May 7th, 8th & 9th - Junction, TX & a wonderful experience

I forgot one very important worker. This is Theresa. She is headed for college after she graduates this month.

LtoR Work campers Sharon & Joe, and KOA owners Dusty & Bebe at the BBQ

The prayer & National Anthem to start the rodeo

Sunset in Junction, TX at the KOA

On Friday, 5/7, we were trying to see how far we could get into Texas when we realized that we weren't going to get home for either Brandon's or Sammy's birthdays. We decided that we had never really spent any time traveling by ourselves so we only went as far as Junction, TX. and what an experience that turned out to be! The only campground around was a KOA just off the highway. we called and they had room and seemed very friendly on the phone. They also had a swimming pool that was in use. I need to add here that that was one of the 1st questions we asked when we were staying in a private campground - do you have a pool? The answer most times was yes, but upon arriving we would be told that it hadn't been cleaned, chemicals had just been added or it wasn't open until after Memorial Day. Most days it was hot and we just wanted to go for a quick swim before dinner. Anyway, the camp workers came out to greet us and then guided us to our site. We headed for the pool and the owner came by to say hi. Mike has been curious about work camping and/or running a campground so he began to ask Dusty questions. I had read that there was a rodeo that night so asked where it was. The next thing we knew here came Dusty w/2 box seats to the rodeo. Up to that point, we hadn't decided if we were going to unhook the car or not. Dusty and his wife, Bebe, were judges for the rodeo queen contest. We went to the rodeo, Dusty bought us refreshments. Prior to going to the rodeo, when Mike was asking his questions, Dusty told him he could stay and work for a day, a month, or 6 months and we wouldn't have to pay for our camp site. I suggested that Mike give it a try. The only problem was that when he told Dusty he'd try it, Dusty signed me up to work in the office. It was a fun experience. We learned a lot. When I got off work on Saturday, I headed for the river in hopes of photoing a turtle. Instead I found a rather large snake coiled in the water at the edge of the river. I went to the office to ask what kind of snakes they had there and Dusty immediately headed for the river. Long story shorter - he killed the snake. It was a water moccasin! On Sunday he bought the other work campers and us a BBQ brisket lunch. He drove up the street of the town on his Kabota tractor to pick them up. He then announced that they were having a going away BBQ for us that night at their motor home. We were sad to leave there so soon.