It really is all it is cracked up to be!

What is, you ask? VACATION!! What a great time the three of us had! Yes, we took Midi and no, we did NOT take the cats. Cindy was tasked with the cat-sitting and she _as ALWAYS- excelled at it. But I digress... Even getting up @ 2am to hit the road does not suck when you are leaving on vacay. Dinner with L's folks the 1st night (after a 13-hour drive). Then up again @ OMG in the morning, headed for Villanueva, New Mexico. On the way, we had lunch at the halfway point of the Historic Route 66. After another LONG DRIVE, we made it and set up camp since we were staying 2 nights. The next day we headed to Sante Fe to see a few sights (including petroglyphs, the nation's only encaustic art museum, and Laguna Burgers on Rte 66). Saw so much we got locked out of the park and had to walk in and wake up the Ranger to unlock the gate. Sheesh! The next day we pulled out and drove 12 hours to Flagstaff, AZ. And what a drive it was. We saw El Malpais, passed the Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano (see that, Dad??) and crossed the Continental Divide , hiked El Morro, drove through the Painted Desert , then Winslow, AZ, all before arriving (late and in the dark) at our 2 night campsite. September 26th saw us (with L's brother) in the Grand Canyon all day (with Midi, of course). Even elk came out to say hello as we were headed back to dinner at Oregano's. I am ruined for any other pizza after that place. Friday was a drive through scenic Oak Creek Vista (reminded me of the Moki Dugway but with trees) on our way to see Chapel of the Holy Cross, Montezuma's Well and Tuzigoot Ruins. After a full day we head back for dinner with D and then our camp. Saturday is Day 7 of our 15 and it saw us up and packing for the next stop. Before leaving Greer's Pine Shadows RV we had brunch Brandy's Restaurant & Bakery which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Pulled in to Bonito and found a spot (BLM's do not take reservations). Which was awesome because it sits at the entrance to Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument, both of which were on our list for the afternoon. And, upon arriving back at Bonito, in the huge massive darkness, there were more stars than I have ever seen all at once. After a VERY windy night we awaken and head for Saguaro Nat'l Park. Saw 3 satellites and a shooting star Sunday night. Wow. Monday we make our 10-hour, arrive in the dark (again) drive to Guadalupe National Park, where we once again take a chance on finding a "First Come, First Served" spot... SUCCESS! Rain showers make the park not very scenic the next day, and the rain was forecasted for the next several days. We head out earlier than planned for Carlsbad Caverns. Then we look at the next leg of our trip (to Big Bend) and decide we have just enough time to get about halfway... which is Pecos, Tx. Lemme just say...there is NOTHING IN PECOS!! Unless you are looking for an oil well, do not go here. But it did put us so much closer than we were so it was all good. Wednesday we make the last little bit into Marathon, which will be our last base camp before we start the trip eastward to home. On the way to Marathon we stopped and met some cool folks in Marfa, TX, stopped at Tri Lo Bite in Alpine (and found a great crystal shop there!). Once in Marathon we sat up camp and enjoyed an adult beverage under one of the darkest and starriest skies in the country! October 3rd was BIG BEND DAY! We did not make it all the way down into Santa Elana Canyon due to the aforementioned rain but I did wade in the Rio Grande. Visited the Brick Vault for dinner and drinks before heading back to camp and hitching up the ol' Prowler for another long and grueling drive in the pre-dawn hours. Left out at 5:45am and headed for Del Rio, TX. Along the way L managed to miss all 4 deer (only the 2 bucks were in the road) and I saw a baby bobcat... OMG! We learned that Highway 90 has too large a gap between gas stations when towing a camper and getting 10 MPG. UGH! Spotted one in the nick of time and coasted into it on FUMES. Made it to Bastrop State Park in time to set up, have dinner with Jane and thrift shop :-) . Saturday was FAMILY DAY! Got to see my Son, DIL, grandbaby, Dad & his new wife... what a terrific day it was! Saw another satellite as we sipped and sighed under the (not so dark) night sky. Day 15 seemed to be the longest leg but maybe because it was towards home. Stopped at Hruska's for breakfast (D'uh!) and a Buc-ee's (because? Buc-ee's!) so we broke the trip up a bit. Finally...HOME SWEET HOME!