We have less than no band width tonight. We are stopped along the interstate at South Haven, Kansas. This is at the 2 mile marker just over the boarder with Oklahoma. We drove about 300 miles to get here, and it was 4:30 as we arrived.
This RV park is called the Oasis RV park, and it is named appropriately, as there is nothing but farm fields and the Kansas wind out here tonight. We have stayed here numerous times before, as it is 200 miles from home, which turns out to be a nice distance to drive in one day.
The water hydrants are turned off tonight and have been all winter in this park, but the owner has installed frost free farm hydrants along the road to fill up your on board tank. Of course the sewer and electric still work.
We hope to string enough hose in the morning to wash out our holding tanks several times for storage, and then not use the facilities in the rig for the final drive home. Also we will winterize the plumbing and drain the hot water heater as well.
The weather took a turn for the worst, as we drove into Kansas. The wind picked up and the temperature fell about 20 degrees all at once. We are to be below freezing and the wind gusts are to be in the 30s, with blowing snow tonight and tomorrow.
The good in all of this is that snow accumulations are scheduled to be less than a half inch. Still that is a burr!!!! Especially when you have been in Arizona all winter.
Retired Rod
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
No Sleet here!
We have one day to take in all of Dallas! And see our son at the same time. We need to be back in KC by mid week, so we are watching the storms up there as we sit down here. We are 500 miles South of our KC home here in Arlington, and that is enough that we have completely different weather.
Our daughter in law reported a freezing rain that has coated everything with ice, and nothing nice! My son Ben reported that he is hoping for the warmer weather that is forecast for later in the week.
But my oldest son is working here in Dallas at a job for the federal folks, that can't be disclosed here on a public blog. He came to see us this morning at the campground. We had an enjoyable visit for most of the morning and into the afternoon.
He had plans to go with a friend to Austin this weekend, that had been made weeks ago, so he finally left to go get the friend and start that way.
We had the rest of the afternoon free, but did not know what to do. We agreed upon going to the Dealy Plaza where Kennedy was shot so many years ago. It was over 30 miles from here to downtown. We didn't get off until 3, once we were finally organized. It would be one of our drive by visits that we are famous for.
The GPS took us directly to the center of town, but I didn't know how to find Dealy Plaza. We drove thru the newer parts of downtown, but I surmised that it must be in the older section. Then I remembered that the Texas Book Depository building had a museum on the 6th floor where Oswald had fired his shots.
Looking under Museum, the GPS offered a museum named sixth floor. It was on Elm street, so I decided that there could only be one, and selected to go there. Within minutes we drove right past the grassy knoll. I was on it before I could take it all in.
There were folks all over the place! A memorial has been built on the top of the hill, and the grass is mostly trampled. Folks were around the memorial and out on the grass. We drove under the overpass where the train tracks go overhead. That leads right to the interstate.
I hauled around in a U turn and went back for a second pass. This time I came from the South and was able to wait at the light in front of the Book building and take it all in. Of course there is no parking anywhere close, and folks were arriving on foot. Loyce saw one man on the grass bending down and kissing the ground in front of him. He was at least our age, so he is old enough to remember how that event played out on our TVs for that frightful weekend and the funeral the following week.
I put Parkland Hospital into the GPS to see how far away that was, and it was about 3 miles to the North. So under the underpass I went following the track spelled out by the machine. That drive seemed eerie at best, as we pulled up behind the hospital to the emergency entrance. The building seems newer in many sections now, but the oldest part is definitely the same.
I turned 16 the day after Kennedy was shot, and within the week got my first drivers license. But that normally happy event, will always bring back memories of the president being shot in late November.
Tonight we went to a Cracker Barrel up North of the ball stadiums and Six Flags over Texas. The food was good like usual, but to my opinion, all of those stores are much the same. We ate in one in Alabama when we were having warranty work done on the motor home. They could have easily been the same store, because you couldn't tell any difference. Maybe the Texas accent is a little different than the Alabama twang, but to a Northerner like me, it is all just Southern!
Oh go ahead and flame me for a comment like that!!!!!!! LOL
Retired Rod
Our daughter in law reported a freezing rain that has coated everything with ice, and nothing nice! My son Ben reported that he is hoping for the warmer weather that is forecast for later in the week.
But my oldest son is working here in Dallas at a job for the federal folks, that can't be disclosed here on a public blog. He came to see us this morning at the campground. We had an enjoyable visit for most of the morning and into the afternoon.
He had plans to go with a friend to Austin this weekend, that had been made weeks ago, so he finally left to go get the friend and start that way.
We had the rest of the afternoon free, but did not know what to do. We agreed upon going to the Dealy Plaza where Kennedy was shot so many years ago. It was over 30 miles from here to downtown. We didn't get off until 3, once we were finally organized. It would be one of our drive by visits that we are famous for.
The GPS took us directly to the center of town, but I didn't know how to find Dealy Plaza. We drove thru the newer parts of downtown, but I surmised that it must be in the older section. Then I remembered that the Texas Book Depository building had a museum on the 6th floor where Oswald had fired his shots.
Looking under Museum, the GPS offered a museum named sixth floor. It was on Elm street, so I decided that there could only be one, and selected to go there. Within minutes we drove right past the grassy knoll. I was on it before I could take it all in.
There were folks all over the place! A memorial has been built on the top of the hill, and the grass is mostly trampled. Folks were around the memorial and out on the grass. We drove under the overpass where the train tracks go overhead. That leads right to the interstate.
I hauled around in a U turn and went back for a second pass. This time I came from the South and was able to wait at the light in front of the Book building and take it all in. Of course there is no parking anywhere close, and folks were arriving on foot. Loyce saw one man on the grass bending down and kissing the ground in front of him. He was at least our age, so he is old enough to remember how that event played out on our TVs for that frightful weekend and the funeral the following week.
I put Parkland Hospital into the GPS to see how far away that was, and it was about 3 miles to the North. So under the underpass I went following the track spelled out by the machine. That drive seemed eerie at best, as we pulled up behind the hospital to the emergency entrance. The building seems newer in many sections now, but the oldest part is definitely the same.
I turned 16 the day after Kennedy was shot, and within the week got my first drivers license. But that normally happy event, will always bring back memories of the president being shot in late November.
Tonight we went to a Cracker Barrel up North of the ball stadiums and Six Flags over Texas. The food was good like usual, but to my opinion, all of those stores are much the same. We ate in one in Alabama when we were having warranty work done on the motor home. They could have easily been the same store, because you couldn't tell any difference. Maybe the Texas accent is a little different than the Alabama twang, but to a Northerner like me, it is all just Southern!
Oh go ahead and flame me for a comment like that!!!!!!! LOL
Retired Rod
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Dallas
Its much colder here! Where is here? Well we are in Arlington at the KOA in the center of town. And it really is in the center of a very heavy business district. Usually we can't find campgrounds in business districts, but this is an anomaly.
Getting here, was almost routine, as we were off all loaded and ready by 9:30, but not so fast. We wanted to get some fuel before we left the Abilene area, since it is quite near the Fina refinery over by Big Spring. The local price seems to be a bit better than anywhere else around. Today it was $3.49 as compared to $3.64 in most of the other towns.
We only have an 80 gallon tank in the coach, and it needed 44 gallons. I spotted what looked to be a nice big truck lane in a quick trip style station, and back tracked an interchange to go use it. Then after finding that it worked well, proceeded to realize that this same station was at almost every interchange around the North side of the town. I felt kind of stupid to have backtracked to a specific station, but I saved 14 cents a gallon in the town of Abilene.
Next we went to Wal Mart, for a few more groceries and a medicine that we were out of. I also purchased some diesel additive that increases the cetane rating of the fuel. This stuff costs $7 a quart, and probably negates any savings from purchasing inexpensive fuel. But, it increases mileage and makes the engine run soooo much nicer.
Well there went our early start, as it was 11 when we left town for real. We only had 155 miles into the Dallas area from Abilene, so it didn't matter what time we left. We stopped along the road in a Texas roadside park and made lunch. It was still quite chilly, and we fired up the propane heater for a while as we ate. It had been in the 40s as we drove but sunny and bright made up for it.
But while we were sitting stopped, the heater felt quite nice. As we came into town the Dallas traffic is still the same zoo that it always is. Other than Boston, I think this is one of the worst areas for traffic overload.
After stopping at the local Sam's Club to use the parking lot for a stopping place while I looked up the local KOA address and dialed up the address in the GPS, we made it here to the park. This is the typical city park, where we wouldn't have more than 10 feet between rigs. And for only a mere $40 a night after the discount for club membership, it is a real steal! Not sure, but perhaps I was the stealee!
Retired Rod
Getting here, was almost routine, as we were off all loaded and ready by 9:30, but not so fast. We wanted to get some fuel before we left the Abilene area, since it is quite near the Fina refinery over by Big Spring. The local price seems to be a bit better than anywhere else around. Today it was $3.49 as compared to $3.64 in most of the other towns.
We only have an 80 gallon tank in the coach, and it needed 44 gallons. I spotted what looked to be a nice big truck lane in a quick trip style station, and back tracked an interchange to go use it. Then after finding that it worked well, proceeded to realize that this same station was at almost every interchange around the North side of the town. I felt kind of stupid to have backtracked to a specific station, but I saved 14 cents a gallon in the town of Abilene.
Next we went to Wal Mart, for a few more groceries and a medicine that we were out of. I also purchased some diesel additive that increases the cetane rating of the fuel. This stuff costs $7 a quart, and probably negates any savings from purchasing inexpensive fuel. But, it increases mileage and makes the engine run soooo much nicer.
Well there went our early start, as it was 11 when we left town for real. We only had 155 miles into the Dallas area from Abilene, so it didn't matter what time we left. We stopped along the road in a Texas roadside park and made lunch. It was still quite chilly, and we fired up the propane heater for a while as we ate. It had been in the 40s as we drove but sunny and bright made up for it.
But while we were sitting stopped, the heater felt quite nice. As we came into town the Dallas traffic is still the same zoo that it always is. Other than Boston, I think this is one of the worst areas for traffic overload.
After stopping at the local Sam's Club to use the parking lot for a stopping place while I looked up the local KOA address and dialed up the address in the GPS, we made it here to the park. This is the typical city park, where we wouldn't have more than 10 feet between rigs. And for only a mere $40 a night after the discount for club membership, it is a real steal! Not sure, but perhaps I was the stealee!
Retired Rod
Friday, February 25, 2011
The great wall of wind!
Remember a few days ago when I was teasing about the winds of Arizona being like Texas winds? Well they are not like Texas winds, I can now tell you for sure. Today we had West Texas wind, and it almost rocked us off of the highway.
It picks up the dirt from the landscape and blows a big dust storm across the road. We were on the interstate so I wasn't worried that we would run into anybody, but the thought did pass thru my mind that if someone stopped in the road, you might not know it until too late.
West Texas is oil and gas country, and the drilling rigs are all over the place. A neighbor said they are drilling new gas wells out here, and it is a bonanza hey day. And so it is. Almost every third vehicle is some sort of oil support equipment. Frac tanks and mud tanks coming into the wells. Flat beds with pipe and so forth.
I am not an oil well specialist, so I only recognize the equipment as it is at the drilling sites. At Odesa, this equipment seems to be stockpiled at the many companies that provide the work. I'm not sure there were many other forms of businesses in Odesa. Well that is how it seems from the road.
We thought about stopping for a Wal Mart there, but didn't find it right away so we passes until we reached Midland. Midland is huge, with about 100,000 residents, so I reverted to the GPS to find the Wal Mart for me. And it was good that I did, as it was as far away from the Interstate as you could get and still be in town.
We drove on farther, and decided to make a day of it in Abilene. I pulled off at the exit for the KOA camp, and ran into a grass fire along the side of the road. A fire truck was blocking the frontage road, and I was too far off the interstate to go back. OOhh I had to stop and wait it out while they put the fire out. I tried to back up with the trailer on the back, but wasn't making much progress.
They finally allowed us thru, after the fire was mostly out. Smelly..... And the camp was only another 100 yards down the road. So tonight, we can still smell the nasty grass fire smell as we sit here in the park. We ran the A/C until it got dark to kill the smell some, but it is to be 34 tonight, so the A/C won't be in the picture during the night.
We are 150 miles West of Fort Worth. This is where I 35 heads North toward KC and our home. We are running out of options on staying South of the storm that is up there right now. Our daughter in law texted me that it was sleeting starting at 9 AM. Something to look forward to.
Retired Rod
It picks up the dirt from the landscape and blows a big dust storm across the road. We were on the interstate so I wasn't worried that we would run into anybody, but the thought did pass thru my mind that if someone stopped in the road, you might not know it until too late.
West Texas is oil and gas country, and the drilling rigs are all over the place. A neighbor said they are drilling new gas wells out here, and it is a bonanza hey day. And so it is. Almost every third vehicle is some sort of oil support equipment. Frac tanks and mud tanks coming into the wells. Flat beds with pipe and so forth.
I am not an oil well specialist, so I only recognize the equipment as it is at the drilling sites. At Odesa, this equipment seems to be stockpiled at the many companies that provide the work. I'm not sure there were many other forms of businesses in Odesa. Well that is how it seems from the road.
We thought about stopping for a Wal Mart there, but didn't find it right away so we passes until we reached Midland. Midland is huge, with about 100,000 residents, so I reverted to the GPS to find the Wal Mart for me. And it was good that I did, as it was as far away from the Interstate as you could get and still be in town.
We drove on farther, and decided to make a day of it in Abilene. I pulled off at the exit for the KOA camp, and ran into a grass fire along the side of the road. A fire truck was blocking the frontage road, and I was too far off the interstate to go back. OOhh I had to stop and wait it out while they put the fire out. I tried to back up with the trailer on the back, but wasn't making much progress.
They finally allowed us thru, after the fire was mostly out. Smelly..... And the camp was only another 100 yards down the road. So tonight, we can still smell the nasty grass fire smell as we sit here in the park. We ran the A/C until it got dark to kill the smell some, but it is to be 34 tonight, so the A/C won't be in the picture during the night.
We are 150 miles West of Fort Worth. This is where I 35 heads North toward KC and our home. We are running out of options on staying South of the storm that is up there right now. Our daughter in law texted me that it was sleeting starting at 9 AM. Something to look forward to.
Retired Rod
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
