After the wind sort of died down yesterday morning, I left Powderly, TX, and headed for Bartlesville, OK. I had picked out a Passport America campground that looked pretty nice on their website. I’ve come around to making reservations at parks when I’m traveling night by night, and it’s a good thing I did in this case.
Riverside RV Resort and Campground is packed to the gills! A resort it’s not, and if you want to feel like a sardine packed into a can then this is the place for you. I can almost reach out my window and touch the rigs on either side of me. Even though I paid for two nights, I didn’t even attempt to unhook the toad. The place is filled with utility workers, and when I arrived at two in the afternoon, there were only two vacant sites. There aren’t many choices in this neck of the woods.
The 220 mile trip to get here was fairly uneventful. I only had to ignore Jack-in-the-Box twice. The first time was in the middle of massive construction while driving though Tulsa. He wanted me to take a left, while detour signs pointed right. I followed the signs. Then as we were exiting Tulsa, he wanted me to get off of US 75. I knew 75 would lead me to the campground, so I ignored him. That’s when a sign on the GPS said there was an unavoidable 11’ underpass ahead. 
Being a person who prefers to use interstates to get from point A to point B while driving the rig, this has been a rather interesting route I’ve decided upon that uses US highways instead. I did take the Indian Nation Turnpike for a good portion of the trip, and that turned out better than expected. Yes, it’s a toll road, but not too expensive in my opinion. ($10.75 for the rig and toad) It also had what has been for me the easiest in and out fuel station that I’ve ever encountered. No heartburn this time, and the price of the gas was $.40/gallon cheaper than my last fill up in Louisiana!
I had thought about visiting some places here in Bartlesville, but since I can’t unhook the toad with the way I’m wedged into the site, I passed on that idea. I’ve already been to the Will Rogers museum several years ago, and took in more information about Will Rogers than I ever wanted to know. So I spent the day planning out the rest of my journey to Tamarac NWR.
That’s where the strategic planning is coming in to play. I weathered one severe spring storm in Louisiana, and according to the weather guessers I may have a window of opportunity to make a run to Minnesota before the next storm comes along. Granted, I don’t ‘run’ too fast, but the next ten days look fairly calm weather-wise. I’ve plotted out four more campgrounds to get there with two night stays at half of them. Three of them I’ve been to before, so I know what to expect…no more sardine issues.
If everything goes as planned, I could be at Tamarac a week from today. That would be four days before my scheduled arrival, so I’ve got some wiggle room. Now if I can just find a few more easy in and out gas stations along the way, I’ll be one happy camper.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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I'm up in SE WI for the week. The weather feels like it's going to snow any time. Complete with the gray clouds. Glad you're enjoying the trip.
ReplyDeleteYou made a very valid point... traveling from point A to point B is a whole different mindset than taking a leisurely trip to some lovely destination. It's so interesting to me how my fellow blogging friends handle their traveling time. And another thing you pointed out is our tolerance of "short term" situations (like sardine-can living) that usually we'd never be able to live with. By the way... we've always found gasoline cheaper in Oklahoma than any other state... interesting......
ReplyDeleteContinued safe travels and easy access fuel stops.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we have to start making reservations. Planned on arriving in Tallahassee for our rig service and just use the same campground. It was full for college graduation weekend. Who knew:( So we are about 80 miles away still in GA. So it will be an early start tomorrow to make the 9 am appt.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you think you can outrun this terrible weather. I have worried a tad about you there in what seems to me to be tornado alley. I like interstates for short get there fast sorts of things. When it's too far to get to where we are going in one day and we're just going to do an overnight and drive again the next day. Reservations are a pain in the neck but they seem to be becoming more and more necessary.
ReplyDeleteOh how I remember sweating the gas/diesel stations. I totally understand!! I suppose in the name of making more money the designers of campgrounds try to squeeze as many in as they can. Sure is a pain for the campers!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to outrun the bad weather!!! It has sure been horrible in our area complete with a tornado and some crazy strong wind!! Hope we all have a calm summer!!
continued safe travels. . .nothin' wrong with just gettin' there sometimes. . .
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find some Passport America parks for my trip north, there is only one near Amarillo and someone who is there tonight told me it is "rough" - not so sure I want to stay just to save $15. I'll drive by and maybe end up in a different park.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in a motorhome I always dreaded fill ups. Fortunately, our motorhome had a 196 gallon fuel tank. We tried to find a fill up whenever we got to half empty. You can image what a 100 gallon fill up costs. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteIt's wise to pay attention to the weather, especially when you are driving a motorhome! Judy, thank you for the birthday wishes!
ReplyDeleteWe've been in some really "interesting" PA parks. But for a night or two we can handle just about anything. I wonder why there are so many folks on the road or do you think it's workers using the campgrounds. We usually don't make reservations when we're traveling unless it's over the week-end.
ReplyDeleteWe are point a to point b travelers so we understand. We also make reservations during the summer.
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually make long range plans either. Once we were in a park and couldn't even open our sofa slide! We didn't stay but one night.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels Judy!
We always to try to check the reviews on rvparkreviews.com, and even Google Earth, but sometimes you still get a bad campground.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a safe and easy trip north and find more easy fuel stations.
Sounds as if you are making tracks--hope all continues to be easy and uneventful!!
ReplyDeleteWe have found that a lot of PA campgrounds are that way...I would just as soon stay in a Wal-mart parking lot!!! We look for Flying J's or Pilots for fuel...there is an rv island you can always count on getting in and out without a problem.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered how big rigs complete with toads get gas. I have enough trouble sometimes getting in there with a SUV!
ReplyDeleteWe've also traveled on the Indian Nation Turnpike and were impressed. Don't mind paying a toll on a nice road like that.The PA Turnpike was so bad we thought they should have given us our money back and more!
ReplyDeleteI get a stomach ache when getting fuel and I'm not the one driving! We find that on the way to and from Texas, we plan exactly where we will be. We prefer Army Corps parks, but in some states, they are few and far between...Illinois being ONE of the them!! Take your time and pick your way to Minnesota...It is going to warm up here in Northern Illinois next week, so it should be warming up waaaay up there!
ReplyDeleteSometimes those PA parks can be a little daunting and a bit out of the way, especially when you get one way out in the woods and you hear banjo music playing. ;c)
ReplyDeleteGood idea to follow those 18 wheelers through the low bridge areas, let them go first and clear the way!
May 2, 2014
ReplyDeleteHI
I use Microsoft streets and trips for my trip plans. With that there is a download from
Discovery owners mega file, that can be used to show things like fuel and passport America locations. I am only mentioning a couple as there over one hundred items on the list. These are individually turned on or off, it is slow to reposition the map with them all turned on.
http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm
George
http://busterstravelsgeo-bon.blogspot.com
Aren't there truck stop gas stations like Pilot and Loves? They are used by the big truckers and you could easily fit into the trucker side - I guess that would be okay? I like the big gas stations, but I fit into the automobile/RV side easily - I've seen many big rigs towing cars do the same. They usually have enough room for a wide turn into the pump areas. Once in Quartzsite I was at a gas station that had three pumps on each island. Some people were in front of me taking up the whole island because they were so long. I just got behind them and waited for them to finish and drive out before I could get my gas. That's just the way it is and people have to be patient. :)
ReplyDeleteNo window of opportunity here in Ohio. Rain, rain and more rain until next week. Yuck! Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteYes, gassing up can be nerve-racking in many stations. I've been making a point to start looking when my tank is at the half-way point. It's not comfortable looking for the best place to pull in; but, it's much worse if the tank is getting really low.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a good "travel long distances every day" sort of RVer. I've told myself that the travel is supposed to be part of the enjoyment of the RV lifestyle. If I get too tired it becomes a real chore. Nice that you have some wiggle room. Hope the weather behaves for your journey.
hi emma, wish we can travel together :) Discount Retro Sunglasses
ReplyDeleteGlad you are safe and will have good weather, at least for the next ten days. Have fun and drive safe!!!
ReplyDeleteWe only use the large truck stops like Flying J, Loves and others! No problem getting into and out of them. Get their cards and save some money per gallon.
ReplyDeleteWe won't be freezing at night next week and highs are supposed to be in the 50's. So things are looking up! Hopefully spring is really here. Travel safe! Hope the rest of your campground stops are not like sardines in a can:)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're getting there!! It is nice to have a few cushion days so that you don't have to drive in the wind or crappy weather. We sat out a couple of terrible windy days on our way to Idaho, and I'm so glad that we did. It does seem like many of the campgrounds are filled with oilfield, utility, or construction workers this year!
ReplyDeleteI've often thought about taking the Indian Nation Tpk but never did. Maybe if I ever go that way again I'll try it. I hope the rest of your trip is smooth and uneventful.
ReplyDeleteI hate those sardine can 'campgrounds'. They make me very cranky. We've occasionally had to stay in one because there was nothing else in the area we wanted to be. Boy was I glad to leave. They're kind of stretching the word "resort"!
ReplyDelete