01.-16.7.2008: Ciudad Obregon - San Carlos - El Paso - Texas Panhandle After leaving Huatobampito, Helen drove to the airport at Ciudad Obregon and parked up for the night. There was a heavy storm and Winnie got hit by a bolt of lightning that was so loud, Helen jumped off the seat!! Later, during torrential rain at 3-45 am, the alcove window leaked and Helen didn't get any more sleep! The next morning Kirsten didn't arrive at the scheduled 6-55 am but at 8-30am. She was loaded down with very heavy bags full of goodies and was really happy to be back. We drove to San Carlos and stayed at a free camping spot on the beach for 2 nights so that we could both have a rest day. We managed to find space for all the food etc that Kirsten had brought back with her and then she went out to take some photos. But she fell over in the mud from the overnight rain and had mud everywhere. Helen took a photo but Kirsten won't put it on the website because she says she is too fat!!! All that food she has eaten in Germany! On Friday we tried to use the wi-fi at a nearby campground but it didn't work so we headed north. It took us two days to reach the border near El Paso and we managed to get back into the US without any problems. We stopped in El Paso for the night and got an oil change done the next day. Then we headed up to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. We stayed at a rest area overnight and ended up selling our 5 gallon tank of petrol to some Californians who hadn't got enough to get them to the next petrol station. The next day we drove north and found a free RV park with water and electricity plus a dump station. We stayed for 5 nights so we could use the computer and start getting up to date. It may be free but you have to put up with noisy trains. (Beggars can't be choosers!) Further north is Cadillac Ranch - a field off the highway with upended cadillacs that people have spray painted. Nevertheless, it attracts a lot of onlookers! Next stop was Lake Meredith National Recreation area for one night but the lake had virtually disappeared. The boat ramps went down to grass and trees!!!! Looks like an environmental disaster! Then we found another RV park with free hookups and a dump at Borger. Texas has a number of these free RV places for which we are very grateful! We spent time at the local library so Kirsten could download information for her new website and Helen walked around with a patch on her eye looking like a forlorn pirate because something was really irritating it and she had to keep it closed. The photo looks terrible!