Looping east and north

The downside of my travel plans for the last two weeks was that there were a lot of places I stayed and a possibly a couple of breweries I stopped at. Factoring in the need to finish my purchases at other breweries and time has gotten away from me. Needless to say, I have now camped in 25 states since the start of my adventure. I have been close many times to spotting Big Foot but so far, no luck. One must never give up hope as hope is very powerful and can sustain us when we fall short of our goals.

I started this installment in Oklahoma. I checked out the only micro brewery in western Oklahoma - Longbell Brewing Company. They have been only open for a month or two so they are pretty new but the have dialed in the proper atmosphere for a brewery. I credit the owner's experience in the hospitality industry plus they have a bartender who spent 4 years in Wisconsin including time in bars in West Allis. One can only appreciate the ambiance of a bar if one has spent time in West Allis. While I didn't see Big Foot I enjoyed sitting at the bar and talking to the locals and bartender so it was a success after all.

I took this picture as I was worried I would forget the name.

Good selection on tap with a solid range of options for all drinkers. That is merely a nonalcoholic beverage and certainly not another beer. 

I liked looking at this tree, until I realized it was dropping some type of sap on my truck. Not too happy about that.

Reservoir near the campground. Love the colors 

First campground in a long time that had a bar. Not much to report about it but I always like a sassy sign. Salad was primarily iceberg but what can you expect from a campground off the interstate in the middle of nowhere.

I then moved to easter Oklahoma. This started getting more tree covered and not just the sap dropping variety but real trees that don't seek to make my car dirty from sap. They chose pollen. I enjoyed the campground as there was a lake nearby along with some goats and chickens. Ozzy is a huge fan of barn yard animals and insists on saying hello as loudly and as often as possible whenever he sees them. While I appreciate his friendliness I am not sure the other campers appreciated him as much. Alas. I headed over to Muskogee Brewing Company while in the area. Beer was quite good and after I had one I took some to go and try later. No sign of Big Foot but the bartender was quite hairy so there was that.

Muskogee Brewing. Conveniently located right next to a police station. I feel that is a form of goal tending and shouldn't be allowed.

After Oklahoma, I was off to Arkansas and Petit Jean State Park for the Easter weekend. Allow me to confess right away. I failed to check out the local brewery. I could blame the steep winding road for my failure but the real issue was I enjoying hanging out and hiking in the woods. The best I could do was check out the lodge for the "Southern sytle" cooking. I had something called Chicken Fried Chicken. I figure repeating the words is a southern thing (like Foghorn Leghorn) but I was disappointed they didn't come with potato mashed potatoes and instead just regular mashed potatoes. I did have a local Arkansas beer and was sufficiently impressed to need to return to the various breweries and see what they all have to offer. I was on a deadline though so I couldn't linger. 

A view of the lake

Siting in my chair and enjoying the sky and trees. I know that sounds odd, but I like to just breathe sometimes and this helps.

The trusty exploring trailer

A closer view of the water. It was quite lovely and peaceful.

Lucy wanted a selfie. 

Ozzy felt he needed equal time. 

Since I didn't do much in Arkansas I felt it was only appropriate to also just enjoy the trees and the trails in Tennessee. Again no sign of Big Foot and I have nearly the entire campground to myself so I could look over the Mississippi River and the enjoy the grounds of Fort Pillow. 

View of Mississippi River from camp ground. 

Next stop was Cape Girardeau in Missouri. The campground was not as nice as other state parks I have been to despite being right on the Mississippi River. I suppose the train horns in the middle of the night detracted from the place although that seems unfair to the park. I did explore Cape Girardeau though and since it is also a college town I was able to find a local micro brewery for lunch and a beverage. Minglewood Brewery had a great selection of food and drink and was a great hangout spot for the day. I waited a few hours but there was no sign of Big Foot so I moved on.

Again great bar seating and plenty of options on tap and good selection of food. I had a Cuban. 

Mississippi River from the MO side. This was the general view from my trailer.

After that I headed north as my travel plans dictated. I still have a few more days in Missouri before heading to Iowa for some minor updates to the trailer. Then onto Wisconsin. I am still on track for being in Wisconsin at the end of April so I can see people and of course, C's graduation from St Norbert College on Mother's Day. I am very proud of both B and C and happy they they both have achieved this milestone in four years and both have jobs upon graduation. 

As I mentioned when I started this blog, I have now camped in 25 states since last May 22nd when I started this nomadic adventure. Some states I have been in longer than others and many of them I have camped in before so this was an opportunity to see different areas. I will write more about this when I celebrate my one year nomadiversary. 

Until next time,

Thor

braxwood.com

New Mexico and headed east

After the excitement of the massive RV gathering it was time to relax and recharge. Unfortunately the job of a cryptozoological explorer is never done so I continued my search. We spent a few days in Deming, NM before moving on. Deming was nicer on my second visit as the first time I was there it was downright cold in the 50s after the 90s of Gulf coast. This time I was greeted with high winds but after they died down, it was actually quite lovely. There are mountain views in nearly every direction and the Low-Hi Ranch was as friendly as ever albeit no communal fire as the winds were wickedly strong that night. 

Low-Hi Ranch. I like trees, like my tattoo

I made a return visit to Happy Camper Clubhouse, and had the Sons of Scotland again (which I could not recall after my last visit). It was quite delicious and oddly enough paired well with the homemade salsa and chips.  Despite my best efforts I was unable to locate Big Foot at the clubhouse and sadly departed.

First growler fill in a while. I love Scottish ales. 

We did run into this hater in Deming and it was quite disturbing. Not sure what they have against Wisconsin but at least they used the proper postal abbreviation.

End WI? What did Wisconsin do to this person?

We moved onto Elephant Butte Lake State park. We had a lovely view from our campsite of the lake and buttes. I would like to make several juvenile jokes at this time about elephant butts, but I will take the high ground much like the elevation in that area which was about 4500 ft.  

Well, I had a good view but it was so sunny I had to move for the dogs. You can still see the lake. 

Pretty. Really not much more to say.  

Sunrise. It was like 7:30am.  Small dogs, small bladders. 

I explored the nearby town of Truth or Consequences (T or C to the locals) and had a pizza for the first time in months which was a nice treat. 

I also visited TorC Brewing Company over the course of several days for several tasty beverages.  I also met many nice people there (and at the campground) including a couple who have been traveling for months in a van. They claimed they were in their 30s but they looked younger than B and C to me so who knows. The bartender, Lee, was also very nice and a pleasure to talk to. The brewery is well worth a stop as it was refreshing to be able to talk to other patrons and the bartender. Despite the excellent vibe of the brewery, Big Foot was not found but I will be back.

Plenty of options on tap

Tasty stout. Perfectly poured. Had to take a picture. 

Another perfect pour. Different day, so stop judging. 

I also took advantage of the nearby hot springs and had a private hour session. They had a special for singles so it was half priced which was awesome. I soaked and looked over the Rio Grande and really mentally focused on my hunt for Big Foot. As I said, the work never ends but I am willing to suffer for science and your entertainment.

View as I soaked in the medium hot water. 

Next stop was Sierra Blanca Brewing for a one night stay with Harvest Hosts. I ran into several people utilizing the Harvest Host from Wisconsin which was statistically interesting to me (4 RVs: 2 from WI  and me from SD but formerly from WI).  I also met a couple from Washington state who invited me to their fifth wheel for dinner. They were very nice hosts and had not seen Big Foot on their adventures but would let me know if they did. The chili was delicious as was the Jameson. 

NM has some interesting drinking laws. I ordered a stout that limited any further ordering due to ABV despite not having to drive. Fascists!!

Come morning and the winds started blowing again and would not quit for the next few days. It made the drive more interesting and I appreciated the new truck a lot. My next night was spent in Amarillo, TX. The Texas Route 66 Visitor Center was another Harvest Host site and in easy walking distance of the historical district. I enjoyed a burger from the Golden Light Cafe and Cantina which has been in business since 1946. The ambiance was classic and the burger was incredible. It was my only meal of the day and it more than satisfied my hunger. 

Tourist sign, but hey I’m a tourist. 

The wind was brutal. Consistently 30 mph, gusting to 60 mph. 

The next day was a drive on the historic Route 66 across Texas and Oklahoma. It was super peaceful on the road but the blowing dust and tumbleweeds added some visual interest. I was unable to take any photos and forgot to tell the dashcam to save the video otherwise you could have experienced the drive. Imagine a tumbleweed blowing across the road followed up by a giant red cloud of dust which was visually impenetrable. Finally got to my camp spot for the next few days and eventually the winds died down. I am off exploring Oklahoma this week and already have several locations identified as potential Big Foot spots, but first I must do my laundry.

Lucy and Ozzy chillin

Since the ides of March, I have driven about 2000 miles with the trailer. Normally I would not recommend such a pace as it is quite tiring. Interestingly it is also the same distance to Alaska so as I work out in my head how to do that trip, I know I should probably plan at least four weeks for the drive if I intend to see anything along the way. 

Oklahoma makes the 22st state I have camped in since I started this adventure. This was the first time I have actually slept in Oklahoma which leaves four eastern states and Alaska on my lifetime list of states I have not slept in. As I mentioned previously I intend to visit New England and the east coast this fall which will leave Alaska as the only state I have not slept in as it is also the only state I have not visited. I keep debating the drive but I am sure that is the only way to really experience the vastness and remoteness. Thankfully I have the right truck should I decide to make that trip.

Once I have finished Oklahoma this week I'll continue my eastern advance to Arkansas and Tennessee before turning north. Hopefully spring will arrive in Wisconsin by late April as I am not looking forward to having to wear long pants again as shoes are bad enough. 

Until next time,

Thor

braxwood.com

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Loop Out West

As I mentioned in my last post, I headed west from the Gulf coast ending up in Tucson for an RV gathering. There were nearly 900 RVs and over 1600 attendees at the 62nd Escapade and it was also the 45th anniversary of the Escapees RV club. Clearly people have been doing this a long time. Every form of RV was there (Class A, B, C, Fifth Wheel, Trailers, Truck Campers, custom rigs) and a wide range of age and experience. It was cool to see so many others and I met some very nice people. Not surprisingly there was no sign of Big Foot but there were only two food trucks and no brewery so I guess that makes sense. Plus since Big Foot may not like crowds, I can see why they skipped the event. 

Aerial view of the RV gathering. I am in the upper right area in the shadow. More on this below. 

The RV park I was in Rockport had a regular event organized by some winter Texans from Wisconsin. As a group we would go from site to site with our coolers and drink and play games. No idea what the prize for winning was as I didn't win but it was fun nevertheless.  

Hanging out at the fire pit after drinking. No fire, but they did have fireball. 

Before heading out, I stopped in Aransas Pass and tried out Hook & Ladder Brewpub. They had a wide selection of Texas beers on tap and others including Guinness, Smithwick's, and Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. I opted for a Texas beer as I have had the others in their native lands. The beer was good and the people at the bar were very nice but since there was no sign of any cryptozoological creatures I moved on. 

Plenty of options on tap. 

For my first night on the road I had decided to just sleep at a rest area. Unfortunately they were not well situated for a restful night's sleep so I chose to stay at a regular campground. I found a diamond right on the river with hiking trails, big spaces, reasonable prices and the nicest owners I have run into (and I have run into a lot of nice people). Pecan Valley had goats and chickens so the dogs were very entertained. Unfortunately I only had one night to spend there but I will make a point of returning and staying a week next time. 

Plenty of space and wide open spaces. Unusual for a private campground

My next spot was there. It existed. I really have nothing else to say about it. No photos exist as I would like to block it from memory. I should have stayed in an abandoned parking lot - oh that's what it felt like. Nevermind.

I then spent two nights at the Low-Hi Ranch which is the home base for the Loners on Wheels RV group of which I am a member. As it was St. Patrick's Day, they had corned beef and cabbage in the hall and I was able to enjoy a nice night with the others here including a really nice campfire. It was the perfect spot to test my version of the Andalusia Old Fashioned. It was quite nice. I also checked out the local brewery stop, Happy Camper Clubhouse, which had New Mexico beers. I don't recall what I had but I remember it being good which is all that matters. It is possible Big Foot was there as the place was very busy and I might have missed the creature. Guess I'll have to check again.

Campfire at Low-Hi

My drink. I have custom ice cubes with a Z on them. Like Zorro 

View from Low-Hi

Happy Camper

Another view from the Low-Hi ranch. 

I then arrived in Tucson for the RV event. As I mentioned there were a lot of people there and I was able to meet a number of people from all over. The seminars were also good and I picked up some ideas and was able to validate some of my thoughts and decisions. It's important to keep up on the various topics as one cannot possibly know everything so having other inputs is important. It also let me test more of my dry camping techniques in this trailer.

Phil and Stacey from Today is Someday and YouTube. Good session on boondocking/dry camping. 

One of the evening socials. Usually a band was playing. There was at least one social every day and often two.

I just liked the sunset over the RVs. Not sure if that will turn out on your device, but reality was awesome.

Some random event attendee, not sure how this picture got in here

My trailer sandwiched between several class A buses. 

I am thinking about attending some of the other events including the Xscapers (the younger branch of Escapees) events but they seem to be centered around Arizona and no offense to Arizona, but Texas is warmer and has more adult beverage establishments in the hill country. Plus every other state uses the pejorative "snow birds" but Texas uses the more inviting "Winter Texans". Frankly it has been the most inviting state. Most importantly, the big Xscapers event is in the middle of January and I am not sure where I will spend next winter. Frankly I have no plans after November so we'll see what I do. I would like to spend the summer of 2024 in the western states and perhaps make the Alaska trip then. It's just too early to decide. I am still thinking of a New England trip this fall for the colors after spending the summer on a special assignment in Kentucky. 

Currently I am back in New Mexico at the Low-Hi Ranch for a night or two. I have to load up on water before heading to my next destination which is a dry camp state park. From there I have a few nights on the road staying at Harvest Host sites and then I'm in Oklahoma for a week. As I mentioned last time I am moving towards Wisconsin and should be back in that state the last week of April. I have now camped in 21 states since moving out of my house on 5/22/22 with a target goal of 25 states within the year. I have driven in a couple of others but I am not counting those for this purpose. I have not been to New Mexico or Arizona since the summer after I graduated High School. I took a Greyhound bus from Sacramento down the length of California and then across to Philmont for a three week backpacking trip. I took that bus trip alone and I suppose it is appropriate I return to these states alone again, naturally. 

Until next time,

Thor

braxwood.com

FAQ

Coastal Texas

We find ourselves on the Gulf coast of Texas this time. In addition to my hunt for Big Foot, I am also looking for future hangouts and warm weather. I have definitely found the warm weather here and with the humidity ranging from 70% to OMG, it reminds me of the armpit of summer. There has been a lack of breweries and other exciting visits as I am staying near the tip of a peninsula and there is not much to do besides relax and enjoy the weather as I do not fish. In addition, I have been struggling with network connectivity but I think I have a working solution for now. I am attempting to rely upon the various cellular networks and not satellite internet and it has been frustrating to put it mildly. Obviously good connectivity is needed so I can continue researching the habitats and sightings of Big Foot and other cryptozoological creatures. I can't quite justify the cost of the monthly Starlink service as that would put a dent into my adult beverage budget which is unacceptable. 

There was no sign of Big Foot on any of my adventures here so far. I blame the high humidity as I know it has not been comfortable for me or the hounds. I had to even get a hair cut as the humidity, wind, and sand from the beaches was getting annoying. Now imagine being a creature covered in hair!  

It is a difficult life, but this is why I share this with you, the gentle reader, so you know the burdens one faces with constantly warm tropical conditions. You have my permission to weep a little for me, but please do it inside as I do not want your tears to freeze. 

View from the beach. That haze is the humidity which only left us for two days.

I have gone on several solo adventures, some with the dogs, and I have socialized the people at this RV Resort.  They are very friendly and many of these winter Texans have come down from the upper Midwest (including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ohio) so they have no fear of consuming adult beverages. They do obviously skew older than me, but that is par for the course.  

I was able to find a brewery and winery place nearby. The beers were good but I avoided the wines. I have a dim view of anything other than grape based wine. I am open to other fruit if it is in a sangria but it has to be a good sangria. I went to Winery on the Bay/Dog'Gone Brewery both alone and with a group from the RV resort. I stuck to the beer but some of my companions enjoyed the fruity sweet wines that were available. They had a nice selection of beers to cover most tastes which is important in a tourist area. There was no bar seating, so I was forced to sit outside in the fresh air and sunshine. At least my tan is coming along.

Dog'Gone Brewery outdoor space. And yes, that is my first beer of the day.

I have ended up hanging around the RV resort with the dogs and swimming in the pool more than normal. It feels very like a vacation, which it sort of is before I head off on my spring journey.

Toasting the day at my site. That was the last of the free beer that the brewery in Mississippi gave me. I actually gave a six pack of it away to my RV neighbor in Johnson City as it looked like he needed a drink.

Possible sighting of Thor. Lucy decided to be a part of it too. She is so helpful.

Palm trees and blue skies, fairly typical

View from the pool. I suppose I could have included a picture of the pool, but that seemed creepy.

The hounds relaxing. This appears to be their desired state.

I did manage to go on some hikes in city parks and the area reminds me of other Gulf coast communities, a mix of nice and broken down buildings from some hurricane. The heat and humidity was very special as you will see how the dogs react, particularly Lucy.

Lucy refusing to walk another step. Ozzy is trying to be a good boy but is confused by her recalcitrance. 

Lucy finds a spot of shade and calls it quits. This is fairly typical and gets a bit old. I am not carrying her though when it is over 80/80. That is 80°F and 80% humidity. 

I did get to the beach a number of times and have found a good place to boondock for a few days when I return to Texas next December. Mustang Island has tons of space and allows for a stay of several days. It would be cool to wake up right on the beach. 

Truck on the beach with the dogs. I was safely at least 12 feet away from the water.

Beach camping is quite popular.

Ozzy relaxing in the sand

Lucy relaxing on my lap. She prefers my lap to the sand, but she preferred shade most of all.

Obviously after a beach day, the dogs needed to get a bath. The humidity makes everything sticky, the sand and salty air gets in the hair and makes everything stand up.  Prior to my hair cut I looked like  Don King. You can see why Big Foot would not want to hang out here. Not enough breweries and uncontrollable hair. 

I am in this area until the ides of March and then I need to head west. It is a few days drive to Tucson from here; remember when towing an RV, there is no prize for driving fast or a lot of miles in a day. I have a couple of days set aside as a layover in New Mexico at an RV park that is owned by one of the clubs I belong to, Loners on Wheels (LOW). The park is not near much but I think a few days to adjust from the humidity is needed. I will be in Tucson for a gathering of another RV club, Escapees, for a week. I then start the long drive back to Wisconsin culminating in C's graduation. I anticipate being in SEWI (assuming I can find a place to stay) in late April/early May and then NEWI for a week. I then have a special assignment in Kentucky and the Mammoth cave area for the summer. This involves a deep undercover investigation of an unnamed cryptozoological creature. As such my already paltry postings may be reduced during that period. I just wanted to warn people so that they will not suffer extra disappointment beyond not being able to be along for these adventures. 

I am excited to get back on the road again and have started planning my fall adventures already. It's too soon for reservations, but it is getting close and I might try to go the Overlanding Expo in Virginia again in October. The life of an perpetual adventurer never ends. I am now off to drain and flush my tanks!

Until next time, 

Thor

braxwood.com

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