July 11, 2009
It’s Saturday, and another scorcher out here on the Texas highways. It’s so hot the sun just bakes everything in sight, steamy heat radiates off the asphalt, and even the road-kill is burnt to a crisp. With daily temps over 100 degrees, they say it’s unseasonably warm.
I think I just saw a tumbleweed roll by.
Today is our day off from the YMCA teaching sessions and Gunnar finished his walking for the day, so we pulled into another RV park to get caught up on email and chill in the air-conditioning (yes, it’s fixed-whew!) until tomorrow.
I think I just saw a tumbleweed roll by.
Today is our day off from the YMCA teaching sessions and Gunnar finished his walking for the day, so we pulled into another RV park to get caught up on email and chill in the air-conditioning (yes, it’s fixed-whew!) until tomorrow.
I must say that in all my globetrotting adventures I was completely unfamiliar with the world of RV travel. In the last week alone I have learned more about water hoses, sewage dumping, and special RV toilet paper than I ever thought possible. I'm even starting to throw around phrases like ‘30 amp hookups’ and ‘’spin-lock rings’.
I've also learned that not all RV parks are alike. Some parks are definitely upper end and are located in picturesque forests and on scenic lakes. They are usually inhabited by luxurious, pimped-out motor homes (often by retired couples) that when fully expanded are massive enough to take over a city block. When we pull our little C-Class camper up next to them at a site I admit to feeling somewhat intimidated.
And then there are other RV parks that remind me more of Third World villages. Campgrounds resemble parking lots with wall-to-wall trailers packed together, and accessorized by ratty lawn furniture, wife-beater t-shirts, housecoats and cigarette smoke.
Fascinating.
I've also learned that not all RV parks are alike. Some parks are definitely upper end and are located in picturesque forests and on scenic lakes. They are usually inhabited by luxurious, pimped-out motor homes (often by retired couples) that when fully expanded are massive enough to take over a city block. When we pull our little C-Class camper up next to them at a site I admit to feeling somewhat intimidated.
And then there are other RV parks that remind me more of Third World villages. Campgrounds resemble parking lots with wall-to-wall trailers packed together, and accessorized by ratty lawn furniture, wife-beater t-shirts, housecoats and cigarette smoke.
Fascinating.
***
On other topics, driving through northern Texas I have noticed an interesting juxtaposition between country and city. The country highways are lined with cattle ranches, lots of barbed wire, cornfields, big pickup trucks with McCain-Palin bumper stickers, lots of Lone Star Flags, and dilapidated houses that have seen better days. The suburban areas, however, are a stark contrast with mansion-filled residential areas with stone entrances sporting elegant names, strip malls with fabulous landscaping, and lots and lots of money.
As far as the people go, Texans are a friendly, relaxed bunch, and even strangers seem comfortable telling their personal stories just moments after meeting us. In fact, as we checked in to the RV park today, by the time my credit card was run through I learned all about the manager’s mother in Pennsylvania. I find their accents quite soothing as well...and even the rhetorical question hot enough for y’all? doesn’t seem to annoy me the way it does back home.
I've also noticed that ever since we crossed the state line Gunnar has been speaking with a southern drawl as well. Yeeee-up. That’s raght. He hasn’t called me sugar yet, though. I appreciate that.
On other topics, driving through northern Texas I have noticed an interesting juxtaposition between country and city. The country highways are lined with cattle ranches, lots of barbed wire, cornfields, big pickup trucks with McCain-Palin bumper stickers, lots of Lone Star Flags, and dilapidated houses that have seen better days. The suburban areas, however, are a stark contrast with mansion-filled residential areas with stone entrances sporting elegant names, strip malls with fabulous landscaping, and lots and lots of money.
As far as the people go, Texans are a friendly, relaxed bunch, and even strangers seem comfortable telling their personal stories just moments after meeting us. In fact, as we checked in to the RV park today, by the time my credit card was run through I learned all about the manager’s mother in Pennsylvania. I find their accents quite soothing as well...and even the rhetorical question hot enough for y’all? doesn’t seem to annoy me the way it does back home.
I've also noticed that ever since we crossed the state line Gunnar has been speaking with a southern drawl as well. Yeeee-up. That’s raght. He hasn’t called me sugar yet, though. I appreciate that.
***
July 10, 2009
Gunnar is starting his walks earlier and earlier each day trying to stay ahead of the heat. Today he left the RV at 5:30am, and whether he ever was a morning person or not, he is now. I usually wait until about 7:00am before I catch up to him in the RV to give him his breaks and be ready in case anything goes wrong.
Mid-morning, while I was waiting in the RV drinking my coffee and reading the newspaper, Gunnar called me frantically on my phone to come pick him up. Apparently, he was being chased by two savage Rotweillers. After quickly finishing my coffee and an int
eresting movie review, I sprang into action and drove off to save him. When I arrived, there were definitely two scary dogs there, but I’m not so sure about the “chasing” part as the dogs were contained on the other side of a fence. Either way, I offered him a cold towel so he could relax for a few minutes before heading back out to the road...as well as my pepper spray and stun gun to use during any future varmint attacks. You just never can be too careful.
By 12:30pm we arrived at the Anna, TX YMCA campgrounds. It is a fabulous facility in a beautiful, forested area. We did an hour-long session with about 35 little kids who were very engaged with Gunnar as he sat on the floor with them telling stories from Iraq. Everywhere we go, the kids just fall in love with him and they all listen in rapt attention before h
e patiently answers their questions.
Gunnar is starting his walks earlier and earlier each day trying to stay ahead of the heat. Today he left the RV at 5:30am, and whether he ever was a morning person or not, he is now. I usually wait until about 7:00am before I catch up to him in the RV to give him his breaks and be ready in case anything goes wrong.
Mid-morning, while I was waiting in the RV drinking my coffee and reading the newspaper, Gunnar called me frantically on my phone to come pick him up. Apparently, he was being chased by two savage Rotweillers. After quickly finishing my coffee and an int
eresting movie review, I sprang into action and drove off to save him. When I arrived, there were definitely two scary dogs there, but I’m not so sure about the “chasing” part as the dogs were contained on the other side of a fence. Either way, I offered him a cold towel so he could relax for a few minutes before heading back out to the road...as well as my pepper spray and stun gun to use during any future varmint attacks. You just never can be too careful.By 12:30pm we arrived at the Anna, TX YMCA campgrounds. It is a fabulous facility in a beautiful, forested area. We did an hour-long session with about 35 little kids who were very engaged with Gunnar as he sat on the floor with them telling stories from Iraq. Everywhere we go, the kids just fall in love with him and they all listen in rapt attention before h
e patiently answers their questions. It’s hard to believe that this is the same guy who just a few months ago would lose all color in his face after 20 minutes in the car with my kids. After all this is over he could open a daycare.
To me, the best part is that wherever we go, and no matter how young these kids may be, they truly have compassion for their peers in Iraq and Afghanistan. They get it and they want to help. The letters and art they create contain messages of friendship and encouragement. They share their own personal stories of friends and family, and yesterday, one little boy even wrote three full pages teaching his Iraqi “friend” how American football is played.
I’m telling you…this is world peace is in the making. Stay tuned for the next adventure!
To me, the best part is that wherever we go, and no matter how young these kids may be, they truly have compassion for their peers in Iraq and Afghanistan. They get it and they want to help. The letters and art they create contain messages of friendship and encouragement. They share their own personal stories of friends and family, and yesterday, one little boy even wrote three full pages teaching his Iraqi “friend” how American football is played.
I’m telling you…this is world peace is in the making. Stay tuned for the next adventure!
Love, Dina
Love reading your RV adventures Dina. Something Brian has always wanted to do. I think he should read your blog. LOL
ReplyDeleteHey...tell Brian to get the RV so you guys can hit the open road!! The adventures await!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you posted a picture of roadkill. What is this world coming to?! Don't have too much fun without me!
ReplyDelete