With our rolling ranch house in tow, we headed north and 260 miles later, we arrived in Strawn, TX. and pulled into Mary's Cafe.
Strawn, TX. has a population of about 700 and Mary's Cafe is known throughout the state of Texas. Folks from all over stop here. Mary's has been featured on the show called "Texas Country Reporter", a show Ralph and I watch every Sunday morning.
Chicken Fried Steak is real big in Texas. Mary's Cafe was voted in the Top 3 of the "Best Chicken Fried Steak in Texas".
Now, there is nothing healthy on the menu at Mary's and they are known for that. It is all "heart clogging" food with one exception. I did fine a grilled chicken breast with a side salad and baked potato. When I asked the waitress if they had a "light" salad dressing, she said with a chuckle, "There ain't nothin light around here". So I chose a vinaigrette.
Ralph had been salivating on the way up here just dreaming about his chicken fried steak! I don't know why I didn't take a picture, I just forgot. His CFS hung over the large oval plate and was smothered with gravy along with the sides.
Of course I did take a bite and yes it was delicious! Ralph was a happy camper now.
We headed northeast to Ft. Worth about 2 hours away and pulled into our friends home in the town of Haslet. We have known Fred, Cindy and their son Travis, otherwise known as Goatneck Clem, Peco's Lil and Capt. Sam Evans, for about 15 years. We had met them at a Cowboy Shooting competition and they invited us to stay with them afterwards so we could visit the Ft. Worth area for a few days.
This was before Ralph and I started "full timing". We would come to Texas for the winter in our old Dodge Truck and Lance Truck Camper. So we took them up on their offer and did just that and had the best time.
A few years later they came up to Maryland and stayed with us at our farm. Fred competed in the Maryland State Cowboy Shoot. We took them around to see the sights of Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg. We have stayed in touch ever since.
When we "freeload" in someones driveway, we bring steaks to put on the grill. So we had a nice steak dinner with them and of course a wonderful visit. I was so excited to see them, I forgot to take pictures!
On Tuesday, June 2nd, I headed out to do a 5 mile walk. Fred and Cindy had already left early that morning. I had a lovely walk and enjoyed seeing livestock, ranch entrances and decorative mailboxes.
We left Cindy's and Fred's late morning and headed to Oklahoma. Oklahoma is known for rough roads. Part of their interstates are concrete, bouncy and with potholes.
We were north of Oklahoma City and started experiencing a shimmy in the front end of our truck. Hoping it was rough roads we drove a little bit until we got on a smoother part of the highway. Unfortunately the shimmy was still there. We pulled into a truck stop and Ralph jacked the truck up and spun the wheel to find evidence of tire separation.
Even though we have road service, Ralph just decided to change the tire. We were soon due for new truck tires anyway and had planned to get them this fall.
Thank goodness for my smart phone. It is just so convenient. As we headed north into Kansas, I called a few tire places and selected one in Wichita. I knew we would get there after they closed and Mike the manager told us just to pull in their lot for the night and he would see us in the morning.
I thought this was a unique and clever sign for the "Lazy S Ranch" along Interstate 35 in Oklahoma.
On Tuesday, June 2nd, I headed out to do a 5 mile walk. Fred and Cindy had already left early that morning. I had a lovely walk and enjoyed seeing livestock, ranch entrances and decorative mailboxes.
We were north of Oklahoma City and started experiencing a shimmy in the front end of our truck. Hoping it was rough roads we drove a little bit until we got on a smoother part of the highway. Unfortunately the shimmy was still there. We pulled into a truck stop and Ralph jacked the truck up and spun the wheel to find evidence of tire separation.
Even though we have road service, Ralph just decided to change the tire. We were soon due for new truck tires anyway and had planned to get them this fall.
Thank goodness for my smart phone. It is just so convenient. As we headed north into Kansas, I called a few tire places and selected one in Wichita. I knew we would get there after they closed and Mike the manager told us just to pull in their lot for the night and he would see us in the morning.
I thought this was a unique and clever sign for the "Lazy S Ranch" along Interstate 35 in Oklahoma.
As we were hauling our ranch house through downtown Wichita, our home almost got decapitated. There were no "warning signs" before the bridge. This bridge was 12' 9" and we are at 13' 3".
We stopped and luckily just another several yards ahead was a brick covered road with a decorative archway overhead that was tall enough for us to go under. If this road was not there, we would have had to back up about a block to turn on another road.
Just around the corner was Tracy's Automotive and Tires and this would be our home for the night.
On Wednesday, June 3rd, we walked into the shop and Mike the manager had coffee for us. We chatted with him and soon we had 2 new tires.
While that was going on, I took a walk to downtown. I also did a nice walk last evening around this quaint town. Both Ralph and I have always enjoyed looking at the neat architectural designs of buildings.
I found this adorable. A business man waiting for the bus, decides to roll up his pant legs and take his shoes off to play in the water fountain while reading his newspaper.
While that was going on, I took a walk to downtown. I also did a nice walk last evening around this quaint town. Both Ralph and I have always enjoyed looking at the neat architectural designs of buildings.
I found this adorable. A business man waiting for the bus, decides to roll up his pant legs and take his shoes off to play in the water fountain while reading his newspaper.
The historical train station being renovated.
When I got back from my walk, a man dropped his beautiful cherry red T-Bird off for an oil change. I knew this had to be a decent place to have work done. If this man trusted his "pride and joy" to Tracy's Automotive, then it must be at a decent place.
The shop, waiting area and the garage bays were spotless beyond believe and all the workers were neatly dressed and polite. Mike the manager, said that they have a good reputation and longtime valued customers.
We thanked Mike and Doug and pulled out.
We left Wichita, KS. and headed to Manhattan, KS. traveling through some quaint small towns. The ride up RT. 177 was scenic and full of farms, ranches and prairie land. There is a lot of western history here with the Santa Fe trail. I managed to snap some pictures as we were driving through the town of Council Grove, KS.
We arrived in Manhattan, just about 3 hours from Wichita. Our friends Pat and Carolyn live there. We met them years ago at our winter RV resort in Lakehills, TX. They have been wintering there along with us for many years. They are some of the sweetest and most interesting people we have met.
Carolyn and Pat treated us out to lunch at this nice restaurant. Service and food were very good, but the friendship and visit were the best. Breakfast is served all day long and I was good, I got a veggie omelet, but I really wanted what Pat had! Waffles with fruit and whipped cream!
Carolyn and Pat treated us out to lunch at this nice restaurant. Service and food were very good, but the friendship and visit were the best. Breakfast is served all day long and I was good, I got a veggie omelet, but I really wanted what Pat had! Waffles with fruit and whipped cream!
Earlier that day, Ralph noticed while inside the RV, that he could really hear the outside noise while he was up in the bedroom area. He took down our insulated hatch cover to see we had no vent cover. Our vent cover cranks up and they are all made of plastic. Over time the plastic breaks down because of the UV Rays and I guess it just cracked around the hardware and blew off.
Again my iPhone came to the rescue and I found an RV store where we pulled in and picked up a new vent cover.
That afternoon we pulled into Deer Creek Crossing RV Park in Topeka, KS. for the night. After setting up, Ralph climbed on the roof and put on the new vent cover.
Between the tires, the low bridge and the vent cover, one thing RV-er's learn quickly is "RVing is an adventure".
This was a great park. Very well maintained, concrete pads and sites very large with well manicured lawns. Staff led you to your site and were very helpful and polite.
I did a nice walk, while doing clothes at the campgrounds spotless laundry room. After dinner, we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Again my iPhone came to the rescue and I found an RV store where we pulled in and picked up a new vent cover.
That afternoon we pulled into Deer Creek Crossing RV Park in Topeka, KS. for the night. After setting up, Ralph climbed on the roof and put on the new vent cover.
Between the tires, the low bridge and the vent cover, one thing RV-er's learn quickly is "RVing is an adventure".
This was a great park. Very well maintained, concrete pads and sites very large with well manicured lawns. Staff led you to your site and were very helpful and polite.
I did a nice walk, while doing clothes at the campgrounds spotless laundry room. After dinner, we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
It has been a busy 3 days of travel and I am trying to catch up on our travel blog. So until next time....................Happy Trails!
Pat and Carolyn look great!
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