part 13 A no restroom RV park tucked under an overpass-Perfect!
A little piece of heaven tucked under the buzz of a highway and yet so surreal. This week's adventure takes us to Wichita Falls Texas.
When we left Nevada and Arizona, it felt like we were on some kind of turbo-speed journey, where one sleep equaled a new state. That worked until Texas. This state could fit a couple of small European countries inside it, and suddenly, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be a "two sleeps and we're out" kind of deal. No, Texas was a multi-nap operation.
Need to catch up?
We left Midland in the wee hours of the morning to join the hum of highway traffic, navigating towards Wichita Falls
Now, I was excited. Wichita meant catching up with some friends I hadn’t seen in ages. You know, the kind of friends where you pick up right where you left off, even if it's been years? Yeah, those ones.
Over the years, I’d been on the receiving end of countless wild adventure stories from friends and family. I loved hearing them, never once thinking I’d be the one spinning my own tales someday. Sure, I’ve always had an adventurous spirit, but let’s be honest—my "adventures" typically involved a flight to somewhere sunny, complete with a hotel that had at least 4 stars tacked on for good measure.
I’d return home, share my glamorous stories of sipping cocktails by the pool, and then carry on with my routine life. Escaping the bitter Toronto winters for a tropical getaway or two each year was my lifeline, the key to not losing my sanity during those freezing months. It never crossed my mind that I could move somewhere warmer, permanently. But I think that’s just what Toronto does to you—it freezes your brain during winter, thaws just enough for you to book a tropical escape, and then BAM! Summer hits, and you forget all about the misery of ol man winter and what he has to offer.
At that point in my life, I hadn’t yet met anyone who lived in a van or RV. I had a pop-up tent, but that was strictly reserved for weekend getaways and the yearly corporate allotment of a week’s camping, which they had the nerve to call "vacation." Man, I do not miss the corporate world!
Now, thanks to the wonders of modern technology and this little thing called social media and YouTube, I discovered there's a whole world where "you can actually live in an RV." Who knew? Growing up, camping meant a tent—maybe a pop-up trailer if you were fancy. We flew to places or took cruises—living in a vehicle? That wasn’t even on the radar. But now, with just a swipe on social media platforms, you can peek into other people’s RV adventures, and just like that, a whole new possibility opens up.
The things you think about while traveling across Texas. Texas is...well, a whole lot of flat so, there is some time to just get lost in thought; while lots of concrete, highways, and wide-open spaces pass in a blur. We cruised east on I-20, then hopped onto a maze of other roads: 350, 277… you name it, we drove it. Towns like Sweetwater, Stamford, and Seymour zipped by. Stamford even offered a little pit stop at the post office—a regular errand when you live on the road. Small towns are ideal for this. One main street, usually has some easy parking, a handful of shops, and the occasional local café or mom-and-pop restaurant (I love those) if I wasn’t in the mood to whip something up in our rolling kitchen. Getting off the hum of the highway broke my reverie, we had made it to our next destination.
Wichita Bend RV Park was, shall we say, a quiet cozy. A 28-space, first-come, first-serve setup nestled snugly under an overpass—talk about ambiance, right? The park offered water and electric hookups, but no sewer, just a dump station. The most interesting part? It’s exclusively for those with onboard water and toilet facilities because, there are no restrooms or other facilities here.
For $17 a night, you drop your cash in a box or be prepared to be hunted down by the park ranger. No freeloaders and the ranger makes nightly rounds, ensuring everyone coughs up the bounty.
The park itself is more than meets the eye. Sure, it was next to a highway, but nature is the mediator. The Wichita River runs right by and there’s a cool little swinging bridge that’ll take you across to a scenic outlook. And if you’re up for it, a mile-long concrete path gets you to Lucy Park, home of Wichita Falls' pride and joy—a 54-foot man-made waterfall. Who knew?! Built in 1987, the falls are a tribute to the original waterfall that got washed away in the 1800s.
I wouldn’t have known any of this if it weren’t for my dear friends, the Garzas. Seeing them was like coming home. They welcomed me like royalty; come to think of it, I wouldn’t know what that feels like because I’ve never actually hung out with royalty. But if they do get treated this well, I understand why they're always smiling.
Felicia, the queen of the Gothic garden world, is a brilliant interiorscape designer. She's the magic behind Vital Root, with a nationwide following for her gothic garden designs. To me, she’s a plant whisperer with a giant heart and a spiritual vibe that would put anyone at ease. Her home was like stepping into a lush, indoor jungle complete with crazy magenta growing lights. The only thing missing were my 60’s round glasses! She even gifted me some of her plant babies—though after months of protecting them from my curious, plant-munching cats, I had to give them up to a friend reluctantly. I am a plant-nerd and that was a hard day, my friends. A very hard day indeed.
Her other half, Christopher, is the kind of guy who designs and builds custom structures by day, then moonlights as the co-host of the “Ill-Advised” podcast. And let me tell you, this podcast is not for the faint of heart. Picture a bunch of unfiltered, slightly unhinged guys giving advice that makes you question your life choices—and if you’re laughing, well, you’ve been warned!
I was, of course, thrilled to see the whole Garza family, but also a bit nervous because I was about to be a guest on this very podcast. Let’s just say, an all-male podcast crowd was not exactly my typical audience. I blabbed way too much about our RV adventures, and honestly, I can’t bring myself to listen to that episode. I’m cringing just thinking about it.
But here’s the thing, once upon a time, I had my own 15 seconds of fame. I spent a year touring the U.S., giving talks about gut health and certifying nutrition students at an integrative hospital in Mexico. The Garzas had been my students, and their passion for helping others has kept us connected ever since. There was just something about their passion that drew me in.
After all the laughs, the podcast embarrassment, and the heartwarming time with friends, my three days in Wichita Falls were some of the best I’ve had. I left feeling more connected than ever, knowing that being on the road wasn’t just about seeing new places—it was about visiting the people who mean the most. And, I am not finished yet. We need to learn a little more about Wichita Falls with the my excellent talented host and tour guide, Felicia. You can not leave Wichita Falls until you have toured downtown and the most famous skyscraper in the world. More on that next week.
Question for you,
what is your favorite museum and why? Or have you have been to Texas? What is your favourite part and why? I would love if you would share your story with me in the comments.
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Thank you for reading I appreciate you!
~Karen