Phannie

Phannie
Photo taken near Monument Valley, Utah

Sunday, June 5, 2022

And...We're Off!

 At Hapgood RV Park, Henrietta, Texas...

We are four days into our summer escape from the Texas heat...except we really haven't yet escaped. As usual, we plan our summer travel after oldest grandson Mason's birthday on June 3; this was his thirteenth, and we joined the family in Grapevine, Texas, where he was feted at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Upon our departure from Ranchito Hondo, I discovered that Phannie's dash air conditioner was not blowing at its normal chill. Uh oh, this was not good--especially for someone who thinks air conditioning should appear in the Bill of Rights. Fortunately, it was an unusually cool day with some showers around, so the cooling was adequate for the first leg of our journey. However, when the weather warms up again, it will need to have been fixed, or I'll have to call a tow truck. With that in mind, we have a few stops to make in the coming week to take care of this and some other minor issues.

The first of these stops will be in Wichita Falls at an auto air conditioning shop. In preparation for this, we stopped at the city RV park in nearby Henrietta before taking the old girl in to be "Freoned." We discovered this little gem of a park several years ago--a great little place, well away from busy U. S. 287, with all pull-through level sites, full hookups (some with 50 amps) and manicured grounds--all for $15 per night, paid on the honor system:


As you can see, we are almost alone in the park; I suppose this is because few RVers know about it. We have found that many small towns in Texas and in other states have municipal or county RV parks available at very low cost, assuming, of course, that users will patronize local businesses.

This trip's departure is the first where I have experienced a subtle psychological change in myself that I've been expecting. The aging process, I believe, naturally brings with it a more cautious and guarded outlook on life--something that seems to increase in older people until their spirit of adventure is more and more circumscribed, ultimately to be suspended permanently. It is said that a person's world is very small at birth, very large in young adulthood and middle age, only to become small again in old age. I'm pretty sure that's what is going on here but, having recognized it, I'm going to do my best to bring it in for a soft landing--perhaps years from now. In the meantime, we will have had two decades of incredible journeys and, most important, no regrets for having 'slipped the bonds' and lived the dream. We feel blessed because so many are not afforded the time, resources or good health we have had in order to make these memories and form treasured friendships along the way. In the meantime, I must keep an attitude like that of Clint Eastwood, whom I quote at the end of every post.

Well, that's about enough self-psychoanalysis for one day; perhaps sharing this little insight will be a signpost for others traveling this road. 

Once Phannie's little hiccups have been cured, we will be spending a few days near Plainview, Texas with old friends Bubba and LouAnn and their family. More to come as we push forward to the mountains.

 Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; 

please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.

We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. 
 ---George Bernard Shaw

"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood

 



12 comments:

  1. I like that you are rolling again. A little extra caution as we age is good. Shutting down too fast might be lethal in my opinion.

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  2. Good luck to y'all... we are above Twin Lakes high in the Colorado mountains. Sadly we have decided to return to 'the Ranch' because of soaring fuel costs. Just not financially prudent to continue on... maybe next year we will try again,
    Safe travels friends...
    ~ W ~

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    1. Well, we have actually considered canceling our trip, too. When I see the temperature at Hondo, though, I just swallow hard and try not to think of the 7 mpg the old gal gets. Closing in on a buck a mile for fuel. Egad!

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  3. I'm very impressed with the Hapgood RV Park. It looks like a sweet little layover. Midwestern and western states seem to have an abundance of city, county and regional RV parks - something that the eastern part of the country is sorely lacking. I don't know if it's the lack of available open space or a difference in attitude toward RVers, but I believe that eastern municipalities are losing out on the potential for a steady income stream. I'm happy to see you and Sandy on the road again, and I'll be looking forward to the recounting of your adventures. Travel safely, my friend!

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    1. I just wish the savings would offset Phannie's horrendous appetite for diesel fuel. Not gonna happen, though. Thanks for the warm wishes!

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  4. AH, such is RV Life. Always one little sumpin' sumpin' on every trip, to keep you on your toes. Thankfully, freon is an easy fix.

    Grands who are teens. . .and so it begins!

    Enjoy your journey, and give my friend a hug. . .love you guys!

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    1. As usual, your insight, short and sweet, is spot-on. We are looking forward to seeing you guys in the fall, unless I am in debtor's prison over fuel costs. Wow, did you pull the plug at the right time!

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  5. Mike we are heading east to see our son and family soon. We have found city and county parks are great places to stop, with extremely reasonable prices. We prefer small towns when we stop and love seeing the sites in these communities. Coming from a small town ourselves we enjoy how they compare to our own hometown. Safe travels to you and Sandy.

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    1. Aw, thanks, Cheri. Safe travels as you head eastward!

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  6. Sounds like you kids are well into the trip. I love that little park you talk about, $15 a night F/H/U level site and 50 amp... WOW what a deal. I enjoy following along with y'all on your journey. Stay safe dear friends ♥

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    1. Thank you, dear friends; we'll look forward to seeing you in the fall, if we can afford the fuel to come back!

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