Day 1
I left St Johns, AZ on Easter Sunday and headed east on I-40. SpentMonday night at Santa Rosa, NM.
Day 2
I went Monday the 24 to see if I could find some copper ores at Guadalupe Mt which is about 15 miles south of Santa Rosa on hwy 54. Unfortunately, the road was fenced off and it appears that the area is now a cattle ranch. Rats. So I drove to Santa Rosa state park, which is just north of the city. very pretty place. Pic below
I then went to Sumner Lake, which is about 37 miles south of Santa Rosa on Hwy 84, about ten miles north of Ft. Sumner, burial spot of Billy the Kid. It to was a pretty reservoir. I did some rockhounding in the area and found some nice agate material. It was a fun day. Both reservoirs are on the Pecos river.
Day 3
Left Santa Rosa and continued east on I 40. Just past Amarillo,TX took hwy 287 east to Goodett where I spent the night at the Old Cotton Gin RV park space 20. very nice place.
Day 4
Left the RV park and continued east on 287 to just past Wichita Fall, TX to hwy 82. I followed 82 east to Sherman,TX. Along the way was a ranch with a bunch of one hump camels. Saw about 20. Funny to see them. At Sherman took 75 north into Oklahoma to US 70 east all the way to De Queen, Ak. Just past there took 71 south to hwy 371 to Nashville. AK then took27 north to Murfreesboro. Just outside of town is Crater of the Diamonds State Park. I am spending the night outside the park because this is spring break and almost every camp area is full around here. Tomorrow I may strike it rich. today was a long driving day so I am ready for a big strike tomorrow.
Day 5
Spent three hours dry sieving and one and one half hours wet sieving at Craters of Diamonds State Park along with three or four hundred other folks on the 30 acres of ground. No diamonds were found while I was there. Two were reported found the day before. 22 were reported for the month of February. It turns out to be spring break and so the place was loaded with lots of families. Well getting tired of not finding anything I headed to Little Rock, Ak and spent the night just south of the big city. No sign of Bill or Hillary.
Day 6
I drove through Little Rock and caught I-40 east again. There was lots of flooding on the Arkansas, White and Mississippi Rivers as reported on the news. Saw where a tornado went through one area. I made it into Tennessee, going thrugh Memphis (no sign of Elvis either) where I spent the night just south of Nashville.
Day 7 Saturday
Last day of the drive. At Nashville, took I-65 north through Bowling Green to Louisville, Kentucky. I took I-71 from there to I-75 to I-275 and exit 69. It was then just a short distance to my sons house. Whew. Long drive. Traffic was really heavy from Memphis all the way to Cincinnati and the freeways had lots of potholes. Here is a pic of my grandson and son which made the trip so worth while.
