Thanksgiving Week and Repairs

Tuesday morning surprise! and not necessarily good..

I got ready to depart Lake Mike Conner Campground near Collins, MS. I unhooked the electric, put up the automatic jacks and picked the pads they rest on. I hadn't unhooked the car so nothing to do there except to plug in the braking system, or so I thought. The car battery was dead.... again. It had been giving me problems off and on. I was still able to tow it so I went to Auto Zone where the battery was promptly replaced at no charge as it had been under warranty. So it was going on 2 pm when I actually got going for the day.I drove to just west of Monroe, LA and stopped for the night at a truckstop. Gave the pups their attention and took myself to bed.

Wednesday Morning... I got up feeling quite refreshed and as the traffic didn't look too bad I decided to put as many miles behind me as possible. When I got close to Dallas/ Fort Worth area I had to decide whether to stop at the last rest area before the metropolis or go all the way through. Traffic was getting heavier and it was late afternoon, but I still felt fine so I decided to go for it. For some reason I always feel better when I have that leg of the journey behind me.The first place I found to stop was a rest area west of Weatherford about 7:30 pm. I was tired but I got the dogs fed and played with them a bit before heading to bed myself.

Thanksgiving Day...  found me continuing on toward Abilene, looking for a campground along the way. I stopped at one to inquire the price, but declined to stay. As I was pulling away to get back on I 20, a man in a pickup truck jumped out at the stop sign and informed me of a very flat front tire on my Rav. (I had had the tires checked before leaving PA as to the likelyhood of making the trip to AZ) Wondering where I could get the tire changed on Thanksgiving day, I started to slowly make my way around the next corner heading for the ramp ahead, when I spotted a tire shop on the far corner and a man walking around there. I pulled in and 'Yes, he could change the tire for me'. His wife came out and said they wouldn't normally be open but this year they were going to their daughter's for late afternoon dinner. I was so glad to find someone open and so close!! That was only one thing I was thankful for that day!

He had the tire changed quickly. It was a mess! I cannot imagine I had driven very far with it flat as I wasn't that far from where I had spent the night. I tipped him $5 which he didn't want to take but I insisted. He also informed me the other front one was not looking too healthy either. It was wearing very unevenly.
So wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving I left and got on my way. I still had about 70 miles to go to Abilene where I planned to stay till the holiday weekend was over. I stopped at another rest area to get some lunch and walk the dogs. I checked the net for RV camps. I chose to try one about 8 miles east of Abilene, and right off of I 20. They were not open but it had pull-through sites available on the honor system. It was a quiet campground with full hook-ups.The sites are gravel, but grass in between each space. There is a laundry shed with 2 washers and dryers available.  I was able to get tv reception here with about 10 channels. I pulled in and set up, and fed and walked the dogs.  I noticed no one else had their awning out so I took that as a sign that it could be windy there without too much notice, so I left my awning retracted as well.


 I heated up leftovers for my supper and just chilled the rest of the day. I sat and looked out my huge front window as the day was ending. What a beautiful sky!

The next day I snapped these pictures...

I did put out my awning long enough to take this one

And this one of the early morning sky

Rough looking entrance but don't judge it by that

Friday's galavantings... I called the nearest WalMart to see what they had for tires and if they could possibly get me in on Saturday. They said that Friday (Black Friday... ugh) would actually be better as they weren't that busy, but Saturday they would be. So off I went to Abilene. I decided to make it a worthwhile trip. I not only got tires put on, I also got a much needed haircut by a gal who also wasn't very busy that day. 'Terri' took alot of time with me giving me little hints and really working with my hair and gave me her opinion of products that would help my overly-dry hair problems. We talked and laughed and had a good time.

 I had a hard time figuring out how to take a good picture of us until she showed me how.

(permission granted to post her picture)

I also did some shopping for needed items on my list as I was still waiting on the tires.

It turned out to be a rather long day. Both Sasha and Izzy were glad to see me when I got back. Even though my feet hurt I took them out for a long walk and gave them treats and lots of hugs and petting.

Saturday...whew, getting tired of running! I was able to get my car in for alignment, and a good thing too, as the front was way out. And likely the cause of the flat.

 I also found a car wash nearby and took advantage of that.

On the way back this favorite drive-thru kept calling my name... I just had to stop and get a Cantina Power Bowl Burrito!

Home at last! done running!! (Home being the motorhome presently)

I surely had alot to be thankful for this week! Safety, provision, faithfulness of the Lord to supply my needs whatevr they were. The Bible says He will supply our need. I like to turn that around to " if I do all I can in my human ability, and He doesn't supply it, I don't need it"

Thanks for coming along on my journey!

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you

Tom Merrill Campground, Louisiana

On Friday after viewing the settler's home at the Bayou Budcau Dam, we crossed back over the dam and entered the Tom Merrill campground, located just below the dam, is a beautiful little place to camp for the weekend, or for an extended stay. It has electric and water hook-ups, dump station, shower houses, playground area, and only $6/night with my senior pass. There are only 20 spaces, requiring no reservations, and is a first come/first served campground hosted by the A C of E. The camp host site is located just inside the entrance.

The dam from below

and on down the waterway...

The Grand had fun playing with other kids

in the well-equipped playground.

Looking toward the camping area from the playground

Saturday morning.... sunlight beams through trees down onto the peaceful camp.

This is the neighbor couple's campsite, who live about 50 miles from my home in PA. Funny how you travel 1500 miles and find someone from your neck of the woods. They are both retired and spend about 6-7 months a year in their motorhome, a 24' Winnebago Class C. We had found alot in common and had lots to discuss.

Grand's parents did not allow him to bring his game phone with him camping. I wondered how this would affect the weekend, but he proved to be a real camper, helping with filling water jugs, gathering pine needles and pine cones for fire starter, then scavenging for down and dead wood. I added some lumber cut-offs I had carried with me.  

After more play, walks with the dogs, and picture-taking we built the fire and proceeded to fill our hungry tummies. Hotdogs first of course!

Then roasted apples.... yumm!

By the time we got to making s'mores it was almost too dark for good pictures. But we got them made eaten, and watched a movie called "8 Below" , a beautiful movie about a dogsled team in the frozen north. On friday night we had watched the one titled "Bears" another nature movie.

 Then we were tired and ready for bed!

I had taken this picture of the moon as the sun lowered and it became darker.

Sunday morning......

What better way to be woken up in the morning than with fur-pals!

 As for me, vanilla chai tea is my wake-up call


 

We needed to get things picked up, packed up and head back home as we had quite a drive ahead of us, and it is back to school for Grand the next day. He helped with all that, too. Shutting the electric connection off first, he then unplugged the cord and wound it up, unhooked the cables we put the dogs on when we sit outside at the campfire, put the folding chairs back on the rack and strapped them down while I secured the inside things. 

 

We both thoroughly enjoyed the weekend together. Glad we headed out when we did as the traffic was like Dallas traffic almost all the way from Shreveport back to Dallas!!!

 

Lesson #5

NEVER on a holiday weekend!! Be there before the holiday starts and plan to return on the next weekday after.

 

Bayou Bodcau Dam, Shreveport, LA

After spending Thanksgiving with my daughter and son-in-law at his cousin's home near Shreveport, LA, I took my Grand camping with me for the weekend. I like going to the Army Corps of Engineer's campgrounds whenever I can. My "Camping with the Corps of Engineers" book comes in very handy for finding these places, hence our weekend stay.

Before finding a camp site, we ventured across the dam....
(passenger's side heading north)

 (driver's side)

and then turned right onto gravel road called Duck Dam Road, built across a bayou/swampland area that reminded me of driving down an old railroad grade, only wider.  We drove down that road for miles (very slowly) looking for a "primitive camping spot". However I, just wasn't comfortable camping there. Thoughts of copperheads in unexpected places kept me driving.

I had thought we were supposed to see waterfowl......, never did... maybe I was in the wrong place. However we did take some photos from the comfort of the RV. Everytime we stopped for a photo, the grandson had to take one from his side too. He did pretty good.

( I am thinking a camera might be good for his next B-Day present?)

Some tall beautiful pines!

A good boondocking site..

Further down the road. the road widens and the wooded area opens up, portraying some of the last beautiful colors of fall.

We turned back to go back across the dam, and stopped at the log home built by the original owner.

The sign says, "Durden House, Educational Center"

We did not find anyone about so just looked around the outside. It had a beautiful flagstone path in the front and up to the steps of the wide veranda.

I wish I had been able to get more info, but we satisfied ourselves with viewing the outside.

Interestingly, the home was built with a wide open hallway between 2 sections.

Of course, the electric ceiling fans were installed later. Grand was fascinated with the structured (caulking between the logs)

The back was much the same as the front with a wide veranda across it as well, and a screendoor on the one side.

Out front again, hiking trails went off in both directions. We took the dogs for a walk down one but had to turn back soon, as it began to rain again.

Tomorrow, the Tom Merrill campground.