Author Archives: Sparky
STE3 Hop 2: Aransas Pass TX to League City TX
186 miles, almost entirely on TX 35. Cumulative tow miles: 369. Truck miles: 191. Cumulative truck miles: 489. This hop was more interesting than the previous two as it brushed the coast and had some nice causeways over two broad and very scenic bays. While it was just a state road, it was in good … Continue reading
STE3 Hop 1: Brownsville TX to Aransas Pass TX
183 miles via TX 511, I-69E, US 77, TX 44, TX 358, I-37 and TX 35. Cumulative tow miles: 183. Truck miles: 298. Cumulative truck miles: 298. This was a truly boring ride. At least coming south, via US 281, there was some farm activity. Going north on US 77 there was nothing to see … Continue reading
STE3 preview
Our 10,000 mile journey is nearing its end. Our winter home – Naples FL – is just down the road, one segment away. This final segment is planned to take 16 days with 9 hops covering about 1700 miles. That is 2 nights per hop. The only planned 3 night stay will be near New … Continue reading
STE2 wrapup
Our arrival in Brownsville TX concluded the second segment of the Second Trip East (STE2). The segment by the numbers: 9 hops 19 nights 1912 tow miles 2390 truck miles $719.07 in campground fees ($37.85 per night) The actual route differed from the planned route only in minor ways, mostly due to missed turns or, … Continue reading
STE2 Hop 9: Rockport TX to Brownsville TX
247 miles via TX 35, US 181, I-37, US 77, I-2, US 83, FM 511 and local roads at each end and to find a gas station in San Jose TX. Cumulative tow miles: 1912. Truck miles: 460. Cumulative truck miles: 2390. This was the worst hop of the trip. Why? Let me count the … Continue reading
Rockport TX after Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey roared ashore at Rockport TX the evening of Aug 25, then raked the area for over a week with torrential rains and strong winds. Recovery is underway but even now, more than 2 months later, parts of Rockport look like the hurricane roared through last night. The most stunning example of total devastation … Continue reading
STE2 Hop 8: Austin TX to Rockport TX
212 miles via TX 620, TX 71, TX 210, US 183, TX 188 and some local roads, with a refueling stop. Cumulative tow miles: 1665. Truck miles: 367. Cumulative truck miles: 1930. The refueling stop was unplanned and was due to remembering, too late – I was already hitched up – that I hadn’t taken … Continue reading
STE2 Hop 7: Corsicana TX to Austin TX
156 miles via TX 31, I-35 and TX 620. Cumulative tow miles: 1453. Truck miles: 165. Cumulative truck miles: 1563. Texas is boring. There is no notable scenery. It really is a matter of putting in the time to get where you are going. Fortunately, this hop required only 3 hours of driving and they … Continue reading
STE2 Hop 6: Durant OK to Corsicana TX
157 miles via US 75, I-635, I-45 and TX 31 with a brief stop to figure out how we screwed up. Cumulative tow miles: 1297. Truck miles: 173. Cumulative truck miles: 1398. This was another hop that didn’t exactly go as planned. I intended to take a route that used US 69 instead of US … Continue reading
STE2 Hop 5: Bartlesville OK to Durant OK
222 miles via US 75, with a refueling stop and an unexpected detour in Tulsa. Cumulative tow miles: 1140. Truck miles: 285. Cumulative truck miles: 1225. This was probably the longest hop we have ever traveled on a single US route. US 75 travels basically due south all the way, so it was a logical … Continue reading