Sunday, April 17, 2022. Easter in Killeen TX

Sunday, April 17, 2022. Easter in Killeen TX

We dumped our holding tanks, topped off the fresh water and even hosed off some of the dust and bugs from the RV before pulling out of the Buckhorn Resort.  The office was closed for Easter, so we will have to do any sort of check out via email, but we probably paid in advance for the first night with the deposit anyway.  The resort is very comfortable, and would be an ideal location to watch the 2024 eclipse from except for the fact that a weather system had moved in, and the sky was filled with dense gray clouds.  There was a 30% chance of thunderstorms predicted, but as we drove to Killeen, they never materialized.  I’ll have to see if the weather is less likely to have cloud cover near Del Rio TX, which is on the US/Mexico border near the path of totality.  There are also large flat clearings near the I-10 interchange that may be suitable for solar eclipse squatters just a stone’s throw from the Buckhorn Resort, but the resort would certainly be more comfortable, offering power for air conditioning, water and two swimming pools.

The country between Ingram/Kerrville and Killeen is mostly ranches with long horn cattle, and lots of vineyards with expensive looking chateaus.  There are also lots of road killed deer, more even than we have on Whidbey Island, which is a lot.  At one point, we rolled up on a stop sign and vultures were working on a deer carcass at the base of the stop sign.  

We drove past the turn off for the LBJ National Park, which is largely the ex-president’s ranch in Texas.  There is also a Nimitz museum.  The Admiral was from this part of Texas.  We also noticed a lot of donut shops.  

We arrived at Janet’s cousin Nancy’s house in the outskirts of Killeen TX around 11:30am.  A pair of buzzards were sitting at the apex of the roof of a neighbor’s house like we might see sea gulls or an eagle back at home.  

Janet’s Aunt Marion lives in a tiny town called Ireland about a half hour’s drive north of Killeen.  She just tuned 90, but is spry and full of spunk and wit.  She is living independently and drove herself to Nancy’s place.  Nancy’s husband Marty was about 2 years out from a renal transplant, and retired in 2015.  He used to work at a local college teaching Information Technology.  Now they spend much of their time playing golf.  Marion and Laurie had come to Seattle in the late 1990’s to do an Alaskan cruise, and we had met them in Seattle.  That was the last time we had seen them.  We were treated to real Texas BBQ for an Easter brunch, and Janet got to catch up with her aunt and cousins Nancy and Laurie.  

We then drove to our local Harvest Host location called the Camp Caylor Beer and Wine Barn.  This was an interesting outdoor venue with a bar and outdoor tables scattered on a hillside overlooking the valley and highway.  We got there at 4pm. The Harvest Host direction said check in by 6pm and they normally are open until 8pm serving food and beverages, but because it was Easter Sunday, they were closing early at 4pm and hosting a party for their employees.  

We parked and ran the air conditioner and generator for an hour to take naps because the temperature outside was close to 90˚F, and then drove back into Killeen to see if we could Zoom our kids from the Killeen Planet Fitness.  When we got there, there is a huge sign saying staffed and open 24 hours, but a tiny note on the door said “Easter hours- closed at 11am until 6am Monday morning”.  There was a wifi signal, but it was locked, and we didn’t have the password.  We then went to the Killeen public library, but didn’t find an open wifi network there either.  We ended up parking at the library and using our AT&T cellular hotspot to do the zoom while running the generator and air conditioning.  We did get a few looks from a couple of homeless people who were wandering around the area, but nothing more threatening than their curious looks.  

After our Zoom meeting, we headed back to Camp Caylor as the sun set.  The temperatures had dropped into the upper 70’s but the humidity was quite high, so we ran the generator and air conditioner while was used the microwave to cook some Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies and the LP cook top to sauté fresh asparagus for dinner.  The TV OTA found the GRIT channel, so we got to watch some old Clint Eastwood westerns including The Outlaw Josie Wales, which was supposedly set in Texas before calling it a night.