Serrano Campground is a great camp site on Big Bear Lake. Part of the San Bernardino National Forest. October is perfect time of year to camp here. We stayed Friday and Saturday night. Blue skies. Warm sun. Cool, crisp mountain air.

Late afternoon Friday we took a short drive into Big Bear Lake Village. Explored local shops, like Simply Irrresistible and The Leather Depot. Then, a great dinner at Sweet Basil Bistro...desert was warm mini donuts with butterscotch, chocolate, and raspberry...

Visited relatives in Vegas, special occasion. We stayed at the Oasis RV Resort. Very convenient location for us. Full hook-ups. Nice pool. Store. Internet. Even full bar. Mostly parking lot...but with a few grassy areas, good spacing, and very well maintained. If you're staying in Las Vegas...great RV site.

Not much in Blythe. Hot, hot in summer. Even the KOA was a bit disappointing, cause enjoying the Colorado River was nearly impossible...held hostage by a couple families that staked-out entire access area with enormous day tents. Still, the drive from Phoenix to home was just too long, so we decided to stay...half way point. The KOA did have a decent pool, which we enjoyed. And we did discover the China Garden Restaurant nearby, which made for great take-out in the Bambi...does not get much better...

In Scottsdale, we stayed at one of our favorite hotels: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. It's pet friendly, and summertime rates make it affordable. Beautiful surroundings and pool. Great room and staff. Staff helped us find convenient place in employee parking lot to park the Bambi.

After spending time in the pool, we enjoyed dinner with relatives at nearby Pure Sushi. Then finished off back at the hotel bar, enjoying a night cap on the balcony looking out over the desert...

A majestic place on our trip...Catalina State Park, inside the city of Tucson. Can you believe that?

Lots of highway construction on drive in...and, summer heat...but when we arrived, at near sunset...heaven!

Jack rabbit, road runners. Great ranger station. Just a beautiful place to camp. And the view...spectacular.

On long drive to Las Cruces, south on US-25, we stopped briefly at Elephant Butte Lake State Park and drove through the town of Truth or Consequences...just could not resist names of either.

In Las Cruces, we stayed at the Las Cruces KOA, where we delighted in one of nicest pools on this trip. We enjoyed local Mexican food, winetasting at St. Clair Winery & Bistro, and charming Old Mesilla Village.

Sad to say, but at least on this trip we did not find much to be excited about in Albuquerque. We tried to explore the Historic Route 66 section along Central Avenue downtown, but could find little of the charm described in our guide book. Next, we visited Old Town, which was nice...listened to a local outdoor band, shopped a little...purchased our first bunch of hot dried peppers. But mostly, choose to stay at our campground, the Bernalillo KOA.

Just to be on safe side, I did replace...

Well, five nights in the Bambi and we were ready for night in a hotel. Plus, we were celebrating a wedding anniversary. So, kinda last minute, we checked out Santa Fe hotels in our Lonely Planet Guide...Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque. Top of list we found within walking distance of historic district: Inn on the Alemeda. Made call and they had dog friendly room available. Booked it.

Parking was a bit of challenge, but managed (thanks to small size of Bambi) and then we checked into...

Out of Durango, we took US-160 east through Pagosa Springs to US-84 back down into northern New Mexico. The drive here, the country, is just beautiful. Horse ranches, elk, longhorn cattle, handsome farms. Water is everywhere. Each new turn more beautiful than the last.

Not long after US-84 transitions to US-64 in New Mexico, we crossed the Continental Divide, which is where rainfall divides...to the west, it drains to the Pacific Ociean, to the east, the Atlantic. Approaching Taos,...

We loved the town, the area. And the Durango KOA. Friendly, scenic, nice laundry, close to town...but not too close, free pancakes by the creek.

After we set up, and before heading to old town for a night out, got some good advice from folks at KOA about best place to get new tire. We agreed on trying local Walmart Superstore.

I brought the flat tire with me in the Jeep. Gave them the size, and asked if they had Michelins...wanting to avoid the Goodyear Marathon. But,...

From Gallop we left early, north on US-491, to traverse the Navajo Indian Reservation during cooler temperature. We pulled over to side of road a couple times to photograph some of the great natural monuments. You do really get the impression that this area was once under water a long, long time ago...driving on the floor of an ancient sea.

Pulling back onto highway, we experienced our first trailer flat tire....driver side. We were not going fast, nor was the side of the road rough....

A needed stop on way to Durango. Did enjoy the margaritas at historic El Rancho Hotel, as well as its lobby filled with photos of Hollywood stars from glorious days gone by.

And, liked our campsite number...

Painted Desert Visitor Center and Painted Desert Inn, Interstate 40, Exit 311. The inn is a National Historic Landmark within Petrified Forest National Park. The building functions only as a museum and bookstore today.

Awesome views.

We did not do the much longer drive through Petrified Forest this first time, but the stop was great nonetheless. And, interesting dinosaurs spotted on way through Holbrook.

One of our favorite towns.

On this trip, we actually discovered KOA, which stands for "Kampgrounds of America (KOA)." We'd seen them previously but for some reason never stayed there...until now. The Flagstaff KOA is a flagship KOA - it was just great! The setting, their friendliness, the little wonderful events, like popcorn and root beer floats at free movie time, (often) free pancake breakfast, etc. We are now members and find KOA very, very convenient - the President's...

We just finished our longest adventure in the Bambi - 13 days with some 18 planned stops and 2200 miles - a Southwestern tour.

Attached is a map of our trip, which took us through Needles, Flagstaff, Gallup, Durango, Taos, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Blythe.

Our first stay was Needles at the good Needles Marina Park. We've stayed here back in 2006 on our trip to Yosemite. Did not disappoint. Our campsite was again along the grass on the...