Days 9 and 10: Texas

 Day 9 & 10. Texas!  And my first State Park campground.

After I got up the slippery slope in Gila, I drove to Fort Stockton, Texas. It was 2/3 of the way to my next fun destination, so I joined the other half-dozen RVs in the parking lot at Wally World. Hey, if it's good enough for Clarence T...! I needed supplies anyway, so it was a good stop. It felt safe, I was tired, and I slept hard! 

My original journey plan was to go to Carlsbad Caverns National Park on the way to Texas, but with my slippy-slides time in Gila, I had to bypass it to stay on schedule to pick up my friend Trish in Houston on Friday. 

BUT!

 My Sister Adventurer Anne, who lives in Austin, suggested I stop at The Caverns of Sonora, just off  the I-10! What a great suggestion. It was very cool. It’s an active cavern on private property, and they give guided group tours. It was pretty neat-o. 

Here are a few pictures, which of course don't do justice. 

Part of the non-active section of the cave

We were told these cracks are a fault. Kinda looks like a luchador, huh?

There were plenty of stalactites in the active part of the cavern:

Now, no jokes!

Cave crickets (named 2023 USA Cave Animal of the Year!). Who knew?

Not quite Carlsbad Caverns, but cool geology anyway!

Speaking of geology, if you don’t know the app “Rockd,” you should download it. It gives you the geology of the exact spot that you are in. Hmmmm…. These road cuts are interesting! What’re they made of? OH! Edwards Limestone, cool!

Somewhere in Texas. Actually here in Texas (+/- 5m)

After the Caverns of Sonora, I made the short drive to South Llano River State Park. I got there in time to walk around a little.

 Gorgeous! Here are some photos.

These purple guys are not Bluebonnets, Texas's state flower. Bluebonnets were all along the highways, though! Pretty. Californians will know Bluebonnets by the name Lupine. The ones below I believe are Lacy phacelia.

Near the Caverns

Doesn't a picnic here look delightful?

Our Campsite

Why are Poppy's wheels turned all the way to the right? Funny you should ask!

In the morning at the Walmart, I had an oopsie. Typical Little Sister Adventurer move. I was working on getting windshield washing fluid into the tank when I dropped the lid inside the engine compartment! That area is dense with engine stuff! I couldn’t see it; it didn’t drop to the ground. So, I turned to the Travato Owners and Wannabees (TOAW) Facebook group. My anxiety was going to be up there, but I was hopeful someone would say, “Don’t worry - there’s no moving parts in that area.” 

But the advice was the opposite. There are moving parts that DO NOT need a plastic lid interfering. Bill on TOAW told me where to remove an access panel and stick my video in there to take a look. 

I had already driven all the way to South Llano, but I took his suggestion and got in there. I was discouraged when I couldn’t see the lid. But I stuck my hand in again and really tried to get a comprehensive view. I wasn’t holding out much hope as I reviewed the video. 

Wait! What’s that!  The lid!! And within fingertip distance! It wouldn’t have caused harm where it landed, but I would have worried for the next 6,000 miles. Whew! I’m so grateful for the helpfulness and expertise on TOAW! It’s a great group! Thanks, Bill!

The culprit!

The South Llano River. It's one of the cleanest rivers around and supplies Austin with their drinking water.

Maybe pecan trees? Signs said there are lots in the area.

I love thistle!

I'm always moved by decaying trees. I love them!

As I was walking the interpretive trail toward evening, one of the deer in this heard barked out a warning. I had not known deer to do this, have you? Crappy video, but you can hear the warning barks. 

The park is a "DARK SKY PARK" and I was looking forward to seeing the skies before hitting the sack. There were signs like this about so I was optimistic.

At around 10pm, I turned off the lights in my rig for a minute so my eyes could dilate. I opened the door to experience the magic. But the huge RV across the street had all their shades up and their lights were blazing. Kinda ruined it. 

The next morning, I climbed a hill on the Overlook Trail.

A hill in Texas Hill Country!

View from my picnic table

I took off on Thursday at noon, made a short stop to visit my Sister Adventurer Anne in Austin, and made it to Houston before dark, where I stayed in a pasture behind Fortress Beerworks, courtesy of Harvest Hosts.

Good beer and pizza. It was a comfortable night!  

Leg Two: Tucson to not Tucumcari but Gila, NM

 Leg Two: Tucson and Gila Wilderness

I drove perhaps my longest leg of the trip from Escondido to Tucson. Seven hours all told, with breaks, and it was a long day. Easy on Interstate 10, though. And easier with road snacks:

Thanks, Chuckie and Jerry!

My kindergarten best friend and Sissy, Sonya, winters in Tucson with her husband, so I caught them a few weeks before they headed to their home in Wisconsin. 

We took a beautiful spring hike in Catalina State Park. The wildflowers were blooming like crazy and there was a nice running creek with pools for a rest at the midpoint of the loop. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weather day. Close to 80º with a tiny breeze to keep us cool.

Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana, a subspecies of California poppy. They were everywhere!

I'm guessing Arizona toad, Anaxyrus microscaphus. My dumb phone focused on the rock not the animal as I took a quick shot.

Our rest spot, a beautiful clear pond along a rushing creek.

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) starting to bloom!

After our hike we rewarded ourselves with tacos and beer and a nap.

Some music by a Grateful Dead cover band and pizza and beer rounded out the evening. 

Started our evening at The Hut

And ended it with baby beers

The next day, we trekked to Gila, NM, where Sonya and Dale have often rented cabins. It is a beautiful setting, and we enjoyed some short walks with friends Lupita and Gary as well. It was still quite cool these early springtime days. The creeks were running heavy with spring run-off, so our hikes were cut short, but it was beautiful!

This place billed itself as an RV park. Look at all the tractors!

Along Mineral Creek. We had to turn around after a short while cuz the river was just too high and swift.

We drove to another trailhead: The Catwalk. It was SO COOL! In the olden days, people decided that the rushing creek water through the narrow Whitewater Canyon would be fine for helping them mine. They bolted pipes onto the stone walls and ran the water through. Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked it into a walking path above the stream.

It's also cool volcanic geology.

Click for movie

We ate dinner in Silver City and noticed this fine classic car across the street. 

We got an extra day in Gila because it rained, and the road was too muddy for Poppy to navigate the hills. I was grateful for the support and expertise of my friends Sonya and Dale and Lupita and Gary for helping me out of the sticky (and slick!) situation. It was wonderful to have an extra day to really relax and kick back.

We watched movies, read, walked, and painted rocks! Much needed day of RnR. 

There be artists here.

Fresh snow on the mountains as I left!

I am grateful for my friends. My oldest friend Sonya who I’ve known for 56 years, and her wonderful husband Dale, and my very newest friends,Lupita and Gary,  who I’ve known for three days. I’m thankful for wonderful people in my life. It was just a fun few days! 

New Mexico has my heart, and the Gila Wilderness area is a new beautiful piece of it! You should go!