Ah how many of you know me and my activism? Some call me opinionated and set in my ways. I actually always saw myself as very flexible as my approach has always been that given a great argument and facts my mind can be approachable. My political leanings were always simple and nothing complicated about it:
Freedom and equality for ALL. Live and let live. Laws could be replaced if common sense prevailed. I root for intellect instead of physical attributes. I don’t care about peoples looks or backgrounds, not their bank accounts or what they own or don’t own. I want to see in others and live myself with integrity, kindness, compassion and empathy.
So of course I knew when we set out on being gypsies and full time travelers that some of the areas and states we want to explore are not exactly leaning into my political spectrum. This said I grew up admiring Peter Jennings and when he coauthored the book ‘In Search of America’ in 2002 I was in love with the story. To travel and talk to fellow Americans and to connect on a deeper level then our political leanings which more often then not separate us.
This is what I discovered in full force during our time in Texas. I can’t count on how many incredible humans we crossed paths with. We laughed, we had fun but also had deep conversations with fellow travelers and locals that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Texas has turned out to be very beautiful and welcoming in our drive along the southern border, the hill country from Fredericksburg to Canyon Lake.
Canyon Lake was the first lake in Texas I ever swam in! Plus we got to ride our bikes a lot in the COE campground (Potters Creek Campground). Then Magnolia Beach which we have a soft spot for. Up to Schulenburg (a town that almost has more churches then people 😉). Very friendly German/Czech community with a yummy bakery, a very yummy Mexican restaurant and a beautiful family run RV Park that hosts three ducks in their pond named Mod, Curly and Larry. We actually wouldn’t mind staying a week there. Did I mention they have a Dairy Queen right next to the RV Park? Cookie Dough Blizzard heaven.
San Antonio of course has a lot to offer for any interest but our focus was on family while we stayed at the two military campgrounds, JBSA Lackland and Fort Sam Houston. There we met a lot of different characters. An older retired Air-force Couple who is making the transition to being fulltime travelers, a young military family who both retired due to medical issues that is now traveling with their kids and working at the campground as hosts. We met a restless retired general who was there in his A-Class MH and who was a restless soul trying to keep everything orderly on the campground. No parking on the grass!!! 😉 I got to enjoy the water park on the base with my grand daughters several times, plus thanks to them I got to roller skate again as well as visit a snake farm, got locked into a bunker (escape room), went through a mirror maze and survived a 4D movie. We went to a couple of movies, Jurassic Park and Top Gun. Both of these reminded me of my age more then even the water slides and roller skating. Darn time flies…..
On our way up north (3 hours) we got to spend three nights in Waco to visit with our friend Kim and to pick up our new custom build trailer (Lou II). The three nights turned into 4 nights due to issues in getting the trailer as it turned out it wasn’t all finished yet. This however gave us more time with Kim and even getting to visit a bit with her boys. Now this is why we do this! The joy that comes by spending time with wonderful friends is the best medicine in a world that seems to go off its rails. Kim and I went to our favorite brewery, Bare Arms, which has trivia night every Wednesday. Should you find yourself in Waco on a Wednesday don’t miss this fun event. We did not win this time around (Kim won last time we went there in October of 2021), but we still got lots of laughs in and the locals at this brewery are fun! Then we also got to take Ron to his first visit to George’s which is always a treat. I on the other hand got to stock up on chocolate thanks to Kim and also got spoiled by an egg and half and half delivery. Now the campground we stayed in is a different story. Flat Creek Farm RV Park looked and sounded perfect on paper/screen. Here are the filters I use when we look up campgrounds: it needs to be ‘big rig friendly’, full hookups with 50 amp, pet friendly. Well it said it was good in all these, except it was attached to a working sheep farm! Now don’t get me wrong, I love animals and I love farms but these cute sheep came with three large, very protective dogs. No not sheep herding dogs but protectors. Our campsite was separated from the sheep and their dogs by a creek. That creek however was not an obstacle for those pups and these pups did not take a liking to Keetna, Oliver and I. So here was that scenario I was faced starting on day 1:
Keetna, Oliver and I ‘like’ to get up at 6:30 am to go for a fun morning walk. We stepped out into the fresh air and started walking up the trail along the creek. Within 3 minutes two large dogs came running up on the opposite site of the creek barking like crazy at us. I was confused as the sheep weren’t visible but I guess now they heard us when we stepped out of the RV. Anyway, they barked for a bit and then they took of running full speed along the creek at which moment I decided to run full speed back to the RV pulling poor Keetna and Oliver behind me (who had not finished their business yet). I pulled them into the RV with literally seconds to spare. As soon as we got in I looked out the window and saw those dogs ruining again full speed up to our RV. That’s when I realized they have a path across the creek. The next incident happened the next morning when I tried to walk in the field away from the creek and the sheep. On my way back I see one of the three dogs, luckily the younger pup which looked about 1 year old, running towards us. By then there was no running for us as he was in between us and the RV. So I stopped and yelled at him to stop which shockingly he did. With 20 feet between us I slowly retreated and was happy that both Keetna and Oliver were quiet during all this as not to attracted the two older more seasoned dogs. Finally the younger pup decided to cross the creek again so we could run back to Lucy. From that moment on, for the next 4 days, we only stepped out with our pups for about 5 minutes each time under the protection of Ron with his walking stick which made him look like a shepherd. Well he kept guard for us so our two could at least pee and poop even if no more walks were possible. So long story short this RV park will not be on our list to return to. I might actually stay clear of any working animal farm from now on.
So once everything got cleared with our new trailer we moved 1 1/2 hours north again to the Ft. Worth area for three nights. This time we are staying at Silver Creek RV Resort. We were suppose to visit with our beloved friends, the Tossell Family, but sadly they got sidelined by covid. The RV park however is really a treasure find and it is making up for the last park we stayed at. There are two dog parks here for our babes to run and play. It was fairly easy to park Lucy Lou II and everything is super clean and new looking. The bathhouse and even the laundry room are incredible. I am doing laundry now while relaxing in a large air conditioned room that has recliners to relax on. Oh and the bathrooms all have old Hollywood Actor names as in Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy), James Dean, Marylin Monroe, John Wayne and so on. Last night we had dinner at the rv park which had live entertainment at the restaurant. The Texas twinkies were awesome! I even tried a Fireball shot and the Filet Mignon was perfect. Again people here are super nice and accommodating as we had to change our reservation short notice.
Tomorrow we will be leaving Texas. We are planning on spending a couple of nights north of Oklahoma City at Pioneer RV Park in Guthrie, OK.
Sorry this was such a long post as I admit I have been slacking off. One would think I have much more time now but honestly days fly by. I still have my normal housekeeping duties as in cleaning, making our bed, laundry, cooking etc. Then of course me having to walk the dogs frequently I am also on the move more. I also love taking bike rides when I am not walking the dogs and I realized Keetna likes eating blankets so I am back to crocheting blankets 😉
What I really want to get across on this blog post is that in order to experience what is good about humanity one has to get out and meet other humans and interact without putting on filters. We have to build bridges not walls and travel more. So turn off the news and go to your local corner pup and have a beer at the bar and start chatting, or walk your pup in the park. You might be surprised how good that will make you feel. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone that I created these last three years and it feels good to push the boundaries.
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