Sweeney
Administrator
I just returned from a whirlwind trip—2,000 miles in six days! It was intense and not something I’d recommend lightly, but it had its share of highlights.
The visit did not disappoint—“top-notch” is the only way to describe the facility and instructors. I’m leaning heavily toward signing up, but I’ll save more details for another time.
The hiking trails were fantastic as well, though not marked incredibly well.
The arcade was amazing. I even met David, the 8-Bit Guy himself, and thanked him for his work. The machines were beautifully restored and ran like new—a far cry from my disappointing visit to Galloping Ghost Arcade in Chicago earlier this year, where many machines were in disrepair. If you’re in the DFW area and love retro gaming, Time Rift Arcade is a must-visit.
Unfortunately, the weekend was marred by a large group with kids who ran wild, screamed late into the night, and trampled through campsites, then again starting a 7:30 in the morning. When I asked one child to stop cutting through my site, they stormed off saying "I'm going to tell my Dad" The father returned, not to apologize, but to threaten me. Realizing the situation wasn’t worth escalating, I packed up and left early Sunday morning. I've got family from the eastern hills of Kentucky - and learned from them its not worth the fight. Stubborn, pig-headed people can not be reasoned with.
Despite the hiccups, I’m preparing for my next trip in a few weeks. Here’s hoping for a mild winter and smoother travels!
Why Drive So Much?
For me, it’s simple: the freedom of owning a CampInn outweighs the hassle of flying.- Avoiding Commercial Flights: I’ll fly if I absolutely have to, but I’d rather avoid the TSA, crowded hotels, car rentals, and overpriced airport shops. The experience feels impersonal, rushed, and frustrating—definitely not my idea of travel. Especially if something goes wrong and you are captive in the TSA system for any length of time.
- Scenery and Exploration: There’s so much to see from the road. Flying just doesn’t compare. Dashboards are one of my favorite things.
- Audiobooks: Long drives are made better with a great story to listen to. Eric Metaxsis's "Is Atheism Dead" is a great read.
Stop 1: Village Creek State Park, AR
My first stop was Village Creek State Park near Memphis, Arkansas, where I stayed for two quick overnights (one there, one back) in both cases I arrived at sunset and left at sunrise both times, so my sightseeing was limited to the back of my eyelids. Still, the highlights were obvious: a newly renovated shower house, spacious campsites, and friendly staff. Not a bad pit stop, and probably more. There is however no phone or data there what so ever.Destination: Athens, TX
My main destination was Athens, Texas. As I’ve mentioned, I’m transitioning careers and want to use my knowledge of RVs to help others. I’m considering training at NRVTA (National RV Training Academy), where they teach pre-purchase inspections and RV repairs, mainly for larger RVs like bumper pulls and Class A/C/D models as well as full service repair - going so far as to replace a slide-out as part of the class.The visit did not disappoint—“top-notch” is the only way to describe the facility and instructors. I’m leaning heavily toward signing up, but I’ll save more details for another time.
Purtis Creek State Park
While in Athens, I stayed at Purtis Creek State Park, southeast of Dallas. It’s one of the nicest state parks I’ve visited. The campsites are massive and surrounded by trees, offering a sense of privacy. The shower facilities, though older, were well-kept. The only downside was the single shower house, which wasn’t conveniently located for most of the loop. Still, I’d happily return here—it’s a gem of a park.The hiking trails were fantastic as well, though not marked incredibly well.
Time Rift Arcade, Dallas-Fort Worth
During my trip, I made a special stop in the DFW metroplex to visit Time Rift Arcade. I’ve always loved retro games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and TRON, and I follow The 8-Bit Guy on YouTube, who restores retro machines. What I didn’t realize was that his restoration work had culminated in opening his very own arcade!The arcade was amazing. I even met David, the 8-Bit Guy himself, and thanked him for his work. The machines were beautifully restored and ran like new—a far cry from my disappointing visit to Galloping Ghost Arcade in Chicago earlier this year, where many machines were in disrepair. If you’re in the DFW area and love retro gaming, Time Rift Arcade is a must-visit.
The Return Trip: Things Take a Turn
The way home was less enjoyable. I stopped in Memphis intending to visit Beale Street. Dyer Hamburger in particular. Parking for my Jeep and CampInn was impossible, and despite empty lots on a weekday, I was turned away. Frustrated, I searched for nearby state parks. I needed a 3 night stop for logistic purposes, and my choices were limited to one had no internet, another was full, and my last option was Fort Pillow Historic State Park.Fort Pillow Historic State Park
The park itself was not remarkable, though hiking trails may have been good - I was not prepared for the hills however. It is a historical site, so I needed to visit the museum, which was small, and somewhat lacking in exhibits. Maybe I've seen one to many rusted mess kits. The campsites were concrete, flat, and on a hill—adequate, but not great. While the shower facilities were nice, the limited number could lead to congestion during peak times. The showers were mens and women separated (of course) with 1 toilet, shower, and sink sharing a single door --- so it could server basically one of each gender at a time.Unfortunately, the weekend was marred by a large group with kids who ran wild, screamed late into the night, and trampled through campsites, then again starting a 7:30 in the morning. When I asked one child to stop cutting through my site, they stormed off saying "I'm going to tell my Dad" The father returned, not to apologize, but to threaten me. Realizing the situation wasn’t worth escalating, I packed up and left early Sunday morning. I've got family from the eastern hills of Kentucky - and learned from them its not worth the fight. Stubborn, pig-headed people can not be reasoned with.
Final Leg: Nomadic Struggles
I was leaving 1 day early, and needed 1 more night delay to get home when expected. Without reservations, I decided to wing it on the way home. My luck didn’t improve. The camp site I selected as midway stop had been converted into a lodge, the campground converted into a tent-only dispersed campground. The next cluster of non-resort/commercial campgrounds was in southern Indiana, but I found that my intended location was closed for hunting season. Exhausted, I pushed through and finally arrived home at 10:30 PM about 18 hours earlier than I was expected.Lessons Learned
- Plan Ahead: Nomadic travel is great, but having a companion to help navigate and book stops in advance is invaluable.
- Know Where “There” Is: “Get-there-itis” made my trip longer and more stressful because I didn’t know where I was going. Next time, I’ll plan better.
- Pick Your Battles: Some people are just rude. Confrontation isn’t worth the risk of injury or worse—especially over a campsite. Sometimes, the best option is to move on.
Despite the hiccups, I’m preparing for my next trip in a few weeks. Here’s hoping for a mild winter and smoother travels!
