Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A 5-month trip starts with the first day....




Today was "get out of town" day. We drove out of the park at 8:30 a.m. and made it to Bardwell Lake, Ennis, TX. When heading north, we try to stay at Waxahaxie Creek Park, a COE park about 165 miles from our home base. We schedule a short day to have enough time and energy to stow away all the last minute stuff.


We used to rush 400-450 miles per day, but as we aged and fuel costs increased, we cut back to about 250 to 300 miles per day. We are retired and this is for fun! We drive about 57 m.p.h. because it is a fuel-efficient speed.


The COE parks are some of the best in the country. The rates are lower than many state parks and sites are generally wider with electric and water services. The COE parks are found at many lakes and dams and tend to have pretty views, especially the waterfront sites. In the Texas heat, we need electricity for the the air conditioning


With the Golden Age card, we pay half of the posted rate. It is one reward for living long and very appreciated! Tonight, we paid $9 for a water and electric site. We are using a variety of cost-saving camping options on this trip. I don't make future reservations; it restricts our options. I call during the afternoon for reservations or to check campsite availability once we decide where to stop. The cell phone is just one of the many wonderful improvements to the "fun-timing" lifestyle since we started RVing in 1987.


Back in the old days, 1987-1993, finding a pay phone was an adventure! I often waited in line to use the one pay phone in the area. And then, when my time came, I was reminded of the long line behind me--waiting for me! Cell phones have changed our lives for the better!


In addition to keeping in touch with family and friends, we call our doctors for medical advice, our banks for balance transfers, the insurance company to charge premiums, and campgrounds. Living life in the slow lane is easy with a cell phone. We carry an AT&T and a Verizon phone to have better coverage. In the old days, the AT&T phone had better reception in more places but the teeter-totter has shifted. The Verizon phone now has better coverage. However, the AT&T phone has roll-over minutes which are handy in emergency months where a lot of minutes will be consumed.


More from the road tomorrow when we continue traveling through beautiful Texas.

2 comments:

  1. Welcome to the blogging world. My blog is way out of date. Are you headed out to California? We're in Mt Vernon, MO at Mid America Dental Clinic having my teeth fixed. We'll leave here Thursday headed north to Hutchinson, MN, then back to Iowa.

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  2. Welcome to the world of RV Bloggers! I'm honored to become your first Follower. We'll really enjoy reading about your travels. And I'll try to keep my blog up to date, too.

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