To Be a Texan Or Not?

We drove from Vidalia, Louisiana yesterday morning to Livingston, Texas which is about 60 miles north east of Houston.  268 miles later we are sitting at the Escapee's Rainbow's End campground, which is a campground for Escapee members only.  But, the tug boat Sonny came by to say goodbye yesterday morning before we left.  The one thing I won't miss is the traffic on the Mississippi - at night you can hear the deep rumble of the engines as it labors to move barges up the river.  And hear it for a long long time after it's gone from view.

Many homes had Plantation sign on them

Here at the campground is the headquarters of Escapees and we want to sit with them on Monday and talk to see if it is feasible for us to switch our residency from Ohio to Texas.  We have no intention of coming back to Ohio long term, only short visits and why not see about Texas?  Since we had to drive through Texas to get back to Arizona, why not stop here?  Weird to see so many RVers with Texas plates when we know most of them are not from Texas originally.  The folks across from us are from the Columbus, Ohio area originally.  Lady I met in the laundry was from Boston, Mass. and has been full-timing for 12 years, coming back to Rainbow's End every winter.  Again, she has no intention of going back to Massachusetts, and she said she has not been back there in 6 years but she is licensed in Texas.

Many logging trucks

One of the things that stood out about our drive here yesterday - did not know that this north eastern part of the state was so hilly and mostly pine trees.  Tall oaks, lots of greenery.  Even a town we went through - Pineville, and another Woodville.   Logging trucks galore.  We thought maybe we were back in the western part of Washington.  But first, we drove through Louisiana - very pretty, lots of very poor communities, many plantations drove past.  Cotton everywhere to be picked.  And flat.  But once we got near the border of Texas, the geography changed considerably.  Crossed over a couple of lakes caused from dams being built and one was pretty flooded - saw tops of trees sticking up. Another thing we have to get used to - Texas names their roads by numbers but with an FM in front of it meaning - Farm to Market.  Our ride here from Louisisana was all state routes or national routes.  One particular road was Route 84 also known as the El Camino Real road.  For the most part was a nice drive and hardly any traffic.  Bad times only in the small towns where the roads were narrow and the pavement bumpy.

Definitely flooded

We only have plans to talk with the people-in-the-know, there is not much to see and do around here, so we will maximize our time with getting our questions answered, hopefully.  Will stay until this coming Friday and then head more west.