Alexandria, LA - Day 9

Miles 245

The weather has certainly changed. We had a warm night, even took off our extra blanket. I've retired the thin sweatshirt top and have sleeveless for sleeping now! It was very windy in the night, we heard trash can tipping over and blowing by. It is a balmy 66 degrees this morning. As the day progressed we passed into Louisiana and ended up in Alexandria, LA with 75 degrees. It is still windy but did it not create any problems towing the trailer. We just slowed down a bit. We traversed Hwy 37 and 69, which got us back to Hwy 20. From Hwy 20 we took a short cut to 49 on LA3132. Then it was Hwy 49 south at Shreveport, LA. As we passed a turnoff for Leesville I was nostalgic. I hope we can take a side trip on the way back and go by Fort Polk where Jeff was stationed. We visited him there in Feb. 1990, and towed the 1970 Ford Maverick Sport to him while he was stationed there. We were able to spend the weekend near Fort Polk and visit him and introduce his new little brother Steven, then we turned around and drove straight back home!  We are at WM tonight and looking forward to our 5 day stop beginning tomorrow in New Orleans!

Beautiful, thick forests

Little House Customs - Day 8

Miles - 22
We were pretty excited to go to Little House Customs today. We really weren't sure what we would do while they worked on our Casita but we were pleasantly surprised to be treated as special guests. Larry & Debbie Gamble are just the salt of the earth, what wonderful people. One feels like you are visiting your cousins or something when you arrive. Their "shop" is more than just a shop. They have a full kitchen for your use with a fresh pot of coffee when we arrived. Their smiling faces explain that you are welcome to use anything... The restroom is upstairs along with a guest room where people stay if they need to work on your Casita the next day. You are welcome to even sleep there in your Casita if that is possible, but it isn't always possible depending on the extent of the work. There is Wi-Fi, showers, even a washer and dryer if you want to do laundry! It really is quite amazing. I thought maybe they lived at the shop but they have a home just a short distance up the gravel road. They do warn you, it is hard to find but they provide excellent directions and then meet you at their gate. This long drive from CA was definitely worth it. We are having several custom updates done and expert Larry pointed out a few things we need to do differently. His co-worker Mike is equally as skilled in working on Casita trailers. Debbie checks in periodically to be sure you are comfortable or to see  if you need anything. Larry has had this business for 7-8 years but has been pulling his Casita for 21 years. We relaxed, drank our coffee, updated things on the Internet, ate our lunch, etc. I finally got a chance to actually put a few photos in our trip book. I will add, LHC is also pet friendly - Tony has a new friend named Barney - half Basset Hound half Golden Lab - Such a sweet dog, big but so sweet. 

We got the following work done:

Double Step

Battery Cut Off Switch

3-Way Porch Light

MaxxAir Vent Cover

Vent Screens
Battery Cutoff System
Portable Solar Panel & Connections

Water Heater Service

Wheel Bearing & Brake Service

Broken Rivets Repaired

Fix Refrigerator Guard
Plus a few useful tools for future use and expert advice to go with them. 

LHC Waiting Area

Our Casita underwent a good make over! I didn't look at the clock but I think we left LHC around 4p. We had dinner, as suggested at Peralta's Mexican Restaurant. We went back to Gov. Jim Hogg City Park for the night. Overall, it was a relaxing and very productive day for us and we will be ready to hit the road heading in the direction of New Orleans. 

My Personal Crew!

Larry - Mike - John

Barney (Tony's new friend)

Eclipse - August 21, 2017

Of note for two days, maybe 4-5 hours I have been trying to find a campground where we could watch the big eclipse. It will be on John's BD so I wanted  something special. So did everyone else! It's no surprise all the numerous OR State Parks in the viewing path are completely full already. We did eventually get a place at Coyote Rock, riverside, so I hope the viewing is good. It doesn't look like the type of place we usually go but I hope it works out.

Quitman, TX - Day 7

Miles 136

We made it to our first appointed destination! I am happy to say we are safely in Quitman, TX at Gov. Jim Hogg City Park. It was a shorter day for us but we are a bit road weary anyway. We are looking forward to not being on the road tomorrow and also looking forward to the 5 days booked in New Orleans (Jan 11-16). After we left somewhat busy Hwy 20 we were on Interstate 17, then 80, then 37, which are more like enjoyable country roads. Hwy 37 brought us right into Quitman. This looks like a friendly and nice place to live, just another "small town" America. Our views today were mostly rolling hills with bare deciduous trees, which I think were mainly Oak trees. with an evergreen here and there. I think it would have been beautiful before the leaves fell, a little dreary right now. We did pass a couple large impressive homes, a few small farms, and a lot of modular homes on what looked like 1 acre plots. The sun is shinning and it is a cool 47 degrees "feels like" 40. Sadly there are NO SHOWERS so it is the Casita shower for me. The plus is free Wi-Fi so that is nice. 

Ft Worth, TX - Day 6

Miles 322

There was ice on our Jeep this morning. It was 15 degrees this morning "felt like" 9 - Really? My granddaughter is 9 - not the temperature!!! Yes, TX is a big state and takes a lot of driving. We are making excellent time and expect to arrive to our appointed destination of Quitman, TX tomorrow as planned. Our drive was uneventful. We planned to eat lunch out but it was simpler to make sandwiches. We are right by a Chick-Fil-A tonight so guess what we are having for dinner? No pictures - Cotton fields, rolling and flat brown land is what we saw up until the last 20 or so miles. Now there are more trees. It is different terrain to get used to. The sun shone brightly all day and it is now a whopping 40 degrees! 

Odessa, TX - Day 5

Miles 279

We didn't even use the heater last night in El Paso, it was even fairly pleasant when we got up with the sun shinning. We could look across the river into Mexico for a long ways along  Hwy 10. It is very close, there is a small fence but I am not sure if border control in the purpose of the fence or not. We saw one Border Patrol SUV along the many miles we drove. When we got to a Border Patrol Crossing we did have to stop. The nice young woman asked if we were citizens of the US answered affirmatively and we were waved along.  We could also drive 80 mph in TX, of course we did not. Not only was it too windy, but our trailer axel is rated for a maximum of 65 mph. It got colder along the way. When we stopped in Van Horn, TX to get gas it was terribly windy and 29 degrees. It was a crowded, small area so we opted to just heat our Christmas (previously frozen) leftovers for lunch, it was delicious. The cold continued, but the wind has ceased somewhat here in Odessa, TX it is 23 degrees and "feels like" 11 degrees at 5:30p. We are just off Hwy 20 now. We turned our clocks ahead another hour today so we are on Central Time now. Flat land, no trees, lots of oil pumps and what looks to be refineries, TX is not what I would call "pretty" but I have heard there are woodsy, nice places - we have never seen them!  Despite the cold it is nice and warm in our trailer. I am definitely glad we have a heater. I won't be going outside at all the rest of the day. However, John will be bundled up and take Tony, also in a coat, for his walk!

TX Hwy 10

 Border Patrol

El Paso, TX - Day 4

Miles 366

We didn't leave as early as we thought we would but we made good time and got up to speed with our itinerary, even a bit past our goal for the day. We are staying at a Wal-Mart Super Center tonight in El Paso, TX. Most of you know WM allows over-nighter's in the parking lot for free. Most  people do their shopping while stopping! We are getting a few supplies as well. The weather was lovely all day, in the 60's, high I believe was 65. No road problems and uneventful.  We stopped for gas in Wilcox, AZ where we bought a hot dog for lunch and went on our way, we actually had two gas stops but I forget where the other one was. We stopped at a beautiful rest stop in John's birth town (Las Cruces, NM) that had a great view of the city and mountains. There was an impressive Road Runner sculpture (state bird) but we moved along since there was a sign "watch for snakes." We saw lots of lovely mountains but no trees to speak of just barren desert and what we always called scrub brush. There were no pretty cactus after we left AZ.