5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE

No matter how hard we looked, we could not find Perrier and yogurt anywhere. Damn! we had to settle for some grain, hops, yeast, and water concoction the served at the Silver Nugget Saloon. After a review of the ingrediants, we were convinced this was a nutritional beverage.

MY NAME "TWO DOGS HUMPING" WHERE SALOON

This dude was totally hydraulic!

SEE! SAY'S RIGHT HERE, NO GUNS IN TOWN!

Pre-gun fight declaration..............

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS as of 16 OCT,11

Old town house, Hatch, New Mexico

HEY DUDE, is there a place to BUY CHILES HERE

This is the right time to visit the chile capitol of the USA, here in Hatch New Mexico. This scene is repeated many times along the streets. There are ristras (pictured here), fresh, roasted, peeled, dried, frozen, in salsas, jams & jellies and a plethora of gift ideas. Hatch is a small town with a large agricultuaral industry. The population is Mexican, Indian and white, probably in that order. If you ever get near, you should visit. it is at the junction of NM-26 and I-25.

BESTUS CHILES in the WESTUS

We are having a ball here. The weather has been lovely; cool at night, in the 50's and warm during the days, in the 70's and 80's. Occasionally the winds get a little to much, up to 30-mph. Lots of folks here from South Dakota, like us. Many just passing through going East or West. We have visited the Deming/Mimbres Museum for the umpteenth time. It is always better, and remarkably complete. There is no charge, save donations, and is staffed totally by volunteers. The locals have a lot of pride and are anxious to share their history. A should see!

MEADMOBILE

Life is just full of pleasant surprises. A couple of days ago, friends Ron & Sharon Mead unexpectedly showed up at the Dream Catcher Park and parked next door. This is their Flxible bus, previously used as a Silverline Cross Country passenger bus. They have done some major, and high tech, energy efficient modifications to make it their home.

ADOBE DELI DOLLIES

We decided to take Ron and Sharon to one of our favorite haunts here in Deming. Just a few miles East of here on an old school road off of an farm road, is the "Adobe Deli" a converted old school house, featuring a large dining room, a full saloon style bar, and oxygen bar and a whole covey of stuffed wild animals and memorabilia. It's kind of like a night out designed by Cabella's, The Black Angus Steakhouse, and the bar at the Palace Hotel. Have fun, and stay thirsty my friends....

HMMMM, MUST BE SOMETHING HERE I'D LIKE

Yep, this the long bar podner. Hope you are all having a wondeful fall. The Chargers are still a little iffy, but we look forward to keeping up with their games. We will remain here in Deming for a few more days, then head West again for the Bisbee, AZ area to visit great friends Mike and Marsha. When we have worn out our welcome in the nut and fruit capitol of AZ. we will head for Yuma, and hopefully get to visit with the Clarksons, Andy and Linda, you know! the Yuma Clarksons of Foothills fame.

COOL CATS HANG OUT HERE

As mentioned earlier, the Adobe Deli has a large population of inanimate game. Cats, Deer, and even an alligator.

TABLE FOR FOUR PLEASE

Mmmmunchies and beers at the Adobe Deli.

Ron, Diane, Sharon and yours truly.

Look forward to our next meet. Love and God Bless....Ray, Diane, & the Boys

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS, 9 OCTOBER, 11

CAMP DEMING

Salutations from Deming, New Mexico, somewhere between Las Cruces and Lordsburg. This has been a kick back, uneventful week. We left Tucumcari last Monday and drove to Alamogordo, next to the "White Sands" proving grounds. We spent a couple of days there, then drove to Deming via Las Cruces. I think we will spend two or three weeks here, visit some favorite haunts, and do a little maintenance. When we leave we hope to go through Bisbee and visit my oldest friend, (He is younger than I), and his girlfriend Marsha.

USED FARM IMPLEMENTS

After we visit Mike and Marsha, we'll probably head to Yuma for a visit with Andy and Linda Clarkson, then over the hill to beautiful downtown Jamul, the Hamptons of San Diego. Hope you are all doing well, and adapting to the changing seasons. It is amazing, the changes we have seen in the last 2-3 weeks. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again. Love and GOD BLESS.......

Ray, Diane, Ross & Satchmo..............

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS, 2 OCTOBER,11

FT. SMITH JAILBIRD

Aloha from Tucumcari. Last week at this time, we were in Arkansas. We visited the historical part of Ft. Smith with friends Johnny and Georgia

Then on to Elk City, Oklahoma. Through the Texas panhandle, and on to Tucumcari. The weather has been very agreeable, and the roads good for the most part. Some construction, and Ohlahoma City was without doubt, the worst peice of I-40 from California to Nashville. We are doing well and Ross is hanging in there, Hope all is well with you. We miss you all, and look forward to seeing you again. God Bless......

JUDGE PARKER (the HANGING JUDGE) GALLOWS

These are the gallows where "Hanging Judge Parker" issued swift and sure punishment. On two occasions, he hung 6 gang members at the same time. Being fitted for nooses are Diane and Georgia.

FT. SMITH BORDER, U.S.A. AND INDIAN TERRITORY

Fort Smith was famous as the border between the US (Arkansas) and the Indian Territory. The 19th century saw plenty of opportunity for raw crime. There was conflict between the Osage and Cheyenne indians, bankrobbers, and a host of other criminals trying to escape into the Oklahoma territory. Indian tribes from the Southeast were being herded to Oklahoma Territory (the Trail of Tears), so unrest in this area was substantial.

TUCUMCARI MT.

This is the Too damn scarey (Tucumcari)monument. It just kind of hangs there, staring down at the desert plain. We decided to spend the weekend and investigate this Route 66 town memorialized in the song of the same title. It looks like it was abandoned in the 50's. 7 out of 10 of the commercial buildings have been abandoned, 2 of the 10 are closed, and 1 is sort of open. Much of the old Route 66 is in similar condition. I am surprised that some large corporation hasn't bought the place, and revived it. I think it would draw a lot of business.

WE FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS, AND HERE WE ARE

One thing this town does have, is murals. Beautiful murals painted on old walls. Tucumcari is located almost halfway between Lithuania and Egypt. There is a decent truck stop, a couple of open restaurants, half a dozen motels, which may or may not be open. They pretty much look the same. This picture is only about 1/10 of the overall mural.

RV MEMORIAL

The signs and the ancient camper, pretty much typify the rest of the town.

TUCUMCARI TRUMP HOTEL.......NOT!

In spite of the condition, I love these old semi-ghost towns. If you have a warped imagination, as I do, it is fun to picture the activity of these places in their haydays. This old building is a composite of building materials; adobe, rock, brick, and iron. It is also an amalgamation of architecural styles.

50'S DESOTO PARKED IN MOTEL WITH MUCHO VACANCY

Nice old car. This is one of those "maybe open, maybe not" Motels of the 50's. I can verify there are a ton of vacancies.

A GHOST FROM THE PAST

Another vision of days gone by............

MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY OVERSTATED

Diane, getting her kicks on Route 66

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS, 25, SEPT. 011

LOCAL IRISH PUB

Hey y'all, greetings from Ozark. Everything's just dandy here. The weather is perfect, and the scenery spectacular, so much that we have decided to hang here for another week. Met up with friends Johnny and Geargia again. Last night we all went to the Rivertown BBQ in town, then on to a free 3 hour Bluegrass concert in the local park. 3 great bands. Tomorrow, it's in to Ft. Smith to visit Judge Parker (the hangin judge) court, house etc.

POST FAMILIE WINERY

A couple of days ago, we took a little drive East through some small towns. We stopped at the "Post Familie" winery in Altus for some tasting and buying. Good stuff! The folks at the winery recommended the Irish pub in the previous photo, for lunch. Having been in a few pubs in Ireland, I was impressed with the authentic fare and the atmosphere..

THE "BIG HOUSE", OZARK JAIL

This old jail house is built of local limestone, and is fairly representitive of many of the buildings in the two or three blocks of downtown Ozark. City population is 3500.

TOWN OF OZARK in the DISTANCE

This picture was taken from a couple miles away. You can see the bridge over the Arkansas River between the tree limbs. Campers delight...

BRIDGE OVER the ARKANSAS RIVER at OZARK

Just a close up of the previous picture.

The bridge is covered with lights, and at night makes quite a spectacle over the river.

ARCH-ARC LOCKS & DAM at OZARK

If you look to the right of the dam and locks, you can see where we are camped. I drove around and over the bridge in the previous picture and climbed the hill to take this pic.

Hope everyone of you had a wonderful summer. Time for fall, I know because the Chargers will be playing this afternoon, and we'll be watching. Hope they do better than last week.

RIVER FOG

This looked much better in person, but I had to try. This is fog laying on top of a mirror still river at 8:00 am.

It almost looks like cotton balls. Wierd! But so is everything first thing in the morning.

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS?? 18 SEPT. 011

SALUTATIONS & FELICITATIONS from ARKANSAS (again)

Well, here we are in Arkansas again, this time headed west. This has almost been a blessing. It has rained since we arrived from Memphis last Thursday. We had a wonderful time seeing the sights and enjoying the sounds ,and tastes of Nashville and Memphis with sister Mary Ann and her hubby, Juergen. We are once again camped in Ozark, AR. on the river, at the locks & dam. So peaceful and beautiful.

"OLE MAN RIBBAH BARGE PUSHER

The river is maybe a quarter of a mile wide where we are camped. Right on the dam and locks. The barge pictured here, is headed north and was just raised by the locks to the lake level. Being pushed by the boat, are 12 huge barges loaded with ???

SOUTHBOUND CHOO CHOO

Just below the train here, are the locks gates that the riverboats go through to go up or down river. The train tracks go right along the side of the lock slots.

WE ARE HERE!!

This is a map of the Arkansas River lock and dam system. Each of these spots, is an Army Corps of Engineers campground. We are at the OZARK park, and it is georgeous, and inexpensive. $10 per night with 50 amp power, good clean water, paved parking, pic-nik table with cover and each has it's own fire pit and grill. Recommended by the Brehms.... .

WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHM'S, 11, SEPT. 2011

NEVER FORGET! 9/11/01

RIPPY'S RIBS

In order to properly kick off a night of Honky Tonkin in Nashville, we stopped in at "Rippy's Ribs", a rather primitive building with barbeque ribs and beer as the specialty. It was great. We have had a ball carousing the town, seeing the sights, sampling the cuisine and beverages. Yeee Hawww. My sister and brother (outlaw) are here from Baden-Baden, Germany. We have similar devisive interests, so the fun never ends. We have seen all the sights here and are off to corrupt Memphis next. Look forward to our next meet with you, love and God Bless, Hank & Reba.

HONKY TONK DISTRICT, NASHVILLE

Around the area of 2nd & 3rd on Broadway in Nashville, is the Honky Tonk district. The bars are all "neoned "up, and almost everyone has live music. Lots of real talent just waiting to be discovered. They all just work for tips. That might be good or bad depending on how good they are.

COYOTE UGLY

What would a night visiting honky tonks in Nashville be with out sampling a couple beers at the"Coyote Ugly" bar?

CONCEPT CORVETTE

We took a day and drove to Bowling Green Kentucky to visit the National Corvette Museum and factory. The factory visit was not possible the day we went, but Jurgen went back a few days later. He is a proud Corvette Owner in Germany. I have always been intrigued by concept cars, and this is one of the many concept Corvettes in the museum.

DIAMOND CAVE, BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY

While in Bowling Green, we went to visit the Diamond Cave, part of the Mammoth Cave Park.

CAMP MEMPHIS

Our camp at this lovely RV Park, right on the Mississippi River. Pictured here, Juergen Schulz, bro-in-law, Mary Ann Brehm, sister, and Diane.

JUST DUCKY

Every day at 11:00 am, the ducks at the famous Peabody Hotel,

ride the elevator down from the roof to the lobby, where they run

across the red carpet to the fountain. At 5:00 pm, they return to

the roof via the elevator.

Ducks departing elevator

Duck Master Anthony

RIVER BOATIN' DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI

SEVEN FLAGS & PYRAMID of MEMPHIS

This view taken from the Memphis Queen riverboat. These are the seven flags of the seven

governments that have ruled Tennissee over the

years. The pyramid in the backround used to be a sports venue for the basketball team. They later moved to another location. The pyramid will

reopen as a Bass Pro store, with many related attractions.