Austin to Oroville and Back Again

The name of the place stirred memories of streets lined with rock shops. Our memories were just that, memories. RV parks spread down the boulevards in all directions. Row upon row of snowbirds from Canada and points south. Most were beginning preparations for the long return trip north. I can see why they come here. No rain and 70 degree day time high temps. But it is a flat ugly place. Deep gravel and sand everywhere. No place for a bird watcher on wheels.

Somewhere west of the border patrol stop on I-10 Julia had a flashback. It was of another journey, when she was going in the opposite direction with her sister. They detoured south towards the border and so would we. Into the darkness we turned the turtle toward rocks standing up. The gates were locked tight when we arrived at Chiricahua National Monument. Seeking a barely flat spot we joined a few other late arrivals in the ditch right of the entrance. Boon-docking virgins disconnected we slept as the wind rose. Sweeping down and out of the snow capped mountains the wind howled all night long.

We send our love to our young friend Cara who gave us this wonderful poem as a gift to send us on our way. California!  they cried, with a  westward ho  glint and visions of gold in the hills. So they went in a turtle—a big one, with tires and legs— for moving and sleeping through long travel days. They installed all new handles for moving around and a ramp so the wheelchair could get to the ground; they stocked up the pantry and fired the stove and installed a small modem for wireless rove; they tested the beds—pocket, hanging, and seat— that slept six (if none kicked) for the friends they might meet. Thus provisioned and prepped, steering wheel pointed west, they headed their turtle for coast manifest. Leaving our home and cat in the capable hands of our sitter Shannon we rolled off down the hollow west to the coast. In tow the wheelchair trailer with one of Julia's many rides "the little red pony". The Viva was full of food and refreshments.