Texas, New Mexico, Arizona

 We were flying through the states, first all the way through Texas, from Abilene in the East to El Paso in the West,

Lots of oil industry along the I-20 

We saw typical Texas which is marked with 

oil production everywhere.

Work camps along the I-20 in Texas

Bustling El Paso city view

then crossing into New Mexico,  Las Cruces, Deming

Welcome sign

A landmark greeted us along the I-10 north of Las Cruces, 

towering over a the rest area where we always stop on the way home.

Roadrunner sculpture along the Interstate 10

And crossing into Arizona, and another time zone (Mountain Time), driving through Benson to Tucson. 

I-10 West, desert landscape

Desert landscape opening up in New Mexico and finally cacti, lots of Saguaro in Arizona. 

Formations at Texas Canyon near Benson

Saguaro Cacti
 Ending our marathon run in Why (near Ajo, AZ)

Free camping on BLM land near Why, AZ

We also met with our friends from Quebec. 

They run into us at a rest area while we where 

just preparing to have lunch. 

How nice to see each other again! 

Together we continued to the BLM land near Why, AZ 

where we will rest for a couple of days until we start out onto our last leg to Holtville, CA

 Some real birds observed on a rest area along the road: 

Northern Loggerhead, Cactus Wren, Curved-billed Thrasher

Northern Loggerhead

Cactus Wren

Curved-billed Thrasher

Translation for my German readers

Die letzten Tage war ein Marathon. Wir durchquerten Texas von Abilene im Osten bis nach El Paso im Westen. Die Landschaft ist dort überall von der Ölindustrie geprägt. Von El Paso wechselten wir von Texas nach New Mexico über und fuhren an Las Cruces und Deming vorbei. Heute morgen erreichten wir dann Arizona und auch eine weitere Zeitgrenze. Es ging von Central in Mountain Time über. Das heißt wieder eine Stunde zurückstellen. Die Landschaft ist typisch für den Südwesten. Der Himmel tiefblau und die Temperaturen stiegen stündlich. Überall wachsen Kakteen. Auf der letzten Strecke wurden wir an einem Rastplatz von Freunden aus Quebec eingeholt. Gemeinsam legten wir die letzten Kilometer zum Zielort zurück. Das BLM Land (Büro für Landmanagement) nahe dem Ort "Why", auf dem man bis zu 14 Tage gratis campen darf. Hier werden wir nun ein paar Tage stehen und uns ausruhen, bevor wir dann die letzten Stunden nach Holtville in Kalifornien fahren werden.

Vögel: Wüger, Kaktus Zaunkönig, Rotsteiß-Spottdrossel

Coyote Howls East Campground

 We are staying on a nearby campground for the last night down here in Arizona.

Coyote Howls East Campground, Why, AZ

(Don't mistake it for Coyote Howls West campground which offers full hookup) 

Our spot right by a water faucet and close to the showers

We came here after nearly a week of boon-docking for free on BLM land close by.

Our idea was to stay one night (for $20), get rid of garbage and empty our tanks.

And after a good nights sleep we will be taking off for home tomorrow morning.

Peter inspecting another shower house

While we walked around the perimeter it hit us that this would be a very good alternative to our old stomping grounds in the desert near Holtville, CA. 

The dry-camping area is huge. Lots of space between the rigs.

The fence around the campground is 2 miles long.

The sites are on firm, level ground 

The (East) campground offers a lot pull through dry-camping sites. There are several onsite dumps, shower houses, mini golf,  big library, club house, WiFi, trails nearby and more. Many water faucets are dispersed around the area. 

Adding up all our expenses (hauling water and driving to the dump every week) and comparing it with staying on this campground: this here would be Boondocking Deluxe.

We seriously consider to stay here again in the future. 

Bye-bye and hope we see's again!

Sunset over the mountains in the west

Next stop - WHY in Arizona

 Thursday morning we packed up and moved further 

on to a small town called: WHY (Arizona). The roads were lined with a lot of flowers.

Wild Lupines along the highway

 Searching out online I found a page from AZDOT where there was information that this is made on purpose. Between 1980 and 1993 they planted a lot of native seeds. 

More about this in the following 

Link: Sowing-seeds-beautiful-highways

Globe mallow, Penstemon and Brittle Bush

Crossing the flood swollen Gila River, near Buckeye, AZ

Lots of flowers after the rainfalls

Rain brought out the green colours in the desert

Ajo, AZ Church "Immaculate Conception"

Driving through Ajo, AZ we recognized this small church from our last visit in the area in 2012.

Nearby "Why", AZ there is a BLM area where we can stay  up to 14 days. We visited this area 11 years ago and I am glad that I get another chance. 

Now I can go looking for different birds around here.

The rain has made the desert incredibly green and lots of birds were busy in the shrubbery. While walking only a short while right before sunset and in the early morning I found:

Phainopepla, Mockingbirds, Black-throated Sparrows and a Lincoln's Sparrow

Phainopepla, male

Phainopepla, female

Mockingbird

Black-throated Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Don't read further if you hate snakes!

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I got a photo of a beautiful Ornate Tree Lizard 

that was waiving good-bye at me before we left our spot in Quartzsite. 

Ornate Tree Lizard, including tail up to 21 inches long (55 cm))

Bye-bye!