We try to visit the capital buildings in the states we travel. We had not been in the one at home since we were kids.
The portrait is of Lurleen Wallace who served as governor, because her husband George was prohibited from serving consecutive terms. He served three terms himself.
We have been home in Montgomery for four months. We expect to be here another four months before we head west again. We have tried wintering in Florida once and Texas twice. Neither really turned our cranks. The desert SW might work, but it’s a long way there, the wind howls blowing sand and there is no way we would come home for a month or two only to head back west.
We put many hours in the yard when we got home. New plants and trees. Landscape lighting, sprinkler system, tree trimming, etc.
We have done dozens of little things to KoKo, mostly maintenance. One thing we have not done is to wash and wax her. She last had a bath in July. Maybe manyana.
Climate change is wonderful. We have had marvelous weather since we have been home. It’s December and we are having cocktails on the patio in shorts.
It’s been good to spend some time with our daughter, the grand kids and the grand dog. The kids can come up the drainage “ditch” between our homes in about two minutes. It is nearly a mile by road.
Dorothy is enjoying her Cattrike, riding it almost daily. I also ride it. I have found we can carry it inside the Jeep. What’s another 40 pounds?
We like living in Montgomery a lot more than in Birmingham. The folks here are much friendly. The craft trade is easy to work with, there is markedly less racial tension and taxes are MUCH less. We can get across town in 10 minutes. We park, with no fee, in front of the doctors office. Who, BTW, is a pleasant young man who drives a pickup truck and spends a hour with you.
The city has a volunteer component to their community policy effort. While we were gone, someone checked on our home daily. I appreciated it and decided to volunteer. I got my uniform yesterday and will start patrol next week. Friday, we went to an appreciation lunch for the volunteers. The Police Commissioner, the Chief, some captains, etc. were there to express their thanks. The food was good too.
Our 2013 travel plans are to take another bite of Utah in the Moab area in April. Then we will drift north winding up in the vicinity of Walla Walla while the fields are still green. [picture below] Then west to the coast, maybe an adventure in BC, then south to Colorado for August and wind up near Kanab in mid September. Around mid October, we will drift home and arrive around Halloween. All subject to change.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
It arrived yesterday. The truck driver was not real sharp and could not find our house, so we met him and put it on the roof rack. Less than 45 pounds.
She drove it over to our daughters and the kids pronounced it really cool. SIL said was a souped up wheel chair.
In other news, an LD couple spent the night with us. We have been following each others Blogs for a few years and it was real treat to finally met them face-to-face. We share a like for back roads and conservative politics.
I will update y'all on what we are doing while not traveling. We had only lived in our new home about 2 months before we left. In that two month period we were setting up things. When we returned home, it was all new to us. I could not remember where we had put anything - opened and closed lots of cabinets and doors. But we are now "at home" here and I know where most of my stuff is.
The reason we returned early to so I could attend my 50th high school reunion and also attend my youngest niece's wedding. We went to Birmingham for the reunion and stayed with our friends in our old neighborhood. It was bitter sweet - I loved that neighborhood but I do not miss the steps going into or in the house. We were invited to attend cocktails with the planners of the reunion. When we got back, Frank had his famous spaghetti dinner. The reunion was very special. I got to see some people that I had not seen in 50 years - girlfriends that I went to grammar school & high school with. And the food was very good. One thing that stood out was a group of us that went to the same grammar school talked about our 8th grade teacher. She was abusive, physically and verbally. To get a group together and we talk about our teacher, and the memories were very clear of her abuse of 54 years ago is testimony about how bad it was. Today she would have been arrested. Three girls now live in the Montgomery area and I have had lunch with one girl who lives pretty close to us. We will get together for lunch.
We were honored to be invited to attend the After Rehearsal Dinner for my niece's wedding. It was held at, The Club, a Birmingham club which overlooks the city. It is probably the best view of Birmingham anywhere. The wedding was beautiful, my niece was a gorgeous bride. My oldest niece was Matron of Honor and she was also gorgeous. My great niece and nephews are very good looking as was my brother and sister-in-law. And I can say all of this without any prejudice at all. I also thought my daughter and her family were great looking, again without prejudice.
While we were gone, it was very dry in Alabama which resulted in the death of most of the plants in the yard. So, we have dug, cut down and pulled out all the dead stuff and have replanted. It has taken a while. Of course, the weeds thrived so they have been dug up. But we think our yard looks very good. Also we (me especially, because I love doing it) are pressure washing the patio and driveway.
As soon as the yard gets in good shape, I will tackle cleaning inside the house. Koko also needs a good cleaning, but it's been too hot to work on that yet.
We don't know what our plans are for 2013 except that I definitely want to be in the San Juan's in August.
If you're traveling, have fun and be safe.
Judy and Dave in Ocean Springs, MS. Judy and Dorothy were college roomies. Nancy and Ken drove over from Mobile to join us. Nancy and Dorothy worked together before we married.
My cousin Stacy at Moak Farms near Kentwood, LA. Stacey is a year older then me and races thoughbreds.
Betty and George in Pearland, TX. We camped in their driveway and they gave us tour of Houston. We first met them on the 2007 Baja Tour.
Bill and Ruby on their cattle ranch near Victoria, Texas. They also came down to see us in Mission for a few days.
Jim and Gayle at the Bentsen RV Park in Mission, Texas where we spent a month.
Ted and Liz at Mustang Island, Texas.
Russ and Beverly in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Martha and Bernie and Nancy and Brion at Capital Reef NP.
Dave and Mary at Canyonlands NP.
Dan and Barb at Goosenecks near Moab, UT.
Dale Ellis drove down from Grand Junction to see KoKo at Goosenecks. He bought an LD a few weeks later.
Ed and Carol and John and Linda at Dinosaur NM.
Beverly and Chuck along US50. We met them on the 2007 Baja Tour.
John and Mary Jane at their home in Mound House, NV.
John and Heidi for lunch in Reno, NV. We met them on the 2007 Baja Tour.
We would have seen Terry and El who we also met on the Baja trip, but Terry had pnenomia.
Bumper at the Minden, NV airport where I took a glider flight.
Kate and Terry in Santa Cruz.
Monday, August 6 – We left California a week ago and landed in west Texas today. Muleshoe, Texas to be exact. Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen travel across Texas in the summer heat, so we must be mad. It's 100 outside, so a/c is a must. We were headed to a free city park, the Waylon Jennings Memorial RV park in Littlefield, about 40 miles down the road from here. We pulled over to change drivers and I saw a sign across the street about the Ray and Donna West Free RV Park. So I pulled in and saw paved pads with gravel and green grass between the sites. And FULL hookups.
While Muleshoe, Texas is not a destination, it sure is a good place to over night when transitioning from I40 to the more southern I20. There are many small towns in central and west Texas that offer free or low cost parking to travelers. I guess it just part of the wonderful hospitality of Texans. [Yes, I lived there 40 years ago]
After we parked, volunteers came to cut and water the grass. I went to chat with one of them and learned he was the county commissioner. He told me about the folks that contributed the money and how the city and county worked together to get it built. He said he could not get much work done on the roads here because it was so dry, so "his boys" built the park this year instead.
California is one of the most scenic states in the country. Sadly, the state is headed into economic ruin. We saw state parks there that were in rough shape and were charging $50 for hookups and $35 for dry parking. Texas does not have the scenery of California, but they have vibrant economy and lots for free overnight parking.
Tuesday, August 7 – Stayed at Abilene SP and ate prime rib at Perini’s Ranch in Buffalo Gap, which has the best steaks we have ever had. Happy Birthday to Dorothy!
Wednesday, August 8 – Stayed at the COE Holiday Park, south of Ft. Worth. Rain storm.
Thursday, August 9 – Planned to stay at Lake Bistineau SP, but after driving 10 miles off the interstate to it, we found the CG was closed for tree cutting. We stopped at the first CG we found, Bonnie and Clyde’s. A step above a dump. $24. Rained overnight.
Friday, August 10 – Stayed at Roosevelt SP east of Jackson. A place we have been many times. $13.
Saturday, August 11 – Home. Gas is $3.35, a dime more than when we left. Highest paid $3.89, average 3.56.
Stats: Miles driven: 15,200 total
KoKo: 9,400 - ending odometer 58,963
Pelli: 5,800 - ending odometer 43,122
Nights on road: 210
Average daily camping fees: $14.21 – almost double our usual
Gasoline cost [KoKo only]: $4,275 [1,200 gallons, 7.8 mpg]
Meals out: 29, $1,160
Jumps to get home: 12
