Our Third Winter in Mission, TX

One week ago today, we headed back home after spending since Thanksgiving at Hidden Valley Ranch in Mission, TX. For those familiar with the area, this park is as far west as you can go in the area of Mission. Beyond this park is a golf course, then a cornfield, and in a couple of miles, the small town or Penitas.

Honestly, this Winter was a bit disappointing, mainly because of the weather. We had many stretches of overcast skies which lasted two, three, even four, days. That's not exactly the kind of weather one leaves Iowa to enjoy, is it!

Along with the dreary skies came cool and wet weather. Most locals could not remember as dreary a Winter. Of course the rain was welcome, as they get very little rain there. Water is usually on the brink of being a shortage.

But, even at that, we are planning to go back to our same spot next year. One reason: it was the easiest thing to plan! We have all summer to decide whether or not we really want to  go someplace else and forfeit our deposit. 

Our Trip Back Home

You might remember that we had spent seven winters at an RV park in Rockport, 30 miles north of Corpus Christi, before we moved to Mission. While there, we had a great time with the other guests and made many great friends. We learned that most of them had not left for their Northern homes yet so decided to stop by for the night!

What a great time we had! It was really good to see them, after three years of not seeing most of them. And they were surprised to see us —shocked would be a much better word!

Fortunately, it was the night of their potluck dinner, which meant that we'd get to see many friends at dinner! 

Joan's Pie

It also meant that we might be able to have a piece of Joan's pie! She even delivered the last piece to us; now that's a good friend! (Joan is the acknowledged Pie Queen of Wilderness Oaks RV Park. All the pieces of her pies have usually been snatched up well before dinner is served!)

This was an easy introduction to our travel: only 205 miles.

Next stops

Usually, we try to make it to Win Star Casino, just inside Oklahoma alongside I-35. We go there not to gamble but to stay in their very nice and very convenient RV park. But this time, we chose to continue on 90 miles further, to Purcell, OK. There's a small RV park there, city operated. And also a convenient Walmart which allows overnight parking.

This was a pretty good haul: 510 miles! We chose to make this a long day, as the next day we wanted to get to Cameron, MO. before dinner time.

The drive to Cameron was about 480 miles as I recall and we got there about 5:30. The goal: have dinner with my friend Dave Munson. Dave and I began our college careers as roommates at Iowa State College in 1955 and graduated together nine years later from Iowa State University. At that time, we both had wives; both have since passed away.

He had a degree in Ag Business, as I recall, and spent his career as a pilot for TWA!

We had a great visit over dinner! Long-time friends are getting more important to me, it seems. Anyone else feel that way?

The Last Leg Back Home

From Cameron to Cedar Rapids is about 285 miles. Instead of staying on I-35 and going up the west side of Des Moines and across the top, we chose to go east across the bottom (just south of the DSM airport) and then up the east side. The traffic is sooooo much less!

We refueled in Colfax and paid the highest price for fuel on the trip, thanks mostly to the new tax on gas/fuel. ($2.589 vs. $2.489/gal) I'm really not complaining, as our roads do need some repairs!

We stopped at a rest stop on I-80 and dumped our holding tanks and finally made it to Coralville where we turn north on I-380. That 100-mile stretch from Des Moines to Coralville always seems to take "forever," no matter which direction we're going.

About 2:30, we pulled up to our condo. Back home in Iowa again!

Of course it's not all fun, as that's when the unloading begins! In the past, that was about a two-hour job. This year, we seem to have slowed to the point that it took at least three hours. And we were tired!

By now, most things have been put away, so if you were to stop by we would welcome you inside and you wouldn't be too shocked!