In The Bathhouse

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas. However, what is said in the campground bathhouse can prove to be noteworthy. Oddly enough, it can be useful in destination planning.

On this journey, I am developing routines I hadn’t anticipated. One of the first things I do after unhooking the travel trailer and setting up residence at a new location is to walk to the bathhouse to determine if I would be using their facilities or not. I’m getting pickier as to where I shower and which stalls I will enter. I’ve stayed at several campgrounds where the bathhouses were immaculate (for a public restroom), and others that I would only enter again if I had a hazmat suit on and a bucket of bleach.

Monday I arrived at my current campsite. Once the power and water hose were hooked up and the interior of my home no longer in highway mode, I strolled to the structure in the center of this 58-site campground to check out the facilities. As I was exiting, another woman about my age walked in bathhouse and began inspecting it in the same manner I did moments prior. I giggled. I was not surprised to find that I’m not the only picky public bathroom user. We both agreed the bathhouse was clean, in good condition and met our approval. And, then the comparisons began. You would have thought we were both shopping for the best pair of hiking boots and determining which of the local small-town stores sold good wine (and yes, I had that conversation with a woman at Garner State Park).

My in-transit neighbor shared her experience of having to vacuum misquotes off the ceiling inside their camper and the vaulted toilets at Sea Rim State Park. I shared my no-so-good bathhouse experience at Huntsville State Park. She boasted about the bathhouse at a park in Arizona. I gave rave reviews of one in Arkansas. We stood in the bathroom for a minimum of ten minutes talking about various potties we’ve encounters in the past couple of months. Soon our conversation turned to lot sizes and hiking trails we’d hike again. Another ten minutes passes and we started talking about where we’re from and other friendly chit chat topics.

The public bathhouse is not necessarily where I expected to have one of the best conversations regarding recommendations for future destination locations. On this journey I am learning anything and everything is possible. 

Along the way…

On more than one occasion I have stood at the ridge of a bank overlooking a river and am astounded with the devastation last fall’s flooding had in Texas Hill Country.

I was at Garner State Park, between Concan and Leakey, walking along the Frio River when I noticed branched, grasses, trash, dock parts and other debris lodged in tree branches and compacted around tree trunks near and at a distance from the river. Many of the smaller trees, and a few of the older trees, leaned in the direction of the current. The tall marsh grasses and foliage lay bent on the river rock where the strong currents left it when the water receded.

Later that afternoon I browsed the park gift store. I struck up a conversation with the young lady behind the counter and asked her how high the river got during the flooding. She didn’t have a height number, but stated it was the highest she’d seen the water levels. A lot of roads, structures and pretty much everything in the path of the water were significantly damaged.

I saw similar sights during my walk along the South Llano River, west of Junction, Texas. On the state park’s hiking trail, the embankments crumbled and over a hundred years old pecan trees fell into the river. In the city, there’s still a bridge closed due to the damage caused by the high water.

From the height I stood on the banks overlooking the crystal blue river, then turning around to see the debris piled up at the base of the trees for quite a distance into the wooded area, I was curious to know how high the water got when it crested. According to the articles I read, the water rose forty feet. I cannot image what that must have been like to witness this event in person.

Traveling has most certainly exposed me to things I didn’t think were possible. I continue to give thanks to my intuition and the experiences I am having on this soul’s journey. I wanted change in my life; I got it.

Along the way…