Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Hords Creek Lake, Coleman TX - Florey County Park, Andrews, TX - Brantley Lake State Park, Carlsbad, NM




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Hords Creek Lake C.O.E, Coleman, TX     Florey County Park - Andrews, TX   Brantley Lake State Park , Carlsbad, New Mexico 

(Campground Ratings are listed below each section)

As Martha and I continue on our trip to nowhere in particular, we've made stops at Hords Creek Lake C.O.E. near Coleman, Texas.  Florey County Park, near Andrews, TX  and are currently at Brantley Lake State Park near Carlsbad and Artesia, New Mexico.

Brantley Lake State Park, Carlsbad New Mexico (below)


What a great park. We are in the Limestone Improved Campground. Be aware that some sites (even though they are long enough) may not be suitable for big rigs. We are 40' and had to drive up on blocks stacked four high (6") on the drivers side to get level. 



The drivers side was up 4.5"  After set up, we ended up very level with a beautiful view of the lake and each evening's sunset.  Park Review below.

The sunsets are spectacular 






Lot's of desert critters to drive your dog nuts


Nature trails to wander



Did I mention sunsets?




Into the rabbit hole


We are here until Sunday and I am already regretting not staying longer. If you are headed through Carlsbad or Artesia, New Mexico, you might want to consider staying at Brantley Lake State Park.

Park Rating

Brantley Lake State Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico - RATING - 4/5

WIFI No
AT&T - Yes, two to three bars
VERIZON - Yes, four to five bars
SERVICES - 20/30 and some 50 amp sites, water, sewage dump in the park.

COST - $14 Nightly no discounts offered. $18 Nightly for the two sites with sewer hook ups.

DISCOUNTS - None

REVIEW - Great park. Beautiful lake with good fishing but the lake is contaminated with DDT so you cannot take fish even if you wanted them. Sites are mostly level but if you have a coach or fiver that is bigger than forty feet (select sites) you may have a problem leveling front to back. Restrooms are very clean and smell clean. Water pressure is 40#. Dumpsters dispersed throughout the campground. Each site has a Casita and ADA sites have a small waste receptacle. 

Florey  County Park (below)


This is a good overnight spot if the City of Andrews free RV park is full. It is a giant limestone gravel parking lot with full hook ups. They have 20/30/50 amp electric. The water tastes of sulfur so if you have an ice maker in your refrigerator turn it off. The water is clean but two sets of filters did not rid the sulfur smell from the water. There is a nice recreation area for the kids but you might want to heed the warning about Rattlesnakes.  Park Review (Scroll down to Texas)


It is expensive nightly. However, the attendant didn't answer his or her door, there was no place to self-register, and they did not come by our RV, so our stay was free for the night. 



Two of the other three RV's in the campground seemed to be occupied by "oilers."  There was a family in the one next to us.  This area is rife with oil, fracking for gas etc.  In fact, the view across the road was an oil well, and there was a processing plant next door.  The park itself was once part of an oil company's campus, and was donated as a park in the 50's.  We felt safe here though.

Park Rating


WIFI - No
AT&T - Yes, one bar of 4G LTE
VERIZON - Yes, five bars of 4G LTE

SERVICES - 20/30/50 AMPS, Sewer, Water, Trash barrels. 

COSTS - RV Full hook ups - $35 Daily, RV No Hook ups $10.00 Tents $10 Daily, Car Sleeping $5.00 Daily, 

DISCOUNTS - None that we are aware of.

REVIEW - This is an out of the way park about 10 minutes North of Andrews. Take Main Street North out of Andrews and look for the park sign.  The park is a nice one night stop over and beats Wally World. It is basically a large pea gravel parking lot with a power pedestal, sewer hook up and water outlets. All of the hook ups appear to be just several months old. Large area to pull a big rig in and plenty large enough for any size coach and their toad and/or trailer. Not a garden spot but clean and quiet.


Hords Creek C.O.E. Lakeside Campground (below)



Hords Creek C.O.E. is a fairly typical Corps of Engineers park. Water and electric, clean restrooms and showers. There are dumpsters provided and each site has a casita with a picnic table.  The camping facilities are distributed around the lake, so it's not crowded.  There are a few 50 A, full hookup sites, and a few 30A full hookups, as well.  We went with only water and sewer the first 4 days, but splurged and spent the extra $3 a night to have a sewer hookup the last 2 nights.  The views are nice and the campground is quiet. Park Review (scroll down to Texas)


Sunrises were beautiful



The neighbors were quiet







Park Rating


WIFI - No
AT&T - Yes, but weak with 2 bars and drops quite regularly. If you have a Cell Booster you're golden
VERIZON - No viable signal - 1x service

SERVICES - 20/30/50 AMPS, some FHU's available but most are water and electric only. Sewage Dump and trash bins are on site about a half a mile away.

COST - $16, $22 FOR 30 AMP - $26 FOR $50 AMP 

DISCOUNTS - If you have the Golden Access Pass the cost is cut in half

REVIEW - Our RV site was #2  The campground includes pull through (50-70 feet in length), many 40' sites - some with low hanging trees.  The lakeside sites are very nice and the grounds are kept mowed, beaches on the lake, good fishing, Staff is helpful and very nice.  It is exceedingly quite at night. Much wildlife on the park grounds. We counted 15 deer in one group. Most pads seem quite level. There are sites that have a screen room in addition to the RV Pad. Water is quite good, power pedestals show some wear, check voltages before plugging in or have an on board or plug in EMS

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Martha's favorite pictures from the first 10 months of RV life




Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, and Oceans 


One of my goals was to get to a LOT of beaches.  We managed to get to ocean beaches in Rhode Island, North Carolina and Texas.  We also found lakes, rivers, and streams with beautiful views.

Rhode Island


Massachusetts


Union Grove campground, Texas

Texas

Waterfall near Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Texas

Whale watching at Cape Cod


Providence, Rhode Island
Newport Harbor, Rhode Island



Virginia lake
Newport Harbor, Rhode Island
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Door County Wisconsin beach

Trout stream in Missouri
Providence, Rhode Island
Pond at the KOA in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Illinois river

Wisconsin lake
Rhode Island beach
Outer Banks
Crashing waves at Cape Hattaras, I think
Virginia
Outer Banks
Wisconsin
Cape Cod


Wildlife

In the various campgrounds and tours, we got to see lots of wildlife and some cool looking domesticated animals, as well.

Birds on Port Aransas Beach



Deer on Assateague Island
Horses on Ocracoke Island
Deer in Kentucky
Swan and chicks at Swan Lake, Iowa
Grackle hitching a ride on the Port Aransas ferry
Quarter horse at the King Ranch, Texas
Rhode Island Cows
Wild horse on Assateague Island
Wisconsin mosquito
Texas Longhorn

Wisconsin turtle


GATOR at Aransas Wildlife Refuge


When some lady with a camera interrupts your nap


Heron at Aransas Wildlife Refuge



Mexican Buzzard at King Ranch, Texas

Sky

No two sunsets alike, no two clouds alike, and the number of shades of blue and gray are amazing.

Outer Banks


Nothing like getting in on someone else's photo session 
Fort Monroe, Virginia


Fayetteville moon
Outer banks moon
Clouds
Sunset cruise in Port Aransas

Toes in the water

I don't do a lot of swimming at the beach, but I always want to get my toes in the water.







Ass in the sand

Loved those days when I could take off my shoes and relax on the beach.



Gratuitous selfies

Time to start the adventure
Massachusetts

Infinity room at House on the Rock
Port Aransas beach
Wine tasting in Wisconsin

Maryland
BEACH!
Cape Cod
Kentucky
Hiking
Iowa State Fair
At The Big Tree in  Lamar, Texas
At the Wright Brothers Memorial in North Carolina



Outer Banks
  
Steamtown Museum


Friends and family

One of the best things that comes from being retired and able to travel is seeing friends and family along the way!  And having fun visiting with friends and family back in Fayetteville when we return.

On the river in Grafton with Ken and Ann

Drinks and philosophical discussions at Chez Wenzler 
Wine tasting in Iowa with Linda and Claire
Wine tasting in Herrmann with Ken and Ann


Snapchats from the granddog
Visiting with Arkansas friends that have moved to Florida while we both were in Rhode Island (this stuff happens!)
Celebrating nephew David's birthday in Dallas
Women with cool glasses
Niece Alex and Evan
Coach Alex
Taking son Brad to dinner
We got to attend Richard and Christina's wedding
We got to hug our framily, Glynn and Tanya
We got to see my brother and his wife all dressed up
We got to watch these fools do the Polar Plunge at South Padre Island in freezing windchills
Can you find my brother and his daughters?
Jake calling the meeting to order

Our Virginia host, Tim (he has a PhD, really)
Jake found a rug that matches him at the Wenzler house!








Chuck humoring me

Chuck is helping me learn to be silly again!

On top of the lighthouse in Wisconsin
Near Jamestown Rhode Island

Iowa State Fair
Providence, Rhode Island
My "kid" at the circus museum



Wisconsin festivities

Outer banks ice cream shop

In search of the best Wisconsin Fish Fry.
She never lets me eat until she's taken a picture of the food!
At the Coastal Bend Museum

Door County Wisconsin

Rubbing the Buddha Belly for luck at the House on the Rock

On the "Cowch" at the Cheese Chalet

This and That

Why buy the stuff when you can just take a picture of the sentiment?
Signs of spring

Yuccas in bloom at Aransas Wildlife Refuge
It must have been good.  We took a picture of the wine bottle after the wine was gone.




Sometimes you just choose the wine for the label
Wine tasting

Drink at the distillery in Wisconsin


Butter cow at the Iowa State Fair

Weinermobile in Missouri
In front of an IGA in Wisconsin

Every little place we went in Wisconsin had a bar...or three
And all the bars sold PBR
We entered retirement well prepared

Iowa State Fair 


Paella in Newport, Rhode Island
Wendy Kring fed me Paranoia wine

Mead tasting in Rhode Island

Here's your sign!
And a very different kind of sign






Because I can...and nobody was watching :)

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