Spring 2023: West Memphis, Arkansas to Waxahachie, Texas

 Monday, 3/27: 337 miles, parked at Tom Sawyer RV Park, West Memphis, Arkansas

We had a long drive today, so we were on the road by 8:45.  This was the first morning on this trip where we broke camp and it was not raining.  The route was Interstate 40 the entire way.  We did take the I-840 bypass around Nashville to avoid some busy traffic, and that added about 15 miles to the trip.  We arrived at Tom Sawyer just about 2:30.  This is not a fancy campground, but it one of our favorites.  Located right on the banks of the Mississippi River, it offers fantastic views of the river and barge traffic.  The sites are open and decent size,  and best of all, acres of green space to walk the dogs.

Site 56

Of course, the day was not incident free.  Judy opens the camper door and discovered that the kitchen island suffered some damage due to the bouncing on rough roads,  UGH!!!!!  This is the same kitchen island that was damaged on a previous trip.  The repairs I made then held.  This was new damage caused by Grand Design using cheap cardboard/sawdust lumber when building the toe kicks for the island cabinets.  In this case, the toe kick on one end collapsed.  The manufactures all brag about what great hardwood cabinets they have, but that's usually the doors only.  The lumber used that is hidden behind the doors is imitation and cheap!!!!!!  There, I've vented and feel better.  😀

We spent the evening rigging up a temporary solution and will figure out something more permanent when we land in Stonewall, Texas soon for a 5 day stay.  What fun Judy and I had fixing the cabinet with a wild and crazy puppy running circles around us and chewing on our socks.

Collapsed toe kick.

Never travel without tools, and a bit of patience.  😀

Not pretty, but stable.

Every time we stay at this park, I can't get over the amount of barge traffic.  As I wrote about it last year, the amount of goods and materials shipped on the Mississippi is astounding.  When we were here last fall, the river was near record lows and barge traffic was stalled in places.  This year the river is full and moving fast.

Probably grain products in covered barges.

Barges heaped with coal.

Tuesday, 3/28: 271 miles and parked at Sunrise RVPark, Texarkana, Arkansas.

We left Tom Sawyer at 9:30 and took I-40 to Hot Springs, where we picked up I-30 for the rest of the trip. Sunrise is a very basic park, but with full services and only $35 per night, it is a great an over night stay.  The overnight  section has very narrow spots, but the monthly sites in the back rows are much larger.  And the campground was full.  In spite of being the least expensive park and having the most narrow sites of any park on this trip, their wifi was by far the fastest.  I struck up a conversation with a talkative man traveling in a Class C.  They used to have 5th wheel campers, but have recently downsized to a Class C.  They love it, and it got us to thinking about our future travels.  Time will tell.

Site B-10

Another fifth wheel pulled in later on the site next to us, and our slides were nearly touching.  I ended up having a nice conversation with them, and they had just been to the Stonewall area where we are headed.  They were from Ohio and on their way home.

Wednesday, 3/29: 211 miles and parked at Northside RV Resort, Waxahachie, Texas

I-30 to I-635 bypass south of Dallas, to I-20 and then I-35 south.

We were on the road at 9:30 and arrived at Northside RV Resort right at 1:00.  This park is the complete opposite of last night in Texarkana.  Northside is a gated community for RV's.  The grounds are immaculate, as are the campers.  There is every size and shape RV here.  Everything from huge 42 foot luxury diesel Class A's to small pull behind travel trailers.  There are even a couple of very old vintage campers here.  But every unit is extremely neat and immaculate.  It appears that many of the campers work in the area, as the cars and trucks thin out in the morning and fill back up at night.

Site 316

Site 316

Dusk at the park, with the lighted palm trees.

Tomorrow we are off to Stonewall, Texas for a 5 night stay.  It will feel good to settle in for a while.