March in Rockport

KoKo at Enchanted Oaks RV Park near Rockport, Texas

What’s happened in the last month or so? Not much here.

Spring finally arrived the first of March and we are finally enjoying our stay in Rockport. It’s warm, the sun is shining and we can get out and do things. We went to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We walked around a little and at the observation deck, we were able to see the pair of whooping cranes that are in residence, along with other birds.

New neighbors, John and Mary Jane from Reno, moved in next door. We met them at the St. Patrick’s Day dinner. We enjoyed chatting with them and they came over and had coffee with us outside in our mosquito tent. An enjoyable visit and we stayed up until 11:00. This is the type of experience we were hoping for when we arrived the first of February.

Most days we are awake by 7:30. We are often dressed before 9, but sometimes it’s 10:30.

After two months with full hookups, we are spoiled for day camping.

We made another trip to Padre Island. This time with John and Mary Jane. And the sun was out. It was a glorious day.

We will leave Rockport next Sunday and head towards Big Bend. We are taking the slow route, US90 from San Antonio. The daytime highs at BB the last week have been from 60 to 90. We are hoping for 70’s or 80’s.



A nearby birding area. Rockport is all about birds.


Aransas NWF


This and the next pictures were taken on Padre Island
We like these birds. Neat hairdo's


Flocks of Brown Pelicans come over every few minutes. Some flocks are over 100 birds.


Mr. Heron looking for a meal


Isolation, there is another 30 miles of this. You can camp anywhere you like. The sand is fine and hard packed.

The Border and Back

It’s Thursday, February 25. The weather is a little warmer, but we have not had three days without rain all month. Today, we drove 3 hours south to Alamo into what they call the Valley. It is dead level flat, so I don’t get the valley reference. It was 72, nice and warm, with a strong wind. There is not a front between here and the mid Pacific, so maybe the weather is turning?

Everyone at this CG is happy and friendly. Unlike where we have been the last month. We may stay here. This is the first time in several weeks we have smiled.

We came down to be with Bill and Ruby and their friends. Margaritas across the border are in the offering.

South Texas looks a lot like south Florida. That’s not such a good thing. We are as south here as we would be in Miami.

It was 74 by 9:30, so I put on shorts to cross the border at Progresso. We went with five others and had a wonderful day shopping and drinking. We had a great lunch at Arturo’s. The restaurant has been in business for over 50 years. All of the waiters look like they came from 1940‘s Hollywood casting - distinguished looking. At 3, we were in a bar drinking margaritas for $1.50. We were back home by 7. Progresso is the best of the border towns we have visited.

The next day we went to a flea market unlike any we had been to. No junk. All useful merchandise at budget prices. We bought a baking dish, belt, ball cap, chopping knife, Alabama flag, gas matches, a Texas star, phone case, and 1500 thread count sheets - all for less than $90. Then we got pineapples for $2 and a sack of oranges for $3. Tonight we are having pot luck with a dozen or so of Bill and Ruby’s friends.

Sunday, we met Jim and Pam Wells for another lunch at Arturo’s. Don had Cabrito and I had way too much good food. One thing about our purchase of a Lazy Daze that may be unique to only a few types of RV’s - we have made so many friends with LDer’s. So we can join friends we have met along the way for lunch.

The “Valley” is over 60 miles along US83 evidently built and designed for Winter Texans. There are over 100 RV parks, many with several hundred sites. There is a big box store of every name along the strip.

Monday morning we spent an hour saying goodbyes and drove north back to Rockport.

The Jeep has the engine check light on, so we will take it to Corpus to see what’s up with it.

The First 18 Days in Rockport

Tuesday, February 2 - It’s cloudy and overcast so our “adventure” has been to go to the grocery store, H E B. It’s a new store, big, clean and a great selection. We have been looking for homemade tortillas and they had them at this store.

Wednesday, February 3 - This morning, we went into the rec room and watched “Imus in the Morning”, so that was a plus. Still cloudy and light rain. Today’s adventure is Wal*Mart.

Thursday, February 4 - We are ready for sun, but it is still warmer than at home.

Friday, February 5 - We have checked out some of the other campgrounds and they are not up to our standards. We went to the campground where we are supposed to move next. It’s is way below our standards. The sun has come out - yea!!

Saturday, February 6 - The sun is shining. We sat outside and had morning coffee. We drove to the bay to see if we can find a place to paddle. I cancelled our reservations at the campground where we were going. We probably won’t get our deposit back, but it’s worth the $29 not to have to stay there. Life is still good in Retirement Land.

Enough of the day-by-day. Not much is going on, so there is no sense of writing something everyday. We have had a few days of sun, the rest of the time, it’s been cool and windy or cool and windy with light rain. Maybe next month the weather will return to normal. We see that Dallas is getting sleet and at home is 20 degrees cooler.

We are amusing ourselves reading and watching TV and DVD’s.

We finally got the catalytic heater installed. On a warm day, I repaired the tow lights cable and replaced the turn signal indicator with one that can be heard. I have more projects I will get around to when the weather improves.

I think that there are more species of birds wintering here than in Florida. In Florida, birds hang out in large segregated flocks. Here the groups are much smaller and made up of several species.

South Texas is poor. The homes look a lot like panhandle Florida. OK, maybe not that good. I think there are more sailboats here than in Florida. The coastal homes range from really sad looking to Texas size mansions.

At home, we were waking up at 5 or so. Now we are sleeping until 8. It’s getting difficult to get dressed before lunch.

We found a good restaurant, Los Comales. We have driven by it many times and decided to stop in today. Their special today was fajitas for two for $12.99. When we told the owner we had not been there before, he brought a sample of the beef used in the fajitas. By sample, I mean about half of an order. He also brought an excellent dipping sauce. It was so good we decided to have that for lunch. It was accompanied by bean soup, rice, and guacamole. The tortillas are homemade. We will definitely go back.

Here's some pictures from a cloudy day on the north end of Padre Island.
The pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.



You can drive on the beach - at low tide!





Dorothy liked the bird with the odd hairdo.

2010 Texas

Getting ready to leave is always a little stressful for me, Don’s opinion is that I am more than a little stressed. I don’t know why because I always have plenty of time to pack. Maybe it’s because I can’t remember where everything is supposed to go.

One of the good things about traveling are the departing dinners. Monday I had lunch with some former Merrill Lyncher’s and Wednesday night we had dinner with more former Merrill Lyncher’s. It’s always good to visit with old friends. Thursday, Frank grilled chickens and Sandy cooked her fantastic green beans. We provided potatoes and the place to eat. It has become a tradition to have a farewell dinner with the Wolcotts.

Saturday, January 23 - Instead of heading directly west to the Texas coast, we started our trip by driving 50 miles south to Clanton to visit my brother, Doug, and my sister-in-law, Roxanne. The bonus was my niece, Melissa, who is living there for a little while, along with her dog, Sully. It was a good visit and a great way to start the trip.

Sunday, January 24 - It was a very rainy morning so we hung around until after lunch, and then continued another 30 miles south to our daughter’s home to visit her and son-in-law and grandchildren before leaving. We may be prejudiced, but we think we have a wonderful family. And we know we are not prejudiced by declaring dinner Sunday night as absolutely one of the best meals we have ever had. Lee had fresh venison and Alecia fixed a delicious rice dish and green beans and dessert.

Monday, January 25 - Don drove our granddaughter, Stacey Kate, to school and we continued the trek to Texas. We stopped at Tickfaw State Park in Springfield, LA. Louisiana’s state parks are a wonderful place to stay. They are well cared for and they recognize the Golden Age Passport, so you get a 50% discount. It was a beautiful and warm day.

Tuesday, January 26 - Today we drove to Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, LA. This is an older park, but well maintained. We stayed here two years ago and remarked about how friendly the people were. That still holds true. I had a glass of wine outside and read.

Wednesday, January 27 - We arrived in Texas. We traveled by free ferry to Galveston Island State Park. The ferry is very efficient and employes quite a few people as they were hustling to get everyone aboard and moving on time.

Galveston, you will recall, was devastated by Hurricane Ike in September, 2008. There are two sections to the campground, the gulf side and they bay side. We elected to be on the bay side of the campground, which we think is prettier and did not suffer any damage from Ike.

Thursday, January 28 - We are staying today because, well, just because we can. There are several paddling trails which we would have enjoyed, but it’s too windy. This would be great with no wind and sun. Maybe someday we will come back. We did get a few chores accomplished.

Friday, January 29 - The rain finally stopped around 10:30 so we headed toward Victoria to stay with Bill & Ruby Cope. We met them at South Mineral Campground in Silverton, CO last summer and they said, “Y’all come”, so that’s what we have done. They have a cattle ranch in Victoria with a place for us to park the rig with water and electricity. After visiting for a while, Ruby took me for a ride around the ranch. It backs up to a pretty lake. Bill has a D3 dozer and he let me drive it and knock down some brush. It has always been a fantasy of mine to drive a tracked vehicle. I had a really big smile on my face.

When Bill and Don got to the lake the full moon was rising and the slant sun rays were golden on the oak trees. A great image. He did not have his camera.

After my fun adventure, we went into Cuero to have dinner at Dave Bravo’s. This is not a fancy restaurant, but good Mexican food at reasonable prices.

Saturday, January 30 - Bill & Ruby had plans to attend the cattle auction in Cuero, so Don and I followed along. We have never been around so many different types of cattle before. We stayed through the bull auction then headed back to take a nap. Two days and two adventures - life is good on the road.

Bill & Ruby friend's, Zane & Anita, were also visiting and they went into Victoria to make venison sausage at the home of Rex & Linda. A tradition after the sausage making is having beef stew and we were invited. In addition to having a large garage where several people can make sausage, Rex makes wines and liquors, including amaretto. I can attest to the amaretto being very good.

Sunday, January 31 - We had a relaxing morning and in the afternoon we all sat around playing card games. Dinner included tasty venison sausage and then we played Mexican Train dominos. So we have spent three days with the Copes and had a new adventure each day. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality!

Monday, February 1 - We arrived at Enchanted Oaks RV Park in Rockport for our month’s stay. This park is new - four years old, so it is still a work in progress. They have a nice rec building and the people we have met are friendly. But it has been raining and is still drizzling, so that probably keeps most people inside. We will probably get to know more of the people when the sun comes out.

We Leave Tomorrow

After being at our stick home since 10/1, we leave tomorrow for south Texas and hopefully better a climate. January here set records for the longest periods of cold weather. Our gas bill was $330, also a record. Our neighbors who like it warmer had bills from $500 to $1,000. Next year, we will leave the day after Christmas.

The Plan: Our first leg is a one hour drive to Dorothy’s brothers home on Lake Mitchell. Then another hour south to our daughters the next night. Monday, we will make the long jump to Tickfaw SP, just east of Baton Rouge. Then we will cross to Sam Houston SP on the other side of Louisiana. Then perhaps a night or two on the Gulf coast south of Houston, before heading inland to Victoria to see some friends and let Dorothy drive a D3 Cat. February 1, we will arrive in Rockport and stay there for two months. Finally, we will spend 2/3 weeks in Big Bend and few days around Fort Davis. We plan to be back in Hoover May 1.

Our odometers read 31,730 for KoKo and 24,600 for Pelli. That’s 55,000 combined in the last two years.

At Home

We miss our family and friends while we are traveling. It is always a pleasure and exciting to get home. Our friends, Frank and Sandy, had dinner for us. But the excitement disappeared as we entered the house. There had been a LOT of rain this year. The downstairs den, bedroom, etc had a good bit of mold and the living room and dining room roof had leaked - yuck - lots of work ahead for us. I spent a little more than a week washing ceilings, wall and uncarpeted floors with bleach and water. Then had to clean carpets and upholstery. Traveling is more my thing than extensive housekeeping. The furniture is now polished and everything is clean and fresh smelling. We will have a dehumidifier before we leave in January. The roof leak is fixed and I am in the process of repainting. If you live in a house, things just go wrong.

We took a break from house chores and joined other Lazy Dazers at Georgia Veterans Park in Cordele, GA for a few days. Always fun to spend time with LDers, making new friends and renewing old acquaintances.

After a few days at home, we drove Koko to our daughter's home and to help the family out while she recovered some from a bunionectomy. It is very busy with three children, ages 9, 6, and 3 going to different schools. We did a lot of driving in the week and half that we spent with them. Having Koko with us gave all of us a little private time. Had a good Halloween in Montgomery.

We were invited to spend Thanksgiving with our son-in-law's parents. How thankful we are that we all enjoy being together and enjoying our children and grandchildren. We got a tour of their "A" Class motor home - see we have things in common.

Since I had bunionectomy surgery last December, I was not able to really enjoy the Christmas season, so this year I decorated earlier than ever. Don & I are in the Christmas spirit. We have had friends over for dinner and drinks a few times. Our daughter and her family and my brother, sister-in-law and my niece and her family came over for a family Christmas/tailgate dinner during the SEC Championship. We all had a good time. Our youngest niece was not with us, but her new Golden Doodle puppy, Sully came. She is a beautiful and sweet puppy!

Sunday we will have a few friends over to help us celebrate our 40th anniversary. Then Christmas Eve we head to Montgomery to spend Christmas with our daughter and family. Once we get home, it will be time to get ready to leave for the winter trip to Rockport, Texas.

We have done quite a few little mods to KoKo; replaced the kitchen and bath blinds with curtains, a storage shelf for the printer, new storage for the folding table, etc. We never got around to waxing, before it got cold, so I guess that will get done in Texas.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year and safe travels in 2010.

Homeward Bound

Saturday, Saturday 19

We hiked at Tent Rocks. We had been here two years back and wanted to do it again. It’s only a 3-mile RT, but Dorothy was having a bad foot day. It’s very accessible slot canyon, with interesting rock formations, plus a vista view from on top.

Tent Rocks in New Mexico

The slot canyon at Tent Rocks

Sunday

Homeward bound - Cochiti to Santa Rosa SP. Stopped by CW in ALQ to pick up a spare water pump – just in case.

Monday

Santa Rosa SP to a city park in Pampa City, Texas. My birthday.

Tuesday

Pampa City to the Wal*Mart in Poco, Texas. We could not locate the alleged free city park in Enid, OK.

The leprechaun hustling for gas at the gas station

Wednesday

Stopped at a private CG near Mountain Grove. MO. We gain could not find the alleged free city park west of Springfield.

Thursday

Poco to Lake Wappapello SP near Popular Bluff, Arkansas. A small quiet park, ideal for fishing.

Friday

Arrived at LBL, Hillman Ferry CG for the South Central Lazy Daze Roundup. We enjoyed meeting new folks and catching up with old friends from the Baja trip. I will let Dorothy fill in the details of the next five days.

Saturday

It was a little overcast and warm, not very inviting for kayaking. There was a barbeque benefit in town with several groups cooking and proceeds going to that group’s benefit. We had big, delicious, juicy ribs at Laurel’s Foundation. This foundation was started by a little girl, Laurel, who had had cancer and the proceeds go to support other children going through cancer treatment.

Sunday, September 27

All, except one, have arrived for the Roundup. We have spent time visiting with a lot of people and renewing friendships with some we have met before.

Monday

Beautiful day, but cooler and windy. Had fun trying out a new toy, a recumbent trike ; which I really did enjoy and decided I should have one. That is, until I learned the price was $2500 and up! Oh well, so much for that toy.

This is was first official gathering of the group and we enjoyed a great assortment of finger foods.

Tuesday

Again a cool day. We went to a program at the Planetarium. It wasn’t a great presentation. The group had a pot luck dinner.

Wednesday

We went to the Nature Center. I didn’t see how it would be very interesting especially since it is small and the only animals are one that are native to LBL. Was I ever wrong in my thinking! It was great. We had a energetic knowledgeable tour guide talking about the owls, a bald eagle, and a couple of hawks that live at the center, one’s that have been rescued and cannot survive in the wild now. They also have three red wolves that once lived in the area, a very laid back bobcat, a coyote, and an assortment of aquatic life.

Several of the men went on a guided fishing trip and caught lots of fish. So many that we had a fish fry instead of grilling out. They also supplied salad and all we had to supply was a baked potato.

It’s a good group and we are proud to say that we are now members. We will work together to get a multi-regional LD gathering in 2011

Thursday, October 1

Drove home from LBL. I can use all the water I want to wash dishes.