Lake Texoma, Tx

We got to Lake Texoma on Tuesday. We were really concerned that we would not get a good spot here because Thousand Trails is doing here what they said they would NEVER do... They have sold over half of the full hook-up sites as annual sites.

We consider this very unfair to members who are traveling. We understand the need to make money so we do have somewhere to go, but maybe 10% is fair, but 60-70% means we may not have somewhere to go in the future!

Now that I have vented, this is the worse abuse I have seen by far in the system, but as it turned out we maybe got the best site! This site I'm sure is on the way to being an annual site, because it is in between two annuals with rigs on them, but no people! It is also one of the few poles I found with both 30 amp and 20 amp so I can use the JTB system RV Bill installed! The site is probably 70-80 feet long and backs up to trees. In front of us is the putt putt golf  You can see how far apart our neighbors are. (of course really no neighbors since it's just their rigs).

Site C25

Here is another view of our site.

Our rig

Here is a twilight view out of our rear window.

Full moon

There is a small pond with a bridge to an island.

Island

There is a family pool and hot tub and an adult pool and hot tub. Right now only the adult hot tub is open. We have been the only ones using it.

Adult hot tub

We thought this was clever. At the putt putt your have to putt under an RV!

3 flags over Texas! LOL

We are only 3 miles from the Oklahoma border. We went to the town of Madill, Oklahoma and found the Texoma Peanut Inn.

Peanut Inn

When the light is lit they have HOT fresh roasted peanuts! They were roasting them when we were there, but they were all for a large customer. I usually like them salted, but he went and grabbed me a handful of hot peanuts and WOW!!! I talked him into getting me a couple pounds from the hot bunch!

Get your HOT Peanuts!

Here are the roasters. They can do about 100 pounds at a time.

Peanut roasters

We then went to the Walmart. Look what we found! Ventura County strawberries!! We got a couple baskets of them.

Ventura County Strawberries

That's it for today...

Love you all,

Brian and Patty

Hillsboro, Tx

We went to Hillsboro which is about 10 miles from Whitney, Tx. There is a SuperWalmart that we needed to go to.

We first went to the Chamber of Commerce which was in the Katy Depot.

Chamber building

We got several to do pamphlets. One of them was a walking tour around downtown Hillsboro. A few blocks down was the original courthouse.

Courthouse

The courthouse is a beautiful building. They are doing some renovations to it, so I wonder if they will be using it again. The current courthouse is a dumpy looking building a few blocks away. We continued a few blocks to the old jail building. The jail building is now a jail museum, but only open on Saturday's from April through October.

Jail building

A few doors down was the Grimes garage. It is considered the first full service filing station. It had a map of the early Texas highway system painted on the wall. Will Rodgers once said what he remembers about Texas is The Alamo and Grimes Station.

Grimes Filing Station

We walked a few blocks and went around the corner and came upon Roadside America. I had seen this on a web site about weird attractions and wanted to see it, but didn't realize it was right here in downtown Hillsboro!

Roadside America

Custom car builder Caroll Estes has collected road culture memorabilia from the 40's and 50's and displays them in his small museum.  This building used to be the local Ford dealer for many years before they moved and Caroll got control of the building. The entrance to the museum is here on the side. The problem is that it was locked up tight!

There were some old signs and trucks and buses on the side of the building so we started snooping around. A few minutes later a women drove up and asked us what we were doing. We think she thought we were up to no good! 

We introduced ourselves and explained we were doing the walking tour and that we had seen the museum online. She said her name was Jane Goodman and that she was a docent for Caroll. She said Caroll had hurt himself and was down and the museum was not open. She had gone to do some shopping for him as he lives in the building.

We said no problem, that it was still pretty cool to see what was on the outside. She said give  me a few minutes and let me see if I can show you around.

Jane Goodman

A few minutes later she came back out and invited us in for a personal tour! The tour is heavy into advertising and car stuff. 

Caroll built this 1955 Pontiac Star Chief wagon with a Corvette tranny and Vette LZ1 engine. It is one of a kind and has been featured in many national hot rod magazines.

1955 Pontiac Star Chief

On the other side of the Pontiac you can see this Jack in the Box. This is an original Jack in the Box you would see at the drive through's. If you are in your 40's or older you will remember these.

Jack in the Box

Remember Bob's Big Boy?

Bob's Big Boy

How many know that the first Bob's Big Boy's were either blond or red hair with stripes instead of checkerboard? Carol has an original blond Big Boy! I had to Google this to research it when we got back and sure enough this is true!

Blondie Bob

This is an old drug store he has created. You can see old medications in the rear and of course the soda fountain in the front. He has all original bottles with syrups and even cups.

Drug Store

Jane asked us if we had any idea what the item in the middle is. We guessed it was some type of a press. The item is a cheese press from the 1700's! All original. The smaller one on the left is an apple press, not sure what year.

Presses

Patty was taking a picture of this award that Carrol received. When looking at the picture later I noticed the letter behind the award. We did not notice it when we were at the museum. If you blow this picture up you can see it is a letter written from Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame to Henry Ford. In it Clyde tells Ford:

Dear Sir: --
    While I still have got breath in my lungs I will tell you what a dandy car you make. I have drove Fords exclusively when I could get away with one. For sustained speed and freedom from trouble the Ford has got ever other car skinned and even if my business hasen't been strickly legal it don't hurt anything to tell you what a fine car you got in the V8 --

Clyde Barrow letter

In 1959 Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Jay Richardson otherwise know as the Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace) died in a plane crash. In 2007 Richardson's son had his fathers body exhumed to put to rest rumors that he had initially lived through the crash or that he actually died from a gun shot. By law the body had to be moved into a new casket. The casket had been at the Texas Music Museum but somehow Caroll Estes now has it.

Big Bopper Casket

After about an 1 1/2 hours of looking around Mr. Estes came out to say hello. I found out he was a big scooter fan. Here is an old Cushman he has. (and still rides).

Cushman scooter

This is a living museum in that Caroll Estes continues to add to it. If I am ever in Hillsboro we will come back, plus we now have a new friend in both Caroll and Jane. I would highly recommend anyone to see this if you are in the area! We were truly in the right place at the right time, but it seems as though that happens a lot to us! :)

After we left the museum we headed back to the truck to go eat diner. We went to Up in Smoke a very good BBQ place in Abbott, Tx. We noticed they had diesel at a good price so I filled up. Gas is only $3.40.

$3.72

Stopped at Walmat to pick up some stuff and came back home. Had a great day!

By the way, Today... March 23 is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday mom!

Love you all,

Brian and Patty

Waco, Tx

One of the rangers here at the Lake Whitney campground told Patty about a sustainable community near Waco that has shops with different hand made crafts. Patty loves to look at those type of items. It is called Homestead Heritage.

Homestead Heritage

They are a religious sect somewhat like Amish or Mennonites in that the woman dress with long dresses and they shun modern stuff except for business. For business they have laptops, computers and even sell CD's with their music and stuff on it. All their crafts are hand made though. After researching them, it does seem like they may be a cult, it seems that Waco attracts them!

They have however figured out how to make money off of this minimalist lifestyle. They have their own cafe and even raise their own beef for the cafe. They make their own ice cream which we tried and it was very good. They have a bakery and even make their own cheese. All is for sale to the public.

This is a picture of their mill. Water is moving down the trough and powers the paddle wheel which powers the mill which turns the wheat into flour.

Gist Mill

All the items were very expensive! A rocking chair was almost $5,000.00!! Handmade toddler dresses were $275.00, and I'm guessing labor is cheap!

After we left Heritage with only buying a bowl of ice cream we headed into to downtown Waco to Indian Spring Park. This is where a suspension bridge was built in 1870 over the Brazos river so ranchers could move their cattle along the Chisholm Trail.

Chisholm Trail

The bridge was originally a toll bridge but was eventually donated to the city of Waco. 

Suspension Bridge sign

At the west entrance to the bridge are statues of a cattle drive heading towards the bridge. These are just a few of the cattle. They are on both sides of the opening.

Cattle Drive

Here is a view of the bridge from the side. You can see the suspension cables as well as the Brazos river below.

Waco Suspension Bridge

Looking straight through the bridge.

Bridge

We saw this bird down by the river and couldn't figure out what type it is. If you know please leave a comment and let us know!

Ugly Duckling

Being that we were in Waco, we decided we would try and find the infamous compound of the Branch Davidians. This is where cult leader  David Koresh led his flock of sheep into the seige that lasted 51 days in 1993 with the ATF. A total of 82 Branch Davidian men, women and children died and 4 ATF agents died.

The Branch

To our awful surprise the cult continues to this day at the same location. We drove in through the gates.

Branch Davidian Gate

Here is the compound today. You can see their new chapel in the distance.

Dividian Compound

I did some research after we got home and found that an original member Charles Pace who left the cult when Koresh who's real name was Vernon Howell had taken over the cult is now the leader. The surviving members had planted a tree for each of the dead, and put a marker in front with their names. Pace did not agree with that when he took over because he did not like Koresh. He tore out the trees and setup this memorial with all the name makers on it.

Memorial

Pace also changed Koresh's name on the seven shepherds  to his real name of Vernon Howell. It is the most far right on the top. He also included the 4 ATF agents names on the memorial.

Wall

Editorial:

When will people stop trying to find it? God created us and found us! The answer is right in front of of in the Bible. Jesus is the Messiah, not David Koresh, or any other pseudo-messiah. 

People are searching, that is why these cults keep happening, but they keep ending up tragic. Some may have even started out right, but when we take our eyes off of God and put them on a man it will never turn out well! 

I love my pastor, but my salvation is not in Pastor Steve, it is in the living God! Jesus Christ!

Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and off of man. Men will always let you down, God will never disappoint!

God bless you all,

Brian and Patty

Lake Whitney, TX

We got to Lake Whitney Thousand Trails on Tuesday March 19th. It is a large park that is well spaced out. We found a lovely end space with nobody on the other side of us. In fact nobody is on our row. Here is our campsite in the 'B' section. The adult pool is closed right now but the hot tub is open and is probably 104 degrees! Very relaxing...

B-73

On Wednesday we wanted to go to the lake for a picnic lunch. We loaded up the cooler and found a nice spot along the lake. After lunch we drove to the dam. Highway 22 drives right over the dam.

Whitney Dam

This is Soldier Bluff Park. The Army Corps of Engineers has a Life Jacket loaner station. You can borrow a life jacket for free and just return it when you are done. TEXAS!!

Loaner Station

Patty is enjoying the beautiful Texas sunny day. This is a very large lake.

Patty enjoying the sun!

We walked down to this cove at the lake. The rocks almost seemed like concrete and had holes in them I'm sure caused by the water rushing through them.

Cove

Here is a close up of the rocks. They almost look like moon rocks.

Moon Rocks

The dam also serves as a hydro power plant. We drove to the other side and took this picture. The power plant is to the left of the picture.

Down side of dam

This is looking down the river. Not much water was being released while we were there. Say Hi to Patty in the our truck!! :)

Hi Patty

Where our truck is parked in the above picture is also a boat ramp. I would think there would have to be a lot more water in the river before you would launch a boat here.

 

For those of you who have asked, our itinerary is as follows:

Lake Whitney, Tx               3/19 - 3/26

Lake Texoma, Tx               3/26 - 4/09

El Reno, Ok                       4/09 - 4/12

Amarillo, Tx                       4/12 - 4/18

Albuquerque, NM              4/18 - 4/25

Williams, Az                       4/25 - 4/27

Bullhead City, Az               4/27 - 5/02

Las Vegas, Nv                   5/02 - 5/22

Home  (Santa Paula)          5/22 - 7/17

We will figure out were we go in July later. Patty is going to try her hand at planning the next trip.

We love you all!

Brian and Patty

Memory Park and Fernland

Just down the road from Conroe is the town of Montgomery. I found a park called Memory Park. It is a park with a pond ment to walk around and enjoy. Many people have setup memorials to loved ones around the park.

Memory Park

The park is covered with flowers, plants and different memorials for loved ones.

Flowers and memorials

Different gardens at the park.

Gardens

They had what they called the rain gardens. During heavy rains these plants help to absorb the rain water. They also had these man made waterfalls. You can see a bison statue at the top here.

Buffalo

I happened to notice something swimming in the lake/pond. There were large Koi fish and turtles. Here is a picture of some of the turtles on shore.

Turtles on shore

We walked to the top of the rain gardens and noticed a sign to Fernland. It was a group of old Montgomery county historical buildings.

Fernland

There are cattle everywhere in Texas. Even this fake one! :)

Texas cattle

This is the second oldest log cabin in Texas. Fernland was a very interesting surprise!

Historical Texas cabin

That's it for tonight. Next blog we will be in Lake Whitney. See you all soon.

Love you,

Brian and Patty