Chillin' with Patsy: LA sticker

On Saturday, Mar. 23^rd we felt the moving itch early. Bill and I were awake around 6 and even Clemson was restless for a while. We got up soon after and made our hot drinks. I finished loading pictures into my post and got it published. It was a very warm night for sleeping and that is a real treat! Almost the warmest we’ve had at 64F. We read a few blogs but didn’t catch them all. A lot of friends moved locations yesterday as we all slowly make our way home so it was nice to see where they ended up.

Nice start to our day but it didn't last

Nutrition for the road

Bill had toast and jam and I had a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of rye toast for breakfast. It isn’t because I was hungry but I knew I would be soon after getting on the road so it hit the spot and filled it. We were ready to pull out around 8:15 and I gave one glance back at this wonderful park. No doubt we will return. I really enjoyed it. It was sad that we didn't meet Tom and Cindy until our last day. It seemed like a nice connection and it would have been nice to spend more time with them.

Getting hooked up and ready to roll
they can cut the grass now that has grown a lot in 2 weeks

Great staff here made us all feel welcome

A glance back to say goodbye to a nice park

Turning right out of the park onto Cty Rd. 312 and then catching US-67, it was a cloudy start to our run. There were patches of blue before too long and a warm 63F gave us hope. In approximately 60 miles, we were exiting onto I-20E near Lancaster, Tx. Funny, as we drove on the upper of an overpass, looking down to the streets and businesses below us, the parking lots were proof of a recent downpour. Our route was dry.

Just a few things along the route today that I snapped pictures of

About 5 minutes of light rain spatters cleaned our already washed windshield and then it was more clear skies hovering over us. Yay! We needed a pit stop and since there were no rest areas closer than 58 miles, we pulled off into a travel centre. We all bought a coffee and took a piddle break, Clemson included. He got a nice walk with Pat and a drink of water too. Diesel was over $3/gal there and Rob wanted to fuel up so not too much further, we pulled off again to a TA station to better the price. At that point we topped up with another 12 gallons as well.

Looks like the sun is only poking through to draw up water

Everywhere you look, there are water towers, all the same shape but every once in a while, I see one worth snapping a picture of.

This was right alongside the highway begging to be photographed
Such a big fat tower but I liked the tree in the name Cedar Hill

When I took the picture of the Lindale water tower, with the grapes, there was also a sign that said “Home of Miranda Lambert”. I didn’t know that about the c/w singer. It was 12:45 when we entered Louisiana. Arm pump! This is the first time, ever, for Bill and I in this state and we were impressed when we stopped near Greenwood at their Information Centre.

Lindale's tower - Miranda's hometown
Now, maybe they aren't grapes, maybe they are black berries

Bill went in first while I got our sandwiches out of the fridge. He signed their book and when he mentioned we were from Canada, the staffer offered him a state pin and a map. Thank you! How nice, we collect the pins.

after the few spatters of rain

And he sleeps on Momma's hoody

Still not sure about the sky but it was warming up nicely

so much red earth this winter

I don't recall seeing so much of it previous years, other than Utah

It wasn’t much farther and we were making the exit off I-20 to the by-pass of 220 and soon enough turning into the parking lot of Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack. It is a large area for parking and a separate area for trucks and rv’s. We pulled up alongside the grass area rather than in the row parking and this was approved from a staff inside the casino. Works for them, works for us!

This oversize load had a problem and we all just wanted to get by
before a tire blew - Phewy, burnt rubber in the nostrils = unpleasant

This is the interstate I-20E and a very pretty drive in some sections

Yay!

A new state for us!

We all decided to meet at 5:30 and go to the casino for supper. Until then, we sat, dozed and moved outside with our chairs and read our books. It was so warm in the shade that after returning from Clemson’s ‘ritual’ walk at 3, I joined Bill there instead of in the sun. Soon enough, the wind drove me to the back of the Suite for another 15 minutes of Vitamin D. We got cleaned up and walked back to Harrah’s. After getting a player’s card each, we walked, looking for the restaurant of which there really wasn’t one.

This was a huge waterpark that Chelsea, Olivia and Nathan would love
Well, maybe even the older grandsons too (Carter and Zach?)

For not being rush hour or a weekday, Shreveport was busy enough

We parked as far away as we could

With grass for Clemson to piddle on

And he kind of loved it

What do you think?

It must have felt great on his feet or something
He was just bouncing all over

Fuddruckers (I dare ya to say that 5 times fast!) was the best choice, which consisted of fast food basically, as the only other option of a deli didn’t appeal to any of us. Other than the cost for the burgers, and fries, that was a humdinger of a meal. I had fish and chips with catfish and wedge fries and Bill had a bacon cheeseburger with fries. We both had a milkshake rather than a soda. It was all very good. We each donated a bit of cash at the machines but had no desire to spend a lot of money or time.

good food

We walked our suppers off crossing the parking lot to our homes and said goodnight. It was 7:30 when I changed into my ‘jammies’ and sat to finish my post. I’m hoping to get a few more chapters read in my book before my eyelids take over. This was a great travel day and we have arrived safely for the night.