Number 3 and counting

It seems like only yesterday, but tomorrow (Jan 1st) marks the beginning of our third month on the road. Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Lots of great people, neat places, some really crummy roads, some great food, some lousy fuel prices but in the whole scheme of things we wouldn't trade this for anything. We miss our family and friends but cell phones and email help us keep close.

Today was another walk down memory lane for me as we visited the Aquarena in San Marcos. When I first visited as a sprightly 7 year old in 1952, it was a privately owned attraction that featured mermaids, underwater ballet and characters of all types on an underwater stage built in the San Marcos river. Back then we entered a submarine like structure with large, verticle windows on one side that allowed us to see the actors perform on their underwater stage. That show was stopped some 2o years ago but the old structure is still there.

This artisan fed river begins from several large gashes in the river bed floor some 25 feet below the surface of the crystal clear water. A small fleet of glass bottom boats were available to tour the river allowing most of the passengers to see natures underwater beauty for the first time. The covered boats were about 25 ft long, electric motor driven with benches facing inward to allow the passengers on both sides to look down through the glass bottom.

















The photo on the top shows one of the boats return to the dock. In the background is a building that was used originally as a hotel that supported the attraction, then as a mental institution and now as museum. The property has gone through quite a number of changes since I was last here. The attraction lost its luster as more sophisticated theme parks were built in the area in the 60's and 70's. Money was pumped into the attraction by adding overhead trams to view the river from above but could not keep the property profitable. Eventually the property was sold to Texas State University and is now administered as a marine biology center with the glass bottom boat tours the only vestige of the attraction I once knew. Much of the property is now in pretty rough shape, with vegetation overgrowth and a lack of building maintenance prevalent. Despite all this, the visit was worthwhile. With the passage of time, my curiosity over the years has increased and I could now better appreciate what I was seeing.

The boat captain, a young TSU student, was quite knowledgeable about all the things we were seeing as we moved along the river but, understandably not too up on what was going on when I was here last.

If you look carefully again at the top photo you will see a thin bright blue line that runs just below the old hotel in the background. This concrete wall is the actual beginning of the river. Nothing is upstream, other that an underground aquifer that is about the size of Delaware some 3000 feet underground. This aquifer forces the water underground to this point and forces itself out large crevasses on the river bottom. We were told that when research divers go down to these aqua vents the current is best described as like sticking your head out the window of a moving car doing 50 mph. Sport divers are allowed to dive here but only after a weekend training class. They say they have quite a waiting list to get in.

The photo on the bottom shows some of our boat mates looking down into the clear water.

Our camp is about 5 miles downstream from the attraction and I was wondering why there were not any trout in the clear waters. One of the things I didn't think of was that we were told the water temperature is a constant 72 degrees at the headwaters so it probably warms up from there; not too good for trout I would think.

So I think this now ends my nostalgia stops for this leg of the trip. I've visited all the places that have been held in my memory since childhood and the only other ones left are Louisville Kentucky and Philadelphia Pennsylvania...I'll get to those next year, maybe. My dear wife has been very accommodating in allowing me this trip down memory lane. We've had some great fun and now know you can, go back.... but just be aware that all things change.

We left Aquarena and headed for Austin about 40 miles to the north. We did a little shopping, I got a haircut, brought some groceries and headed home to spend a quiet New Year's eve. Tomorrow we'll begin packing for our next leg of the trip taking us to Alamo Texas, down in the southern tip of Texas about 250 miles from here and just ahead of a cold front. It should be about 20 degrees warmer there. Stay tuned....


Some of the things we've learned on the journey: Texas State Police use pickup trucks. A few roads in Arkansas are almost too steep. The plowed farm fields of Indiana are really beautiful. A small town in Texas called Gruene (Green) uses the slogan "Gently Resisting Change Since 1872" (I think I've worked with some people from there before). Lincoln's casket is encased in concrete to prevent theft. Some Texas wine is pretty good. Oklahoma casino owners need to visit the Chippewa Indians in Michigan to see how to do it right. Digging for diamonds could be habit forming. Two of the best things about owning an RV is you sleep in your own bed every night and you don't have to pack and unpack. Living in a 10'x40' mobile box with your mate of 41 years is a lot better than many think. There are more small dogs in RV parks than RV's. Riding around the Indy 500 track, even in a bus, can give you goose bumps. Ice tea that comes already sweetened is bad. If we didn't have the Internet we would probably be lost. Good neighbors and family who look after your house when you're gone is a blessing. Beef brisket (from Black's Barbecue in Lockhart TX) is now one of our favorite foods. Nostalgia trips are good for you. RV repair centers let you park overnight for free; however I they somehow squeeze in a few bucks in the bill to cover the stay. I still don't like country music. Seems like people in small out-of-way towns are friendlier. Trying to cash a check, when you're from out of state, is next to impossible. You can really miss seeing your grand kids. Coney Island hot dogs do not exist in Texas. Beef ribs are not as good as pork ribs.

Happy New Year to One and All.............Phil & Sharon

Oh the lazy days of winter...

Nothing on the calendar today so it turned into another kick-back day. The laundry was caught up and I swapped out the coaches water pump. Old one in there for more years than I know of and I already had a spare so with about 30 minutes of labor and we're good to go another umpteen' years. The weather here was ideal today with bright sunny skies and high 60's.

We had a couple of steaks in the frig so I fired up the grill, uncorked a rather unspectacular Cabernet, plunked my butt in lawn chair and made dinner. Later, Sharon goaded me into a walk so we headed down to the San Marcos river (about 200 ft out the front door) and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the crystal clear river. Large rocks, many fast runs and large eddies gave one the impression of a class 'A' trout stream. Unfortunately the trout didn't know that as the bass and catfish were its primary inhabitants. While checking in at the nearby Cabela's store I met one of the sales clerks in the fly fishing area and he said the only trout were available on the nearby Guadalupe and it's feeder lake. Apparently native trout don't multiply fast enough here as the state and T.U. plant on a regular bases. As are many things here in Texas, the plants are big as well. Many exceed 16 inches. Another thing I learned from the salesmen...during the past several years he has been a guide on the Pere Marquette in Michigan and the Au Sable in upstate New York. Two fine streams I've fished and we had in common. Small world isn't it.

Anyway... back to our evening at the river. We finished our waterside stroll and found a gazebo overlooking the river with two comfortable looking wooden swings. They didn't look too sturdy for the load limit we were about to impose so we each took one and rocked away watching the stars capture the after-sundown sky. Very peaceful and after a bottle of wine (which began to get better after the 2nd glass), the end to another day... 'livin the dream'.

Day Trippin'....

Short day trips are turning into a regular occurrence for us. Proof is that we've put 3 times as many miles on our tow vehicle as we have the motor coach. Maybe it's cabin fever or just general curiosity, but being in a new area begs exploration. The other day we decided to check out the S.A.S. shoe company located in the southwest corner of San Antonio. Why a shoe company? Well I've been wearing these ugly, but extremely comfortable shoes for about 8 years and since I learned they gave factory tours, I thought we'd stop in. Who knows... maybe I'd maybe buy a new pair while there. I plugged the address into our new Garmin GPS unit and headed out for the 45 mile trip.











Weaving through the concrete canyons of San Antonio with wild abandon, we let the electronics guide the way and before long we had arrived.

One of the hazards of retirement is loosing track of time and days of the week. After arriving at the S.A.S (San Antonio Shoe) we soon discovered that the factory was closed for the holidays (duh) but at least the retail store was open.

Stepping inside the retail store was sort of like walking into an old general store in the early 1900's; with the exception of several antique cars on display, the store was decorated with many old signs and memorabilia of days gone by. Thousands of their shoes were on display with all the varieties they make for the whole family. This factory store also sold seconds that were quite a bit cheaper but I couldn't detect any problems with the ones I looked at. The shoes are not cheap... just sort of ugly but feel, when you first put them on, as if you've owned them forever. The women's and kids styles were a little more stylish but the men's styles sort of pegs you as an old fart.

There was no lack of sales people as there was at least one assigned to about every aisle. All were very knowledgeable in fitting shoes even to the point of offering different sizes for each of your feet if needed. No Al Bundys' (old Married with Children tv show) here. Sales people knew their stuff.

I picked out my two pair in about 5 minutes then went looking for Sharon. After poking around several aisles in the women's department there she was... surrounded by a half dozen pair of loafers and one beleaguered clerk. I sat down to watch the process. Back and forth the clerk went... different sizes...different colors...with tassels....without tassels. The lady had the patience of Jobe. Far more than I could ever muster but she was a real trooper and hung in there until just the right pair (which I think was the first pair she tried on) was chosen. Off to the checkout and then to lunch. Lunch at the store was kind of unique. Coffee was free. Fresh cookies 5 cents, fresh popcorn 5 cents, a Coke 10 cents. Not exactly health food but lunch for two for 80 cents.

















After about two hours here (and 4 new pairs of shoes) we headed off to find a special meat market that had good quality beef. I needed a steak on the grill fix so we heard of a good market and headed there. Along the way we stumbled across one of the other cattle stockyards that had a unique statue atop its sorting gates. The Union Stock Yards may have seen better days but at this viewing it was impressive.
We've met a number of great people here at our current camp ground. Most have been in transit using Pecan Park as a last stop before ending their trip somewhere in the Rio Grand Valley. The RGV is a very popular snow bird destination with hundreds of camps and RV parks throughout the region. It's about a 260 mile trip from here and is a good days drive for the larger RV's. That works out to a 5+ hour drive for me and puts in the next camp by early afternoon.

Speaking of day trips... well actually two days; Sharon's sister invited us to spend Christmas with them up in Frisco. The thought of having Christmas alone wasn't too exiting so we jumped at the offer. She and John's home was all decked out with beautiful decorations inside and out that was mirrored throughout their gated community. The menu boasted a standing rib roast with all the trimmings. Again Linda and John outdid themselves with their gracious hospitality. Another treat of the day was meeting their next door neighbors Bobbye and Barlow. They were invited to join us for dinner and the ensuing conversation was both entertaining and covered a wide range of interesting subjects. Good neighbors are a priceless item and Bobbye and Barlow sure fit the bill. So as the Christmas of 2007 slowly faded away, our bellies were full, our eyes were droopy and our hearts were filled with the joy of the season. We hope all of you enjoyed your holiday as well. Here's a photo of Bobbye, John, Linda, and Punkin (standing in for Barlow).

I managed to wash the coach and car yesterday (whew) while Sharon caught up the laundry. Kind of another low key day but it's all better than heading to the office.

Today we sought out, what many locals have said, is the finest catfish/seafood restaurant in the area. Clear Springs Restaurant certainly exceeded expectations. A combo dinner of catfish and shrimp, a load of the best onion rings we had ever tasted, a couple of cold Shiner Bock beers all wrapped up in a folksy plaid tablecloth atmosphere and served by a cute little filly named Lacey...life is good. Wish you all were here.

I caught a few minutes of the Michigan weather report and thought of some of the old gang at the office. Rich, Tom, Kathy, Bob, Craig, Carol and all the others who are facing some more of natures meanness in the coming weeks. I miss all of you but not that damn cold weather. The only thing I can say is get those 4 buckle arctics on, wrap your head in a long scarf, get a least two coats on and above all....don't forget the flask.

Happy New year to one and all and thanks for accompanying us on our journey.

River Walk...San Antonio

Since our daughter and family were staying in a small town some 20 miles south of us it was convenient that our coach's repair was taking place almost across the street from where they were. We had to stay in the coach while it was parked in the service area for two days but it made it easy to get into San Antonio with the kids.

Leigh and Scott had been to the River Walk on a previous business trip so we had expert tour guides. The grand kids, Austin and Allison, were excited to see all the new sights as well, constantly tugging us in whatever direction that enticed them. For those who haven't been to San Antonio the first things that will hit you is the size. Apparently the 8th largest city in the U.S. it certainly is busy. High speed interstates intersect the city at every angle but once you reach the inner city and the River Walk, most of the Nascar-like atmosphere disappears. A gentle river winds around and through the heart of the city creating an oasis of bright colors, restaurants, and shops of all kinds to hook the tourist and city worker alike. Our first luncheon stop, Cafe Ole', was an old favorite of Leigh and Scott so we settled in for tacos and the like. The cafe attracts many different kinds of visitors and this one didn't eat much... or tip much for that matter.

Sharon and I took off for the Alamo while the kids headed for the Ripley's wax museum. Each of these attractions were only one block for the River Walk.

The Alamo is a well kept historic shrine that most Texans revere. It's the site of an epic battle that formed the state's strong regional presence. Names like David Crockett and Jim Bowie became legends in their own right, giving their lives in defense of this little church and fort.



We'd all worked up an appetite so it was back to the River to find a spot to eat. I got to pick this time so I picked a place called Saltgrass. A steakhouse that did a superb job. We ate out on the patio overlooking the river. Our real goal was to celebrate our daughters birthday. It was really special for us to have her here to enjoy the day. It cooled off quite a bit so our waiter had a large heater brought over to keep us toasty. The river was all decorated for Christmas and it was a sight to see.



It was getting late and we still had a 45 minute drive but Leigh wanted to show us a Mexican bakery nearby. We hopped into the cars and within a few blocks we arrived.
Upon entering we discovered a 100 foot long display case with south of the border baked goods of all types and sizes. Most we had never seen and all looked delicious.
The adjoining rooms were a very ornately decorated restaurant with no less than three Mariachi bands playing. If it hadn't been late and we were already full, we could have easily spent a couple of hours there enjoying the food and music. A great day but with a bittersweet ending. Leigh, Scott, Allison and Austin were leaving the next morning to return to Michigan. Sharon and I really enjoyed them here and the time went way too quickly.

San Marcos or... "Where's the Beef"

We're now settled in the San Marcos area. About 3 miles from town in an old pecan orchard on the banks of the San Marcos river. The leaves are mostly gone so what was normally a shady camp is now filled with sun. A nice change to the gloom and gray of the previous week.

As I eluded to in the last post, the trip down here was a little shaky as we experienced some electrical problems on the coach but still made it here safely. As it turned out, we found a Monaco dealer about 20 miles away and have an appointment to see what the issue is. DW notes that everything is falling apart but really not the case. I look at it as normal wear and tear on our mobile condo. Maybe we're both right but at least it keeps us both engaged in the care and understanding of this beast.

Our daughter and family are now located about 20 miles south of us about half way to San Antonio. Our first outing at our new location was to the local mall (of course). Actually it is about a big a shopping area that I have ever seen. Along Interstate 35, it is almost a mile in length well over 200 stores. From Dollar General to Neimann Marcus, the choices were exceptional. Since the only thing I was interested in was a new nut cracker (remember I'm in a pecan orchard) my shopping time was short so my son-in-law and I dropped off the women and kids and headed for Lockhart Texas about 15 miles east of San Marcos. Why there you might ask? Well Lockhart is known as the barbecue capital of the world and we were headed there for beef in all forms good and wondrous.

As we approached the city limits we knew we had reached Mecca. Yes there were oil wells all around but what we began smelling were not camels. It was that smokey deliciousness that put the town on the map. Looking for neon signs and long lines of beef affectionados, we were a little disappointed when we pulled up to the first of the beefatorioums. Black's Barbecue has been in the same family for 100 years the sign said. The place apparently had last been painted by the original owner as it looked quite rustic...to say the least. As we entered and pick up our fresh Styrofoam plates, and several side dishes, we rounded the corner to where the meat was ordered. There, standing aside a large old kitchen table was one of the Black kids (I guess) with knife in hand and, resting in a puddle of savory juices, this large hunk of simmering beef brisket. As I reached for another napkin to wipe away the drool he said "what'll ya have gents". I could barely talk but could at least point to the steamy brown slab of brisket. Sold by the pound, as it turns out, is not a good way to order lunch when you are really hungry. The 1/2lb mound of heaven didn't quite look big enough so I had him add another few slices....'oh yes, lets try a chunk of that homemade sausage too', I said. Settling down on metal folding chair alongside an eight foot folding table that's seen many a diner, we began the feast. Our journey was complete...our dreams fulfilled...this was what eating is all about. Smoke stained walls, long horn mounts, local football team pictures and an eclectic stream of customers didn't diminish the experience. It lived up to its credits as being the best.

Black's Barbecue, Lockhart Texas

Since Lockhart has four notable barbecue joints, our goal was to sample each one and see who really was the best. Our next stop was Kreuz's Market and barbecue emporium.

We were greeted by an elderly lady who, along with several others, were anxious to take our orders. By then the previous meal from Blacks had settled in and about the only thing I wanted to ingest was the aroma of the place. However I couldn't let my son-in-law eat alone so I ordered just a chunk of sausage. Our gluttony has finally overcome us as the brisket and sausage may have been good here but we had already overdone it. Stick a fork in us....we were done. Kreuz's was a little better decorated but their products weren't quite as good as Black's in our expert opinion.

Kreuz's Market, Lockhart Texas

We still had two stops to make but our hearts were just not in it. Barely able to squeeze behind the steering wheel, we lumbered out of town.

Just so you know that Lockhart is really a great little town to visit, check out their city hall, or county seat. What a beautiful building. A neat place to visit and the brisket is to die for.

On to San Marcos..almost

A little tough leaving the Dallas area for several reasons. Sharon's sister and her husband live nearby and we'll miss seeing them. Their hospitality and generosity were as usual, outstanding. Their beautiful home (also occupied by a monster 3 lb dog who has a penchant for licking ears) was a welcome sight compared to our slightly cramped quarters.

As you can see John and Linda's house was well decorated for the holidays. However I think it still needs about 12 inches of snow to really get into the spirit.

Just prior to leaving the Dallas area our daughter Leigh and her family flew in to spend a week with us. Their trip would be split up as they would spend a couple of days with us at an apartment at the RV park then follow us down to the San Marcos area for the remainder of the trip. Since this Texas experience was new to all of us, we had many decisions to make as to where to go, what to see, and most importantly... where to eat. It was so good to have them join us as we've not been away from family for this long... ever. Unfortunately the weather was not too cooperative as a cold, rainy system swept through northern Texas and for the first couple of days and it was not unlike Michigan weather.

Also before leaving the Dallas area we decided to attend a real Texas rodeo so we headed for the Ft. Worth Stockyards to see the Friday night show. We got there a little early to do a little shopping and to see the cattle drive they run through the small town where the stockyards are located.

Everyone knows you can't go to a rodeo unless you look like a cowboy so it was off to the shops in search of hats and boots. All the girls got cowgirl hats and Austin and Allison got boots as well.

I abstained from altering my appearance wanting to stand out as a true tourist. Besides they were all out of chaps in my size.

When the Texans have a cattle drive they don't parade a couple of old Guernsey cows down the street they do it like everything else here... in a big way. They brought out their Longhorns and what a sight they are. I thought I'd go out into the street to get a better photo of these beasts but the herding cowboys said to stay on the curb. After sizing up those horns that are over 5 ft wide and those sharp ends, I quickly agreed.

The stockyard area is a great place to visit even though it is a true tourist trap. Lots of interesting people from all parts of the world visit this place so you get a lot of Texas history blended with a wide variety of junk for the tourist.













One of the neat things they have done here is to memorialize famous western heroes of the past by putting large stars into the concrete sidewalks throughout the area. Many I had heard of and many I had not but it was fun reading them as you walked along. Not exactly the Hollywood walk of Fame but a good Texas version anyway.

The rodeo arena has some historic importance as it was the sight of the first indoor rodeo the world had ever see. Around 1917 they staged the first show and it's been going ever since.





As you enter the arena grounds you see the gynormous (new word I learned from my granddaughter Allison) facade with old wooden doors across the front.



I stopped our gang for a quick photo to give you some appreciation for the size and looks of the place.


You don't have to actually go inside the place to know that it's a place where horses and cattle hang out. On the damp dark night we were there, the air was already heavy and hung low allowing us and even greater sensory experience than we had hoped for.

The arena, though imposing on the outside, probably held less than 5 thousand people and was lined with bleacher seating and an inside tier of box seats. We opted for the boxes so as to get everyone a close as possible to the action.

The show started with some patriotic fanfare and a young women singing the national anthem. Considering the venue, her talent was appropriate. The lights were already dim and a cloud of fog appeared across the dirt floor. With Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" roaring from every speaker, a phoenix like rider appeared from the mist on a white horse, American flag in hand, and began riding around the arena. She was a pretty little filly all dressed up in cowgirl stuff but could she ride that horse. At first a slow trot then as the lyrics 'born to be an American... echoed throughout the building, she picked up speed .. faster and faster around she went with the flag whipping behind her. It was such a sight. Americana at it finest.

The first event was bull riding. Or some might say, stupid guys trying to ride angry animals for some sort of ego trip. We've all seen rodeos on TV but live...that's another story. These guys are thrown about like a chicken in pit bull's mouth. They get tossed in the air and land in positions that defy traditional anatomy. They get stepped on and kicked in areas that will alter their ability to have a fun Saturday night date for months to come.

Calf roping was a bummer for the girls. They didn't like the rough treatment of the animals. They probably wouldn't have liked living on the range with Laura Ingalls either.

A real cowboy will always wear his hat in such events. However some of the young, smarter ones have taken to wearing a helmet. Not quite so snappy as a Stetson but most will be able to count and complete a sentence or two after the rodeo season.




The normally full arena was nearly empty this night; apparently due to the weather but we shared our fun with a busload of Japanese businessmen who came in early and left early. Apparently calf roping is a poor second to Sumo wrestling.










All in all it was a well spent evening but we did work up an appetite. We checked around several places and discovered that several were a little pricey (like Riscky's) so we finally headed uptown to the Star Cafe for hamburgers, chicken fried steak, and a hot dog. Again...Americana at its finest.

So up early the next morning and off to San Marcos....but wait...

Almost to Austin (on very busy I35) and I notice I have lost most of the electrical systems on the coach. No tach, no air horn, no 120 volts to run the frig... egads the sky is falling and I'm in the middle of an Austin rush hour in three solid lanes of traffic and wondering if everything will quit and I'll back up traffic all the way to Nome Alaska.

So the batteries are losing their charge and I'm just losing it so I figure I better find a place to pull over and call for a little advice. I reach a guy a Camper World in San Marcos who advises me to chat with the Monaco dealership across the street. He calms me down about 120 heart beats per minute and says I'll probably make it okay to my San Marcos camp. I did, and now have an appointment Wednesday to see the nice man who will fix my problems... I hope. The joys of camping and RV ownership are not without peril. But it's all part of the experience and......

We're still livin' the dream.

Catchin' up....

We've kinda been loafing about the past few days. Not really kicking back but doing a little sightseeing and taking life easy. So... it's probably time to get everyone caught up with the details.
As most of our generation can attest, you knew where you were and what what you were doing the day President Kennedy was assassinated. That day certainly qualifies as a 'significantly emotional event' and we thought we'd visit the sight at Dealy Plaza, in downtown Dallas, where it occurred. Getting there, or anywhere around Dallas has been a challenge.... maybe because it's a new place for us or maybe that the city fathers have chose not to pay for street signs but whatever the reason, we almost drove through the plaza before even realizing we were there. A glimpse of the infamous 'grassy knoll' was all it took for me to know I'd just driven through a spot in history.
We ponied up the money to get into the museum at the Texas School Book Depository. What an interesting collection. Really brought clarity to the old memories. Being there in person gives one an accurate sense of scale. TV, film and images just can't quite give you how confined the shooting area was or how close Oswald was to the motorcade. Here's a image of Sharon standing near where Kennedy was shot.

Anyway... a sobering experience that put a little near term history in perspective.

For all of those who are enjoying the winter wonderland...we're getting by with sunshine and near 60.

Sorry for the delay in updating but our Internet provider was just next to terrible. Paid for 30 days and maybe got about 5 hours of good service. Ugh. More excitement coming in the next post. We've moved on to San Marcos but getting here was crazy. Stay tuned.

Texas is not a place you can take lightly.

People down here just think a little different, talk little different, and enjoy life a little different.

Consider their vehicles. I soon learned that are just two kinds sold here.

Small, luxury rockets that do amazing things in traffic all while under the guidance of a single hand on the wheel. Intricately bobbing and weaving all while making the big deal or dinner reservations on the cell phone in the other. They all appear so confident and they are all handsome and attractive. Cars highly polished and their drivers exuding the confidence and vibrancy of Dallas and its economy. I think back to my 30 something days and can only remember that slightly rusty Cougar I drove, with hands at the 2 and 10 position, hoping I had enough money to buy some of that 50 cent a gallon gas to make it to work the next day.

Trucks, or better known as peeekups down here, are what really takes up most of the available asphalt. The city Texan has forgone the rifle rack in the rear window and now sport front bumper brush guards so massive you not so sure they're not rejects from an old Mad Max movie. There is enough tubular steel in them to make little Billy Bob three or four jungle gym sets. I've seen a few of those bumpers banged up pretty bad but I'm not sure if they're herding cattle or cars with them.

While I were weaving and bobbing through the concrete canyons, with the speedo pegged at 55 and the left turn signal on, Sharon had the chance to take a few images of the Dallas skyline. With her new camera in hand she has taken several nice photographs I'd like to share with you.



It looks like technical difficulties are bugging the Google blog service as I cannot upload any additional images so y'all will have to wait a bit for more photos.

Anyway...another great marvel is how the Texans have managed to turn tumble weeds, wild range, and prairie into one continuous shopping mall. From our campsite, which has grazing cattle within 1000 ft, is wall to wall shopping for about 35 miles; to downtown Dallas. From there I can only imagine. We've visited many and I have now given serious thought into buying stock in Dr. Scholls.

We made a preliminary visit to the Ft. Worth stockyards. No we didn't go there just to clear our sinuses, but to see if there was enough to do there when our daughter and her family visit next week. Bars, saloons, rodeo arena, stockyards, and shopping ... all wrapped up in a few blocks. Looks like a winner and we're looking forward to showing it off. Met a guy name Beau at the cowboy hat shop. An ex-pro rodeo rider who looked the part and gave us the low-down on how cowboy hats are made. My folks bought me a Stetson some 50 years ago and Beau told me I should have kept it. Very valuable nowadays. New, quality hat will go between $500 and $2000 bucks. I think I'll stick to the cap Sharon bought me in South Haven.

Though the sun is shining and the 70 degree weather is fantastic, not all has been well in travel land. Within the past four days we've had two successful fraudulent hits on two different credit
cards we have. Somewhere along the path at least two perps (learned that term on CSI NY) used our cards to buy stuff. Where they got the numbers is any ones guess but at least we caught them in time. Well we didn't really catch them but the sharp folks at the credit card company did. We pay a small monthly fee for one of the services but it alerts us any weird purchases that didn't fit our buying habits. We won't have to pay for any of the purchases and the only inconvenience was on of the cards was cancelled. A good tip to fellow travellers is to take three or four different cards and once they are cancelled it's tough to get another one while you're on the road. The exception might be a national card like American Express or Discover.
Anyway it's almost unavoidable unless you want to pay cash for everything. And carry a lot of cash is not such a good idea either.

We're still discovering great places and great people along the way. With three weeks behind us and only one left until we head to San Marcos, we're trying to make each day count. Y'all do the same...okay?

Check out our Holiday Greeting >>>

Just click the underlined Holiday Greeting to the right and listen.

Kind of a slow blog today... so it's the best I could come up with.

Just a note: We'll close down the Holiday Greeting on Dec 30th to save space.

Memory lane...

There are only about two people on the planet that care about what I saw yesterday so the rest of you can take a break. But if you insist.....

As a youngster, at the ripe age of 7, me and my family moved to Dallas. My Dad was sent here by his employer to supervise the installation of some bakery equipment. The assignment was for at least a year so all of us tagged along in the old car and settled on Hudson street.

With over 50 years of water passing under the bridge, I now had the chance to come back and see what had happened to the old place. Over the years I'd witnessed the growth of the Dallas-Ft Worth area through various media reports. I remember my folks hauling us out to Love Field for its grand opening. It seemed a ways out of town then but now it is virtually downtown as the town has grown around it. Anyway I plugged in the address in our GPS unit and headed towards town. The 35 mile trip was stressful as traffic was fast and plentiful but we managed to find the right exits and soon were heading toward the old neighborhood. I was sure the fifty years had taken its toll and, as most old neighborhoods go, had been leveled for a new parking lot or new condo. As we turned onto Hudson Street my speculation was coming true. Many houses were leveled and new houses were in construction. However we continued slowly down the street looking for the correct address when the old place came into view. A rush of memories came over me as I saw our house for the first time in 5 decades. Little had changed with the old place.

The big front porch was the best army fort I ever had. My best friend Bill Palamoutain, lived next door and we played with the normal inexhaustible energy of seven year boys throughout the year. It was there I learned of ant lions, Erector sets, our first TV (which we watched the first public showing of an atomic bomb explosion, scorpions, and the joys of eating watermelon in the summer. We visited the new 7-11 stores, experienced Dr. Pepper for the first time and tried that new snack Fritos.





Not all was good and innocent. I learned from the department store clerk that certain drinking fountains were for 'coloreds only' and the city bus driver made sure I knew I was not allowed to sit in the back of the bus. Thankfully my folks knew better, but that's the way it was in the south those days.




The gravel driveway is now paved and to date, the house has escaped the wrecking ball.









The Palamountain's house next door.



Like most kids, I suppose the houses looked bigger, the trees taller, and streets longer than they appear now... but all that didn't matter yesterday. I chose not to go to the door and see who lived there now but to leave those memories as memories....

My next challenge was to find the school I attended. With a little help of the GPS and a street map we located it not far away. Class was in session and it looked much the same as it did years ago. Some of the playground trees were gone...trees that I first learned where mistletoe grew, and a playground where we had danced around a May pole to celebrate Spring and a classroom where the teacher tried to teach us the Texas state dance... square dancing. A lot to grasp in second grade. None of it stuck as I have not square danced since.

Lipscomb Elementary School 2007

Days slipping by...

I'm learning the value of the new prescription pill boxes Sharon purchased for this trip. Luckily for me they are about the only way I know what day it is anymore. Seven little chambers, each labeled with the day of the week. As we get deeper into this retirement thing, it not the days that count, but what we learn and do in each of them that counts.


We enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday at Sharon's sister's house. The in-laws, who flew in for the week from Michigan were surprised to see us show up. My brother and sister in-law have an elegant home and they both made the holiday celebration very special for all of us. I had the opportunity to take a picture of us just prior to dinner. This is what we looked like before consuming 52.5 lbs of food.





My new muffler should be arriving soon from Oregon. I couldn't find one here so I had to order it direct from Monaco. I'm trying to locate somebody nearby who will install it so we'll be ready to head south in a few weeks. However no one seems interested here so when we get to San Marcos will check around again.

We all made the pilgrimage to the 'Lose Your Shirt' casino in Oklahoma, about 4o miles north of us, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Standing room only greeted us with a lot of folks apparently spending their Christmas club savings a little early.

'Lady Luck" had over-eaten too as she failed to join us on the grambling junket.

Thanksgiving greetings

Thanksgiving greetings everyone...

Sharon and I would like to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. May your day be safe and surrounded with good people, good feelings, and good food. We all have a lot to be thankful for and we're especially pleased that you have have taken time to join us on our journey.

Phil & Sharon

Sorry to keep you waiting on the big diamond hunt so I'd better finish. Sharon came over and said she'd found something interesting that I needed to look at. Down deep in her rumpled WalMart plastic bag was with prettiest piece of sharply faceted, near perfect specimen of ...broken glass. Our collective spirits sank and our plans of a world tour dashed. Oh well...on to Texas.

On to Texas almost..getting through Arkansas proved a little costly. We stopped to top off the fuel tank and the driveway had ruts the size most swimming pools would envy. I took it real slow but just as I was about to pull onto the highway there was a frantic man waving in my rear view mirror. He looked kinda big and kinda mean with dirt and grease from head to toe. Sharon thought I had forgot to pay and he was after me. I said no and quickly stopped as he had caught up with us bit then and began to open our door. This Shrek like greasy guy actually turned out to save me a bunch of money. One of the ruts caught my main muffler and tore off the tailpipe extension and my tow car's left front tire was resting upon it. Another few inches and the 24 inch long piece of 5 inch stainless steel could have caused a great deal ugliness under the Trailblazer. Any way, the jolly green greasy giant was very gracious and more than helpful. We got things put away and moved on to Texas hoping to find a repair place somewhere along the way.

We finally arrived at our campsite near Denton. Not a bad place but we've been to better. Noise level is a little high but the location is great...right down the street from an RV repair facility.

We finally had the chance to visit Sharon's sister and brother-in-law. A long overdue get-together that allowed us to see their beautiful home and enjoy getting caught up on all things important. They are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for their kids and she and Sharon's parents who are flying in for the occasion. We're sort of the surprise quests as the parents do not know we're attending; thinking we're still in Hot Springs. Anyway Sharon and I are both looking forward to the gathering; loving family, great surroundings, and food fit for kings and queens.

We took a short trip yesterday. Out in the country a bit, with large parcels of cattle and horse inhabited pastures surrounded by pristine fences and the obligatory 20 room mansion atop the hill. Drive another 1/4 mile and you have a miracle mile of shops and malls. The Dallas metroplex is expanding so rapidly that the cows can't hardly get of of the way. We went into the Grapevine Mills mall for a hour or so today. Hardly room to stand. Thought is was Christmas eve. Not used to that around our home town. Generally several vacant stores and and shoppers with vacant looks wandering around. What we need is a good dose of Texas prosperity to turn things around, I'm afraid.

(click to enlarge for better view
Sharon can make friends with anyone.

Beautiful Grapevine Lake is within 10 minutes of the mall.

Today was laundry day and washing the coach. Both chores overdo.

No luck in finding a muffler for the coach today either. Almost rude response from the local Monaco dealer, not interested in even referring to someother place. Will write a letter to somebody complaining about this before the week is out. Later had a nice dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Host was British, cook was Mexican, food was good with all the fortune cookies you wanted.

Apparently problems at the Dallas airport today. Something to do with their communications equipment. Probably will delay in-laws arrival. Weather will be taking on a Michigan like flavor as the week progresses. By the weekend be should have highs in the 40's. Ugh! Maybe should head south sooner?

We'll be kicking back for a few days. Sightseeing, visiting, enjoying the holidays and doing little of nothing. Stay tuned...happy holidays.

Overcast and a little cooler but this was the day. The day to prove our worth as diamond diggers. Though an old hand at it,(previous trip to the mine in 1952) I did practice a bit out in the gravel driveway near our campsite. Carefully turning over each rock and sifting through the ruble. Knowing that such training is so valuable, it quickly proved its value as I quickly uncovered two cigaratte butts and a beer can tab. Now that my skills were honed to a razors edge, we headed for the mine about an hour south of our camp.

As usual, the road was winding with ups and downs about every 100 feet. We've also made a discovery...driving the speed limit, especially now that it was raining, just doesn't get it. It seems just about every 70's vintage rusty Ford pickup found my rearbumper coaxing me to push the limits of my driving talent. I pulled over to let them pass so many times they probably thought I was delivering the mail.







As we pulled into the Crater of Diamonds State Park I expected a flood of memories to overcome me to but I guess 50+ years dulls things a little. The dirt looked the same anyway. After coughing up a few bucks for admission, we moved to the next stop to rent/buy the proper mining equipment. Though I wanted a Bobcat they said the shiny new garden shovel would be more appropriate for my age group. So after I purchased the $4.00 green shovel, a matching minature rake and a rented $15 dollar sifting box, the intrepid fortune hunters, along with high hopes, ventured out on the field of dreams.

To describe this 30+ acre treasure trove is easy. It's sort of like the WWI 'no mans land', with trenches, craters, and no living vegatation. The only thing missing was the clouds of mustard gas. Which, now that I think of it, may have been a blessing.

Whatever glorious ideas Sharon may have had about what it takes to hit paydirt vanished after the first shovel full. This is hard, back-breaking work. Rocky, heavy soil that, even after it been re-plowed about a month ago, was hard and crusty from throngs of wana-a-be diamond finders. Walk carefully or you'll be in a plaster cast with one appendage or another twisted apart. Mini craters pockmark almost every foot of the grounds. After careful inspections we also noticed just the tops of some diggers heads. They must figure the deeper the better. There was also a contingent of locals who have elaborate equipment set up to sift out the gems. What they do is dirty and tough work. I was told that several do this for a living. Apprently this is not unique as one digger, years ago, was at the mine almost dailey for 32 years.

Anyway....with our pot o' gold only one little shovelfull away, we pressed on for hours.
Sharon wandered off on her own...up by a lone tree stranded in this field of dirt. She had a hunch, womens intuition, call it what you want, that the next Hope diamond was buried there. I continued on working the heavy soil only to find a remnant of a plastic bottle and twp pieces of jasper. A colorful, smooth surface rock of little value but all mine. As I began to gingerly get up from my dig site, Sharon came walking up with a little smile on her face.



It's getting late so I'll finsh this later.

Here are some of the great folks we met while in Hot Springs


Hot Springs Music Festival Executive Director

Laura S. Rosenberg

Check out their website: http://www.hotmusic.org/

Max & Betty

Helpful shoppers at Weldon's Meat Market

They were right-on with their recommendations

Around Hot Springs

Looked around but he must have left.






He lived here once but whoever does now, has plenty of signs up noting there are no tours.

Brass plaque says something about his boyhood home. Didn't get out of the car as traffic was too much







One of the old mineral bath houses along 'bath house row'







Arlington Hotel....former hangout of FDR and Al Capone