Tejano and Polka? Annie and I Love To Go Dancing!

This past weekend, Annie and I were in downtown Fort Worth enjoying some Tejano music. Yes, we danced. This Saturday Annie and I are headed to Muenster, Tejas to Polka at Germanfest. My wife loves to polka. Maybe I'll see you there.

 

Flagstaff 228BHSE (Sports Edition) Pop-Up Camper

I have been known to inspect RVs at DFW area dealerships. At these shops, I have captured videos on $400,000 Class A motorhomes to significantly more modest $15,000 travel trailers. In this new video series I look at Tent Pop-Up Campers. I've never checked out this class of RV before until I visited Western Campers in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tent campers are popular for several reasons:

1) Price - They are quite affordable. Many under $20,000.
2) Weight - They can be towed by many cars, small SUVs and trucks.
3) Aerodynamic - They aren't very tall. Typically shorter in height than the tow vehicle. So they cut through the air. You can see around them. Making travel less irritating.
4) Economical - Since they offer less wind resistance. They save campers money on fuel and energy.
5) Better Than a Tent? - For many a tent camper or pop-up trailer is a step up. You aren't sleeping on the ground if you were in a tent. Some models offer amenities such as toilets, stoves, air conditioners and even showers. Amazing!

Link to YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8fI1rKVNTWE

RV versus Air Travel? Which Is More Affordable?

 In this video I compare the price of airfare versus camping. I love camping, but this summer I primarily camped in Tejas. In my (Californian) opinion, amazing camping options are few and far between in Texas.

Since owning my Rockwood Mini Lite travel trailer, I have figured out that towing long distances isn't cheap. In 2022, the price of gas has fluctuated tremendously. In early 2021, regular gas was selling for $2.75 a gallon in Texas. As recently as June of 2022, it was going for $4.75! Thankfully, the price of gasoline is slowly coming down.

Traveling in your gas guzzling RV is now more expensive than ever. Shorter trips are more economical, but no fun. If I lived in California I could camp at nearby beaches and mountains. But in Texas the beach is 6 hours away and there are no major mountain ranges nearby other than Big Bend.

Photo: River front camping near New Braunfels, Texas

For those of you who have seen my Global Warming videos. I would love to own an EV truck and pollute less. But that isn't in my budget for at least another 5 years (I'll be 75). That's my reality. Unless Tesla, Rivian, Ford or Chevy can give a substantial discount. Dare to dream!

Photo: GMC Hummer EV (Daddy likes!)

Todd Dunn YouTube:

https://youtu.be/eBFD7YGnMtc https://youtu.be/1NlSPuASv8Q

Walking Tour of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Thanks for checking out my walking tour of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. What a great place for a hike. My wife Annie and I saw beautiful scenery, kayakers, people fishing, various birds and other wildlife. Yes it was hot and steamy, but we both had a great time. We had hoped to see some bison, but no luck. They were apparently on hiatus. Visiting the nature center was a great respite from our usual routine. We look forward to coming back to burn more calories while walking.  

Thanks for watching. I greatly appreciate it. Feel free to contact the nature preserve with any questions, comments or concerns. Here is a link to their website: https://www.fwnaturecenter.org

Apparently, invariably, inexorably, I'll be getting a call from Wana RV. That's supposed to be in August. I ordered a 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S travel trailer in February. We'll see. By the way. We are paying cash for the TT once it arrives.

I have already purchased most of the items required to operate and transport a travel trailer. Mundane items like the sewage hose to a surge protector are awaiting their intended purpose. Upgrades like more solar panels, a better charge controller and batteries are planned. More money!

I should have plenty of room for most of my newer cameras and tripods. I plan to take my Nikon D800, Panasonic Lumix G85, DJI Pocket 2 and various accessories. On the road, I will focus my lens on capturing a disappearing America. Remnants, hidden in far away spaces.

My wife is excited about our new family member (travel trailer). Can't wait to park it in the back yard alley. We'll work together as a team to make the TT unique. Annie and I are a modern couple. We enjoy working together. One of our first projects is to make the kitchen and storage areas more usable. No girl this or boy that. We'll keep you updated on our RV upgrades on our YouTube channel.

Cleburne State Park Texas Review & Video

Cleburne State Park is less than an hour South of busy Fort Worth. The state park surrounds the relatively clear water of 116-acre spring-fed Cedar Lake. I feel Cleburne State Park is representative of the Texas park system. This park offers RV sites, (casual/flat and mountain) biking, fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking and no-wake boating. 

Visitors can reserve a screened shelter or cabin with bathrooms. Several large group picnic areas are also available. Contact the park for reservations and more information. The park offers plenty of affordable camping and recreational options. Frisbee, soccer, softball, volleyball or badminton anyone?

Some RV sites have water and electricity. While others offer full-hookups. Some full-hookup sites offer only 30 amp service while others both 30 and 50. My wife and I did see a dump station. There are showers (indoor and outdoor) and restrooms at several locations. What else does an RVer need?

We look forward to coming back to camp, hike and fish. We're definitely considering bringing our bikes too. My wife appreciated that outside the busy swim area, the park was quiet. 

5800 Park Road 21 Cleburne, TX 76033 (817) 645-4215 Latitude: 32.252365 Longitude: -97.549617 Here is a link that you may find useful: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/cleburne

Link to my YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/fRzBdjM6f-A

Any questions? Feel free to contact me. https://jmmgarza.com/contact

A Day At The Fort Worth Zoo

I was planning on a serene day at the Fort Worth Zoo. It had just rained that morning and it was a Wednesday. To my surprise, the zoo was quite busy with families. The animal chatter was drowned out by the screaming children. I saw parents working overtime trying to keep their little ones safe. For me, thankfully, my parenting days are a distant memory.

Lately, my wife and I enjoy quiet days and evenings at home. We spend our hours busily reading books, writing, editing media and watching the boob toob. Our day at the zoo was definitely a strepitous interlude. Thankfully the animals and scenery were agreeable. If you have the time. Please check out my YouTube video detailing my visit. https://youtu.be/vzTarMNWTHk

Thanks for visiting my blog. I greatly appreciate it. Feel free to contact me with questions comments or concerns. Here is a link you can share to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RVTravelAdventures

Sometimes, It's Just Nice To Be Home

Last week I was camping in Arkansas. It was great to see the beautiful clear lakes, rolling hills and tall pines. Today, my wife and I are just relaxing in the yard after a very busy work week. Well, my wife worked. I mainly fixed and cleaned stuff around the house and yard. 

Here's a shot of me relaxing in my backyard. I mowed it yesterday. It's about 75 degrees, we have quite the cool breeze and the humidy is currently non-existent. We're having a sweet weather respite before the inevitable intense Texas summer heat. It's April 10, 2021 and I can't complain.