SAFE & SOUND & SOCIALLY ISOLATING IN TEXAS!!!!!!

“Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed, most peculiar, Mama.” John Lennon

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We hope this blog finds you safe and healthy! We spent the month of April in Harlingen Texas, at Tropic Winds RV Resort and I have to tell you that the name fits! This was by far the windiest place we have ever been. Winds were consistently blowing twenty to thirty miles an hour, with gust up to sixty miles per hour. If only all parks names fit as well…Paradise Park for example is often anything but paradise! With the state of Texas sheltering in place, the resort allowed us to stay past our original departure date and extended us until the end of the month at no extra charge. We used this time to stockpile needed items with unexpected provisions arriving courtesy of Nick and Kat! With Texas set to open on May first, we blew out of Harlingen on April 13th and headed to Lake Conroe!

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We had heard nothing but rave reviews about Lake Conroe, the flagship park of the Thousand Trails system, and we are happy to say it has not disappointed! We were fortunate to get a spot in the new section with large concrete pads and a patio, which is perfect for the rainy season, as well as practicing social distancing. Despite the parks amenities remaining closed, we have enjoyed our time here very much. Deek and I enjoy a walk along the lake every morning, our electric bikes have gotten a work out, and on hot days we can cool off in the lake. We have been fortunate to have the same couple staying near us at both parks, which has allowed for some camaraderie, including some socially distant happy hours! We had an additional opportunity to employ our social distancing skills when Dan and Anne, whom we were campground neighbors with in Yuma, spent a few days at Conroe. It was really great to see them and hear about their travels!

Along with the rest of the world. the pandemic has changed our daily life and future plans. We are resuming traveling, but even that looks different! We have become accustomed to having a back up plan for all of our reservations, as parks – especially state parks – often change their policy and cancel existing reservations! Although many states are back in business, Bart and I have decided that we will be diligent in taking all possible precautions, including maintaining social distance. We will not be dining at restaurants or breweries; our tourist activities are limited to scenic drives and uncrowded nature locations such as lakes and beaches!

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Our New Normal

We really, and I mean REALLY, miss eating at restaurants, diners and breweries all across this beautiful country of ours, but we do not see dining out in our near future. However, we do indulge in curbside pickup two to three times a week. We love to support local small businesses, but have also enjoyed some national chains. We have been impressed with the contact free service at Texas Roadhouse, Panda Express, and Bart’s favorite, Whataburger! Even grocery shopping has changed for us. We now opt for curbside pickup at Walmart or a local grocery store. I must admit this has reduced our monthly spending a good deal by eliminating impulse buying! We actually prefer shopping this way, and don’t anticipate changing anytime soon, Bart has suddenly taken over grocery shopping duties which helps to quench his need for online ordering! During the stay at home period, we have done a great deal of cooking and baking, with mixed results! We have also spent a lot of time reading, writing, cleaning and organizing. We have completed cleaning out and organizing all of our interior cupboards, closets and drawers. We have also cleaned out and organized all of the outdoor bins. We were amazed at how much stuff we threw away or donated! We discovered that purging items is no longer a difficult process for us. In fact is is the natural thing to do.

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Preparing to get “On the Road Again”

I would be remiss to write about this period of time without giving a huge shout out to Thousand Trails! They have been amazingly accommodating during the pandemic. Not only did they allow RVers to extend their stays free of charge, they observed social distancing protocol in all areas, including check in, laundry, and when receiving mail! As we begin booking our trip back east, we are making every effort to stay in Thousand Trails, whenever possible. Our summer plans have changed a bit, but in an effort to add some excitement into pandemic life, we will wait until our next blog to discuss our travel plans… a little hint.. We just might be seeing some of you soon!!!! Stay turned for updates! Stay Safe and Be Kind!

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UNTIL NEXT TIME…