Texas-Dallas to San Angelo-11 of 49 on our Adventure-Part 3

If you are a first-time reader, welcome to Lora and Erics RV Adventure Blog. You can read about us at http://www.LoraandEricsRVAdventure.com. We started in December 2017 with a goal to complete 49 states before heading home to North Carolina.

Welcome to Texas Part 3. In our last 2 posts we visited Glen Rose, Waco, and Fort Worth.

We are continuing to camp at Whitney Resort. We start Part 3 on the morning of April 17th. After the disappointment of missing the Stampede down the street, if Lora said lets leave, then I would have had no problem leaving. Today we head out to Dallas, Texas. Google maps shows we have a one hour and twenty-minute trip to Dallas JFK Memorial.

There is a bunch of construction throughout Dallas. When Google Maps got us into Dallas near the JFK Memorial, we started to find a parking space. With such a big truck finding a space is not always easy. I seen an entrance to a underground garage. It happened to be the same garage I parked at the last time I have visited Dallas on Business with Cummins Inc. The trucks dually width just fit through the entrance gate. I had a few inches to spare on height before we found a park. We took the elevator to street level. It places us at the John Neely Bryan Cabin.

This small log structure is a reconstructed model of the home and trading post erected in 1841 by Dallas founder John Neely Bryan. There is not much to the site but a small log cabin, fountain, and benches. There were a couple of homeless people walking around.

Across the street from the John Neely Bryan Cabin is JFK Memorial Plaza. Not sure why the memorial was erected in the location it resides. I was asked by a group of young ladys where JFK was shot. There are a few other memorials within eyesight of the location of the Grassy Knoll and Depository that would have been better suited. The is a simple plague and a quote on the ground in marble. Otherwise very plain and does not spark any emotion of the man like it does by the grassy knoll and depository.

We walked towards the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District, also known as the Grassy Knoll two blocks toward the Old Red Museum and another monument, before seeing the Schoolbook Depository at Dealey Plaza.

Markers on the road show the 2 shots that hit JFK. The Grassy Knoll and across the street are as they were on Nov. 22, 1963, about 12:30 pm. Plaques on the side walk, grassy knoll and across from the depository marked positions of photographer’s view point during the actual event. It is very sobering and powerful to be in the presence of a tragic event. It is strange to see taking selfies and pictures standing on the X in the middle of the street.

We walked over to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. The audio tour was great on the 6th floor. The 6th floor depository tour and audio outlines the days before and after the assignation of JFK. No photos or video allowed on the 6th floor, but occasionally there are entitled people trying to sneak a photograph. The 7th floor is not much but gives the shooter Lee Harvey Oswald’s perspective from his advantage point on the 6th floor. Take the tour of you have the time. We did it on a weekday and much less people. The audio tour lasts about 1 ½ hours.

We searched for a restaurant after finishing the museum tour. Ellen's is in walking distance of the Holocaust Museum and 6th Floor Depository Museum. The restaurant is modern decor and the bar looks well stocked. The beer list has made micro brews to choose from. I ordered the Cajun pasta and Lora ordered the meatloaf entree. All was great. The wait staff was excellent and wanted to be in the pictures my wife was taking for her Facebook review.

Our last stop was the Dallas Holocaust Museum. It is a very sobering remembrance of a genocide that changed the world. My mother was as teenager in Tarrare, France

and my father was child in Paris. They never spoke about the horror they may have seen.

I never had a chance to visit a concentration camp but heard and read so much. The museum respectfully portrays a period of grim times for Jews. I learned that it was not only Jews in Concentration camps but there were also criminals, prisoners, and other oppressed people the Nazi regime did not like. There is a new building that is being erected next door for the future site. I hope that the merging of Human Rights does not take away from the impact this museum offers, and remembrance of the Holocaust survivors transplanted to the Dallas area.

We headed back to the truck and managed to safely get out of the garage without hitting anything. We got back to the campground about 5:00 pm. Bella Bee did go for almost 6 hours alone in the camper. We normally will leave the AC on and either the TV or Radio. If it is the radio we find country, christian, rock, contemporary, etc.

The next day, April 18th, we packed up, hooked up the camper, and headed to San Angelo, Texas. The distance from Whitney to San Angelo is 223 miles (3 h 53 min). We do not have a scheduled reservation till April 24th at Hidden Valley Resort in Tijeras, NM so this was the first time we were flexible on where and what to do.

I wanted to head toward Roswell, NM to anything UFO. Mapping our route and time we found San Angelo, Texas as a good stopping point. We search campgrounds and decided on San Angelo State Park. This is the first time we will have no sewer hookup. We booked San Angelo State Park for April 18th through April 22nd. San Angelo is known for its 1860s U.S. Army Post, the Fort Concho.

San Angelo State Park encompasses 7,677 acres leased by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The park has multiple campgrounds located near the northern and southern entrances. We stayed at Red Arroyo. The sites are large pull-thrus. The neighbors are far apart. Each site has a concrete picnic table and shelter.

The sunset from our campground is spectacular.

The sunrise is just as nice.

The next day we visited the Miss Hatties Bordello Museum. We found out the museum requires a reservation. The viewing on 4/19 was 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

We decided to eat lunch instead. Lora wanted Chinese Buffet. We found King Buffet. Chinese buffet is always the same buffet, different city. There were not many options. TripAdvisor shows Asian Buffet, but the sign says King Buffet. The sign out front said under new management. The inside looks very nice. The food hot for a change. The selection looked good, but the sushi was just part of the buffet under the glass. If is nice when you see someone making the sushi versus not knowing how long it has been out. The previous reviews talk of being chased down when not tipping. Was confirmed later on when visiting Fort Concho it was under the previous management this occurred. So glad to see there are changes. If you like Chinese Buffet and want it hot, then this may be the one to try.

After lunch we visited Fort Concho-$4.00 per person. Fort Concho was an outpost Fort to protect Western Texas from the Indians. At first thought, where is the wall around the fort. The buildings are nice reconstructions and there are period pieces of guns and uniforms on display.

We were there during a Calvary competition, so we spend time to watch the Calvary Soldiers and Buffalo Soldiers compete in jumping and the next day saber competition. On weekends and special events there are many activities going on according to the events calendar.

Afterward we went back to the camper and visited the bird watching booth. The booth is walking distance from the campsite. The booth has a staged area where birds and wildlife can feed while being watched behind windows (the windows can be opened). On the walls are pictures of birds to help identify them when seen. In the distance deer can be spotted walking by and an occasional rabbit or fox.

The next day Lora had a haircut at Touch of Europe. From there we visited the International Lily Ponds. When in season the ponds must be beautiful. The International Water Lily Garden is a number of concrete ponds behind fences. The area is very small. There were a few ponds with Lilies, others were empty. The garden does not have staff on site. The park is near a high school and when we were there students in groups were walking around the paths and accompanying Civic League Park. We were the only 2 people visiting the garden, thus we did not feel comfortable. The lilies that were in bloom were wonderful and colorful. When all the ponds are in operation the colors must be amazing. We later found out there was another national student walkout. These kids were just skipping school and not protesting.

We went to lunch next after visiting the Lily Ponds. Today was Mexican. We found Paisano Restaurant. It is in a sketchy part of town. It is a hidden gem. The restaurant was full of a constant flow of guests leaving and entering. The food was authentic and the atmosphere although may look disorganized is a well-orchestrated symphony of servers, waitresses, drink servers, and bus cleaner. The cost is very reasonable and food plentiful.

We visited Fort Concho again to watch the Calvary Saber competition.

We headed to Walmart next, then headed home. We visited the Buffalo and Steer located in the State Park behind fences. One buffalo has a baby. The steer are on the Northern end of the State Park.

Later on we went to the bird watching booth at dusk.

The next day we decided to stay in the park. We went to the South Entrance to walk the Dinosaur trail. We had to use a passcode on the camping pass to access the entrance and parking lot. They have equestrian camping area and regular camping sites on the south side. We drove all the way to the end of the road and parked, We had Bella with us too. I walked over the cattle gate, but Lora did not feel we should go this way. We saw a Shady path and should it was a wooded path versus the sun path. We followed along the river for a while. Lora was getting frustrated, I kept looking at the pdf map I downloaded and noticed we were off track. We walked back inside the fence line. Near the parking lot we found the dinosaur path. Lora took Bella and she went back to the truck. I walked the trail to the dinosaur tracks. There was one distinct track the others were not as distinguishable. I walked back by cutting through the brush, then a horse path to the equestrian parking lot. I called Lora to meet me there. It cut the return path by at least half.

If you want a short cut to the dinosaur tracks, take the Equestrian Campground road past the gate (there is a tin roof sign board on the other side of the fence where horses are entered). Walk until you hit the first trail intersection and make a right. Follow to the dinosaur tracks.

We headed back to the camper, relaxed, a bit and decided to eat someplace. Western Sky was our best steak and burger in Texas. My KC Steak was so tender. The side of onion rings and Texas toast were the bomb. My wife's burger had to be a 6-inch patty. It was a basic cheese burger with all the trimmings on the side just how my wife likes it. It was all fantastic. And the cost was the best part. They have have steak specials for single, 2, and 3 people. The location is off the beaten path away from any attractions.

We headed back to the campground very well satisfied with our selection. Near dusk we visited the bird booth. We met an older couple there with a Grand Design Solitude. They were volunteers here at the park. They watched over the bid booth. Lora hit it off with the wife and talked the whole time. They were from Brevard County, North Carolina, but sold everything and are now full time. The have been on and off full timing for a number of years. Another couple showed up from Florida. They were also full timing and their goal was to visit state parks across the country.

The next day we packed up and headed to Roswell, New Mexico. The time changes back on hour once we head into New Mexico.

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