Shoulder problems; one of the joys of getting older! Now sixty-seven, I am very aware of how the aging process impacts mobility, energy, and the ability to do everything you might desire. But, I have been actively trying to fight the ravages of age. My fight included trips to the gym three to four times a week for classes in strength training and cardio. I have tried to keep my weight down as well, but that is a constant battle. Overall though, I have felt pretty good and could do most things I wished.
My husband and I are recently retired and are trying to live our lives as actively as possible for as long as our health allows. Below is a link to an earlier post about some other health issues we have had.
My shoulder started really bothering me about a year ago. Sleeping on it in the car returning from a camping trip resulted in pain in my bicep and a limited range of motion. I could not fully raise my arm and was limited in putting it behind my back.
I dealt with the issue by doing stretches that I found online. They helped and my strength training classes (Body Pump) also helped. However, I did not get back my range of motion. I could no longer do a favorite yoga stretch, Child’s Pose. In spite of this, I rocked on for a year keeping most of the shoulder problems at bay.
Recently though, it was beginning to feel very tight when I put a barbell on my shoulder, which is a frequent task in Body Pump. At that time, we were about to take a monthlong camping trip. I speculated that the classes might be aggravating my shoulder and that a break might help the situation. Boy was I wrong! While traveling, my shoulder became much worse. Sometimes, it hurt to just reach for something. When I returned, I could barely place the barbell in position and it really hurt when I did.
Orthopedic Assessment
It was time to bring in the big guns. My internist at the local healthcare system referred me to Orthopedist who specializes in shoulders. I was expecting an impingement and physical therapy and nothing more.
On the day of my visit, they first took x-rays. The doctor immediately referred to my x-rays when he came into the examination room. He asked if I had seen them and I replied that I had not. I was led into the hall where a screen had my x-rays was displayed. The doctor stated that I had arthritis and two bone spurs. As he pointed to the two bone spurs, I was dismayed that I had no trouble seeing them. They were very prominent in the x-ray. I was not expecting this! Somehow, I had felt that if I worked very hard at staying fit, this kind of thing would be far down the road for me.
So, what should I do about my shoulder? He said that I would eventually need a shoulder replacement, but in the meantime some physical therapy and ice plus Advil for the pain. I felt as if I had a ticking bomb in my shoulder.
Physical Therapy
I heard about ATI Physical Therapy from a neighbor. My husband did not do well using another company for his knee, so I was ready to try ATI. I went twice a week for about four weeks. Stretching was a big part of my therapy, plus strengthening exercises. It seemed to help, but my shoulder was nowhere near normal.
ATI did, however, greatly enhance my ability to lift my arm over my head. This resulted from a process called dry needling in which the therapist inserted needles under my arm. It was pretty painful, but after that, I could lift my arm to a normal range. I could even do the yoga stretch, Child’s Pose. I highly recommend needling, assuming you have a qualified therapist.
After the needling, it was easier for me to get the barbell on my shoulder as well. However, after just a week away from the classes makes it somewhat more difficult.
The local ATI Physical Therapy Clinic did a great job for me. I don’t think the return to a normal shoulder is a reasonable expectation given what my orthopedist said about the condition of my shoulder. I believe my outcome was quite good, all things considered. A link to ATI follows.
It is now very important for me to do regular stretching. If I skip a day or so, I experience more pain. The strength exercises are important as well. Putting the barbell on my shoulder is also a very good stretch for me.
This is not really the end of the story though. My shoulder problems still exist and in the future, a shoulder replacement awaits. I just want to delay it for as long as possible.
Our son and his girlfriend, Laura, rented a condominium at Redington Shores and invited Laura’s Mom, my husband, and me to stay with them. This was our second trip to Redington Shores. Next, is a link to that first trip.
First of all, our time at Redington Shores was all about the beach. Everyone but my husband loved spending most of every day lounging on the beach. It was indeed beautiful.
Beach view
Our son and his girlfriend never tire of the beach and the water. They are active scuba divers and our son just became certified as a master diver. Also, he is certified as a rescue diver. His girlfriend is an advanced diver. As a woman who must hold her nose when going underwater, I am very impressed by their accomplishments.
Our hosts
Rose is Laura’s mother. She likes to walk on the beach and recorded over 10,000 steps a couple of times while there. I walked with her some of the time, but not anywhere near 10,000 steps.
The Moms
My big guy is not a fan of the beach. However, he was a very good sport. He sat on the beach with us some of the time and spent the rest of the time at the condo.
My big guyLaura and me enjoying the beachOur sonOur little spot of paradiseEgret in the water
The weather was gorgeous a couple of days while we were there. However, it was quite windy and cloudy the other days. Also, sometimes it rained. Yet, we managed to get time on the beach every day but one.
Gorgeous Sunsets
Our days at Redington Shores ended with beautiful sunsets. We had a great view of them from the balcony.
Rainbow
There was also an amazing rainbow after one of the rainy days.
The beach at sunset
Most of all, we never tired of the beauty of sunsets over the water. We watched them every evening.
Another beautiful sunset
Evening Entertainment
Games were a big part of our entertainment. We played Mexican Train Dominos and the card game, Five Crowns. It was lots of fun!
Hockey playoffs also were a part of our evenings. The local team, the Lightning Bolts, won the two games that were on while we were there. It was exciting for our Bolt fans!
Meals at the Beach
Laura was a gracious hostess and prepared us several delicious meals. Additionally, they took us to Sea Breeze, our favorite local restaurant, one night to celebrate Mother’s Day. We really enjoyed it.
We also had dinner one night at Slyce, a pizza restaurant. It was pretty cool with live music.
Dinner at Slyce
Snacks and sandwiches were for lunch and cheesecake and blueberry pie for dessert. We consumed way too much food overall and will have to cut way back on eating when we return home.
My Beach Read
I ordered a book from our local library, “The Woman in the Window”, by A.J. Finn. I loved reading it while lying on the beach!
It is about a reclusive woman, way too observant of her neighbors, who believes she has witnessed a crime. The plot twists are masterful and a movie based on the book is currently in development. I highly recommend this book!
Conclusion
It was a lovely time at Redington Shores, but the best part was spending quality time with family.
The Key Lime Rally was a gathering of the group, Firty and Over RV’ers – Life on the Road. The rally was held at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and almost 300 Key Limers were in attendance.
This was our second time to camp at Gulf State, one of our favorite parks. Our earlier trip is described in the following link. We were right on the water that trip and as a result, I was very worried about alligators. https://www.bigguytinytrailer.com/2016/12/
Gulf State Park offers everything you could want in a state park and it is located in a desirable resort area. Beautiful biking trails, spacious sites, and a nice large pool make it also a great place to camp. http://www.alapark.com/gulf-state-park
We enjoyed beautiful weather the entire five days we were there, with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. However, we were in the South! The humidity made it quite hot at midday if you were not in a shaded area.
Our site had shade in the late afternoon, but was in direct sunlight most of the day. Therefore, we were happy to have our screen room to provide a little shade. Because we registered late for the rally, we were a good distance from Key Lime Rally activities. (Several camp sites were designed Camp Lime and it was the main gathering place.)
Campsite 76 at Gulf State ParkInside our 10×10 side tent
Visiting with Good Friends
Our very good friends—the ones who originally talked us into camping—recently moved to Florida. They met us at the campground and stayed a couple of nights before heading on to the Grand Canyon. We loved having them there; it really made this trip special! We had dinner with them the night before the rally. The next day, we spent some quality time on the beach and in the pool. Very relaxing!
Our friends soaking up some sunChilling at the beach
Key Lime Events Day 1
The rally organizer very graciously allowed our friends to attend the Key Lime Bash at the Beach, the first official night of the rally. It was held at Gulf State Pavilion, which is right on the beach. Fresh gulf shrimp was served for dinner and bread pudding for dessert. Key Lime Rally members decorated the tables and they were amazing. For entertainment, Elvis performed for us!
Elvis was in the BuildingMy friend Peggy and me
Key Lime Events Day 2
The rally was like a well-oiled machine! There was a morning coffee, then a craft fair and yard sale, CPR training, a corn hole tournament and an Instant Pot cooking demo. We did not attend them, but went with a smaller group on a Dolphin Cruise that afternoon. Others also played Key Lime Bingo and went on a tour of Group 1’s rigs.
View from the Dolphin Cruise
A Key Lime Food and Drink contest preceded dinner, which was a Quatro de Mayo Fiesta at Camp Lime. Key Lime members and the Key Limer Band provided the entertainment and it included some specially written songs that were quite funny.
In addition, there were door prizes. Group members had contributed gifts for contests and door prizes. My husband won a great door prize, a basket full of collapsible bowls, measuring cups, and spoons. It was a very nice gift!
So, it was a great day to be a Key Limer!
Key Lime Events Day 3
Day 3 was more laid back and everyone was on their own for dinner. Also, there was a Balloon Festival in Foley that afternoon, which many were attending. The morning activities were Rock Painting Class, a Pet Parade, Corn Hole Tournament, and a tour of Group 2 Rigs.
Therefore, we took this opportunity to enjoy our campsite in the morning and to have an early dinner at a local seafood restaurant. The Fish River Grill was pretty tasty and I had a margarita to honor Cinco de Mayo.
Late lunch at Fish River Grill #3
Finally, we rounded out our day at the Gulf State Pier. The water was beautiful and it was nice to just hang out there for awhile and enjoy the view.
View of the beach from the pierHanging out at the Gulf State Park Pier
Key Lime Events Day 4
The day began with a nondenominational worship service, a great way to start our Sunday morning. Soon after, there was a Dutch Oven Cooking Class given by Dave, a master in the field. I had never seen this type of cooking before and found it fascinating. Audience members assisted in cooking a pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes in one pot and a pineapple upside down cake in another. All were delicious!
Dutch Oven Cooking ClassPineapple upside down cake cooked in a Dutch Oven
Next, we attended a wine tasting. Group members each brought a bottle of wine and many also brought snacks. There was a great variety of lovely wines and some awesome snacks. One lady brought the best stuffed jalapeño peppers I have ever tasted. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Dinner that night was again at the Pavilion and it was a luau. Key Limers were dressed in their best tropical attire. There were hula dancers who also danced with fire, led a limbo contest, and conga line. Additionally, there were more door prizes and I won a bottle of wine!
We were sad to see the Key Lime Rally ending because it was such a great experience. Most of all, we loved that we met lots of really nice people. We felt we already knew some of them from online posts and it was great to finally meet them in person.
Fire dancersSunset from the Pavilion
In conclusion, Aloha Key Limers and Happy Camping!
This post is for new campers who may not be aware of important maintenance that should be routinely performed on the wheels of their campers for safety.
Reasons for Wheel Bearing Maintenance
Wheel bearing maintenance is not an exciting topic, but it is something in which campers should know. As members of several Facebook camping groups, we have learned that wheel bearings on campers should be packed with grease routinely. On this topic, we have seen recommendations for annually and for every 10,000 miles.
This maintenance prevents unnecessary friction on the bearings and enables the identification of worn bearings or a dry axel. Grease breaks down over time and the heat generated during braking speeds up that process. Therefore, adding fresh grease addresses this problem.
This maintenance is an important safety procedure. First, if bearings are not properly greased, the wheels could lock up and cause an accident. Additionally, the axel could also be damaged by improperly greased wheels.
Our Wheel Bearing Maintenance
As we have had our camper for about eighteen months and have towed it close to 10,000 miles. Clearly, it was time to perform this maintenance.
We contacted a local RV dealer to have the work done as my husband has a very bad knee. They said that they do not usually do the work and that it would be a significant wait. However, they informed us that a local tire dealer has a person who routinely does this task. We contacted him and got an early morning appointment. The technician completed the task in a couple of hours for $150.
E-Z Lube System
We later learned that if you have one of the later NuCamp campers with the E-Z Lube System, it is a very easy and quick process to add fresh and remove old grease using a grease gun. Our camper has this Lube System. The link below is to a very informative video with detailed instructions. If we had known it would be this easy, we would have done this ourselves.
It seems that many who own campers do this work themselves. To assist, there are several YouTube videos with detailed instructions. It is my understanding that it does not require a lot of special tools.
Sealed Bearings on Some Models
There is one last bit of information provided by a reader of this post. Early T@B models have sealed bearings that cannot be cleaned or repacked and it was recommended that owners keep a set of bearings with them as spares. This is probably true for some other camper models as well. It would be a good idea to determine if this is true for your camper if you have an older model.
Whether you do it yourself or find an expert to do the job for you, I encourage new campers to not ignore wheel bearing maintenance, an important safety task.
If you would like to read more about what we have learned on our camping adventures, we have a Camping Resources page for new campers you might want to visit.
This post is directed to new campers who have not yet made a long trip. Included is detailed information that would have been helpful to us. The trip was four times longer than our previous ones and just under 5,000 miles. It gave us an opportunity to see nine states and three national parks.
First Long Camping Trip Recap
Our first long camping trip was four times longer than our previous trips and nine times as many miles. The trip lasted twenty-seven days during the last month of winter, beginning mid-February and ending mid-March. We camped in Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
We wanted to accomplish a few things. First, to get away from the boredom and cold of winter, so we needed to go south. With a teardrop camper, we would not be comfortable if was very cold outside. Second, we wanted to visit as many states as was practical. We have a goal to camp in all the lower forty-eight. A southwestern path all the way to California became our choice with a more northerly return to include a Utah if the weather permitted. Lastly, we wanted to experience something of the local area at each stop, knowing we could not see everything. An earlier post details the planning we did for this first long camping trip. Planning That First Long Trip
Our Concerns
It was an ambitious goal for us of towing just under 5,000 miles, much in areas we have not visited nor driven. It was also a lot of together time. We generally get along well together, but a month in a vehicle and tiny camper was new territory indeed!
First long trip
The Campgrounds
There were stops in 17 different areas, nine states, and 18 campgrounds. The type of campground with number of visits and average costs per night were as follows:
Five State Parks, $27.11
One County Park, $20
Five KOAs, $40.49 (with KOA membership)
Three Small Commercial Campgrounds, $27.77
Three Large Commercial Campgrounds, $45.13
One Large Commercial Campground Overflow, $15
The campground prices did guarantee enjoyment of them. Ironically, the most expensive campground was our least favorite. The small campgrounds and State Parks were overall the best, offering a comfortable stay, reasonable privacy, and a relatively low price. The KOAs were consistently near popular areas and provided full hookups, laundry, and nice bathhouses. The large RV campgrounds were our least favorite. They offered full services and generally some extra entertainment, but little privacy. They seemed to cater to longer term guests.
Campground Challenges
Two campgrounds did not have showers. Okay for one night, longer stays or a string of them would not be desirable. One had pit toilets, but it was not an issue. We were in overflow one night at a large RV campground with no electricity and water. The water was not an issue as we had access to very nice facilities, but we sorely missed the electricity. We were a bit cold overnight and concerned we would drain our battery.
Though we visited three national parks, we did not stay at the national campgrounds. Most sites did not have hookups and we did not have solar panels or a generator. Also, reservations should be made early for the national parks as they fill up quickly.
To Reserve or Not
Reservations give you a better shot at desired campgrounds, but take away flexibility. If you are having a very good or very bad time in an area, you may not be able to cut your stay short or stay longer if reservations are upcoming. Also, we were traveling in the winter in a camper that does not provide comfortable daytime accommodations. Our solution was to book the first few sites, including Big Bend, the single national park we were certain to visit. We wanted to visit two others in Utah, but they are much further north. If the weather was bad, we did not want to risk travel in ice or snow.
It actually worked out well for us. We booked stops one, two, three, and five. The remainder were booked a couple of days out. We were very lucky to get our spot at Augua Caliente State Park in California, but struggled in Tucson and spent one night without electricity.
If traveling during the popular times in an area, reservations are more critical. We are making a second long trip later in the year and are reserving all the stops, but will be traveling during popular times.
Our Campsites
We did not stay long at any one place and spent the majority of our time away from the campgrounds, so our set up was always very simple. If we were only at a site for one night, we often did not even connect the water as it was cold outside in the early morning and we frequently had breakfast away from our camp.
Setup and breakdown was very quick and easy. We just put the items that were being transported in the cabin on a picnic table, stabilized the camper, and plugged in the electricity. Below is an example of how simple our sites were for much of the trip. We were basically traveling with our camper as our bed versus spending time in a campground.
Hurricane Utah
We used our Kingcamp awning a few times in places with longer stays when shade was needed. It was nice to have and setup was quick and easy.
Yuma Arizona
Packed Versus Needed
Two items were never used: a small attachable tent and a porta potty. We managed to always be within a reasonable distance from restrooms and the tent was not needed as so much time was spent away from the sites.
We took a bit more food than was needed and had our footlocker with all our dishes. Had we known how little cooking would be done, we could have greatly reduced the dishes. We also took a small folding table that was only used once. We could have easily done without the table.
Clothing for a week was packed with the intent to do laundry. This worked pretty well. We had some winter outerwear that was not used and could have used a little more lightweight outerwear.
Biggest regret: no solar panels for the trip. It would have made the night with no electrical hookup much better and would have provided flexibility for other stops. We now have solar panels for future trips.
We were relying on a small heater and an electric blanket to stay warm as nights were cool. Solar panels would not enable those options, so for future trips like this, we have purchased a down comforter rated for cold weather. It would have likely been adequate for this trip.
There is a new earlier post with information on how we typically pack for camping where we consider a long camping trip as well. Packing for Teardrop Camping-Our Process
The Weather
The weather was quite good considering we were traveling in the last month of winter. It was pleasant to be outside most days with no more than a lightweight jacket. We had one rainy day in Austin, Texas, and one cold day in Julian, California, where there was some snow on the ground. Utah, the most northern part of our trip, was warm and sunny the entire time we were there. During the entire trip, typical nights were high 30s and typical days were low 70s.
Our Health
I worried about one or both of us getting sick while in the trip, but we managed to stay healthy. Last year during this time, I was on my third bout with being sick. Thankfully, we were well and able to enjoy this trip.
A prescription needed to be filled near the end of the trip, but we use a national drug chain and they filled it just as easily as it would have been at home.
The Tow Vehicle
We drove our SUV an extra 1,000 miles more than the camper because we used it to visit the surrounding areas. We had no issues towing and our camper was a breeze to pull, even through some quite high elevations. I had worried a little about not having electric brakes, but our camper is very light.
Our tires were almost new, but at one point, my husband noticed that one of the tires appeared to have slung a weight and there was vibration. We bought the tires from Pep Boys and local dealer in Arizona corrected the issue under warranty. We also needed an oil change while on the trip, which we had done while in Utah.
Our tow vehicle suffered a minor ding at one of the stops at a very crowded campground while trying to turn around when our way was blocked. Frustrating, but that’s life.
Tow vehicle
We were always careful to keep at least a half tank of fuel, which was important because fuel opportunities were few and far between in some areas. We had no problems, but if we had waited until a quarter of a tank, we might have ran out of gas. Our gas mileage for the entire long camping trip was 17.4 miles per gallon. We thought that was pretty good.
Long Camping Trip Favorites
Our best stop was in Moab, Utah. The area was absolutely gorgeous and we loved the town and Arches National Park. We had beautiful weather and a fabulous time at this stop!
Arches National Park
Our favorite campground was Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona. The park was beautiful, fairly new, and very well-maintained. It had all the amenities we needed. However, for those who prefer to have sewer, it did not have that.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Surprisingly, our best meal was at Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The entire meal was delicious at a reasonable price, with a limo that picks you up at your campground. You have gotta love it! Here is a link to Big Texan if you would like to check it out. https://www.bigtexan.com
Other food highlights were apple pie in Julian, green chili cheeseburgers at the Blue Moon Diner on the way to Albuquerque, and fabulous Mexican food at La Posta in Las Cruces and Tacos El Cositas in Yuma.
Big Texan Steak Ranch
There is a post to my blog for all the stops along our long camping trip for anyone interested.
We had a wonderful time! That said, we were ready to be home near the end. I think that for us, four weeks is about as long as we should travel, considering we have a tiny camper.
For those new to camping, get out there and take a long camping trip. Go see some of this beautiful country. It is so worth the effort!
Shreveport was our last stop on our way home and the weather was glorious. We noticed as we were getting nearer how green everything was becoming!
Shreveport camping was a relaxing last stop. However, the drive to Shreveport (6 1/2 hours) was longer than our usual and we had a comparable drive the next day because we were driving straight home. We were rather tired and just wanted to get to the campground and chill. A very late lunch while on the road at Weidman’s in Meridian meant that we would not have to go out for dinner.
As soon as we neared the state of Louisiana, It was evident that everything had begun to turn green. We did not really see that in our earlier stops. Also, my allergies kicked in with a vengeance. The official date of the beginning of spring was just around the corner.
We had one tow vehicle issue to address first. Our SUV indicated that the battery on the remote needed to be replaced. We found one at a nearby Wal-Mart and while there, we rented a couple of movies.
Shreveport Camping
We then settled in for the evening at the campground. Our last night on the road was very relaxing and quite comfortable, but we were both ready to be home.
The Shreveport-Bossier KOA was very nice. It had concrete pads and a wrought iron table with chairs. The bathhouse was immaculate and our site was lovely. We had no complaints whatsoever. For those interested, below is a link to the website.
This was our first time to camp in Louisiana, though we have visited several times. Unfortunately, we did not really have an opportunity to any sights. However, I do want to acknowledge the very best rest stop of our trip. According to my phone, the photo below was taken in Choudrant, Louisiana. The facility looks new and is very, very nice. Thanks Louisiana!
Oklahoma City camping included the memorial in Oklahoma City. It was a lovely dedication to the victims of the bombing.
Oklahoma City Camping
Oklahoma City camping was a lot of fun for us. It offered sites to see, good food, and very nice weather. The memorial was one of the main reasons we chose Oklahoma City for this stop. It was a somber reminder of what was for me, the beginning of a heightened awareness of the dangers of terrorism in this country.
The Bombing
The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, shocked the nation. Later, it was incomprehensible to learn that the horrific act was performed by a homegrown terrorist. It marked a profound change in the way most Americans regarded safety. It has been almost twenty-two years since that act occurred; yet, this violent trend has continued.
However, Oklahoma City is so much more than this act of violence. We are aware there is much to see and do in the state. For this trip though, as we were so near Oklahoma City on our return home, the memorial stood out as something we needed to see.
The Memorial
View from rear of monument
The memorial was dedicated exactly five years after the bombing. The photo above was from the rear and is my best overall photo because of the direction of the sun. It was taken from an overlook from the Federal Building.
In the photo above, you are seeing the backs of empty chairs, each one representing a life lost in the bombing. The smallest chairs represent children who died in the bombing. A reflecting pool is beyond the chairs and the building in the background is the museum.
Most noteworthy the chairs and each represents a victim and the floor in which they were on that day. Each chair includes their name of a victim. The photo below shows them from the front.
Empty seat for each person lost
Tragically, the bombing killed 168 people, of which 19 were children. In addition, the bombing injured more than 500 people. Consequently, it was a devastating day for Oklahoma and for our country. The reason so many children died is there was a daycare center in the building. The plaque and lawn pictured below is a memorial to those children.
Children’s playground plaque
The memorial addresses the timing of the blast with what is called “The Gates of Time”. There are doorways and a clock on each side of the reflecting pool, one stopped at 9:01 and the other at 9:03. The 9:01 represents the innocence of the city just before the bombing, which occurred at 9:02. The 9:03 represents the moment that the city began healing. There is also a Survivor’s Wall with each of their names and there is a Survivor Tree.
Below is a link to the website for the memorial and museum.
The museum is very much worth the effort to visit. While the memorial is free, there is a charge for the museum. However, it has a wealth of information about the bombing and the recovery that followed. There were many films with personal accounts of the day and there were artifacts. Most is all, it illustrated how the people in the city came together to help and to heal.
The building was named for Alfred P. Murrah. I have heard that name many times, but knew nothing of the man. I learned that he was orphaned at 13 and was covertly riding the rails before he was booted from a train in Oklahoma. He got a job milking cows and convinced school officials to allow him in classes with other thirteen year olds despite his fourth-grade education. He worked two jobs and graduated with honors. After high school, he continued to distinguish himself academically. Most noteworthy, he was appointed as a Federal District Judge in 1936. He was the youngest to have ever achieved that position at 32 years old. Very impressive!
Other Activities
We like to find a unique local restaurant on our stops. For this Oklahoma City Camping trip, it was Cattleman’s Steakhouse. It is located in historic Stockyard City and has been in business since 1910. We had a delicious steak with all the trimmings and the service was excellent.
There were a couple of large stores with western clothing nearby. They they were calling my husband! Previously on this trip, we have hardly done any shopping. However, in this case, we walked away with a big bag of clothing—mostly jeans.
The KOA Issue
Oklahoma City camping would have been better for us if we had not had a problem at the KOA. The Oklahoma City KOA was pretty nice overall, but I did not like how it managed its bathhouse. It had seven private rooms, each with a toilet and shower, but the campground had reserved one restroom for handicapped. Theoretically, guests are provided access to six non-gender specific rooms.
First, while at the campground, we had two occasions where we were waiting outside for a long time because no bathroom was available. Subsequently, we learned that they were keeping a couple of them locked because the campground was not full.
Consequently, I was quite angry after standing outside for twenty minutes waiting to use the restroom to learn that there were locked rooms. After my husband made a request, they opened a door for me. It is one thing to have inadequate facilities, quite another to not offer what you have. Because of this, it is my least favorite KOA.
Site #C1
In conclusion, we enjoyed our Oklahoma City camping experience, despite the bathhouse wait.
One more stop in Shreveport, Louisiana, and we are home! It has been wonderful to be on the road, but home is sounding pretty good.
A link to our post of the Shreveport stop is below.
Amarillo was only a one-night stop on the way home, but we discovered our favorite KOA, had a great meal, and saw an interesting nearby attraction.
Amarillo Camping
Amarillo camping was for just one night, but it was a wonderful stop for us. The area provided interesting attractions and a unique and wonderful restaurant. We also loved the campground and enjoyed very pleasant weather. Who could ask for more?
Cadillac Ranch
I have heard the name, Cadillac Ranch, a number of times along the years and it is referenced in several songs. I really had no idea what it was. We had the opportunity to see it on our stop in Amarillo. It turns out, it is ten Cadillacs from the years 1948 to 1963 that were buried face down in the ground in 1974. Vandals with spray paint arrived soon after. Eventually, the vandalism was encouraged.
Cadillac Ranch is located on a large field very near Amarillo on historic Route 66. It is visited by tons of people armed with cans of spray paint to add their artistic touch to the graffiti-covered cars.
Cadillac Ranch
Wikipedia describes Cadillac Ranch as “public art” and “sculpture” . To me, it is a perfect example of “if you build it, they will come.” Nonetheless, I am glad we stopped to see it.
Cadillac Ranch entrance
Our Favorite KOA
The Amarillo KOA Was a big reason Amarillo camping was so great for us. We just loved it because it has all kinds of cute southwestern art and the folks who checked us in were wonderful. Also, the facilities were very nice and the cable and WiFi were strong. I asked about nearby restaurants and they offered to have the limo from Big Texan Steak Ranch pick us up at our site and bring us back. We thought this was a great idea, especially after our nighttime driving in Las Vegas.
Amarillo KOASite # 64
Big Texan Steak Ranch
A driver in a limo with big horns on the hood picked us up and drove us approximately five miles to the restaurant. The restaurant also provides this service to several hotels. Our driver was very friendly.
Big Texan Limo
I did not expect much from the food since they were escorting customers to the restaurant and because of the free giant steak deal if you ate it all. Surprisingly, the restaurant was huge and very crowded. We had about a fifteen-minute wait.
We shared a very large ribeye steak and it was excellent! They also had craft beers in big mugs. We each had one as we were not driving nor navigating back to the campground. The Big Texan also has many flavors of gelato, which got my attention. However, my husband saw a piece of carrot cake he really wanted, so we shared a piece. The entire meal was wonderful and totally unexpected. A link to the website follows.
Our enjoyed our stay in Albuquerque. We had planned to visit Santa Fe, but weather concerns changed our route.
Albuquerque Camping
Albuquerque camping was at another KOA because my husband has become a fan. The KOAs do offer consistency in amenities. This one was very nice and we had the added bonus of being near a sweet couple in a T@B for one of the nights. We don’t often see other teardrops, so it was nice talking to Trisha and Jim. We took the opportunity to do a little laundry while there and to connect with a local CVS to get a prescription filled.
KOA Site B11
A Facebook traveler recommended that we have a green chili cheeseburger in New Mexico and we finally did while on the way to Albuquerque at the Blue Moon Diner in Farmington. I cannot say enough good things about this adorable 50’s restaurant with great food, including homemade ice cream. The cheeseburgers were amazing and the service was stellar! I would drive well out of my way for another meal there.
Old Town
We decided to spend our one full day in Albuquerque’s Old Town. We wanted to take a tour with ABQ Trolley, which begins in Old Town and has great reviews. The ABQ Trolly tour is a two-hour scheduled tour in a 14-passenger Mercedes van, despite its name. But, I did not book on line in advance. It was fully booked by the time we arrived. Regrets!
Consequently, we decided to take ourselves on a tour of Old Town. First, we began with lunch at High Noon Restaurant. The restaurant has been in operation since 1974, but the building dates back to 1785. The High Noon building is reputed to have been both a gambling parlor and a brothel. Legend has it that it is also haunted! We did not see any ghosts, but we did have a nice meal. I had a margarita with an added southwestern twist: a chili lime salt rim and cucumber. Quite tasty.
Lunch at the High Noon
Next, we visited the Albuquerque Museum of Art, located in Old Town. It was a very nice museum with many interesting pieces. I highly recommend it.
San Filipe De Neri
We also visited a landmark in Albuquerque, San Filipe De Neri, which is a beautiful church. San Filipe is a site not to be missed while in Old Town. Most noteworthy, it is the oldest church in Albuquerque and has been in continuous use for over three hundred years.
San Felipe
The original building dated back to 1706. The Catholic Church built the current structure in 1793 after the original building collapsed.
San Filipe outside courtyard
A lovely adobe courtyard surrounds the ancient adobe church. The church is beautiful in its simplicity and longstanding history. We sat for quite awhile in the sanctuary taking in its peaceful, calming presence. The church had draped the holy images in purple for Lent.
San Filipe interior
Other Attractions
Lastly, Old Town has many restaurants and shops. We both had frozen yogurt (for dinner) and did a little shopping. I am trying to be less of an acquirer of goods these days, but I did buy some nice handmade soaps. A link to Old Town is below the next photo.
It became much colder on our last night and as we drove out of Albuquerque the next day, there were actual snow flurries, the first of our trip. This confirmed for me that it was a good decision to not stay in the higher elevations of Santa Fe. Albuquerque camping was a great for us.
Next, we will camp in Amarillo as we make our way home. A link to that post follows.
Moab, Utah was the most beautiful stop on this trip. Mere words cannot describe the splendor of Arches National Park!
Arches National Park
Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, is the most amazingly beautiful place I have ever seen. A climate of extreme temperatures coupled with water and ice over an underground salt bed for millions of years created this compelling, otherworldly environment. It continues to change today as erosion creates new arches and destroys others. The park has over 2,000 cataloged arches, but some at the minimum considered an arch, which is three feet. The largest arch is Landscape Arch and it is 306 feet.
Campground
We did not know what to expect for weather in Moab, so we waited for reasonably accurate weather predictions before making reservations. We were very early in the season and were able to stay at Pack Creek Campground. It is just outside the main commerce in Moab. Our site had water and electricity for only $30 a night. The bathhouse was clean and there were laundry facilities as well. https://packcreekcampground.com
Pack Creek Site
Our Visit to the Park
Arches National Park was not very crowded while we were there in early March and we were able to see it at a pace that was comfortable for us. An added bonus, it was a beautiful, warm, and sunny day. The Welcome Center had a very informative orientation film about the how the arches formed and the environment within the park. Most noteworth, there is a surprising amount of biodiversity in this magical place.
So happy to be here!
Amazing Sights
Most of the photos below were taken from the road or from only a short walk. Park Avenue is a very popular stop and only requires minimal walking to see incredible sandstone formations.
Arches National Park
The La Sal Mountains are often in view at the park and add to the gorgeous landscape. There is a place to pull off the road and take photographs.
La Sal Mountains
I took the short hike to see the North and South Windows. It was a pretty easy hike, which enabled me to photograph the two windows and the Turret Arch. Turret is one of the younger arches. While my husband’s bad knee did to allow him to walk that distance, there was still much for him to see. The park map showed the hike to be .7 mile, but most was uphill. However, is worth the hike though, if you are up to it.
North and South WindowsTurret ArchHiking to the windows
A special parking area makes it very easy to view Courthouse Towers, a series of spires that extends to almost 5,000 feet from the desert floor. The Three Gossips and Sheep Rock are also easily seen from this spot. To give you an idea of scale, the Three Gossips are 350 feet tall.
Courthouse TowersThree Gossips and Sheep Rock
Garden of Eden
The Moab Fault, pictured below, is about twenty-eight miles long and runs along the west side of the park. Hence, it is a much studied fault.
View of Moab FaultBalanced RockDesert Floor has organisms that can survive for years without waterBeautiful simplicity
Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is the most famous in the park and can be viewed a number of ways. Especially relevant, the route that provides the best view is three miles on a difficult trail with an elevation gain of 480 feet. If I had made this hike, I would have been by myself and would also have left my husband waiting for a good bit of time. I passed on this option, but later discovered it was the only way to get a really good view of the arch.
However, the other two options are distant views of the arch. The upper viewpoint is a hike of half a mile and is moderately difficult with a rocky uphill route. I made that hike and it was not a walk in the park. The photo below was from the upper view. The lower viewpoint is even further away, so I was glad I was able to made the upper viewpoint.
Delicate Arch in the center
Below, I centered on the Delicate Arch so you can see it better.
Delicate Arch
The distinctive shape of Delicate Arch has inspired nicknames of “Cowboy Chaps” and “Old Maid Bloomers”.
Wrap-up
In conclusion, our stop in Moab was everything we hoped and Arches National Park is our favorite National Park of this trip. It seemed the stars aligned and everything was fun and easy. My only regret is that we did not make this visit many years ago so we both could have hiked the more difficult trails.
Lastly, after a delicious breakfast at the Moab Diner, we left Moab and were headed in the direction of home for the rest of our trip. Next stop is Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you are interested in how we planned this trip, the following link has that information. Planning That First Long Trip
