We packed in record time and pulled out at 10:47. As we checked our 'moving list' at the end I had to run back and check to make sure our four hitching tools were all stowed away. If not for that, I wouldn't have had one last glance at the lake. As we left I told Bob it was weird to pass by all of our Ruston landmarks and know we were leaving a place that was starting to feel like home. We headed east on I-20 and took the northern 220 by-pass around Shreveport to avoid traffic and congestion. When we rejoined I-20 we got right behind an Airstream that was one quarter of a mile in front of us before we took the loop around the city. A few minutes later we crossed into Texas! It felt kind of weird after being away so long. We stopped at a brand spanking new Tourist Information and Rest Area so we could pick up some Palestine, Jacksonville and Rusk, TX, brochures. We also bought a Dallas Morning News at a vending machine right in the rest area. There was a handy U.S. mail box right next to it. What a nice touch for a rest area.
The Airstream we passed earlier pulled in right next to us in the parking lot. We left and headed south at Kilgore on Hwy 259. We stopped for gas (with only four gallons left) in a station in Henderson. We hit a pothole with our curbside trailer tire on the way out (more on that later.) We took Hwy 79 the last forty miles to just east of 69 and arrived at Shady Pines RV Park & Campground, Rt 2 Box 999, Jacksonville, TX 75766 (903) 586-0059.
The owner met us in front of the office. I rolled down the window and said we'd like to stay three nights. She had to think about it for a while and finally said she had one slot left. People were coming in on Friday, so that would work. Pipe-liners apparently have the place filled up, much the same as we encountered in Madisonville, TX, way back in March. So we all piled in her golf cart (me on Bob's lap--how romantic, for me anyway, I didn't have @*#!+ pounds of dead weight bouncing on my flattened legs over rutted roads:-) in order to check out the one remaining site. "It's a little narrow" she points out.
We size it up and say with all confidence "Yeah, we'll make it work." We seem to be getting braver as we go along. Back at the office, we paid her $51.00 for three nights and maneuvered over the rutty road to Row D; the last slot on the end. Heavy rains have gutted their roads and campsites. Bob made an expert wide turn to avoid the curbside tree on the back of the site. Then we had 10-15 minutes of jockeying to get the trailer in a more level position. We even got out our little shovel and dug a hole for the streetside trailer wheels to rest in. Mind you the ground is wet, mushy red clay.
When we got satisfied with that we had to re-evaluate our position because the power cord wouldn't reach the 30-amp outlet. We finally got the outlet situated and the wheels in our hollowed-out spot and then realized the living room slide wouldn't clear the utility pole. In all fairness, I must point out that I am on the outside with the two-way radio and Bob is inside the truck doing the parking. So "we" had to back up a foot to reposition the slide-out. Finally, Jupiter aligned with Mars (we won't go into Mars and Venus) and we unhitched and set up camp. We're a little worried about getting out of this site because we might not be able to pull through since it looks like the awning mechanism will not clear the live oak tree on the curbside.
I guess we'll deal with that problem on Friday, Miss Scarlet. Something to look forward to! The site is a muddy mess so I take my shoes off to go inside and put out the slides. Another issue is unveiled when the bedroom slide makes a weird noise. I realize the strap holding the sliding bathroom door has let loose and it has jumped of the track wedging itself in a funny angle next to the slide-out. I blame that pothole back at the gas station. Anyway, we sort that out and get set up. Bob assesses the damage so he can make repairs later.
Right now we have food on the brain after our 195 mile journey. It is around 3:30 by the time we're all set up. We head four miles into Jacksonville to find a place to eat. We go north on 69 and see nothing. So we do a bat turn, get desperate and start eyeing Whataburger but we forge on and find a Chili's, thus avoiding fast food.
I had a great southwestern Cobb salad and Bob had chicken tacos. Chili's is on the parking lot of Wal-Mart so of course we have to stop in for just two things; $27.00 later at the 20 items or less check-out we look out and realize it is dark outside. We find our campsite back in spite of the fact that it is always hard the first time we come home in the dark.
Back home we store groceries, read the paper and our new brochures and watch NCIS and House. We actually have about eight channels and they are all coming in pretty well. This place is nice, with lots of trees, but still under construction and located right next to Hwy 79 so it is not very quiet.
It seems to be part of Murphy's Law of RVing that your very best campsites are followed by a less than desirable site. But our plan is to leave on Friday and head for Austin.
It's 12:16 a.m. and 47.7 degrees.