3-7-2024 H: 72°F L: 66°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
We relaxed around the campsite most of the day. I worked on my portion of an upcoming presentation and Daniel scheduled some future campsites. After dinner and grocery shopping, we went to the beach for a bonfire. It was so relaxing with the fire and the waves and some wine. Just magical. Our neighbor on the beach offered us some gas to get our fire started 😬. He had full eyebrows so I guess he knew what he was doing but we thought his truck was going to catch on fire with how big the flames were.
3-8-2024 H: 82°F L: 67°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
We hung out at the campsite and I worked on the presentation some more. Then I made some awesome tofu sticks. I used panko and aquafaba with seasonings to bread the tofu. They were so good!
Tofu sticks
We ended the day at the beach. This will be the last campground on the coast until we are in California. We are all going to miss it. Peter gets so excited when we are driving to the beach that he ends up making too much noise and Daniel has to stop the car until he settles down.
3-9-2024 H: 70°F L: 55°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
We started the day with garlic coffee. If you haven’t tried brewing your coffee with some minced garlic, you are missing out. It adds a creamy, garlicy flavor and it is so good!
We went back to the Port Aransas Bird Preserve and walked further on the trails. It’s a very pretty area and we saw lots of wildflowers and butterflies.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $55.72
Camping memberships: $11.19
Food: $93.40
Miles driven: 63.1 (23.6 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 1
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We stayed here for two weeks and paid $0 per night as Thousand Trail members. We stayed in campsite B7. This is a nice campground with a variety of sites to choose from: dirt pad and wilderness to cement pad and more manicured. Tip: Water does not soak into the ground quickly so the cement pad sites are nice. There is Lake Conroe access with small docks and a boat ramp, an activity center with gym and billiards, and a nice pool and hot tub. There is also a dog park, pickleball courts, and putt-putt golf. The gates are closed 24/7 so you will need a code after hours. Our dogs really enjoyed running off leash on the island near the boat ramp. This campground does charge $5 for each package delivered and they did not notify us of the charge when they said we could have packages delivered. (Jan-Feb 2024)
Sawyer Yards: Awesome art studios in a repurposed industrial complex which are open to the public on the second Saturday of the month.
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern: Magical space which formerly provided water to the people of Houston. The tour is definitely worth it.
Joystix: They have a $15, 21+ only, all you can play arcade night on Fridays.
Brass Tacks: We really enjoyed this coffee shop which has neat nooks to study, work, or just hang out.
Sam Houston Port Boat Tour: Free tour of Port Houston takes you past barges and international cargo vessels. Requires reservations.
We stayed three nights at this beautiful campground. We paid $24.17 per night. There are so many things to do right in the park. We were so excited to see alligators and the various species of birds. While there are several lakes here, you cannot go swimming due to the alligators. There is also an observatory which only operates on Saturday nights for stargazing and you will need tickets ($10). There are numerous trails and places to explore. This is the type of park to spend a long weekend just enjoying the wildlife and beauty of the park. (Feb 2024)
The Strand in Galveston: The Strand area offers many bars and restaurants plus shopping opportunities.
Brazos Bend State Park: There are so many hiking opportunities, abundance of wildlife, and the George Observatory.
We only stayed at this campground for one night and paid $22. We had campsite 15. Most of the sites are right on the water. All the sites had a covered picnic table area. We weren’t here long enough to explore but we did go to The Big Tree near the campground. (Feb 2024)
The Big Tree: This centuries old live oak is one of the largest in Texas and in the nation.
We stayed three days at this campground and paid $20 per night as Passport America members. It is right on the bay and our site backed up to a small effluent pond (recycled waste water). The sites are relatively close together. They have a recreation building with regular activities scheduled including live music although we did not find the people friendly enough to feel comfortable joining the activities. They also have a small library for book and movie borrowing. There is not much to do in the area. This campground is owned by Kleberg County. The campground does not allow pit bulls although I called the county and was told the county does not have a ban on pit bulls. Breed specific rules are racist. We will not stay here again. (Feb 2024)
Library at LakesideWood shopLakeside poolExercise classSite 3239
We stayed at this campground for two weeks and paid $0 per night as Thousand Trails members. We had campsite 3239 and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. They have a ton of activities – so many that it reminds us of The Villages in Florida. You’ll find art classes, dance classes, live music, woodworking, quilting, etc. It is a 55+ community. We cannot say enough good things about this campground. The people are very friendly and welcoming and really made our stay enjoyable. It has a large winter population of French Canadian campers. There are two sections to the campground: the larger section is in the thick of activity and the smaller section of Lakeside, which is where we camped, is more quiet. Both sections are gated and you will need a separate code for each gate. We arrived on a Sunday when the office was closed and were lucky enough to have Mr. Cheers show us around. We liked this campground so much we are planning on wintering here once we finish traveling the country. (Feb-Mar 2024)
Downtown Harlingen, TX: Many boutiques offering antiques and secondhand clothing plus on Saturdays the street is shut down for Jackson Street Market Day.
SpaceX: The Launch facility and Starbase facility are interesting to drive by as they are right next to the road so you can see a lot. At the end of the road is a beach you can drive on all the way to the Mexico border.
Activities at the campground: This campground will keep you so busy you may not feel a need to leave. Wood working, dance classes, social events, painting, quilting, cards, pickle ball – the list is endless.
We stayed at this campground for a week and paid $18.57 per night. We enjoyed going to the gulf beach every day to let our dogs run and we especially liked that we could drive on the beach. We had a bonfire one night on the beach and that was fantastic. They do allow beach camping here. The campground is small and the sites are arranged so that your front door may not be on the same side as your picnic pavilion and you may be facing another camper’s front door. We noticed that some vans and motorhomes pulled head-in into the sites to mitigate this issue. They do have a large bathroom/bathhouse building which seemed clean. The campground was quiet and it is not gated. (Mar 2024)
Spend time on the beach: Take a walk next to the ocean or have a bonfire at night. If you are environmentally conscious, take a bag to pick up garbage on the beach.
Port Aransas Nature Preserve: The preserve has several sections. It is a great place for bird watching especially Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center.
Art Center of Corpus Christi: They have an Artisan and Farmers Market every Wednesday. It is right next to a marina.
Site 101Hiking trailCabinLeaf cutter antJavelinaGreat Horned OwlGreat Tailed GrackleBird Sanctuary
We stayed at this campground for three days and loved it! We paid $18.33 per night. The sites were spacious. There is an abundance of wildlife and the park ranger we met was young and very enthusiastic. She showed us a Great Horned Owl nest and spent time with us at the Nature Center. We took hikes and saw Javelinas (so cute!), turkeys, deer, leaf cutter ants, and a lot of birds. The campground has a bird sanctuary where you can watch a lot of different species. The park has a good number of cabins. The park is gated and you will need a code to get in after 10pm. Tip: The area does not have good cell phone coverage. (Mar 2024)
Hike and nature watch at the campground.
Bird watch at the bird sanctuary right at the campground.
We stayed at this campground for two weeks and paid $0 per night as Thousand Trails members. We stayed in campsite R3. You choose your site but beware, not all sites are full hookup or 50 amp. The full hookup 50 amp sites are highly coveted so you may not be able to find one of these sites if you need one. Here are the things we liked about this campground: It was quiet the majority of the time. It’s a beautiful campground and was very walkable. We enjoyed walking down to Medina Lake (lake dried up years ago) to watch the sunset and storms. The park ranger was responsive to our complaint about a noisy neighbor. Here are the things we didn’t like: Sarah Cale, the resort manager, is horrible. We tried contacting her three times and she was always “in a meeting” and never contacted us. Also, Jerry chastised us twice for not going to the office when we arrived even though we received an email saying we were checked in and just needed to pick out a site. (Mar 2024)
San Antonio Riverwalk: Definite must see. It’s an amazingly vibrant part of town but you may battle crowds in the loop area.
The Alamo: Lots of history here. You can get free tickets online that give you entry to everything except the museum.
Historic Market Square: Fun area with lots of vendors. You’ll find a lot of Mexican decor and clothing, jewelry, and a couple of restaurants.
Gruene, TX: This small town has quaint shops and lots of history. Gruene Hall is a must see 1878 dance hall where multiple country singer got their start.
Boerne, TX: Very popular little town for shopping at small boutiques.
We stayed almost two weeks at this campground and paid $27.14 per night. Unfortunately, we didn’t take many pictures of this small campground but it is right on a river and pretty. There are about 30 sites, some full hookup. We came here for the total eclipse and, while the park was full of campers and day pass users, the park rangers and camp hosts kept everything in order. The bathroom and showers were kept clean and stocked. There are two short nature trails – one has a bird observation building which we really enjoyed. The campground is about an hour from Austin and several other fun places to explore. (Mar/Apr 2024)
Fredericksburg, TX: Small German tourist town. Lots of shops and restaurants.
Austin Boardwalk: Popular area with beautiful views of the city. Nice area to take a stroll or jog.
Old Tunnel State Park: Old railroad tunnel which is now home to 3 million bats. You can see the bats fly from the tunnel at dusk during warmer months.
Wildseed Farms: You can find seeds of all the wild flowers you see in Texas. They have beautiful fields of flowers, a cafe, and store.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: Nice area for hiking and getting a great view of the surrounding countryside. Note: dogs are not allowed on the main trail going to the top of the rock.
Site 11Fern LedgeBird SanctuaryMeridian LakeBee Cave
We only stayed one night at this state campground and paid $47.14. We stayed in campsite 11. We really liked this campground and wish we had had more time here. It’s a very small campground with 15 campsites and some cabins. Half the campsites are full hookup and half are electric/water. The sites with electric/water are very small and will only accommodate a small camper. There are several beautiful trails which will take you over rocky terrain and through small seasonal streams. There is a lake and other areas to explore like Bee Cave. The wildflowers were everywhere! (Apr 2024)
We stayed two days at this state park and paid $18.75 per night. It’s a fun park with lots to do. We waded into the river near the “Ballroom” area to see the dinosaur tracks but the best time to visit the park is during the summer when the water levels are lower. Our site, 28, was very spacious. The majority of the sites are shaded with trees. There are lots of nice hiking trails, a park store, and fun dinosaur statues from the 1964-65 World’s Fair. (Apr 2024)
Glen Rose, TX: This small town is known as the “Moonshine Capital of Texas” due to all the stills in the surrounding hills producing alcohol during Prohibition. Check out the small town square with boutiques and restaurants.
Granbury, TX: Larger town with a popular historic town square which is great for shopping and dining.
We stayed for two weeks at this campground and paid $0 per night as Thousand Trails members. They have a new section of campsites with no trees and several older sections with trees and more privacy. We preferred the sites in the woods. Our site, Q59, was next to the septic pump and it was smelly until we put plastic wrap around the pump cover. The campground has two pools but only one was open during our stay. We recommend the campground reserve one of the pools for adults only. There is a trail which goes partially around the outskirts of the campground. You can take the road from the campground to Lake Texoma via walking or driving. Note: There are a LOT of bugs here. (Apr 2024)
Dallas/Fort Worth: These cities are about a 1.75 hours drive away. There are plenty of things to do in these cities.
Fort Worth Water Garden: Beautiful and serene in downtown Fort Worth, TX. There are various water features to explore.
Grapevine, TX: This small town has a Glockenspiel with two cowboys duking it out. It also has an antique train with various events. The visitor center is also impressive.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Wonderful park in Sulphur, OK with a beautiful nature center, stream, natural springs, and hiking trails.
Parr Park Rock Art Trail: Short trail lined with painted rocks. Holds the Guinness World Record for the largest display of painted stones.
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
3-4-2024 H: 68°F L: 43°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
We decided to stay at the campground to relax and get some things done. Daniel scheduled two more Food is Medicine presentations – one for medical students at Baylor College of Medicine and one at a campground we will be at in two weeks. I worked to revamp my part of the presentation. We also took the boys to the beach again and we all ran as a family down the beach. It was a lot of fun but the boys were more out of breath than we were. I also found a sand dollar which was in pretty good condition.
I like to prep some ingredients for future cooking so I chopped onions in a food processor and froze them in 1/2 cup portions. I also chop and freeze bananas, garlic, jalapeños, sautéed greens, and sautéed mushrooms. When it comes time to cook, I just pull the ingredients I need out of the freezer. It makes cooking meals a lot quicker. I really like Souper Cubes to freeze food in different portions.
3-5-2024 H: 73ºF L: 65ºF Texas
We went to Port Aransas Nature Preserve in Port Aransas, TX to do some bird watching. It did not disappoint. There is even an alligator who hangs out in the warm water discharged by the nearby water treatment facility. A local told us his name is Boots.
Barn SwallowAmerican AvocetLittle Blue HeronBlack Necked StiltNorthern ShovelerAmerican White Pelican“Boots”
Then we went to the library for a Mercy for Animals and Kirkpatrick Foundation Zoom presentation on public opinion on farmed animals. It was interesting to learn that the majority of people surveyed feel farmed animals have feelings, should be treated better, and that the government should be involved in ensuring better treatment.
After dinner we went to the beach. Daniel flew a kite, the boys and I ran around, then we picked up trash.
3-6-2024 H: 70°F L: 65°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
Today is Daniel’s brother’s birthday. Dave Dubay passed away in March 2022 after a lifelong struggle with a congenital heart defect. We celebrated his life with a drink at a bar on the gulf next to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, TX and we shared stories about Dave. Daniel often says Dave was the best brother he could have asked for.
USS Lexington in the background
Then we walked on the pier/breakwater to get a closer view of the ship. The boys seemed a little nervous on the narrow sidewalk and so was I near the end where the waves were splashing up.
We ended our adventures with a farmer’s market at the Art Center of Corpus Christi. There was a lot of beautiful produce and we talked with volunteers from the local humane society.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $55.71
Camping memberships: $11.19
Food: $36.20
Miles driven: 113.7 (37.2 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
We just did errands today: picked up an Amazon order and got some dog food. Marcel decided to bark at someone in the pet store so we were disappointed with that. We also went through the large box of mail my parents sent us (thank you guys!) and did some laundry.
We went to Jackson Street Market Day in downtown Harlingen, TX today. They had lots of vendors, food, and music. It was packed. We took the boys with us but I think the crowd was too much for Marcel because he got a little grouchy.
We also stopped to see the kittens at the campground. There were three kittens last week but we’ve only seen two this week. They are always by the dumpsters where they are fed while the adult cats come and go from the area. We talked to a lady who feeds the cats and she said there were initially four kittens.
Two stray kittens at the campground
3-3-2024 H: 81°F L: 64°F Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
We traveled north today to a campground on Mustang Island near Corpus Christi, TX. We saw lots of wildflowers during our drive. The campground is next to the ocean although we can only hear the ocean from our site. We took the boys to the beach to run off-leash. The look of pure bliss on their faces is priceless. We found many sand dollars on the beach but none were intact. This area also smells so good! The vegetation smells like pepper, cinnamon, and hay.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $18.57
Camping memberships: $11.19
Food: $138.27
Miles driven: 211.9 (140.6 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 1
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
Daniel gave an 18 minute presentation at the campground community meeting. We talked to multiple people after the presentation and gave them handouts. A group of people are interested in meeting on Thursday for more information. Yay!
It is super windy today – 20-25 mph, can’t-have-nice-hair type of wind. Our new tent is holding up pretty well. We relaxed at the camper while Daniel worked on some spreadsheets (nerd porn) and I did some cooking.
We went to the wood shop tonight to make a new refrigerator latch lock. Joe, from Nebraska, was so helpful! Daniel took the measurements, I drew the measurements on the wood, and Joe cut the wood. We need to sand it and paint it but we are happy with the results so far.
We took the boys for a walk and talked to multiple people about pets, healthy eating and the follow up presentation we are giving tomorrow, and how cute the boys are. We tried letting the boys run off-leash in a field by the campground but Marcel was not interested. He was hot and he refused to run.
We went to the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society in Harlingen, TX to inquire about getting some cats at the campground spayed or neutered. We talked to a lady at the campground who has been feeding them and she is willing to help transport the cats. The humane society is in a period of transition so they do not have a TNR (trap-neuter-release) program right now but they did offer suggestions on people we could contact who may be able to help. Hopefully, we can get something planned so the cats aren’t multiplying.
We went to a coffee shop and celebrated Daniel meeting Peter on one of our first dates. Jackson Coffee Co. in Michigan allows dogs in their upstairs sitting area and that’s where Peter and Daniel’s bromance started. Unfortunately, we did not find a dog friendly coffee shop in Harlingen, TX but we still enjoyed some coffee.
Then we went to a concert – December ‘63, a Frankie Valli tribute band. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed the music and theatrics.
Frankie Valli cover band, December ‘63
2-29-2024 H: 65°F 54°F Encore Sunshine RV Resort, Harlingen, Texas
We started the morning by preparing for our follow-up WFPB presentation. I made Chickpea and Okara crackers to share with the group. Then we went to the community complex to give our presentation. The presentation went very well. Both Daniel and I presented information and the crackers were well received. I’m still working on the recipe because the crackers are a little crumbly and dry.
We also worked on trying to get some stray cats at the campground spayed or neutered. Daniel and I would like to pay for the surgeries for these cats. I’ve contacted multiple rescue groups but it seems the area does not have a trap-neuter-release program and the low-cost programs won’t work with feral cats. It’s a little frustrating because most rescue groups are really struggling with low donations right now and we’re offering to pay. Spay/neuter is so important to reduce the number of pets needing homes. We connected with two women on Facebook who may be able to help with transporting the cats for surgery. These two women actually came to our presentation as they are both interested in being vegan. It was great to meet other very passionate animal lovers.
We then went to Happy Hour at the campground where they had line and trail dancing. I cannot emphasize enough how friendly everyone is at this campground. We have loved our stay here. We had people come up to us to give us encouragement on our lack of skill at dancing, we were invited to sit at a table full of lovely people (some from Michigan), and we left with warm fuzzy feelings.
It was quite a day and we were exhausted by the end.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $0 (Thousand Trails)
Camping memberships: $11.19
Food: $19.19
Miles driven: ( kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
This is one of Daniel’s favorite recipes. Don’t be put off by the Indian spices – you may be able to find them in a regular grocery store, if not, try going to an Indian grocery store. You’ll find spices in bulk at great prices plus all the lentils and beans make a trip to an Indian grocery store well worth it.
Ingredients
3 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced
6 oz tomato paste
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tbsp garlic, minced
16 oz red lentils, rinsed
9 oz chopped frozen spinach
3/4 cup brown rice
1 tbsp curry powder
1/2 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp black pepper
1/2 tbsp garam masala
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
Directions
Combine all ingredients in an 8 quart pressure cooker pot. Add enough water to cover ingredients by 1 1/2 inches. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.
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This morning, Daniel finished the safe driver course to get a discount on our car insurance. It was time intensive and only marginally worth the discount we received.
We explored downtown Harlingen, TX and found a lot of secondhand clothing stores. One store in particular had an amazing assortment of designer clothes, clothes that sparkled, jewelry, and home goods.
We also stopped at the library which had an amazing fenced in courtyard.
Daniel trying to befriend a cat in the library courtyard
We tried joining a “walk” at the campground but it was an exercise class with yoga mats so we weren’t interested. Instead, we took the boys for a walk. Then we relaxed most of the day. Doing nothing is cathartic.
Today we had another relaxing day. Daniel and I both have lengthy to-do lists so we appreciated taking the time to get some things done. We tried going to an ice cream social but they did not have any non-dairy options. So we ended up in the hot tub and made our own “nice cream” using frozen bananas, almond milk, chocolate, and peanut butter.
This morning we got up early and did a beginners trail dance class. Trail dancing is couples line dancing and we had a lot of fun learning the dances and meeting new people. Everyone is so friendly down here. We learned the dance for Two Shots of Crown.
We also made sure Daniel’s computer works with the projector for tomorrow’s presentation, bought tickets for a concert on Wednesday, and asked the wood shop if they would help me make something.
We went to Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, TX which is known for bird watching. We learned that people eat yucca flowers and the flowers are so popular in Mexico that people will just chop them down wherever they find them even if it means stealing from someone’s yard. We don’t condone theft but this seems like a more wholesome illegal activity.
Next we stopped in Hidalgo, TX to see the world’s largest killer bee. This town decided to embrace the U.S. arrival of the killer bee in 1990. Africanized honey bees aren’t more venomous than the average bee but they are more aggressive and will attack in droves.
We also went to McAllen, TX and stopped at the library. We love checking out local libraries. Daniel reads magazines and I look for vegan cookbooks I haven’t seen before.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $0 (Thousand Trails)
Camping memberships: $14.92
Food: $166.63
Miles driven: 175.3 (61.1 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
You can make your own ice cream right at home without a lot of fuss. This recipe uses frozen bananas but the ice cream will not have a strong banana flavor. Frozen bananas tend to lend a creamy taste to smoothies and ice cream. So the next time you have a sweet tooth, give this recipe a try.
Ingredients
2 bananas, sliced and frozen
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup plant-based milk
Nuts for topping (optional)
Directions
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Alternative Flavors
1 tsp Cinnamon and 1/4 cup Pecans
1/2 cup frozen Strawberries
Notes
We like using our NutriBullet to blend our ice cream.
Always keep some sliced bananas in your freezer.
Finding a good natural peanut butter which contains only peanuts and no added oil can be hard but it is possible.
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We explored the campground and were quite impressed with all the activities offered. I think we’re going to take pickleball and line dancing classes. We toured the wood shop and looked at the amazing bowls and urns being made. In the next two weeks, we’re going to concerts and Daniel is going to do a 15 minute presentation on Healthy Living with Whole Food, Plant-Based Eating at a community meeting. This campground is like a mini The Villages in Florida.
Then we went to an RV dealer and looked at toy hauler campers. We are thinking we may upgrade to a toy hauler if we buy the Tesla Cybertruck. Right now we are struggling with being over the gross weight of our camper and being over the max towing capacity of the Tesla Model X.
Next we looked at Kubota tractors. We aren’t ready to buy right now but we will need a decent sized tractor for our Tennessee property.
We ended the evening by watching a Bee Gee’s concert with other campers at the community center. It was a video presentation and we enjoyed it more than we thought we would. It was also a fundraiser for the local animal shelter.
We started the day with coffee and a line dancing class. It was a ton of fun and we got a good workout and met some nice people. Then we stopped at the wood shop to have a board cut for our camper. We talked to some of the woodworkers who were very friendly. The things they make are beautiful! We were really impressed with all the equipment they had.
We did a couple of things around the camper and then spent the evening at the pool. It was so nice relaxing and listening to the birds as the sun set.
We drove to some SpaceX facilities today: StarBase and SpaceX Tracking Station. There is a whole little village on the grounds with tiny houses and Airstream campers, a medical clinic, a small grocery store, a recreation area, and it is near a beach on the gulf coast. Daniel was really excited to see these SpaceX facilities.
We were so close to the Mexican border that we had Mexican cell phone coverage and we went through a border patrol checkpoint (and, ironically, were asked if we were US citizens by someone who speaks English as a second language).
We took the boys on the beach for off-leash running and seashell collecting. The shells were really thick on this beach compared to other beaches where the shells were thin and broke easily. We drove to the Mexican border on the beach. There were no signs – the beach just ended at the Rio Grande River.
Next, we drove to South Padre Island, TX. It’s a tourist area so we didn’t find much to do but we did get some cheap beach towels.
It’s a beautiful sunny day and we decided to relax at the camper. Daniel will be giving a short WFPB presentation at the campground community meeting next Tuesday so he spent some time preparing. I did laundry and I made soy milk, dog food, and a baked peanut butter and oatmeal dish.
After dinner we spent the evening in the hot tub and met some new people. There are so many people who recently retired, sold their homes, and hit the road. It’s neat to hear their stories and share the excitement of living this lifestyle.
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $0 (Thousand Trails)
Camping memberships: $14.92
Food: $65.26
Miles driven: 235.3 (75.3 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 1
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Contact Happy Vegan Campers!
Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
2-14-2024 H: 67ºF L: 57ºF Goose Island State Park, Rockport, TX
Today we traveled further south. The weather has been great around the Houston, TX area but we are aiming for the southern tip of Texas for the really warm weather. We are staying for one night at Goose Island State Park in Rockport, TX. Our site is right on the water. We drove to The Big Tree which is a tree thought to be 1000-2000 years old and one of the biggest in the US. There is a fence around it and a group of volunteers who take care of it. During times of drought the fire department waters the tree.
We also saw this awesome RV just down from our site. They are traveling the country to raise awareness about animals being used in research. We tried to meet them but they weren’t outside. Follow them on their website or listen to their podcast.
We traveled further south to Seawind RV Resort in Riviera, TX. It was an uneventful drive through very flat farmland. We did drive through Corpus Christi, TX which we will camp near in the future. Our campground is on the water but in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, we do not think very highly of this campground as they do not allow pit bulls per county regulations although I called the county and was told there is no ban on pit bulls in the county.
As we have traveled through various states, I have been amazed at the number of people still using plastic grocery bags. I always carry four reusable bags in my purse. We use these bags consistently. We refuse plastic bags if we buy more than will fit in our reusable bags as we always have more reusable bags in the car. I read an article today by NPR regarding how the oil industry has known since the 1980s that plastic recycling wasn’t a viable option to keep plastic out of the environment. The oil industry has a voice at international summits on the climate and environment. We, as consumers, must speak with our wallets. Of course, not using plastic grocery bags is only a small part of the solution but it is something that is easily doable. Once you start on the path to reduce plastic consumption, you’ll find yourself making other environmentally friendly decisions. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
It was rainy and cold today. We stayed at the camper and I made crackers out of mashed chickpeas, okara, and spices. They were so good!
We traveled south to Encore Sunshine RV Resort in Harlingen, TX. This campground is like The Villages in Florida – tons of activities like art classes, woodworking, dance classes, card games, live music, and a real sense of community. Apparently, there are a lot of travelers who are French Canadian because they have Pétanque which is a game similar to Bocce Ball. We are excited to be at this campground!
Stats
Expenses:
Tow vehicle fuel: $0
Campsite: $82
Camping memberships: $18.65
Food: $0
Miles driven: 451.8 (340.4 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 4
Never miss an update! You’ll get an email once or twice a week with updates from us! We will never sell your email address or in any other way abuse the privilege of you being a loyal follower.
Contact Happy Vegan Campers!
Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
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