Graceland, Memphis TN

Today  is Easter  Sunday.   We left our RV at Tishomingo  State  park Mississippi.   We drove 2 hrs to Memphis.   We arrived at Graceland  on Elvis Presley Boulevard.   The parking  fee is  $10.  Then we walked  inside.    Paid $40 each for the tour.   10%discount for Norm's  law enforcement  id.   We collected our ipad  and headphones and  boarded a bus to take us across the street to the front door.    We entered,  it felt like  a  wake.   The decor is as it was when  Elvis died.    1970's furniture,  tv,  and appliances.    It didn't  seem as ostentatious  as he could  have afforded.   We went  to  the  jungle room  with  time period  green shag carpet.    The upstairs  is closed to the public.   It felt like a history lesson.    I  wish my dad was with us.    We finished up the tour  in the meditation garden  where Elvis,  his mother  and  father and  grandmother  are buried.    We had lunch at the grille restaurant.    We sat in a Cadillac shaped booth.    We  did a little  shopping  before heading  home.   

Tishomingo State park, Mississippi

We are  going to meet up with some  friends  we met while on the  road.    Terry and sandy are in  Alabama.    We were going to stop in Arkansas.  We decided to drive into Mississippi  and sit still for 3 days.    I  found  this park online.   $18 a night  with water and electric,  lakefront.  We will meet our friends for dinner before  they head west.    We  will  stay until Saturday  and enjoy this place.    Our site is large and the place is practically  empty.    The dogs wasted no time jumping  in  the  lake.   

Our not so free winery stop

We are heading East  across  Oklahoma.   Currently  just winging  where we stay. Today's plan was to  use Harvest Hosts and stay overnight  at Native Spirit winery in Norman,  OK.    We drove  3hrs to get there.    Upon  our arrival  the owner  greeted us  and told us to park  "anywhere" " level.     He said  he would  have lunch and come back for a tasting after we were set up.   After turning  in a wide circle to park the Rv became stuck in the yard and the more we tried to get out the more stuck we became. We called  coachnet to get a tow arranged.    They were friendly  and helpful.   They sent  us D and D truck shop.    Chris  arrived in a gorgeous  brand new red giant tow truck.    He pulled us out of the mud yard and was on his way in under an hour.    The owner gave us shovel and rake.    Norm and I raked it out while he brought  us dirt with  a tractor to fill in the  ruts.     Afterwards  a cold shower and a wine tasting.    We had dinner in the Rv.   Later we sat on their front  porch  had a glass of wine and observed  some clouds and lighting bolts forming.    Later,  while trying to sleep the thunderstorm rolled in with heavy  rain.    Yogi,  being  afraid  of thunder  kept  barking.    We had to turn on the  generator so the air conditioning  could  be on to stop yogi from barking  all  night.    Short night of sleep. 

Laura's house

We went to Laura's (Norm's mother) house in Hanover, NM. (January 20  To February  13)    We stayed for three  weeks.    She had graciously prepared  a spot next to her house for the Rv.    We  had such a nice visit.   I am blogging all of this late because  blogging started to feel like a job.    We took turns cooking meals.    We went to hot springs  out in the  desert one day and visited city of Rocks State Park.     We went to an old West saloon  and had a superbowl  get together  with her and Gilbert. We also  went to Silver city for a day if chocolate tasting.   A local fundraiser.     There is a nearby Park where the dogs could walk freely.    We helped Laura  get some household jobs completed.    The view from  her backyard is stunning.    There was snow one night.    Carolyn and Eamon  visited one weekend.   

The big Texan Steak Ranch

We went to this place because we had seen it on TV on the TV show man verses food.   They have a 72oz steak challenge.  One must eat a 72 Oz sirloin steak 3 shrimp, salad, potato and a roll in an hour.  If they do its free.   If not its $72. We did not  try the challenge.   We don't need to be eating that much.   A man from  Canada tried it while we were there.   He didn't succeed.  We did cheer him on.   There's also a brewery.   Norm drank Rattlesnake IPA.    It was good and potent.    I had their happy margaritas.    They too were potent  and delicious and garnished with a pepper.      We slept in their parking lot afterwards.  A fun night,  no driving!

Nice find

We have no more meet ups or schedule of any sort until May.   We are making  our way East along I40.   We  are  going to try to catching  free boondocking  places.    We found this one,  Elk city Lake Park,  in Elk city,  OK.    This is unbelievable.    It is  free.    There is water and  electric  and paved site in a park.    There is such privacy  and  grass.    The dogs are  happy!   They can run and their paws won't hurt from  cactus.   We can stay for three nights.    We gave decided to sit still for three days.    I  am  going  to  work on taxes and  finding  a part time summer job.    Norm is  going to install the cb.   Oh and the weather forecast this weekend  is 80 degrees  and sunny.    The maintenance men here gave us pointers,  avoid black widow spiders and brown  recluse  spiders.     There is the lake.    It is only about ten percent  full  due to a five year  drought.    The water has an algae  in it so unfortunately  no swimming  for the  dogs.     These sites would  normally be lakefront.    Regardless,  they are perfect.  

Simple fix

So we are heading  to Amarillo TX.    At mile marker 195 we are driving  half off the  rumble strip  due to  construction.    Suddenly  there was a rumble  noise from  under the  Rv.    We think  there is  a  flat tire.  We can't see anything there is no place to  pull over.  Luckily  there is a truck stop  within  2 miles.    We pull in Norm takes a look.    The rear air bags are not holding up  the  back  end.    He discovered a hose clamp had come off the  air ride system.    He put a new one on.    The air ride system  fully inflates and we are on the  road  again! :) 

Meeting up

We are  having  a  meet up  with  Laura  Breed,  Norm's  mother and her boyfriend Gilbert.    We are meeting  at  66Casino in Albuquerque,  NM.    We are boondocking,   they have  a room.  We met up and had a great  buffet  $6.99.   We played  some slots with the five dollar  free play.    We relaxed in the  Rv for a bit. The casino  is rv friendly.    We slept  well had some  breakfast  in the morning and hit the road.    

Heading East

Today we are heading  East.    We drove longer  than our usual.    We stopped at Sky City  Casino  in  Acoma,  NM.   Exit 102 off I40.  We parked in  the truckers lot.    We arrived around 7pm because  of the time zone change.    We applied for players club.    That entitled  us to  $25 each  in free play.   $2off the buffet.    The buffet was $12.99 before the discount.    It was average  food with friendly service.    We then used our free play on the slots.    Won zero.   We returned to the Rv and went to  sleep.   

Liberty haven Ranch, Morristown AZ

We have been  staying at  liberty haven Ranch in Morristown, AZ.    It was an rv Park  we found  on Passport America.   There are only  two sites here with water and electric and gray water discharge.    It is  an interesting place.   After driving through an electric gate we parked the Rv.   We met with Jean and her husband.   It's their personal home Ranch.    They were  welcoming  of our large  dogs and the dogs  were able to run loose with their five dogs.    They even were able to swim in the large kidney shape pool.   The views out over the desert and mountains are impressive.    Mike,  Carolyn  and Eamon came to visit  for the weekend.   Eamon  was able to assist with feeding the two horses a mule and chickens.    They even have a pistol and rifle  range.    Jean picked Swiss chard and we will  try it out at dinner tonight.