Arkansas and what's next....... the end.

We finish up our time in Texas, free ourselves of the RV, and explore northern Arkansas in this final installment of the adventures of Thor Braxwood. Yes, you read that correctly, this is the final installment in this blog series but the adventures will continue. More on that later (that's a teaser in the biz). 

The sun is setting over this blog, but that doesn't mean the end of the adventure. 

I spent some time in downtown Paris, TX. Much like its namesake, it has businesses and parks along with people. In order to experience the full effect, I went to a cigar bar as second hand smoke is very European.

I had a very expensive old fashioned and I had to pay a membership fee to join. How was it? It was a good $12 drink, but I paid $28.I have not included the name as there is one cigar bar in town and I assume you can find it off the main square. The owner is nice and friendly but at these prices, I will not be back as I don't smoke cigars.

Park in downtown with a beautiful fountain.

As I indicated, I have sold the RV. I was able to pack everything up into the pickup and clean out the trailer. In case you are curious, RVs are a better investment than a boat but no where as good as a new car or Dogecoin from May of 2021 to today. 

One final look inside

The hunting hounds squeezed in the front seat as the back was full along with the bed of the truck. Basically my RV contents had to be loaded in the truck. The downside of homelessness is that your vehicle is packed.

Our next stop was Arkansas. I have visited the state before but this time I focused my search for Bigfoot in the northwest portion of the state (NWA - not to be confused with the musical group). This area is booming and holds many locations where one would expect to locate a cryptid in search of a good time. Obviously I was without a trailer, so I rented an Airbnb for my time there. 

First stop - Natural State Beer. Good options and delicious. It was a bit pricey but certainly not Maine expensive.

Our next stop was at Ozark Beer. They had a nice patio space and since the hunting hounds and I had just finished a training exercise in tracking of cryptids, we decided to check out the space. The joy of mid-day drinking is that you are often given a lot of space and the people you meet at the bar are more interesting. In this case we sat outside a table away from others so the dogs could relax and keep an eye out for Big Foot. Image 10 picnic tables set up outside and I am at one of them. Naturally the next people would take a table at least one away from me, but that did not happen. They sat right next to me. Then one of them lit up their cigarette and started smoking. I guess that is your right, as it is legal for someone to stand next to you at a line of urinals, but that doesn't make it ok. C'mon people, some common courtesy please. We relocated for the next beer to a different table and baked in the sun.

Lucy wanting to know if she could have one too. The answer was no, she had to share. At least she wasn't smoking.

While in NWA, I also had to check out surrounding areas. This included sites previously documented on the adventure in Mountain Home - Rapp's Barren and Stories Whiskey Bar. We also checked out a new brewery in .town - Parlor Brewing. Great beer and decent prices. Plus one of the gentlemen working there had done some work at Point Beach for NextEra. 

Parlor Brewing. Nice people, good beer, decent prices. This is prime Big Foot hunting territory.

I also decided to check out eastern Oklahoma since it was right next door. If you have only been to western Oklahoma you are missing out on the prettiest part of the state. I went on a hike with someone I had met through mutual friends and they brought their dog while mine rested at the Airbnb. 

Natural Falls State Park was lovely. The trails went for miles and the scenery was stunning. Seriously, check out eastern Oklahoma, you will be pleasantly surprised.

No visit to NWA would be complete without checking out Eureka Springs. I met up with some friends (S&S) and enjoyed the wood carving event in town. Next stop was at Gotahold Brewing and we relaxed in their outside space and enjoyed an excellent food truck meal. It had the vibe of a north woods space with the trees and pine needles except it was April, I was in shorts and sandals, and I was comfortable. 

Outside beers are served in metal cups to avoid breakage. Pretty clever,

After trekking around the area in search of Big Foot, I decided to check out a local historical site. The battle of Pea Ridge in the Civil War was the largest battle up to that point in the western theater. The Union victory there (along with the following victory at nearby Prairie Grove) allowed the Union to secure Missouri and NWA for the Union and effectively ended Confederate action in the far west.

Canons lined up on the battlefield. The final victory for the Union had a line of soldiers over a mile long in the attack. Apparently the sight was so terrifying with the sun glinting off the bayonets that many left the field to avoid the charge. 

As the search for cryptids cannot rest for too long, I knew I had to get back at the chase. I have suspected for awhile that the secret cabal was tracking my movements so I decided to lay a trap for them by carefully selecting my next stops.

Had a great beer and street tacos from the food truck at Bentonville Brewing. Decent beer and a good bar space. Too many bougie people for Big Foot but still a nice visit.

A stop at New Province was a welcome relief from the heavy thunderstorm that came through. Beer was good and they have a very large production facility. 

I enjoyed a glass of wine and a nice treat at Ramo d'Olivio in Bentonville. Good wine selection but no sign of Big Foot (as I suspected).

Rendezvous Junction was also great. The bartender had lived in Milwaukee but was from Illinois (Bears fan) and a couple at the bar was from Pulaski, WI. I have been to Pulaski and it is not large so I found it amusing to run into people in the middle of the day drinking at a bar and they are from a small town in Wisconsin. Really, what are the odds? Seems like my trap has been tripped.

I saw this on a vehicle and thought it would be an ideal final image for my blog. 

As  I have mentioned, this is the final entry in my blog. I have suspected for some time that my hunt has been compromised. I have already gotten rid of my RV and I will be getting a different vehicle to travel in but I will not be mentioning it here. The organization has been thwarting my search and I have to be more stealthy in my endeavors. I know this may disappoint my most loyal followers but be assured that my adventure and hunt will continue. I have made some amazing discoveries and I believe I am closer than ever to finding Big Foot and several other cryptids. I would like to share more but I know that Big Brother is reading this blog. Let's just say that I am very close to a major break through, but I have been sworn to confidentiality on the details. Just know that there is a counter group to the cabal which is actually protecting Big Foot from their efforts to exploit and profit off of Big Foot's image and likeness. It turns out Big Foot is the victim in this and I will not do anything to bring any more exposure of Big Foot to the nefarious elements of that secret coterie of powerful forces. The secret group that I thought was protecting Big Foot turns out to be only trying to stop people from finding Big Foot so they can continue to sell merchandise, TV shows, and movies about Big Foot and not out of any concern for Big Foot. Truly an evil group and I am thankful I have avoided supporting their ends by attempting to profit off of my search in any way. We all must do our part to protect Big Foot from those that seek to profit from this majestic creature. 

I am always open to sharing my adventures but I have not yet determined how to safely do this without risking Big Foot's exposure to those that would seek to make money off of the cryptid. Until I figure out a good way, I will be forced to go "radio silent". Be assured though that I will not end the adventure.

As always, and forever,

Thor

Texas - all wrapped up PLUS the Sun

My search for cryptids continues once more. I wrapped up my time in the hill country area of Texas and then made a large looping circle towards Abilene before going north of Dallas and then onto Paris to experience the total eclipse. More on the eclipse but first I have to address questions I have gotten on how my search is going and if I have found Big Foot or any other cryptids yet. First off, I am eminently confident in my search methodology and targeting of breweries, wineries, distilleries, cafes, coffee shops, et. al. as those are the places one would expect to find beings tired of be hunted in their natural habitat and so go there to hide from the general searcher. But then one asks, why am I still searching. I have become convinced that the only logical conclusion is that the secret global cabal that has been suppressing all public disclosure of the cryptid population has finally caught up with my searches. I have been tantalizing close many times only to have victory snatched away at the last moment like a referee in close game calling a penalty when none existed. Clearly changes will need to be made to allow me to shake these nefarious quasi-illuminati. More on that later.

Last picture of my site in Spring Branch. Should you ever find yourself in the area, stay at Spring Branch RV Park. Tell Paige and Mike hi as they are awesome. I could have stayed there for years which is why it was important to get out before I had a Hotel California situation. 

Enjoying one last latte at Buchannan's in Blanco. Really nice place with tasty looking bakery. Upcharge for oat milk, but it beats the stomach pain I get with real milk.

More cool root pictures of the trees on the Guadalupe River

At the top of the hill you can see for miles. Quite lovely

Lucy doing her thing (laying down and being lazy)

Ozzy always ready for the next adventure

Great view of the flora of the area

I like this picture. No real reason other than I like trees. That is a nice tree. Oh, I like that boulder, that is a nice boulder.

Unfortunately as I left the hill country I also left the brewery, winery, and cute cafes for the more open spaces of Texas. The upside of this was that I was unable to go to many establishments in my search as I would have liked. I instead was forced to go on long hikes with and without the hunting hounds. I will share a smattering of these pictures but as I look at them again, they fail to capture the scenery. It was actually very lovely with a mixture of cactus, trees, scrub bushes, and grasses. It also looks pretty similar despite from being different parks. Now to be fair, I wasn't driving all that far so it shouldn't be surprising. 

Got a great spot right on the water at Lake Brownwood State Park

Lake Brownwood. Rained for few days so the trails were a bit wet

Ozzy leading the way

Lucy coming back so I can pick her up and carry her. I have heard it referred to as "coddling" but I prefer to think of it as enabling. 

Sunsets were pretty at this park

As I said, it was lovely. This is one of those instagram style pictures to sell you on the lifestyle. It was actually awesome here and just as picturesque as this looks

One more gratuitous sunset picture

Someone put this heart shaped cactus on the tree along one of the trails. I found it interesting and lovely, but I am not sure if this was sent to a woman would she it cute or would she think it means my heart is full of pointy needles. 

I also was able to see an American Bison (aka buffalo) at one of the places I stayed. The actual park was not worth talking about but the laundry facilities were clean and that was my reason for visiting.

Bison kept as a tourist attraction. Actually not a bad life and far better than spending a lifetime in a cubicle

Finally found a cute place. I had lunch here and headed back to the bar later. Their old fashioned was grossly overpriced but they are well intentioned so I'll let it slide. To make it even I won't mention any names.

My next park was Possum Kingdom State Park. I chose it from the title of a Toadies song which seemed to be as good of reason to stay at a place as any.

I found this humorous. I think this is a solid idea as snakes in the shower or toilet would be weird, whereas snakes on a plane would be a movie.

Sunrise while walking the dogs. I should mention that sun rises at about 7:30 am so I was not up too early.

Another state park on a lovely lake

View from the top of the hill. Great hiking trails here and one even had a greater than 20 degree incline. That was a workout.

I got to experience a nice hail storm. I recorded several videos of the sound as it was like someone was firing at the trailer. Thankfully no damage to the truck or camper as the hail was larger than a quarter (which is about one inch). 

I then made my way to Denton, TX. I had been there before in my working life as I installed an automation system in a distribution center there back in the 1990's when I was an engineer. The city has grown a lot since then.

Denton County Brewing. Great bar space for patrons a good selection of beer. 

East Side bar in Denton. They had a plethora of craft beers on tap and food trucks outside. This stout is the Luck O' the Squatch out of Sherman, TX. 

I picked up my brother JT (remember the super computer has been providing two character randomly generated letters for my siblings while everyone else is getting a single character) at the airport as he joined me for the solar eclipse. For the first time in many years I had a human co-pilot while towing the trailer as we headed to Paris and the county fair grounds for the Escapees/Xscapers RV Club's gathering. The dogs didn't appreciate being delegated to the back seat as they felt they had done a great job as co-pilots as they had seen my son B doing the job years before and they knew that they had slept as well as he did. Alas.

The gathering (technically called a Bash) was awesome. The people in this club are very nice and helpful and are fellow travelers but not all full time on the road like me. Many are though so it is nice to have other people who understand the ups and downs of the road. I even joined the retirees (nearly all under 65) for a social event called "Day Drinking". 

I have shared this story several times, but I will also include this here as it was amazing. Originally the long range forecast had predicted rain for Sunday through Wednesday. As it turned out Saturday and Sunday were sunny and pleasant in the mid to upper 70s.  On Monday morning it was clear with some high clouds but by 10 am the clouds had rolled in and it was officially overcast with an occasional glimpse of the sun. I looked at the satellite imagery of the cloud cover and wind direction and based upon my electrical engineering experience I knew the clouds would dissipate. As the time of the eclipse started (about 12:30 pm) we all gathered in the main area of the grounds to experience it together. What we primarily experienced was a peak at the sun through the clouds every few minutes. Despite this disappointment, we could still see the moon slowing moving and blocking the sun. Again, convinced that the clouds would blow away we waited patiently for the totality which was expected around 1:45 pm. Finally at about 1:25 pm in the distance we could see the edge of the clouds and blue sky beyond. As the wind continued to do its job, at about ten minutes before totality we had a clear unobstructed view of the sun and moon. The temperature continued to drop and it got darker and darker. Finally totality hit and everyone cheered and then just sat in awe at what we were experiencing. It was beautiful and lasted for over four minutes. The time flew by and as the moon made its way and the sun reappeared, the temperature instantly increased and brightness returned to earth. I highly recommend that once in your life you make the effort to see a total eclipse as the difference between 99% and 100% is greater than you can ever imagine. I took pictures but digital cameras try to do too much to make it all look right without proper filters. Thankfully several people at the Bash had the proper filters and were able to capture what we could see with our bare eyes. And yes, at the peak of the totality I did stare at the sun without the glasses so now you know I am a rebel and a bad boy.

This was the best I could do with my cameras.

This is what it looked like for most the eclipse, It's hard to describe the experience other than it was awful. Literally, I was full of awe.

As the moon transitioned, we got a bit of a glow. Or for those of you with vision issues, that is also what it could look like. 

When in Paris, one needs to see the Eifel Tower. This one comes with a giant red cowboy hat so it's amazing. Take that France.

Right next door is a great memorial to veterans. Seriously impressive and sad at the same time.

Every night of the Bash, they have entertainment. This was a very loud band that really rocked. It would have been better to have been outside, but what I have not mentioned is the severe storms we received after the eclipse that ended up flooding everything including the grassy fields where we camped and where the stage is located. No pictures of that as it is not good content.

107 Restaurant and Beer Garden. Catfish was delicious and they serve craft beers from the area. I had my first catfish last year in Kentucky and I can't believe I have gone this long without having this fish. It is so much better than cod, perch, trout, and even walleye (blasphemy I know).  

I am at the Bash for a few more days, and then headed to sell the trailer on consignment. Yes, I could sell it for more by myself but then I would likely need to have a place where one would sell the trailer. As I intend to move faster over the next few months that means storing the trailer somewhere. Despite years of working for a utility, doubling down on sunk costs and keeping depreciating assets are not my thing therefore I am more interested in getting rid of this platform so I can move on to whatever is next. Sometimes the quickest way off the ledge is to jump and that is my current plan. I have not come to resolution yet but I will continue to keep you in the loop. Looking over my blogs you would know that I have stayed in hotels, a Shepard's hut, cottages, in addition to RVs. As a matter of fact, I didn't decide on a RV despite owning many over the years until I bought my teardrop a month before hitting the road. It was never my intent to stay with an RV but rather to explore using whatever makes sense at the time. Whatever happens next, I will need to become more stealthy to avoid the aforementioned international secret cabal suppressing knowledge of Big Foot and other cryptids. More on this to come. 

Also I plan on being in Wisconsin in May for the month splitting my time betwixt B (SEWI) and C (NEWI). If you are interested in meeting up in person, let me know as I would love to see y'all.

Until next time,

Thor

braxwood.com

 

Texas, part deux

I must once again apologize for my lack of updates. The search for Big Foot is very time consuming and I often lose track of the days. I know the haters out there might ascribe that to my lifestyle, but I can assure you that I spend my time in the noble pursuit of knowledge and the unknown.

I have been bouncing around the hill country of Texas in my searching for cryptozoological creatures along with alternative options for my future adventures. Both of these endeavors are perilous and have many twists and turns. First off I'll share some photos of what I have been up to. Since it has been a while since I posted, there may be more photos than details as after a while things get a bit hazy. The pictures are in chronological order but there are some gaps in time. To make it easier, this all happened between my last positing and this posting.  

I enjoyed a delicious beverage at Free Roam in Boerne. Boerne is the home of three breweries, but this one is my favorite. Great beer, food trucks, seating. You'll see it again later. I also like Cibolo Creek Brewing but that's more hip than this place and therefore an unlikely place to locate a cryptid.

Back to Andalusia Whiskey in Blanco. Their old fashioned is sublime as their smoked whiskey makes an excellent base. Follow up with simple syrup, a little bitters, orange peel, and top it of with a Luxardo cherry. Happiness in a glass at a reasonable price.

Another hike with the dogs at Pedernales Falls. I took a bunch of  pictures but picked this one for the blog. That was like a month ago and not sure why, but it was pretty.

The outdoor space at Roughhouse Brewing in Wimberley. They had great beers plus the best outdoor area I have seen for a small brewery. It is a real family friendly place. Thankfully I came on a rainy day so my peace was not disturbed by a bunch of kids running around having fun.

Dogs and I took a hike at Guadalupe River State Park. There are multiple trails there but this was their first visit to the river trail. The tree roots are spectacular.

Love the tree roots. Guadalupe River State Park.

Another visit to  Boerne and my least favorite brewery there - Tusculum Brewing. Beer is fine, just a boring, lifeless space and since it lacks bar seating, it will always have the feel of a mall brewery. 

Back yard and food truck at Free Roam in Boerne. Told you we would be back.

Back to Acopon in Dripping Springs. I love that place. Typical of my favorite style - not too big, bar seating, awesome beers, patrons happy to chat with a stranger. Couldn't ask for more. 

I laid around a bit. I'm sitting in my chair outside enjoying the sun and looking at the dog park and laundry and bathrooms for the park. 

I decided to include proof that the dogs still exist and go hunting for cryptids with me. 

At a local restaurant, further proof that I am on the correct path for Big Foot.

Unsurprisingly, another visit to Andalusia for another Old Fashioned. This time I sat outside so I am not afraid to mix it up.

This was a really weird drink from Real Ale Distillery. Can't say as I enjoyed it but it was a lovely day so what the heck.. 

Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio. Technically in a strip mall, but not a mall feel. One of two breweries where I celebrated my birthday. There would have been more, but I had Indian food in between and it was delicious. Too good, and I didn't leave room for more beer. I hate when that happens. 

Irish Ale at Second Pitch Beer Company. I highly recommend this brewery when you are in San Antonio. Beer was excellent and they have a special deal where you drink out of the 64oz boot mug on your birthday. It was my birthday but the rules didn't allow solo drinkers (but I lived in Wisconsin, that should count like two or more from other states). As I was contemplating this, a young man came in with his wife and two kids and ordered it. I figured he really needed it more than I. 

I suppose I should also include a picture of my other beverage. I am outside enjoying this oat milk latte at Buchannan's in Blanco. They have a really nice inside space like a sitting room and when it was "cold", the fire place was going. 

From my dashcam you can see a horse in the road. It blocked the road back from the second part of Guadalupe River State Park. I slowly drove past it and as I did, it walked up to the truck, gave it a nudge, and walked away. No idea who the horse belonged to nor did I care to find out. As a side note, I tweaked with the image to make it more visible. The windshield was very dusty and I was driving into the sun so the horse was washed out. I included the GPS coordinates in the trimmed image if you are bored.  

Old homestead on the back part of Guadalupe River State Park. Or a fixer upper I am looking at getting. You decide.

Thought the rock was cool in case I run into any geologists.

And now for my future. I have plans to bounce around Texas until the time of the solar eclipse in April. If you are not aware, this is the best opportunity to see a total solar eclipse in the US for the next 20 years or so. For some of you this may be your last chance, so you might want to check it out. Nevertheless, after the eclipse, I plan on selling my trailer. I will then utilize short term rentals for the near term as I come to decision and finalize arrangements. What are the options? In no particular order: 1) continue full time on the road with a truck camper or drivable RV. 2) continue full time on the road with a smaller vehicle and utilize short term rentals and overlanding options. 3) purchase a dwelling and switch to part time travel (using any of the previous travel options). These all have pros and cons and no final decision has been made. I have narrowed down the options within each category (for example which states I would consider buying a dwelling in - and no, not Wisconsin) and once I decide on the path, the rest should become clearer. 

You are asking, why not Wisconsin? I had made a quick visit to the state to see my children and this is the weather for some of the days I was there. If you do not see the issue, then you cannot possibly understand why I do not want to live there. 

Thankfully Wednesday also came with snow. Even the dogs were not having it.

I will post again around the eclipse and hopefully you are busy making plans to see it. I will be closer to a decision by then, but I do not expect to have full clarity until later this summer as there is no rush. I fully expect to still be nomadic by my second anniversary on  May 22nd.

As always, 

Thor

braxwood.com