Travelling Through Texas

On February 18, Tuesday when we left the KOA in Scott near Lafayette, Louisiana. It was an overnight stay at the KOA we had stayed in 2013. Our goal was to get through Texas as quickly as possible. It took four travelling days on I-10. From Feb. 18th to Feb. 22nd.

 

Travel Day 1 - Wednesday Feb 18, 2014
We traveled in fog the first day. Randal had to turn on the truck fog lights. It was well noted how many other travelers do not even put on their lights.

The traffic was heavy and the many large trucks with wide loads heightened Randal's focus with his driving.

Before we left this area of Louisiana there were rice fields.

Cajun Country Rice is a true product of Louisiana. Our rice is grown on Louisiana soil, by Louisiana farmers and milled and packaged at the historic Falcon Rice Mill in Crowley, Louisiana. Cajun Country Rice is a Louisiana original- and the only rice to use for authentic Cajun dishes and southern soul food because at Cajun Country we make good food great. 

As we traveled into Texas the speed limits increased to 75 mph. and then increased again to 80 mph.The highways were generally good, but there where sections of cement rough spots. Many were three-lanes especially as we neared Houston. We drove over Bayous Rivers and the Galveston Bay.

Finding Service stations to pull our trailer through was tricky. The large truck stops we preferred the best but sometimes the only choice was a small station. The cost of diesel ranged from $3.71/gal to 3.89/gal.

The area around Huston is flat country of farms and ranches but becomes hilly and curved highway.

Houston is stretched out with hundreds of pass-over bridges throughout the city. I-10 runs right through the middle but was pretty straight forward for Randal to drive while I snapped pictures. It took nearly an hour to drive through it.

  

 

Our first destination in Texas was Houston West RV Park in Brookshire, TX. on the west side of Houston.

It is a Good Sam Park and we arrived at 1:30 pm and were told there was only one back-in space available. We had not pre-booked this park but we stayed for two nights. The RV Park was filled with long-stay residents many of then workers that left early in the morning and returned at night. As well, there were other traveler like our selves who were just passing through.

The Ram's air conditioner has not worked since we left Canada. The weather in Texas being generally hot and muggy we had to drive with the windows opened. The trailer's air conditioner came in handy for our comfort once set up in the campsites.

There were times we have trouble finding a good grocery store and end up driving a longer distance to find something. The GPS doesn't always brings up what we need. Most time it will give us directions to conveniences stores that sold junk food. When I mentioned to the cashier of our difficulty in finding grocery stores she said that most people eat out and do not stay at home to cook for themselves.



Travel Day 2 - Thursday Feb. 20, 2014
At San Antonio, TX, the Highway Loop 1604 took us around the city. We traveled for some time behind two small buildings which moved at a good speed of 80 mph, passing under bridges and even passing a slow-going cement truck.

An 'Escarpment' is marked on our map in this area with an elevation as high as 2275 ft. We were back onto I-10, just passed San Antonio. As we came closer to Junction, TX. we noticed many dried up rivers and creeks and more cactus were growing.

This time we called ahead and booked Junction North Llano River RV Park (Good Sam) for one night. We were greeted by the Park Assistant who showed us right to a site. We are situated under leafless-pecan trees. We left the truck hocked up for this one night stay.

At the service station while Randal was filling up with diesel I was intrigued with the outdoor BBQ overs at Cooper's Restaurant so went over to talk to the man managing them. He was cooking pork ribs and beef brisket today.

Junction TX is named for its location at the confluence of the North and South Llano Rivers. The community was founded in 1876 after the organization of Kimble County earlier that year. Notable highways serving the city include I- 10, US #83, US # 377 .

Travel Day 3 - Friday, Feb. 21
On our forth day,the over night temperature was 0º C however it did warm up to 23º C by the afternoon. We left Junction I-10 was very quiet for traffic, it seemed we had the road to ourselves. A tourist attraction near Sonora are the Caverns.

The Caverns of Sonora, a National National Landmark is a unique cave located 8 miles (13 km) west of the small city of Sonora, Texas. The first quarter-mile of the cave was known to local ranch-hands by the early 1900s. The cave is formed in 100-million-year-old . The formation of the cave itself probably occurred between 1.5 to 5 million years ago.

We drove on top of a plateau at 2480 ft. near Ozona and Sheffield. We passed farms and ranches, windmills and oil fields. On the map was marked 'Stockton Plateau'. We were going up and down the valleys of the plateau.

We noticed that the dried waterways-drain areas were called 'Draws'. There were several with names and bridges over them. We also noticed there was a single two-way paved roads running parallel beside I-10 which ended at 'dead ends'. We were curious to what purpose they had and we came to the conclusion that the severed as entries to oil areas, ranches, communication towers as this was an Interstate Highway with limited access.

After Fort Stockton there were a few State Parks and the terrain was rugged, hilly with a mountains along the south. One was named Black Mountain at a 7550 ft. I-20 converged with I-10 near Kent There was a rail line now that ran parallel to the Interstate.

This the Texas Mountain Trail

The Texas Mountain Trail is an adventure route through the tallest region of Texas. Along the Trail rising land thrust 90 peaks more than a mile high. This remote region of stark majesty awaited discovery for countless centuries before it became a home for nomadic Indian tribes who drew from it a meagre life. To Spanish adventurers it was a formidable barrier that tested their stamina. Prospectors discovered the land, and some gouged great wealth from its hidden recesses, but not without effort, for mountains yield their treasures grudgingly. The same dramatic vistas on today’s Mountain Trail unfolded for labouring wagon trains, and the ghosts of those sturdy pioneers often intrude into modern man’s consciousness, demanding recognition for taming the primitive land.

The Texas Mountain Trail visits secluded canyons, unspoiled parks, and weathered sites of living history.

The elevation was 4414 ft. as we neared Van Horn. We arrived at the Van Horn KOA by 1:30 pm. The office was closed but the management had posted our reservation info on the door. We guided ourselves to the designated site and set up. The KOA Kampground was in the desert with, cactus and trees that had painted trunks.

We noticed that a few trees had buds on them, spring is here. Van Horn is very small with very few small businesses and many closed business. The large truck service stations are situated at the intersection of I-10.



So remember to "Discover It and Live It".