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).  Stay at small KOA in Mt Pleasant, TX, 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☹

01-30SEP25 - Sultan, WA (house/yard work & start of new RV adventure - wa, id, ut 🚐)

Monday early AM (labor day) off to grandson Mason soccer team’s third game of the Labor Day Cup tournament.  They win the game and are now in the final at 4PM🙃  So back home until then.  After some R&R back to Starfire Soccer Complex for the final.

Mason’s team wins 3 to 2😊  Other team had two phenomenal forwards that our defense made couple of big errors allowing goals.  But the other team played rougher than they needed and was assessed two well deserved penalties; that we scored off of using set plays.

Rest of week Corrie has girl’s day out with Jan Formisano; first day of school for grandboys; outside chores; mowing; and routine medical appointments.  Plus hours and hours tending to the flowers and harvesting last of the summer crops.

Saturday AM, 06SEP, Dan heads to Jaxson’s soccer game in West Seattle.  (NOTE - for very old friends with good memories, Dan’s first house (see Below pic, NOTE - still no lawn:) was in West Seattle one-half mile from site of the soccer game; bought for $32K in 1978, now estimated on Zillow $560K.)  After game, Dan fights weekend traffic out of Seattle, one hour drive takes two.

Sunday cool day with light rain.  Dan takes opportunity to go to our ancient barn (built early 60s) to clean out five years inattention.  Starts with two outside stalls, then shifted to work bench area.  Tons of cobwebs and dust removed (thank goodness for portable, battery powered shop-vac).  In process attacked by two killer rats!   More cleaning to follow. 

Monday, 08SEP, lunch time, contractor shows up to clean moss off roof and then clean solar array (which hasn’t been done since it was built).  After contractor leaves Dan breaks out our gas powered pressure washer and cleans outside of roof gutters and then cleans the small deck (16ft buy 16ft).

Wednesday starting oiling small deck.  Then back to barn, all accumulated plastic sheeting/tarps damaged by rats/mice disposed of (2 more killer rates encountered).  Back to house and pressure washing large deck.  Thursday Corrie runs errands and does yard work, Dan starts “oiling” small deck with Thompson Water Seal.

Sunday, 14SEP, overcast and drizzle Dan works in barn most of the day.  And goes to Mason’s soccer game in Seattle (which was on Saturday.  Oh Yeah - Jaxson is now training to be soccer referee!  Monday sun returns and Dan gets back to oiling small deck.

Tuesday AM Dan runs RV to local RV dealer for new backup camera; then home to continue oiling small deck.  RV ready at 330Pm so Dan stops work and we go to pick up RV.  New rear camera system is great!  Old camera and monitor still in RV and works.  But it was terrible and now can be ignored.

Rest of week doing errands/chores - flu/covid shots; finish oiling small deck; mowing; cleaning barn (encountering two more killer rats); getting Rocket groomed.

Saturday, 20SEP, catch morning ferry to Kingston and on to Pitre’s for early celebration of grandson Mason’s twelfth birthday.  After unloading truck it was off to two different grandboy’s soccer games  --  Dan, Raymond north of Seattle in Shoreline for Mason’s game  --  and Corrie, Rebecca stay local for Jaxson’s game.  Unfortunately because of traffic Dan, Raymond and Mason take almost three hours to return house.  Then immediately off to Olive Garden for Mason’s early b-day dinner.  Then Pitre to home for some cribbage and then to bed.

Sunday (last day of summer) early AM we catch ferry and drive home, just to relax, recover and do nothing.  Monday & Tuesday lots of little chores done and start prep’ing for lengthy RV trip come at end of week.

Wednesday (24SEP, grandson Mason’s actual b-day) Dan moves RV out of garage.  Gets it fueled and then parks it by house to prepare for planned trip.  Every item removed, and items for the prior trips with grandboys removed and not re-stowed.

Thursday AM Dan is off to bi-monthly lunch with CG Academy classmates who live in driving distance of Seattle (on occasion attendees drive in from Portland, OR).  Last one was 24JUL.

Friday major effort by us to get RV ready for Saturday departure.  Not sure we have done enough to get out tomorrow.  Dan was making one more mowing of the yard when ride’m mower ran out of gas and battery died☹   Probably at worse part of driveway (farthest from house and mower facing downhill😕  Dan hooked the Fiesta up to rear of mower.  Corrie drove him and mower Dan riding on hood of mower to steer since it was going backwards.  Jump start and back in business.

Saturday, 27SEP, all of morning and until 3PM used to get RV and Toad ready for our long drive to Houma, LA.  Purpose of trip is spend significant time in our old home town of Houma,LA.  Primarily to see son Joe, wife Bethany, and granddaughter Coraline.  As well as cajun in-laws; old friends and be there for Coraline’s sixth b-day and holidays (maybe even xmas).

Took longer than expected with a few hiccups.  First stop is at Dan cousin Steve Kiesel and wife Bonnie’s (haven’t seen them since JUL2022.  Great visit and a surprise was that their daughter Joleen was also there.  Decompress from drive, Lasagna for dinner and reminiscing and early to bed.

The Ryan RV Express: 23-28JUL22 - Kittitas, WA & Various (enroute canada - eh?)

Sunday, AM on the interstate to Yakima and cheap diesel at Wolf Den.  South into Oregon and decide to drive on to Caldwell, ID, to finally call it a day (388 miles in seven half hours).

Monday less hours driving 290 miles to Tremonton, UT.

Tuesday (end of the month) on road heading toward Moab Utah.  Leave I-15 and take the road that bypasses east and north of SLC (better than fighting always heavy traffic in I-15).  Make great time to Heber City.  Unfortunately major one lane construction blockages on US 191 all the way to Price, UT (GPS still doesn’t “know” where it is in this part of Utah, just like last we were here? see below email link).  So frazzled by now, just get to Green River, UT, and call it a day.  What was planned as a six hour trip to Moab. ends up being seven hours, stopping short of Moab by one hour🙃

The Ryan RV Express: 27SEP-06OCT23 - Cleburne, TX & Various (or, id, ut, nm, tx)