Damn Near Made It

Arrived about 4 this afternoon in New Mexico, the last state before our home state of Arizona. But, by God, even though we rolled the trailer trying to take the picture of the "Welcome to New Mexico" sign, we are bound and determined to tow the remains back to Green Valley. Thereby completing our close to seven-week long journey. But rest assured, no one was injured and Daisy took the whole thing in stride.

Now before you have a heart attack, the trailer shot we pulled off the internet of some poor soul who did roll his trailer as a result of a blow-out. You are constantly warned to check your tires every day before you set out. This is proof.

By the way, we did have a flat tire on the truck, not the trailer, in Tampa, Florida. But George's Tire Service next to our Bay Bayou RV park fixed the flat for free. Paul gave the guy who did the work a few bucks in hopes he'd buy himself a beer. It's good etiquette and good PR for trailer trash like we are.

Today we really did roll into New Mexico and our last stop in Las Cruces, having spent last night in Pecos, Texas. A place we were looking forward to. Certainly the Old West will come alive here, we thought. After all, the town has an almost mythical ring: Tales of Pecos Bill, "West of the Pecos", the Pecos River. And the promotional material is well written and very inviting. But the reality doesn't match the tourist promotion. This is a sorry excuse for a travel stop. The town has become a derelict. Trash is everywhere. Unemployment is high and Texas has a governor, one Rick Perry who says, "Washington and Mr. Obama. We don't need your stimulus. We can get by on our own."

Gov. Perry also suggests seceding from the union. Well, Mr. Perry, that stimulus could revitalize places like Pecos and Balmorhea State Park, built as a WPA project with red-tiled white-washed buildings and a huge natural springs pool. The buildings are crumbling and the pool needs a facelift. Take a cue from Florida and Republican governor Charlie Crist. Florida's state parks are top notch. And Crist is taking every dime Washington will throw his way. All you have to do is drive I-10 or 20 through Texas and you will see what a sorry state Texas has become in many places. And it's too bad, given the illustrious history of Texas, its subtle natural beauty and truly friendly people.

And again, the aforementioned comments are from my travel companion Sir Rantsalot. He wants me to add that today we were again bombarded not only with lard-ass Limbaugh, Hannity who is fast becoming a Lou Costello lookalike, but with a new talk radio dipstick, the presidential loser Fred Thompson and his 13-year-old bride. Yes, they actually have a radio show with wall-to-wall rants against Obama. Lord, will it ever stop?

Well, Paul is turning beet red and I'm going to have to start pounding his chest. But more than that, Daisy is hyperventilating. She gets that way when Paul goes on one of his rants. Can't have that. And it is all about the dog.