Our “must have” list for choosing a newer factory-built motorhome included a length requirement… under 35 feet. This would provide us with a tight turning radius and allow us to go most anywhere. In our previous 16 years “on the road” (1998- 2014), we had been attracted to State Parks and National Parks. Built in the 1930’s by Pres. Roosevelt’s CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), the sites tend to be minimal. Camping in those days involved tents, small tow-behind trailers and truck campers. Early in our RVing life, we bought a Florida State Park Pass. It fit our “price-sensitive” nature and the variety of campers that shared the parks with us broadened our horizons. That winter, in our 35-foot bus conversion, we enjoyed close-up experiences of some of Florida’s most unique features. Some years later, traveling in our 24-foot Class C Motorhome, we followed the National Parks up the West Coast. A Senior Pass offers U.S. citizens, age 62 and over, free admission to federal lands. What spectacular views we had at Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Redwood National Parks. As we headed east through British Columbia, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff made the Canadian Rockies highlights of our travels... even to this day. A few years later we took our nephew to Arizona’s Grand Canyon (South and North Rim) and Utah’s Bryce and Zion National Parks. No disappointments there!
With our 32-foot Tiffin Allegro Open Road Motorhome, we are back enjoying State Parks. Trying to avoid the Arctic Blast reaching deep into the U.S. earlier this month, we dipped down to I-10 and the Gulf waters. It was interesting to see how Mississippi was looking 14 years after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. We stayed in Buccaneer State Park in Waveland, MS. Segwick friends Jim and Marilyn Decatur had boasted about the beauty of that park, but, sadly, it had suffered greatly in 2005 and had to be closed. Over the years the sites have been restored; it’s still pretty barren of trees. While biking the shoreline road to Pass Christian, we got a 1st-hand view of expensive new construction on very tall stilts.
Our departure from New Orleans took us 1 1/2 hours south to Grand Isle State Park. We traveled on a long new bridge winding its way through the bayou to the Gulf shore. Lots more houses on stilts. We loved the sunset and sunrise views from a tower above the boardwalk. The temps hovered around 40 degrees even on the Lousiana beaches.
After a great reunion visit with Saudi-day friends Ginny and Dave in the Houston area,
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| Everyone should get the chance to drive through downtown Houston |
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we camped in South Llano River State Park near Juction, TX and Davis Mountains State Park in Fort Davis, TX. At the renowned McDonald Observatory nearby, we were participants in the “Star Party” where we learned a lot about the night sky. We also learned that the night air this time of year will chill you to the bone! Many State parks are adding cabins to their properties, making the “State Park Experience” more available to more people.
Got to love it!
Got to love it!
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