Chapter 5 - Rozella's Road Trip

I'm back at it.  Trying to get caught up.  We're now in Oklahoma City, but this chapter is about our visit with mom's sister, Betty.  Betty (not Elizabeth) is the youngest of the family at 82 (83 in October).  She lives with her daughter Candy in Frisco, TX, one of many communities north of Dallas that have become incorporated into what is now called Dallas-Ft Worth.  Not sure what the size of Frisco is - saw one sign saying 71,000+ and another saying 92,000+.  Enough about that, this "episode" begins when we left Las Cruces for Frisco.

Not wanting to drive the interstate system, if another, less busy way was available, it became obvious that the only good alternative seemed to go through Roswell, NM and then straight into the Frisco area.  Since mom’s brother, Darrold, had a daughter living in Roswell, we asked if that road was “any good” and how about US Hwy 380 from there into the Frisco area?  We found out that US Hwy 70 from Las Cruces to Roswell is mostly 4-lane and a good road.  And, according to Google Maps, the Hwy 70-Hwy 380 route to Frisco was actually shorter distancewise (Word’s spell checker doesn’t like that word, but I think it really is a word since you hear it all the time).  I’d bet timewise, I-10/I-20 would be shorter.  But, we’ll never know – we took the through-Roswell route. 

This took us 3 days.  After getting a late start from Las Cruces, had to have a “going away” breakfast at Cracker Barrel (one of Dot & Darrold’s favorite places to eat), we headed out.  The drive to Roswell was pretty easy.  The first part takes you through the Organ mountains just east of town and through the White Sands military missile test area to Alamogordo, NM.  Not thinking of New Mexico as a “real” mountain state, I was surprised to see the roadside sign, about 25 miles out of town, announcing the elevation at San Agustin Pass at 5,715 feet!  Highest one on this trip, and not many outside of Colorado will be higher.  Once you get to the White Sands area, you’re surrounded by mountains, but the White Sands are basically “flat as a table”.  Although, on a map there looks to be an area with lots of white sands, we only saw a brief bit while we were driving down Hwy 70.

The first town you get to is Alamogordo.  We stopped for lunch and found out what hot desert heat is.  It was very intense.  We were glad to be on our way again.  To get to Roswell, you have to make your way through the Sacramento and Captain mountains, and it didn’t take long to find them.  The road winds through them and the area is very scenic.  Lots of trees (mostly pine of some sort) and some pretty tall, although not like the Douglas Firs in western Oregon.  I was impressed.  This is the area of the Mescalero Apache, and hwy 70 goes through their reservation.

But it is also the land of Billy the Kid, and the early cattle barons of the area.  According to the internet, his real name, Henry McCarty, was rather ordinary. But his nickname still gallops across the high plains of America's imagination. Of all of the Old West's outlaws, it outdistances all the others. He used his familiar, formal alias of William H. Bonney in correspondence. For the last eight months or so of his harrowing life he was known -- as he is remembered today -- as Billy the Kid.  Although McCarty roamed New Mexico Territory for only the last nine years of his short and turbulent life, he called New Mexico home. Today, more than 125 years after his death, scores of historic points of interest here still recall the life and legend of Billy Bonney; the five-month-long Lincoln County War; and the life and legacy of the man who tracked him down and eventually shot and killed him, Pat Garrett.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore this part of New Mexico.

Town & Country RV Park

As we emerged from the mountains and foothills it was like we climbed UP, and OUT to the east New Mexico plains.  I immediately thought of western Kansas.  Long rolling hills, covered with grasses, spots of rocky soil showing.  Seemed familiar.

Rita & her dinner(s)

In Roswell, we stayed at the Town & Country Mobil Home & RV Park.  This park is basically out of town (south), but is where my cousin, Dali (Darrold’s middle daughter) lives and works.  Because Dali was leaving the next morning for California to visit her kids and sister, we only got to visit for a short time.  But, she did point us to Peppers, a local restaurant, where we had good food.  Now, if you know Rita, she NEVER orders a big meal, and if she gets one, she takes a bunch home.  So for supper, she orders a salad and a side of fry bread.  Something gets lost in translation, and when the food is delivered, Rita gets her salad AND another entrée with fry bread as part of it.  Seems they don’t serve just fry bread, only the fry bread entrée.  Now, the server’s comment “And you still want the fry bread” made sense.  For once, Rita ordered more than Rod.  We are still laughing about that.  You should have seen Rita’s face when the 2nd entrée was served to her.  Almost priceless!

Our 2nd night out we stayed in Haskell, TX at the city park.  Was not sure where we’d stay but found this park on the internet site: rvparkreviews.com.  I use this internet site a lot.  The first night there is free, and is only $12 a night for a full-hookup (they have some 50 amp sites).  It’s not fancy, and many of the “residents” there are workers that travel to wherever the job is.  The city park around is pretty nice for a small town (about 6,000).  Worked for us as we got to keep the air conditioner running without using the generator.

Haskell, TX

Pulled into the Frisco area the next day and found Shady Creek RV Park & Storage.  Fairly new, but few trees for shade.  $30 a night for the first 3, then only $20 when we signed up for 2 more.  Could have stayed a week for $125 +electricity.

Got the motor home settled in, and then drove to aunt Betty’s (about 7 ½ miles).  Was really good to see mom and Betty together again.  Last time was a few years ago.  And, Rita & I got to see her daughter, Candy, again.  Had only been 46 years (Candy was 14).  We had such a good time.

Mom and Sis Betty

Since Candy was working, we mostly saw her at night, after work.  The first night she took us to Rosa’s Tortilla Factory.  Sort of a fast food Mexican place.  Once we walked in, we realized we had eaten at one in Amarillo (we think) 2 years ago.  Good food.  The next day, Saturday, Rita & I decided to head for a shopping mall (we didn’t leave mom alone, she was staying with Betty).  Not knowing just where to go, we somehow, we ended up at the Stonebriar mall.  That and the surrounding area is the largest shopping area in the United States.  The mall is big (not like Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN), but what sets this apart is the acreage around the mall that has more stores than the mall, many of them big box stores (Best Buy, DSW, etc) and all the parking that goes along with the stores.

Sam Moon's Main Store

Rita found a few things, but not the real jewel of a store that we became intimate with – Sam Moon’s.  There are actually 3 Sam Moon stores, in a row, but the one you just gotta see is the one with the jewelry and hand bags/purses.  Even I think every woman needs to see Sam Moon’s – at least once.  We had so much fun, we brought mom when we went back on Tuesday.  I don’t know how impressed she was, but she did buy some things.  Our first visit had to wait till Monday, since they are closed on Sunday, and we didn’t “know” what it was on Saturday.  But, Candy did and she said, “Did you go to Sam Moon’s?  You didn’t?  Well, you’ll have to go back on Monday, cuz you will be amazed.”  That was enough for Rita, and Monday couldn’t come too soon.

There are more purses, hand bags, totes, etc than either of us had ever seen in one place.  Big bags, little ones, lipstick holders, shopping bags, etc.  Frilly ones, plain ones.  You name it, I think they had it.  And then, there’s the jewelry.  Lots and lots of that.  We think all are knock-offs, and therefore inexpensive, but you can then buy more!  Had a good time there.

On Sunday we went to church with Betty and Candy.  It was a big church.  A BIG church.  Sat down, and then noticed the 30 piece orchestra on the stage and the 100 member choir behind it.  To say they were really, really good would be to short change them and the music.  Wow!  And then, I looked at the bulletin we were given.  Oh wow, this is Chuck Swindoll’s church – Stonebriar Community Church.  [I thought it was interesting that the church’s address is on Legendary Drive]  Unfortunately, Chuck takes the month of August off and was not there.  Would have loved to hear him preach.  Betty and Candy said he is really good.

Orchestra and Choir

The church was founded in about 1998, and the current worship center was completed in late 2008, and will seat 3,000.  They have 2 Sunday morning services.  You can visit their web site at: www.stonebriar.org if you want to learn more about the church and its missions.

Candy’s daughter, Darci, and family live closeby and we met them Friday night and then we all went to dinner at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House for Saturday night.  Although the building is only a couple of years old, it was made to look like it had been there for years and was ready to collapse.  Turns out, this is a small chain of restaurants that began in 1998 in Roanoke, TX.  All are in the Dallas-Ft Worth area.

Babes

Mom, Betty, Rita, Candy at Babes

We arrived just in time, as we were seated immediately, but when we left there were 50+ people in the waiting area, with an hours wait AND it was outside with temperatures in the 100 degree range.  Although there were misters going, I'm glad we got there "on time".  

Inside, the decor is definitely rustic.  Chickens and signs everywhere.  And the seating fits right in.  Long tables and food served family style.  Actually only the side dishes are served family style, and is as much as you want.  The main dish is your choice from six:  fried chicken, chicken fingers, chicken fried steak, smoked chicken, fried catfish (3 fillets) or pot roast.  And, there's desert - Chocolate Meringue Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Coconut Meringue Pie, Banana Pudding, and Pineapple Upside-down Cake.  Sorry to say, nobody had desert.  Too much food.

Rudys BBQ and Gas Station

Another good place to eat in the Frisco area (way too many to begin to mention) is Rudys BBQ.  Most of the Rudys are bbq at a gas station.  Again, long tables and you can order individual servings (sandwiches, etc) or "family style portions", meaning tubs of the sides and meat by the pound.  Being the first time for us, we ended up ordering individual except for Rita and me.  The meat (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey) was all good, but the star of the night was the turkey.  Never ordered bbq turkey before, but they gave us a sample, so we ordered brisket and turkey.  The turkey was the best.  And the creamed corn was something else! So good.  Should have bought some turkey to take with us, but didn't and we're still wishing we had.

Frisco Sunrise

And then, there's Double Dip Frozen Custard.  Turns out, the guy that owns this was a neighbor or close friend of the one that owned the Caliches in Las Cruces.  Said the formula was a bit different, but we couldn't tell.  Really good custard.  Ended up going back about every night after we found it.  It can be addictive.

Got to finish this.  Will try to catch up in the next few days.  So long from the road.

  rod, rita, lucy & rozella