Monahan Sandhills SP

Monahan Sandhills
Originally uploaded by jakesmome.

We made it back to the bus just before the big ice storm hit, the one that we were right on the ice line of. It sure didn't seem as bad from the inside as all the news reports were saying it was, though. Luckily I had just been grocery shopping so there was no need for us to leave. Other than stepping outside for some photos of the ice, I stayed in the bus for three days. By monday our tanks were frozen, the water faucets outside were frozen, and we were out of toilet paper. The roads had cleared so we headed west. I-20 between Abilene and Odessa looked like a graveyard with all the flipped over tractor trailers and a fifth wheel, so I began to believe the roads were as bas as all that. We camped just past Odessa in the Monahans Sandhills SP (State Park) getting there while it was still dark. We knew there were some sand dunes but we were happily surprised in the morning by the massive amounts of sandhills that surrounded us. It was awesome! As an added bonus another storm was hitting so we had to spend another night. The ranger gave Joey a tour of the area and gave him some sand disks to use to sled down the 40 -50 foot slopes, normally they rent for $1 an hour. We had so much fun sledding, but what a workout! We all slept extremely well and then woke up to an inch of snow. What a sight. We debated snow sledding but decided we didn't need to get wet and cold, plus I don't think anybody could have made it up another slope. The snow melted by noon and we headed farther west.

We spent the next night at a rest stop just past Deming, NM after unsuccessfully finding a big enough spot for us as Rock Hound SP. Our tanks are still frozen at this point, we're using our drinking water from the two five gallon water jugs to fluch the toilet and wash our hands. The dishes are piling up though, oh well, nothing new. By the next afternoon, yesterday, the tanks finally thaw so we dump in Wilcox, AZ and fill our tanks. Then we hit the next rest stop and take showers, wash dishes and clean house. While I'm in the shower Joey helps a weary traveler by filling up his cup of noodles soup with water and nuking it for him, and in return he gives Joey his own cup of soup. It was a little wierd hearing a stranger in my living room while I'm in the shower, but it was no big deal in the end. He was very intrigued by our lifestyle and absolutely loved the bus, but I'm sure a bit bewildered when Joey said the kids don't go to school or even do school. He couldn't just say we homeschool, he likes to shock people and say we don't teach them anything. Don't worry folks, they learn plenty, we just don't drill it into them.

In Benson, AZ we bathed and fed the bus, the truck and the Jeep, and discovered that for at least the second time we've had gas syphoned from at least one tank. This time it was the welder. Made mental note to get keyed locks for all gas tanks. Jeesh.

We arrived at Joey's brothers in Mesa, AZ just in time for pizza! It had been a couple years since we'd seen them but their grandsons and our kids didn't miss a beat, and were instant friends. We're off to a great start to our old hometown. I think this is where we would say we're from?? That's still a tough one for me to answer, I don't know where I'm from. Anyway, we unhooked the Jeep and left it and the truck safely parked at Jim's house and we headed out before midnight to get two new house batteries and find a cool spot to sleep for the night. Instead something under the dash caught on fire and stranded us where fate would have us sleep for the night. Luckily it was well lit and seemingly safe.

In the morning Joey figured out what had happened and was able to fix it himself, woo hoo, so off to Wally world for new batteries then over to his sisters house for breakfast.....where we are now. Until next time.....have a good one!