The "adult" version of the Charles Dickens classic? No, and shame on you for even asking. I can't take you anywhere.
We were up early. "How early?" you ask. I'm getting there. I think it was around 5:15 - Joan was up before me, which is a rare thing. She really wanted to get through Austin and the rest of the traffic from San Antonio to Fort Worth. It's a good plan, but, damn, it is early. We cleaned up, I had a light breakfast, we disconnected, and were rolling before 6:30.
Traffic was very light as we rolled through the east side of San Antonio on the 410 Loop. Onto I-35 going north. This will be our road for the rest of Texas, through Oklahoma, and into Kansas. Yes, there are back roads, but if we can beat the traffic, this will be faster and more direct. Mother Nature even blessed us with a tailwind.
Our first stop for the day was at Buc-ee's in New Braunfels. It's my favorite Buc-ee's, easy access on and off. We filled up the coach and the Equinox, didn't go inside. Through Austin with no slow-down (one in a row!). Through Roundrock and Georgetown. A stop at a rest area, where truckers were parked everywhere - really, it was hard to make our way through. We found a parking slot (direct access was blocked by a semi parked across the sites instead of in them, but we fit just behind him and jogged; anything bigger than us would not have made it.
Ruf got some breakfast, I did a walk around to check everything, Joan topped off water, coffee, and sodas, and we were rolling again.
It is always solid traffic on this corridor between Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio; yes, even on a Sunday morning, but nothing that slowed down our forward progress. Through Waco, take a left where I-35W and I-35E split, and head towards Fort Worth. The temp had climbed into the 90s.
In the stretch from Waco to Fort Worth, Buc-ee's is going to give Wall Drug a run for their money with billboards. Some of them read:
"Two reasons to stop at Buc-ee's: #1 and #2"
"Sparkling Clean Restrooms"
"Potty On!"
"Until we meat again"
"You can hold it"
"Stopping the Pee Dance since 1982"
"OMG! LOL... it's a Beaver"
"Beaver Believer"
"It's the brisket for me"
"Never drive on an empty stomach"
"Ice. Beer. Jerky... all 3 food groups"
"Your throne awaits"
You get the idea. It adds a bit of humor to the drive.
We stopped at the second Buc-ee's for the day just north of Fort Worth; there is another one between the two where we stopped, but we didn't need fuel. This Buc-ee's was packed. I had to drive around to find an empty pump. We fueled up both vehicles, turned on the generator and the air conditioner, then went inside to get a sandwich and head back out...
The crowd inside reminded me of the mall on the weekend before Christmas, back before Covid. I have never seen one of these so crowded. This was just as we came in the door, but doesn't show how many people were there just another 100 feet or so further in...
We each picked up something to eat, got in line to pay, then back to the motorhome...
Rufus got lunch, and we all ate together. In air conditioned comfort. With the temperature inching to 100º. You have to go "round about" to get out of this one if you are going north on the Interstate. The stop lights were with us, and we merged back into traffic. The Interstate is down to 2 lanes each way in this area - out of the major population center, but still steady traffic. It is about an hour from that Buc-ee's to the Winstar Casino RV Park (aka Fun Town RV Resort). We had made reservations last week... and were comped our overnight stay. Free is a good price, especially since they raised their prices a year or so ago. No doubt, we'll "invest" that site rental in the Casino, after we have a chance to chill out for a while.
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Let it ride!
We went into the casino this evening. We had some perks on our players' card, giving us $15 each off on dining, and some points on our players' card, which essentially allowed us to play on their money. Joan was even for the time there, I came out $27 ahead. Add in the free RV site, and this was a good stop.
Winstar is a huge casino. They bill it as "the largest casino in the US," and I believe it. Even parking at the attached parking ramp, we got a good workout walking to the Grand Buffet and the new no smoking gaming area.
Ready to head out...
I'll take Ruf for a walk in the grassy area around our site here if it cools off any. 'Cause he's a good boy. ;-)
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The evening walk...
Ruf and I did get out. It was still 92º at 8:00. I thought we might stay around our site, but Rufus wanted to look around the neighborhood...
He walks proud, with his tail in the air. He did get to meet a French Bulldog puppy. I didn't get any photos, because I was keeping a close watch and a snug leash. The bulldog was at least as big as Ruf, but full of energy... yep, he was "bouncing." Rufus put up with that, then started to ignore the dog... until the dog sniffed at Rufus's hind end. I saw Ruf's front paw come up with the claws extended and I pulled him back so the dog wouldn't get his nose opened up. The pup ran behind its human. Good learning experience for the pup, and no one got hurt.
We continued our walk...
Curbs are like his own cat-size sidewalk. More time in the grass...
Here, he is keeping an eye on a couple birds who were noisily upset with a cat in their area. One of them dive-bombed towards Rufus a couple times, but always came from the back (smart bird). Rather than let Ruf get riled, I walked behind him to "have his back." The bird backed off.
Just taking in the surroundings...
The grass and landscaping is very nice in this park. He has walked all around here in the past - almost as good as the walking and grass at Hart Ranch. Three more sleeps 'till we get there. Well, that's the plan.
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