Airplanes, Automobiles and Hotels: Days 1 & 2 of PennYan, New York Trip

Good Morning and Welcome back to Bathroom Blues travel blog,

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I love to travel 😁but traveling isn't always sunshine and roses. I woke up Sunday the 26th and went to check in for my flight and realized I'd scheduled it for the wrong day! My intital thought was panic-ridden, "Oh No! That's supposed to be for tomorrow!!"

Then my mindfulness practice kicked in... "Breathe, Pam. (I had to do this a couple of times, then)... Change the booking."

Leaving from the small, regional airport in my hometown of Lake Charles, is a blessing because it's seldom you'll have a full flight going out or coming in, so I was able to correct that easily. Whew!

Monday morning I headed to the airport, where the bathrooms are always clean and tidy with seat covers and paper towels.

I landed at DFW where I found more restrooms that had me singing a happy tune. My long-time friend, Rene, picked me up and we shared the afternoon together while waiting for my traveling partner and friend, Winona Cross to get in from Wichita Falls, TX.

Nona and I checked into our room at the Embassy Suites where we enjoyed evening snacks and settled in for the night. 

The next morning a shuttle took us to Love Field where we boarded out first plane to Chicago. Both Love Field and Chicago airports had nice, clean bathrooms which always makes traveling so much more comfortable.

Our subsequent flight took us from Chicago to Rochester where we rented a van then traveled the two hours to Penny Carlton's (of Keuka Roots) house for a dinner of homemade spagetti followed by lemon meringue pie!

As I wrote this post, I couldn't help but think... This is BORING. But you know what? The key to happy travel is finding the joy and the blessings (like peace in the chaos, clean bathrooms, and good friends) amidst the mundane.

Until next time, take care, travel safe and look for the good in all your adventures!

PamT

*image provided by Pixabay*

Final Leg of 2025 Vacation Trip: Oklahoma City

Good Morning and Welcome Back to Bathroom Blues Travel Blog!

I hope you enjoyed our previous post with Nikki and Nissa and I really hope you're looking forward to more guest visits. I have several lined up for you. There will be travel books, articles and stories from fellow sojourners on the road of life.

Today we're going to finish up our 2025 Vacation with our trip to Okalhoma City. Normally we avoid big cities on our travels but my Honey wanted to spend some time at the National Cowboy & Western Museum in OKC. I've been there a couple of times while attending the OWFI Writers Conference, but he and his (now deceased) wife had gone one time only to be cut short due to the time they got there in relation to the time the museum closes.

Anyway, if you've never been to this beautiful facility, put it on your bucket list!

We left South Dakota and the Badlands heading toward OKC making a stop at the rest area located on I-81, exit 219. This one was nice but had no seat covers or paper towels. I'm getting more comfortable with the fact that not many have those amenities any more so the cleanliness of this one had me humming a happy tune. 

Continuing our journey, we stopped for the night at Dakota Sunsets Campground in Salem, SD. This beautiful, shady country campground had full hookups and a nice, big dog park. 

Here's a - little Late Show trivia for you... While traveling the next day, we passed through Norfolk NB home of Johnny Carson where 81S turns to Johnny Carson Blvd. 😊

Our next destination was Brome Ridge RV Park in Concordia, KS. Not exactly primitave (full hookups with 30/50/110 amp electricity) this is country camping for sure! No amenities, no dumpster but super-friendly owner, roomy, grassy spots and lot's of room to take the dog out walking. Bandit loved trying to chase rabbits while on a leash (and there were plenty of them!). Located 7 miles from town, we decided to forego additional driving and had hotdogs for supper.  

We finally checked in at Road Runner RV park in OKC and settled in in time to have dinner with my dear friend and fellow author, Winona Bennett Cross. This is a huge park where they host people both short and long-term. Not a lot of grass between the sites, but with full hookups, a beautiful community center where they host activities for long-term guests, complete with gorgeous bathrooms, meeting room, sitting areas, kitchen and laundry, AND places to walk you dog, you can't go wrong.

The next day we toured the museum and headed home the day after.

Our last night on the final leg of our trip was spent at Tyler Oaks RV Resort in Tyler, TX another really nice, countryfied campground with roomy sites, fish ponds, dog park - the perfect place to stay whether  just for one night or many.

This wraps up my 2025 vacation memories, folks! I hope you've enjoyed coming along for the ride and that you'll check back for more travel related fun.

Until next time, take care and drive safe!

PamT