Georgetown TX to Corona del Mar CA

SHORT AND SWEET THOUGHTS WHILE TRAVELING WEST

A trip north to Double D RV Park in Texola, OK Population 32

I made this photo larger to emphasize the 6+ hour drive north to Texola, OK. As you know, the spot where the road seems to come to a point is called the horizon. Driving an average of 70 mph, (Speed limit is 75 mph), when you arrive at that point, there's another view just like this one. Repeat this again and again and try not to think of the "What ifs," or "Supposing..." Note there are no signs of civilization like "Rest Stops," or gas stations. Spending the night in Oklahoma satisfies my personal goal of sleeping in every state. Logically, the route should be northwest to New Mexico.

(1) Mississippi, (2) Louisiana and (3) Oklahoma completed.
(4) Colorado, (5) Kansas and (6) Missouri are on my return trip back to New York.

I left Texas at 8:45 am with the temperature at 75º and arrived after some stops for lunch/fuel to an empty campground at 6:00 pm and temperature at 29º. The windchill was at 9º. I was the only one there; a bulletin board outlined procedures for payment. Just making it and in need of diesel, I filled out the information on the envelope, inserted my $28.00 and was prepared to leave bright and early the next morning in search of a gas station.

The campground. Guess the "Double D" refers to "Downright Deserted."

A sunset in Oklahoma.

Two small electric heaters worked through the night keeping
the temperature inside about 65º. Warm clothing, a fleece blanket
and no thoughts of power failure eventually gave me a comfortable
night's sleep. 

Compounding my concern for finding a gas station, there was an "ice storm warning" that was the prelude to the storm system that would eventually make its way into the northeast and provide yet another round of nasty weather back home. Located just off I-40, traffic was flowing normally perhaps a tad slower...no ice storm. I had to head east six miles to fuel up and then return westbound to continue my journey into New Mexico.

I can only imagine what "Happy Trails Campground" in Moriarity, NM, had in store for me.

Another long trip but the weather cooperated nicely; I stopped three times for fuel. The landscape was barren, flat and looking in any direction showed the horizon and nothing else. Where the spotty, small herds of cattle lived remains a mystery; Looking to the horizons, there were no buildings, barns or silos visible all along I-40. Still, there were spectacular sights. A straw colored grassland dotted with mesquite bushes and cedars no more than three feet tall were all to be seen. The enormity of this great country of ours continued to keep me in awe hour after hour along my journey. If I did happen to pass buildings...that were still standing...they were abandoned and dilapidated. All I could think of were the stories that accompanied each structure. Mesas came into view once in New Mexico. 

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

The privately owned campground, Happy Trails RV Campground, turned out to be another campground to be missed next time around; barren, all dirt and gravel. Other RVs were there but no evidence of occupancy. There was no Internet and their website on line indicated that it was "...offline. This account is past due and has been suspended." Fortunately, it was just for another cold overnight. In the morning, I was greeted with an inch or two of snow on the ground and I started worrying about road conditions.

Once on I-40 again, the roads were clear and dry.

Thursday's trip to Meteor Crater RV Campground was spectacular.

An early morning accident cost me 15 minutes. This jackknifed pickup
probably skidded due to the accident about a mile ahead. 

Tractor trailer, pickup and car in accident.

The views have become breathtaking and I've captured quite
a few while moving right along; most by just pointing and
shooting. Even with no traffic to speak of, at no time did
my eyes leave my head or the road.

Located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona on U.S. 180, the San Francisco Peaks soar to heights reaching 12,633 feet and serve as one of the most distinct geological features of the Colorado Plateau. This is the mouth-dropping view I had from I-40. More photos will follow as I approach it. Named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi by the Spanish Friars that settled the area in the 1620's, these scenic mountains are known locally as simply the Peaks. The Peaks collectively represent six summits that circle the caldera of the now quiet volcano. Humphreys Peak, at 12,633 feet, is the tallest in Arizona. Agassiz Peak to the left soars to 12,356 feet, and Fremont Peak climbs to 11,969 feet. Aubineau Peak, Reese Peak, and Doyle Peak complete the ring, creating both a scenic wonderland and geological display of volcanic rock, deep Alpine forest and lava flows. After leaving the campground tomorrow, I will be traveling on US 180 to view Sunset Crater Volcano Monument and the surrounding lava flows. There are over 400 extinct volcanoes in Arizona.

 I planned it so I'd be able to stop at Meteor Crater first before checking into the campground. As it turned out, I had to pass by the campground and go another six miles to the crater. It was very difficult to choose which photos to include in my blog of the 78 taken. 

Aerial photo taken from website.

Astronauts studied and explored the mountain's unique and rugged terrain
to help  them improve their training in space for the moon landing.
They used the crater during training for the first moon landing during the 1960s.

The 1,406 pound  Holsinger Meteorite, is the largest (fragment) ever found at Meteor Crater.
Traveling at speeds of over 26,000 mph, this 150 foot wide iron meteorite weighed
300,000 tons and formed the 550 foot deep, mile wide impact crater.

You get your first view from inside the display hall. Due to the hot, arid climate, it remains
as one of the world's best preserved impact craters.

Outside along the path overlooking the crater, you view a piece of history from 50,000 years ago in awe. After I offered to take the photos of a couple with the crater as the backdrop, the kind folks from Iowa reciprocated the favor.

From these three angles, you get the idea of another of
my "Wow" moments looking at formations one mile across.

One walkway leads down to a lower observation deck where
stationary viewfinders point to features below at the bottom of
the crater as shown in the following video I took.

Another steep walkway leads to the highest point for viewing.
I took two videos; one taking a sweeping view of the crater; the second looking
in the opposite direction at the landscape of  Coconino County, Winslow, Arizona,
in which the crater is located.

Moenkopi Sandstone

After enjoying my "Ooooooo's" and "Ahhhhhssss," it was time to return to the campground at the beginning of this six mile drive to the Crater. These are some aerial views of a very neat, clean campground with a Mobil gas station at the entrance acting as the registration office. These photos are from the Internet; there is no webpage.

A very dirty Winnie enjoyed another chilly overnight...

...but made warm with a Marty Manhattan...

...and a hot shower in a spotless bathroom,
one of six, that completed another perfect day.

Thanks for joining me once again. Tomorrow (2/25th) I take off for the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park with a stop at Sunset Crater Volcano Monument in the morning and a visit to Sedona, AZ, for lunch in the afternoon. See you there.

Visiting with Pat & Marty

 

LAFAYETTE, LOUSIANA TO GEORGETOWN, TEXAS

6+ hours - 394 miles

I have been looking forward to this leg of my trip for a long time. Visiting fellow retiree Pat and hubby, Marty was truly a rewarding and pleasant experience. Schedules permitting, there are five couples from Blue Mountain Middle School that I visit whenever I travel south. I've underlined my fellow retiree: Vicki/George, Jim/Missie, Wendy/Roger, Ray/Kathy and Pat/Marty. There's a common thread throughout; they already had and brought their personalities, character and moral compass with them but most likely adding to the mix of acquiring the southern life style just made them better. They know their surroundings like the backs of their hand and they not only take advantages of all amenities but are eager to show them off and share with those who visit them. Each of those mentioned have given their time and shown their hospitality in full measure. I take great delight including my experiences with them in my journal...or blog. Their life styles are not that different from each other. Where they live gives them tremendous opportunities to be active, live a healthy life styles and, for me, it's so nice to see.

 

Pat and Marty live in a 55+  Dell Web Sun City community in Georgetown, TX, 35 miles north of Austin. It's on 4,750 acres and has a population of about 18,500 with building continuing and expanding. To keep this blog manageable, I had to just highlight the treats bestowed upon me...with a few photos, of course. With Winnie backed into their driveway, I enjoyed their hospitality and beautiful home set right along the fairway they know so well.

   

Yes. Marty prepares his Manhattan and ages it in
his small table top oak cask--minus the bitters.
This was the FIRST of two never before experiences:
Enjoying a Manhattan. Nope, never had one. It was
delicious. I'm having one now as I compose this blog.
Cheers and thank you, Marty. I'm keeping the "flask" for
a refill when next I visit.

My first meal?

A long awaited steak, potato, asparagus and
sauteed Brussel sprout dinner.
Done to perfection.

We celebrated Pat's birthday with a get-together at Wild Fire Restaurant. There, I got to meet their very close and good friends...GOLFERS one and all.

L. to R. Tom, Pat, Dottie, Cherie, Frank, ACR, Marty.

My meal: Macadamia Encrusted Jumbo Shrimp
with mushroom arborio rice, sweet pepper snow peas, pineapple
pico de gallo and mango cocktail sauce.

Anna, from Siberia, was our waitress.

Afterwards and right next door we enjoyed a tribute to Johnny Cash.

Another evening out with friends, I met more friends at 2020 Restaurant From Scratch.

Dave, Marty, Tom

Pat, Tom, Dottie, Kay

Merriman and Dave

My meal: Shrimp Ravioli
Spinach & buffalo ricotta stuffed ravioli,
blackened shrimp, lemon basil cream, shaved parmesan,
and herb baguettes.

My last evening's dinner was in the same area as 2020 Market but it was Ichiro Sushi and Wine Bar. Click on the link and be visually impressed. 

My meal: Salmon Fiesta
Shrimp tempura and avocado topped with fresh salmon, sprinkled
with crunch flakes, organic micro greens and red tobiko.
(Boy, do I miss my Sakura)

Now, lest y'all think all we did was dine out, you're correct, we did. But the daytime treats they provided me rivaled the South Carolinian Docent, Roger. A visit to Rog and Wendy in Bluffton's Sun City, and you will get the best of fine dining, a local historical education and a feel of the life style they so enjoy and know like the back of their hand. To keep this blog posting short, what follows are brief descriptions and some photos (but not all) of the locations visited. The education associated with each was memorable and impressive. To scratch the surface of what I've learned click on the links provided for you in RED. Click on your browser's left arrow to return to the blog.

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco, TX.  

The history and accounts of  how the Texas Rangers came to be, their achievements and their present day standing is something everyone should know. Learn more HERE. The memorabilia on display was impressive.  It was a retired Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer, who brought Bonnie & Clyde to their violent end in Louisiana. That incident alone is worth the read.

I'll be visiting Bonnie and Clyde's garage apartment they rented in Joplin, MO in the 1930's on March 24th on my way back home.

Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, TX

Not a cola, the history of Dr. Pepper is as impressive and the man behind it's creation. Pharmacists, chemists and the combination of ingredients is the story. In one information display the ingredients to make hundreds of gallons, beside the flavored syrups given were 600 pounds of sugar.

 

The related products that come under the Keurig umbrella.

Not being a soda drinker, and
never having had a Dr. Pepper...

...this was my SECOND FIRST. Marty's
Manhattan was the FIRST FIRST.
Opinion? Flavorful (cherry) but not very
carbonated. Nice, but it won't be among
my go-to drinks.

LBJ Ranch 

The drive through the sprawling acreage this time of the year was like driving anywhere in Texas. Acres and acres as far as the eye can see. Cattle herds, occasional buildings and the private airplane of LBJ were visible. The link given gives better views and description.

The school LBJ attended as a youngster.

LBJ's personal aircraft.

Grape Creek Vineyard 

It was a perfect day when we stopped by for an afternoon...

...at Grape Creek Winery

Pat and Marty discuss various wines which we chose to taste
with Ashley, a very well informed wine tasting hostess.

A typical oak barrel holding 60 gallons of wine,
enough for about 300 bottles and worth about $35,000.

Timing was perfect to enjoy an outdoor lunch overlooking
the vineyards.

But, of course. Pepperoni on the other equally delicious.

Looking forward to enjoying my three take home choices. They do not produce Chardonnay. Wine taster's notes are included for your entertainment. Would that I could detect any of the delicious descriptions they provide.

A profound and rustic character with aromatic nuances of
 sweet blueberries, jammy blackberries and exotic spices.

A bold, full body rendition of Texas petite Verdot. Inky violet in hue,
with the intense flavors of black fruits and mocha.

A delicate balance of wildflowers and honey
with a peach and apricot bouquet.

Luchenback, Texas On our way back from Fredericksburg, TX and the vineyard, we stopped at Luchenback, TX, population, 3. No one lives there now but they're keeping the history and culture alive.

Gift shop loaded with everything marked Luckenbach, Texas

It even has its own post office where founder,
William was its first postmaster.

Music is the big draw for the tourists who stop by.

Stopping for gas on the way home, I even got to experience a Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's is a chain of country stores and gas stations with locations in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Additional locations are currently under development in Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and South Carolina. Plans for an additional location in North Carolina were shelved in early 2021. The company is owned by Arch "Beaver" Aplin III and Don Wasek, and has its headquarters in Lake Jackson, Texas.

Two rows of about 40 gas pumps each were busy and...

...full. I went inside and observed lines at the register manned by very
personable employees. The sell everything and I determined that
these places make Costco and BJs look like mini-marts.

So now you've gotten a taste of my Texas experience. How do you thank your hosts who provided me with all this in just FOUR DAYS AND NIGHTS. I could not have asked for anything more or better. And a "Thank you" just doesn't seem to do it. As my readers know by now, I am blessed with a wonderful group of friends...in every state I visit. 

Thanks for tuning in. My next stops include Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. See you there.