Winter Texan

All y’all probably already know this, but a “Winter Texan” is a Northerner who chooses to spend the Winter in Texas, the Lone Star state. Pat and I are two of the thousands who have fit into that category for 11 years now.

Why do we like Texas?

• It’s interesting: interesting topography, interesting people, interesting economy.
• It’s significantly less expensive than the popular places in Florida or Arizona, an important factor for a Welshman!
• We have met people here whom we value as very special friends.

I’ll also have to admit that it is much easier and more comfortable to simply “come back to the same old place” each year than choose a different locale and start all over with new friends, new adventures, and new activities.

Am I in a rut? Probably.

Southward Migration, 2015

This year we choose to leave nearly a week earlier than last year. Last year, about two days after we arrived in Mission there was a terrible ice/snow storm north of Dallas and into Oklahoma. Trucks and RVs were stuck on the highway for tens of hours and, in some cases, longer than one day.

We wanted to minimize any possibility of that happening to us, so we left earlier. As it turned out, that was good!

But instead of snow and ice, we avoided some really wild wind and rain storms!

We left shortly after noon on Monday, Nov. 9. We made it to one of our usual “campgrounds” —Walmart in Cameron, MO. There’s also a very nice family restaurant a few blocks before we arrive at Walmart which has room for us to conveniently drive through and park. That’s an important factor when you’re nearly 50′ long!

This year, we chose to go across the top of Kansas City and down the west side to the Kansas Turnpike. This year we took it the entire length; toll=$20.25. For that, we got:

• An excellent road
• Little to modest traffic
• Convenient access to service areas

All in all, it was a pretty low-stress way to travel and therefore worth the twenty bucks.

Oklahoma on the way to becoming a Winter Texan

Oklahoma is less stress-free than the turnpike in Kansas. That’s mainly because our route, I-35, goes right past Oklahoma City, followed in short order by Norman. Both are busy areas with lots of traffic. I don’t recall that construction was a factor this year, but has been in the past.

Our goal for Tuesday night: the campground at Winstar Casino, at mile marker 1 in Oklahoma. That means that it’s one mile from the Red River and Texas. It also means that we’re only a very few miles more than halfway finished with our mission to get to Mission, our destination! (Texas is BIG!)

We’ve stayed there before. It’s a very nice campground. Strangely, the campground was designed by someone who apparently knew absolutely nothing about RVs! The result is that a very attractive campground has hookups (water, electricity, and sewer connections) located in what can only be described as “weird” places. It’s too bad.

And some good news: The fee was lowered to twenty bucks/night!

We listened to weather forecasts and checked weather on the Internet. For the next day, the predictions were for strong winds from the south and west. Strong as in 25 mph with gusts to 40 or 50 mph! We very wisely opted to spend the next day right there, which gave us a chance to get the trailer organized a bit and relax. That’s what’s happening in the picture above!

The payoff: winds from the north for the next two days! That was worth about two miles/gallon on fuel mileage!

Texas, We’ve Arrived!

Shortly after leaving Thursday morning, we entered Texas and stopped at the huge welcome center. (We needed a new Texas map; last years was falling apart from use.)

Our goal for the day: get to Seguin, which is about 25 miles SE of San Antonio. That’s another common stopping point during our migrations.

But before Seguin is Fort Worth! And lots of traffic. And construction!

We came the closest to having an accident as we ever have, courtesy of the construction. The right lane was closing and we were in the left lane, with reasonable space between us and the vehicle ahead of us. At the very last moment of the right lane’s existence, a lady pulled into that space.

And at the exact same time, every brake light ahead of us came on as the traffic was coming to a stop! I estimate that we missed hitting her by less than two feet. That’s way too close for comfort! Fortunately, we were not rear-ended by the vehicle behind us.

We smelled asbestos from the brakes for several minutes after that event.

I should also add that I had the trailer brakes adjusted before we left. That, reasonable skill by the driver, and divine intervention prevented an accident.

Dinner With Friends

One of the joys of our trips north/south is that often we get to see friends! One on the “favorites” list is Wayne Roberts, who lives at Air Force Village in San Antonio. Fortunately, he and his friend, Miss Peggy, were available for dinner and volunteered to pick us up on the way. (Not that it’s a big deal, but anytime you can avoid unhooking the trailer from the pickup is time saved.)

Wayne has a garden plot at his residence and showed photos of this years produce. Once a farmer, always a farmer, I guess! Plus, it’s good eatin’!

Second and Last Close Call

We left Seguin, headed toward San Antonio on the Interstate. Our next turn is onto I-410, which takes us around the SE corner of San Antonio. We were following a small pickup with a small pallet of boxes. They were secured (??) by that plastic sheet stuff (sort of like Saran plastic wrap). All of a sudden, it gave way and some boxes (3 or 4?) came flying off and landed on the road ahead of us. I hit one, about a cubic foot in size, and certainly demolished it and whatever it contained. I’ve found no ill done to the truck.

The truck driver saw what happened and pulled half-off the left lane. And stopped! There was traffic to my right so I couldn’t pull over into the right lane. My guess is that I missed that little truck by a couple of feet.

That’s way too much excitement for a couple of old folks headed for a nice winter! We are very thankful that each of these incidents ended up with no damage or injuries.

Our Welcome Dinner

Gary and Mary Goetsch, more friends from way back (Lime Springs, and Montgomery, AL, courtesy of the USAF) invited us to dinner for our first night back at the park! Gary’s sister, Lila, and her husband, Lyle Helm, also participate. That made the Bonair Bunch at Hidden Valley Park complete!

The Helms, who are now Texas residents, live right across the street from us. Gary and Mary live a few hundred feet away during the Winter and in Farmington, MN, during the rest of the year. They live only about three miles from Pat’s sister Jo so we get to see them once in awhile when we make the Minnesota run.

Mary’s stew was great! The conversation was great! We had a good time! Thanks, all!

Long Trip

I’m sorry this article is so long, but it was a long trip! Five days total for us. Some due it in two days! But they’re younger than we are. By a lot, usually!

Now that we’re here, we’re just trying to settle into the rhythm of life here in “the Valley.”  It’s early in the season and many things have not yet begun, including the Friday afternoon polka jams which I love to attend.

By the way, you know you’re in Texas when you see Dairy Queens frequently, Whataburgers all over the place, and errant grocery carts like this: