Arkanas, Missouri, Kansas 26

 

Norfork Lake Henderson Ozarks AR

I headed west after completing the Stone River cache and drove all the way to Arkansas. I have never camped in Arkansas so I will get another sticker on my bottle. My first night in "The Natural State" I stayed for free at the Blytheville AR Welcome Center  of Highway 55, very RV friendly and I was greeted with a beautiful rainbow! 

Welcome to Arkansas

This rest stop afforded easy access to Krogers groceries without having to get back onto the freeway. So I was all prepared to continue my journey west through Jonesboro and Norfork Lake. I stayed at another Army Corps of Engineers campground, half price thanks you very much, in Henderson. I got there early, so I went exploring down to the Buffalo National River in the Ozark Mountains. What makes this river 135 mile river special is that it is one of the few undammed rivers remaining in the lower 48 states. I often wonder if it would be better if we didn't dam rivers, like the Colorado, what would they be like now, but I digress, back to the camping and geocaching adventures. 

Buffalo National River

I returned to the Henderson campground and had a nice sun downer outside the van. The dark clouds moved north leaving a clear horizon for a stunning sunset or the lake. I headed out the next morning on my way out of Arkansas for a brief visit to the "show me" state of Missouri to visit the first national monument dedicated to an African American and first to a non-president. George Washington Carver National Monument. 

George Washington Carver National Monument

Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a renowned agricultural chemist. Fun Fact:  he found 325 uses for peanuts and created 108 uses for sweet potatoes! The Monument included virtual cache that takes you on the nature trail that was his boyhood home, ending back at the visitor center museum. It really was a beautiful park and a nice peaceful place. For some reason, it gave me a sense of hope. 

I ended my day at Damsite, yes another Army Corps of Engineers campground called Damsite in Fall River Kansas, the Sunflower State. I got settled and went for an afternoon walk around the dam listening to the Padres baseball call when I was approached by the camp host. An old couple, I swear I wrote their names down but I am not finding my note, anyway they are volunteers and stay in there big motor home. They get free camping for taking care of the yard maintenance and keep the toilets stocked and clean. They have been hosting for a few years and they get time away when they need to.  There is a magnetic cache on the bridge, but the bridge was out and I did not want the search beyond the KEEP OUT sign. 

Well that is all for this post. Keep coming back for more. If you want to get an email notification when there is a new post, just leave a comment below.  

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Poole Knob & Stone River National Battlefield

 

Stone River National Battlefield

052926 - 053026 I left the day after the Baron's game and headed back north into Tennessee and camped  at Poole Knob Campground (Army Corps. of Engineers)  My site was at the top of the knob and for the first day I was the only camper.  There was a Bald Eagle Protection Act. sign on the road in front of my site. This must mean there is a nest nearby, so I looked around and found what looked like a big nest in the tall trees between me and the next site.  I kept checking it but I did not see an eagle. Later, after returning from my geocaching hike, a pair of Bird watchers parked on the road and were looking at the nest. Sure enough we could see the big bird in the nest.  My campsite is protected by eagles! I wonder if it knows Gwaihir 

I left early the next morning so I could attempt the Wherigo at the Stone River National Battlefield before heading west to Arkansas. There was a Regular Geocache inside the visitor center, all you need to do is ask the nice ranger. This was also the starting point for GC3X6XN Wherigo cache.  😀 Found it. Even after visiting and completing the tour and finding the cache I have a hard time with understanding the magnitude of this battle and the number of lives lost. The sheer will to fight fellow Americans and cause so much destruction is unfathomable. My trip to Tennessee starts with a symbol of freedom and a grim reminder of the American sacrifice for freedom. The wherigo was very well done. Luckily there was nobody present at the final GZ, a chops of trees in a strip mall that is being used as someones shelter.  But I found the container without disturbing too much. 

TTM 81 - 2.0/2.5 - Stones River Battlefield

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Birmingham Barons

Baron's Win!

5/28/26  To celebrate Carla's Birthday, we went to baseball game. The double A, Southern League,  Birmingham Barons defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 7-4 on May 28, 2026, at Regions Field, downtown Birmingham. We arrived in plenty of time to visit the team store and concessions stands well before 1st pitch. We were seated on the first row behind the dugout, which is cool because you can use the top of the dugout to hold your popcorn and drinks. 

Already behind by 3 runs, the Baron's finally got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd with a HR off the bat of Left Fielder Drake Logan. PNS 3,BIR 1. Then the Baron's tied it up in the bottom of the forth after 2 walks and 2 wild pitches put runners on 3rd and 2nd. They scored on a ground ball fielder choice and catcher Jorge Corona's 2 out RBI single to center ,PNS 3,BIR 3.  The Blue Wahoos plated a run in the top of the 6th, PNS 4,BIR 3 and it stayed a 1 run game until Baron's DH Jeral Perez RBI double in the bottom of the 8th. PNS 4,BIR 4.  No score in the 9th, we went into extra innings. The Blue Wahoos failed to cross the plate in the top of the 10th.  After a pop up out, Shortstop Jordan Sprinkle, ghost runner at 2nd, steels 3rd, 90' away from a win. Pensacola intentionally walks Pinch Hitter Colby Martin to set up the double play, but instead of a ground ball, Baron's first baseman Anthony DePino ended it with a walk-off 3 run homer, way out to left.  The Baron's dugout empties to meet their hero a home as DePino rounds the bases.  PNS 4,BIR 7! A great win for the home town crowd. 

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North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky

Cumberland Gap from Tri-State peak

052226. First stop was Jackrabbit Campground in Nantahala National Forest, part of the Southern Appalachians in North Carolina.  The weather was warm with off and on rain throughout the day, discouraging weekend campers. There was a single geocache along the Jackrabbit Mountain trail system that meanders down by the lake before turning up hill to the ridge making a nice loop, I waited for a break in the rain, but decided to go for it anyway before it got dark. The trail was well maintained yet muddy, especially on the downward slope. I found the cache in good shape feeling like it was well earned. There were just enough daylight left to complete the hike. The camp host was very friendly and told me where I can dump my gray water and top off on fresh before heading north to Virginia in the morning. 

052326 - 052526 I camped at the Wilderness Road Campground just across the border in Virginia  Now I was really enjoying the history traveling through the Daniel Boon trail of 1776 from North Carolina to Kentucky. The Cumberland Mountains comprise borders in Virginia, Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Borders that were declared by Great Britain in 1665, but not surveyed until 1728, but were not settled until 1803. I often wondered how the states borders were established. Imagine all the border disputes that went on between the Virginians and Tennesseans back in the day.  There was a lot to do in the area, all the monuments and geocaches, but it rained most of one day so I packed what I could into the next. I hiked the Tri-State peak and visited the ‎⁨Cumberland Gap National Historical Park⁩. I would like to go back and spend more time in the area, but for now, I need to keep on with my route which takes me to the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. 

052526 - 051726 I got an early start on Memorial Day because I wanted to spend some time at the Mill Springs Battle Field National Monument on the way to Mammoth Caves. The virtual cache at Mill Springs is no give away, it requires visiting several sites and a hiking tour through the mass graves of confederate soldiers. I spent 2 hours completing all the logging requirements, but had a wonderful time learning about. This victory broke the right section of the confederate forces allowing union advance into Tennessee and control of the upper Mississippi river. When I was finished, before driving away I sat and thought about the many Americans that lost their lives in the civil war. 

I arrived Mammoth Caves Campground about 1500. Before setting up I walked over to the visitor center. This place is big, they have a restaurant, a hotel, cabins and a large gift shop. At the information desk is when I found out there were no cave tours available, apparently you need to purchase them online well in advance. But they did have a limited self guided tour, so I got one of those for the next day.  I got settled in and had dinner. No cell service and too many trees for Starlink. But it was only a short walk to the ranger's booth for wifi to check my phone. In the morning I visited the cave at the Historic entrance and spend about 90 minutes on the self guided tour. It was like an underground museum with different exibits and information plaques detailing the cave's history. The rest of the day I drove to where some virtual caches were, one in a graveyard and another at a sinkhole pond with a nice trail.  I spend some time in the visitor center parking lot so I could get online through starlink. In the evening I took a nice walk on the campground trails, there were no geocaches, but I had a good walk. The next day I left the park and visited Russell Cave National Monument just across the Tennessee and Alabama border. Not much there but a small display and a short trail to the cave opening. No entry into the cave allowed. Later in Anniston AL,  

I visited the Freedom Riders National Monument  before arriving back at Camp Carla in Pell City for some birthday baseball. 

Here is a link to the weekends shared photos. 

Until next time, bye. 

Camp Carla - Pell City AL

 

Pell City Alabama

051926- 052226 My drive to Pell City would take me through Columbus Ga and I remembered there is a Museum there, specifically the National Civil War Naval Museum, about ½ way to Pell City so I took a break and visited. The main exhibit is the remains of the CSS Muscogee ( renamed CSS Jackson) a casemate ironclad that the Union Army captured, set adrift and set ablaze in 1865. I spent about an hour in the museum before setting off again to Pell City.  

Green water navies 

Railroad investors founded Pell City in 1890 and named it after George Pell of the Pell City Iron and Land Company, one of its financial backers. I arrived right at dinner time, I have a knack, Carla made a wonderful meal and we watched baseball on her great big TV.  For the next 3 days I was able to get laundry done and spend some quality time with Carla and the Thompsons.  Friday I was off again to camp in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky before returning to Pell City to celebrate Carla's Birthday. Shared Photos.

Vanning the gulf coast.

 

Perfect Spot

Fairview-Riverside State Park Campground - Madisonville, LA

Tchefuncte River 

051326 I left Humble with my eye on a dispersed camping area along the interstate in Louisiana, not sure what I was getting into my plan b was a State park above Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans. I stopped for a break and a geocache at the Sabine River Rest Center just across the border of Texas. There was convenient parking and a nice park with a boardwalk that went over the river. While I was hunting the cache I saw my first alligator just swimming around near the bank. Back on the road, had already decided to try the state park so  passed the turn off to the dispersed camping area. I pulled into the park at 1815, the office was closed so I picked a small tent site and set up for an overnight. The park had a nice swamp trail, boardwalk, so I took a nice walk in the morning before pulling out. 

Meaher State Park Campground - Spanish Fort, AL

Great Egret & Alligator

051426  It was less than 3 hours from my next campground in Alabama, so I stopped and took a break at the Jackson County rest area. This place had designated spaces just for overnighters and one was right near Nana’s Perch geocache. I was not overnighting, but I did go find the cache and made lunch. I made it to the campground in Alabama before 1600 and found my space. I was in the new part of the campground, no trees, just asphalt pads. Brand new shower house built off the ground. The humidity was probably 75% but there was a nice ocean breeze off Ducker Bay. After getting parked I was ready for a walk and some geocaching. I strolled the boardwalks, saw Great Egret, Alligators, and found all the hides in the park. I felt much better about the place after my walk. In the morning I had a really nice shower and went to Waffle House for breakfast. Today I will travel the pan handle of Florida to a campground in Georgia. 

Eastbank Campground - Bainbridge GA

Space #50 Eastbank CG

051526 - 051726  I did not book a space online because they require a minimum of 2 days, so I thought I would just change it and have a drive through before I pick a space. But when I arrived I was informed that even in person, there is a 2 day minimum. The attendant let me drive through and pick my space and I got it for 2 days. Turns out it was a really nice spot so I ended up staying for both days and I was able to move the dates for my next reservation. I got the nearest geocache at the entrance to the park, the only other one was an Earthcache. I had a nice ride on my bike down by the dam. 

Jim Woodruff Dam

Lake Seminole was produced by the construction of the Jim Woodruff dam and is the result of the water flow coming in from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers. The Florida and Georgia state line runs north to south along the middle of the Chattahoochee River, then turns east just before the dam. North of the Dam is the Central Time Zone, south of the Dam is the Eastern Time Zone. So the water of Lake Seminole takes an hour to flow through the dam 😁. 

I ended up having a very nice stay before I moved to another campground on the other side of the lake.

Three Rivers State Campground - Snead FL

Gators

051726 - 051926 It was a short drive over to the campground in Florida. I stopped at Piggly Wiggly for groceries on the way. This space was not like my last, it was an accessible site right in the middle of the park. This is why I like picking my site after arriving. I got set up and went for a walk along the lake. No geocaches allowed on Florida State Parks but they did have nice walking and riding trails. I walked about 4 mikes on the first day and rode about 7 miles on the 2nd day. I did not see any Gators here. The three rivers referenced in the name are Chattahoochee River, Flint River and Apalachicola River below the dam. I updated the stickers on my water bottle to include Alabama, Florida and Georgia. I will be nice to stay at Camp Carla for the rest of the week. My Photos of Vanning the gulf coast

Camp Dempsey - Humble (H is silent) TX

 

Mariners Win!

051126 - 051326  I was overdue visiting Camp Dempsey. I really appreciate Robbie's Grandma and Grandpa’s hospitality. It was fun catching up visiting and true to form the visit was eventful, baseball and golfing. We attended the Astros game against the Mariners, I was impressed with the ballpark and enjoyed the Seattle win! In the morning we went golfing at Tour 18 Golf Course, featuring a collaboration of replicas of famous holes in golf. Most of all, I got to meet Robbie. My visit was short enough to not be long and long enough to not be short. Next thing I knew I was on my way east to Louisanna, looking forward to my next visit to Texas. 

Tour 18 Golf Course

Gulf Coast of Texas

 

Magnolia Beach, TX

I had an uneventful overnight at the rest area, got an early start towards the Gulf Coast. When I was looking for a place to camp, I found dispersed camping at  Magnolia Beach  so I made sure I went to check it out. The beach faces northeast on Magnolia Bay. There were quite a few places to park and camp. It looked like all the others parked on the beach were fishing. I didn't trust what I read online, so I booked a county campground up the coast, but this place would have worked fine. I parked on the beach and made lunch and then took a quick walk down to a virtual cache at the end. 

Quintana Beach

Quintana Beach County Park is right on the coast and right next to Freeport LNG Propane where they process deliver and transfer to ships. There were very large ships coming and going the whole time I was there.  After dark, their deck lights lite up the whole campground. 

I enjoyed the weekend walking on the beach and riding the Jangurandi and finding the geocaches in the area. The was a geocache right in the park, only about 400' from my space. I went out to the Quintana jetty and talked to locals fishing. They were catching "Speckled Trout" about 16 to 20 inches.  This really put me in a Jimmy Buffett mood, "get jalost in the reggae mon and walk along the beach."  

👀Here is a link to my Photos. 👀

Quintana Beach

Jagurandi

 

San Antonio Mission vs Midland Rockhounds

Nelson Wolff Stadium.

050826 Well, when I left the campground, I wanted to make sure I had a full tank after the game so I pulled into a place called Buc-ees, a well-known huge gas station in the south. I mean they got hundreds of gas pumps and they make all there treats right there in the store. There was a virtual cash there where you had to take a picture of the beaver known as Buc-ee. I got all gassed up provisioned and hit the road, Like I said, I took my time in the morning so by the time I got on the road it was well the past 1400. I had only an hour and 20 minute drive to the stadium. 

Fanny pack giveaway

I pulled into the stadium, there was already half a parking lot full of people and they had their chairs out at the gate.  What’s going on I thought maybe they are the staff or something I parked but I stayed in a van. There was still more than 3 hours before first pitch. I kept watching or more people got in line with lawn chairs and drinks as if they’re gonna be there for a while. When I pulled in, there was a sign that said $12 for parking, but there was nobody there to take the money so after about an hour I looked up and there was a guy there with a remote scanner, taking money for parking so I got out of the van and I walked up to him and explained that I came in early and there was nobody here to take the money so I offered to pay the $12, but he just waved me off and said you're good. I asked him why is everybody waiting at the gate? He said there is a giving away to the first 4000 people and I’m thinking wow 4000 could be a crowded game so I looked up online to find out that the gates open at six an hour before the game so 6 o’clock, I got out of my van I’ve gotten in line. I really didn’t care if I got something free, but I got in line and I got through the gate and I got a free fanny pack that says San Antonio Mission on it. There was a big crowd, probably a sell out. Attendance 5,562. 

The first thing I wanted to do was get a hat and a sticker, but that was a really long line for the Team store and it was a

Ballapeño

pretty small Team store so I figured I’ll come back later in the game, so I went and got hotdog and a beer found my seat. The time went quick waiting for the game to start, I watched Ethan Salas, the Padres #1 prospect, warming up outside of the dugout where they had a pitching machine and he was standing probably about 30 feet  taking really fast pitches.  Had a nice high school choir sing the national anthem and we were ready for baseball. 

The Mission got out to an early lead off on a 2 RBI double in the 2nd and a pair of RBI singles in the 3rd. The Rockhounds score 1 in the 4th and 3 in the 5th to get within 1 run,  but the home team answered with 2 more in the bottom of the 5th and add on with 1 more in the 7th and keeping the Midland off the board through the 9th. Final score 8 to 4. Weather 78 degrees, Cloudy, game time 2:28. It was a good home win in front of a large crowd. I did go to the team store in the 6th inning. 

I made it out of the ballpark in good shape and hit the road south towards the Gulf of Mexico. I pulled into Live Oak Rest Area Southbound for an overnight.   Here is a link to my shared photos. Thanks for visiting 😀

Missions Win!

Palmetto State Park Campground

 

Beef committee watching geocaching activities

050726 My first idea was to stay here two days I didn't realize how far away the campground is from the San Antonio baseball park. So instead of driving back here after the game, I will stay on the road.  The space I reserved was seriously slanted, I would have to raise the port side of he van more than 10" and that would require jacking up the van. Luckily the office was manned and I was able to move to another site that was more level. One thing good about Texas State Parks, they allow geocaching!  It was raining a little, about an hour before sunset, when I set out on my geocaching walk.  I was able to locate all of them except one because my phone's battery ran out. 

not really knowing where I was at, I finished the San Marcos River trail and made my way back to the campground via the Mossycup Spur. 

The campground was filling up for the weekend and by bedtime all the spaces were taken, except for the real slanted one. 

In the morning I took my time because I have all day to kill before the San Antonio Mission baseball game starts. The gates open a 1800 and it looks like I can park at the stadium. 

Here is a link to the photos I took. Thanks for visiting 

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Caverns of Sonora - Sonora Texas

 

050626 I have never heard of Sonora before, let alone the caves. I discovered this place while looking for an overnight spot between El Paso and San Antonio. Turns out that this place is a working ranch and has a living cave on the property. Officially discovered in 1955, the cave was developed and protected, then opened for tours in 1960. When I pulled in, there was only one other RV. I was greeted by Peacock calls and Turkeys on the green making their way across the campground.

I was assigned a space with 30 amp hookup and water for only $20 dollars and was informed they had a tour scheduled in an hour. So I backed into my spot, got set up and went to meet the tour.

Our tour guide Elija covered the safety details of the tour that would take us almost 2 miles, 360 stair steps down 155’ into a living cave. Off we went, a young couple from Houston and myself down onto the cave. Elija was very knowledgeable. Soon we were learning about all the different speleothem forms; Stalactite, Stalagmite, Columns, Drapery, Helictites and flowstone. Half way
down the low ceiling path opened up into a vast underground room. We were cautioned not to touch the cave walls or any speleothem, even though we were only inches away, because the oils on our fingers would destroy the formations. I never thought of a cavern being live, but it is a slow moving natural act of growing and changing.

After the big room, we continued our descent  at a slow pace. There were lights installed in sections, Elija turned them on and off as we went. We entered an area with underground pools of blue water and in one section Elija used a black light to show how some of the speleothem glowed in the dark, it was beautiful and photographs just do not show how amazing it is.

When we reached the last room, we agreed to turn off the lights and take our rest in complete absolute darkness. It was amazing how dark it was. I could not see my hand in front of my face. It was quiet too, just small cave noises.

After we were all rested we started our ascent to the surface, I assumed we would just retrace our steps, but we took a totally different way up, saw more of the cave and it seemed to me there were not as many steps going up.

We emerged about 200 yards from where we went in, right next to the gift shop. Imagine that! I bought a shot glass, post cards and of course stickers. Oh and some home made fudge.

I got all the questions for the Earth Cache from Elija and posted my find. After I ate dinner, I stepped out to take a walk and saw the wild turkeys again showing off their feathers and I could hear the peacock over by the gift shop squawking “fuuuuudge, more fuuuudge.”

I left at 1000 on the dot and used the dump station at the rest stop off I-10 in Sonora, then headed east towards San Antonio.

Here is a link to my Photo Album. 

El Paso Chihuahuas Baseball - Southwest University Park, El Paso TX

 

Southwest University Stadium - El Paso, TX

050526 - Cinco de Mayo! The Chihuahuas website suggests a parking garage, but I am about a foot to tall. Using Google Maps navigated to public parking out doors The entrance had a 8 foot max height. While navigating to another, I found street parking only 2 blocks from the stadium, I paid $10 for the rest of the day.

Chico

Southwest University Stadium is a downtown ballpark that holds a grass roots feeling and packed with Chihuahua fateful. The game against the Tacoma Rainers, the Seattle Mariners Triple A team. Both teams scored in the first inning, but the Chihuahuas broke it open and by the seventh inning they had a 9-4 lead.

Tacoma came out fighting in the eighth and tied it up. El Paso kept Tacoma off the board it in the ninth and tenth. Then with the automatic runner at second, Nate Mondou was call off the bench and came through with a pitch hit to right to walked it off 10-9. It was a very entertaining game and even better with a home team win.

Equipped with a T-shirt, ball cap and a bottle sticker, I returned to Vannie before 10pm. I got on the I-10 and drove 2 hours to a rest stop and stayed the night. In the morning I’ll have a short 3 hour drive to Caverns of Sonora Campground.  

Note: The El Paso Chihuahuas have two primary alternate identities: El Paso Matachines El Paso Bootmakers.

Score board

Off on another Adventure - Alabama and back 2026

After a short week at the Desert Habitat it is time for another adventure. I have split this trip into 2 parts. Part one I will venture southeast through Texas, attending triple A and double A baseball games, the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, golfing and some quality time with my Texas friends. Continuing east through the bayou of Louisiana all the way to Florida, ending up with some driveway camping in Pell City Alabama. Part two includes U.S. Forest Service campgrounds in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. I hope to visit civil war battle grounds and exciting caverns and national monuments. This part ends up at the Rocky Mountain Star Stare (RMSS) in Colorado before returning to my desert habitat. 

I got underway on May 3rd, but instead of taking the I-10 spending six hours next to speeding 18 wheelers I took the much less traveled route through Globe/Miami and into New Mexico for an overnight at Ventran’s Park, Lordsburg NM. This is the second time that I had stayed here when starting a trip towards the east. The Park was established to commemorate those who served our country, alongside figures involved in policing, firefighting, and local copper mining. Free camping, little amenities, a perfect place for a quick overnight.  Unfortunately, the spot that I used, there was some trash left, sad that the people can’t pick up after themselves and use the dumpster provided. To my surprise, this time there was water and you can see improvement in progress. There were four other campers overnighting. It was nearly dark by the time I got settled. In the morning I took a walk around the area with my pickup stick and a plastic bag. That done, I filled up at the Circle K and  headed towards Texas.

050426 Franklin Mountains State Park Primitive Campground is primarily a day use area, but there is overnight camping. Most of the sites are for tents but I stayed in one of the 6 RV dry camping sites. Before settling up I hit the trail to find a letterbox cache near the park entrance. Nice that Texas State Parks allow geocaching. The temperature were in the 90s so I thought I would  test out my 12 volt AC running it on full with all the doors closed. Kept the van in the 70s while using minimal battery power. The solar input seemed to be enough to keep it running. I used my Starlink to get online so I could watch or listen to the Padres game and enjoy the evening. In the morning I took a nice little hike up to the top to see some of the views and then get ready to check out at noon.When I left I headed over to The Love's truckstop to dump my gray tank and take a shower before heading downtown El Paso to find a place to park during the game. I have tickets to the El Paso Chihuahuas vs the Tacoma Rainers, first pitch 1805. 

📹 Veteran's Park 

📹 Franklin Mountain