Willcox, Arizona is partially known for its wineries. The area produces 74% of the wine grapes in Arizona. We had wine tasted here in the past and were pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, because of the stay at home orders, the wineries were closed and not considered essential. The governor must not be a wine aficionado.
Santa Fe is the capitol of New Mexico and its’ fourth largest city. In 1846 the United States declared war with Mexico. New Mexico officially became part of the United States in 1848 by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Some could hardly understand why because the land was barren and the people were poor. Later, artists and writers were attracted to the area because of its dry climate and beautiful landscapes. It’s now considered one of the great art cities in America. It would have been nice to explore all the galleries. We will have to return after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
Eagle Nest is at about 8,300 feet elevation and was a 5 hour drive from Amarillo, Texas. Along the way we had either diesel fuel contamination with water affecting our fuel filter verses changes in altitude causing the engine to run rough under a load. After purging the fuel filter of possible water it ran better, but will still require a trip to Freightliner in Albuquerque.
Amarillo, Texas was a 1,200 mile drive across central United States from Nappanee, Indiana. Our goal was to avoid active early spring storms, so we ended up driving longer distances than usual to avoid bad weather. We wanted to visit family in Amarillo, but because of the worsening COVID-19 pandemic and increasing restrictions, we decided against it considering that 20-80% of those infected have none to only mild symptoms making it difficult to know if we were infected. We will try again the next time we are in the area.
Newmar is based out of Nappanee, Indiana. Many motorhomes are built in northern Indiana and primarily by Amish people. The last time we were here was in 2017 for service and annual maintenance. From Shepherdsville, Kentucky it was a four and a half hour drive to Nappanee.
Shepherdsville is a great location to explore Kentucky’s amazing Bourbon Trail. It’s also just south of Louisville offering all the big city comforts. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions were in full effect. Restaurants, events, Bourbon tasting rooms, or any social gatherings were closed while the country’s health care system prepared for a possible worsening pandemic scenario. From Cave City, Kentucky it was an easy drive north to Shepherdsville.
