Something Different

This year we've had to make a major change in plans since we set out in December.  Bob and Jayce Dales' circumstances changed after we left, which caused us to cancel out at Marana.  For the past 2 years we spent a month at the Valley of the Sun Campgound near Tucson.

The change, for the most part, has not been bad for us.  We've had the opportunity to spend time at other campgrounds in our systems that we never had enough time for before.  We've met some people in the pools who we've run into at later campgrounds and recognized each other.  I think we've met more people from Michigan this year,

than we ever have before.  Something that we really didn't get a chance to do on our previous schedule.

Walt, Kathy, Len, Rose, Wally and Anne are in Florida this year, so we haven't seen them since December.  We've missed them all this year, but we'll be home by Easter

O.P.E.C. Roulette

The trip back home this year from our 'sunshine paradise' has been frought with setbacks.  I'm referring primarily to the price of gas this year.  Who would've thought that gas that was temporarily high at 1.27 when we left home, would now be at 1.57 on the return trip.  The price of gas becomes very important when you're tank size is 80 gallons and the average fillup is around 70 gallons.  A .05 fluctuation in price is a $3.50 variance that is paid to fill the tank.  The cost of a fill up at .30 a gallon translates to $21.00 per tank.  Needless to say, finding gas at 4 or 5 cents a gallon cheaper becomes a major undertaking.

The gas game is played with great apprehension for the most part.  You see, there are no hard and fast rules.  It's a guessing game at best.  We bought gas when we left St. David, Arizona at 1.58 because we thought it was a good price, according to the news reports.  We found it down the road at 1.42.  Oops!  That was a quick $11.20 flushed into oblivion.

This game, however, does give us something to do on the long journey homeward.  I just wish it wasn't so depressing when you make a wrong guess.  I'd kick my butt but it's a long way around.

Another issue of a Newsletter

called GOIN' SOUTH by

Bill and Sharon Rocheleau

710 E. Smith Street

Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801        

E-MAIL (rochelea@up.net)

TO:Our Family and Friends

Anytown, USA

Twin Twisters

We had an unusual experience during our stay in Texas on our way home this year.  We were 35 miles from Fort Worth when the big storm, with 2 tornadoes, blew through.  We watched the weather on local TV and then we were glued to the sky for the next two hours.  The storm passed us by to the North, while we experienced only dark skies and rain.  The campground we were in was in the wide open spaces, and we wondered if we could find a hole to crawl into.  When it was over, there were 5 dead and $450 million in damages, and the hailstones were reportedly the size of softballs.  WHEW!!!

A Chilly Trip?

Because some of our circumstances have changed this year, we decided to change our route home this Spring.  We opted out of our month in Marana and spent the time near Benson and St. David, Arizona.  We left Arizona on I-10 and headed for Fort Worth before turning North into Oklahoma.  We have decided to visit several Nat'l Park sites in Oklahoma and Kansas before turning for home.

This is our first time to travel that far north this early in the year.  We may run into some snow in Nebraska or Iowa, but we're pulling for warm temps.

Chickasaw N.R.A.

Located in South Central Oklahoma in Sulphur, is the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  We found Chickasaw to be one of the neatest little parks that we'd ever been in.  Throughout the park run the Rock and Travertine Creeks, which are about 30 feet wide with dozens of little waterfalls hurrying their way.  They wind and twist through the park and the scores of picnic areas which are there for the visitor.

The park boasts of its own buffalo herd, which were hiding in the woods the day we visited.  Probably because it rained the entire time that we were there.

We tasted the water from Pavilion Springs, and the sulphur taste and smell was obvious, even though the water samples from the spring do not contain it, as reported on the sign.

We drove to the overlook at Veteran's Lake and observed a dock at the edge of the water with half a dozen or so park benches on it.  We guessed it was for the people who would just prefer to sit and fish.

The crowning glory of the park is a beautiful Nature Center with several stuffed animals in natural settings and also live ones in glass enclosures.

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