SNOOZING A FEW OF TODAYS MILES AWAY
It was a whole herd of police sirens going by somewhere nearby that roused me out of a sound sleep around 4 a.m. Luckily I was able to doze off again until nearly 6.
THIS FELLOW PULLED IN NEAR US FRIDAY NIGHT, UNROLLED A SLEEPING BAG AND SLEPT BESIDE THAT HEDGE……THIS MORNING he PACKED UP AND AWAY HE WENT
How nice to see clear skies and sunshine right off the bat. And how nice to feel warmer temperatures. Kelly said it was the first morning she was able to be outside without her winter hat and gloves on since we left home one week ago.
WALMART’S DRIVE-THRU PHARMACY AND HERE’S WHERE YOU PARK TO HAVE YOUR GROCERIES DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR CAR…..WHAT’ NEXT!!
MISSING HER MORNING JEEP RIDES BACK HOME PHEEBS RODE SHOTGUN FOR AWHILE THIS MORNING
WAITING FOR MOM TO BRING BACK SOME TREATS
It was 8:48 when we put Abilene’s Walmart in our rear view mirror and headed out of the parking lot swinging up onto I-20 heading south. Being Saturday morning traffic was noticeably lighter.
NICE TO SEE BUTTES AND MESAS RISING UP OUT OF THE FLAT TEXAS EARTH
ONLY ONE SLOW DOWN FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION TODAY
It’s a looooong mostly flat stretch of interstate running west of Dallas and we noticed a big change in something since the last time we traveled this stretch of road just over a year ago. Couldn’t believe the massive growth in the oil industry all the way from Midland to Pecos. This whole region is known as the Permian Basin and has now become the second largest oil producing area in the world. Evidence of the oil boom stretches for miles along both sides of I-20. Everything involved with oil drilling is here and I bet there are more pick-up trucks per square in this oil patch than anywhere else in America. And where do all those oil workers stay?? RV trailers, that’s where. They can rent them here at Workforce Lodging Solutions.
ALONG SOME STRETCHS OF I-20 THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF OIL IN THE AIR….I CERTAINLY WOULD NEVER WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE IN THIS AREA
AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THIS WAS AN RV PARK BUT THEN WE BEGAN SEEING A LOT OF THEM
THESE ARE ALL OIL PATCH WORKERS LIVING IN RV TRAILER WHICH ARE RENTABLE
With 2 days to reach El Paso I figured we would stop about half way in Pecos for the night. Well that is until we reached Pecos. This former little dusty nothing of a place has also been swept up in the oil boom frenzy like both Midland and Odessa. The place was a zoo of vehicles running around all willy nilly. Couldn’t get out of Pecos fast enough. Decided to push on to Van Horn where we knew of a quiet place to stay for the night. Same spot as last year when we came through this way and it was shortly after four in the afternoon when we pulled in and shut down.
FIRST GLIMPSE OF MY BELOVED SOUTHWEST MOUNTAIN RANGES
JUST TWO MILES EAST OF THE I-10 AND I-20 INTERSECTION
HERE’S WHERE I-20 MERGES WITH I-10 HEADING WEST AND I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE MUCH HEAVIER TRAFFIC ON I-10
Sunday we only have 120 miles to go so we plan to make it a more relaxing day. Maybe get some cleaning done around the Motorhome. Maybe get some walking in to strengthen our rubbery leg muscles.
OUR OVERNIGHT SPOT IN VAN HORN TEXAS
SEEMS WE JUST CAN’T GET OURSELVES AWAY FROM THAT GOL DARN WALMART!!
AND YES THOSE ARE REAL MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND
GROANER’S CORNER:(( A 7-year-old and his 4-year-old brother are upstairs in their bedroom. The 7-year-old is explaining that it is high time that the two of them begin swearing.When his little brother responds enthusiastically, the 7-year old says, "When we go downstairs for breakfast this morning, I'll say 'hell' and you say 'ass'." The 4-year-old happily agrees.As the two boys are seating themselves at the breakfast table, their mother walks in and asks her older son what he would like to eat for breakfast. The 7-year-old replies, "Aw hell, Mom, I'll just have some Cheerios.The surprised mother reacts quickly. "WHACK!"The boy runs upstairs, bawling and rubbing his behind. With a sterner note in her voice, the mother then asks the younger son, "And what would YOU like for breakfast?""I don't know," the 4-year-old blubbers, "but you can bet your ASS it's not gonna be Cheerios!"
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It was the usual day at our bank.A woman came up to customer service and demanded, “What do I have to do to change the address on my account?”Without looking up, I replied, “Move.”
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A friend of mine was ticketed three years ago in Van Horn for boondocking in the parking lot behind McDonalds. Signs are posted around town against RV overnighting not in a campground. The Texas Rest Stops before and after Van Horn are legal overnight spots.See below.
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Posted August 5, 2011
The following just happened to a fellow RVer and friend of mine. I am posting this to let others know and to suggest that if you are as angered by this anti-RV ordinance as I am, then please contact the Van Horn, TX Convention and Visitors Bureau to let them know your thoughts.
Brenda Hinojos, Senior Events Coordinator: brenda@vanhorncvb.com
Patricia Golden, Events Coordinator: patriciagolden@vanhorntexas.org
"RV'ers traveling east and west on I-10 in west Texas, take note. You can not, and will be fined, for camping overnight at the truck stops in Van Horn, Texas. I pulled into the truck stop parking area [where he has stayed many times before], right behind Mc Donalds, early this morning for a much needed rest, short nap and breakfast. When I awoke 2 hours later at 7am, there was a ticket taped to my windshield. Violation of City of Van Horn ordinance 12/12.010. Fine of $85 payable by money order only."
Here's the link to the municipal Anti-RV ordinance:
http://library.munic...statename=Texas
In particular notice section B-2 which specifies RVs:
12.12.030 - Definitions.
A. The term "public area" shall mean an outdoor area to which the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, highways, parks, parking lots, alleyways, pedestrian ways, vacant or uninhabited lots or parcels of land, rights-of-way, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, service stations, transport facilities, churches and shops.
B. The term "camp" means to use a public area for living accommodation purposes for a period of time in excess of four (4) consecutive hours, for activities such as, but not limited to, the following:
1. Sleeping, or making preparations to sleep, including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping;
2. Parking of a motor vehicle, motor home, or trailer for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy;
12.12.040 - Regulations and restrictions on camping.
A. Except in designated areas or in areas in which prior written permission has been granted by the owner or agent in charge of the real property, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp within the city limits of the town of Van Horn, Texas.
B. The activities listed in Section 12.12.030 of this chapter shall constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that the participants, in conducting these activities, are in fact using the area for living, sleeping, or overnight accommodation purposes regardless of the intent of the participants or the nature of any other activities in which they may also be engaging.
Barney, the post you linked was from 2011,so mabe things have changed.we have not seen any signs except the one heading behind McDs. it says truck & RV parking. this is our second year overnighting here. lots of trucks and an RV next to us .. Kelly
DeleteThe signs were still all over the parts of town I was in on March 31, 2018 when I went through there on the way to New Mexico. Maybe they cancelled the law since then.
DeleteLove the photos of Miss Pheebs riding shot gun. Such a sweet girl.
ReplyDeleteSurely hope you remembered to bring some warmer temperatures with you.
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Wow, it’s happening! Your almost there.
ReplyDeleteHope it’s enjoyable, happy months ahead for you both.
Who knows, you may find a way to come back.
Hope so!
How nice to get into the sunshine, eh?
ReplyDeleteI bet the motorcycle camper doesn't have water pump problems. Kind of an extreme solution for your issues though eh, where would Pheebs ride? ))) Gord.
ReplyDeleteSide car! LOL
DeleteAl, you should've been born in a "Native American" or "First Nation" tribe in the Southwest about 200 years ago...:-)
ReplyDeleteLove that route you are taking usually very easy though long and taking your time this year is so relaxing, Now enjoy the emerging into the southwest.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Walmart pickup--saves us time when we make our run to Billings. Having a bit of a problem finding a Walmart in our Tucson traffic pattern which offers pickup.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed in a campground in Van Horn because WalMart (or any other place) was NOT camper friendly. Glad you got on the road again!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you are seeing the mountains again. Almost there and it's time to slow down and relax, enjoy the lifestyle. After all it's not like you have to be somewhere at a certain time right now. Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteOK, So far so good.This is a nice place to take a rest and spend the time
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.ca/maps/@31.6285672,-102.8214954,14.79z
It sounds like Van Horn has found a way to make a little extra money.
ReplyDeleteWe spent some time in Alpine and Marfa more than ten years ago. The main "stench" was in Odessa back then. Hope it hasn't saturated Fort Davis. So sad.
Nice 'mountains-in-the-distance' shots!
ReplyDeleteOther than rest areas along the Rio Grande I found TX very unfriendly for boondocking and was also fooled by the oil RV lots. You should be out of TX by now.
ReplyDeleteAl
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures I sure mis driving thru Texas. Also miss eating my way across Texas. I used to drive from Calif. to Rhode Island every week when I still driving trucks cross country. My partner and I would make around trip every week. Then have 3 or 4 days off between runs. Have a safe trip.
Al said:
ReplyDeleteSEEMS WE JUST CAN’T GET OURSELVES AWAY FROM THAT GOL DARN WALMART!!
If were not careful Fred Walton may take over the world. It seems like they are either putting in a Starbucks or a WalMart on every corner here in the US.