Episode 1 - Getting away from the Cold

We managed to leave home on October 16 after the frig decided not to work. We went off to a RV shop and got it looked after and we were on our way. We made sure we had all our paperwork in order to cross the border so that there would be as little hassle as possible. When we got to Coutts, there was a line-up of trucks about half a mile long being searched. We got into the car/RV line - they asked us where we were born, where we were from, if we had any citrus fruit or guns and where we were going. Then said "have a good trip" - so much for increased security.

The first night was spent at a Flying J truck stop in Butte, Montana and then on to Twin Falls, Idaho. We spent a couple of days around Twin Falls and went out to a area called "Rock City" which isn't a city at all but an area up in the high desert almost on the Idaho/Nevada border. It is a desert with rock outcroppings that have some strange shapes to them. We also toured around the Snake River Canyon area.

To get a better idea of what I writing about I have included a few pictures. If you click on the "Thumbnails" below, they will open so that you can get a better view of them.

( This is the format we will use throughout)

After leaving Twin Falls we headed south into Nevada on Route #93 to Wells, Nevada. We had a strong cross wind all the way which made the driving tough so by the time we got to Wells we were happy to call it a day.

Now Wells, NV is a ghost town refusing to die. The town at one time depended on the railway for their economic base. This is where they would add extra engines so they could haul the cars up to the high desert and then south and west. As the railways changed to diesel engines there was no need for the extra equipment so the Wells yard was shut down. Then they ran the new highway around Wells. That become the last blow for the town.

We drove around Wells looking for a place to stay over night and found a real nice RV park. While searching for the park we ended up in the part of town that at one time was the main business section near where the railway yards once stood. We have added some pictures to give you an idea of what Wells looks like today.

After spending a few days around Wells we decided to head south to find the warmer weather. We headed out with another couple from B.C. (Don and Luella) in their motorhome. We started to climb up to the high desert.

Once we got out of Wells we once again started to get winds out of the west which meant that it was hitting us on the side of the trailer. It was hard to make any kind of time on the road. Later we found out that the wind was gusting up to 60 mile per hour.

We arrived at Ely, Nevada in the afternoon and decided to stay there overnight at KOA campground. We woke up the next morning to cold weather (17 F). We left as quickly as we could and after a few hours arrived in Las Vegas and the temperature was 83 F. I guess that's what happens when you start out at 7300 ft. and drop down to about 500 ft.

We pulled into Arizona Charlie's Casino & RV Park on the southern side of Las Vegas - away from "The Strip". Getting to the park was "interesting". We had to change from the main interstate highway (I-15) to Boulder Highway which means that you have to go through the interchange called the "Spaghetti Bowl". While in the middle of the bowl and following the motorhome, a"local" decided to cut crossways in front of Don & Luella. Don had to slam on the brakes and seeing that I was following close behind I had to do the same and this is all happening at 75 mph. I found out exactly how good my trailer brakes work as well as the ABS system on the truce. In the meantime I am getting the finger from another driver for slowing up his driving time. Ahh, the big U.S. city.

We stayed at Arizona Charlie's for a couple of days. The food was great and inexpensive and it had the greatest "bath house". Of course we donated some of our money to the casinos. Then it was time to head for Arizona and a slower pace.

Here are a couple of great carved Pumpkins from Arizona Charlie's.

And with Halloween came our arrival in warm weather