Home Sweet Home

Wonderful trip, one last meal out at Si Senor in Las Cruces. Safe, although blustery, trip home, lots to do. We are already talking about where we can go next, but it will be nice to be home and see our family and friends.

Saturday and Sunday

We spent Friday night at this park in Fredericksburg, our usual park being full. This was as nice, and is a member of our camping club, so we got a discount. Since we knew there wouldn't be much to do in Ft. Stockton, our Saturday night destination, Cary and I went to several yard sales before we got on the road. This is a rest stop, somewhere between here and there; Dottie and kitty are taking a break to stretch their legs.

Sunday morning we got up and started out as early as possible. That is a full moon above us. The pictures I took last night did not turn out. You can see how lovely our RV park is, but it was cheap and in the right location.

Both Cary and Rick had to air up the trailer tires before we left.

This sleek black RV is the only one I have ever seen like this. It looks like it belongs to a celebrity or a mafioso!

We are in Las Cruces, NM, now, another favorite town, where we plan to go out for Mexican (what else?)! First Rick and Cary went to Walmart to look for some connectors to replace some that snapped off while Rick was parking the trailer. Ugh!

Fredericksburg, Texas

We have spent time in this lovely town in the Texas hill country, so we didn't do much on this trip. Plus we are on our way home now! We did a little tourist stuff on the main street and I found some great fabric. Then we went out for German food (all but me, that is). Cary and Dottie got weiner schnitzel, while Rick got cheddar wurste. The meals came with saurkraut, cabbage and spiced noodles. I was very happy to find chicken wraps on the menu, took the side of potato chips home for Cary's lunch.

We may go to some yard sales in the morning, since Fort Stockton, our destination for tomorrow and five hours away, is not the big attraction of most of our other stops and we are in no hurry to get there!

Rally Day Four

There was still lots going on at the rally--we didn't participate in many of the things that, if I had it to do over, I would--games, a photo contest, craft sale...wii bowling (maybe not that)and bingo. This morning I chose to do laundry--it was that or go buy some new underwear! While walking back to the trailer from the laundry facility, I started talking to a guy who has lived in the area since 1963. He told me the facility pictured below was built in 1982 by Louis Kung (Nephew of Madam Chang Kai Shek). The campus was his residence and headquarters for his oil company. Originally shrouded in secrecy and armed guards most local residents were unaware that he built a 40,000 square foot nuclear fallout shelter next to the office building. The shelter was built to house his family, employees, and their families in the event of a nuclear war (which he was thoroughly convinced would happen). I went online to learn more about this, now called the Montgomery Westland Building. Read more about it here: http://www.westlandbunker.com/about_us.htm

(above picture from the internet)

. Since I had some time to kill waiting for the washer and dryer, I took some pictures of the kamping kabins around the lake. We all agreed that this was one of the swankier KOAs we had ever seen. Each cabin is furnished, so it is a perfect way to start young families into the camping lifestyle without buying or renting an RV.

This is really cute with the front porch. There must have been two dozen of the kabins.

After lunch we had an ice cream social. Yummy.

Then there was a catered supper. I went back to the trailer for my veggie stir fry, should have expected lots of beef and sausage, potato salad filled with mayonnaise, white bread...beans--but I was being an optimist when I hoped for maybe something I wanted to eat! The company was great. Facing Cary are a couple from Tucson, Bob and Carolyn, who may be joining us in future campouts with our travel buddies.

After dinner there was an awards ceremony and music. Cary stayed to see if it was music he liked, and I guess I should have stayed with him. It just took me by surprise that he was interested, since he can't hear that well, but if the songs were ones he knew, he has a jukebox in his head to accompany him!

Rally Day Three

Wednesday morning we were treated to a catered breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee.

Cary had my sausage, and I skipped the biscuits too. Everyone else seemed content with the choices! I went back to the trailer for blueberries and shredded wheat.

We had visited the LBJ Library in Austin three years ago, the Truman library in Independence, and just a few weeks ago, the FDR library. It would have been a shame to miss the George Bush library in College Station on the campus of A&M University, so the four of us took off from the rally for a tour--arrived just minutes after a busload of well-dressed Texan ladies. We all had to pass through a metal detector, put our stuff in a container to go through the xray--just like an airport or courthouse.

There was a lot to see, all of which was very informative. I had forgotten many of the things about Bush (his UN service, for example), and naturally, there was lots I never knew.

The presidential limo
At some point George was given a 1947 red Studebaker. This is either the actual car or one just like it. The plaque gave info on who donated it and who did the restoration.

This was a fun exhibit. I put my hand over a palm print (located where that glowing circle is to my right, about waist level). Then the image where I have my hand went through the motions of pinpointing my location: Texas, College Station, A&M, the George Bush Library--and then I saw an image of myself standing there--you can almost see it on the screen if you look very closely!

Here Cary is reading a display about the Berlin Wall, while standing next to an actual section of that wall. It came down in 1989.

I enjoyed the display of red dresses, the red dress being the symbol for women's heart health.
All of these dresses are on loan from other presidential libraries, all gowns worn by former first ladies. Around this room were "stations" where you could learn about BMI, obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, and so on. Another area had more red dresses, these worn by celebrities such as Vanessa Williams, Heidi Klum, Danica Patrick, Allison Janey and so on.

After we left the library (I had to go sit outside to warm up while the others finished the tour), we went to the restaurant at this nursery, recommended by one of the guides.

I figured that after all the barbecue, sausage, etc. (and restuarants yet to come as we head home), the least the guys could do was grant me some time in a little more feminine, cozy cafe.

This giant teapot is part of the display. I copied this off the internet, since I forgot to take a picture. It really is huge.

The guys had ham and cheese; Dottie had turkey, and you can see my chicken wraps with a spinach salad. Before we ordered the waitress brought us spicy tea in tiny cups along with a raspberry chocolate scone to share. Just the kind of place I was hoping for!

After a few hours rest, we ate some leftovers from Monday night, took a short walk and retired for the night. The president of the HitchHiker Company was at the rally to talk to us all; Cary listened for awhile. He came with two new 5th wheels, but I am glad to say neither one impressed any of us.

Rally Day Two

Rick and Cary agree to pose in front of our club banner. We designed it about four years ago upon forming the club. At that time, we four were the only members. Currently...we are still the only members!

There were two luncheons today, one for the guys that involved barbecue and big trucks...

and one for the ladies with finger food, red hats and purple shirts. We had a local gal talk about her farm, herbs, and organic gardening. I am ready to go out and get some basil.

A close up of Dottie and me. I got the red hat a few weeks ago at Walmart! Of all things, another lady had the same one! I am not a hat person and this was wool...in hot, humid Houston.

At three we went back over to the big club house to choose some appliques to put on our T shirts. Dottie got glitter and I chose tw0--one with books and cowboy hats, another a southwest looking pot with a plant in it. The lady selling the appliques gave us a class in how to properly apply it all. Pictures maybe tomorrow!

When we got back to the trailer, Cary was underneath fixing something that had come loose the other day. That is as technical as I can get. Thank goodness for Rick's tools. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the painting on this toy hauler. As if it needed anything extra to get one's attention.

Rally Day One

The morning started out very pleasantly; we were able to take a long walk without getting uncomfortable. By noon, the humidity had built up and it wasn't as fun! Our friends,Rick and Dottie, arrived at the park about 1:15, now the rally could start! They spent last night in Fredericksburg. Cary and Rick found a barbecue place that was incredible. They got ribs, brisket, chicken, and sausage, plus coleslaw, potato salad, beans and a loaf of homemade bread, plus utensils, plates, napkins, serving spoons--enough for probably 10 people (even Cary with his huge appetite finally got full)--and all very tasty. We figure there is supper for at least one more night. There was a welcome reception at 7:00 in the big hall, where we all got introduced by state and chapter, then had dessert. Not sure where we put it!

We haven't worked out exactly what else we will be doing, but lots of things were planned: games, a photo contest, a red hat luncheon and for the guys, a greasy hat luncheon (do you call something for guys a luncheon?) , bingo and other games...I am just glad to be spending several days all in the same spot. And with friends!

Texas, and getting there

Leaving an RV park is pretty much the same every time. Except when it rains, which, luckily, it wasn't. This steep bridge goes across Lake Charles, Louisiana.

This is one of the many refineries right around the bridge in Lake Charles. You could smell the oil.

The Blue Elbow Swamp is located right out the back door of the Texas Welcome Center on I-10 out of Louisiana. Various wildlife is highlighted on placards along a boardwalk into the swamp. I was interested in the alligator snapping turtle. It has a little pink appendage in its throat; by leaving its mouth open under the water, the turtle has a built in lure for any dinner that may be swimming by.

We got to The Woodlands, TX, where Cary's sister, Sheila, lives. Going out for Mexican food was not the first thing we did when we got there, but it had been a long time since the last Mexican food, so we were ready.

The first thing we did was go to a Friends of the Library book sale. You would think by now that I would have figured out the order the pictures are supposed to go into the blog, but I guess I have lots to learn. These are the five books I picked out: one on travel in the Mid-Atlantic states, newspaper columnists, genetics, Eleanor Roosevelt and dialects. I have read a few pages of each, and they are all winners.

Cary likes his choices too. Amazing that we limited ourselves to only five. Sheila bought a few herself.

Saturday morning means yard sales. On our way to pick up Sheila (who actually did the driving), we passed this open garage with the early 30s hot rod tucked inside.

Sheila made the first purchase of the day, a wheelbarrow! Fortunately, it fit in her Subaru just fine.

When we got back to her house after lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, she showed us the lemon meringue pie she made for her big brother. Yum!

Thank you, Sheila!

Another long day on the road...

Because our brains are still on Eastern time, we got an early start. All the more time to spend in the truck on the road! Some of the roads felt like railroad tracks, but we saw lots of improvements going on and that is a good thing.

I took this picture of a very colorful tree right at the entrance to our campground in Mississippi. I may not see any more colorful leaves for awhile, had to take advantage.

How would you like to live in a town called "Chunky?" I wonder how on earth it got the name.

That is it for the pictures I took today, but I had time when we got here (8 hours after leaving) to our camp in Duson (does that rhyme with Tucson?), Louisiana, to do some research. I found out what boudin is (I would never go to a restaurant whose claim to fame is boudin and cracklin's), how long the Atchafalya Bridge is (18.2 miles, and quite the drive), and what the suffix "kill" that is found in many place names in New York and Pennsylvania means: little creek or river. From the Dutch. Now you know. Maybe I could find out about Chunky, MS, while I am on the computer.

Cary went to a nearby restaurant to bring home his supper: shrimp po' boy, dirty rice, and gumbo. It's been awhile since he had some cajun food.

To Tennessee and then to Mississippi

This was taken at our campground near Bristol, a combination of 3 shots. Something to do while Cary does all the hard stuff! We were down the road from the race track.

This was parked nearby with a For Sale sign...the price had faded away, however. It sure looks nice.

The words I am typing don't always go with the picture. Use your imagination--the race track!

. Here is the Cochran Cemetery, my purpose for going to Athens and Englewood, TN. I found the info on a website (findagrave.com), typed in the GPS coordinates, and actually found what I wanted!

For some reason this came out sideways! It is the grave of my grandmother's half sister, Elsie. Elsie and her sister, Jessie, were born to John Dixon's first wife. Her name was Tennessee Boone! She died, so he remarried. Elsie's husband was Jack Ferguson.

Here I am sitting between the gravestones of my great grandparents Dixon. I normally would not look so happy in a cemetery, but I felt a connection here, and was excited to have found them.

This is the museum in Englewood where I talked to several ladies who had grown up here. They had all heard of the John Belle Dixon house, maybe not even realizing that it was John AND Belle Dixon who lived there at one time. I told them my grandmother had a boyfriend named Floyd Cochran, and they called his niece to talk to me on the phone! They gave me directions to the Dixon house when I got done looking around.

I had to take some pictures, of course. Gran may have even been in this building before it was a museum.

This is the house! The ladies at the museum weren't sure who lived there. It was enough for me to take a picture.

When we got back to the trailer Tuesday, it began to rain and rained all night. And once again, Cary got us ready to go in the rain. Just down the road a little ways in Chattanooga, it was dry. The newspaper said it was the driest October ever--none for the month at all.

Believe it or not, this is the Welcome Center in Alabama!

Cary was starting to feel the long drive, and we still had to get to Mississippi. This is also at the Alabama Welcome Center. Mississippi's was even fancier, but a tour bus had just "landed" so I couldn't get any pictures.

We are in a very nice little park in Meridian, MS, tonight, glad to be done with the driving. We are now on Central Daylight Time too.