In October, I drove from Kearney, Nebraska to New Jersey to spend time with Mark and then we both took the trailer to his sister’s ranch in Texas for Christmas. While in New Jersey, my sweet ginger cat, Tillie died and I had Mohs surgery for skin cancer on the back of my neck. Being with Mark made these difficult events much easier to deal with. I spent Thanksgiving in Virginia with my son Matt, his wife Gwen and her mother Diana. My daughter, Michelle couldn’t make it for Thanksgiving but I visited her in her new house in Philadelphia. Due to COVID-19, I wasn’t able to see all the people I would have like, but it was a great visit, none the less.

 
Beautiful, sweet Tillie got very sick and had to be euthanized.

I had Mohs surgery for Basal Cell skin cancer on my neck.

On December 13, Mark and I left with the trailer and spent five days traveling to Texas. We stayed two nights at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas so we could spend a day searching in the mud for diamonds. No luck but a fun day.

On the road heading to Texas. This was Mark’s first time towing the trailer.

Hunting for diamonds in the cold and mud at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

We spent a wonderful three weeks visiting with Faith and Ginny. Mark and I looked at several properties in anticipation of moving here in a couple years. We made an offer on a 25-acre parcel but the sellers wouldn’t budge from their highly inflated asking price. Maybe next year, they’ll reconsider.

I really make myself at home when I’m on the ranch.

Johnny really likes Mark.

Johnny and I have a special relationship, too!

Faith training Johnny to herd with her donkey since she doesn’t own cattle.

The cattle belong to the neighbor but it doesn’t hurt to get a horse used to being near them.

Faith could have done a Marlboro ad back in the day.

Christmas with the Redmans. L-R: Ginny, Faith, me, Mark. Front left is Harley and right is Bull who were more interested in us than the camera.

Gal getting a pedicure from the farrier.

I never get tired of the Texas sunsets. These two photos were taken from Faith’s front porch.

After New Years, Mark flew home to New Jersey and I headed west again, stopping first in Amarillo, Texas. I only spent two nights at Amarillo KOA because there really isn’t anything to do here but see Cadillac Ranch, a roadside attraction on I-40/old Route 66. There are ten tailfin-style Cadillacs buried upright up to their doors in an open field and spray painting graffiti on them has become a tradition.

My RV site at Amarillo KOA.

Cadillac Ranch where ten classic Caddies are buried standing upright in a field alongside I-40/old Route 66.

Spray painting these cars has been a tradition nearly from the start in 1974.

A couple adds their own artwork to a Cadillac. It won’t last long though because someone else will paint over it within the hour.

My 1,500-mile drive from Kearney, Nebraska to Beachwood, New Jersey took six days.

The 1,500-mile trip from Beachwood, New Jersey to Whitesboro, Texas plus another 500 miles to Amarillo.

Next post: Northern New Mexico and Arizona.

 

My name is Lindsay Reed and I’m a photographer and retired graphic artist with a passion for both lighthouses and road trips. I am living as a full-time solo RVer in my 33 foot Grand Design Reflection Fifth Wheel trailer and plan to spend the next few years traveling the U.S. and Canada photographing not only lighthouses, but everything else there is to see in this wonderful land. I hope you enjoy my blog and will follow my adventures in the months and years ahead.