Tejas

As we made our way towards Texas, we ventured about 300 miles until we arrived in Las Cruces, NM. The drive was uneventful until we realized Hannah was not tolerating the trip very well and had thrown up about nine times from car sickness. We located a Walmart and began settling in for the night, that is until a vehicle with two occupants decided to park directly in front of our RV. We thought this was a bit strange since we have never encountered a situation where someone parked their car so close to our RV and in such a way that we could not move. I politely asked the owners to move however they seemed preoccupied in looking for something in their vehicle, which at this point, I assumed was some sort of weapon. Darryl decided to encourage them to move along by starting the RV and turning the high beams on them. About five minutes later, they left the spot, and we located another more frequented area of the parking lot.

The following morning, we drove about another 280 miles and stayed overnight at the Stockton RV Camp. For $27, we were able to hook up and take a hot shower, enjoy some alcoholic beverages and tune in to some television. For us, going 24 hours without a shower is roughing it, so the simple act of showering becomes a significant event while dry camping and traveling long distances.

We woke early to get started on our way 300 miles drive to Georgetown, TX, where we booked reservations for a three-day stay at the Cedar Breaks Park. The federal park was directly on Georgetown Lake and boasted some splendid views. Even with the blistering 40-degree weather, we were able to take several hikes, install a new soundbar in the RV and have dinner with one of my oldest friends, Allen Craddock. He was a terrific host and shared some of the best brisket Darryl had ever eaten (I opted for the chicken, which was just as good).

The next morning, we loaded the RV and planned our days drive to Shreveport, LA which was about 310 miles away. We made it to the local Cracker Barrel and enjoyed a hot meal, martini's and watched the Eagles/Saints game.

With another long day of driving, we committed to driving an hour out of our way to cross the Oklahoma line and then headed to Lake Catherine, Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The state park, Lake Catherine, only had about six rv’ers since it was their off season and the lake was very low for recreational activities. Not to mention it was a bitter 40-degrees and rainy during our visit. Realizing we only had a few days to relax, we located a terrific hiking trail which led to a small waterfall and made the 4-mile trek. Hannah loved playing in the frigid water and exploring the wooded park. Darryl managed to collect enough wood to create a toasty fire, so we weathered the cold and enjoyed some great music, beverages, and lake views.