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NCBounder
NC
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Joined: 08/07/2005
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We just returned from a 16 day trip from NC to Texas - Austin & Corpus Christi, then along the coast of LA to Southern Lousiania (Acadiana.) So many folks on this forum helped with suggestions and info, I wanted to give a brief trip report.
We drove pretty hard over 2 1/2 days to get from NC to near Austin. We stayed at Cottonwood Creek RV Park in Dripping Springs TX. This is a nice little park in the edge of hill country between Austin, Blanco, and Fredricksburg. We spend one day driving down to San Antonio to take in the Riverwalk area and El Mercado. The drive through the Guadelupe River valley to Lost Maples State Park was very scenic.
Next stop was Mustang Island State Park in Port Aransas. The beaches there are beautiful despite the recent Red Tide. Most of the beaches were clean. The most interesting thing about the area is the hard packed sand beach which is used just like a road. Mustand Island SP is a large paved parking lot on the island between the dunes and the road, but was good for us for a couple of days. Pioneer and Gulf Waters are in the same area and may be more suitable if you are looking for more aminities. Both looked nice from our ride by.
Driving up the beach road from Surfside Beach near Freeport to High Island was quite an experience. The roads are in good shape along the beach and the 2 free ferries were quick and easy and no problem for the motorhome and toad. We were not even the largest rig on them with large 18 wheelers using the ferries too. The devastation left by Hurricane Ike 2 years ago is unbelievable!
There is a toll bridge going into the Galveston area on Hwy 87. It costs $2. What was a little wierd, was that it has a toll collection box like one of drawers you find on a bank drive through, that the toll taker pushes out for you to put your money in. From the drivers window of the motorhome it was about 5 feet down. With the wind blowing at about 20 knots, those 2 $1 bills would have still been going! Yet when the toll taker came out to get the 2 bucks from me, he fussed at me saying he was not supposed to come out and take the money. I'm still not sure what I was supposed to do other than park the MH in the lane blocking traffic, get out and go pay.
Before getting on Hwy 82 in Port Arthur heading East along the beach, be sure you have enough fuel to get you to Abbeville LA. Again it was a very isloated coast road, and whatever business were there before Ike are now only clean cement pads and driveways.
We stayed at the Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton LA. It was an outstanding bargin at $10 per night, and they give you $10 each credit for the casino. The park is very well maintained, paved sites with patios, picnic tables and a shuttle to the casino. The only problem we had was with a group of construction workers that were staying there. Saturday morning at 2:00 AM the ruckus started. Fighting, drunken cursing, and profanity for about 2 hours before they passed out and got quiet...then started again at 9:00 AM Saturday morning. Security guards didn't do anything about it. When we left Sat morning we called the RV park office to let them know. We were promised a call back by the manager but they never called. Had it not been for that it was a nice place and I would consider it again betting that our experience was an isolated event.
In summary, Texas Hill country is awesome, can't wait to go back and really spend some time there. The Texas coast is a great place to visit too, however it is different from Florida or the Atlantic beaches in SC. Cajun country is very interesting and a place you definitely want to see and sample the cusine, but the LA roads are bone jarring and have to be among the worst in the country.
Here is a picture of Mustang Island State Park:
I have FINALLY updated out blog (link in signature below) with some pictures. Hope this helps others...happy travels!
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 01:29pm by NCBounder *
Chuck & Pam in NC
Bobbi the Traveling Cat
Our Travel Page: Chuck & Pam's Travel Pages
Bounder 32 - Ford V10
'04 Chevy Tracker Toad.
F261484
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NevadaJim
Minden Nevada U.S.A.
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Joined: 11/04/2004
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Thanks for your report. Have fun
JimandJerry@charter.net
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lizbard
Nacogdoches, TX
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Joined: 05/24/2009
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Glad you enjoyed Texas. Next time you come, go to Fredricksburg, TX to see some old German buildings, food and go to the Nimitz Hotel whick is now the Nimitz Museum or the Museum of War World II. In that area too, is Lyndon B Johnsons Ranch and boyhood home. Also great peaches when they are in season.
When you are in the Beaumont area, travel up US59 or US 69 to the Piney woods. There are state and national parks. As they say about Texas, it's a whole other country. There are lots of things to see and do.
Come on back to Texas. As you can tell, I love my state and we are now exploring it in the RV.
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NCBounder
NC
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Thanks lizbard.. we did go to Fredricksburg, I just didnt want to put all the details in my trip report. Had lunch at a German bakery there and some peach ice cream for desert! We have not been to the Johnson Ranch, but on a previous trip I went to Johnson City to the LBJ birthplace. I love your state too!
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