Back in Angelo

Just a quick note until later . . . .

We arrived back in San Angelo this afternoon. This is my first connectivity since we left about 10 or 11 days ago. I'll begin posting entries regarding our just completed trip in the next day or two, and I'll try to post one or two entries each day.

The closing on our house has moved up one week, so we are now scurrying around getting things ready. We have a great deal to do.

Weather today is about 80 with a southerly breeze. Feel sorry for the folks with the snow up north, but I'm happy to have warm weather. Wish we could get some moisture, though.

One More Trip Before the House is Ready

Our house is nearing completion. With the warm spring days upon us, we want to take one more short trip before we have to get busy moving into our new home.

We'll be leaving tomorrow to visit 3 state parks:

• South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas
• Palmetto State Park near Luling, Texas
• Lockhart State Park just outside of Lockhart, Texas

South Llano River SP is an old friend. We began camping there soon after it opened in 1990. It was our favorite camping destination when we lived in nearby Ozona, Texas. At that time, we had a folding camper. We'd spend our days in the river and our nights around a campfire. This will be our first time to camp in the park since those long ago days. We did visit the park about a year ago for a short day hike, though.

At Palmetto, Donna will spend her days fishing while I do a bit of hiking. Perhaps Donna will tear herself away from feeding the fish to join me.

From Palmetto SP it is a short jaunt up the road to nearby Lockhart SP. This park is unique in that it has a 9-hole golf course. We have a sport reserved in the campground that fronts one of the fairways, so we intend to relax and watch some of the duffers chase those little white balls around the course. We'll do a bit of hiking, too, and we'll also visit at least one of Lockhart's great BBQ restaurants. My mouth is already watering.

I am doubtful that I will have any internet connectivity during this trip. We hope to be back in San Angelo by the end of the month. At that time, you will see new entries appear as quickly as I can post them.

For those interested, here are links to blog entries on these or nearby places that I have posted previously. Enjoy, and I'll see you down the road.

• "A Tale of Two Parks" (about Palmetto SP and Lockhart SP)
• "Good Eats: Smitty's Meat Market, Lockhart, Texas"
• "Hiking South Llano River State Park "

Midessa Oil Patch RV Park

During our recent trip to Midland to attend the Moody Blues concert, we took our travel trailer and stayed at Midessa Oil Patch RV Park. The park is conveniently located halfway between Midland and Odessa, an area sometimes referred to as the Petroplex. The airport is no more than 2 miles away, and the Wagner Noel Center for the Performing Arts, where the concert was held, is located about 4 or 5 miles north. For Interstate 20 travelers, the park is an easy off/easy on location. Gas stations are conveniently located at exit 176 (Highway 1788) near the park.

This RV park is obviously popular, as there were few vacant spots during our stay. However, there are not that many RV parks in the Petroplex, so competition is limited. Fruitless mulberry trees are plentiful in the park, so shade should be good during the summer months. There is a pool, laundry facilities, and clean restroooms/showers, and propane is available in the park. The office also serves as a convenience store that carries basic supplies.

Back of office. Laundry is to the right. Pool is to the left, out of picture.

Cabins such as these as well as tent sites are available in the park.

From the shape of the office, it appears that the park at one time was a KOA park. And the design is typical of KOAs. From my experience, KOA parks are pretty consistent at squeezing as many camping sites into a space as possible to maximize profits. Many KOA parks were designed years ago when RVs were smaller and slide outs were unheard of. Fitting modern rigs in those same spaces is difficult. It is nearly impossible to eke out room for both your rig and your vehicle in these smaller sites. Maneuvering your rig through the narrow lanes and then parking is also challenging.

Our neighbors were a little too close. Note their sewer hose near the tree, just beyond our back steps.

Although I was able to park our rig without much difficulty, I don't have a larger RV. I was barely able to fit my 30 foot trailer and 20 foot pickup in the space I was assigned. My neighbor was uncomfortably close. I watched as larger motorhomes and fifth wheels slowly wormed their way through the tight turns and narrow roadways.

Narrow roadways and tight sites. Notice the rear of the minivan is sticking slightly into the roadway.

The park was nearly full during our stay. Lots of folks from the oil boom are living here.

I was also disappointed that the park did not provide cable TV, at least to short term residents. I got the impression that a cable solution is available to long term residents. Fortunately, there are several stations in the Petroplex that can be picked up by antennae. The park also has non-potable water, so they warn you not to drink the water. They do claim it is safe for washing and cleaning. The park provides free bottled water to all guests.

A train track runs about 300 or 400 yards north of the park, and probably a dozen or so trains pass by throughout the day. Because the track crosses roads in the area, you can clearly hear the warning whistles at all hours of the day.

Were I to return to the area, I would look for another park. However, this is a reliable park, and I would stay again if I could not find anything better.

Moody Blues Concert

About a dozen years have passed since Donna and I last saw the Moody Blues in concert. They are one of our favorite musical acts of all time. I was barely a teenager when the band began its successful run. Their music has held up well over time.

But the wheel of time is rolling, and the band is showing its age. Actually, only 1 member of the original group remains -- Graeme Edge, the drummer. John Lodge, bassist, and Justin Hayward, lead guitar and lead vocalist, did not join the group until about 2 years after its formation. Ray Thomas, another original member and flutist, retired from the group in about 2002. He has since been replaced by Norda Mullen, who plays guitar and provides backup vocals in addition to the flute.

Other members of the backup stage band for the group on this tour were Julie Ragins (keyboard, sax, and backup vocals), Gordon Marshall (drums), and Alan Hewitt (keyboards and backup vocals). All of the backup band members seem to be very talented and comfortable on stage. Mullen especially had several opportunities to display her talent on the flute, and the audience was appreciative.

The show started slowly, with the band playing several of their lessor known songs. The pace was slow and awkward. Momemtum began to build after nearly an hour, and peaked with their last song just prior to their 20 minute break. The second half of the show was much better, and the audience was on its feet for the last few numbers.

Hayward's guitar playing skill is still evident, but his voice is not as strong and clear as it once was. However, it seemed to improve as the show worked toward its end. By the time he sang "Nights in White Satin" and "Question", his voice had gained considerable power.

Edge has also slowed. Marshall picked up the slack admirably and put a great deal of enthusiasm and energy into the show.

Lodge still enjoys being on stage. He interacts with the audience throughout, and the smile never leaves his face.

We enjoyed the show. I'm glad we went. I did not know how much I would enjoy the act since the last time we attended a Moody Blues concert, Ray Thomas was still on stage. I just don't know how much longer the current version of the Moody Blues will continue. The older members are now about 65 to 70 or thereabouts, so the clock is ticking. They all appear to be in good health, but one has to wonder how long someone this age wants to continue touring.

Good Eats: The King and I, Midland, Texas

It's no secret that Donna and I love Thai food. I've reviewed a couple of Thai restaurants in the past few months. You can find these and other restaurant reviews on the "Good Eats" page my website, "Living the Good Life".

While living in Midland from 1997 to 2002, Donna and I had a favorite Thai restaurant called The King and I on Big Spring Street just north of downtown. The restaurant operated out of a former Taco Bell, so seating was limited. A loyal clientele frequented the restaurant. We were among that number. Our favorite dish then was the toom yon goong, which is a spicy shrimp soup. The dish was always good; we were always satisfied with our meal.

Then Donna and I left Midland and we did not eat at the King and I again -- until this past Saturday. This place has only improved with age.

There is now a second location in the north of Midland in the Cornerstone Shopping Center. If I recall correctly, this location formerly housed a CiCi's pizza restaurant, so there is plenty of room here. We opted for this location on this trip.

We began our meal with 2 green chili egg rolls. These vegetarian egg rolls were served fresh and hot, and they were tasty and very spicy.

For our entrees, we both ordered curries. Donna prefers a green curry while I prefer a red. Both contained chicken and were served with sides of steamed rice. I do believe this was the best red curry I have ever had. Donna felt the same about her curry. The only problem is that the bowl had a bottom to it. I could have stayed and eaten the entire pot. My red curry had a coconut milk base. The golden curry dish had a full, rich flavor.

You can view the menu for The King and I at http://www.midlandmenus.com/category/menus-j-l/king-and-i/. The addresses for both locations are provided at the site as well.

I'm looking for an excuse to return to Midland so I can enjoy another bowl of red chicken curry.

Hike Report: Tasajillo Flats Trail, San Angelo State Park

During our brief  2-night stay at San Angelo State Park, we took a short 4 mile hike along a series of trails, most of which we had traversed before.

We began the hike on the Tasajillo Flats Trail, a trail we had not hiked before. The trail head for this trail is located near the Red Arroyo camp ground (see map), so it was a short walk from our trailer to the trail head. The trail is appropriately named, as there are clumps of tasajillo all along the trail. As with other trails in the park, desert plants dominant the landscape. This is typical of this area between the Edwards Plateau to the east and the Chihuahuan Desert to the west.

Trail junction early on the trail. We took the left fork and stayed on the Tasajillo Flats trail.

The Tasajillo Flats trail passes near the park headquarters, crossing one of the main park roads and then approaching the Highland Range subdivision of moderately priced homes. For the most part, the trail is on level terrain, but it weaves through patches of prickly pear and mesquite.

The trail crosses a park road near park headquarters

Trail winds through prickly pear, mesquite, and juniper.

Another road crossing at one of the higher elevations, affording views of distant horizons

After a while, our trail intersected with the Nature Loop Trail, which we followed to the Isabel Harte Day Use Area. At this point, we decided to follow an old paved road from the Corp of Engineer days. The road still has a good, level surface, but clumps of grass have broken through the pavement in many places.

Old road leading to picnic area no longer used

We then took the Red Dam Loop trail, which actually dips down into the dry lake bed in an area which has probably not seen water in a few decades. As testament to this, we passed the bottom of a boat ramp that hasn't seen a boat in a long, long time.

Red Dam Loop trail, with the Red Dam itself in the background. To the left of Red Dam, you can also see the dam for OC Fisher lake.

A long forgotten boat ramp

A closer view of Red Dam, with our trail in the foreground.

View from atop Red Dam. Our back trail is clearly visible, and leads roughly to the paved road at barely visible at upper right. All of this area was once under water.

It was a short hike on an overcast and windy day, but the exercise was good. We've not been walking recently, so it was good to get out, regardless of the weather.

House Update and Other Things

Donna and I left the KOA where we usually stay when in San Angelo and went out to San Angelo State Park for a couple of days. Spaces are cramped at the KOA, and traffic along the highway is constant, day and night. It's peaceful at the park, and the night skies are beautiful. However, there are no full hookups, so we only stay out here for 2 or 3 nights at a time.

This morning, we left the park and drove to Midland, where we will spend a couple of nights while attending a Moody Blues concert at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center located midway between Midland and Odessa, just north of the airport. This is a wonderful venue for concerts, and they bring in a number of acts that people our age enjoy. About a year ago, we attended a concert there by Glen Campbell on his farewell tour (click here for my blog entry on that concert).

After the concert, we will go back to San Angelo to take care of some business related to the construction of our new home. The house is coming along nicely. Cabinets are in, tile is being laid, and the walls are painted. The fence has been put up, sprinkler system has been installed, and the front yard has been landscaped. The carpet will be laid next week. There are still some other little jobs to do, so after we take care of things next week, Donna and I will take off for one final trip before coming back to San Angelo and moving in. We are currently planning a loop trip through the Hill County, where we will stay at various state parks. Anytime we stay at state parks, Internet connectivity is questionable, so I'll post entries when I can.

Below are some pictures I took of our house last week. They are already out of date, but do show the progress of the house.

Floor tile being laid in master bath.

Fireplace, with hearth stones resting where they will be placed.

Back wall of kitchen, with cabinets and granite countertop in place. Back wall is prepped and ready for back splash tile. Refrigerator fits in space at end of counter.

Main kitchen area. Stove will go in right space and dishwasher in left center area.

Posts have been set in back yard and are ready for fencing.

Low-maintenance landscape being installed in front yard.

I'll see you down the road.