So Many Miles Not Enough Internet

I've been extremely bad in keeping this updated but I am hoping that will change now that I am back on the main line to my old home state of PA but no guarantees as I go the way the Universe wants me to go. So these updates are as I have written them as I had a chance some will have dates and others may not.

This post will be photo heavy since I have a lot to cover.

February 19th

Odessa, TX proved to be a good destination. From there I found the library and using www.freecampsites.net I found that Andrews, TX just about thirty miles north of Odessa had a free RV spot sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce

It isn't large only has maybe 4 or 6 spots and is on pavement. What is great about it other than free is that it offers you free WiFi, water, electricity, and there is a dump station there. They only ask that you stay no more than three days but they will allow you longer if need be. I would suggest giving a donation if you do stay a bit longer.

The Veteran's memorial is beautiful and there is a lot of history just in the small lot if you walk around. There is also a geocache here my only hint is that it isn't on the Eagle.

 

Now the spots are behind the Chamber and if you walk to the front you will see across the street a small bakery called Sugar High. They have the best coffee I've had in a long time.

I also got a breakfast bagel and a turkey sandwich along with my coffee all of it for under ten dollars and both were delicious.

Got some sewing done and lost my mop of hair. How freeing that was! Just have to invest in some razors or a travel electric razor to keep it gone. I should say in losing the mop I mean I went bald.

Last moments of the mop

Sold some things on an auction page and set my next destination for Tyler, TX. 

February 22

Headed for Tyler, TX but only made it through the Dallas rush hour and pulled over at a lov's for the night.

Next morning was dismal looking and as I was pulling into my spot in Tyler, TX it started pouring. Another basic parking lot but my view was of the lake. How nice that was even with the bad weather.

Got out the bbq and heated up some water to have coffee and some HOT broth. Went to sleep being rocked by the wind. Interesting sensation to say the least.

Next morning it was still pretty nasty but made my oatmeal and coffee and spent the day in the van hand sewing some items to sell. 

Two of the gals from the group I am in decided that Wednesday they were gonna come take me to lunch and welcome me officially to TX lol.

We had a great time at Jul's I highly recommend them. The food was awesome and the waiter was very attentive and cute. The other two would have ate him up if they could have. And the party was actually four ladies (term used very loosely lol).

 

Waking up to this kind of sunrise every morning is something I am grateful for 

and I love how Boyd (white paws) and Dood seem to be having a serious conversation in this photo.

Would have stayed longer at Tyler if it hadn't been for the dude that showed up one morning. He had been watching me for a few days he said and had brought me a couple of cans of sterno. Ok no problem just being nice wanting to help the poor lady out talked a little bit and he went to his car about an hour later he asked if I needed anything from the dollar tree. 

I did need razors so I gave him enough cash mostly change to get me a package he at the time also offered a ride which I politely declined. Mind you there was nothing to say he was dangerous but I sure as hell wasn't getting into that car with him. So off he went and was gone for what seemed like three or more hours before he came back smelling like he had dipped himself in the cologne. UGH! Men women don't like that and it was a wasted effort on me. The package of razors were obviously from Wal*Mart but I thanked him for them.

This is what set off my alarm bells was the fact every time he left he would say "Now stay safe." It just made me go into alert mode every time. The last time he came back it was around 5 pm and he brought his girlfriend to meet me and after doing so just went back to the vehicle leaving him to talk to me, who does that unless she knew I was NOT interested in him, but not before telling me that they would both be back in the morning. The only reason he left when he finally did was because she reminded him that he was going to be late for work.

Sorry between the two my flight response was in full gear the only reason I didn't leave right then and there was because it was almost dark. But the van was packed and ready to go for the morning flight. I was long gone before 7 am with no COFFEE!

When the panic final left I realized that I only had a vague idea of where I was headed towards Louisiana but beyond that nothing. So I found a McDonald's to charge the computer and find a campsite to land at. 

I also realized that I would be basically broke and while I had a half a tank of gas I only could take a Leap of Faith as C calls it. So I did leap. Thanks to my goofy GPS that decided to take me to my next campsite via the back way. Meaning I didn't see a gas station for miles. 

I came to Dogwood Campground in Provencal Louisiana with an eighth of a tank of gas and just a few bits of data on my phone. 

Then it was like the Universe thought I needed to have something to think about so it sent me of all things a pastor on a neon orange Harley. We had a lovely conversation about connections and then he blessed me, the van, and my fur kids before riding off into the sunset. 

We were the only one there nice campground even if it is close to the road and seems to be the main route for the semis. 

Set up the tent and let the ferrets have some tent time. They loved it. It allowed them to be out of their cage and gave them room to bounce around which they did for an hour. Long time for a ferret. 

But the upside to being at this campsite was there was a bathroom with a flush toilet (but damn you had to push that button hard), free water, and trash cans.

I had a melt down and freaked out on FB and on C who just calmly asked me "Where do you have to be right at this moment?" Of course he knew I didn't need to be any where I was just having a moment and I needed to get past it.

Once I realized I had food for the fur babies to maybe last until the next week and put out a plea on my Go Fund Page I relaxed a bit. Looking in my pantry I had food for myself even if I was going to get tired of beans. I also had oatmeal, powdered milk, and pancake mix.  So I would be fed as well.

Monday came and so did Sam Elliot's look alike ranger to tell me they would be doing a control burn across the road and not to freak if I saw the flames I laughed and said not going to be an issue.

Wednesday I went to the ranger station just a little ways from my campsite to ask if there had been a delivery for me. There wasn't and we got to talking about my situation and they said they didn't have a problem with me staying longer if I needed to.






I made peanut butter cookies which I burnt the bottoms of lol but they were a nice treat for just learning to relax and finding peace in the now.




















Took some pics of what was around me and the beautiful sitting area just in front of the ranger's station. It is well maintained. There are also two geocaches at either end of the campground. One is inside the cemetery it is both creepy and beautiful.

 


Thursday the rangers came over with a gallon of gas to make sure I could get to the next gas station down the road and put in a little so I could make it to town which was Natchitoches where the gas was cheaper.

This was the sunset for the last night there.




Natchitoches is one of the oldest cities in Louisiana and had a lot of neat shops in the Historic District I would of loved to had an unlimited bank account even though most of the town is closed on Monday's.

One shop that was open was Bathhouse Soapery what a wonderful smelling place that was. They sell soap by the slice and also have smaller samples so you can try just a bit and not have a huge piece if it isn't to your liking.

I bought Black Shea for C and I got Gypsy for myself. It is one of the few soaps that I have found that doesn't have some kind of lanolin oil in it and doesn't dry my skin out.

The Historic District is basically the main street through the town.

 

 

 

 

thought the plaque was a nice shout out to Texas.







Next stop was Mississippi

  These are at the Welcoming Center in Vicksburg. Great people and decent coffee and free WiFi

The bridge I crossed over the Mississippi to get to the state. You have to understand the bridge pictures. I DISLIKE BRIDGES!!!!!!!
So every one like this I try to take  picture to prove that I can do it and get my anxiety to go away.


Found a gas station that also had WiFi so I could check my balance and was surprised by a friend's generousity, again thank you T&J, that allowed us to fill the van's tank and get a few supplies before looking for the next campsite.

That was an adventure. The site I use had the wrong GPS coordinates, which are now corrected, and we drove 40 miles to a tiny graveled road with a locked gate. Turned around and found our way back to almost the starting point where we found a McD's.

After consulting the google maps and talking to my FB group I found where I should have been and just after dark pulled into the Rocky Springs Campground on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It was hard to find a spot as the place was packed, later found out that it was Spring Break in the area.

I had no idea about the Trace as many call it and was interested in the history of this 444 mile long scenic drive. The campground was at the 58.9 mile marker and while I was there I made the decision to drive up the Trace as it took me where I wanted to go.

Rocky Springs was interesting with it's history about the Trace. You could either walk the trail

from the campground or drive up to the place. Being that it hadn't been real good weather I opted to drive up.

 

 

 

To be continued....

Jo

Roads Less Traveled Can Lead To Being Lost In a Good Way

Living home free has its moments and on February 18^th there were a lot of them. I've been craving IHOP for months and decided that I was going to give into it in the town of Alamogordo, NM. Had the most delicious peach stuffed french toast that I almost couldn't finish. 

Victoria was a great trainee waitress who will be working the grave yard shift if she can handle it.

From there I went to McGinn's pistachio nut store. Where the worlds largest pistachio nut is. Don't listen to your GPS on this one. As it will try to take you to the farm across the road from the store. Inside you can sample different flavored pistachios and taste some wine. 

If I had a bit more money I would have gotten some of the chocolate and chili nuts and some of the margarita and lime ones. I did get a few post cards and a pin with the nut on it. Very friendly place.

Got a bit lost trying to find 70 east as I turned right instead of left out of the store. Once I got myself turned around and headed the right way I was able to see several historical markers along the way.

One of which is where Billy the Kid was still on the law abiding side and tried to help his friend arrest a couple of fellers.

I've added the Billy the Kid museum to my list of places to go to for my next time through. 70 is a beautiful hwy that is often just two lanes of traffic. I also want to go to the Inn of the Mountain Gods. There was still snow on the top of the mountain but I want to try a zip line and theirs is almost and hour long tour. 

Arrived in Roswell, NM. The UFO Museum and Research center is pet friendly and Marcuz the ferret was the only one awake so he got to go in with m

 

The Museum cost $5 and the only place you can't take pictures is in the gift shop. The people were friendly and couldn't get enough of Marcuz.

According to http://www.atlasobscura.com the McDonald's there was the only one built in the design of an UFO but from what I saw it has been redone on the outside to look more modern. The inside has lots of chrome. My only complaint about Roswell is that the internet sucks there and it is almost impossible to get online.

From there I was going to camp at a place in Kent but ended up on some really back road that was a truck route as well. I normally don't drive at night as the lights bother me, but I forgot two things one GPS can suck if you lose data connection, and time change.

So I was going by my van's clock not the phone's. I ended up in the middle of some where in TX heading west on I 10. I got off on exit 176 and somewhere around there is suppose to be where I was going to camp. As it was I spent the night at the abandoned gas station there.

I can't say I really slept as it is between I 10 which was heavy with truck traffic and the railroad tracks. 4 trains went through that night.

I awoke to a beautiful sunrise and the realization that I spent more on gas than I had intended leaving me with $8 and some pocket change and a ¼ tank of gas. I got headed back east and at exit 42 found a couple of places with gas at $1.75 a gallon. New destination Odessa, TX and hopefully some way to earn some money to get me to my beach.

Jo