Welcome Mat

At last, we’ve beat the heat! We left our sizzling site in Lajitas at sunrise and made a beeline in two key directions: North and Up. Here we sit enjoying our high altitude perch at Davis Mountains State Park. It’s lots cooler. And, we’re very happy about that. We are so looking forward to spending the next five days exploring this beautiful area, and the next five nights admiring the stars. There are lots of them around here.

We had a very special delivery to make today. A couple of days ago, our neighbors in Lajitas, Warren and Carol, left a door mat at their campsite. They sent us an email as they were en route to Fort Davis asking us if the mat was still there, and if we would mind picking it up for them until we could meet again. As soon as we received the message we took a look. The mat was, indeed, still there. So, Paul ventured out in the scorching heat and stowed it away.

We weren’t sure when or where we would meet up with these good folks again. They are about six months into a one-year journey across the US with their teenage daughter. They’re on a deadline, so they’re moving pretty fast. But, it turns out they fell in love with this park and decided to stay an extra couple of days. So, this would be the place to deliver the mat.

Now, for the record, we have left more than one door mat at more than one campground. We’re not talking dozens. More like two. Maybe three. Each time we’ve left one somewhere we just chalk it up to experience and buy another. We were taken that our new friends were willing to wait for their door mat. To ordinary eyes, this plain rectangle of rubber with capital letters that spell out WELCOME isn’t much. But, it was obvious to us that to these folks it must be something special. We were happy to make the delivery.

In our effort to leave the Big Bend area as early as possible to escape the heat, we arrived at the park three hours before check-in. Turns out the two sites we had to choose from were still occupied. And, one of those was our new friends awaiting their mat. The park employee who checked us in got a chuckle from our story. We could almost hear her explaining to her family over dinner tonight: “These people came up from Big Bend to deliver a door mat.” It does sound a little crazy.

With nothing but time on our hands, we unhooked the Jeep, tossed in the mat and set out to make the delivery. The happy recipients offered us lunch, which we happily accepted. They had decided to spend an extra night but had to move to a water and electric site because the full hook-up area is full. We went to the office and made arrangements to take our friends' site and the park employee said we could keep our moose parked at the entry as long as wanted. That way, nobody was in a hurry.

We so enjoyed getting to know this very special family over lunch. The laughter and stories flowed. Over tasty barbeque sandwiches we learned the significance of the door mat. It has welcomed visitors to each of their homes for the last 30 years! They were so grateful to have it back. We were extra pleased to have made this very special delivery.

About mid-afternoon, we decided to begin the big motorhome shuffle. They made their move and so did we. After we were all settled, they came back to their old site and we visited some more. They are really wonderful people. We’re so glad to know them and look forward to seeing them down the road again.

Their daughter gave us an extra helpful hint about their old site. She explained that somehow, magically, in this wi-fi less park she had was able to snag a public wifi signal from the nearby camp lodge. Once we were settled, I fired up the laptop and saw the very signal. With no cell service or wifi, we were all set to rough it for the next five days. The surprise addition of wifi at our site was the sugar on top of a delightful day.

Tomorrow, our new friends will head north. We wish them wonderful adventures and safe and trouble-free miles. And, we’re finding ourselves smiling that they’ll continue welcoming guests into their rolling home with their trusty door mat.

You’re so welcome!