Day 8 Travel Day

Started the day at 9:23am. Slowly got things done and headed out around 11am. Of course when I arrived a week ago I had to setup in rain and today I got to undo it all in the rain. Glad I don't melt.

I tried to find/see the Bison for days and they were elusive. Now that it is raining, I am driving RV and can't pull over, they are out.

In no rush, so stopped at dump station first. Just got on I-35 and now stopped at first rest area I came to, to take dog out. She was freaking out to much early when the slides closed.  She knows routine, cat doesn't. So cat did not freak until we started moving.

Without someone to walk around and check things behind me, quadruple check somethings. What I found I missed on this walk around is a low drive tire. Must have a leak. :-(  Next fuel stop I hope they have air. If not, I will have to crank generator and get out air compressor.

Stopped at Flying J in OKC off I-40. My first fill up since I left home on a full tank. Always try and park with no less then 1/2 tank (40 gals) but full is better. Cost for this 56 gals after my discount (reason I try to use FJ or Pilot) is $195.53. A savings of $4.48. Every little bit I can save, the better. Found air hose and driver side drive tire was down 45lbs. All others good, so will have keep a eye on this one.

Being a good girl and taking a lunch break now. Tuna salad on crackers, diced peaches and a cookie from my Lunch on the Run lunch kit.
Dog is having water and cat still hiding under chair.

Oklahoma wind really hurt my fuel economy bad on this tank. :-(  Bucking that wind was not fun as it made me have to tense and my neck and shoulders don't like tense.

There was no way to get around it, so I did the only thing I could and ran it over. To afraid to stop and look to see if damage was sustained, I just kept driving. Now that I am stopped for the night, I guess it is time to go inspect things. In answer to the question I know is on your minds now. 1mile east of exit 82 on I-40 west I had to run over a semi tire. Not a piece of tire, a whole tire less the wheel (thank goodness). One big round tire right in the middle of my lane and with my size, car in tow and a vehicle in other land, there really was no going around it. :-(

My location for the night is a rest area near Jericho TX. End slot was taken, so bedroom slide can't go out tonight.

Inspection done and I don't see any physical damage and really glad it missed the car. I do see a small puddle under engine area, but don't know if it is me or last person who was parked here. I will check later to see if it dries or gets bigger. Bad news is that drive tire is low again. So will have to pull out compressor and crank generator prior to leaving. I guess I will need to find a big rig tire shop to have leak fixed somewhere along the way.

For now I am going to try and relax and then figure out what I have to eat that does not require me turning on generator for defrosting or nuking something to eat.

Pics were taken at rest area while walking dog.

Day 7

Nothing to blog about. Cleaned some and found toilet leak. Got tools out and hope I fixed it. Found 10 episodes of Hero's from 09 on DVR and watched them. Took cat outside with leash. Let her freak out and run in circle for a min. She then reached for me to pick her up and back inside we went. I put her down and she reached back, so picked she up and snuggled for a little.

Tomorrow is time to put things away, close up slides and hit the road westward bound.

2am and not ready for sleep yet. :-(  Good thing check out here is not till 5pm and I have 2 1/2 days to make a 12 hr drive. I can take lots of breaks.

Bad thing is that making reservation on smart  phone with all the reloading there was a goof that I hope can be fixed. Found out that loop I'm in is no pets. Must have lost the chk mark on a page reload. Hope I can trade for a site in a loop where they are allowed. That is if there is one still available. Fingers crossed.

Day 6

Going to be another fairly non active day. Not only because of feeling fatigued, but also because it is way to hot and humid.

Feels good being able to wear my favorite Levi cargo pants that I have not been able to wear for over 4 years when my body did a massive 20 lb weight gain in a week and slowly kept climbing and fluctuating since then. I guess herbs and actually eating more then once a day is helping a little.

Don't know why I showered and dressed today. Took dog for a walk to lake. She got in, but my dog won't really swim. She walks around biting at the water. I rarely wear shorts, so I just watched at waters edge. By the time we walked back, I was very damp. Need another shower now.

I have seen a lot of dragonflies in my life, but never so many different species in one place.

There are still a few people camping by the lake. I saw something I have never seen before. Tent campers in RV site so they could have power to run a 5 cu ft chest freezer they brought along. I guess ice chests and ice was not good enough.
The big cyclone fan in a campsite is another strange thing to see.

Cat was enjoying my comfy chair when we left. Came back and even though RV is not that big, I have no idea where she went into hiding.

Decided today was a good day to drive to WalMart and pick up a few things, leaving dog in AC of RV. It is so hot, even she doesn't want to go outside. The total bill was just under $115 and I'm a bargain shopper. What I got should (has to) get me through rest of month.

Now off to watch the 15 episodes still on DVR from years ago of 'The Legend of the Seeker' before I delete them. Once DVR is empty there will be nothing left to watch.

It is crazy to do especially in Oklahoma, but love standing outside watching the lightening. My dog of course won't go out and is hiding or so she thinks because of the thundering.

Day 5

Nothing to blog about really. Rough night, so rough the mattress was 5" off bed platform. Was planning on driving over to visit with Marie, but she is sick, so just spending day in AC and actually cooking real food. Pork chops and a veggie.

Oh, after 4 days of wearing harness cat will still not walk. She only slinks around when she needs to move. Hope she adjust soon. Never had a cat take this long.

I have decided that when I leave here I will just head to NM.

I have struggled all day to get site reservations.
Here is what I have so far;
Cochiti Lake Campground NM 6/15-6/25
Haviland Lake Campground CO 6/25-6/30
West Chicago Creek Campground CO 7/1-7/6
(this one is a roughing it site).
North Tongue campground in WY 7/6-7/9
(roughing it again)

Finding a Federal campground site anywhere is not easy as most are booked.
Having trouble finding a sight in MT for more then 4 days.. So might need to either reserve 4 days or hope the only first come site is not taken.

That is it for today.

Day 4

Actually did not fall asleep until after midnight. Slept a little better then I have and did not get up till almost 9am. Dog needed out and cat wanted breakfast.

The nicer host asked me if I wanted to move to a site near the water tomorrow when people pull out. Said I was good where I was. Closer to water means more biting bugs. Here I have only had flies and dragonflies which is better then getting eaten. She also gave me a map and told me of trails and that if I get somewhere and have a problem just call and a ranger will get you back. Also if they see a car parked by a trail for more then two hours, they will ride in to check. I saw yesterday that some rangers ride the trails on golf carts.

Time to eat a little something and then get out of night clothes and then do something. Just know that I can't hike to Buffalo and Antelope Springs, with Paika,  because I just read that it is a no dogs trail once it goes east of Nature Center. It then becomes a wheel chair accessible trail. That also tells me that the hike is only a mile in from this area. Maybe park at Nature Center and leave dog in car under shade. Just random thoughts.

Tried to leave dog at camp in AC, but she was not having it. So loaded up and drove to Hillside Springs and parked. Paika decided she now had to pee so walked her to woods. Went to find the trail and remembered I forgot her leash on hood of car. Back we go, hook her up and start again. Hiked to Lincoln Bridge which is the entrance to Flower Park. Here we found the Vendome mineral well shooting water 3' in the air and running into a stream and healing pools. A women about a 100 was filling her jugs and swore to the healing properties. I drank about 1/2 cup worth holding my breath. If dog had any unknown ailments, she should be good from drinking and wading in it. Maybe I should return with a jug. ;-)

Then walked and found Black Sulphur Springs which is not running at leased not to the surface anymore. Rock Creek is a creek fed by 4 mineral springs and dog waded and drank from that too. We are taking a break in the shade as Paika was dragging arse. It is getting hot now.

Probably was a bad idea for break. By doing so mass fatigue washed over me. So calling it quits for now. Hiked back to car which we were happy to see. Dog so happy she could not wait to jump in.

Drove to parking lot near Vendome and put some water in a bottle to drink later. Now back at camp where I will remain for rest of the day. Since I missed ranger program last night, I will walk to Amphitheater for tonights program.

Only took 1 pic with phone today of Lincoln Bridge. Only took a couple more with real camera.

Did attend ranger program at Amphitheater tonight. On the walk over my dog got to see her first Armadillo as it crossed the road only a few feet in front of us. To dark to get a picture. :-( 
I was the only one that knew the answer to the question 'how many species were counted at BioBlitz last year'. Even though I was not able to attend as planed due to caring for my mom, I did read up on it after.

Talked to a few hosts afterwards. The one that I got in trouble with yesterday actually fell in love with my dog. When the other host found out I was walking, she said 'that's a long walk, do you at least have a flashlight?' No, but I will be fine as I have good night vision. I was told to be careful of snakes and such. I'll be fine.