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To Trade or not to Trade

3/29/2016

Ten years ago we bought an used Fleetwood Terry 30-foot travel trailer. We wanted to get back into camping but, in our sixties, didn't want to sleep on the ground. The previous owner had special ordered this unit only three years before and had to sell her for health reasons. Terry has been very good to us. With almost no knowledge and beginners' luck, we had chosen a trailer that met all of our needs and held up well with very few repairs.

We've been through a lot together. We have camped in 19 states in almost every kind of weather. Seven of our eight grandchildren have camped with us and the oldest has joined us several times for meals. I have a wonderful photo somewhere of grandson Jack, when he was about six, hugging the trailer after his first weekend of camping. Terry gave rise to the Frannie Shoemaker Mysteries. We've had ten people inside for supper when a sudden storm hit our group. She has been parked in a number of precarious sites without sliding into any lakes.

And every spring we check out the RV shows and every year we came away not seeing anything we liked better than Terry. Not that we didn't have any complaints. I would have liked a second chair and a little more counter space and we both thought a little larger bathroom would be nice. But since most of our trips are only for a few days and, weather permitting, we spend our time outside, those things didn't matter much. Then in the last 15 months we have taken 3 month-long trips and the weather often was not conducive to sitting or cooking outside. Butch had added a counter extension, which helped in that department, but we couldn't solve the chair problem.

Then we saw the Light. Literally. In February, before this year's trip, we were introduced to the Highland Ridge Light by Open Range. On our trip we checked out a 2015 and a 2016 at dealers along the way. It has two recliners. It has about six feet of counter. It has a bigger bathroom. Plus it is designed for cool weather camping with a special thermal package, has a power awning, and several other nice-to-haves. We were smitten and have ordered one.

Now I feel like the young woman in the insurance commercial with the car named Brad. "You loved Brad. You and Brad went through everything together..." etc. Terry will be going to a new home. We hope she gives someone else as many good times as she has given us. She was our first RV romance.

*Disclaimer: the "Singing in the Rain" photo above is actually our friend's camper. Terry is in the background.

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A Bumpy End to the Journey

3/20/2016

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Friday we left Oklahoma after paying hefty tolls, stopped in Carthage, Missouri to look at a sweet new trailer, and continued north to Nevada. Not Nevada Nevada but Nevada, Missouri. We found a spot at Osage Prairie campground--pull through, level, and full hook ups. On a post supper walk, we stopped at the office and admired the leather work that the owner was doing. Showers and restrooms were probably the most unique on this trip, with three hooks in each shower--one made from a tree branch and two from horseshoes!

Saturday's beginning should have been a clue to the rest of the day. At 7:00 am the water was running freely but by 7:30 was froze up. Mostly in the hose we think. We packed up and started north. We stopped for lunch in northern Missouri at a diner we have eaten at before, but it was very slow and the fare was not impressive.

Into Iowa, we hit snow. Weird snow--a rash of driving pellets and then sun, more pellets, more sun. A lot of time spent putting on and taking off sunglasses. At the last gas stop, Butch's debit card expired. (The new one was in the mail at home.) Right outside of town, the check engine light came on in the truck. But we got the camper parked and partially unloaded, laundry to the ceiling. In the mail, along with the new debit card, was a letter from the IRS. They won't send our refund until we send copies of 1099s--ones that were supposed to be submitted by the agencies involved. We have 20 days from the date of the letter (March 3) or they will come for our firstborn child--sorry, Andy. A couple of important calls on the voice mail that should have shown up in our email but didn't. Then about an hour after we were home, the power went off--very briefly--but the furnace didn't restart which we noticed after it started to get very chilly in the house. Butch managed to get it going again and I managed to stop beating my head against the wall long enough to fall asleep in my chair. At least we didn't have to go back out and sleep in the camper.

So now that we've paid the piper, it's time to regroup. This was our longest trip yet (4400 miles) and 14 campgrounds in 30 days--probably too many for the length of time. We enjoyed our stays at Poverty Point State Park in Louisiana, Tyler State Park in Texas, Midway COE campground in Waco, and the campgrounds at Ft Stockton, Texas, Santa Fe, and Nevada, Missouri. The rest were places to plug in the trailer and sleep. We loved watching grandson Jack play soccer and visiting Vicksburg, Poverty Point, two presidential libraries and numerous great museums. We connected with family and old friends and met several new ones.

Today we finish unloading the camper, start the laundry, hit the grocery store, and catch up the financials. I have to get back on my exercise regimen--eating on the road is not conducive to weight control. Tomorrow, first thing, call the IRS, return the other calls, and get the truck to the dealer. The camper needs a lot of TLC, inside and out. There's still Christmas decorations up on the front porch. I need a haircut. Oh, and we have to plan our next camping trip.

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Surprising Places

3/18/2016

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Yesterday was spent mostly on the road, some of it very rough, especially through Oklahoma City. But we made a stop for gas before we left Texas at the Alanreed Travel Center. If you're picturing a Pilot or Flying J or the I-80 truck stop, forget it. This place is on Route 66, which parallels I-40 through here. It is not new. It is not big. But I think it has more stuff than any Wal-mart. If you are looking for a large stuffed M&M, a coffee mug with a gun grip handle, pickled garlic, a Texas wine, or need to mail a letter, this is your spot. You might need a map to find your way around the winding, narrow aisles to the restrooms. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, a lovely CD of Irish music was playing. When I walked in, the selection was one of my all-time favorites going back to Girl Scout camp in fifth grade-"The Ash Grove." It's actually Welsh, but I wasn't complaining. There is also an RV park and a motel there. Check out their website.

Shortly after, we passed by appropriately for the day, Shamrock, Texas. Soon we were in Oklahoma where the wind really was "Sweeping down the plains." As I said, the road through Oklahoma City was one of the roughest we've been on, but we finally made it to a campground outside of Chandler, OK. Today, Missouri; tomorrow Iowa.

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Down in the Canyon

3/17/2016

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We detoured a little off our route home to visit Palo Duro Canyon. We dallied too long and since a lot of Texas schools are on spring break we couldn't get a campsite in the park, which was a real bummer because they are beautiful. However we went over yesterday morning for a driving tour of the park. There's a nice visitors center with incredible views of the park and some wonderful Native American art.

There are lots of great hiking trails and several nice facilities--including the spectacular Mac Dick shelter. I tried to think of something I could rent it for. The place was very busy (spring break again)--when we left, cars were backed up about a half mile waiting to get in. I strongly suggest you visit here--after this week.

Not much positive I can say about the shower house at this private campground, except they are remodeling the men's side and I hope they continue that to the woman's side. Today we head to Oklahoma, between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

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So You Like Vintage RVs?

3/16/2016

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Do I have a place for you! Today we decided to check out a 'nearby attraction' listed on our campground map in nearby Amarillo, the Jack Sisemore RV Museum. This is located in the back of his RV Traveland dealership and is an amazing place. It isn't huge but it's free and the variety is amazing. For example, right inside the door is a 1941 Westcraft used by a defense worker during World War II. Included in the furnishings are a floor standing radio with a photo of the USS Sigourney signed by 17 presidents.

They also have the first Winnebago Itasca, interior shown above, and the oldest Airstream Torpedo (1935). Surrounding every camper are incredible camping artifacts; coolers, campstoves, lanterns, board games, etc.

A Volkswagon bus is accompanied by all of the appropriate gear for a trip to Woodstock.

A 1953 Fleetwood trailer from their first year of production I think is the grandmother to our Terry.

Other novelties include an early camper kit that could be added to a model T and the Flxible bus used in the Robin Williams movie, RV.

These are just a sample of the fascinating collection. If you're in the Amarillo, TX neighborhood, stop in at the Jack Sisemore RV Museum. Maybe if you tell them I sent you, they'll send me a free new RV.

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City of Soft Edges

3/15/2016

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We used the bus system yesterday again to get downtown and visit the Georgia O'Keefe museum. Although Wisconsin born, she adopted Santa Fe later in life as her hometown area. Many of her works are in big city museums but there is enough here to get a feeling for it. There are also a lot of photos of her and her exploration of northern New Mexico. We then took a shuttle tour around the historical district. I love the adobe architecture because of its warm colors and soft edges.

We returned to the campground to get some laundry caught up and plan our next stop. The photo is of the laundry and shower house with blooming forsythia to the side. Although this campground is very pleasant, it is in town, as have been most of recent stops and we are missing real camping. We had hoped to stay at Palo Duro State Park in Texas the next couple of nights but, "he who hesitates is lost" and there are no spots available. So we will be in another private campground in Canyon, Texas so we can at least explore the park before we head homeward.

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Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

3/14/2016

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La-la-la-la...Okay, I know: wrong town. But if that song wasn't going through my head, it would be "It's a Small World" and we all know that's not good. But it was a small world day yesterday. In the morning, the people camped next to us (from Colorado) were packing up to leave and noticed our Iowa plates. Turns out their daughter coaches girls basketball in my hometown of Hampton. We met a woman in the first museum we were in with an Ankeny jacket on--she and her friend taught with the brother-in-law of an old friend of mine. Then at lunch, two women next to us heard us mention Iowa--one is from Minnesota and has grandparents in West Bend. And our bus driver, although mostly from New Mexico and California, spent a couple of high school years in Cedar Rapids and went to Linn-Mar.

So we are in a very nice campground, Trailer Village, in Santa Fe. It's on a busy street but an adobe wall around the campground keeps the street noise down. Decent showers (although only one hook!), laundry, community building and pool. We arrived Saturday, and after enduring a little snow (!), we gussied up, went to an old restaurant on Canyon Road, and enjoyed paella for two. Yesterday we took the city bus in to the old part of town to visit the plaza and other historical sites. We first went to the Palace of the Governors, now a museum. They do a great job of presenting Santa Fe's 400 year history including the clash and blending of cultures. A stagecoach is on exhibit that delivered mail along the Santa Fe Trail.

After lunch we visited the Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral and the Loretto Chapel. The cathedral is another beautiful combination of European elegance and Native American simplicity. One chapel is 400 years old and part of the original church. By the time we finished the Loretto Chapel, we decided it might take us the rest of the afternoon to find our way back to the campground via the bus system, but we made it without getting lost once!

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Looking for One Eyed One Horned Flying...

3/12/2016

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Well, we weren't looking very hard for those purple people eaters in Roswell, New Mexico. But we did find a gem of an experience in the Roswell Museum and Art Center. It is free and contains a nice collection of art, the Rogers Aston collection of bronze sculptures and artifacts from early New Mexico history, and a number of exhibits related to Robert Goddard's rocket experiments, including his workshop. The artifacts include some incredible beaded Native American work.

After lunch at a great local place, Peppers, we checked out another museum in a 1912 mansion. Unfortunately they are in the process of painting the upstairs and those displays were not open. Finally we went to the Walker Air Museum, which is basically one room and something of a disappointment.

We did learn quite a bit during the day, including that John Denver was born in Roswell, several famous people attended the New Mexico Military Institute there, and there is a move afoot to build a space resort. Check out Earth Station Roswell. Don't try and make reservations because it hasn't been built yet--a gift shop owner indicated that the two Obama administrations have not been encouraging--but there are opportunities for investment if you are so inclined.

Today it's north to Santa Fe. What started as a cool, clammy foggy morning has turned into a bright sunny say, although only 58 degrees. We were on the road early to avoid high winds forecast for the afternoon.

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Aliens and Escapees

3/11/2016

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Here we are in Roswell, New Mexico and obviously we are out of the Texas Hill Country. There wasn't much to see on our trip here from Ft. Stockton--kids would even have trouble playing the alphabet game because there are no road signs--not even mile markers. We did pass an office of the Forestry Service while still in Texas, but they can't be very busy because we only saw seven trees the whole trip.

We did have one bit of excitement between Artesia and Roswell. A police roadblock pulled us (and everyone else) over searching for two prison escapees. The cop who talked to us was going to search our trailer but decided we looked very innocent and we assured him the trailer had not been unlocked since we left Texas.

So we are not in Roswell because we are huge sci-fi fans but rather because it was a natural break on our way to Santa Fe. But we will be here two nights and see what we see today. The campground is one of those gravel parking lots with hookups and a secret code to get into the bathrooms. The 'great free wifi' is not quite. I'm not sure I would recommend Trailer Village.

I am now able to cross New Mexico off my list of states in the lower forty-eight that I have not seen. Only Oregon, North Dakota, and Maine left. I will probably not catch them all in the same trip.

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We've Looked at Clouds...

3/10/2016

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For several days, we've kept a sharp eye on several weather sites. A nasty front moving across Texas and the South has done a lot of damage--much of it on the path that we have traveled the last three weeks. We have been very lucky. Tuesday morning, when we were camped in Fredericksburg, I watched a huge mass approach on the radar but sort of split before it got to us. We escaped with heavy rain but areas northeast of us in the Dallas area, eastern Texas, and Louisiana really got it. More was forecast for yesterday as we headed west again but we had some rain with a lot of low-hanging clouds. It was especially weird to watch windmills up on mesa tops drift in and out of the mist. When we arrived here at Fort Stockton, heavy black clouds were everywhere and it seemed impossible to escape another storm.

But the sun broke through for a spectacular sunset and we escaped again. This spot in west Texas seems to be kind of a crossroads. When we arrived here at the Ft. Stockton RV Park in mid-afternoon, there were lots of empty spots. But a steady stream continued during the afternoon until the place appears to be full. We've talked to several people who are on their way west and others on their way back from Arizona or New Mexico.

This is a really decent RV park. Like most private campgrounds, the spaces are small but level. I haven't checked out the showers yet but the laundry is very good with no threatening signs. There is a small restaurant which was closed last night for regular business because they had live music for a couple of hours and free pizza! A very enjoyable evening. I plan to buy Butch breakfast there this morning for his birthday--yes, he is now as old as me again. Then we will head north to Roswell, New Mexico and a little alien fun.

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