Jim's 2010 Texas Trip

[jbeletti]

I've been sighting a new Landmark Grand Canyon since Saturday. Mine!

I am on my way to Texas. Here's my trip summary:

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Saturday (6-Feb):
Left Chicago area around 9:30 am. Drove 287 miles to the Granite City, IL KOA in the St. Louis area. Ken and Kathy S (katkens and katkens-DW) stopped by to see the new unit, then we went to dinner at Ravanelli's. Yum! Below is a snapshot of my travel. It shows I started earlier than 9:30. I actually did start the day early but had an event that I cooked for before I began my trip.

//heartlandowners.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6360&d=1265593427


Sunday (7-Feb):
Left Granite City, IL around 10:00 am. Drove 391 miles to the Claremore, OK KOA in the Tulsa, OK area. Had to go into the casino to the KOA desk to register. Pulled the RV under the awning at the front door. That was all weird. Had my left-overs from last nights dinner at Ravanelli's for dinner tonight. Yum again! Below is a snapshot of my travel. I wanted to push another hour to the OKC KOA but I was tired of driving and have work to do - so this is it for today.

//heartlandowners.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6361&d=1265593427


Monday (8-Feb):
Planned: Travel from Claremore, OK to Waco, TX (about 418 miles)
Actual: I traveled (363 miles) a different route than initially planned for today. Bad idea. Mad were these some rough roads in Oklahoma! I traveled on US-75 and US-67. Not fun. And paid a toll to do a lot of that stretch. It was snowing or raining until the last half hour or so of today's trip. Since I varied my route, I did not stay at a KOA tonight. Rather, I am at a new, tiny, muddy, not-fully developed CG just south of Glen Rose, TX. Fine for an over-night at $25 for 50 amp full hook-ups. I unhitched and went into town to oad up on provisions. The pantry is no longer bare Sorry for a different map today. I didn't notice it but my tracking application died on me today. Oops So I made a map up in Google Maps of my actual route.

//heartlandowners.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6366&d=1265688466


Tuesday (9-Feb):
Planned: Travel from Glen Rose, TX to Kerrville, TX (about 205 miles)


Thursday - Sunday (11-Feb - 14-Feb):
Planned: RV.net Sweetheart Rally at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort in Kerrville, TX


Monday (15-Feb):
Planned: Travel from Kerrville, TX to Mission, TX (about 311 miles)


Tuesday (16-Feb):
Planned: Heartland Owners Potluck at Retama Village Clubhouse (invitational)


Thursday (18-Feb):
Planned: Ron Hoover RV / Heartland RVs Open House at Ron Hoover RV in Donna, TX. All Heartland Owners are encouraged to participate and please bring a friend for food, prizes and fun.


Friday - Sunday (19-Feb - 21-Feb):
Planned: Ron Hoover RV / Heartland RVs Open House continues at Ron Hoover RV in Donna, TX. Event continues and is open to the public (show only - no food/prizes)


Saturday (20-Feb):
Planned: Guest at party at Retama Village for development residents


Monday (22-Feb):
Planned: Head towards Houston, TX


?? (??-Feb):
Planned: Visit Gratz' / Atkinsons' in Houston at MD Anderson and or Cg nearby


?? (??-Feb):
Planned: Head towards home (Chicago area)

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Jim, Have a safe trip and don't work too hard.

 

[CrazyScotsman]

That KOA at the Casino Jim, was that at the horse track / casino ? ( Cherokee casino I think )
If it was it recently became a KOA, we were there last year, parked the BH not far from casino entrance and about 150 yards from finish line of race track. It was nice getting up in the morning and sat there enjoying my morning coffee and out of the fog came a bunch of race horses out on the track doing morning training.
It certainly was different.
Claremoore exit I think it was at.
Safe trip Jim, hope nothing falls off the Ford or the LM. Oh it's a Ford towing the LM not a Volvo

 

[jbeletti]

That KOA at the Casino Jim, was that at the horse track / casino ? ( Cherokee casino I think )
If it was it recently became a KOA, we were there last year, parked the BH not far from casino entrance and about 150 yards from finish line of race track. It was nice getting up in the morning and sat there enjoying my morning coffee and out of the fog came a bunch of race horses out on the track doing morning training.
It certainly was different.
Claremoore exit I think it was at.
Safe trip Jim, hope nothing falls off the Ford or the LM. Oh it's a Ford towing the LM not a Volvo

That's it Ken. Man is it wet around here. Good thing the site I am in is slightly sloped forward or I'd be in a swamp

Yeah, had to go through the smokey casino to register for my site. Little odd but the CG is convenient to I-44. And it's just an overnight.

Last night, I was gonna stay at the Flying J in Granite City, IL but the recording at the closed KOA there said they had a few sites open. Sure enough. Beats sitting in a parking spot at the Flying J with no AC power and the slides in

Unsure where I will stay tomorrow night. If there's a KOA near I-35 near Waco - I'll be there.

Nice chatting with you in the chat room tonight Ken. Keep the round side down.

Jim

 

[porthole]

Do you have a preference for KOA's Jim?

 

[mjatwalker]

Have a great trip Jim, enjoy yur new Landmark

Mike

 

[sgtbigb]

73 MPH, Hope you was going down hill :=}

 

[rick_debbie_gallant]

Jim:Any idea what route you will be taking from Donna to Houston. Debbie and I are in Rockport/Fulton.

 

[jbeletti]

Jim:Any idea what route you will be taking from Donna to Houston. Debbie and I are in Rockport/Fulton.

Have not looked that far ahead yet Rick

Jim

 

[jbeletti]

73 MPH, Hope you was going down hill :=}

Yes it was

 

[jbeletti]

Do you have a preference for KOA's Jim?

For travel days - yes I do Duane. They are close to the highways - easy on/off

Paid $25 first night, $28 second night and I am in a tiny, new and muddy non-KOA CG near Glen Rose, TX tonight for $25. Decided to go further than Waco so no KOA tonight.

Jim

 

[porthole]

And I assume you are you using the rewards card.

We like the KOAs as they are all fairly similar, laid out fairly well, at least the ones that are trying to fold into the KOA image. And most are animal fiendly with off leash areas and dedicated pet walk areas.

And as you probably already know, easy to find with the directory when traveling.

Cool beans.

 

[jbeletti]

Yep - using the rewards card for sure. Even though my site fees are reimbursable, I like saving money - even other people's

As for finding KOAs on the fly, I use my iPhone map feature. Push the current location button, the search for KOA or camping and bing, pins pop all over the map around me.

When I do long trips, I always have a pre-plan of where I am going to end up each night and I've pre-scouted potential CGs. That's the "plan" anyway. But I typically stray from the plan at least one night each trip as I drive until I feel I am done. I typically only make reservations for my destination CG, unless I am traveling over a holiday weekend. That happens a lot. Works for me

Jim

 

[Netem]

Jim, Have you saw the weather back home? You got out of Dodge just in time. Poor Nancy. Have fun on your trip and think about me when they lay all those deserts out Neil

 

[jbeletti]

Neil my friend,

I too like desserts nearly as much as you! Wish I could stay as trim as you though

Yeah - the weather is bad back in IL/WI. Nancy is in WI at one of her cheese plants. Tom Weber sent me the forecast last night and I passed it to her. She called me this morning and decided to stay another night to let it blow over. She is traveling with Emme and Ruby, our fur babies.

And she needs to make it home to fly to TX Thursday night as she's doing the RV.net Sweetheart Rally with me again this year.

Jim

On edit: Attachment - maybe an inch is all in Chicago so far but still falling...

//heartlandowners.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6367&d=1265723814

 

[Iver]

??? a newbee question ??? Tell me about the KOA rewards card please.

 

[jbeletti]

??? a newbee question ??? Tell me about the KOA rewards card please.

Iver - Google is my friend and it could be yours too

Here ya go pal - all you ever wanted to know about the KOA Rewards [link]

Happy camping!

 

[Netem]

Jim, I got a picture of you and my friend John at the Tampa RV show and it looked like the diet was going well. Hope Nancy and the fur babies make it home safely. This global warming sucks. Neil

 

[jbeletti]

Thanks Neil. Hard to stay on track on the road though!

Global warming? You are a pot stirrer this morning

Hugs to Sharon and little Miss Daisy.

Jim

 

[talley]

Snow ??

Jim, I have been checking the weather forecast for Kerrville. There seems to be a correlation between chance for snow and your arrival !! Don't let that deter you. It will be good to see you and the new coach. Besides, weather will change and you will still be there!

Forecast has sun for the weekend.

Jerry