On the road: Mountains, Deserts, and Saguaros

Sunrise at Seminole Canyon State Park, TX

We planned this trip three months ago and dreaded the I-10 drive across west Texas. We have driven it three times in the past three years, so it was a no-brainer to drive U.S 90 through southwest Texas. We could not drive through Uvalde without stopping to pay tribute to young lives lost in 2023. There are small shrines around a fountain and murals of each Robb Elementary student lost to the mass shooting.

After Uvalde, we camped one night at Seminole Canyon State Park and loved sleeping with the van's sliding door open to the cool air, no screen needed.

Pecos River High Bridge, U.S. Highway 90

Before reaching Marfa, we made a fun stop and chuckled at the sign, especially the last line.

In planning this trip, our first reservation made was for Indian Lodge in Davis Mountain State Park.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 and recently reopened after renovations, we checked this off our bucket list. It was fun exploring the various terraces and courtyards. The tarantula was a bonus.

aoudads resting on the hillside behind the lodge

Shelter built by CCC at the end of Skyline Drive

We were up early the next day and really enjoyed the scenic drive through the Davis Mountains in the cool low 60s temperature with the windows down. We didn't encounter any other vehicles, but did have to slow down for wild turkeys in the road.

Morning sunrise from a terrace at Indian Lodge

Reluctantly, we joined the throngs of 18-wheelers on I-10 to get through El Paso and Las Cruces, NM. When we reached Deming, NM and got off the interstate, we made our way to City of Rocks State Park - a place we discovered in the dark on a previous trip. We made a side trip to Silver City, a thriving tourist town with lots of public art. Back at the campground for a near full moon and sleeping with the van door open again all night.

5:00 a.m. with the setting moon framed between two outcroppings - City of Rocks SP

I sprinkled cremains of two sisters in the desert

City of Rocks in the early morning sunlight.

On to Arizona . . . I eagerly scanned for my first glimpse of saguaros as we approached Tucson. We made a visit to each unit of Saguaro National Park.