Day 35 / 330

Sanger, Texas Bright Sunshine 67 Degrees

Answer # 35  You don't have to cover 800 miles a day any more.

We left Lago Vista this morning after a wonderful evening at Peggy and Lloyd's eating dinner and relaxing on their deck with John and Cathy and some new people they are working with at the refuge this winter. It was a perfect reunion.

During our working years we took long trips with the RV but in those days the cats stayed home and it was nothing for us to cover 800 miles in a day. Afterall we were burning vacation time and the destination was our focus. Now, in our second year, we are quickly adapting to the standard 300 miles or 3:00 PM rule that RVers refer to frequently. The cats appreciated the shorter days as well. They are learning to ride in their choses place and recover nicely once we stop. The routine is to take them outside and brush them. I leave them to lie in the 'yard' and they seem to ease right back into their routine.

Today I travelled with a heavy heart, as it marked the 20th anniversary of the untimely passing of my first husband. This is a difficult day. I wish I was back to give my kids a big hug. Time in the passenger seat today gave me opportunity to reflect and mull over how fleeting life is on this earth. All the more reason to experience as much as one can while we are here.

We stopped this afternoon at a quaint little RV Park on the shores of Ray Roberts Lake in north Texas. It's about 25 sites, managed by a lovely grandmotherly woman who uses the enclosed porch/laundry room of her mobile home as the office where you check in.  The office smelled like fabric softener, as she was doing laundry today. Her desk top clutter included orphaned socks from the dryer, many of them children's sizes with super hero theme. Signs that indicated her utter joy of being a grandma decorated her walls along with pictures of the kids. We loved her instantly. The park is mostly populated with long-term contractors working on construction projects  in the area. The lake can be seen from our lawn chairs. An added bonus this afternoon, I finally got a good long look at a Scissor Tail Fly Catcher as he perched on the wire a couple of sites from our motor home. We are learning to travel like real full-timers. We didn't even unhook the car. We don't have to be to Leavenworth, KS till Friday so the next 2 days should be much like today.

We watch the forecast for Iowa evolve and hope upon hope that it improves as the week goes by.

Until tomorrow...