We were scheduled to leave Braselton on Friday, January 26, but due to a plumbing issue, we decided not to rush and started the trip on Saturday. This would give us time to pack and we would miss the horrible Friday traffic going through Atlanta. Even though we had time to pack, we started remembering things we did not pack before we hit Atlanta!
Our initial plan was to take several “leisurely” days at about 350 miles per day so we would not burn ourselves out early. Because of the late departure, we drove through Alabama, into Mississippi, turning north to catch I-40 in Memphis, then due west into Arkansas, a total of about 630 miles before stopping in Conway, on the west side of Little Rock for the evening. We awoke early and hit the road, with the intention of finishing Arkansas, Oklahoma, and getting through the Texas panhandle. We just made it into New Mexico before deciding to stop for the evening (660 miles). Because we were now ahead of our reservations in Nevada, we are taking the slow(er) road and spent the afternoon in Lava Beds (El Malpais) National Monument, near Grants, NM. We only have about 600 miles to Amargosa Valley, NV, our next stop.
After stopping at the visitors center and getting some information, we headed for the canyon and the Lava Beds. We decided to take the hike to La Ventana Natural Arch, carved into the limestone cliffs alongside the lava beds.
Cathy posed with some cacti trailside. The cacti were taller than her!
The views looking up and down the canyon…
We did see abundant evidence of bear activity on and near the trail along with a very large set of cat tracks in the snow. (Cougars are found in this area). Fortunately we saw neither on this trek. There are also elk in the flatlands a mile or so down the trail.
We wound up driving about 30 miles into the monument (NPS) / conservation area (BLM) before finding the motorhome a friendly turnaround as described by the young park service ranger – NOT! She must have thought we were driving a van.
We finally found a wide spot in the road where the highway crews were stockpiling sand for ice/snow road conditions and, with Cathy’s guidance, managed to turn the rig around, only totally blocking the roadway for several minutes. We squeezed to within six inches of the fence on the right and (after backing up a few feet with the truck attached) missed the fence on the left side of the road by inches.
There is a longer, more intense hike that leads to a volcanic crater, through the lava fields and to some underground lava tubes that we may take in the morning. We would need special tools and clothing (and a permit) to climb down into the tubes so we opted out (for this trip) but will post pictures if make it close. UPDATE: We are going to move closer to Amargosa Valley so I won’t have such a long drive the day before the Death Valley race . .
The actual lava flow is immense and flows for miles. We did manage to find some volcanic rocks for Jason!
Travelling with the Schinglers 
Wow! That’s a lot of driving! Rich and I turned in at 500 miles when we retired. I can’t do that anymore though. My body needs more breaks now.
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We were going to stay an extra day here in NM but then I would have to drive 600+ to my next destination. I don’t think that would be a good way to rest the day before the Death Valley race . . . going for 400 tomorrow and 200+ on Wednesday. slow slow slow . .
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