The Pool is open!

The wind was calm in the morning and the sun was bright and shiny exposing the hills surrounding HVR. (see previous post) With the engine heater plugged in all night, Kevin turned the key and whalla it started right up! Since only electric was connected and the toad was left hooked to the Smitanic, it only took a few minutes to bring in the slides , bring up the jacks and prepare for travel mode. It was 7+ miles of gravel after exiting the ranch. Kevin had a sigh of relief as pavement was finally under the wheels and the vibration stopped. It took 25 min to get back onto 1-10 and continue the eastward route.


A fellow RVer in Hemet mentioned Balmorea State park as a place for year around swimming, snorkeling and even Scuba diving! Theresa made note of it as a planned stop on the return trip. It was not far off I-10 (though Kevin was lerry after yesterdays adventure) and was on a 2 lane paved highway. Same day reservations could not be made on-line for the park so Theresa called to check on availability, thinking this may be a fun place to hang for a few days while the weather shapes up. No answer...leave a message. After no call back and the miles ticking off she called the reservation #... All agents are assisting other callers … leave your number for a call back …. 20 min later Theresa gets a call … sorry no same day reservations you have to call the park, but you can make reservations for the following day... you can cancel before 5pm tonight with out a charge. Theresa made reservations for the 2nd day. She again tried the park and finally got a real person! Sure we have open sites, I can take your reservation …. phone goes dead and drops the call. After much discussion about what facilities would be really usable at the park (pool, snorkeling, …) due to temps and weather conditions it was decided to cancel the 2nd day reservation and just drive in and do the one night, then see if it merits another day.

After exiting a fuel stop at a Pilot station 30 miles from the destination, Kevin noticed some strange cloud formations ahead that seemed to blend in with the hills and beauts so that one could not determine what was cloud and what was a hill. Soon the Smitanic entered the cloud formation to discover dense fog that had frozen and coated branches, wires, fences and the tops of all the underbrush. It looked like a scene from Game of Thrones beyond the Wall where the White Walkers dwell. (guess you know what DVDs have been watched :).

Kevin gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter and backed off on the gas to adjust to the diminishing conditions. The visibility became like Scuba diving in a scummy pond Kevin cringed at every bridge noting the 'bridge may icy' signs. Theresa again called the Park to get a report on the conditions there, she was assured that it was just cloudy no fog. OK this should get better sometime soon. Indeed once the exit off I-10 for the park was made, the fog lifted but left behind the white coating on all the trees and shrubbery that lined the road.

Theresa checked in at the park office and got the assigned site. The Toad was unhooked to make entry easier into the pull-thru site. Set up again would only be electric and slides to make for a quick exit as well as avoid any freezing of exposed hoses or pipes. Furnace and heat were set to battle the low 30s temperature.

Other RVs rolled in later, so Theresa and Kevin were relieved they got a spot and were off the roads!

The pool, the key park feature, was on the opposite end of the park and demanded a tour. Little imagination was needed to envision a warm spring or summer day with lots of kids jumping off the sides and diving boards, people snorkeling chasing the fish and Scuba instructors conducting buoyancy checks and fin pivots in this massive spring fed pool.


The pool closed at 6pm so there was not much time (nor desire) to brave the cold entry and exit required to take a dip... maybe next time.

Theresa whipped up an erky-lurky (whatever you find lurking in the frig) meal with some pre-cooked leftovers for dinner. Kevin was again successful with getting the satellite working so the weather could be monitored. Theresa scouted out 7 more days of driving to reach the destination in central FL. Each day was around 250 miles. Kevin compared each days advance with the predicted weather fronts in TX, LA, MS, AL, & FL as well as any approaching front form the west. Originally, the plan was to spend a few days in San Antonio, however that would not work favorably to avoid driving in rain and fog. The route was adjusted and a destination of Junction, TX was planned for the next day and then just west of Houston the following day. San Antonio will just be a drive thru :).