Leaving Wisconsin (again) and the year wrap up

Wrapping up my search in Wisconsin, I continued to meet with family and friends. I was unable to see everyone and even worse I was unable to dedicate sufficient time to the hunt for Big Foot but I suppose even daring adventurers need some time off. 

Clearly, not a beer

I have met with many people but it is hard to list every person. One can assume their designed alias is mentioned at some point in this post embedded in a word somewhere. If you look closely you will be able to identify yourself. If you need assistance, please let me know and I can tell you where to go. 

I was able to make a few more stops at familiar locations (Runaway, Main Event, Copper State, Water Street Brewery) and some other local establishments in the greater Milwaukee and Green Bay areas. These locations have been scouted thoroughly for Big Foot and I have not seen any indication of a recent visit by that wily creature. I will need to visit on occasion to be sure, but I will also need to continue looking elsewhere.

Main Event in Burlington

Copper State in Green Bay

Right to left: B, L, D, C, and some random vagabond

Taking a break from the search, I was able to attend C's graduation from St Norbert College. It was great seeing C&D and B&L along with D's family. Both B and C graduated in four years with honors and have "real" jobs lined up right after graduation (and own houses!). The credit for that goes to them. They are both outstanding individuals, wonderful children, and now responsible adults. When Amy and I decided to have children, we did it knowing that we were having children to make the world a better place. We intentionally raised them to be independent and thinking adults who would support themselves and become positive members of society. What we didn't expect was that they would go through this process without a mother. I have read plenty of literature on this topic and while many children do fine after the loss of a mother, there is a substantial amount that do not. I know it has not been easy for either B or C, but they have grown and become incredibly resilient people. Having the graduation on Mother's Day was a nice reminder that even though our moms may no longer be here, they are always with us.   

Now that I have stopped crying, allow me to get back to the rest of the blog.

I want to provide empirical and experiential information on my first 12 months on my nomadic adventure in search of the inexplicable Big Foot along with other cryptozoological creatures. I’m posting this on 5/22/23, the one year anniversary of becoming nomadic  

First, the numbers. During the visit to Ireland and Scotland, I drove about 1500 miles and covered over 8000 miles by air. Looking at only the RV portion of the trip, I have driven about 12,000 miles. To be fair, I have driven far more than that, but that is only the towing miles between sites and excludes side trips including my purchase of a new truck. Speaking of sites, I have slept in 73 different locations in my first year. That means I have woken up at least 20% of the time having to remember where I was that day. Excluding my European adventure, I have been in 62 different campgrounds or places for the night. Combined, it all works out to 5 days on average at a given location.

From a cost perspective, my average camping cost per night over the first year was $28.18. I’ve lowered that per night cost, and I expect the costs in 2023 to be about 30% lower than 2022 thanks to my secret mission in Kentucky along with some longer stays and aggressive use of Harvest Host locations along with continued boondocking and drydocking opportunities. Approximately half the time was spent in private parks and the rest was spent in public campgrounds or mooching off others. Private campgrounds offer a reasonable rate for month long stays (or longer) and will be a mainstay in winter for me. The average cost (including electricity and propane during the winter was $19/day which is quite affordable for full hookups (water, electricity, and sewer) and a community to hang out with.

I have already mentioned that I have now spent at least one night in 25 states. If my plans for this fall play out as I currently intend, that should be up to 38 by the end of the year. Feel free to review the blogs for the details. This also means that I will have spent at least one night in 49 states as an adult by November. Only Alaska awaits my visit. I never set this as a goal but it seems pretty easy to accomplish so I figure why not.

I have not tracked the number of adult beverages consumed, but I feel comfortable saying it has been more than three.

Sometimes a picture works better for those visual people. 

Ireland and Scotland

Travel adventure in the United States

Now for my impressions. When I was six weeks into this adventure, I noted a few things in a blog post which I am sure everyone has read as the pearls of wisdom are strewn throughout all of my posts (this being the 35^th), or perhaps you read my 6 month update.  The observations still stand. The dirt and bugs have gotten better with a bigger trailer as there is more room for the dirt to hide and the fancy euro style windows in my last trailer let in a lot of bugs. Nevertheless, there are still bugs and dirt. The dogs have adapted to this life quickly as they are just happy since they are with me always. 

I really enjoy exploring new areas along with familiar ones. I love traveling - getting a feel for the people and new areas and how truly nice most people are in this world. There is far more that unites us and I think it is important to remember that as we get bogged down in the day to day. There are places I would like to get back to and spend more time in (Arkansas for example) and places I am not particularly interested in ever seeing again (looking at you Mississippi and Louisiana). 

I have tried to show mostly highlights but there are downsides too. The hassle of finding groceries and laundromats is always there and I have good and bad examples of both. The decision fatigue of having to plan every single day of where will I be and can I safely spend the night there with the dogs. You may not know where you will be on December 12th, but you know you have a place to sleep at least. I have the trailer but I may not be able to find a place to park it for the night safely. This is often why I plan 3 to 6 months in advance as I am not yet comfortable with taking too many chances with the dogs. Perhaps if I downsize to sleeping in a van or a truck camper and I park on the street at night, but with a trailer that is less of an option.

I still have no clue on how long I will continue this adventure. It could end tomorrow or in ten years. One cannot predict the future, so I am open to whatever comes next and I'm ready to greet it with an open mind and a grateful heart.

Speaking of what’s next, I will be spending this summer in a remote Department of Defense facility in Kentucky on an important undercover research project. There should be some opportunities for me to get away and visit old friends and family. Afterwards, I have a planned trip to the northeast. I have reservations or at least places identified to cover me through the end of November. After that I expect to head back to Texas for a few months or possibly somewhere more southwest. I really don’t have anything scheduled yet beyond a few key dates including the total solar eclipse in April of 2024 and Alaska in the summer of 2024.

The adventures will not end but the same cannot be said for this blog. No final decision has been made yet on the end of this blog, but if there is not another post, thank you for reading them as I have enjoyed writing them.

Until we see each other again,

Thor

North to Wisconsin

When last heard from, I was in southern Missouri. Lots of searching since then but I have once again lost track of time and my sojourn in southern Wisconsin is almost at an end. I would like to blame my continued internet connectivity issues or the brutally hard search for Big Foot but alas, it may be due more to my own forgetfulness about posting and thinking it hasn't been that long. For those that follow YouTubers that post regularly, you should know it takes a lot of time to produce that content plus scripting and editing. Blogging is far easier as I often have no clue what I am going to write until my fingers hit the keyboard. I can't even maintain a consistent schedule for this, but I do have a dog laying on my arms as I type so there is that.

My first stop was in Hannibal, Missouri. I decided to forgo the Mark Twain Cave tour but I did go to the campground. The closest brewery was a nano and they served the beer in plastic cups. Definitely a no no but I am very tolerant of incompetence as y'all know. The Great River Brewing Company was pretty new and was in a temporary location until their building was remodeled. The beer was quite delicious despite the faux pas of plastic drinkware so I decided to have several. Obviously there was no Big Foot there as Big Foot would have demanded proper drinkware.

A dark one. Apparently a short pour or I started drinking without taking a picture. You decide.

Some sort of Ale likely. I should really take notes but I am so busy drinking that I forget. Plus I do put in an app (Untappd) which I suppose I could reference for times like this but the aforementioned dog is weighing my arm down. 

There was a nearby winery so I decided to see if Big Foot decided to be hiding out there. Cave Hollow Winery was on the grounds of the campground and cave so I could walk there. I prefer that for drinking establishments as it removes any limitation on my exploring. Unfortunately due to Big Foot's penchant for better establishments, the cost becomes my limitation. The wine was quite nice as I sampled the dry reds which is my wheelhouse. No Big Foot and actually only one other customer so it was a quick visit.

Nice selection of wines

After Missouri I moved onto Iowa. I spent a night at a custom truck camper manufacturer and checked out their wares. I have been planning on seeing their shop for several years so I was happy to see the process and options. I have a spot in my heart for the truck camper concept as it would give me the best of van life without the overpriced van and ability to drop the camper if the situation warrants. It is one of the reasons I upgraded to the truck I upgraded to with the increased payload capacity. We shall see. I also stopped at a local bar for a bite. I didn't see Big Foot but there were plenty of other odd creatures. No tap beer and since I do not drink macro brews, I had limited options. I talked to a few people but the gentleman next to me was most interesting. In addition to the nature and content of his conversation with friends and the bartender, he would take shots of cheap booze (fireball whiskey mixed with some sort schnapps), and drink his "piss water" beer. He looked about 67 years old so I figured the old timer had a hard life. I was certainly surprised when he mentioned he was 55. Let's just say it was an interesting night, especially as the hail storms rolled through.

The next day I was in the area near where I purchased the current trailer. I wanted to get a suspension upgrade in anticipation of Alaska along with some minor repairs from the road and usage. The campground I planned on staying at was still closed for the season so I spent the first night in their parking lot and then after the repairs and upgrades, I went to stay at a different campground. There was plenty of rain and the puddles were all over including around the electrical post. I prefer to use electric space heat when I can as it is virtually free versus my propane. Thankfully I avoided electrocution this time. Decorah, Iowa was a surprise as it is a small town with several breweries, a cidery, and many local stores. 

The sun came out after the rains, and I took it as a positive sign. Of course there was snow on the truck the next morning which was not at all appreciated.

Toppling Goliath is a huge operation with international award winning beers. I can attest to the quality of their product and to top it off their food options were excellent. I had an amazing salad with grilled salmon and the assorted veggies that come with that. Very satisfying meal and excellent brews.

Toppling Goliath

The other local brewery was Pulpit Rock Brewing. Good selections but lacking any dark beers which was disappointing. There were a couple of guys from the Milwaukee area drinking in there and they were also staying at the local campground. Nice guys and certainly knew how to drink. I don't think they were also looking for Big Foot but it didn't matter as there was no sight of the creature there.

Pulpit Rock Brewing

The Convergence Cider Works was also a local gem. The cider was very good using all local apples and heritage varieties. They also had a nice menu and I had a lovely pesto sandwich and good conversation with both the server and the owner. They are typical of many small business owners in this industry. They have twelve irons in the fire and are constantly working and not just for financial reward but often out of a sense of commitment to the community and their chosen craft. I drink because I care. Unfortunately Big Foot was not seen this day.

Good ciders, I tend toward the drier ciders and not sweet and they had a good selection of both.

From Iowa I reentered Wisconsin, home of many odd and wonderful creatures. I was warned to avoid Wisconsin until mid May but between C's graduation and my top secret research assignment in Kentucky, it couldn't be helped. I was greeted with a Wisconsin spring, meaning it was 39 degrees and raining but don't worry it was just 80 degrees (which all visitors to the state seem to miss). I started my stay at another county park. Thankfully I had plenty of water and had dumped my tanks in Iowa as there was neither option available in the park but the location was good and it was open which is more than I could say about anywhere else. I eventually settled into a different private campground as the county park had a limitation of how long one could stay.

I was the only camper there 4 of the 6 days of my stay. I enjoyed the quiet and plenty of walking paths.

I was in Muskego, WI so while doing some laundry, I decided to check out a local coffee shop. Vintage Grounds was really nice and had a very relaxed vibe. They had what could be considered antiques including a rotary phone. The coffee was good but since I was on the dry cycle I had limited time and couldn't hang out too long. If you find yourself in the area, check them out. I wish I had more time to lounge there as I am sure if I waited long enough, Big Foot would have strolled in but alas, I had to go.

Leather furniture, kind of a chill vibe for a place full of caffeine

Since I was in the neighborhood and my favorite brewery was not open yet, I went to Eagle Park. They have decent brews but it is one of those industrial chic soulless places that are all over. The beer was very good, but look at that short pour. I should not be paying for that much foam. It came out of their tip so let that be a lesson to every beer pourer - that is on you!

Black Ale at Eagle Park

Thankfully I was able to go The Runaway several times when I was in the area. That place continues to impress me as I travel around and remains my favorite. Their Schwarzbier is second to none and they have added a number of sandwiches to their menu. Based upon some sage advice from the brewer, J, I had a great panini and a relaxing time. I stopped by several other times and enjoyed a couple more beverages and some of their food. I also had my traditional humus tray which is packed with pita wedges, veggies and really good humus. I was able to get a couple of crowlers to enjoy later. I just have to remember to not drink them first (I still have beer from New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Iowa to drink). 

Just wanted to point out that I don't just drink, I do eat relatively healthy too. The dark bitterness of the beer paired well with the freshness of the tomatoes. Actually who cares, I like the food and I like the beer. 

I am off to the greater Green Bay area for C's graduation on Mother's Day. It will be a wonderful celebration as both B and C will have graduated in a timely manner which is all one hopes for from their children. In addition, both had high GPAs which is an indication of at least attending a couple of classes along the way so another bonus. Of course, it would be a far happier and more wonderful Mother's Day if Amy was still with us physically to celebrate. We will have to settle for her spirit and memory as she is in our hearts always. Life doesn't always go to plan, in fact it rarely does, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't plan or think to the future. We owe it to our loved ones to keep searching and improving ourselves. Never give up, never surrender.

I will update again after the graduation and I am in Kentucky for my research project. I plan on providing some data around my first year of nomad wandering and plans for the future.

Until next time.

Thor

braxwood.com

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

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