Name

 

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What's in a Name, But a Game

The Game ? if you spot your Name you have to reply

Our first stop was the Maverick Fuel Station. As you know, we use three different refueling cards:

• TSD – Open Roads, connected to our bank account

• Mudflap, connected to a credit card

• Maverick NITRO Card, also connected to our bank account

Even though Maverick is part of the Open Roads network, we chose to use the NITRO card because it offers a better discount.

One important thing to remember: in Arizona, there's an 8% fuel tax when using high-flow diesel nozzles. In the photo, you can see two pumps. I’m using the low-flow pump — which is not subject to the 8% fuel tax. It might take a few extra minutes to fill up, but that small delay saves us an additional 8% on fuel. $3.07 on Gas Buddy and $3.06 on Open Roads network

Our route took us east on US 60, we have been on this road many times in the pass, but this time, the landscape has been totally change due to the climate. No snow and range for many months.

This time of day you will always see something different along the road up ahead.

All of the vehicles were Unmarked Sherriff  and county law enforcement. At least 6 trucks. The only thing we saw was a female suspect on the side of the road and a mid size car.

Pie Town — Did Someone Say PIE?

It was many years ago when we first came to Pie Town. I originally learned about this quirky little town from a segment on CBS News Sunday Morning. Turns out, Pie Town holds a Pie Festival once a year — how could we resist?

But the pies aren’t the only reason to visit. Our good friends and fellow Alfa Owners, Carla and Terry Noble, live here. Susan and I spent a week visiting them on their beautiful property. Their nearest neighbor? Half a mile away — and there’s no cell phone service out there.

It was peaceful, remote, and filled with great conversation… and yes, plenty of pie.

As we continued our journey east, we crossed over the Continental Divide.
It’s one of those quiet milestones that makes you pause — not because there’s a dramatic marker or a grand monument (though sometimes there is), but because of what it symbolizes. From this point on, all rivers flow eastward, heading to the Atlantic instead of the Pacific.

The landscape around us shifted subtly. The air felt a bit cooler, the sky stretched wider, and the mountains began to roll into plains. It’s a reminder that every journey has its turning points — not just in direction, but in spirit.

We pulled over briefly to take it in. No cell service, no traffic — just us, the road, and the open sky. It’s the kind of moment that sticks with you, even long after the miles have passed.

Our overnight stop? Elks Lodge in Las Cruses, NM.

Ok, did you catch the Game ? What's in a Name ? 

Karla Noble

Terry Noble

Who will be the Next name in the Game

Safe Travels and Journeys 

Susan, tilly, Dakota and me

DaGirls Rv, & Gus Da Bus

Time is Short

 So, what do you do?

We travel. Visit friends, family, and explore unique places. At least, that’s what we’ll be doing this summer.

We’re planning a trip to Bandera, Texas to visit Linda and Jeff, and spend a little time seeing what’s changed in the town since we were last there. It's always interesting to revisit places after a while—you never know what you’ll find.

Here’s the plan (at least for now):
We’re hoping to head out on Wednesday, traveling east on US60 until we reach Socorro, NM. From there, we’ll take a right turn and head south on I-25. The goal is to wrap up the first leg of our trip at the Elks Lodge in Las Cruces, NM.

We’re hoping there’s space at the lodge—it’s first come, first served, so fingers crossed we arrive early enough to grab a spot.

So, enjoy some previous photos of New Mexico 

Safe Travels and Journeys

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

DaGirls Rv, Gus Da Bus.

Little Maintenance Time

As always, maintenance is high on our list of priorities. You might wonder why. After all, I could just hire someone to handle it. Sure, that’s an option—but would they do it correctly? Besides, I have the time and the capability to take care of it myself.

One of the key tasks is inspecting power cords. Start by examining both the plug and the receptacle. Look for any discoloration or damage on the blades. Then, inspect the inside of the receptacle—are the sockets tight, clean, and free of debris?

If either the plug or receptacle has been replaced, take the time to open them up and inspect everything thoroughly. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to electrical components.

Here’s an example: back in May of 2019, we were attending a rally in Fredericksburg, TX. On our way out, we stopped in Kerrville, TX, and stayed at the Elks Lodge for a few days. The lodge offered electric and water hookups, but no dump station.

Everything was working just fine—until we suddenly lost power. As usual, I jumped into troubleshooting mode to track down the issue and get it resolved.

If you look at the receptacle, you can see the reason for the failure in the third photo. It’s clear there was a problem. The first and second photos show the inside of the plug, which helped confirm what I suspected. Always good to document these things—what you find can be just as useful for learning as for fixing.

Burnt Plug

Burnt Plug

Reason for failure

After about an hour of work, everything was reassembled—and just like that, we had power again inside the coach. It’s always satisfying to track down an issue, make the repair, and see things working the way they should.

That’s exactly why ongoing maintenance matters. A repair might hold for a while, but it doesn’t mean it’ll last forever without rechecking. Catching problems early can prevent much bigger failures down the road.

Monday, May 8, 2025, was inspection day for that original fix. After all these years of service, it was finally time to take a closer look. And sure enough, the wear and tear was evident. Below, you can see the results—heat damage, fatigue, and signs of aging that can’t be ignored.

Time to replace and repair.

You will also notice I am using a new style of plug and Ferrell Crimps.

Press here to see the New Plug/Receptable I am now using. 

Safe Travel and Journeys 

DaGirls Rv, Gus Da Bus

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me.

Trying Something New: Our First Indio FRVA Rally

This January, we decided to shake things up a bit and attend the Indio FRVA Rally—something totally new and different for us. As usual, we jumped in as volunteers, and before we knew it, we were deep into setting up chairs and tables. It turned into a bit more work than we expected!

Looking back, things might have gone more smoothly if the team leads had stood their ground and said, “We’ve got too many tables and chairs—not, too few volunteers!” When we arrived with Dave, there were no other volunteers around yet. Fortunately, Rudy and Beate showed up just in time to help out and bring some much-needed support.

Jeff and Linda were also at the rally, but we didn’t cross paths too often during the event. Still, we were able to get together one evening in the Venables’ RV, where we all enjoyed some good company and shared laughs. It was definitely one of the highlights of the week.

One great feature of the rally was the wide range of seminars. Topics included engines, chassis, driving techniques, and RV equipment—there was something for everyone. Alongside the seminars, there were plenty of vendors, which led to a very timely discovery for us.

I struck up a conversation with Jim, the General Manager at Pete’s Road Service, about our tires, which were nearing the 8-year mark. It was clearly time for an upgrade. We ended up with an amazing deal—better than what we could’ve found in Oregon, and with no sales tax to boot!

We chose Toyo M170 Load Range H tires, and the total came to $3,250 installed. Even better, they did the full installation right at the Alfa Roadrunners Rally in Quartzsite, which was incredibly convenient.

Susan and I camel riding

Dave and Willie Camel Riding

Women's Lunch

Jeff finally got his camel ride

New Shoes

Rebuilding Traditions: The Alfa Sign Revival

One of the unfortunate casualties at the rally site was the iconic Alfa sign that usually marks our gathering spot. It had seen better days—and sadly, this time it was beyond saving. But in true Alfa spirit, we weren’t about to let that tradition fade away.

Armed with a shovel, a rake, some white paint, a roll of string, and a few extra hands, we set out to bring it back to life. It didn’t take long for a team to form—folks pitching in with tools, ideas, and elbow grease. There’s something about shared effort that really brings a group together, and this was one of those moments.

We carefully outlined the new sign, shaped the letters with the rake and string, and brightened them up with fresh paint. It wasn’t just a sign—it was a symbol that the Alfa community is about showing up, stepping in, and making things better together.

By the time we were finished, the new Alfa sign stood proudly once again—simple, homemade, and full of heart. It was one of those satisfying, quiet victories that remind us why we love coming to these rallies year after year.

Currently we are at our Cabin in Show Low. We are seeing our doctors, working and prepping to leave for our summer journey. Before I leave, let me show you a few things that went on here at the Happy Cabin:

Safe Travels and Journeys

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and Me