April 13, 2025

2 Nights and A Day in the Desert

It’s currently 97 degrees here in Monahans Sandhills State Park, Texas where I am writing this blog.  Not sure when I will post it, since my internet, cell reception is too spotty and unreliable here.  May be in El Paso, in another two days just when I exit Texas.   So, it’s hot outside, but the Wandering Spirit is comfortably air conditioned so I’m actually having a hot cup of coffee in the late afternoon.  And now, as I wait for the temp to come down again, I can enjoy a leisurely afternoon inside. 

I stayed outside late last night, listening to the Eagles (perfect music for the desert!), sipping a good Reisling, watched the sunset (glowing photos) and staring at the stars and full moon (white circle in dark sky photo).  This is truly a desert scene – dunes all around me, mostly famous with the locals for sand surfing.  And the sand, when not so hot, feels delicious on my feet.  I spent time out under the beautiful sky, thinking of my family and friends and how fortunate I am to have so many good people in my life.  I’m in no rush but do look forward to seeing them all again when I’m back in town on my respite, refresh and regroup before my second journey.

Service Dog, Untrained

I thought I’d share something that many people may not know.  I didn’t even know it. Audy-wee, one of my two furry travelling companions, is actually an untrained service dog.  Yes – you heard me -untrained and yet helpful in so many ways – ordering beers at a bar, helping me check-in into a camping spot, selecting coffee from a coffee truck, testing river water temps and alerting me to dangerous animals, like armadillos (not so much). He once again acted as an unofficial greeter at a Camping World while we were waiting for the awning motor to be replaced (again, another story) and threw in a little security work to alert them that their stock person was moving boxes around.  What would I do without my friend Audy to make me laugh?

And the cat, Spirit, well he appears to have the very important role of reminding me to feed him.  Whenever we stop for the night. It doesn’t matter if it is 2 pm or 7pm, once the jacks level the rig, he figures it’s time to be fed. He does not care for the words “it’s not time yet”.

Atchafalaya Basin and Jabalya

On the way here we stopped in the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana for a few days. Nice commercial but older style campsite type RV Park.  In the bayous, amongst rivers, lakes, and cypress rooted waterways. Was greeted by colorful dragonflies and had a nice green tree frog wedge itself between windowpanes for an afternoon. Mom’s favorite little animals were frogs, so whenever one appears I think she has sent it.  Really, when you look at the effort this little creature went through to look into my RV window and get my attention, you really have to wonder.  I didn’t get a picture of it, because I didn’t know it was a frog until I started to close the window to leave, and it hopped out! And then, when walking around the Wandering Spirit that morning, I had three smaller brown frogs leap out of my way.  Thanks Mom, and yes, I think of you often as well.

I happened to come into this place on their weekend to celebrate First Responders.  I was treated to a parade on Saturday morning of over a dozen fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles winding their way through the campground with sirens and lights blazing and scored some candy and beads they were throwing from the units.  At lunch, I was treated to some jambalaya (my first ever – it was delicious, no crawdads in it thank God), listened to a good DJ spinning Cajun music in the afternoon (no one was doing any zydeco dancing, darn it) and then listened to a good life country western band in the evening.  It was an unexpected treat overall, even if there was a practice of driving golf carts with music blaring all day that was a bit much. 

One downside, although the park was full of first responders, it is the first place I’ve stayed where I wasn’t greeted with southern hospitality – while I was looked at, no one acknowledge me unless I initiated a hello.  Then it was a quick reply followed by turning away.  Hmmm.  Was I in a red state that didn’t like liberal northerners or are the people of Cajun descent weary of strangers? 

But I will say this, when I watched the parade, it was with a big smile on my face.  It made me think of my brother, who retired from the fire department where he blended his mechanical abilities and volunteerism into a new career and retired as a Maintenance Chief for his rural district.  He was definitely a first responder, and I think he would have enjoyed the celebration.

Houston, RV “Resorts” and Flat Tires (Again)

When drifting back into Texas, I was amazed to find a walkway over the swamp right at the rest area/Tourist Information building.  What a great idea!  A break from travel with something to do to stretch your legs and, if you are lucky, perhaps see an alligator or snapping turtle.  I was not lucky and needed to finish my drive to Houston for the night.  And Houston was another “you can never tell what the RV Park is like until you get there” experience. I have found that “resort” is often used by older parks trying to entice you to stay with them, but often it is misleading.  This place was full of long-term residents, some with much older rigs and their only parking was on the street, leaving little room to maneuver my rig through and the space?  Tight.  The water faucet was broken, although the manager quickly came over and made it work (not fixed). 

But the worst part of the experience?  When I parked, at least the site was level – no levelling required.  Always a plus.   After watching TV, I stood up and immediately felt off-kilter.  I wasn’t drinking, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t me.  I looked at the leveling gauges inside my rig and saw the bubbles had completely shifted both lengthwise and horizontally.  Did the ground sink? Was I in a sinkhole? 

Outside with my flashlight, I checked out the pad, the ground and didn’t see anything unusual – until I looked at my front tire, drivers’ side.  Flat.  Second flat tire on this trip.  So used the jacks to relevel the rig and went to bed.  Thankfully I have Good Sam roadside assistance, and this is the second time they got someone out quickly to get me back on the road that next morning – even if that’s the second new tire I’ve had to buy.  Another nail.  I know I’ve been blessed somehow; both my flat tires have happened when I’m stationary, not while driving.  Knock on wood.

Guadalupe River State Park

After turmoil, there is often a reward.  I loved this park – nice quiet camp site (wish I would have stayed longer), lots of hiking paths and a river to cool off in.  It was a gem.  Audy and I walked well over 6 miles and returned to the river twice for refreshing wading and water play. 

The camping spots were tree shaded, and while it wasn’t as insanely hot at this state park, it felt so good to sit in the shade and read after our walks.  And we were awed by the appearance of an armadillo who wandered through our campsite grubbing for insects and worms with little regard for our presence.  I suppose if you are from this part of the country, that would be no big deal – perhaps on the same plain as seeing a possum or raccoon at home.  But for Audy and me, it was exciting – video worthy! 

Love the boulders in this river and the cliffs where swallows were busy making their nests.  Truly scenic.  Didn’t actually get into my bathing suit, too far of a walk on my already tired legs to the campground to change, if I had had another day, I would have been out on my floatie enjoying the river like the kids and, I say this with genuine admiration, the senior citizen in her hot pink bikini on her hot pink, gigantic flamingo floater!  I could only think I need one of those!  Although her husband had to rescue her a few times as she drifted down the river, he was kind enough to stop and take a picture of Audy and I on one such mission.

McKinney Falls State Park

In between my trips to Camping World (part had to be ordered, so spent two days hanging out there), I stayed at this campground outside of Austin. Once again, nice, shaded spot and got in a longer than expected walk.  I went looking for the falls, upper or lower, didn’t matter, and found the path had vegetation grown up so much that if there was a fall where the little map said, there was no way to view it.  However, I did find the boulder and shelf area of this creek with its deep, welcoming pool below where the water went through a rock.  Beautiful and extremely close to Austin!  Too bad I never got into Austin as planned, instead had to go back to finish repairs on my awning and then drive west to my overnight spot in San Angelo, before travelling here to this little piece of the Sahara where I soon hope to venture outside for the evening again. 

Tomorrow?  A trip to a desert, spring fed oasis.  More to come as I continue my adventures back into New Mexico where my plans are made up to Taos and Santa Fe.  In the next few days, I will need to plan the final leg of this journey, which will be almost 6 months in length – and deeply enriched in experiences.  Namaste.