Yuma, AZ - 11/11/19

Travel Itinerary:
11/11/19 - Monday
Depart From: Las Cruces, NM
Depart: 7:00 am
Odometer: 125,062
Arrive: 4:45 pm
Odometer: 125,582
Trip Mileage: 520
Trip Time: 9 hr 45 min

Destination:
Imperial Dam LTVA
Winterhaven, CA
GPS: 32.28950, -106.782978
Google Maps: 431 miles - 6 hr 46 min
Campsite: Herman's Horse Path
Cost: $180.00 (September 15 through April 15)

Gas Expense:
PIC QUIK #10
Las Cruces, NM
Price/Gal: $2.459
Gallons: 15.304
Amount: $37.63
Odometer: 125,062

Pilot #593
Tucson, AZ
Price/Gal: $2.509
Gallons: 20.173
Amount: $50.61
Odometer: 125,325

Comments:
So nice to be back in the desert again!

We will be dry camping at the Imperial Dam LTVA through early April 2020.

Imperial Dam LTVA is located about 25 miles north of Yuma, AZ

Looking forward to enjoying warm, sunny weather during this winter season.

Las Cruces, NM - 11/10/19

Las Cruces ("the crosses") is a city in New Mexico, on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County.
As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385.
The Las Cruces metropolitan area had an estimated population of 213,849 in 2017.

Las Cruces is the economic and geographic center of the Mesilla Valley, the agricultural region on the floodplain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch to the west side of El Paso, Texas.

Las Cruces is the home of New Mexico State University (NMSU), New Mexico's only land-grant university.

The city's major employer is the federal government on nearby White Sands Test Facility and White Sands Missile Range.

The Organ Mountains, 10 miles to the east, are dominant in the city's landscape, along with the Doña Ana Mountains, Robledo Mountains, and Picacho Peak.

Las Cruces lies 225 miles south of Albuquerque, 42 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas and 41 miles north of the Mexican border at Sunland Park.

Places to Visit
The interactive New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum features livestock and gardens.
On the Rio Grande, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park has trails and birdlife.
The Museum of Nature and Science includes desert animals and hands-on displays.
In an old depot, the Railroad Museum has model trains and explores the local impact of railways.

Space Travel
Spaceport America, which has corporate offices in Las Cruces, operates from 55 miles to the north, and has completed several successful manned, suborbital flights.
The city is also the headquarters for Virgin Galactic, the world's first company to offer sub-orbital spaceflights.

Travel Itinerary:
11/10/19 - Sunday
Depart From: Meade, KS
Depart: 9:05 am
Odometer: 124,498
Arrive: 9:05 pm
Odometer: 125,062
Trip Mileage: 564
Trip Time: 12 hr 0 min

Destination:
Walmart #5155 1550 S Valley Dr
Las Cruces, NM 88005
GPS: 32.28950, -106.782978
Google Maps: 431 miles - 6 hr 46 min
Campsite: WM
Cost: Free

Gas Expense:
Pilot #1083
Stratford, TX
Price/Gal: $2.349
Gallons: 20.299
Amount: $47.68
Odometer: 124,631

Corona Mini Mart
Corona, NM
Price/Gal: $2.999
Gallons: 20.079
Amount: $60.22
Odometer: 124,890

Comments:
Spent a very long day driving. Will try not to do this again!

While driving through a mountainous area of New Mexico on US-54, we encountered a 2 x 4 piece of wood on the highway. It was at night. It was too late and dangerous to avoid hitting it. Our Ford E-150 cargo van and trailer ran over it. Fortunately, no damage was done to either vehicle. Just one more reason I try to avoid driving at night.

I made a note to make sure the next time we travel to Las Cruces, NM on US-54 we have a full tank of fuel. While traveling south on US-54, south of I-40 to Las Cruces, we only encountered one fuel station, which was located in Corona, NM. We did need fuel and were fortunate to find the one in Corona.

The Walmart, located a short distance from I-10, is a popular place for RVs to spend the night. Only downside was the constant noise from traffic on I-10.

Meade Lake SP, KS - 11/09/19

Meade is a city in and the county seat of Meade County, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,721.

Named for Civil War General George G. Meade, the county contains the cities of Fowler, Meade and Plains. The Lone Tree Massacre in which a survey party, sent by the U. S. Government to survey land southwest of Dodge City, was attacked and killed by Cheyenne Indians on August 24, 1874.

Travel Itinerary:
11/09/19 - Saturday
Depart From: Emporia, KS
Depart: 11:10 am
Odometer: 124,192
Arrive: 6:55 pm
Odometer: 124,498
Trip Mileage: 306
Trip Time: 6 hr 45 min

Destination:
Meade Lake State Park
Meade, KS
GPS: 37.169944, -100.433990
Google Maps:  miles -  hr  min
Campsite: SB7
Cost: $29.00
(camping fee = 21.00 + 3.00 processing fee + 5.00 daily vehicle fee)

Gas Expense:
ShortStop #13
Emporia, KS
Price/Gal: $2.279
Gallons: 12.450
Amount: $28.37
Odometer: 124,192

Casey's General Store #3458
Pratt, KS
Price/Gal: $2.329
Gallons: 18.649
Amount: $43.43
Odometer: 124,390

Comments:
We arrived at the John North Ford dealer in Emporium, KS at 7:30 a.m. The service department opens at 8:00 a.m.

The service rep was kind enough to schedule our Ford E-150 cargo van for service, despite having a full schedule for a Saturday.

They replaced the cooling fan on the engine and we were on our way by 11:10 a.m.

Kudos to John North Ford for their excellent customer service.

On our way through Kansas, while looking for a place to spend the night, we discovered a delightful state park in Meade, KS. There are several campgrounds within the park to choose from.

Emporia, KS - 11/08/19

Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139.

Emporia was founded by five men from Lawrence in 1857, when Kansas was still a territory battling over slavery. The name of the city was derived from ancient Carthaginian Africa.

The town charter prohibited gambling and the sale of liquor, making Emporia the first prohibition town in the world – 61 years before National Prohibition.

By the 1880s, Emporia had established two colleges. Several of the downtown buildings date to this time period.

In 1953, Emporia became the first city in the nation to celebrate Veterans Day, thanks to the idea of a local shoe salesman.

The Lyon County History Center houses one of the state’s largest genealogy collections. Learn about the families who built Emporia at the Lyon County History Center and the Howe House and Welsh Farmstead, built in 1867.

Several local landmarks are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Downtown Historic District, Howe House, the Granada Theater, Kress Building, former College of Emporia campus, and stone arch bridge.

Emporia has also been home to several notable people over the years, including world-renowned author and editor William Allen White. White’s stately historic home, Red Rocks, is available for public tours.

For more information on Emporia click here: Emporia.

Historic Attractions:

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Travel Itinerary:
11/08/19 - Thursday
Depart From: Jacksonville, IL
Depart: 10:55 am
Odometer: 123,805
Arrive: 6:55 pm
Odometer: 124,192
Trip Mileage: 387
Trip Time: 8 hr 00 min

Destination:
Walmart #557
Emporia, KS
GPS: 35.07948, -107.55738
Google Maps: 385 miles - 6 hr 5 min
Campsite: Walmart
Cost: Free

Gas Expense:
QIK-N-EZ #57
Jacksonville, IL
Price/Gal: $2.549
Gallons: 21.041
Amount: $53.63
Odometer: 123,808

Pilot #252
Kearney, MO
Price/Gal: $2.299
Gallons: 25.819
Amount: $59.36
Odometer: 124,058

Comments:
As we were approaching the entrance to Walmart, I noticed a loud noise comming from the engine. Everytime I accelerated this noise would occur.

Once we were settled in at the Walmart, I looked for a Ford dealer in Emporia, KS. There was only one that I located; John North Ford.

Our plan was to take our Ford E-150 cargo van to the dealer early the next morning to get it checked out.

Jacksonville, IL - 11/06/19

Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois. The population was 19,446 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County. It is home to Illinois College, Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.

Jacksonville is the host city for Eli Bridge Company, the world's oldest manufacturer of Ferris Wheels and other amusement rides. W.E. Sullivan founded the firm with the introduction of his first portable "Big Eli" Wheel on the Jacksonville Square on May 23, 1900.

Annual Events
Prairie Land Heritage Museum Steam Show & Fall Festival Days
See horse-powered equipment, antique tractors, gas & steam engines, demonstrations on bailing, blacksmithing and more. Steam train rides, very large flea market and food. Last full weekend in September.

Ron Milton Race of Champions MOWA Sprints
Head over to the Jacksonville Speedway for an exciting night of racing. 305s, Mods, Street, and Micros.

Pumpkin Festival
This festival is held in late October on the Historic Downtown Square.
Activities have included a petting zoo, kids’ corner, apple and pumpkin activities, smallest and biggest pumpkin contest, pie eating contest, pumpkin drop and so much more!

For more information on Jacksonville, Illinois click here: Jacksonville.

Travel Itinerary:
11/06/19 - Wednesday
Depart From: Chicago, IL
Depart: 1:05 pm
Odometer: 123,579
Arrive: 5:00 pm
Odometer: 123,805
Trip Mileage: 226
Trip Time: 3 hr 55 min

Destination:
Jacksomville, IL

Comments:
Will spend two days visiting with relatives before continuing on our journey to Yuma, AZ.