The Journey Continues

 

Welcome to our travel blog.  We chose the site name as it sums up our adventure – a nice drive to get where we are going and a nice drive as we golf along the way.

Recent posts will be at the top of the page but please scroll down as I will be adding photos until I get caught up.

Check back often.  The page will develop with options such as a photo gallery, a place for comments, and whatever we decide we want to post!

 

Cheryl and Craig’s Adventure

Dec. 22-27,  Nashville, TN

An enjoyable visit with everyone and a very nice Christmas.  Since Cheryl and I were on the road we didn’t bring presents with us for anyone but told Sarah we would take her shopping when she got to Nashville.  That may have been a mistake!  We went to the mall on the Thursday and melted the credit card.  Sarah made out nicely and we even found some stuff that Justin liked so we added it to the tab.  The weather turned bitterly cold so were not able to do anything outside for about three days.  It was the coldest Christmas in at least 40 years with overnight lows reaching -20 Celsius.  Cameron volunteers with a local fire department and heard that during the cold snap over 200 homes and buildings had pipes burst.  The house here are not built with basements and waterlines are run up the outside walls and through the attic so are susceptible to freezing and bursting.  It finally warmed up a bit on Boxing Day so Cheryl and I took Sarah and Justin for a bit of a drive to explore the area.  We visited an historic plantation which was the site of a famous civil war battle, downtown Franklin, and some of the surrounding countryside.  That night we went downtown Nashville to experience Broadway – the major entertainment district of honky-tonk bars and live music.  After a nice supper we walked around a bit and found a bar with a great band playing a variety of music.  We managed to squeeze in on the top rail and enjoyed the show for a couple of hours.  Once the band was done we walked up and down Broadway once more and found another bar with some decent music and open seats so we stopped there for a bit as well. 

Both Cameron and Linda as well as Sarah and Justin were flying out on the 27th so we all said goodbye.  A wonderful time with everyone and a big shout out to Cameron and Linda for their hospitality and of course fantastic food! 

 

Dec. 21,  Nashville, TN

Sarah and Justin arrived today from Ottawa.  Technically they came from Toronto as they were visiting Justin’s parents in Hamilton before they came down to Nashville.  We met them at the airport and after getting settled in at the house we welcomed them to Tennessee by taking them out shooting!  When in Rome, right. Cameron loaded up a couple of shotguns and off we went to the Nashville Gun Club.  A large skeet-shooting club along the river in Nashville.  After some paperwork and a quick lesson we headed down to the range.  It is a set-up of 10 “stations” with two skeet launchers at each.  The six of us took turns at each station and we were there about an hour.  Cheryl, Sarah, an Justin did surprisingly well for never firing a shotgun before.  I think Sarah and Justin only missed two or three skeets each the whole day. 

Dec. 19,  Nashville, Tennessee

Well the first part of the adventure was a huge success and we arrived in Nashville Monday around 4 pm.  For those of you reading the blog that don’t know the family, Craig’s brother Cameron and his wife Linda live in Nashville.  We are staying here for Christmas and then house sitting for Cameron and Linda while they are on a two-week vacation.  Sarah and her boyfriend Justin are joining us from Ottawa for Christmas as well.  It will be nice to have some company for a change!  We may do a couple of side trips here and there while we are here.  I will keep you posted.

Dec. 18,  Montgomery and Selma, Alabama

We had our choice of museums dedicated to slavery, civil rights, etc. in Montgomery to visit today.  We decided on The Legacy Museum downtown.  A fantastic museum that evokes many powerful feelings as you stroll through the displays.  It begins with the slave trade, graduates to mass incarceration, civil right violations, and lynching’s.  The location was chosen as it incorporates an old warehouse from the 1800’s that was actually used to house slaves as they waited for auction.  Included in the ticket is entrance into the National Memorial for Peace and Justice located a few short blocks away.  The memorial opened in 2018 and is dedicated to the legacy of enslaved black people, those terrorized by lynching, and the humiliation of racial segregation.  After a few hours visiting the two sites, Cheryl and I got back in the truck and headed to Selma to continue the theme.  It was a quiet drive as we didn’t really know what to say about the experience.  We would just look at each other and shake our heads.  How people could ever think that this was acceptable is beyond belief.  Some exhibits in the museum were news clips from the 1950’s and 60’s that summed it all up for me.  The people in the clips were not uneducated, poor white citizens with a bizarre point of view but teachers, doctors, heads of universities, governors, senators, – supposedly intelligent, educated people calling black people monkeys and legislating “segregation forever”.

A short drive over to Selma to visit some more historical sites and walk across the famous Edmund Pettus bridge.  The bridge was the site of the civil rights marchers leaving Selma in March 1965 for the march to Montgomery.  The bridge is named after Pettus, a confederate brigadier general, US Senator, and state-level leader of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.

We found a campground just outside of Selma in Paul Grist State Park.  A cozy little spot with only 11 sites along a small lake.  It had hot showers and a place to dump the camper which we needed before heading to Nashville.

 

Dec. 17 – 18, Montgomery, Alabama

We didn’t get much of a chance to explore our campground last night as once we got parked, paid, and set-up for supper it was getting dark. It was a short driving day today, just over two hours to Montgomery, so we were not in a big hurry to get on the road.  We enjoyed coffee by the pond and after a nice breakfast we took a hike around the lake.  We met some people by the day use area so we chatted for a bit and they informed us to be careful where we walked.  We thought maybe snakes or something like that but they told us that the park had been “opened up” this weekend for hunters.  I guess the park is usually off limits but twice a year they relax the rules and the place gets overrun by hunters.  Hikers are told to stay in certain areas and on the established trails at all times for safety.  We stayed along the lake as planned and never saw or heard anything in the area.  We utilized the hot showers available at the campsite, had some lunch and hit the road at noon.  On the drive out of the forest toward Montgomery we did observe the hunting activity throughout the park.  Trucks everywhere and enough bearded, hat-wearing, toothless, orange-vested hillbillies to do me for a while!  We assumed they were hunting deer but cannot confirm as either there are no deer in the forest or these guys are really poor hunters!

Into Montgomery mid-afternoon for some errands before tracking down a place to stay for the night.  Cheryl needed a haircut and she found a salon that had an opening in about 20 minutes.  There was a grocery store nearby so we took the opportunity to stock up on supplies.  We decided on another truck stop for the night and topped up our propane on the way.  

Dec.  16-17,  Conecuh National Forest, Alabama

After our golf game yesterday we had a short drive to our campsite for the night.  It should have been a short drive but our GPS decided to send us a to a slightly different part of the park.  We planned to stay at Little Pond Campground in Conecuh National Forest, Alabama.  When we punched it into the Nav system Conecuh Forest came up at the top of the list so off we went.  Without checking we assumed it was taking us where we wanted but it had other ideas.  The forest itself is 84,000 acres, about 340 square kms, so I guess we should have been a bit more specific.  Gloria, that is what we call our GPS, took us on some roads that were more like farm trails than actual roads.  They all had names or numbers so we were not too concerned.  We did arrive in the forest but nowhere near the campground!  Gloria said “in 500 meters your destination is on the right”.  All that was on our right, or left or behind, was forest!  Oh well, Cheryl fired up her phone to bring up Google and figure out the name of the campground so we could enter it into the GPS.  You can imagine what’s coming – no cell service on either phone.  We did have some limited information saved in the history on Cheryl’s phone because we had used it the night before to search for the campsite.  Well we found the campsite, about 45 minutes later than we should have arrived, but we made it.  It was a very nice, secluded area around a little pond and we enjoyed our stay there.  

Dec. 15-16,  Pensacola, Florida

After our four-state drive yesterday we decided to stay put and enjoy a leisurely couple of days.  It sounds like a lot of driving but actually only about 3 1/2 hours total.  We left Louisiana, clipped the bottom part of Mississippi, stopped in Mobile, Alabama, and then another 100km east to the Florida panhandle.  The storm rolled through overnight and we woke to clear sunny skies and highs around 18C.  We drove down to Pensacola beach and enjoyed the sand and surf.  It is a small sliver of land famous for its sugar-white sand beaches and emerald green waters (not my description – I stole it from their promotional website).  We walked along the beach and grabbed some lunch before heading inland a bit for a quick nine holes of golf before supper.  Friday was another relaxing day with 18 holes of golf and a short drive north into Alabama for an overnight stay at Conecuh National Forest.  The weather was nice again with clear skies and 17C, warm enough for shorts on the golf course but I guess only for Canadians.  The cart girl tracked us down and stated that we must be “the out-of-towners” everyone is talking about.  I guess people saw the camper and heard of people out in shorts in this kind of weather and we were the talk of the course for the day!

 

Dec. 14,  Mobile, Alabama

We woke up to a beautiful sunny day and got an “early” start to our drive toward Mobile.  We stayed off the interstate again and followed highway 90 all the way.  The route took us right along the Gulf Coast for a good chunk of the drive.  We enjoyed the drive through the cities of Gulfport and Biloxi, both in Mississippi.  They both sit right along the coast and have beautiful houses along what looked like a pristine, sandy shoreline.  All of the houses along the coast are built on stilts to protect from flooding due to storms or surges.  The area was not busy at all this time of year and we found a great parking spot on the beach and enjoyed lunch in the camper.  We continued on to Mobile and arrived at our destination early afternoon.  What is there in Mobile, Alabama you ask?  Nothing we wanted to see except the assembly plant for Airbus Aircraft in the US.  They do not build the aircraft here but are shipped in from Europe in sections and final assembly, painting, testing, etc is done at this location.  We could not get a tour as you have to book in advance but they did have a good information centre with a lot of information on Airbus and many interactive displays such as simulators and virtual reality.  We enjoyed a couple of hours looking around but then got kicked out.  Ok, not really kicked out but the staff were very concerned about us travelling with the camper as a few tornado warnings had been issued for the area due to the massive storm system we were trying to avoid.  The schools in Mobile and area sent the students home early, around 1 pm, as a precautionary measure.  We did have a great conversation with the staff and their concern for us was genuine and appreciated.  After looking at the weather radar and information from the staff we cut our visit a bit short and hit the road again.  It was raining a bit when we left Mobile but from the radar we knew we didn’t have to get too far east to avoid the worst of the storm.  We decided to get to Pensacola, Florida, only about an hour away, and away from the storm.  Cheryl did some research along the way and we found a nice truck stop just outside of Pensacola in Milton and we settled in for the night.  There was a couple of thunderstorms in the area and we did get a a couple bouts of heavy rain through the night but nothing severe at all.

 

Dec. 13, New Orleans, LA

Another full day exploring more of New Orleans.  We looked at utilizing the Hop On/Hop Off bus which have enjoyed in many other cities but decided on a self-guided walking tour from the iPad on a wonderful app I use called My City Walks.  It has GPS built-in and provides information and history on important landmarks such as buildings, churches, squares, plazas, etc.  We grabbed the ferry again to avoid parking hassles and started our tour at Jackson Sq and the French Quarter.  A quick coffee and beignets (a square piece of dough fried and covered with powdered sugar) at Cafe Du Monde – a popular coffee spot with both locals and tourists in the heart of the French Quarter.  The iPad tour took us to a lot of the places we had visited yesterday but now we knew what we were looking at!  One of the many interesting things to see in New Orleans, and in other areas of Louisiana, are their cemeteries.  Due to the elevation, some of the city is below sea level, they can not bury people underground so families buy above ground tombs and members of the family will share the tomb as they die.  90% of “burials” are above ground.  We walked to St. Louis cemetery, a famous cemetery in the French Quarter but unfortunately it is closed to the public due to recent bouts of vandalism.  We were able to poke our head in and get a couple of pictures but we really wanted to walk around inside.  The other part of the city we wanted to see was the Garden District.  A very beautiful part of the city with tree lined streets and historic houses. It also has another large cemetery which is open to the public.  It was about a 45 minute walk over to the district from where we were and it was a nice day so we decided to walk.  After passing a couple of sketchy areas we decided maybe we should grab a bus for the last mile or so.  We were on a major street and a bus stopped going in the right direction so we hopped on.  We figured if it turned the wrong way we would just get off and walk again.  Much to our amazement it took us right where we wanted to go and probably saved us 30 minutes of walking!  We enjoyed the walk through the Garden District and found the cemetery we wanted to walk through.  Unfortunately that cemetery was closed to the public as well due to vandalism so we could only peek in through the gate.  We took an old streetcar back to Canal St and had a late lunch just off Bourbon St.  After lunch we walked up and down Bourbon St one more time and enjoyed some live music again.  Back to the ferry terminal, across the river once more and back to the campsite for the night.  Tomorrow we pack up and start heading east again to avoid the weather system that is coming our way.

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Dec. 12, New Orleans, LA

After some research on places to stay we decided against a lot of the parks that were close to downtown.  Although handy to everything you want to see in New Orleans they are sketchy in terms of the neighbourhoods they are in and security at night.  One site mentioned a gated park with lights and security but after reading the reviews we discovered this was not the case.  We found a nice park across the Mississippi from New Orleans in the city/suburb of Westwego called Bayou Segnette State Park.  It was much busier than any of the other parks we have stayed in but I assume the location close to New Orleans had much to do with the number of people staying there.  We were fortunate to find a pedestrian only ferry nearby in Port Algiers that crosses the river every 30 minutes and drops you off right downtown at the end of Canal Street close to everything.  Parking the camper is always an issue in any city especially in a downtown area so we were very happy to find free and easy access parking along the street in Port Algiers.  We left the truck there all day and enjoyed New Orleans.  Once off the ferry we headed toward the French Quarter and Bourbon St.  We had planned to walk around for an hour or so to get our bearings and then enjoy a nice Louisiana style meal in the heart of New Orleans.  Here is the hard part – where do you eat in a city famous for their food, how do you choose from so many restaurants?  It is easy!  While we were waiting for the ferry we met a nice couple from Washington State who were in line ahead of us.  After a nice conversation we found out the guy was born and raised in New Orleans and they return every year to visit family and friends.  When we got off the ferry and were walking toward the French Quarter they were just in front of us as Cheryl and I were wondering how we were going to pick a place to eat.  We stopped them and asked the local what his recommendation was and he told us straight away to go to Acme Oyster House.  In his words “don’t expect much from the decor but the food is fantastic”.  That sounded perfect to us so off we went.  Along the way we lost count of how many choices we had for what looked like very nice places to eat.  We were both very happy to have a specific place to go to as it would have been almost impossible to decide on any of the places we passed.  A quick stroll down Bourbon Street and down a side road and there we were at Acme Oyster House.  Our friend from Washington was correct as we probably would not have chosen this particular establishment but in we went and it was fantastic!  Quaint, eclectic, a fun place for an afternoon bite.  We decided to go with local flavour so we shared a grilled oyster appetizer, 6 oysters in the shell charbroiled with garlic herb butter sauce and topped with a blend of cheeses.  Cheryl had the Seafood Étouffée, a classic Louisiana stew thickened with roux, and I had a New Orleans Medley, a sampling of seafood gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and smoked sausage.  After our very enjoyable lunch we strolled up and down Bourbon Street for a bit, enjoyed some live music at one of the many bars, and another nice stroll through the French Quarter, along the Mississippi, and back to the ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 10 – 12,  Baton Rouge, LA

Got a little noisy in the morning with all the trucks leaving around us so we were up early.  Grabbed some breakfast in the casino and checked out the golf course.  The weather looked sketchy so we decided against playing.  After a quick nap we figured there wasn’t anything keeping us here so we filled up with gas and hit the road towards Baton Rouge.  We discovered an equestrian center next to LSU, Louisiana State University, and very close to downtown that had an adjoining campground.  They had full hook-ups but also some unserviced sites, no power or water, for $10/night so we grabbed one of them.   It was a very nice spot and we enjoyed our stay.

The next couple of days we toured around Baton Rouge.  A bit of a let down as there really isn’t much to see and do.  Not sure what we were expecting but other than a very impressive university there is really nothing there.  Driving around we found the city very run down with a lot of sketchy neighbourhoods.  We did enjoy our visit to the downtown area though.  The old state capitol, which Mark Twain described as pathetic, is now a museum which we visited and learned some interesting facts about Louisiana, the Mississippi River, and Baton Rouge itself.  The construction started in 1847 and it served many functions including state capitol twice, a hotel, an education institution and more until 1932 when the new capitol building was built nearby.  While downtown we noticed many people, adults and kids alike, dressed in strange costumes.  We didn’t know what was happening so we asked a local what was going on and she said that the weekend prior was an Alice in Wonderland virtual reality scavenger hunt and it must be continuing. 

The morning of the 12th we got an early start and took some back roads to New Orleans.  Looking forward to visiting “The Big Easy”

 

Dec. 9 and 10, Coushatta, LA

After our fun visit to the Space Center we got in the truck and headed east.  We wanted to avoid I-10 around Houston so we headed south to Galveston and followed the Gulf Coast once again.  It is a longer route but we try to avoid the interstates as much as possible.  Also, this route included a free 18 minute ferry ride across the Bolivar peninsula from Galveston to Port Bolivar which sounded like fun.   We did end up back on I-10 after a nice drive again along the coast but it was getting dark so the lack of scenery along the interstate was not a big deal.  We had planned to spend the night at a rest area at the Texas/Louisiana border but upon arrival it was busy and very close to the highway so we decided to keep going as it was only 6:00 or 6:30 at the time.  Fortunately a billboard company had us in mind and kept posting signs about a casino and golf course only 45 minutes away.  Cheryl entered it in the GPS and off we went.  The casino was about 40 kilometres off the interstate but we weren’t too worried about finding a place to spend the night as most casinos allow campers/rvs to park overnight in their lots.  Once we arrived I wanted to make sure that overnight parking was allowed so I checked with a security guard at the front door and he directed me to an RV park around the corner that had spots available.  We checked it out but they were set up more for big units and charged a lot per night because of full power/water/sewer hook-ups for the big rigs.  We asked if there was anywhere we could just plop down for the night and he pointed us to a back road that a lot of 18-wheelers use for overnight parking.  He gave us a phone number for the casino and said if we called and told them where we were they would send a shuttle to come and pick us up!  He also said that security drives around all night so you should be safe.  When we left the office we still were not sure if we were allowed to park anywhere so we drove back to the casino and enjoyed ourselves for a couple of hours.  Didn’t lose anything, didn’t break the bank but the casino was nice enough to pay for supper that night.  We did find a place to park where no one bothered us and was free. 

Tomorrow we head to Baton Rouge.

 

 

Dec. 9  Houston, TX to Coushatta, LA

Had a specific plan today so we got up and ready earlier than usual, which for us on this adventure means before 10 am!  We had purchased tickets for the Space Center in Houston online and they are timed-entry tickets.  We took our coffee to go and left the campsite for the 25 minute drive over to the Space Center.  We stopped at a park close by the center for a quick breakfast.  The park contains a memorial to the seven astronauts who died in the Challenger explosion 73 seconds into their launch on January 8, 1986. 

The Space Center Houston, also called the Johnson Space Center after President Lyndon Johnson who was a native Texan, was a great experience.  Overall it didn’t quite measure up to the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida in terms of size and exhibits but it did have a couple unique features that we enjoyed.  First, the actual Boeing 747 that was used to ferry the shuttles back and forth across the country from Edwards Air Force Base to Kennedy Space Center is on display there with the shuttle Independence mounted atop.  The Independence shuttle never went to space but it was a full size functional replica that NASA used for flight tests. The second highlight for us was Mission Control Center. This is the actual room that was used to communicate with all the Apollo missions including the first landing on the moon July 20, 1969.  It was designated a National Historic landmark in 1985 and continued to be utilized through 1992 controlling Skylab and Space Shuttle missions.  A few years later it was preserved, restored to how it was in 1969 and sealed.  It is located on the third floor of a government building still in use today by NASA.  On the trek up the stairs and down the hall to get there visitors pass by the new Mission Control Room which is, and was on the day we visited, in communication with the International Space Station. Visitors are allowed entry to what was the original “family and invited guests” viewing area behind the glass of the control room.  A short video replay is shown on the screens while audio of that day is replayed.  It was an experience that is difficult to describe.  To be in the actual room where it all took place in 1969 and be a part of the history was surreal.  Maybe we are just space nerds but it was amazing!  The only negative about the visit is that now whenever anything happens we both say “Houston, we have a problem.”

After the excitement waned and we came back down to earth we headed off towards Baton Rouge.

Dec. 6 – 8  Houston, TX

A nice drive along the back roads from Rockport to Houston which took us about 4 hours with stops.  Our first night we stayed at a Flying J truck stop again.  They can get a little noisy as they are close to the major highways/interstates for ease of access for the big trucks but you get used to it.  We appreciate the laundry facilities and Wi-Fi they have.  Unfortunately this location’s entire laundry room was closed for maintenance so we had to make a short trip to a laundromat to get our clothes done.  Also, their Wi-Fi was non-existent for most of the night and sketchy at best when we were able to connect.  Oh well, on to the next stop. 

We left the truck stop early and found a small park with walking trails and had breakfast there.  We found a golf course close by and I hit the driving range while Cheryl read some of her book and had a little nap.  We decided against another night at the same Flying J and the next closest location took us quite out of our way so Cheryl did some research and found a campsite within the city limits that was nearby, along a river, and seemed pretty nice from the website.  Don’t believe everything you see on a website!  It wasn’t really a campground but more of an RV park.  Not really an RV park but more of a dumping ground for old trailers and motorhomes.  Not really a dumping ground but more of an upscale tent city for the homeless!  Lets just say a little questionable as we drove in.  We walked into the “office” and got looked at very strangely as in “what are you doing here”.  We inquired if they were strictly long-term or would they rent nightly to non parole violators.  They agreed to let us spend two nights but Cheryl and I wanted to check out the two sites they had available first.  We got back into the truck, locked the doors, and after a good chuckle about some of the places we end up in we decided what the hell lets check it out.  We grabbed a site that backed onto a baseball diamond a little away from the road noise and set up for the night.  Reluctantly I left Cheryl at the site without protection and walked back to the office to pay our fee for the two night stay.  After about 30 minutes we decided that the place wasn’t so bad after all and took a walk around.  When we got down to the river that was highlighted on the website the place looked very nice.  It was away from the road noise and actually quite peaceful.  We both wondered why they didn’t have sites down here because it was so nice.  A young man, mid 30ish, saw us walking along the river and came over to say hi.  He noticed Cheryl’s Boeing t-shirt and asked if she worked for the company.  She explained our careers and interest in aviation but that she didn’t work for Boeing.  Turns out this guys mother used to work for McDonnell/Douglas and then Boeing bought them out.  She was able to keep her job but there was always a love/hate with Boeing.  Anyway, turns out this guy works at the park as the land was owned by his grandparents and is still in the family.  He, Alex, starts asking us where we are from and what we are doing here because it is obvious we don’t fit the normal clientele.  We tell him we are just passing through and needed a place to stay for a couple of nights.  We tell him how much we are enjoying the river and grassy area so he asks us what we are driving.  After telling him we just have a truck camper he tells us to get away from the baseball field and drive our truck right down on the grass and park next to the river.  In a matter of 30 minutes we have gone from wondering if we really should stay here to having one of the nicest places to park and spend a couple of nights!

Wednesday we enjoyed breakfast outside by the river in our private little oasis just outside skid row and then hit Beacon Lakes Golf Club for 18 holes.  When we got back to our “site”  Alex was over to check on us in less than 5 minutes to make sure everything was perfect.  We thanked him again for the “upgrade” and asked him for a recommendation for a good pizza place.  He pointed us in the right direction and we grabbed a pizza, brought it back with us and enjoyed another nice meal outside by the river.  

The reason for the pizza – for those of you reading this blog that don’t know this little fact is that our favourite pizza is from Regina at a place called Houston Pizza.  I have been enjoying it since I was a boy and Cheryl and I still order it every chance we get.  I think I wanted to serve it at our wedding but I was overruled and Cheryl got her prime rib.  Even when we moved to Leduc we found ways to get our Houston Pizza.  When Cheryl’s mom came from Regina she would always order the biggest pizza they made, pack it up in the car, and bring it with her to Leduc.  Talk about delivery!  A couple of times she flew to visit us but still brought the pizza as carry-on.  I’ve never told her but that was the only reason I kept inviting her to come and visit!  Oops, I probably shouldn’t have put that on the blog that she reads.  Sorry Dayle, you can come and see us anytime, just bring the pizza.  Anyway, Cheryl and I thought we have to have a pizza in Houston – Houston Pizza.  We searched for an actual restaurant called Houston Pizza but no such luck.  Alex’s recommendation was very good pizza in Houston but not quite Houston Pizza.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we have tickets for Space Center Houston.  After a few hours there we will hit the road as we head east towards Louisiana.  We are planning on going south towards Galveston and then east along the Gulf of Mexico again to avoid the interstate and the traffic. There is a short, 18 minutes, free ferry crossing from Galveston to Port Bolivar that looks so much more enjoyable than a 3 lane interstate.  Not sure how far we will get but we should have an easy day Friday to make our next major stop, Baton Rouge, at a decent time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 2 – 5  Goose Island State Park by Rockport, TX

After a short drive from Corpus Christi we arrived in Goose Island State Park across the bay from Rockport.  We had booked ahead for three nights but ended up extending our stay one extra night.  Another nice state park and lots to see and do.  Our spot was across the road from a very nice couple, Les and Jane, from Michigan.  They come to the same park every year and volunteer as “bird hosts”.  For 25 hours a week of work they get free accommodation in the campground.  Mostly they check and fill various bird feeders around the park and run bird watching tours a few times a week for visitors.  We did find out the park and area is a mecca for bird watching.  It is home to a number of whooping cranes that winter there every year.  We were lucky to spot some of the rare birds on two different occasions.  Cheryl did some research and found that the whooping cranes, the largest bird in North America, were almost extinct with only 21 remaining in 1941 but now number around 600 in the wild.  Other species we were fortunate to see included the Great Blue Heron, Ibis, Osprey, Egret, and many smaller birds such as a red cardinals, sandpipers, and warblers.  We are certainly not bird fanatics but seeing so many other people get excited about all the different species made us realize we were seeing something special.

The park loans out fishing gear for free and you don’t need a license to fish in Texas state parks if you stay on shore so we decided to grab a couple of rods and spent an afternoon in the sun fishing from a pier.  We didn’t catch anything but it was a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours.  On Saturday the park offers a free tram tour around the park for 90 minutes so we signed up and gained some knowledge about the park, birds, and the damage from hurricane Harvey in 2017.  The park was hit hard as the eye of the storm hit directly in that area. 

Monday we packed up and hit the road for Houston.

 

Nov. 25 – Dec. 1  Corpus Christi, Texas

Wow, December already!  Very sorry for the long delay in updating the blog but we were so isolated at our campsite there was no cell service!  Too bad I couldn’t post every day because now you have to read a very long post!

The spot we found in Laredo was nice and we were going to spend some more time there but once again the forecast didn’t look great so we spent a rainy Friday in the truck and drove to Corpus Christi.  Along the way, Cheryl was researching and found what looked like an interesting spot to spend a few nights.  It was just outside of Corpus Christi along Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico.  It is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world and from what we experienced probably the windiest as well!  The first spot we chose was Bird Island Basin, a mecca for windsurfers.  I am not really sure how to describe it.  A primitive campsite with no services and no actual sites.  It looks more like a parking lot along the water than a campsite.  I guess for $8/night you can’t expect much!  However primitive we enjoyed our three nights there.  You get to know your neighbours as you are parked right beside them and we had some good chats with other campers.  A lot of visitors were there for Thanksgiving and stayed for the weekend as well.  After a brutal Friday night of very strong winds, I’m not sure if it hit 100 km/h but it was close with a few gusts, the weather turned nice and we had some spectacular days.  One fantastic feature of being so isolated is the night sky is amazing.  With very little light pollution the sky is absolutely alive with stars.  We checked out some of the city on Saturday and did a laundry and grocery run.  Sunday we found a nice golf course and enjoyed the sunshine and about 24 degrees. 

Monday we checked out of Bird Island and moved across the other side of the barrier to Malaquite campground.  A little less primitive but still very rustic.  It reminds me a lot of the Oregon coast and we enjoyed a few nice walks up and down the beach.  Tuesday was a glorious 30 degrees so we went back to the same golf course and enjoyed 18 holes in the sun!  After another nice day Wednesday in Corpus Christi we had to figure out a plan moving forward.  Our Padre Island pass was expiring and so we had to buy another week pass or head out.  We decided to slowly make our way east towards Houston or Galveston.  We didn’t get very far as we found another nice state park in Rockport called Goose Island so we only made it that far.  We had an enjoyable morning as we visited the USS Lexington aircraft carrier in Corpus Christi before we continued our short drive to Rockport.  The carrier is from WWII and was thrown into service after the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941.  We are now in Goose Island Park for at least three nights.  We do have cell service here so I can update more frequently and even respond to emails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 23 -24  Mexico

Well we kept driving south so much to find good weather we hit Mexico!  We ended up in Laredo, Texas which is just a stones throw across the Rio Grande from Mexico.  We were going to drive or walk cross the border but it was busy and too much hassle so we just walked along the river and looked at Mexico from this side.  Not like we have never been to Mexico before.  Fun fact about Laredo – it is one of the least ethnically diverse cities in the US – over 95% Hispanic- higher than any city in the US outside of Puerto Rico!  We couldn’t experience much as it was the Thanksgiving holiday in the US and everything was closed.  We found a few nice trails along the Rio Grande and enjoyed the walk.  Not sure which we saw more of along the river – Mexicans on the other side or US Border Patrol on this side.  Some areas of the river are less than 20 feet across between the two countries.  A strange situation in a city which is 95% Hispanic and a good chunk of the other 5% are government agents trying to stop any more from getting in!

 

Nov. 20 -22  San Antonio

Awoke to another dreary day with heavy rain falling and a forecast that showed no reprieve from the gloom.  We had seen everything we wanted to in the Austin area so we headed south again towards San Antonio.  It is short drive from Austin and we found a nice campground in the San Antonio area with dispersed camping which is no services and usually no designated sites, just drive around and find an area that looks decent and park.  Unfortunately when we arrived they told us dispersed camping is only for tenting and we would have to park in a RV site if we wanted to stay there.  After camping fees and day use charges two nights was going to be $96.  As Canadians we were very polite when we told him where he could shove that and we started looking for another place to spend the night.   We decided, as usual, a state park in the area and spent two nights there.  It was about 45 minutes out of San Antonio but a nice little spot.  The weather still wasn’t perfect but we did manage a few hikes in the area along a river in a nice wooded area.  We loaded up with supplies, got some laundry done and went back to San Antonio on Monday afternoon.  Another Flying J truck stop was our spot for the night close to downtown San Antonio and the attractions we wanted to visit.  We had planned to head out on the town this evening because the Edmonton Oiler’s were playing and we thought we could find a spot to watch the game.  We grabbed some Texas BBQ pork ribs and found an Irish sports bar that were very accommodating and threw the game up on one of their TVs.  I think we were the only ones watching hockey as everyone else in the bar seemed more interested in Monday night football!  Tuesday was the day for exploring San Antonio.  We started at The Alamo which was a surprise for both of us.  Obviously we have heard about it but it was not what we expected.  Not the fort or establishment we had envisioned but a very small site, maybe 1 square block, located right downtown San Antonio surrounded by apartments, hotels, convention center, sports arena, etc.  The history of the site itself was unexpected as well.  Before Texas gained republic status from Mexico in 1836 it changed hands so often it was difficult to determine the importance of holding this particular piece of land.  Our take from the visit is The Alamo is very important to the people of San Antonio/Austin and maybe Texas but outside of the area it ranks much lower on the list of significant moments in American history.  Also in the area is the famous San Antonio river walk.  It is a trendy area along the river below street level full of shops, restaurants, and plenty of places to spend your money.  According to the city it is 15 miles long but we didn’t walk enough to confirm or deny that statistic!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 17 – 19  Austin

Arrived in Austin around 5 pm and decided to spend the night at the tourist center as they allow 24 hour parking.  Unfortunately the tourist center was not what we had imagined.  It was a small information booth right downtown with no parking and not the visitor center you see on the highways as you enter a city we had envisioned.  We went slightly back out of town and found a small truck stop and crashed there for the night.  It was a little noisy but again free accommodations.  The forecast on the 17th looked good so we booked a mid day golf time and got some grocery shopping done before.  The weather didn’t cooperate has hoped but it was nice to get out on the course and enjoy some golf.  The course was a city run municipal so nothing too fancy but it was only $25 each which included a power cart.  The most deer we have ever seen anywhere let alone on a golf course.  We stopped counting after the third hole as they were everywhere and not scared at all.  They would just move off the cart path to the side as you drove by.  Around one green we counted 18 deer.  After golf we headed to the campsite we had planned to stay at only to find they had closed the campground the day earlier due to some major construction going on in the area.  We were in an area with many other choices and after a few stops we found a primitive site with no services and decided to stay there for the night.  Checkout time on the 18th was earlier than most campsites, 9 am, so we packed up right after we woke up and found a nice day use area to have coffee and breakfast along a little creek.  Being Friday night in Austin we knew we had to check out the famous 6th Street music scene.  After much deliberation on how we could swing dining/dancing/drinking and getting somewhere in the truck to spend the night we opted for a hotel close to the action that could accommodate camper parking.  We checked in, got cleaned up and hit the night.  What a night!  We stopped for a quick bite a typical Austin BBQ pulled-pork sandwich kind of bar and then hit 6th Street.  Cheryl had researched a place that had live music starting earlier than most so we ended up there.  A great little bar with a small stage and nice atmosphere.  We enjoyed it so much we stayed almost all night.  Four different musical acts performed while we were there from country to pop to hard rock.  Although we didn’t enjoy some of the style of music the musical talent on display was most impressive.  Around 11 we decided we should start making our way back to the hotel and really got to experience the vibe of 6th Street.  The road is closed to vehicle traffic and it becomes a mass of people walking down the street enjoying the music and just having a good time.  Everyone seemed very well behaved but there was a noticeable police presence so that could be why.  We found a late-night place serving food just away from the mayhem and enjoyed a quick bite and night-cap before returning to the hotel.

 

 

Nov. 16 – Dallas – Austin

The stay at the truck stop was actually not bad.  We found a little corner to park in and the noise was bearable.  We got our laundry done and enjoyed some free Wi-Fi.  Shouldn’t complain about free accommodations!  This is the day I have been excited about for a long time.  Being a JFK assassination fanatic I have always wanted to visit Dealey Plaza and the School Book Depository.  After seeing so many pictures, videos, and reading all the books about the assassination to actually walk around the area was a bucket list item for myself.  Elm Street has two X’s on the pavement to mark the location of each shot that hit JFK.  The “sniper’s nest” in the depository is glassed in and has been maintained as it was in 1963.  The rest of the 6th floor is the museum dedicated to the life and assassination of JFK. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that we had seen and done all we wanted to in the area we set our sights on Austin.  It wasn’t a long drive so we took our time and got off the interstate again.  We were both getting hungry so we decided to find a spot for lunch.  What better place for a quick bite than the Branch Davidian’s compound in Waco, Texas!  We both remembered watching the siege in 1993 that ended with the burning of the compound and the loss of many lives so we decided to check it out.  There is nothing left of the place except a concrete pool and underground “vault”.  There is a memorial at the entrance to those that died and a husband and wife take care of the place and continue to follow the Davidian’s religion/doctrine/lunacy, whatever you want to call it.  A small church was erected at the site and contains propaganda about the incident and some artifacts and shrines/temples etc for David Koresh.  If nothing else, the stop there certainly gave us a lot to talk about as we finished the drive to Austin.

Nov. 14 -15 – Dallas/Fort Worth

Still a little cool here so no golf yet.  We did get in a bit more shopping and exploring on the 14th.  We booked tickets to JFK on the 16th at 11:30, they sell timed tickets online to avoid overcrowding, and our campsite was over an hour away so we decided to checkout and spend the night somewhere a little closer to downtown Dallas.  We didn’t have much planned but Cheryl found a “must see” attraction in Fort Worth so we checked it out.  It is called the Stockyards and it was built originally in 1876 and soon became the epicentre for cattle trading in the United States.  During WWII the stockyards processed over 5 million head of cattle but by the 1980’s sales were a paltry 50,000 and the stockyards were closed.  It is now a tourist/shopping area with hotels, bars, and restaurants. It has tried to maintain some history with cobblestone streets and a few remaining original corrals.  They run a “cattle drive” twice daily as they parade a few longhorns down the streets for photo ops with a cheesy audio presentation to go along.  We enjoyed/endured the parade and left soon after for our overnight stay at a Flying J truck stop in south Dallas.

Nov. 13 – Chickasaw to Dallas/Fort Worth

This is becoming a common theme – check the forecast and make plans!  We really enjoyed our time in and around the Chickasaw area and were going to stay a few more days but the cold weather was moving in so we packed up and headed south.  I had planned to book the JFK museum for the Monday morning but they are closed Monday and Tuesday.  We decided against rushing to get to Dallas in time to visit on Sunday so we planned on bypassing Dallas and head to Austin and San Antonio with the plan to return to Dallas at some point to see what we wanted to see.  Once we were getting close to the Dallas area we again amended our plans, decided against the backtrack, and found a nice campsite just outside of Fort Worth.

Nov. 11 and 12 – Chickasaw

Well whosoever job it was to make sure we had propane failed!  I think it must have been Cheryl because when we ran out at 2:30 am on a -2 degree night she decided we had to cuddle all night to stay warm.  I suggested sweaters and more blankets but to no avail.  When I woke up I opened my eyes to see Cheryl staring at me, all bundled up under the covers and wearing a toque, complaining her nose was cold!  I crawled out of bed, fired up the toaster oven with the door open and we were nice and warm in no time.   We went into town early to fill the tank as we couldn’t cook or even make coffee without any propane.  Note to self – check the propane!

Nov. 10 – Wichita – Oklahoma City – Chickasaw National Recreation Area

After our early morning adventure in Walmart we went back to the nice park we had found yesterday for coffee and breakfast.  We found some nice trails for a morning walk and enjoyed a brisk hike.  It was a beautiful morning but a cold front was forecast to move in so we headed to a nearby golf course to see if we could get in a quick nine holes before the weather turned.  No luck as the cold weather came as promised and the temperature dropped as quickly as I have ever experienced.  We gave up on the outdoor activities and headed over to the Cessna/Beechcraft plant for a look around and some souvenir shopping.  With the forecast and lack of much else to see and do in the Wichita area we decided to depart and headed south again towards Oklahoma City.  We are avoiding the interstates as much as able as we gain nothing from a 75 mph speed limit when I usually set the cruise around 95-100km/h, also we are too cheap to pay any tolls!  We have experienced some wonderful drives through the countryside and always find a quaint town or area to have lunch or just a break to stretch our legs.  We stopped in Oklahoma City for some shopping and groceries in the middle of a thunderstorm with some heavy rain.  Once I finally got Cheryl out of Macy’s we drove about an hour south to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  A beautiful little spot with a lovely campground, nature walks, and nice facilities.

Nov. 9 – Wichita, Kansas

You probably noticed I missed a day but all we did on the 8th was drive from Ellendale to York, Nebraska.  Not much noteworthy so here we are in Kansas.  I will say we were bucking a terrible headwind all the way and the gas mileage was better measured in gas stations per hour than mpg!  The truck at max weight and wind resistance from the camper is not conducive to fuel economy.  The weather in Wichita on arrival was a spectacular 26 degrees.  We found a parking spot and took a lovely stroll along the Arkansas River to get out and stretch our legs.  Later in the afternoon we had to find a place to spend the night and that got a little interesting to say the least.  We always wondered how long we could last until we got kicked out of a free overnight parking spot and this was the night.  We found a great park on the west side of the city and were going to stay there until we saw the “No Overnight Parking” signs.  Oh well, off to the Walmart.  The Walmart parking lot was still pretty busy around 7 pm when we arrived so I decided to head across the street to a hotel parking lot that didn’t look too busy.  We figured we could stay there while we had supper and then go back to Walmart once it got a little quieter.  Well the hotel security was having none of that and we had to leave.  We got back to the Walmart parking lot and were just backing into a stall in the back corner when the Walmart security came by and told us that no overnight parking was allowed.  He directed us to the Sam’s club lot behind the McDonald’s where a few semis were parked and said we would have no problem parking there overnight.  He was incorrect.  At a little before 6 am we were awakened by a knock, or a pounding, on the camper door.  I opened the door in my underwear to be met by a female security guard in her early twenties telling me there is no overnight parking in the Sam’s club lot.  After a heated argument about what we were told by Walmart security and the fact we had pretty much already parked overnight we drove back to the Walmart lot and contemplated our day.  We needed groceries/supplies anyway and Walmart opened at 6 am so we got dressed and did our shopping.  There are questionable people in Walmart at the best of times and 6 o’clock in the morning in Wichita, Kansas is no exception.

Nov. 7 – USA here we come!  Got away from the farm mid morning and headed towards Minot with hopes of getting as far south as we could.  We had set our sights on Jamestown for the night but after stopping there for groceries around 6 we decided to keep going.  We ended up finding a decent place to spend the night next to a baseball diamond in Ellendale, North Dakota.  It was a cold night outside, around -5, but the furnace worked well and we had a good sleep.

Nov. 6 and 7 – At the farm

Well, not really sure why they decided to open the highway!  The visibility was excellent but the road was covered in ice and snow.  Maybe got over 50 km/h a couple of times on the Trans Canada before the White City exit.  Highway 48 wasn’t much better but there was no traffic so I could pick whichever lane looked the best.  Around Odessa the highway improved greatly and I was able to set the cruise for the first time since Alberta.  We trucked along nice until Peebles when the visibility dropped to zero with blowing snow.  At least the highway was clear and I know that chunk of road pretty well.  We got to the farm around 5 pm and had another one of Jeannie’s fantastic meals.  As what usually happens, we stayed up too late telling stories, laughing, and having a great time. 

Nov. 5 and 6 – Regina

We arrived in Regina Friday night around 8 pm after a drive on a decent highway with a few sketchy areas just outside of Saskatoon.  Another good visit with family as Cheryl’s brother and nephew joined us for brunch and supper on Saturday.  As usual, a Houston Pizza was ordered and enjoyed by all.  Still one of the best pizzas out there!  Sunday brought a winter storm and we were forced to change our plans again.  We were planning on leaving Monday morning for the farm, but after looking at the forecast we decided to try to stay ahead of the storm and leave Sunday afternoon.  Great idea, until we found out the highways were closed around Regina.  We got in one more visit with Stephen and Kurt and then headed for the farm as soon as they opened the highway around 1 pm.

Nov. 3 and 4 – Saskatoon

A very nice day here with Shirley to celebrate her 87th birthday.  Cheryl and I brought a leg of lamb to make for supper as we assumed Shirley wouldn’t make too many legs of lamb for herself!  We had planned on staying one more night but after looking at a forecast of snow and freezing rain overnight and an advisory against travel starting on Saturday morning we had to alter our plans.  We moved supper ahead a few hours and decided to head to Regina in the evening.  It was unfortunate we had to cut the visit short but we had a good time with Shirley and the lamb was fantastic.

Nov. 3 – Leduc

The journey started today as we finished loading up the truck and camper, locked up the house, and headed toward warmer climates with 2-day stops planned in Saskatoon, Regina, and the farm. We should have left a week sooner as winter decided to hit the prairies with a vengeance. I guess we had to pay for our nice fall up to that point. On the way to Saskatoon the roads were slippery in some sections and should have been closed in other areas. A good chunk of the highway from Lloydminster to North Battleford was completely covered in ice and snow and should not have been open for travel. What usually takes me 5 hours to drive turned into a 7 1/2 hour ordeal. We finally arrived in Saskatoon a little later than planned but in time for a nice pork roast supper Shirley had prepared for us.