shadow and color tricks on the Chocolate Mountains about a mile away. We're right near the base of the mountains and where you might expect to see sand, dirt, and wasteland there is incredible beauty. Photos of our campground and immediate area to follow in next posting. For today, here are some views along the route from Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

In west Texas there is a county named Winkler. The county is named after a Confederate General Clinton Winkler. Only two towns in the entire county. Pretty desolate, except for an abundance of oil wells.

Wink is one of the two towns. It was a very windy day.

New Mexico sky with UFO clouds. Maybe that's what folks saw back in the 1940's.

Did I mention that we had some windy days?

Our traveling gnome helped us keep a watch for rattlesnakes (per the warning signs) at New Mexico Visitors station near Las Cruces.

Typical scenery for Arizona, and New Mexico, etc.

Pat and the guide in the Bird Cage Theater/Saloon/Museum in Tombstone AZ

Pat getting friendly with the local brothel inspector in Tombstone.

Alert stage coach driver and horses waiting for a fare in Tombstone.

If you saw the Curt Russell or Kevin Costner versions of the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone you would know what/where this is.

Gunfight reenactment in Tombstone.

They were really using blanks, so everyone is really OK.

This guy at the bar didn't talk much, but he could really hold his liquor.

Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone.

Lots of big sky in Arizona.

Sand dunes at entrance to southern California. Still about 40 miles from our campground.