Start of our Travels - Summer 2026

It's that time of year again, so that means it's time for us to start travelling. This will be our 16th year of travel in our motorhome. What a life! It's something that we always wanted to do so we saved and saved for years until we could fulfill our dream.

As an example, here's the driver's side of our motorhome showing maps of our travels.  It is so eye-catching that I saw a guy pass me once and then slow down so he could take a picture!

The one on the bottom is the last three years out west and one year up to New England area.

Our first stop was about 300 miles north in Perry, Florida at The Oaks RV Park. We picked this place because of the laid-back atmosphere stated in the reviews as well as the animals (especially the free-range chickens) that are in the park. AND…we were not disappointed. Only 18 sites amongst the Oak trees with Spanish Moss hanging from the limbs. 

I got a text while on our way that asked about our arrival time. We told them 4 and, as we pulled across the highway to enter, the owners, Mark and Luann were there in their golf cart to greet us and guide us to our pull-thru site. While Mark and I gabbed, she pulled out a dozen fresh, colored eggs from her chickens as a welcoming gift. So nice!

Our pull-through site with lots of room around us

A brand-new covered patio for gatherings, visiting, and conversation

Just a few of the dozens of chickens roaming around and eating their breakfast.

Here's the dozen eggs we were given upon arrival. The extra-large one is from a Turkey....have not eaten that one yet.

Next, we headed to Holt, Florida for a one-night stay. We've stayed here many times as we cross the Panhandle. Nice easy in, easy out.

Then, we stopped at one of the new Love's RV Stops. I'm beginning to like them. 

The spots are easy to maneuver, and we felt safe due to all the trucks and cars coming in and out.

We then went and stayed 4 nights in Cajun Country so we could have some good tasting Cajun food. Yummers.

I like Gumbo too!

You getting hungry yet?

Happy trio about to eat. We both are looking at the camera but look what Katie is looking at!

Found this crawdad (mudbug, crayfish) outside in the morning. No, we did not eat him.

We ran into some Lovebugs going through Louisiana. This is what our coach looked like after I had already cleaned it once at a truck stop the first time

This is after 120 miles. It took me 45 minutes to get the front of our coach all clean. Sticky little buggers.

We then went to Lake Falling Star RV Park just east of Lockhart, Texas where we stayed three nights and ate BBQ all three days!

...almost done...

Sausage, brisket, ribs

On our way from Austin to San Antonio, we drove on the "fastest road in America". 

85 Miles per Hour!! Yikes. And you know people go faster than that.

That's it for now. We head to Carlsbad Caverns and places north next on our way to Montana in mid-May.

Hope you enjoyed travelling with us.

steve/kim/katie

TX, NM, CO, UT,

 Those initials are for the next part of our summer journey. Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.

We are in Soap Lake, Washington for 2 weeks to visit the "Scablands"

Here's some highlights of our trip up to this point:

AMARILLO BOTANICAL GARDENS

Small but beautiful gardens in Amarillo. One of the best we've seen. Spent over 2 hours taking photos and enjoying the different parts of the garden.

Gorgeous Columbine display at the entrance.

Common Morning-Glory

Fishtail Palm Tree that was located in the indoor tropical part of the garden.

CHACO CANYON RUINS

We were here years ago but the last visit, we were stopped by the roads being washed away. This year, we got to get back here. Pueblo Bonito is the most thoroughly investigated and celebrated cultural site in Chaco Canyon. Planned and constructed in stages between AD 850 to AD 1150 by ancestral Puebloan peoples, this was the center of the Chacoan world.  More than 600 rooms towered four and five stories above the valley floor, covering 3 acres.

Present day aerial image.

Image showing how it became after construction years and years ago.

Notice the rock face that tumbled down to the upper left.

Here's what it looks like present day while walking through.

Original wall construction

Imagine placing each and every one of these rocks?

MESA VERDE

Even after coming here for five times, it's still amazing that people built and lived in these cliff dwellings.

MONUMENT VALLEY

Even though we've been here twice before, and swore we wouldn't take photos this time, we still took so many photos. It's difficult to only put in a few here. The place is just too gorgeous! 

Kayaking in the desert?

The clouds were magnificent this day

The dirt road is the best way to see the park. It's 17 miles and the worst road we've ever been on. It's gotten worse over the years. Potholes, side-to-side bumps...had to go 5 mph part of the way. But...it's was worth it.

More wonderful clouds

GOOSENECKS STATE PARK

This is an amazing view of three "goosenecks" on the San Juan River. It's over 1,000 feet to the river surface.

Don't get too close to the edge. It's over 1,000 feet down!

Okay....the rest of these highlights will have to wait until next blog entry.....too many fantastic sights to share.

VALLEY OF THE GODS

GOBLINS STATE PARK

CAPITOL REEF

BURNS TRAIL ROAD

HIGHWAY 12

DRUMHELLER CHANNELS (SCABLANDS)

KAYAKING

We trust you enjoyed this one. We sure are having a ball in our 13th year of RV travelling.

Steve/Kim/Katie

The Coach was Rockin'!!

No....not "Rockin'" like that ! From the wind !!

We traveled out to Fort Stockton, Texas for a couple of nights to breathe before heading north to Carlsbad Caverns. Turns out there was a scary wind storm coming in from the west on our second day there. But, we could not get away because it was all across that part of Texas. Plus, this one was part of that Bomb Storm that hit the midwest.

Here's the storm that went east from us. Look at all the lightning bolts where the "push pin" is!

Look at the wind in the far right column. This is constant wind with gusts of to 40 mph.

This is Carlsbad where we were headed. These winds are waaaay more strong than where we were in Texas. Gusts up to 65 mph. They also had two tornadoes hit right where we were going to stay!

We pulled our stabilizing jacks up, pulled in our slides and waited it out. Not scary, just a LOT of wind.

A few days later, I read where someone was going out for his first trip in and RV near Amarillo, Texas. He hit the same wind storm and had his passenger window come out 2 feet! Yikes.

We ended up staying an additional night in Fort Stockton to wait out the wind storm but the view out our coach was fabulous. You could see a hundred miles easily.

A panorama looking west towards El Paso, Texas

Interstate 10 heading west. Not much out there.

Of course, we had to try out the best Mexican restaurant for breakfast. Muy delicioso!!

I had the iced tea because I was the driver. Kim had the XX....rats.

Katie likes to sit next to me while I work.

She didn't mind the wind storm at all.

Next up, Carlsbad Caverns....for the 4th time!


steve/kim/katie

Texas BBQ Trail

Okay, prepare to start drooling....that is, if you like good BBQ.

Went a couple of times to Smitty's in Lockhart. It's the best.

Outside entrance from the back parking lot

This is what you see upon entering. They lift up the lids to get to the meat.

Everyone eats at long tables.

The carver slicing up some brisket.

Outside the front entrance. Doesn't look like much does it?

Opening the lids to get to our order.

Sausage, sausage, sausage. Kim's favorite.

Went to buy a hat here and liked the sign...not the $450 price tag on the hats though.

Our RV spot in the Texas country with Katie photo-bombing it.

Partial view of the lake in front of us.

Lockhart county seat building....gorgeous.

Went birding one morning and took a panorama of the lake.

Looking waaaay back to our RV on the right from the levee.

Nice stop. Good food. Nice to stay still for a few days without a lot to do except do a few minor repairs on the coach and eat ribs, brisket and sausage.

...heading out west some more now....

Oh, here's our map of travel starting March 2018 until now.

Amazing journey isn't it?

See you next entry.

Steve/Kim/Katie