Texas RV Travel blog

Willie Nelson is one of those larger than life Texans. Say what you will about his lifestyle or his hair, he has been there for farmers, for small business owners, for truck drivers, for environmentalists and for his hometown church members in Abbott, Texas.

I just finished reading and excerpt from Willie Nelson : An Epic Life by Joe Nick Patoski. Willie grew up in Abbott, Texas. When Willie heard that the Methodist Church in Abbott was for sale and likely to be torn down, he purchased the building and restored the church to the people of Abbott. In July of 2006, Willie and his sister, Bobbie Lee, dedicated the church. They witnessed and sang to an audience of 300.

Happy Birthday, Willie. God bless you.

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I know you have seen these commercials for lifelock: My name is Todd Davis. My social security number is 457-55-5462.

Did you know that identity theft is a $50 billion a year racket? Your identity could be stolen and used to open credit cards, bank accounts and to secure lines of credit! Worse, some terrorist could use your credit to make purchases to be used against our nation.

LifeLock offers all this for $10 per month:

• Identity Theft Protection
• Reduced Junk Mail
• Reduced Credit Card Offers
• $1 Million Service Guarantee

I have a girlfriend who had all her ID stolen with her purse. She remembered most of the items in her wallet, but she forgot one credit card. With that one credit card and her stolen driver’s license, the thief was able to rent a brand new car and disappear with it. It took months to clear up the stain on her credit.

So, skip a lunch and pay the $10 a month for your peace of mind.

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I was updating the Got Gas? section on the Library page on Texas RV Travel website, so I decided to post the information here as well.

While traveling around Central Texas, we have seen gas prices vary by as much as 10 cents per gallon in the same city, depending on location. The worst place to buy gas is right off the highway unless you hit a Love’s or other discount store. Look for HEB, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs. In San Marcos, Sam’s Club is the cheapest gas by 10 cents.

• Alternative Fuels Data Center - fueling stations for the following alternative fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG), 85% ethanol (E85), liquefied petroleum gas/propane (LPG), biodiesel (BD), electric, hydrogen, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Stations are located throughout the United States.

• Biodiesel - finding biodiesel is getting easier and the rewards are many. Many Americans have started manufacturing biodiesel at home.

• Fuel Economy.gov - maintained jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• GasBuddy runs 170+ local web sites that help you find cheap gas prices in USA and Canada
• Gas Prices - Motor Trend - gas price locator helps you find the best gas prices in your area.
• Gas Prices - MSN Autos - pricing data from over 90,000 gas stations across the nation, updated daily.
• Gas Price Watch - search by zip code, lat/long, intersection or name of gas station.
• Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores - check gas price listings for all states with Love’s. Some Love’s stores have biodiesel, Low Sulfur and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for sale.

Search for gas prices by US Zip Code

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Did you know that the United Kingdom is the largest overseas market for travel to Texas and the US? Even with restrictions on and the expense of air travel, people from the UK are still jumping on Flights to USA.

The main purpose for visits from the United Kingdom to Texas are categorized as leisure & visiting friends and relatives, with popular destinations being (1) Houston, (2) Dallas/Fort Worth, (3) San Antonio and (4) Austin. Visitors from UK love shopping, dining, visiting historical sites and small towns, touring the countryside and sightseeing in cities. (Texas Travel Research 2006).

What is the one thing I would do if I flew in from the UK to Texas? I would visit the musical capital of the world, Austin, Texas. While Houston, San Antonio and the D/FW metroplex offer many worthy attractions, there is no place like Austin.

During the day, there is the natural beauty of the Wildflower Center, the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail and the spring-fed waters of Barton Springs to enjoy.

For shoppers, the West End offers an eclectic collection of art, antiques, and collectible shops in cottages and storefronts built in the 1930s and 1940s. There are restaurants, bakeries and coffee houses in the area.

Sixth Street, a seven-block stretch of Victorian-era buildings once known as Pecan Street is lined with cafes, nightclubs, pubs, dance clubs, live music venues, restaurants, galleries and shops. On the weekend, the street is closed as the district explodes with music.

Welcome to Texas!

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The price of gas and diesel has skyrocketed, effecting the future of RVing for many people. It is time to rethink, resize and refit.

One option might be to change fuel source, to increase energy efficiency and to supplement energy from solar and wind sources. Purchasing a lightweight trailer, downsizing from a Class A RV to Class B or C, or loading a camper on your truck (instead of towing anything) are other choices.

As RVers have started to demand more from RV manufacturers, some have stepped up and provided choices we did not have ten years ago:

• Foldable, expandable and hybrid trailers;
• RVs with 4-wheel drive, high-clearance chassis and alternative energy sources;
• New materials, high technology and innovative designs used in all new RV construction.

So, do not despair. Take another look at possibilities:

Another entry into the lightweight category is manufactured by Coachman RV. The Capri Micro pictured below is impressive in features, storage, use of interior space and weight. MSRP starting At $13,930.

Coachman also make a Captiva Ultra Lite (floorplan below). While lighter than traditional trailers, they are heavier than a small van or truck can pull, except for the 175RDQ model. Other models have slides and bunk beds, affording more interior space. MSRP starting At $18,620

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