Texas-Grit-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 1166

Texas Grit Road Trip

Firstly, I’ve always wanted to take the Texas Grit Road Trip. A more than thousand mile romp through Texas from the Gulf to the West Texas Oil Fields. It’s all in Texas-Grit-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 1166.

New Rig

Secondly I’ve got a great new rig that needs a shakedown cruise.

Tennessee

Weirdly enough the Texas Grit Road Trip starts as a matter of fact our trip starts in Tennessee, of all places.

Natchez Trace Trail

That is to say I got a great suggestion from a friend to hit the Natchez Trail.

Analogous to great scenic routes like Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge the Natchez Trace trail runs from Tennessee all the way to Natchez, Mississippi.

Louisiana and The Gulf Coast

Henceforth I headed into Louisiana and then on down to Corpus Christie Texas. And now we’re getting into the core of the Texas-Grit-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 1166

Beach Camping

Accordingly this podcast highlights some of the beach camping options as well as a few truck stops along the way.

Texas-Mexico Border

Thereafter all along the Texas-Mexico Border on up to Del Rio.

Pecos

Afterward to the best part of the trip, the road North to Pecos, Texas.

Oil Fields and West Texas

And out to the oil fields in West Texas.

Guadalupe Mountains

Finally following the route through the Guadalupe Mountains back down to the border across New Mexico to Arizona.

Lots To Talk About

Above all there’s a lot to this podcast.

Traffic

To emphasize the working nature of this part of the United States the traffic out in the oil fields is as intense as any major city.

Heavy Trucks and Heavy Work

Notwithstanding the fact that all the vehicles were heavy trucks carrying all kinds of cargo to and from the fields.

At length the so called ‘man-camps’, truck stops and pull off points with everyone seeming to be on a mission.

Covering Ground

Certainly it’s true I love to cover ground in my travels.

Seeing and Learning

Most importantly it’s a chance to see people doing what they do.

Work Work Work

And this part of the world seems to be focused on work.

History

In light of the nature of the places I got to see there’s also a ton of history here.

Texas Weather

At the present time you might see a place like Sanderson, Texas that looks a little worn down…

But not know that a tornado a few years ago nearly destroyed the place.

Harsh Conditions

But stories like that are common in a part of the world where harsh conditions prevail.

All things considered these places live up to the reputation.

True Grit

That is to say this part of the country was forged by true grit.

Finally I use the term ‘Grit’ in as positive a manner as I can express.

All things considered Texas itself has never been an ‘easy’ place to live.

It’s Not Big City Life

On the whole these days life in the big cities can be pretty cushy.

Ranching Farming Oil and Small Towns

In truth though, whether it’s ranching, farming or oil West Texas is a place that values and embodies hard work.

Texas-Grit-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 1166

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:33 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

backroads, travel, nomad, nomadtravel, america, mississippi, florida, arizona, new mexico, texas, alabama, louisiana, travel experience, experience, routes, back road routes across the USA, six thousand miles of back roads travel, mobilepodcastcommand,

Six-Thousand-Miles-Backroads-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast-1135

Six Thousand Miles Backroads Part 1 Of A Series

I’ve traveled six thousand miles on the Backroads since I left Arizona in February. More than eleven states and many experiences. Details in Six-Thousand-Miles-Backroads-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast-1135.

Arizona to Wisconsin

Firstly I talk about the routes I’ve taken from Arizona to Wisconsin by way of several states.

From the Southwest

Secondly it all started in Quartzsite Arizona.

To clarify I spend my winters in the Southwest.

To The South East

So a spring wedding scheduled for March 15th in Sarasota Florida was a great motivator and trip goal.

Therefore on about February 26th, 2024 I left Quartzsite to begin what would turn out to be a six thousand mile trip.

Experiences

Above all in Six-Thousand-Miles-Backroads-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast-1135 I detail the routes and experiences along the way.

Backroads

In the same fashion I explain my motivation in staying to America’s BackRoads.

However every now and then I have to take an interstate.

But I try to keep that to a minimum.

Accordingly I headed out East along Interstate 8 in Southwestern Arizona.

Routes and Takeaways

Additionally I detail some takeaways from each state I traversed on my way to Florida.

One For The Books

All in all this trip through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and eventually Florida is one for the books.

Desert Border

For one thing the whole trip was either along the US-Mexico border…

Gulf Coast

Or the Gulf Coast.

Including at length beach towns and shores along the Gulf Coast.

Series

In contrast this journey is a series because of my experiences in Florida and on up the East Coast.

Truck Stops To Parking Lots

From potential campgrounds to truck stops and parking lots it’s been quite an experience.

Overall deserts, mountains, beaches and swamps.

Small Towns

And some undeniably wonderful small towns along the way.

Low And Slow Travel

One of the points overlooked by many thinking about the nomad lifestyle is the fact that we travel low and slow.

That is to say that travel does not have to be compressed into a short period of time.

The Vast Nation

Even more the opportunity to observe and catalog vast swaths of the country seen from its back roads is key.

Media Disconnect

Most important is the country one sees from the back roads is not the country the media shows us.

Positive

In the positive side I saw a lot of development and activity this trip.

Negative

Conclusion

In conclusion aside from in season traffic and too much development in Florida…

There’s nothing like a long trip on the back roads.

Six-Thousand-Miles-Backroads-Part1-Bob Davis Podcast-1135

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:31 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116

Sharecropper Nation

Altogether I think it’s a sharecropper nation these days. Details in Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116.

Oklahoma

Certainly my drive through the Oklahoma Panhandle made a big impression on me last month.

Social Media

But a recent social media exchange accentuated my experience.

To rephrase I am impatient with argumentative comments on social media on some of my posts.

Pressure Back Home

On the other hand I forget the pressure the average person ‘back home’ is under.

Bob Davis Podcasts Economic Series Podcasts

To review I’ve done a number of podcasts about the US and world economic situation.

Click here for the most recent podcast in the economic series.

Trouble Back Home

However I have not done an installment the pressure those back home have to deal with.

Not Keeping Up

For one thing the average income hardly keeps up with average expenses.

Even more children and student loans are expensive…

…And you begin to understand there isn’t money left over each month.

Inflation

Furthermore the consumer class has been most exposed to inflation.

Higher Interest Rates

At length efforts to address inflation by central banks have resulted in higher interest rates.

Gone To The Credit Cards…Beer…Weed

In addition both small businesses and the consumer class are forced to use credit cards at very high interest rates.

Sharecroppers

Firstly in Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116 I give a history of sharecropping.

Sharecropper Nation

Secondly I compare today’s working consumer to the famed sharecropper movement west in the 1930’s.

Second Guessing

Therefore until now I worried about my decision to travel.

Nomads Are Insulated

To sum up to a certain degree our lives as nomads are more insulated from the pressures of every day life.

Even With Drawbacks

Even though my existence has a nomad has it’s drawbacks.

Bliss

In conclusion I am more free to experience bliss.

Freedom

And I have to remember sometimes not everyone back home has that luxury.

Sharecropper-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast-1116

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:23 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS