01-07OCT25 - Various (co, nm, tx, la - enroute houma, la)

Wednesday first day of October; very bad RV traveling day.  First USB cord to new rear camera monitor is broken (thankfully we have extra cords once we figure out issue).  Then black tank level sensor says tank is 1/3 full even after two complete 100% flushes (one hour wasted).  Followed by more one lane construction backups enroute Durango, CO.  At Durango GPS takes us into narrow streets of residential Durango neighborhood.  So we switch to cell phone GPS for Durango RV Resort.  GPS takes us to Durango Farm RV (ten miles out of town🙃  Not the RV right park.

Owner says common problem because google still “knows” old name of Oasis RV, and new owners haven’t found time to change google info.  Turns out the so-called resort we are looking for is another old run down KOA.  So what was supposed to be relaxing 220 mile and four hours was six hours and 240 miles (so no walk about of town as planned).

After setting up camp two off leash dogs attack Dan & Rocket (thankfully Rocket is only 20 pounds and wearing full halter and Dan is well practiced at pulling Rocket up by halter and holding tight).  Rocket escapes injury but Dan got a “small” gash on stomach from Rocket trying to attack the attacking dogs🙃  The thirty something couple barely apologized and said doge were only off leash from car to trailer.  Dan said doesn’t matter! (and reported the incident to front office next morning).  Last event of the was unplanned refilling DEF tank.

Thursday, 02OCT, slightly late start but no events on drive (just two one lane construction zones).  We stopped for lunch near Santa Fe and start looking for RV Park.  First one says no room, and second one voice mail says leave message.  Fearing we are wasting time we head to one with voice mail.  It’s a 35 mile drive away from Santa Fe and we hope we don’t have to back-track.  Get there and its another park that was former KOA.  Turns out annual balloon festival in Albuquerque (aka ABQ) starts this week and people will stay in Santa Fe and drive to festival as needed.  Nicely maintained park has geodesic dome tents for glamping (insulated tent walls with queen bed, but no power? or water)?

Friday AM on the road and head east on I-40E for five hours of boring interstate driving.  Stop at Big Texan RV Ranch where which we have used few times in past (we first stayed there in MAY2008 (see link below).  Home of the “slug bug ranch” (Stop & Spray Awhile).  Very busy because of ABQ Ballon Festival, apparently this is halfway point for many Texans to drive to ABQ?

The Ryan RV Express: 31MAY/01JUN08 - Amarillo, TX

Big Texan RV Ranch | RV Resort, Cabins & Wagons in Amarillo, TX

After setting up RV camp we caught free RV camp shuttle bus to Big Texan Restaurant home of the free 72 ounce steak challenge.  Long horn limos formally available for free anywhere in Amarillo are no longer available; so now a shuttle bus. Steak and sides are good, and worth the “new” price enlight of post covid supply issues, food and labor costs.

Big Texan Steak Ranch – The Big Texan 

Get back to RV to find out Corrie left cell phone at restaurant or gift store (oh yeah her ringer on phone doesn’t work so can’t call it to find it).  Dan takes shuttle back to Big Texan and Restaurant, they have phone.  Dan stops by gate of RV camp to take pics of old limos, VW bugs and stuff partially buried and open to public spray painting.  Get back to RV and find Rocket chewed up one of Corrie’s hearing aids☹

Saturday starts off wrong with Dan breaking glass coffee pot😕  Then an uneventful drive to Wichita Falls, TX.  On the way make emergency stop at wally mart to replace coffee pot.  Find nice little RV park (Wichita Falls RV Park).  Older park with fiberglass whimsical figures here and there.  Extremely hot/dry air; AC runs constantly and Corrie hits the pool.

Sunday hot and humid; most of drive was on TX state roads (sometimes four lanes of almost freeway quality and speed limit 75mph which we don’t do; or two lanes with narrow shoulders and speed limit 70mph).  Small KOA in nice shape and pool still open (Corrie says too cold).  Dan thinks black water tank has malfunctioning gauges, so flushes it two times!

Monday, 06OCT, change of plans – rather than take two days to get to Coushatta Casino RV in Kinder, LA, we decide to drive for 5 to 6 hours in one day and spend two nights in the Casino RV Park.  Hardly any traffic on the drive.  In fact last 120 miles on I-49S almost no services on the road and no signs of any towns at few exits.  Arrive to LA weather hot and humid.

$29 Dollars for RV spot with $10 resort fee and they take $50 bucks refundable?  Brand new building being built to replace original hotel/casino opening in spring 2026; definitely overdue!!!  We haven’t been here in years so we checked with member center to find out our “old” cards need to be re-issued, but it needed older staff member to figure o how to do it!  Corrie shocked by “price” of penny slots; no longer can you choose any number of pennies 1 cent to 1 dollar, there are now set minimum bets from 38 cents to 88 cents.  But Dan was very happy with the unending free supply of creamsicle from casino ICEE machine🙃

RV bathroom needed renovation our last time here, needs to be done now.  Tuesday, 07OCT, no driving of RV but Toad disconnected rather than use casino free shuttle.  Just mundane RV chores; Corrie does laundry; Dan fixes leaking shoreside water connection and fiddles with new DISH system because only one satellite being picked up.  After lunch one hour at pool; that evening back to casino and dinner in their “asian” bistro.

Back at RV plan is to connect toad to RV and prepare for early AM departure to son Joe, wife Bethany and family in our old home down of Houma, LA.  But Dan notices RV is no longer sitting level even though we have auto-leveling system.  Reset level and nothing more done in prep for leaving tomorrow☹