Monday, February 11, 2008

From Hondo to Dallas, TX

Our stay in Hondo was a combination of chores, remodeling and participating in park activities. The rig got a spring cleaning, sorting through cupboards and donating items we no longer need or use. We took out our dinette and put in a table and chairs. Larry used the materials from the dinette to build some cabinets on either side of our chairs in the slide out. They look like they were built in when the rig was made. When in the park, we attended social hour at 4:00 pm which gave us a break from chores and the opportunity to meet members of the park and visitors. The last week in the park, we were judges for a chili cook-off. It was a new experience for us and very enjoyable. There were 12 entries, so our palates got a work out.
On our departure day our truck didn't want to start and when we were almost here, we lost the back brakes on our truck. Maybe it's a sign! We did get underway and stopped at the Wal-Mart in Hondo to get a new battery. The traffic on the back roads from Hondo to Dallas is doing a good job of cutting down on the skunk population. It was a very fragrant ride. (No pictures needed.)
We are staying at Lewisville Lake Park which is 18 miles from the mall. We could have stayed closer, but it's nice and quiet and peaceful here.
Pictures in the next couple of days.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Hondo,TX - SKP Park

We moved from the Canyon Lake area to Hondo, TX about a week ago. Friends are letting us stay on their lot in the SKP park. We have our name on the list for a lot here and it looks like we should have one by spring 2009. No, we are not giving up our traveling lifestyle. It will give us a place we can come spend some time in the winter and also give us a place we could stay for an extended time if we needed to. We have been taking care of chores around our place and doing spring cleaning. Just because we live in an RV doesn't mean we are on a permanent vacation. We do have our share of spare time, but we keep pretty busy. Yesterday, they had a musical treat for us here in the clubhouse. It started at 11:00 and ended shortly before 5:00, with a break for lunch. As you can see from the pictures that follow, there was a wide variety of musical instruments: guitars, fiddles, mandolins, mountain and hammer dulcimers, harmonica, accordions, keyboard, stand up bass and many singers. Some performers were from the park and others from the surrounding area. The songs ranged from gospel to outright hilarious. Just like traveling, music keeps these folks active and extends their life.


Great Blue Heron at Canyon Lake.


Oops! Got too close.


Sign welcomes visitors to this nice Texas town.


Our 'house' where we are today.


We were not the only ones having a good time.


There were 34 performers in all.


Jam sessions are great.


Many talented people.


Sure can tell we are in Texas.


This fiddler has been playing for 80 years.


We had a very enjoyable day.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!
The last couple of weeks have been busy but relaxing. First we traveled from Dallas to Georgetown to visit with family. We camped in Cedar Breaks Corps of Engineers (COE) park at Lake Georgetown. It is very close to where one of our nephews lives with his family. Two of his brothers and their families were also there along with their parents (Claudia's sister and brother in law). We had a great time catching up with them and playing with the young children.
From Georgetown we moved a short distance to the Oak Hill area of Austin, where another of Claudia's sisters lives. They were kind enough to let us park in their driveway and we had a great time. Our power steering pump gave out as we were backing into their driveway. It's amazing how breakdowns seem to happen in what turns out to be convenient locations. We ended up staying there for almost a week and appreciate their help and hospitality. Most of you know we don't follow any sports. That being said, it has kind of become a tradition to attend high school basketball games at our nieces' Waldorf school, when in Austin. All three of their girls play or have played. This time, we had the opportunity to attend three games at the Austin Convention Center. The first was a Waldorf HS girls game. The second was a Waldorf HS boys game and the third was a game with the Austin Toros, a Development League team against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The boys game and the Toros game were both very close. The Toros game had 2 overtime periods and they finally won the game. It's wonderful how this lifestyle exposes us to people and activities that we might otherwise have missed.

Now we have moved a little further south to the Canyon Lake area. Again, we are staying at a COE park called Potter's Creek. We had never stayed in these parks before, but now that we have the senior pass and only pay half price, it makes it easier on our budget. Both of the parks are near the water, well laid out with good spacing between sites and most important they are quiet and dark. Some of the COE campgrounds have been closed or turned over to concessionaires to run. Hope that doesn't happen to many more.



Map of states we have visited together. In 2007 we added 3, Idaho, Nebraska and Kansas. Only 6 more to go, besides Alaska and Hawaii.


This is a picture of our address (the UPS store) in New Braunfels. In the last 3 years since we have 'lived' here, we have been here twice.


Another picture of the center of New Braunfels, Texas.


Deer in front of our campsite at Potters Creek Park.


View across our site to Canyon Lake.


Boaters enjoying the challenge of a windy day on the lake.


Another of our residents walking through our campsite.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Flytying Art Web Link

One of our nephews, Shawn Davis, has developed some beautiful flytying art. We have included his web site on our favorites list. Check it out, even if you are not into this sport. The artwork is amazing.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Butterflies at Hershey Gardens 2003

During the 5 summers we spent working in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania we made several trips to Hershey. Besides going to Chocolate world, we visited Hershey Gardens. Here are a few of the butterfly pictures we took there.
























Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Since we are working for the next couple of months, we will take this opportunity to share some of our past pictures with you.
We visited the Valley of Fire State Park while staying at Lake Mead Recreation Area in April of 2007.


Sculpted red rocks contrast the bright blue sky.


Smooth hole shaped by wind and rain.


Interesting shapes we saw on our hike.


Many shades of color.


View of different rock layers.


A lizard warming up in the morning sun.


Weather shaped rock sitting on a shelf high above us.


Petroglyph makings on the rock walls.


There are many theories on the significance of petroglyph markings.


Holes inside holes.