Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Monday – Travel day to the KOA in Burkburnett/Wichita Falls, TX.  $35 night - Park was ok, but muddy and wet due to so much rain.  There are river flood warnings everywhere.  We had decided to skip this area and just get out of this tremendous water they are being deluged with, but then remembered I had ordered an Amazon delivery to this address, so we decided to come on and see what happens.  It is a strain to drive in a downpour, so as Earl was feeling a bit weary, we just stayed in and I cooked in the RV and we read and watched a little TV and relaxed, ready for a big day tomorrow.

On the road, we saw literally thousands of these across Texas, primarily.  And up close, they are HUGE!  I'd be curious to know how much energy they produce.  Sometime if I ever get bored maybe I'll research that.  haha

Tuesday – 6/16 – Rainy, yucky weather today, BUT….y’all just won’t believe how “ favored we are.  Earl is sure I’m God’s favorite girl (as I’ve claimed for years.)  We had almost 100% chances of rain all day.  Left as soon as it let up a bit, and drove to Dallas, among torrential downpour the whole way.  We kept wondering if we should just skip our plans today – just no fun being out and about in this kind of weather, but only here for the one day.  We wanted to see the famous South Fork Ranch from the TV Dallas series. My oldest brother was really caught up in this series, and we finally checked in at maybe the 11^th season or so or whenever it was shortly before the “Who Shot J.R.? times.  Anyway, David and Susan were here way back in the late 80’s probably and so it just seemed like a fun idea to go where they had gone.  I lost my brother way too early when he was only 60 years old!  He and Susan loved to RV and came to see us several times in Florida on their way to various places, so I so often think of him and miss him like crazy, wishing he were here and we could take some trips together. Sigh….  At any rate, we got to South Fork, and as we were driving down that long lane, the rain let up!!  Seriously!  We got into the Visitor Center without getting anything wet but our feet, but wearing sandals, no big deal, just a few puddles.  We toured the ranch and as we got into the main house, it started pouring rain again.  Here’s some photos for those of you who might have ever watched Dallas….I never realized until today what a big hit it was!  Aired in 95 countries and translated into 55 different languages! Seems a little silly, really.

In general, I was very surprised at the size of the house. On the show, it appeared ginormous, but in reality, it's just an average nice home.  Nothing really grandiose at all.  I've sold many homes far superior to this one.  haha

We were commenting about how small the pool is (it was raining or I'd have gone out to take a better photo of the pool). Our tour guide was telling us how they had mirrors on 2 sides of the pool for filming, which made the pool look enormous.  TV magic.

Again, the kitchen on Dallas looked HUGE and now we see it as just an average size kitchen found in most nice homes.  Interesting what they can do with special effects. 

Such a pretty bedroom. I think this is Lucy (I can't remember all the characters).

Bobby's room....

This is the room where J.R. was shot - left exactly as it was on the show - with body outline and blood on the floor.  

 This is J.R. and SueEllen's bedroom - interesting, first time I've ever seen a bed in the CENTER of the room with the furniture, etc. all around it.  The bed is completely surrounded by draperies...wonder if you can draw them closed?

Pretty view of the ranch from the upstairs balcony.  You can't tell it here, but it was pouring down rain!

We’d gotten to the ranch on an open tram, so they decided to send out vans that could hold 7 each but just getting from the patio out to the drive where the van was you’d get soaked.  We had not brought in an umbrella.  So we just lingered a few minutes, and suddenly the rain let up and we were able to WALK all the way to the parking lot where our car was and again, nothing wet but our feet! You can see how wet the road is, but we were dry!  The pretty gazebo was the site of at least 2 weddings... pretty.

Was that cool or what!  As soon as we got in the car, before we ever left the ranch, it was pouring again, and once more, we debated whether to skip going into Old Fort Worth, but I really really wanted to see the Longhorn cattle that Texas is so famous for, and we had not yet seen but ONE out in the field on the way!  So we decided even if we had to just drive by, it would be worth it since we likely won’t be back this way. We also were hungry by now and wanting lunch – it was almost 2:00.  We thought we’d have to park way far away in one of the designated parking spots for the cattle drive, but as “luck” would have it, there was a spot right on Exchange St. where the cattle come right by!!! You can see our car here, right on the street.

Miraculously the rain let up to just a mist and we hurried into a restaurant and it poured while we were eating.  By the time we were done eating, it had let up to almost nothing!.  We went out and met some of the cowboys riding around in preparation for the cattle drive at 4:00.  By now it was about 3:30 and we’re dry as can be, looking around at all the wet bedraggled people on the street.  Haha  While we were waiting on the cattle drive, we walked around downtown Old Fort Worth a bit....

I had really hoped to see a rodeo sometime while in Texas, but this one is only on the weekends and we've got to get out of here, due to the bad weather that's here and more coming.  So...another time.

 The cattle drive was at 4:00 promptly and here’s the video to prove it IF you can view it! We  LOVED seeing these magnificent cattle! Now...according to past videos, I've posted, I understand you can see them on a laptop but not on a phone or iPad.  Kayla gave me instructions how to upload it to youtube and post from there, and I thought I had, but it doesn't appear to be the case. Sorry - if you can't see it and want to, it's on my Facebook page.  It really is cool!

 We learned there are only about 250,000 in existence and they’re very expensive.  One cowboy cautioned me as I got kind of close at the front of one to take a photo, and he said if you are directly in front of them and look them in the eye, they get very aggressive.  However if you go up alongside them on the side of their head, you can then grasp the horns and pat their heads, etc!  Wow….who knew?  

The one cowboy had a saddle on this one, and you could get your photo on him.  Wouldn't you know I had on a straight skirt that day!  Bummer, no climbing on for me.  hahaha

 

 As the last one came by and we finished filming, the rain drops started, but we were only steps from the car.  Before we ever left the parking space, it was pouring again.  Now I know most people would say that was all pure coincidence, but I choose to believe God knew exactly where I was and loves me enough that he just smiled on me for that little window of time.  He is so good to me ALL the time!

 

We had such a late lunch, we were not hungry and didn’t really want to stop in the pouring rain anyway, so we just came back to the RV and spent a quiet evening.  Glad we had risked all the weather to see the 2 main things we’d set out to see today.  Now on to Oklahoma tomorrow!