Lake Tawakoni

4/22/2020

It's been a while since we have posted. As I told a friend of mine, just haven't been able to find my inner muse. We are in Northeast Texas at Lake Tawakoni (Ta -Wa-ka-ni). The name translating to River Bend Among Red Sand Hills is also the name of the Native America people who lived and live in the area. We were very fortunate to have stopped here on our journey. Our plan was to stay here for a week and then start heading north to the Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and onward. COVID-19 had other plans for us as well as the rest of the world. Twas at this time the world as we knew it stopped. All reservations were canceled as parks across the country closed. That was back in Mid-March and looks like we are here until the end of April.

The campground is great, large with lots of room for walking and biking. If you are into fishing and boating it would be perfect. Normally, there are two pools, two activity centers, the usual playground, miniature golf, and lots of programs and gatherings. Of course, at this time all that is unavailable as “Social Distancing” is the new norm for now. This campground is part of a membership program called Thousand Trails, one we debated buying into and yet are so glad we did. This program has allowed us and all their members to “shelter - in- place. Normally, depending on your membership level you can stay at one of their parks for 7 to 21 days, but when all hell broke loose they have allowed anyone already at the campground to stay until further notice at no additional cost.

We did have to change sites a week after being here as we came during a time of heavy rain storms that caused the Sabine River above us to flood which in turn caused the lake to overflow it's banks. Our site was about 10 – 15 yards from the waters edge when we got here and, well, about 5 feet from our unit when we sought a site more inland.  The sites here are generously large and with the closing of new reservations and many of the people here that were now heading back to their homes, the place is virtually empty. Which is fine by us. Quiet is good. The staff has been great with keeping things running a smoothly as possible and always friendly.

As mentioned our activities include walking, biking, as well as, reading, chatting together, planning what's next, playing games, and I did some hand sewing and made a pillow. Oh Yes, My first attempt at cutting Paul's hair! Came out rather well and no blood was shed. LOL Another bigger transpired, Paul is now reading from a kindle! And he thought it could never happen, HA!

Mirror Image LOL

An entertaining tidbit: Our RV is rather unique in that it has no slides. So with this in mind imagine our surprise when the same one pulled into the site next to us! Couple years older but yep another Coachman Freelander 27QB. That tickled me.

We are hoping we will be able to continue northward soon. Once we do, we will be on our way to Washington, we won't be stopping along the way except for the night at whatever campground we find open. We will load up on groceries before we leave so as not to have to stop along the way and as our RV is self-contained we will continue not using facilities at rest stops or campgrounds. Once there we will slow down just a little as we make our way across the state to be near our daughter and family. At that time a new phase of our journey shall begin and more about that at a later date.

Until next time we can only wish all to Be Safe and Be Well. We are doing what needs to be done and hope everyone else is as well so we can move beyond this shadow and find a new normal.

Photos of the campground flooding

Will be taking more and posting at a later time. Just been laying low and not carrying my camera of late.

And I can still be entertained!

We have a rather unique RV in that it has no slides. There aren't many like that and fewer still of our make and model. So imagine our surprise and delight when what should pull into the site next to us but a Coachman Freelander 27QB! Couple years older but yep, the same! Love it.

Our Twin!!

A Rant

April 4, 2020

I am going on a rant today as I'm fed up with the knee jerk reactions of state and local governments, especially in how it pertains to us and the millions like us. I get the trying to control this plague we all are experiencing. I get social distancing, shelter in place except to grocery shop and exercise. I get closing of non-essential businesses though I can't help but question how that is determined. Sorry folks, but no, gun shops should not be considered essential businesses and yet libraries are closed, and yes, I know a lot of you are going to have something to say about that. Don't bother you're not convincing me. I get so much of what is being done and a lot of it I applaud and wish they had done sooner.

Right now my concern and head shaking is about the ridiculous panic mode before thinking it through that concerns campgrounds. There are estimated to be several million Fulltime Rvers, and more than half of those have no actual sticks and bricks home. They live and some work in their RVs. Of that almost half again of those are people who are retired and over the age of 60. Now do keep in mind with this plague 60 seems to be the magic number they have come up with to decide risk factor.

So what are state and local governments doing? Closing campgrounds or putting severe restrictions on them. Almost all states have closed their state park campgrounds and now are trying to close private ones as well. And yet they are leaving parks open to day use?!?!?! This makes no sense. Close the bathhouse facilities, yep I get it, close the amenities, yep again, not allow tenters and other camping units that are not self contained, oh yes, no problem. But to close campgrounds to RVs that are fully self contained no, that makes no sense. Our unit and the units I am talking about have kitchens, full bathrooms, have fresh water tanks and tanks for waste water. We don't have to leave our “home”, except to shop for food. Talk about the ability to Shelter In Place. And yet they are taking away that option, they are taking away Where we can stay. Latest is many states are not allowing campgrounds to be open to overnight or short term stays and have strange and ridiculous travel bans in place. So now you have thousands of RVers that do have options to go to a sticks/bricks and how many more that have been wintering in the south trying to get home BUT CAN”T. Oh and some states have closed rest stop along highways. Great move folks, I guess I should give them credit for opening them back up to truckers eh.

What really takes the cake in all this nonsense is the fact that Hotels, Motels, B&B, and the like are allowed to stay open and receive overnight guests. REALLY?!?!!? who makes these rules up. So it's okay for someone to exposed themselves to the germs that can be found at these establishments, the surfaces touch by many many persons, sleep in beds that someone else slept in last night, interact with hotel personnel and have to find somewhere to eat, but it's not okay for us to spend the night in a campground, sleep in our own bed, cook in our kitchens, use our own bathroom? Would you rather have RVs park on the side of road, in parking lots and anywhere else they can find a space? You tell me how that makes a lick of sense.

We ourselves are fortunate, though all the reservations we have made to go different places have been canceled, we are in a campground that is able (at this time) to allow those here to stay here until April 30^th. After that, well time will tell. We are safe and we are thankful for that. But my heart goes out to the thousands if not millions that aren't so fortunate. Yes, we all have to do what we can to help stop the spread of this horrific virus but can we please just stop and use a bit of common sense?

Hot Springs Arkansas

Hot Springs Arkanas 

March 9 – 12, 2020

Zipped out of Louisiana and 

over into Arkansas.     

Look we found WALDO!! 

Wanted to check out the National Park there so we found Hot Springs KOA to stay in. It was nice but not very unusual or exciting. It was very convenient to Hot Springs National Park. One of the perks of the park was the shuttle service back and forth between the KOA and the national park. The national park and town of Hot Springs was a fun day trip for us, but more on that later from Teri. The campground had few outdoor amenities and limited walking areas. There were a few trails but nothing very long. The office had most things a camper might need and the people here were very helpful. The bathrooms and laundry were in good shape and clean. This was our first KOA, and while not very memorable, was a nice quick stopover.

Nice Comfortable Site

Hot Springs National Park

Paul and I spent a day at Hot Springs National Park on March 10. When one thinks of a National Park one immediately thinks of being surrounded by nature, out in the wilderness, some remote place with awe inspiring views. Not so Hot Springs. When you arrive at the town of Hot Springs your first thought is how do I now get to the National Park. Well, guess what, you are there! You stand there on the main street (Central Avenue) and look from one side to the other. On one side of the road is typical touristy shops, restaurants, apartments; looking just like a downtown anywhere USA. Then you look to the other side of the street and there it is: the National Park, that section being also known as Bathhouse Row.

BathHouse Row

Hot Springs is the oldest National Park, established in 1832, making older than Yellowstone by 40 years. It was established to protect the amazing thermal waters flowing from Hot Springs Mountain. Like so much of America this land was first used by American Indians in particular the Caddo, Quapaw and Choctaws. You can read more about this Here (https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/historyculture/upload/american_indians.pdf).

In 1804, an expedition was sent out to explore the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. The springs were “discovered” and it didn't take long for them to be exploited and turned into public bathouses. The town grew rather haphazardly. Soon the government came in and set rules and regulations and eventual made the area on the south side as well as Hot Springs Mountain a National Park to help control and preserve the area. There are several of the historic buildings on Bathhouse Row, and a few you can go into it. Two are spas where you can experience the hot springs, yes, for a steep cost. 

And one is a restaurant where we had a fun lunch to celebrate Paul's birthday including a beer flight of local beers. The museum run by the Nat'l Park is interesting and informative. Here is were you can get more info: https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

On the top of Hot Springs Mountain is a observation tower that overlooks the area. There is a crazy winding rode you can drive or like us you can hike one of the many trails.

The formation of the springs is fascinating and, no, I don't completely understand how it works. Here is information on that: https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/nature/hotsprings.htm 

It is amazing the water coming out of the springs is over 150 degrees and takes over 4 thousand years to reach the surface!! No bacteria lives it and it has a pure taste. It's neat there are several places where you can put your hands in the water, believe me, it's HOT!

Also they have a fountain where you can fill bottles of the water. People in the area come regularly and use it almost exclusively.

Fun, educational, interesting, Worth the visit.

The now defunct Military Hospital, Such a impression building. 

Hot Spring Fountain

Looking down through the steam

Fun street sculpture Several different ones in area

Lake Claiborne State Park, Louisiana

Realized with all this craziness in the world we hadn't posted our past several stops. So here without further delay we go back to the beginning of March! May all Be Well.

Headed out of Mississippi across it's namesake river. Couldn't get the pictures I would have liked as there was to much steel beam (which considering how far across the river is, is a very good thing!) With all the rain of late the great river was over it's banks and extended even further than usual.

 Our destination was Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer, Louisiana and this was a great experience for us. We spent the weekend of March fifth through ninth there and had a great time in the park. Our site was spacious and backed up almost to the lake. The park had a free laundry, which unfortunately had some broken machines, and nice bathrooms. And for those who want something different there were two disc golf courses to use. We didn't get the opportunity but it looked interesting. Lots of trees around us provided shade and privacy. Sitting out back watching the lake became our favorite thing to do.

 There were many trails to hike and we did most of them, even though they were pretty hilly. Some ran along the waters edge and allowed many views of the large lake. While hiking on one of the trails we can across this giant evergreen tree. MY goodness, how big as you can see Paul could not reach around it! Didn't think they grew them that big in the south! 

No that's not a tree with hands,
That's actually Paul trying to get his arms around it!

  The highlight of the park for us was the wildlife. While hiking we saw deer and an armadillo (a first for me). Those little guys move pretty fast. Watching the lake was fun too. On two occasions we saw a bald eagle travel over the lake. One day we watched as several hundred cormorants landed in groups until a whole section of water right behind was filled with them. I have never seen so many of them together before.

   This park was a great place to camp, hike or boat and we would love to come back someday.

Til next stop

Teri & Paul

Be forewarned, lot's of photos below!! ENJOY

Across the way looking at the back of our RV

Rather nice view!

One of many views from our backyard

Cypress knees always remind me of a little village.