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[Alaskan Snowbirds]

Susan and I retired a couple years ago and after three or four winters of heavy snow and the same of mostly rain in the summer we wanted warm, sun and dry.

We got on the ferry to Prince Rupert, B.C., on the 4th of November and headed south to find a camper and explore the southwest to see if could find a more winter base there.

We looked for a used FWC that met our short list requirements but didn’t have any luck. One was sold, one didn’t return our call and we found out one didn’t have the extended cab-over. When we stopped at the FWC factory in Woodland on December 3rd, Stan and Chicali offered the Grandby model they had on display and when we agreed Chicali, Lloyd and crew had it polished and on the truck that day.



Our shakedown trip lasted a little less than two weeks. It’s posted at:

(http://www.wanderthe...read.php?t=2041 and http://www.wanderthe...read.php?t=2044 )

We flew home to Juneau to spend Christmas with Darling Daughter in mid December, then came back south in mid January ’09 to wander in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California, usually with no plan until we had our morning coffee.

We left Ellensburg, WA, on January 28 and stayed the night at Pass Creek County Campground on I-5 just south of Cottage Grove, Oregon.

It was wet and windy. Pass Creek sits between I-5 and a set of railroad tracks, but there are nice showers and it’s convenient when you’re on the road late and don’t have time to spend looking for a spot.



The next day Mt. Shasta came out to welcome us to sunny California.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

After a good, inexpensive, steak dinner at The Cattlemen’s restaurant in Redding, we backtracked to stay at USFS Lakeshore East campground along upper “Lake” Shasta. The water level was way low and it was a river at the campground.





Lakeshore East has some nice campsites with views of the “lake” and is further off I-5 than Pass Creek, but still pretty close to the railroad and there are some houses and RV parks that can be seen from the campsites.

Next day we docked with “The Mothership” (FWC in Woodland, CA) to get some edge banding replaced and a door installed on the opening at the bottom of the cabinet under the sink. It was nearly noon when we got there and I thought we’d probably have to wait but Chicali and crew jumped right on it and we were out of there in about 45 minutes.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

We stopped at San Luis Reservoir campground that night. It’s far enough from the road to be quiet but close enough to be convenient with good views of the reservoir.


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In the morning we saw 14 Mule Deer along the road.

captainkettel stayed at San Luis after we did and included photos and write-up in his trip report at: http://www.wanderthe...ead.php?p=20441

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

After driving the San Joaquin Valley in heavy smog we were happy to get to Hole-in-the-Wall campground in the Mojave Preserve. Even though part of the campground had been burned and we had strong wind part of the night we still liked it there. Coyotes sang to us from under our window.





There were a lot of tent campers and few big rigs. The folks in this Sportsmobile had a tent set up in the tents only area.




Boondocking in disturbed areas of the preserve is allowed and, from what we saw, there’s good FWC habitat in the Mojave Preserve.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

We stopped at the RV park in Yuma where good friends (and Darling Daughter’s Godparents) R&R were spending the winter to get some medical work done in San Diego. This was not the natural habitat of a FWC.



We made a day trip to Algodones, Mexico, the next day and enjoyed our first border town experience but it’s not something either of us need to do again. The next time we cross the border we’ll keep going south.

Temperature in Yuma was 70 to 80 and that’s a warm summer day in Juneau. It was hard to imagine it was still snowing (a lot) in Juneau.

We wanted to investigate southern New Mexico and maybe do a little bird hunting there, so, after a 2 day visit in Yuma we headed east.

After a stop in Lordsburg for gas, hunting license and lunch at McD’s we ran south to the Coronado National Forest on the AZ/NM border.

Lots of Border Patrol rigs on the road and we thought this must be a big focus area for them. About 30 miles south of Animas headed for the hills on a dirt road that runs west into the Coronado National Forest and across the Arizona border.



The area looked great but we found heavy ice on the creeks and ponds as well as a sign warning of smuggling and illegal immigration in the area.



Since we weren’t looking for cold or trouble, we bailed out to find a warmer, more secure, spot.

We stopped to talk to a USBP officer and he said in the seven years he had been patrolling the area he had never heard of any violence in the area by smugglers or immigrants but had heard of many cases of theft, mostly food, clothing (especially warm coats) and guns, when they were left unattended. He also said locking stuff (especially firearms) in a vehicle in plain sight is an invitation to break a window to get at it. Then he pointed us toward a decent bird hunting spot he knew****smiley***. Nice guy.

We spotted this road-kill bobcat along NM 9 between Hachita and Columbus.



It was probably here for the jackrabbit and cottontail dinners.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

We drove east on NM 9 with Mexico about 5 miles to our right until we got to Columbus and Pancho Villa State Park.



New Mexico parks were a better value for us than those in other states and they have an annual pass that would make it even less expensive if you planned on staying long term or camping both summer and winter.

Sites with electric and water hookups and shower access were $14/night and sites with no hookups but with shower access were $10/night at the NM parks we stayed in. The grounds at PV were maintained very nicely but the restrooms could have used a little work.





There are cactus and trees in the campground and a museum with equipment and photos from Villa’s raid on Ft. Furlong and the following “punitive expedition” into Mexico.

Villa’s surprise came from behind this little hill…the only one for miles…guard must have taken a siesta.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

The hills in the background are in Mexico.



A lot of Fort Furlong has been restored and preserved. The building on the left, with arches in front, is the museum.




The headquarters building is pretty much the same as it was when Villa attacked in 1916, except for a little wear and tear and the protective cover.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

The next morning we kept going east on NM 9 and made a loop through El Paso, Las Cruces, and back to Rockhound State Park near Deming, just north of Columbus. Rockhound was full but the host found a great spot for us in the day use area.




Nothing finer than a moonrise over the outhouse!




We’re suckers for sunrises and sunsets (and moonrises and moonsets and….). Lots of owls around Rockhound and we enjoyed hearing them.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

Back at Pancho Villa the next day we reorganized the camper and spent time relaxing and visiting the museum.



This old “armored truck” used in the punitive expedition sure looks like the genesis of our modern tanks. I bet the mules they did have along kept busy pulling that big sucker with skinny, slick, tires out when it got stuck.



This prototype “Powerwagon” looked like it needed a prototype FWC to go with it.




We were envious of the seat those guys had… “Blackjack” Pershing probably rode up there on the way through Mexico…it had to be the best seat around.

[Alaskan Snowbirds]

There’s a Curtis Jenny displayed, complete with instructions for flying it. Sounds like it’s even more fun to fly than T-crafts and Supercubs.




I grilled Tilapia over the fire that night, we “wined a bit” and had a great sunset to eat by. Life is good.