Santo, TX – North Texas Heartland Owners Club Rally, BBQ twice in one day and Fried Pies – oh my!

April 2, 2014
Today was our 3rd day of travel on our way to Santo, TX to spend several days having fun with Heartland friends.

On the drive today, we stopped near Greenville, TX and had lunch at Baker’s Ribs and The Original Fried Pie Shop. I’m giving the BBQ a 7 and the fried pies a 10.

Here’s my lunch. I took half of it home. Had to save room for pie 🙂

Once the pies are filled, the baker hand folds them, seals the seam, places it in a crimper and crimps it, then drops them into 375 degree peanut oil for 3 minutes. Yumo!

A half-hour away from our destination, we stopped and fueled up at Petro, then went across the street to Blue Beacon to have the truck and RV washed. For ~$50, they did “okay”.

We arrived at Coffee Creek RV Resort around 4 pm, got checked in and setup, then said “hi” to a good many friends already here. Terry H had called us on our final push this afternoon and advised us that the early arrival rally attendees were going out for dinner as a group to Natty Flat Smokehouse, nearby the rally venue. So at 5:15 pm, 25 to 30 of us headed south a few miles. This place is pretty cool outside.

Sorry – no food pics, but the ribs and brisket were very good. Giving them an 8 on BBQ and a 10 on BBQ Sauce.

After dinner, Nancy and I headed north to Mineral Wells, TX to the Walmart. We needed a few things for ourselves and I’ve committed to making breakfast this Saturday for the rally, so I needed a LOT of supplies. Our friends Dan and Karen H told us a bit about the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells. While in town sitting at a stoplight, I snapped this picture of this former grand hotel.

More info about the Baker Hotel. Scroll about half-way down that page to the area that begins with this sentence “Mineral Wells, Texas was starting to grow because The mineral waters were beginning to be known world wide as a cure all for many types of illnesses.”
And even more info about the Baker Hotel here from Wikipedia.

While we were at Walmart, I called Dan and Karen H and asked them if they would let Emme out and give her some dinner. They did. Such great friends. Upon our return to the campground, with the help of Terry H, Nancy A and Dave B, we unloaded my supplies into the rally hall. Later on, a few rally attendees joined us at our RV for a sweet treat of fried pies and Blue Bell ice cream.

A full day!