The Church Hideout

We spent our last morning in Surprise, AZ with our friends who graciously put us up for the extended weekend. The morning was spent cleaning, organizing, and getting our trailer back in order to move for the next few days. Tyler got up and headed into the house to begin his workday while I stayed behind and cleaned like a crazy lady!

After I finished cleaning, I went to Discount Tire to have my tires rotated again. I think all of the chunks of tire in the roadways down South had me a little nervous to continue our trek without having them rotated. Even though I had them done before we left, I surpassed the recommended 6,000 miles a few states back! On the way, I dropped Ashton and Mason at the skate park for Ashton to collect a few more war wounds for the road. I took a few updated pictures today, but also note that he chose to gear up better than the past few days!

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Tyler had 3 meetings this morning before we departed, but once he was finished we made our move saying goodbye to Angie and Mason. We began our travels around noon, heading North towards Nevada. We knew with our later start, we wouldn’t make it too far today. About an hour or so down the road, Tyler decided a brief stay in Vegas could be possible. I agreed, so he set out in search of a place to stay near the Las Vegas strip.

For years, Ashton has heard about other people going to Vegas. Tyler and I have been a time or two in the past few years and his grandparents spend a lot of their time in Vegas which has sparked his curiosity and made him want to check it out himself. Tyler thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show the kids the strip at a much slower pace and when he found an RV Park in the Circus Circus parking lot the decision was made!

We arrived in Vegas just after 5 pm and after getting situated, we set out to see the strip. Our navigation of the Hotel to the strip was a point of contention between Tyler and me and after walking through the Hotel 4 times, we finally figured out where to exit towards the bus. We purchased 4 Deuce bus passes and headed towards the middle of the strip to seek out dinner and to see the Bellagio Fountains while we waited for the sun to go down to reveal all of the lights!

Ashton decided to change before we left so he could have a “Todd and Ashton do Las Vegas” moment and Tyler and I went along with it. His little alter egos are quite funny when he gets going and they make us all smile. The “Todd Bear Shirt” is not my favorite, but I never thought a $5 shirt could bring someone that much joy, yet he loves to rock it!

We showed the kids some of the strip and I think they enjoyed the experience. They were not thrilled with the smell, as cigarettes and weed infiltrated not only the hotels but also the air outside. Between wearing the mask, and breathing in 2nd hand smoke of all kinds, we are ready for some fresh air. Our dinner was nothing fancy, but Tyler and I have come to Casino Royal every time we’ve been in Vegas to take advantage of $2.49 Footlong Nathan’s Hot Dogs and cheap beer so we figured we would show the kids our little spot. It also is conveniently located more central to show the kids more of the area.

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After eating, we went to Cesar’s Palace and showed the kids the indoor sky and all of the statues. They were appalled that the statues privates were exposed but we got a good laugh. They also saw all of the expensive stores located inside and they contemplated what they will buy when they earn their small fortune investing as their other alter ego’s, Jerry and Rhonda!

We all shared a slice of cheesecake before walking to the Bellagio Fountains. The kids were amazed by the water and light show and I think we could have stayed and watched for hours. Unfortunately, we needed to get back to the trailer to tend to our pups and because Tyler wanted to get rest before another workday.

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After returning to the trailer we got showered and cozied in for the night! What a whirlwind experience. One minute we are hanging out with friends in Arizona and the next minute we are CAMPING on the Las Vegas Strip!

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If you asked me a month ago if I would ever drive to Vegas, my answer would be a hard NO, but how fun is it that we have such a unique experience and one we would never have done before Covid? (Glass half full, right?)

Tomorrow, we will keep heading North. We have another day before our reservations in Tahoe and cannot wait to get to the cooler temperatures. Turns out, Vegas and Arizona are about the same.

Between Las Vegas, NV, and South Lake Tahoe, what should we do? Anything we MUST see? We attempted the Hoover Dam today and after the exit directed us to the security checkpoint, we were informed it was closed with no known date of reopening and forced to make a u-turn.

So what’s next, help me choose!

Since we attempted to do ALL THE THINGS over the last two days while in Arizona, today we sought comfort in staying in for much of the day. We didn’t wake up to any crazy alarms and had nothing to rush throughout the day. It was a nice day at a slower pace.

Tyler and Ashton were up earlier than Addi and I. Ashton has been so excited about his new scooter and the skate park that he convinced his dad to get up with the birds so he could be dropped off at the park a little over a mile away. By going in the morning, it would allow for fewer people and cooler temperatures. When I say cooler, I mean in the 90’s. Tyler also needed to get up and start his preparation for dinner!

Ashton’s interest in the scooter has been fun to watch. He is getting more and more comfortable, with just enough fear to help this mama from having a panic attack. I watch some of the other kids in the park who throw caution to the wind, but Ashton is always mindful of ways he could hurt himself. It takes a lot for him to muster the courage to do anything too dangerous and for that I am thankful! I will say, his legs would appear we have beat him, but really he has just fallen too many times to count. I will try to take an updated photo tomorrow if I remember!

I think at least 10 times per day since we have arrived I ask myself how in the heck people live here with the extreme temperatures. At one point today, the thermostat read 114 degrees. I thought I liked being warm, but this is unbearable. I think I would basically have to be in my house all day, or shopping…and we all know how Tyler, my financial advisor, would feel about that!

I spent the early parts of the day ransacking the trailer. I feel like that is how I always clean. Within the first 30 minutes to an hour, I will look around and it’s as if a bomb went off. It looks much worse than when I started but always comes around to near perfection. I knew we would be picking back up and leaving soon and I always like to start us off with the cleanest slate possible.

Sometimes it’s still hard to believe we are all four staying in a space about the size of our bathroom. I joked with the kids that when we get home we are all moving into the bathroom to stay close! We have definitely adapted to this style of living and I am loving a less is more approach more than ever. Today, while cleaning, I took out all of our clothes from our bins and refolded them before returning them to the bins. As I revisited the clothes I packed for our “2ish week adventure” I thought, I packed WAY TOO MUCH. Even so, I only have one small crate and a few hanging clothes. Each of us has a crate for clothes and a bin for our undergarments. I was satisfied with the progress I made in a couple of hours this morning.

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I also was able to get our laundry done today thanks to Angie! It’s always nice to have a place aside from a laundry mat to play catch up. Tomorrow I will put everything away and put the finishing touches on what I started today. I washed Addison’s bedding and have to remake her bed which I have been avoiding. Making a trailer bunk bed on the top is like wrestling an alligator. Wish me luck!

The rest of the day, Tyler spent being bored and prepping dinner while I helped Angie pack up her house for her upcoming move. Once we got started, I think we could have packed the whole house! We took a break for dinner and Tyler did it again. He made the BEST Pulled Pork EVER! Ladies, get your man a Traeger. I promise this was the best gift I ever got Tyler as that gift just keeps on giving!

We continued our packing after dinner and stayed with it until the kids convinced us to play Sequence with them. Tyler had retreated to bed since he has work in the morning, but Angie and I went head to head with Addison and Mason. Mason was a total newbie and with a lot of beginners luck, and the secret weapon…ADDI, they WON! We only played one game as it was getting late and we were all tired.

Tomorrow, Tyler will be back to work after a long 3 day weekend. He has 3 meetings in the morning and we will stay put until he finishes his meetings. Then we will pack up and start making our trek towards Lake Tahoe! He will continue to work remotely in the car while I drive. It’s definitely easier for his calendar meetings to be stopped and stationary, but it surprises me how much he can do while we are on the road!

Since day one in this adventure, Tyler has wanted to revisit Lake Tahoe. We last went for our 10th wedding anniversary and my 30th birthday. It was a big celebration week with family and friends. Now, nearing our 15th wedding anniversary, we figure this is a great way to bring our travels to a slow close. My mom, sister, and nieces will be meeting us there and we plan to stay for 4 nights! I am looking forward to some good ole rest and relaxation with family. I am also looking forward to some cooler temperatures and a few good workouts!

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We will say goodbye to Angie, Mason, and Arizona tomorrow, but I hope to return when it’s cooler and once Covid settles down. I think AZ has a lot for us to explore, I just can’t see it outside of the 114 degree temperatures!

Our alarm went off and we jumped out of bed with excitement! We may not have been able to go to the water park or the giant slide, but we still had access to the lake which we hoped to take advantage of today. While I got ready, Tyler prepared breakfast for everyone out of his leftover Tri-Tip. We ate quickly and gathered everything we thought we would need for a day at the lake, loaded up, and headed towards Lake Pleasant.

It was a fairly short drive, maybe 30 minutes and we were in the area of the lake. Angie had never been to the lake before so we were all unfamiliar where there was good beach access. We followed a few vehicles into one area and quickly retreated as it looked more like a marina with a boat ramp. A few more miles down the road and we were able to access the State Park where we paid $7 for all-day access. It was a little after 9 am and people were flowing in rather quickly.

Once we made it into the park and located the beach area, we found a place to park and hiked down to find a place along the bank. I say beach loosely, as it was a sloped hill with rocks of all shapes and sizes. There was no sand! What the beach lacked in sand, it made up for in people and sunshine.

It was beautiful. The lake, the sunshine, the cactuses lining the shore in the distance. Angie had an oversized umbrella we set up with a few chairs for shade and the kids wasted no time getting in the water. Tyler and I decided to do a quick workout while we were there so I ran back to the pickup to grab our weights!

After the workout, we both got in the water. I am a fair-weather, warm water kind of gal and the water was pleasant just as its name suggests! It was warm and I never felt chilled. That could be in part because the temperatures outside were scorching. It was 110 degrees outside and we not only worked out in it, we basked in the sun outside for hours!

Addi and Mason spent much of their time looking for special rocks. Different shapes and sized and some with living plants and mussels attached. Mason wanted to take all of them home with him. We stayed for several hours, but since we arrived so early, we were ready to leave before 1 pm.

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As we packed up to leave, Tyler grabbed the dumbbells to carry back to the pickup. He felt some discomfort while carrying them, but continued to the pickup. When he got in the pickup, he realized the weights had burned his hands. He now has blisters on nearly all of his fingers and I will hear about it for weeks!

On our way out, Angie snapped a few pictures of the Church bunch in front of a cactus. We also captured a slow driveby video of the cactuses. It was like a forest of cactuses, or as I called it a cactus canyon!

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On our way home, we stopped by the store to grab dinner for tonight. Originally we planned on pulled pork, however, it requires Tyler to put it on rather early and babysit it throughout the day. Since we were at the river for half of the day, we decided to wait until tomorrow for pulled pork. Today’s dinner brought to you by Tyler and Traeger was Teriyaki Chicken Tenderloins.

We played a couple more games of Sequence after dinner. We changed up the teams and Angie and Addison beat Tyler and I, 2-1. Tyler decided he may be the common denominator when it comes to losing! I think we have sold Angie on the game and if she doesn’t miss anything about us when we leave, she will at least miss our Sequence game (only kidding)!

The kids also conned Tyler into taking them to the store to get scooters. Since they have been here and have been riding them in the community and at the local skate parks, they really wanted one. They gave massages for a ride to the store where they left with new scooters to pack around for the duration of our adventure and they are thrilled!

We lit fireworks and watched fireworks lit by others in the area. There were so many different people setting off large displays we were able to see. I love fireworks! What I don’t love is the mess they leave behind, but the kids don’t seem to mind! Chloe also did not appreciate the display and we found her hiding in the litter box (clean).

I would say we are calling it an early night, but once again it’s almost midnight as I type this. We definitely got the most out of this day and packed it full of adventure and activities with friends. Tomorrow I think we will take a more relaxing approach and regroup while watching Tyler grill!

I hope you all had an AMAZING 4th of July!

Well it was another HOTTT one today! I’m certain the locals just get used to saying that, but how? I will never understand. From the time we arrived in Arizona yesterday, through me typing this blog, it has never offered a cool breeze of any sort. I was up with the dogs at 5 am and stepped outside of the trailer and into a heat wave. I thought the early morning would offer a break from the scorching temperatures, but nope! Hot is consistent in Arizona!

Tyler and I stayed in the trailer and the kids slumbered with Mason in the house. They are enjoying having another little buddy to hang out with. It’s been several years since Angie and Mason left Oregon and when they did, we were heartbroken. While Covid has closed basically everything, we are still able to enjoy one anothers company and take advantage of the time we have together.

We came into the house to get ready and found entertainment watching their turtle mosey around. Bentleigh was intrigued and we were able to capture a few pictures. The life of a Tortoise in Arizona is an interesting one. They hibernate for several months during the year and live to be more than 70 years old. “Torti” the tortoise enjoys both the outside area, but also comes inside some during the day.

Angie accompanied me to the Lululemon outlet today that is only about 20 minutes from the house. I knew it was a hot commodity, but I didn’t know there would be a chance we wouldn’t get to go into the store. We arrived about 30 minutes before they opened at 11. We found the store and the line forming outside. We secured our spot and once the doors opened, the first 5 people were allowed into the store. Angie and I were the 6th and 7th spot in line and were able to be put on a waitlist through their app. We decided to wait it out since we were so close…but people go in and they shop FOREVER! Fortunately, we were able to get in, shop, and checkout within a little more than an hour. While we were waiting for our turn the educator was telling people wanting to be added to the waitlist that there was a 3.5 hour wait and they may not get in today before their 3 pm close time. Many of the other stores had lines outside as well. Nike, Adidas, Under Armor, and Lululemon were the most notable. Times have really changed!

Tyler and Addison went to Yard House to wait and we dropped Mason and Ashton off at a different skate park to ride scooters while we shopped. They were there for just over 2 hours and Ashton has found a new hobby. I have no idea how they were able to be out in the heat for that long, but they came with plenty of water and sunscreen.

We went back to the house to drop the kids and Tyler off while Angie and I went to get a few groceries for dinner. Tyler made us Tri-Tip on the Traeger and I have decided no matter how terrible of a backseat driver he is, I will keep him around for his incredible grilling skills!

We haven’t been able to workout or do anything for that matter. Our calories are being burned off merely by existing in Arizona. I nearly pass out at the thought of trying to work out in those temperatures, but tomorrow is our day!

Tomorrow we hope to go to the lake! We plan to wake up early and go and hopefully beat the crowds of people. Tyler will be making pulled pork for dinner and we will set off some fireworks for the kids. Our 4th of July will look a little differently this year but we will at least be in good company!

This morning we awoke to our 6 am alarm and it was Arizona or bust! We were hoping to make it in time for a few of Tyler’s calls but knew we would be cutting it close. We were packed and loaded up traveling down the highway at 6:30.

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The morning was quiet. Between client calls and constant emails, Tyler’s back seat driving kept at bay. It was either that or the fact he has caught on I am an incredible driver and he need not worry! I like to think it’s the latter of the two. The kids and pups slept in the back seat and I listened to whatever good radio I could find. I refrained from Podcasts as I didn’t want to exhaust that resource before I was to the tired point.

My family should be grateful to me. I give them all the summer concert series that Covid has taken away. With each station, I sing and sometimes belt out various genres of music. Tyler has always found it crazy that no matter what station I am on, I will somehow muster up the lyrics. There have been numerous times on this trip I have thought to myself, they should be paying me for this…then I remember they don’t necessarily enjoy my singing! RUDE!

Late into our travels I accidentally turned on SiriusXM radio which we do not currently subscribe to…and it WORKED! I’m sitting here just wondering how long I could have been listening to commercial free perfect radio from nearly anywhere…I will take it while I can get it!

We stopped for gas 3 times today and traveled 425 miles. We also stopped for Tyler’s baby bladder and to get a cup of joe to keep me going. The roads we traveled today were much better than Texas. They were smooth, wide, and they didn’t have construction everywhere. In the distance, it appeared as if we were driving into a pastel mural. I found the mountains/hills to be so beautiful and no matter how far we traveled, they were always sitting in the distance in front of us. We also saw large stacked rocks along the freeway at one point and cactus’s for my first time. How cool are cactuses?

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We stopped for lunch just before Phoenix and then stopped off of the highway in Phoenix where Tyler was able to jump on his Zoom call. While he was on the call, Ashton decided on a haircut. We were hoping to go to the TJ Maxx in the same lot but learned they are still under construction. We came back and sat in the air-conditioned car instead.

Tyler performed his calls in the trailer and once he was finished, he brought his iPad back to the car. The kids tried to jump on the iPad and it said it could not be used as it was too hot. This was just a small taste of the heat here in Arizona. At one point in our drive, it was 70 degrees and there was rain coming down, less than an hour, and maybe 60 miles later it was 103 degrees. I am a naturally cold person and I enjoy being warm, but I am not certain I could ever get used to this heat.

We arrived at our friend Angie’s home just after 2:30 pm. We gained another hour back and we are officially living in the same time zone as our home state. We enjoyed catching up while the kids played with Mason. Tyler’s only wish these past few days has been to BBQ so we made sure he could make that happen.

We stopped into the grocery store and Tyler grabbed Carne Asada meat to grill and make steak tacos with all the fixin’s. He really is good at what he does. We relaxed and were introduced to the Tortoise and chatted about what we could do these next few days. Much of Arizona is closed. In addition to seeing our friends, we had come here in hopes to go to the water park. Recently they shut down all pools, slides, bars, and gyms. Though we were slightly bummed, we are just happy to have a few days of nothingness!

The kids begged us to take them to the skate park, so once dinner was finished, Angie, the kids and I headed to the skate park. Angie on a bike, the kids on scooters and me running. The park was 1.25 miles away, so I used the opportunity to run in the 100+ degree temperatures. In total my run was 2.6 miles and I chalked that up as a win, though I was reminded today that nearly a year ago, I ran 1/2 marathon. NEVER AGAIN!

While at the skate park, someone set off a couple fireworks and Ashton once again saw his life flash before his eyes. He thought we were being shot at again. This kid is just so funny with his doomsday worrying all the time! He LOVED the skate park and hopes to go back tomorrow.

We arrived back at the house and Tyler traded in Ashton for Angie on Sequence. We played 3 games and Addi and I came away 2-1, but Angie picked up the concept quite well. Tomorrow, we will not be driving…or doing anything much for that matter. Tyler plans to grill again and we have talked about going to the Lake, though I am not certain what that looks like.

It’s another day outside of the car so it’s bound to be a great day! What are your plans for the 4th of July?

Another slow start kind of morning, left us in Jal until the early afternoon. When we didn’t immediately get up and get going, we knew we would need to stick around for Tyler to conduct a Zoom call. It’s much more difficult to do those on the road. Tyler was up, logged in, and making breakfast while I pulled out the coffee pot and made coffee for the first time in a few days. We stepped outside for a moment and realized there was a nice cool breeze. I asked if he would go on a run with me and he declined. So we came back inside and he got to work while I deep cleaned the trailer!

If you haven’t realized by now, cleaning is my therapy. It’s either cleaning or working out and since I had no takers on morning fitness, cleaning was the next best thing. Tyler was seated and the kids were still sleeping so I had the perfect opportunity to clean without messes being made behind me! Once the kids started moving, I propositioned them to join me in a morning jog. Ashton was a hard NO, but to my surprise, Addison agreed.

Since there was a perfect running trail around Jal Lake, we opted for a run. While we were on our first lap I noticed a fun little fitness area that we could utilize. We continued our lap, but on the second lap around, we stopped at the fitness area. We worked through the stations, trying out each of the movement recommendations. By this time, it was hot and I regretted not running earlier in the morning. It was nice to have company though and I was pleased that Addi stuck with it. We ran 1.5 miles and did a little of everything in the fitness area before returning to the trailer.

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Tyler had his Zoom call and Addi and I showered. We waited for his call to be over and then promptly loaded up and started our travels for the day. After all, the day wasn’t getting any younger and we had a lot of miles to tread. We made our way back out of Jal, NM and into Texas where we spent much of the day traveling. We must have seen the whole state over the course of the last 3 days and it didn’t change much. I’ve concluded poor roads, FAST highway speeds, more tire pieces along the road than a Les Schwab, and super LONG desolate roadways. Like complete nothingness for MILES!

While the drive was long, our day felt short. When the radio wouldn’t come in, I remembered the Dateline podcast! I must have listened to 3 episodes of Dateline while Tyler worked and the kids sat quietly in the back seat. Ashton was able to nap for about half of the trip and I thought how I miss the days where napping in a car was a thing. Naps in general these days are quite scarce.

Early morning chats about getting to our friends in Arizona had us all longing to get there and enjoy a few days of down time. Don’t get me wrong, we are still thoroughly enjoying ourselves, but sometimes a day or two outside of the car is really refreshing. Earlier this week we weren’t sure where we would be for the 4th, but it seems we will make it to our friends in Arizona just in time!

Our main stop today was for dinner in El Paso, TX. Tyler found a well rated Mexican food restaurant to dine in. As we approached the restaurant, a car backfired twice and Ashton took off. We all looked at him as if he was crazy, but he couldn’t help the fear. He said he looked for cover but when he saw there wasn’t any he decided to run. Tyler joked the reason we brought him along was to have continuous laughter.

I think this was the first time we have had Mexican food in a restaurant in more than a year and I had the best enchilada I’ve ever had. At one point, we had the kids check on our locked but running pickup in the parking lot and Tyler and I pretended for just a moment we were on a date together alone. The restaurant was empty and so peaceful.

Another hour down the road was our destination for the night. The drive through El Paso was alarming. The whole town seems to be the color of sand. Houses are built into dirt hills in the most poor fashion. There was not a lot to see. It reminded me of some of the towns we traveled through today that were nothing but old run down houses and an inordinate amount of old trailers and travel trailers for rent. The towns were build around oil fields and oil drills were everywhere.

We arrived to Las Cruces, NM where we are staying at Siesta RV Park. We hooked up and quickly retreated inside to the cooler temperatures. When we left Jal this afternoon it was 106 degrees and it is now only in the 90’s. It’s amazing what a difference that is. We also saw rain today in our travels, but it dried about as quickly as it fell.

Tomorrow we continue West. We are a little more than 6 hours away from Surprise, AZ where we hope to stay for a couple of days. I am not sure we will make the full trek, or split it in two but we are getting so close!

It would seem if I just listen to a few more Dateline or Crime Junkie Podcasts, we will be there before we know it. Tyler isn’t nearly as enthusiastic about my selection.

What is your favorite thing to listen to on long car rides?

We woke up early in an attempt to beat the heat. We worked out and readied ourselves for a long day of driving with hopes of stopping at the nearest Buc-ee’s for gas and a coffee first thing. Our hopes and dreams were crushed when Tyler pulled up a map and we found that there were no more Buc-ee’s in our travel path. Desperation even had us looking off path to go, but still, nothing.

Yesterday, while in San Marcos, the employees at Lululemon gave us some must do must sees while in the area. They reiterated a few of the places we had been but also said Whataburger was worth checking out. We had been seeing them everywhere and knew we wanted to stop at some point before there were no more of those either.

Our drive started with an attempt to see the Alamo in San Antonio. This was yet another opportunity for Tyler to get me into the downtown area of another large city, towing a travel trailer. I must say, this was the easiest downtown to navigate and the city quiet. We made it to the Alamo and quickly realized there was a fence surrounding the whole area. Tyler knew it was likely still closed, but we at least thought we would be able to park and walk nearby to take a photo. If the fence alone didn’t cause enough of a deterrent, the pack of law enforcement personnel guarding the area did. From the very little I could see while driving and with a fence in the way, I am certain it would be worth a visit in the future.

We sucked it up and drove. We drove and we drove and we drove some more, to the tune of 447 miles. All of which were merely traveling West through Texas. We have landed in Jal, a small city located in New Mexico’s Southeasternmost corner.

Our travels today led us through the most desolate parts of Texas. Twice, we found ourselves in a pickle with very low fuel and the nearest gas station several miles away. Once, we pulled over and added fuel to our tank from the gas can we have in the pickup. Not one of my prouder moments, but thankful we didn’t run out of gas because it has been a scorcher and we may have melted along the side of the road!

Today, we saw temperatures of up to 105 degrees. Unlike Alabama, it doesn’t feel as humid and is much more bearable to be in. Even Tyler has commented that it isn’t that bad and he is overheated much of the time.

The roadways we traveled from Texas were rough, but still offered plenty of room for our trailer to travel comfortably. The wind subsided so I could increase my traveling speed, but not to the posted 80 mph. I saw more tires and tire pieces than I have ever seen in my life along the side of the road and if you thought construction in Oregon was bad, Texas roadways are continuous construction no matter where you are at. You may never see a single worker, but cones and lane closures exist for much of the trip. The tire graveyard made me think of how I had my tires rotated in the days before we left, but I am certain they are due again.

Since the nearest Whataburger came shortly after we left and too close to breakfast, we decided on one that was closer to Jal. We stopped at a picnic area along the way and made lunch and while there I let the dogs out. While walking them, I came across a mound of what I believe to be fire ants. I knew to avoid them and went around, but somehow a few steps further I felt an uncomfortable pain on my pinkie toe. When I looked down, I realized one was attached to my foot, causing my foot to throb for several hours. They are mean little boogers.

Several hours later, Tyler navigated us to Whataburger and we finally tried the southern glory that is Whataburger. We were all pleased with our meal, but also thankful to be outside of the car. We parked on the road outside and I utilized my myChevorolet app to leave the pickup running for the dogs as I locked them inside from my phone. It worked out well since our meal took longer than expected.

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Another hour down the road and we made it to our destination and the intended destination at that! Tyler found a nice place in Jal at Jal Lake Park that allows campers to stay for up to 3 days for FREE. It offers water and electrical hookups and has a dumpsite on-site. The park is nice and I look forward to getting up and seeing more of it in daylight.

As I sit in Jal at almost 10 pm, it is 91 degrees. It is a beautiful night and I have chosen to type from a small covered picnic table outside of our trailer. The wind is blowing faintly and there is some sort of fireworks display in the distance illuminating the sky. The sound of water from Jal Lake makes it quite peaceful. Much more peaceful than the kids gaming inside the trailer. They have moved between the trailer and the pickup, but are enjoying the time we have to wind down. I also took a small power nap while we were waiting for the trailer to cool off.

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Tyler and Ashton took Addi and me on in another 3 games of Sequence tonight and their luck may have run out today because we won all three games! 23-15 is the new record and Addi and I seem to be running away with it. I am curious when they will swallow their pride and request to mix up the teams…but for now, Addi and I will continue to crush them!

I suppose it’s time to head inside and regroup. Try to figure out a plan for tomorrow’s travels. We gained another hour back tonight so we are only one hour behind our home time. Will we take it easy tomorrow with a shorter distance to travel, or will we make another long trek? I would say only time will tell…but who am I kidding, only TYLER will tell!

I am happy to report, we survived the night in Cedar Hill State Park with the Argentine Ants! We slept so well last night we nearly missed the alarm for Tyler to begin his day. A later start than normal, we left Cedar Hills just after 10 and continued South. I think I need to stop sharing our tentative plans for the following day because they are just that, TENTATIVE. Just when you think you know where we will land, plot twist!

I am really starting to embrace these long days of driving. I enjoy looking out and appreciating the new and changing scenery. I find myself comparing each place to Oregon and find pros and cons along the way. I wasn’t immediately sold on Texas. I feel like a lot of people LOVE Texas, but our travels yesterday didn’t overwhelm me with that same love. Today, however, I started to see some of the beauty of Texas.

There is so much open land in Texas and real estate is cheap. The American flag is flying high along the freeway at countless businesses. The roadways are a little rough and construction is in progress on most of the highways. Since entering Texas a road sign that stood out to us read something to the matter: Don’t hit construction workers, avoid 10k fine! I mean, only 10k?

Along the roadway today, traffic started slowing and as we came up over a small hill the most beautiful sunflower field appeared. Cars were stopped and I told Tyler I wished we could stop. As soon as he said we could, I was pulled off the road and headed for the fields! The kids and I took several pictures and I was able to pry Tyler away from work for a moment to get a quick pic.

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Then I saw the signs for Waco! I knew I wanted to stop. I wanted to go there for several years and we were only 30 miles away. Tyler looked up Magnolia for me and we changed our navigation to stop in and check it out. When we arrived, we found parking a few blocks away. Tyler and Ashton stayed back at the trailer while Addi and I went to check out the hype! We made our way to the Magnolia store and into the Silos Baking Co. We even paid a visit to Magnolia Press Coffee Co. There were small lines to enter, but once inside there were few people. In the bakery, they only allowed 2 customers in the store at any one time. The care and safety practices they used were assuring.

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When we got back to the pickup, Tyler and Ashton were laughing. Ashton had moved to the front seat while we were away and they people watched. The area seemed a little rough. They said a man on a bike who was “strung out” was really feeling the (nonexistent) music. He was jamming with his air guitar and suddenly would put his head down on his handlebars as if he were falling asleep, but would continue to move as if listening to music. He just couldn’t stop. Ashton said a woman then showed up and he thought nothing of it. He thought she was telling the guy to leave, but then she too started feeling the music and dancing. Tyler thought some sort of proposition went down and then the lady turned towards the pickup (away from the guy) and lifted her dress to expose her rear to the guy. It happened so quickly, Tyler and Ashton didn’t have a chance to look away. The woman wasn’t wearing anything under her dress…Ashton said he is scarred for life. He said he will be having nightmares tonight. Tyler was laughing hours later about the encounter!

As we sat in the pickup at Magnolia and tried to plan our next moves, we learned many of the campsites in and around Austin were full or not accepting reservations. We spent more time than I would like to admit trying to figure it out, but ultimately decided we would trek on and find somewhere further South.

Traveling through Austin seemed familiar. It was rush hour and traffic was bad. The roadways are much like Portland and their growth may have outgrown their highways. It was slow-moving, but looking at the sites around I could see why it was compared to Portland. There were more cranes in their downtown than existing buildings!

Between Austin and San Marcos we saw a Buc-ee’s fuel station. I had heard about it from an influencer on Instagram. Conveniently, we needed fuel so we stopped. It was the most amazing gas station I have ever been to. The store was about the size of a Wal-Mart and it offered something for everyone. The restrooms were super clean and above each stall door was a light illuminating red or green to show if the stall was in use. There was a foam dispenser to clean your toilet seat and another hand sanitizing dispenser all WITHIN the stall. The kids picked up a souvenir and I grabbed some Buc-ee’s jerky for the road. We need more Buc-ee’s in our life!

Tyler would deem the day to be “All About Angela!” First Magnolia…then a Lululemon Outlet. I knew there was an outlet store in San Marcos which is between Austin and San Antonio. I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity so I built it into our plans. We stopped and found adequate parking which is surprising for an outlet mall. We stayed for longer than Tyler or Ashton would have liked, but today, I filled my cup!

Tyler used the time to find the best BBQ in the area. He decided on Kent Black’s BBQ in San Marcos. We ordered an arrangement of smoked meats to share and each picked our own side. I’ve been lucky because Tyler is a grill master and between him and our friend Cody, I am spoiled by good BBQ…but they don’t touch how perfect the Brisket and Beef Ribs were. Our dinner was another highlighted food spot on this adventure that leaves me thinking Oregon needs to get on board!

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Another hour or so and we finally made it to our campsite just before dusk. The sunset was incredible, but I was unable to capture the beauty in a photo. Tonight, we are staying at Tejas Valley RV Park in San Antonio, TX. While the address is San Antonio, I am certain we are a good 20 miles outside of the actual city. The park is nice and as luck would have it, we are right next to the bathrooms and a laundry room. I, of course, am currently doing laundry while the kids and Tyler settle in for the night after a long day of driving.

I would tell you where we are going tomorrow, or where we intend on heading, but then we would likely change our plans. I will say, I think we will land in or near New Mexico. It would seem that Texas has been forced to close many of their businesses and state parks. It will be another long day of travels, but we have Buc- ee’s to look forward to!

Okay, okay so clearly we are a little off from our original plans. We didn’t make it to Tyler, Tx because we went after the hopes of seeing some friends that moved to Plano, TX. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out but it forced Tyler a little out of his comfort zone and we traveled through Dallas, TX. This is funny because he was adamant we would not go through Dallas because it is one of the busiest highways in the USA…but guess what? We made it and it was simple.

Tyler starts squirming in the passenger seat. Call it the lack of control, but I was comfortable and never felt we were in a bind. In all the time we have been on the road, Tyler has micro managed from the passenger seat. His say so is always with good intent, but I haven’t really felt uneasy except one time in downtown NYC. I am not even sure it was the traffic conditions, or just the fact Tyler was super uneasy that had me squirming. Dallas was easy! A little more traffic than we have been used to, but still quite smooth.

We departed our campsite this morning fresh. A day off really provided clarity in my travels and I never once felt tired while driving today. We traveled from Arkansas into Oklahoma and finally Texas. I will say, the further south we traveled in Arkansas, the better it got. We crossed several bridges that passed through canyons of trees and waterways and we were in awe. Arkansas never made it into one of my favorite states, but it certainly got better as we traveled South.1

We passed into Oklahoma and it was exactly as we expected. The land was flat and there was cattle in the pastures lining the highways. Businesses looked run down. We haven’t had Pizza in more than a month and we all decided this was a must. A little Google search directed Tyler to a small franchise in Durant, OK. We paid a visit to Craft Pies Pizza Company. I would consider it similar to Mod Pizza, but BETTER. We enjoyed the pizza and it fueled us to get back on the road and head further south. Once we crossed the state line into Texas the sky was darker than I’ve ever seen. We were certain we would experience a storm but somehow traveled around it!

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We found a campsite in Cedar Hill, TX. Upon arrival, it would seem we are basically in a state park within the city. When we checked in, we learned there was Argentine Ants within the park. Apparently, when we booked the park there was a disclaimer of sorts. I never was alerted to the ant problem, but once we parked, we noticed an excessive amount of ants. We hoped we could just let it be, but we started to worry they would infiltrate our trailer and made a trip to Walmart to get Insect Killer to provide a barrier.

Once we came back and applied the ant barrier, Tyler started our Rib-eye steaks on the Traeger. Tonight we enjoyed Traeger steak salads. It was a beautiful night. Our campsite had a fire pit that Tyler started for Addi to make smores. He and I sat outside for hours and enjoyed the campsite while the kids played inside. After they came out to make smores, we went back inside to play Sequence!

Addi and I took on Tyler for 3 games and came away 1-2. Our new record is 20-15. They have come in with a good skill set for the first couple of games the last few nights, but Addi and I were able to stop them again. Have you ever played Sequence?

We are all sitting around prepping for bed. Tomorrow we are headed straight for Austin! We have heard that the governor has implemented shut down orders on many of the businesses. While we respect the orders, we will continue to purge forward in our quest. We are already here and hope to continue practicing both physical and mental fitness while social distancing through our travels.

We have been given several recommendations from Tyler’s clients and hometown friends of mine. We still hope to find good BBQ and experience the Portland of TX! Times are changing, but we are open to your travel recommendations. We are still on the road, making our way back home, but will continue to make the best of it until we make it there. Give us all your recommendations!

Yes, you read that right! We are still in West Fork, AR. Let me explain! We woke up this morning at Cow Patty’s RV Park and much like what I mentioned in my blog last night, we were going into the day without a plan. It was a relaxing morning. Tyler made breakfast, while I straightened up the trailer and the kids slept. We chatted about our impending plans, never really settling on anything, and before you know it, we were all up and working out!

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If we knew anything about the day, it was that we would at least allow ourselves to enjoy the morning as if it was a weekend. Ashton said he wanted to sleep in and he got his wish. We also wanted to work out and shower. Cow Patty’s has been wonderful and we have full hookups. Generally, we have electricity and water, but no sewer and we dump in a campground or at a service station. We have to be reserved about water because our trailer can only hold so much before it needs to be emptied. I wash dishes, we wash hands, and fill the dog’s water but otherwise, we try to be conscientious of our use. Here, we can leave the water on and enjoy a little leniency in shower time.

While we have full hookups, we have still utilized the bathhouse on-site. It has two showers in each of the bathrooms and offers a more comfortable standing stall for a tall person. We worked out in pairs as usual and Addi and I finished first. Through our workout, Tyler and Ashton joked that a storm was rolling in and it wouldn’t be safe for them to continue. You know, lightning could strike a tree…blah blah blah! Regardless, they worked out and while they were working out the owner of the campgrounds came by and started chatting us up. Like many of the camp hosts, she was amazed that we carry around workout equipment and workout daily while we are on the road.

She treated us like long lost friends and said we were more than welcome to stay for the day or another night. She said they don’t run on timelines and we need not be in a rush. She even offered to allow us to keep the trailer here so we could go explore the area and leave later. While that conversation transpired, Ashton’s wheels were spinning.

Addi and I headed for the showers and while we were away, Tyler and Ashton drafted the master plan. We would stay here for the night, go to Waffle House, Top Golf, and the Bentonville Brewery. All things we talked about doing. Yesterday while driving, Tyler said he wanted the kids to just point out something along the way they wanted to do and we would do it…so we went to Top Golf!

It’s funny because we have a Top Golf in the Portland Metro area, but with it being in Hillsboro, we never go because it’s so far away from our home…so we went to Roger, Arkansas! Before golf, we went to the Waffle House for lunch and ordered off the breakfast menu. We all enjoyed our dishes and the experience was fun. Tyler tried grits for the first time and he loved them!

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Top golf was fun! It was the kids and I’s first time. Tyler has been once before, and he, of course, loves golf. The kids and I were all in competition for who was the worst and we were basically tied! It was fun, but I am terrible. I don’t generally enjoy things that I am terrible at, but this was better than when Tyler tries to drag me out on a real golf course. During one game, 13 balls in, I was ahead of Tyler! I took a picture to document the monumental moment. He may or may not have actually crushed us that game…but I have a photo where I was up, so I basically WON!

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We then took Tyler to the Bentonville Brewery. Tyler enjoyed a local brew there and said it was one of the best ever. It was the Salted Cherry Sour, otherwise known as “Deliciousness,” according to Tyler! The kids and I went shopping and returned to pick him up. We went to our first Aldi Grocery store to pick up some dinner supplies and headed back to camp.

Our evening was relaxing. The kids played their video games and Tyler and I relaxed inside the trailer. I took a power snooze and then went with Tyler and Ashton to check our the Rec Hall. Tyler beat Ashton at a game of pool and when he hadn’t had enough in the loss department, he played me and lost again. We headed back to the trailer to play Sequence and Ashton said he had suffered more loss today than he could bear, lol! Golf, Pool, and the impending loss at Sequence!

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Addison and I, of course, beat them a few times at Sequence and our current record is 19-13. Tyler has now joked we are going best of 45! Winning never gets old against these two!

Tomorrow we will be packing up and heading towards Tyler, TX. For namesake, and to avoid going through Dallas, Tyler found a place about 5 hours away. It will be another long day but I think after our day of fun and rest we are ready for it.

Tyler and Addi decided to head to the bathhouse to take a shower again and on their way, Tyler sent Addi back to get me. You know it’s something good when Tyler needs me to witness it. I will tell you all again, THESE FIREFLIES ARE AMAZING! While they were walking to the showers, there were so many fireflies out and Tyler wanted me to see. Really, I am going to be so sad when we leave firefly country! When Tyler came back from the showers, he barged back into the trailer to tell me they were even better now. We went back outside to witness these magnificent insects. What a sight to see!

We will all arise early tomorrow and get on the road. Tyler has tentatively planned our route and is hoping to find the best BBQ in the South! I think after a day of rest, we are all ready to get back on the road and on with our adventure!