2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 19

 Friday, November 3, 2023 - South Toledo Bend State Park, Anacoco, LA - 166.5 Miles, 1,766.4 Miles for the trip

As of this morning, there were five RVs in the B section of Natchez State Park. Two, including me left this morning, but the reservations showed many arriving later today.

I hit the road around 10:30, most of the drive on US 84 & LA 28 & LA 171. I arrived at South Toledo Bend around 2:00. A heads up - do your shopping well before you arrive. I don't think there is much within 30 miles. As usual, I took photos with my iPhone as I crossed the Mississippi. I even included one of the casino where I handed out debit cards for the Red Cross during Katrina. It was abandoned then; looks to be active now. By the way, I found that I can insert images by URL rather than directly so I used the URLs from my web page to post these.  I'd rather post the photos directly so that they don't depend on the website to work, but I couldn't directly post today even with a fairly fast connection.

Crossing The Mississippi

The Casino

Also drove through Alexandria where we were headquartered, and past Fort Polk which has had a name change to Fort Johnson since my time there in 1968 learning how to shoot mortars before heading to Vietnam. I never saw a mortar in RVN, but spent 6 months in the A Shau carrying a M79 grenade launcher for the 101st. My teaching experience got me rotated after 6 months to the headquarters company at Camp Eagle doing operations & training.

Just in case you do a mystery search using Libby, the iPhone app used to rent library books (both audio & reading) and you find The Girl With the Dragonfruit Tattoo, don't believe it. It is a romance with little mystery. While the search functions of Libby are better than what was available with its predecessor OverDrive, it really needs a "do not include" search function. Seems an awful lot of mysteries are also romance novels. In any case I endured 2 hours of it because there wasn't much else on the radio, then switched to the XM radio NPR station.

I'm in site 14 for two nights, a very unlevel back in with water & electric for $32.79 per night. Even with the full height available with the Anderson levelers, I'm 1/2" low on the driver's side, and had to unhook so I could lower the tongue 7 1/2". The bathrooms are a medium walk away. There are washers & dryers at $1.75 each. More about the showers tomorrow.

Site 14

It is finally warm enough for me 74° outside. I don't need the AC, but I still may need the electric heater overnight. After setting up I got out the camping chair & read outside.

Dinner was a cheese brat and salad.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 18

 Thursday, November 2, 2023 - Natchez State Park, Natchez, MS, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 1,599.9 Miles for the trip

On my walk around the campground this morning I finally found a RV smaller than mine, but again, Blogger won't let me upload the image.  I'll try again at the next campground, but it see the motorcycle trailer today you will need to go to my webpage for today.  November 3rd - I found I can post URLs (links) so I'll do that when I can't add the photo to the page.

A URL Link to Today's Photo

After my morning walk I started a load of laundry. Back at the trailer I made breakfast and read some forums & journals. I did some house keeping, and, when walking around the outside of the trailer, discovered that the fresh water tank overflow was overflowing. Went inside & checked the level in the fresh water tank - it was full. So, the pump didn't fix itself. I'm not sure what starts it since I went for a couple of days with no problem, but I'm draining the tank back to 1/3. I may order a replacement pump when I hit Tucson since I'm there for 5 nights, but until then no water hookups. While it is possible that I could take it apart & discover why it is leaking, I've also had problems with it running with no leaks in the trailer water system, so it may be time for a replacement. If nothing else, once I have a new one I can take this one apart without worrying that I can't get it back to working condition.

While I didn't use the shower, there are 2 - with a wand type showerhead & single handle faucet in the standard stall & a high pressure, low volume in the handicapped. A small drying room with bench & shelf and a bunch of unusable broken hooks. No shelf in the shower. Overall, at best a C+.

After lunch I spent the afternoon reading. Still reading Ellis Peter's Flight of a Witch, although I started a new audio book - The Girl With the Dragonfruit Tattoo by Carrie Doyle downloaded from the NYC library. Don't know anything about it other than they suggested it & it isn't the similar titled The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I read and enjoyed. 

It did warm up this afternoon. Around 62°F, but feels warmer sitting in the sun. Eventually, the sun ducked behind the trees & I headed into the trailer. 

Dinner was a Barber Broccoli & Cheese Chicken with snap beans.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 17

 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - Natchez State Park, Natchez, MS - 196.3 Miles, 1,599.9 Miles for the trip

I did manage to find the Natchez Trace Parkway and did most of the drive on it. While the speed limit is 50MPH, I set my cruise control for 54MPH and got passed more than once. MS 25 would have probably been faster with a 65MPH limit, but maybe not since it goes through a number of towns, traffic lights, etc and the parkway is non stop.

I arrived at the campground around 2:30. No one at the gate, and a sign saying go to your site if you have a reservation. Since I reserved site B45, no problem. A back in site with a concrete pad that is very close to level - 1/2" off side to side and I raised the tongue 1/2". I didn't bother to unhook. Water & electric for $31.03 per night for 2 nights. Another mostly empty campground (3 other campers) with many reserved sites starting tomorrow.

Site 45

I did an internet speed test when I arrived & Verizon showed 33.2Mbps down & 4.5Mbps up. AT&T showed 24.6Mbps down & 1Mbps up. Verizon sounded good, and since I have one day left before a new unlimited but limited restarts (don't ask) I stuck with them. When I went to check my mail, it showed no connection. Tried a couple of web pages, and nothing. Since the speed test is a web page, not sure what is going on, but switched to AT&T and the same problem. I do remember having problems with the internet here on previous trips; I hope it starts working sometime soon. Without the internet I can't look up what I paid for the site or, of course, post this journal page. I found one NPR station - MPB (the same as the station back at Legion State Park, although I'm sure it is a different transmitter). Of course, they are still doing their fall fund raiser. 

Verizon just started working & dumped 32 mail messages, so maybe. It did upload the site photo, and I was able to connect to the Mississippi campground reservations page for the price of my site.

It is still a bit cool to sit around outside. While my weather app says it is 57°F outside, the thermometer under my trailer is reading 55°F. Neither is my idea of sitting around temperature. It does tell me that it is going to hit 67°F tomorrow. I walked around the campground loop (about 1/4 mile), checked out the bathroom - interesting - the building has a single entrance, the doors to the men's & women's sections are propped open against the wall and the only identification of which side is which is on the door (hidden against the wall). There is a single washer & dryer inside ($1.75 wash & dry) and the bathroom is heated. I checked my mail, read a few web pages, then started dinner.

Dinner was a microwaved Innovasian Orange Chicken bowl.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 16

 Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - Legion State Park, Louisville, MS, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 1,403.6 Miles for the trip

Happy Halloween! I don't suspect we will get many trick-or-treaters since there is only one other camper in the campground and he is a single older gentleman.

I sure hope this is not going to be a cold winter. While it didn't go below freezing last night, it did get down to 40°F and is predicted to hit 31°F tonight. Not much warming up - at 11:00 is is still only 45°F. 

During my morning walk I met and chatted with my neighbor. He has thought about going to Tucson, Arizona for the winter, but was thinking he waited too long - he is almost 70. When I told him I was heading that way & I'm 79, he decided he'd think about it. 

After breakfast I read some forums & facebook. The internet connection on Verizon is slow, but usable. A pair of riding mowers went through the park this morning blowing the leaves off as many sites as they could get to. They skipped those that had campers on them. About the only trees that still have leaves are the evergreens so maybe they will still be clean when the hoards arrive tomorrow. I haven't been posting my current books, so I'll start now. I just finished Thomas Perry's The Informant, and started Ellis Peter's Flight of a Witch. I also listen to an audio book while walking & driving - just finished Paladin"s Strength by T. Kingfisher, and started Son of Stone by Stuart Woods.

We are having a heat wave - it hit 51°F at 2:00. I walked down the road to the "cabins". In NY, a campground cabin is typically a 1 room building that, if you are lucky, has a bathroom. In the south I've noticed that they are usually much larger, bigger than some homes. Here is what they call a cabin here at Legion State Park:

A Cabin

I hope to take the Natchez Trace Parkway tomorrow. From what I remember from my last trip, sections were closed, including much of it between here & Natchez, but hopefully that was temporary, and I'll be able to take it. Less traffic and a pretty drive.

Verizon got worse as the day went on. I'm currently connected to the internet through my AT&T iPhone - too lazy to switch cell modems.

While, at 31°F for just an hour or so wouldn't freeze my water hose, I decided to disconnect late in the afternoon while it was relatively warm at 54°F to save rolling up a stiff hose. I can use the fresh water tank & pump to flush the toilet or any other water needs. 

I did head for the showers around 4:00. I probably could have got away for the next day or two without one (well, since I'm the only one in the trailer definitely could), but my notes from stays at Natchez State Park were not clear on how well heated the bathroom & shower water were, so I used this one. A standard sized shower in a heated bathroom with a huge drying area shared with the other shower. A bench & 1 hook. Plenty of hot water with a standard mixing valve & standard low volume showerhead. Overall, at least a B.

Dinner was grilled Mahi-Mahi & green beans, with Jello for dessert.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 15

 Monday, October 30, 2023 - Legion State Park, Louisville, MS - 179.1 Miles, 1,403.6 Miles for the trip

The warm weather is definitely over. I woke up at 3:00AM to an outside temperature of 50°F and an inside temperature of 58°F. Crawled out of bed & plugged in the Pelonis Disk Furnace (my electric heater) into the thermostat controlled outlet and climbed back into bed. By 5:00AM is was a comfortable 65°F. It kept getting colder as the morning went on - by 10:00 it was down to 45°F. Oh, and by the way, it was also raining. There is nothing quite as much fun as getting the trailer ready to leave in a cold rain (well, probably during a snowstorm, but I'm not going to try that)!

No interstates today - most of the drive was on 4 lane 65MPH state & US roads. US 45A reminds me of some of the roads out west. You can drive for 25 - 30 miles without twitching the steering wheel (although there are more hills). While the $3.15 per gallon gas prices looked good in Tennessee, I'm glad I waited until I hit Mississippi. The first $2.99 per gallon price of the trip.

I arrived at Legion State Park a little after 2:00. I'm in site 1, a pull through that is level side to side, but nose down by 5 1/2". I raised the nose to level, and managed to do it without unhooking. The site is full hookup, although the sewer connection is higher than my discharge connection, so pretty much unusable. With reservation fee, taxes, etc it works out to $44.94 per night for 2 nights. I checked my weather app and it says that it is only going down to 39°F tonight, so I hooked up the water. I might need to unhook it early - the prediction for tomorrow night is 30°F. Rolling up a frozen hose is no fun. It was bad enough this morning with a 45°F hose. 

There are 15 sites in the park, most back in, and some water & electric only. I thought I have been here before, but after seeing the park, know this is the first time. There are only 2 other folks in the park, although a bunch of reservations for later in the week. Now we are 4 - a class C pulled in during dinner.

Site 1

After setting up I retreated into the trailer. The rain has stopped, but is is 48°F outside so sitting out doesn't appeal. Without sunshine, and everything still damp from the rain, it feels colder than it is. 

I did check out the bathrooms - 2 shower stalls (one handicapped) with a common dressing area. A bench, but no hooks. Not sure I'll shower, but at least it is heated.

I found an NPR over the air station that appears to be news rather than music, MPB or Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Only problem is it is the first day of their Fall fund raiser. 

I ran a speed test for both Verizon & AT&T. Both are quite variable, but the results: AT&T 7.8Mbps down & .1Mbps up. Verizon 10.9Mbps down & 1.9Mbps up. No park WiFi. 

While I was sorely tempted to throw something in the microwave, I haven't grilled anything since Hungry Mother. So I set up the grill on the picnic table & cooked a turkey burger. I did use the microwave to warm up the left over Bush beans from the other day and made a small salad.

Until Tomorrow -