Down the Mountain!

Day 9         September 14, 2025

Eagle Nest, New Mexico

Leaving Dalhart on Sunday morning, we enjoy the High Plains of Texas and the gentle hills and curves.  By 11am CST we arrive to Texline TX and enter New Mexico and the Mountain Time Zone.  Suddenly, it is 12 Noon!  Oh my!  Where is the lost hour???

From the cornfield shown in the photo above, we begin to see a change in the terrain.  So far on this trip I haven't taken any photos while traveling, but now I must! The scenery is so amazing to me!

By the time we get to Ute Park, the camera comes out.  The foliage is different with Rocky Mountain junipers, box elder, quaking aspen, blue spruce, and others.  I can't decide if my favorite is the quaking aspen or blue spruce.

The strata of the mountain catches my eye, and I think about how they were formed.  Each one is more beautiful than the other.  

As we drive through Cimarron Canyon State Park, we enjoy the stream running down alongside the highway.  Most of all is a memory of when we camped in the Park while on a BMW motorcycle trip.  We had set up our tent fairly high on the mountainside, and noticed a path a little ways from the road we took going up.  It looked like a great hiking trail, although a bit steep.  Later on as I was outside the tent I looked back toward the tent and saw a bear between me and the tent!  Panic set in and I made a little noise which scared him, and he began hurrying down the trail - it was a bear trail.  We decided to do our walking down in the canyon on level ground and leave the trail to the bears!

We arrive to the town of Eagle Nest in the Morena Valley to enjoy a temperature of 60 degrees and a view of Eagle Nest Lake, which we will be able to see from our site in West Lake RV Park.

Willie of El Cabbo,

   and of Walldog and Wilie

   September 14, 2025

Love's Travel Stop in My Rearview Mirror

Days 7-8           September 12-13, 2025

Dalhart, Texas

The temperature is in the mid 80's as we drive into Dalhart, and the low is expected to be in the high 60's.  It's sounding better and better for the temperature.   The thunderstorms are passing, but we plan to stay two nights here, just to be sure.  

Love's RV Hookups accommodates us for a back-in site.  

As before, the Travel restaurant has Godfather's Pizza as well as a Subway, but we go into town to Dust Bowl Bar and Grill.  There's lots of yummy sounding entrees on the menu, and Herb selects their Dust Bowl Burger and Salad, while I have Grilled Shrimp with Veggies.

I'm thinking the name of the restaurant is taken from the fact that there a deficit of rain making it very dusty in this area.  But it's only as we are leaving that we notice a BOWLing alley and casino off to the left of the dining room and to the right of our table.

Willie of El Caballo,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   September 12-13, 2025

Marking Time

Day 6    September 11, 2025

Amarillo, Texas

Our hope is to eventually get to Eagle Nest, New Mexico, where we will enjoy the mountain scenery and especially the cooler temperatures.  We also want to avoid any inclement weather there or along the way.  

All the local and national weather stations tell us there is flooding in Northeast New Mexico, and that is not good news.  But the good news is that the storm system will pass through in a day or so.

So we find an RV park at the Love's Travel Stop in Amarillo - unheard of at the Love's near our home.  We reserve a site, and mark time to wait out the storm.  

Note the RV Stop Entrance on the small sign.

"Find El Caballo."

Upon our arrival, I note the sign for Godfather's Pizza, and say to Herb, "Look!  After driving all day, we can go in the restaurant and have a pizza!"  I can't believe he agreed, because it's not one of his favorite meals.  We each order a large size, so we can have left-overs as we travel.  The clerk tells us how many slices each one has, and that we should order smaller ones.  We insist on the large ones, and actually get a deal - BOGOne half off.

Yeah, that was way too much, but we did enjoy it.

Willie of El Caballo,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   September 11, 2025

No Falls at Wichita Falls

Days 4-5       September 9-10

Wichita Falls, Texas

We are excited to find Riverbend RV Park, a small, city-owned park in Wichita Falls that has many walking trails, one of which leads to a view of the Falls.  Herb takes an early morning walk across the swinging bridge for the first adventure, and learned that the trail also leads to the Falls. 

The park does not take reservations and accepts cash only - $17 per night.  We find a nice level pull-through site before many others begin coming in.  

There's also spaces for folks who do not want to camp, but come to walk the trails.  A bench under the shade of a tree provides a place to rest.

When Herb returns, we start our walk along the river and come upon a marker that tells us "The Texas Santa Fe Expedition Crossed the Wichita River Near this Spot August 4, 1841."      Also inscribed is "The Wichita Falls Junior Historians Sponsored this Marker on The Expedition's 100th Anniversary."

As we walk along, we come to a concrete decline that reminds me of a boat launch. Just curious....and then to a shallow area of rapids.

It is a hot summer day and irrigation hoses are strategically placed to water the flowers.  At one place the hose has sprung a leak and I think it could cool off anyone who gets overheated on the trail.

At last we come to the Falls - but sadly we don't get to see a waterfall.  Happily, we are glad to see a crew working from above and below at ground level clearing out the muddy muck in preparation to repair the structure.  We hope they will have the water flowing soon.

Willie of El Caballo,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   September 8-9, 2025

You Can Go Home Many Times!

Days 1-3     September 6-8

Avinger Station, Texas

Yes, you can go home again and again, and stay in a different campsite each time.

We get a late start to our summer trip, but in the South of Texas, Summer lasts a long time.  We head north in El Caballo to Avinger Station RV Park, where the temperature drops the farther we go.  We find our assigned site and easily drive into the pull-through.

The last time we were in Avinger we stayed in a nice pull-through by the highway, and today we are on the main campus, which has gently rolling hills that are easily navigated as we walk about.  The landscaping is awesome with towering pine, pecan and oak trees - and I am blown away by a newly planted magnolia tree about 14 inches high that has a bloom about to open.

As we explore during our morning walk on the first day, we discover The Bridge, rightly named because it overlooks a low area in the terrain.  Inside are complimentary washers and dryers, and chairs for reading books from its library while laundry is being done.

Down the hall is a workout room, complete with several machines, a restroom with a walk-in shower, and a sauna with robes.

A seven minute walk takes us to dinner on Saturday night at Corbett’s Catfish & More restaurant, where we meet the new owners, Kristen and Wayne Kerr.  The entrees give you more than you can eat.  

Sunday lunch is grilled quail.

We remember fondly the brother of former owner Sterling Corbett, who sang and played musical instruments during the dinner hour.  We were always tempted to order another meal just to sit and listen to him.

A more recent memory is a building we owned for many years, but have sold to Avinger ISD.

There’s a lot of history in this building for us - and in the garden beside it and the private motorhome hookup site behind it.

Willie of El Caballo,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Sept. 6 - 8, 2025

You Can Go Home Again!

 Day 65 - September 17, 2022

Avinger Station TX 

Having arrived to Avinger in Northeast Texas, we are greeted by David Simpson, owner of Avinger Station RV Park, who has reserved a special site for us near his office and across the highway from the main campus.  He demonstrates how the picnic table converts from a park bench.  We have never seen an amazing table such as this.

The picnic table also has a very comfortable seat, which is a 'plus' in a campground, and we look forward to having a meal outside in the beautiful scenery.

We take a late afternoon stroll to see the rest of the RV park and admire the site planning and landscaping.   David has also built some cabins to rent.  Each site has a fire pit and cover in case of rain.

Avinger was home to us for many years when we owned the blueberry farm, and this evening we are privileged to again dine at the Catfish & More restaurant, owned by Sterling and Cindy Corbett.  It's great to visit with guests who were once our neighbors.  Children play outside while their parents are waiting to be called in for their reservation.  The restaurant also takes walk-ins.

When the sun begins to get low in the sky, Herb and I return to Sweet Georgia Brown.  In the distance we see Stark Outdoor Advertising billboards, now belonging to a new owner, who has retained our name.  In the foreground of the second photo is a banner for the Avinger Wine Festival, typically held in September.  

This area tugs at our heartstrings as we think of heading south tomorrow toward Sweet Georgia Brown's home in Livingston.  

Thank you, David, for a pleasant stay.  Soon we will begin planning our 2023 Summer Get-Away!

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Saturday, September 17, 2022

Paula, Are You Listening?

 Day 64 - Friday, September 16, 2022

North Little Rock, AR to Avinger Station, TX

Herb and I are quite surprised to hear a bugle early this morning and later learn where the street we are on gets its name - Camp Robinson Road.  Camp Joseph T Robinson is home of the Arkansas National Guard and sits on 32,000 acres.  From the active camp down the road a ways, we hear Reveille early in the morning, and also the neighbors' dogs barking in response.

So it seems we should wake up and get on with our day.

From where Sweet Georgia Brown is parked, we have a good view of the goat pen. Three goats seem to be having a discussion, and the lone white beauty appears to be the 'King of the Hill,' even as he is guarded by the faithful 'guard dog.'

As mentioned in the previous post, St. Joseph's Home is now a member of Harvest Hosts, which requests that we patronize the host's store.  We are very happy to do that, and find several items that we could use -- plus a perfect gift for a special friend.  I can't believe when I see it -- a bar of goat soap!  I literally begin to laugh when I see it.  I show it to Herb and tell him we definitely need to get it for our friend.  Giftee or recipient, you know who you are!  Friends lovingly call her 'the goat lady' because she believes in the value of goats, and there may be an inside joke along these lines.  But some people call her Paula.  Everyone loves her, and we can't wait to give her the bar of goat soap!!!

I was too excited to remember to take a piture of it, but I did photograph some of the other items for sale.  Pickles, Jelly n' jam, soup mix, and biscuit mix.  

Besides those displayed they also have meat, mushrooms, cheese (goat cheese?), eggs (from their chickens?), ice cream, milk, elderberry syrup and Mullen syrup.  There is a scale for weighing produce and a sign inviting us to pick our own flowers that are for sale in the yard using the basket provided.

We could spend much more time here, but the time has come to get on the road again for our next special destination.  We leave at 11:35a and take I-30 West out of North Little Rock, Arkansas.  As we near the city of Texarkana we recall that it sits in two states:  Arkansas and Texas.  State Line Avenue is the border separating Texarkana AR from Texarkana TX.  Confusing?  Not if you are from the area.

Texas invites us to drive friendly, but it looks like from the guardrail damage that someone didn't.

At 4:40p  we happily (and safely) arrive  to Avinger Station RV Park to a special site we have reserved.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Friday, September 16, 2022