Hardships of RV Travel
Bert Gildart: Hard core travel, the type in which you drive from sunrise to sunset is not conducive to writing—or taking photographs.
After departing New Orleans, we traveled through Louisiana, skirting tornadoes that sadly resulted in a number of deaths to our north. But now, more than anything, we live with the nightmare of traveling Interstate 10 through the eastern portion of that state, for that’s what directly affected us. In all of our travels Janie and I agree that we have never experienced a worse road.
Rich Luhr, who publishes Airstream Life Magazine, says he rates roads on a scale of 1-10, using as his criteria for roughness, the number of objects he and his family find scattered on the floor of their Airstream…
Each time we stopped, we found lots, not only because the road undulated but because it was full of endless chuck holes that went on for well over 100 miles. You couldn’t avoid them. What’s more, we also found the stem of the black water valve on the outside of our Airstream was bent. An easy fix, yes, but national roads shouldn’t be that way—and we rate the road a minus one.
Though we thoroughly enjoyed New Orleans and the beauty of the plantations, it was a joy to leave I-10 behind, enter Texas and then drive their version of I-10. Everyone apparently, but us, was aware of the conditions, for when we stopped at the Texas Welcome Center, the fellow behind the desk said “We hear complaints about I-10 every day.”
Forgive my going on, but let me also add that I-10 in Louisiana had no Rest Stops, so it was a good thing we tow our restroom with us. When needed, we simply pulled way off the side of the road, turning on our flashers.
In short, avoid I-10. Interstate 20 is to the north and the extra miles it might add is worth the time.
We’re now in El Paso, and will complete the last leg of our drive to Tucson. That shouldn’t take more than 4 to 5 hours, so we should be there by mid afternoon. We’ll be spending about a week in the area, first taking in the famous Arizonia-Sonoran Living Desert Museum. Several years ago I wrote a story about Gila monsters for National Wildlife Magazine, and got to know the resident herpetologist. He allowed us in the cage with a Gila monster and that was a nerve-wracking experience to say the least. Perhaps we’ll find him again. (Note: Gila monsters don’t come galloping out after you. Essentially they’re shy and reclusive.)
While in the area, we’ll be touring Saguaro National Park, then traveling to Organ Pipe National Monument to camp. All these areas inform on specific types of desert conditions, and we’ll be anxious to tell you what we find.
I’ll also be telling you about a new book Janie and I have produced; about some wonderful accolades Rich Luhr shared with me about my story on Bosque Del Apache just out in his magazine. Then, real soon, I want to report on a lovely lady back in Bay Bayou who shared with me her secrets for meeting people who share similar interests.
Stay tuned!
