In Route

March 30
Well it time to pack up once again and start heading North. We spent the last three days here in Cave City KY waiting out the weather. Its supposed to be nicer than it has been in the last couple of days. We should be pulling out between 8 and 9 am. Its 32 degrees not real warm this morning but I think it will a little warmer as the day goes on (I hope).
March 31
Here it is the last of March and its our last day on the road. We should be on the road between 7 & 8 am. After we got here (Edinburgh IN) we went over to the Outlet Mall to do a little shopping. We bought three pairs of crocs before we got out of there. We head for Greewood IN to the Camping World store their to pic up couple of things for the 5th wheel and headed back to camp for the night. We took off about 7:30am headed to Climax MI. It took about 5 hours to get here stopping for fuel twice. Looks like everything was still intact here at home. Had to repair the water connection but that was all. Its been and interesting 6 months on the road.

Big Ben Area

March 12
Well we got out of Fredricksburg this morning with no problem. We drove to Ft. Stockton TX and spent one night there. In the morning Ron & Jan left for Yuma AZ to meet up with some other friends they had met a few years ago. Charlie & Aline and us went to Stillwell Store and RV Park at the foot of Big Ben National Park.
March 13 Big Ben National Park
We arrive here at Stillwell Store & RV Park around 1:00 pm. We soon found out that there was no services to be had (like TV,Phone,Internet). The only place I could get Internet was at the store only for a short period. We set up camp and then went into Big Ben area for a couple of hours.
March 14 Thur 16
The first time out we took Charlies Car and tour the west side of Big Bend. We first went to the headquarters at Panther Junction to get information about the park. We took Green Gulch and went past Lost Mine Trail to the Chisos Basin. The elevation is 7825 ft and there is another visitor center. When we came back down we then took the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive all the way to the Santa Ellena Canyon River Access. Their was a few viewpoint along the way that we stop at. After leaving the Ross Maxwell we went to Maverick Junction and to Study Butte and over to Terlingua Ghost Town. If we would have stay on this drive it would have taken us right into the Big Ben State Park. It was getting late in the day so we headed back to camp which is about a two hour drive back to camp. This place is big and beautiful. After we arrive back at camp we ate an then went to the Museum for some music. The Whitfords Eldon and Ann provide us with some good old western and country music. They are from around Reed City Michigan and do they put on a good show. They only play for a hour between 7pm and 8pm every night.
The second day out we took the truck so we could do some two tracking on Glen Spring Road. It took us over 5 hours to do this road so we decided to have a tail gate lunch in a dry creek bed. After that we went to Rio Grande Village and the Boquillas Canyon Overlook before we headed back to camp.
On the third day we decided to have a day of rest before we headed back to the real world. Lois and Aline did laundry this morning and then we decide to take a look at what was at the end of our road. When we got to the end it was the Rio Grande River with a old town across the river. The name is La Linda and it was totally vacant, like people just up and left. It used to be a crossing into Mexico a few years ago which was shut down because of 911.
March 17
On the fourth day it was time to move on so we headed out of Big Ben Area. When we got to Marathon TX Charlie & Aline headed for Yuma AZ to meet up with Ron & Jan for a couple of days before they headed for CA. Lois and I headed for Big Springs TX to stay the night before we move on toward Jackson MS.
March 18
We left Big Springs headed for Arlington TX but on the way we stop to help a fellow camper that had a blow out just in front of us. They were from Texas and was headed home. We arrive at Arlington TX about 2:30 pm.
March 19
Left Arlington TX on the way to Ruston LA for one night. We stay at Lincoln Parish Park but did not have any TV but did have slow Internet and Radio.
March 20
We left Ruston LA on the way to Clinton MS. While at Clinton we stay at Spring Ridge which was a older Mobile Home Park. We was pack in there like we were sardines. We did met a nice couple from WI on the way home. They stay one night before they got back on the Natches Trace Parkway. We stay another at Spring Ridge before we headed for Natchez Trace Parkway.
March 22
Left Clinton MS for Natchez Trace Parkway which is right here in Clinton. While on the Trace we saw a lot of historical sites of Indians and Spanish explorers. We travel about 190 miles to Tupelo MS and stay at Trace State Park for two nights. While in Tupelo I had my oil change and had to have brake pads installed on the rear wheels. We met up with Al and Virgina at the state park while we were their. This state park has full hook ups and a laundry besides beautiful scenery.
March 24
We left the state park and went about 66 miles to Bay Spings Lake MS where we stay at Piney Grove RV Park, which is a Corp of Engineer Park. Al and Virgina show up there the next day. While we were their Lois & I went and seen the Locks and dam. Their is about 5 locks on the Tombigbee River which is a passage way to the Golf of Mexico.
March 27
Left Piney Grove and got back on the Trace to finish it. We travel about 130 miles before the end of the Trace which ended up in Nashville TN. We then travel another 138 miles to Cave City KY. Since we got here it has rained and has had tornado's around the area. We decided to hold up here for about 3 days till the weather clears a little.

Fredricksburg TX

Thursday 5

Well we took off about 9:30 am for Fredricksburg TX but before we did that Jan & Aline fix breakfast for us all. We arrive at Fredricksburg about 11:30 am and set up camp, this time we are not all together. Ron & Jan are 14 sites before us and Charlie & Aline are about 30 sites from us and that puts us right smack in the middle. Aline fix Shrimp & Chicken Gumbo for supper. We all call it a early night.
Friday 6
We left for Luckenbach this morning, its about 8 miles from where we are camp at. It has a Post Office with a general store in it. It also has a nice dance hall, and has other bldg. around to buy stuff. After being there for a while we left and went into Fredricksburg to eat lunch at little German restaurant. Would go back not that good. Then the ladies decided to go shopping at the stores in downtown Fredricksburg and us guys went to the park where their was a camp ground and a golf course. We look around and went back to the park in down town Fredricksburg and pick up the women and headed back to camp. Later around 7pm we all went back to Luckenbach to listen to the band Mike Blakely & The Whiskey Traders. They are a good band to listen to and dance too. They did not get started till after 8:30 pm so we just set through one set and headed back to camp for the night.
Saturday 7
Lois & I decided to go over and see a couple of friends at Shady Oaks in Inks Dam about 60 miles away. Its just north of us on Highway 29. We left about 9:30am and arrive about 10:45am. Ron & Nancy were still working but they run the place. We visited for a couple of hours before we headed back to camp. Ron & Nancy will be San Antonio Monday & Tuesday with his sister so they might stop by on the back to their camp ground. Lois & I stop at the store for a few groceries before we returned to camp.
Sunday 8
Their was not much going on today until about 1pm. We all went down to a place they call The Rock Box Theater. Its a nice place to go on a Sunday after noon if you like music. It is rated on of the top spot to go in Texas. After that we went over to a World War II museum but it was to close to closing so we decided to come back at another day. Then we came back to camp for the evening.
Monday 9
Today was just a lazy day for us. It was in the 80's and all we did was just go to Wal-Mart and back to camp to do nothing.
Tuesday 10
We left this morning and went to the LBJ Ranch which was about 25 miles from camp. It has become a National Park also. We saw were he spent a lot of his time when he was growing up. We also the place they call The Texas White House. The ranch itself is over 2000 acres and is still a working ranch. We also saw the landing strip that LBJ flew into when he came home. He spent 1/4 of his presidency at the Texas White House and ranch. Before we went driving the tour we had a picnic lunch in the park. After the tour of the ranch we left and went over to Johnson City to see where he spent his boy hood days. There is also a Museum there to look at and a tour of the old house. We spent all day looking a learning about LBJ. Learn a few things that I did not about the man. Most of my memory of LBJ was of the War in Vietnam but there was more to him they people saw or wanted to see. Then we headed back to camp. After we got back Lois decided to do laundry so that what we did for a couple of hours.
Wednesday 11
This was a day to stay in doors, all it did was rain off and on all day an into the night. No grips because this area really needs the rain from what I was told they have not had any amount of rain in 19 months. Charlie and I went into down for breakfast and later went to the store for the woman. Not much going today just getting ready to move tomorrow. Hope I their is a break in the rain for an hour so we can dump & hook up to leave if not its going to be wet and cold.

San Antinio

Monday March 2
Were back on the road this morning heading for San Antonio TX. with Charlie & Aline in the lead followed by Ron & Jan (our BC) friends and then us. We left about 20 minutes after 9am and we arrived at Brauning Lake RV Resort about 12:30pm. After we got set back up the ladies decided to go to Wal-Mart and the guys took a nap. After the ladies got back Ron & Jan fix supper for us all.
Tuesday March 3
We all went to the Tower of American (something like the space needle) its over 750 tall. Also there was a movie on the History of Texas in 4D but the the 4D was not working. After we walk to Alamo and Mission and onto the River Walk and had lunch. Charlie & Aline and Ron & Jan took a boat ride while Lois & I waited for them. We had already been that ride last fall. We then look at some specialty shop and head back to camp.
Wednesday 4
Well we all left about 10am today for the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden was open 1980, and is a unique 33-acre living museum. The Daniel Sullivan Carriage House is at the Garden Entrance. In the garden are Formal & Display an consist of specialized displays. Their is also a conservatory that features plants from around the world. Their are many more things to see their, like Watersaver Demonstration Areas an d Texas Native Trail. After the to the gardens Ron took us to Lackland Air Force Base so Charlie & I could look at it as we drove by to see if we could remember any of it. Its only been 46 years for and 43 years for Charlie. We did see a couple of the old barracks that are still standing. After we got back to camp the ladies decided to go to Wal-Mart again and us guys took a short nap. We started to put things up so we good leave in the morning for Fredricksburge.

Rock Port

Well we left La Feria TX yesterday on the 23 of Feb. and head to Rock Port TX with Charlie and Aline. We left about 9:30 am and arrive about 2:00 pm at the Big D RV Resort. Ron & Jan was there waiting for us to arrive, they have been here a week already. Jan fix us supper last night, we had hamburgers and all the fixings. Of course we had our 5 o'clock somewhere. I'm not sure what the woman have in mind for today but I'm sure it will be fun.
We went to Big Fishermen for lunch and you won't believe what we had to pay for it. Tuesday was a special of all you can eat of chicken livers or gizzards or fish or chicken fried steak for $2.25. After we left there we went to Mustang Island and drove around looking over some of the Island.
Today Wednesday the 25th we went to the USS Lexington. Charlie and Aline went with Lois and I. It was quite a ship in its day. We spent over 4 hours looking around and taking in a movie call Jet Fighter (about 45 min long) and I also went into a flight simulator. After spending 4 hours there we went shopping (guess where) Wal -Mart of course.
Thursday the 26th we did not do much just kinda laid around. Lois was not feeling well cause she pickup a cold or something. We did manage to go around a look at some other camp grounds. When we got back we took a nap for a while and then its was time for Happy Hour. Charlie fix brats on grill.
Friday we went out to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge with are friends. We seen Alligator , Nine Ring Armadillo, Whooping Crane, Wild Bore Hogs and many other wild life. While we were there we had a picnic with all the trimmings. After we left the Wildlife Refuge we went to some little town an had a Dairy Queen. When we got back to the campground we took a short nap an then it was Happy hour.
Saturday Lois & I went to Mustang Island to see a friend we met on the way down to Texas last year. Dick & Eva bought their HH at the same place we had bought ours. We seen them along the side of the road and pull over to see if they were having problems and that's how we got to know them. All four of us took the trolley around Port Aransas and had lunch there. We had been their for about 4 hours and had a good visit. After we left it was almost happy hour again back at camp. Aline & Jan fix diner at our rig, we all had shrimp and Lois & Jan had chicken cordon blue.
Sunday March 1 Lois & I did not too much today. Lois got the Laundry done and I did nothing but drink coffee for the first couple of hours. All six of us went back over to the Big Fisherman and had lunch for $2.25. After that Lois finished doing the ironing. Aline & Charlie fix supper for all of last night. That was about all we did for the day except I starting putting things up for us leaving in the morning for San Antinio TX.

February

We have not done much since the last writing except we been going out dancing a few time. Been out to lunch a few times with friends from the other park. We had lunch with Pat & Lyda the other day. We did go over to Mexico a few times to get some sprints and drugs. We ate at a nice restaurant call Arturo's.
I started to get thing together so we can leave on Monday the 23. We are going up to Rock Port for a week and then over to Fredricksburg TX. We thought we would check out some of Texas before we head for home. Charlie and Aline will be traveling with us for a while. We will meet up with Ron and Jan in Rock Port.

Feb

Well here it is Feb. already and its still cold up north. Lois & I and some friends we made down here in Texas went to SPI yesterday to watch the Kites fly. They had kites up to as much as $5000 flying. It was something to see. Then we went to lunch right on the bay. After lunch we decided to go back the back way through small towns and all. Last nite Charlie got tickets for a comedy show over at a golf course we play at.
A week ago we went to a WW11 display about a Island. Iwo Jimo Memorial is the original monument that was built back in 1954. The flag was raised on Iwo Jimo on Feb. 23 1945. In 1981 the monument was moved from Washington DC to Harlingen TX.
Sunday there was about 14 of us that went over to Mission TX to a place call Pepee's on the River. Its a restaurant that sits on the river with bands playing all day long for your dancing pleasure.
On Monday with have a luncheon with the Hitchhikers people in McAllen TX and on Tuesday we have a luncheon with the Good Sams people from MI.