It has been a whirlwind of a week as we make our way to the gulf shores in Alabama. By the end of today, we will have been in FIVE different RV parks and one parking lot. We left Las Cruces, New Mexico last Tuesday, stayed one night at Hilltop RV Park in Fort Stockton, Texas, moved on to San Antonio where we spent the night in a Bass Pro Shop parking lot, then spent two nights in Galveston before staying another two nights at a KOA in Lafayette, Louisiana, and in a couple of hours, we’ll be at the Bay Hide Away RV Park in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Whew, that’s a lot!
Hilltop RV was a great one-night stay. They are situated, as one would guess, atop a large hill which provides its guests with tremendous 360-degree views for miles overlooking Fort Stockton. Jason, always thinking about the amenities, provided the boys with another pool to dip their toes into with this RV reservation. Worked out well – Jason went to the store for supplies and groceries, boys went swimming in the recently winterized (no longer heated and very frigid) pool, and I caught up on the laundry with the machines that were adjacent to the pool. Fun fact about our quick stay at Hilltop? We had our first experience with seeing someone from a previous RV park! I’ve heard that once we become travelers, whether it be by vehicle or boat, we would start encountering the same folks as we hit the different camps or anchorages. And now it’s starting to come to fruition! When we took the
boys for a final evening swim at Las Cruces, NM, Jason yucked it up with an older gentleman, Drew, that was also taking his final swim before leaving the park the following morning. As happenstance would have it, Drew was headed towards the same RV park we were - Hilltop RV. It was kind of fun to park our Wanda at our new spot at Hilltop and be welcomed by a “You’re late!” It was Drew! It felt like we were coming home and being greeted by a longtime neighbor that had been watching our house while we were away. Pretty cool. Drew was headed home after Hilltop, so chances are we will never see him again on our travels, but who knows, right? Meeting Drew, then seeing him again at the next stop, makes me excited to know we may meet some of the same travelers throughout our time trekking through the U.S. The boys would be absolutely beside themselves if they ran into some of their new friends they’ve met over the last couple of months at a completely new place. Fingers crossed it happens.
We left Hilltop RV for our quick pitstop in San Antonio’s Bass Pro Shop parking lot before hitting the road again for our two-day stay in Galveston. There is an insane number of sights to see in Galveston, but we were only there for two nights. So, obviously, we had to hit the KOA’s swimming pool and lazy river (which, by the way, is totally awesome that an RV park has a LAZY RIVER!) The weather took a bit of a downturn with the temperature barely hitting 70 degrees and the
wind picking up to 20-30mph overnight. With the change in weather, we spent most of our full day at Seawolf Park Museum where we took ourselves on a tour of the submarine USS Cavalla (sunk one of the Japanese ships that attacked Pearl Harbor) and the preserved destroyer escort USS Stewart (one of only two left in the U.S.). A sobering and enlightening tour through those vessels as you witnessed the sailors’ way of life, cramped living quarters, and very large displays of artillery and gunnery. The boys were enamored with the functioning artillery where they can crank and aim the barrels. I found myself envisioning the young sailors all crammed in tight, 4-bunks stacked on top of one another, right next to 14-foot long torpedoes, always a blaring horn away from giving their lives for their country, all so I can freely walk through where they once served and honorably sacrificed.
After the self-led tours through the war ships, Jason and I took the boys over to the adjacent playground to run off some energy. There’s also a fishing pier by the playground, and Barrett enjoyed watching the fishermen fight and bring in a couple of VERY large red drum fish. As we sat by the water’s edge while the boys played, a massive cruise ship went through the channel in front of us. The ship must have stirred up something delicious because boy did the dolphins come circling and jumping around! An awesome experience to be a part of. Probably 20-30 dolphins right there in front of us, living it up with some scrumptious cruise ship wake. A second cruise ship came through, and the dolphin activity picked up yet again! I love getting to experience these random adventures with my family. Nothing planned or predicted, but the magic still finds us.
After Galveston, we spent two nights right next to a stocked lake in Lafayette, Louisiana, at another KOA park. This was the biggest RV park we’ve stayed at so far. For reference, it was necessary to drive to the laundry facilities or showers. Everywhere else we’ve been, we can walk to all the amenities. Fortunately, the laundry took a back seat to be done down the road and we stuck to whatever we could walk to. Which meant the mini golf, paddle boats, and lake were all on our list to do. Jason had to go into town for more RV repair parts, and he came back with fishing poles for the boys. Cord and Bear immediately wanted to fish, but Ry wanted to golf. I went with Ry to destroy his dreams of beating his mom in mini golf, and Jason (bless his patient heart) stayed with the two
younger boys to tie, untie, detangle, and re-tie their fishing lines. The boys braved fire ant hills to fish that lake, but unfortunately, only a couple rocks and leaves were caught over the couple days we were there. On the bright side though, I totally crushed Ryan in mini golf. We also took advantage of the paddleboat rentals for the lake. I don’t remember paddle boats requiring so much energy when I used them at a cousin’s cabin over 25 years ago. I remember the water splashing at my feet and laughing with my paddling partner as we sped across the lake with ease. Not so much this time around. Jason and I
switched boats, knowing it was surely the boat’s fault we couldn’t get anywhere, and still managed to only get about 30 feet away from the dock before turning around and needing to get the boat back before our allotted half hour time limit was up. Mental note: do more cardio. Boys had a blast with their boat. I lived vicariously through them as they whipped around in the boat, doing circles around Jason and I.
Now, as we lumber down the road towards Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to our next stop for a couple nights, I have noticed a few common themes as we’re trucking through the southern states. First, these roads are ROUGH. If it’s not the construction zones with the narrow lanes and abrupt edges, or the washboard ruts that shake every grain of salt in the cupboards out of place, it’s the miserably horrible drivers that cut right in front of us expecting us to be able to stop on a dime and not drive right over the top of them when they slam on their brakes. Thank goodness Jason drives because my anxiety and sanity would have broken 2,000 miles ago. Another theme of the south? Arby’s. There are Arby’s restaurants EV.ER.Y.WHERE! Seriously everywhere! Whether it’s a tiny town with a max population of 200, a gas station, truck stop, or a big city strip that we’re rolling through, there is always an Arby’s. I didn’t realize Arby’s was such a hot commodity. Bigger than McDonald’s or Whataburger down here, dare I say. I don’t get it.
Then there’s the bridges down here. They are beautiful! Being from Eastern Oregon, there just isn’t the amount of waterways that require maneuvering like there is in the South. Each one crafted uniquely and set apart from the rest. There are ones that go up so steep, I’m certain we’re headed straight over a cliff on the other side. Then there’s the cable-built bridges that take the eyeline all the way up into the bluest of skies. Today we went over, what I want to say is a bridge, but probably more accurately described as a stilted roadway to the locals, that stretched over six different named bodies of water.
But the best of the best that I’ve noticed as we drive further into the southern states? The accents. I adore the southern accents that we’ve encountered. I take in all the thick drawls and smooth twang in the greetings between neighbors and merchants wherever we are. They’re perfectly delightful in the little ones at the pool that can’t quite get their ‘R’s’ in. And I find myself missing the story because I’m too focused on how charming the pronunciation is. There’s just something in the accents that feels a little more welcoming. A little more friendly. I guess southern hospitality starts with an accent, and I can’t get enough.
We just arrived at our next destination: Bay Hide Away RV Park in Mississippi. We spend two nights here before setting off for our final destination in Alabama for a family wedding. Once we hit Alabama, our stayovers are longer, and Jason is looking forward to more family adventures, and less stressful miles behind the wheel.
Here’s to finding rest in the chaos, joy in the unexpected moments, and the delightful delivery of southern stories.
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