Monday, December 22, 2014

Motorhome Christmas
 
 
Today being Dec 22nd, Christmas is like...........right there, ready or not. The holidays keep even us gypsies very occupied in cheerful celebrations and Walmart shopping (closest Walmart 31 miles in Many, Louisiana).
 
High Life......
 
Feel very fortunate in being able to share the season with our newly discovered Texas family. Not only enjoying the park residents light displays, but also partaking in Christmas parties by the sleigh full. I am sooooooooo full of great food and the season spirit (spirits??).
We will also be enjoying the Nebraska family spirit as we take to the road for a trip to Houston and then Cornhusker country. Sue's mom, brother and sister in law will be visiting her nieces in Houston for Christmas day. So our plan is to leave the mother ship stationed at it's current location as we maneuver the satellite transporter (otherwise known as the "Vue") for a week long trip first to Houston and then venturing to the northern frozen tundra of Nebraska, returning after New Years day.  Hope the travel weather holds.
 
Have been planning on the next leg of the Endeavor flight plan. Planning on spending the months of Feb, Mar and Apr in what we are hoping to be the warmer and sunnier environment of Arizona. More specifically Pioneer rv park a few miles north of Phoenix.  This will all be wrapped around the Rockies cactus league spring training period. They typically report in mid Feb and have games through Mar.
A sad goodbye to Lowes Creek on Jan 12th expecting to report in at Pioneer Park sometime during the first week of Feb. Not sure of the exact date as we want to meander our way through Texas and take in a few of the states attractions. Planned.......Galveston ocean/beach time, NASA Space Center in Houston, Alamo and San Antonio river walk.
Unplanned, well........... I hope that will keep you coming back for more.
 
Road Rash.....
 
My only complaint would be the lack of fish on hook.  


Monday, December 8, 2014



What a week end. Our good friends Sue and Larry stopped in with their 5th wheel for a couple of nights stay on their way back to Vancouver Wash. We did some antiquing on Friday (no treasures found this excursion....still looking). Then on Saturday we headed towards Natchitoches, Louisiana to partake in their Christmas Festival weekend. It was also the 300th anniversary (tri-centennial) of the city. What we experienced was a Christmas / Madri Gras / 4th of July combo celebration.


 
What a blast............
 
Held my first (and probably last) gator.......then ate him.
Do not believe the "tastes like chicken" line, much better.
Kind of a combo chicken pork flavor, very scrumptious.
 
All waiting for the parade to start. Sue and Larry standing.....
Lisa (closest) and Sheila setting.
Even Riley was full of  anticipation (Sue and Larry's favorite dog)
 
 
Parade started at 1pm was not over until 3:30. That is right, a 2 and 1/2 hour Christmas parade. But wait......beads, candy, stuffed animals, other misc toys thrown into the crowd....a Xmas parade with a heavy Mardi Gras flavor.
 

The local police lead the way with a choreographed motorcycle
riding exhibit. Nice!!!!!!
 

The crowds lined the parade route from the air and on the ground.
Looks like the French Quarter for sure.

Even the Grinch was there!!!!!
 

Santa seemed to be everywhere...and appeared to be not to happy about it!!!!!
 
But finally he declared the parade over and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
 
The day concluded with fireworks and a light display over the river.
 
Bridge on fire !!!!!!
Sue enjoying the festivities and showing off her Mardi Gras bead collection.


Thursday, December 4, 2014

I am back.............
Had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Brian, Jamie, Grant, Wyatt and the Hebert family (thankyou Val and Kelly for feeding the homeless).
Also need to thank Sue's nieces Shawna, Taresa and Taresa's husband Mark. Stayed in their beautiful Pearland Texas home the night before we flew from Houston to Denver and then as we came back into Houston so that we would not be driving in the dark. Was treated to a wonderful meal of steak, maui maui, crab legs along with all the sides......mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!! Thanks again, see you at Christmas.
Successful Drs/Dentist visits along with get togethers with some old friends/neighbors (Bob, Marilyn and Tracey).

This wild and crazy adventure has already paid off in giving us the opportunity to visit with family members that for some reason was never pursued prior to. Grateful for the visit that we had in Kansas City with my Aunt and Uncle (Pat and Wayne) and their son's (Phillip) wonderful family. They have lived at their current location for years but we never seemed to get that way. Then the bonus of the visit with Shawna, Taresa and Mark in Houston. All such gracious hosts.

I am calling this part of our new lives the "Family Reunion Tour". 

High Life............

Continuing in the relax mode. Other than catching up on some minor maintenance items (noisy air conditioner, weak awning spring, seeping grey tank valve, etc) and cleaning of the exterior (bugs from previous travels and continual removal of pine needles) enjoying the day to day activities of walks, dominoes, 5 o'clock happy hours, music and movie nights with our Texas family, antiquing at the close local towns and some fishing (need to work on this more).  Plus catching up on some reading and plotting out our course once we complete this phase of our travels. Thinking of heading South with an eventual western swing from here to experience the various Texas locations (Galveston beaches, Alamo at San Antonio...so far).
Recent temps have been more what we had expected for this area, 60s and 70s thru the day, 40s and 50s at night, very comfortable. Not quite as much sun as I had hoped for, days tend to be early morning fog and cloudy, but still not a snow flake to be seen.............nice!!!!!



 
A few pics of local area. Fall colors (yep....still) and the morning fog.
 
 
Road Rash........
 

Geeeeeeez....can't think of a thing.