Carlsbad Caverns March 11

The drive here was beautiful. We drove through incredible mountains and arrived at the campground only to find that our RV would be facing one of these mountain ranges. What a view!! You just sit there watching the mountains and the effect of the setting sun on them..

While here we toured the Carlsbad Caverns . We came out after 2 1/2 hours totally awestruck. The caverns are 31.9 miles long and 75 stories deep.

This is the natural entrance to the cave. At night thousands and thousands of bats take off from here.

Texas Hills March 9 & 10

We left Medina Lake for Stockton, TX. The drive was actually interesting --it was either very flat for miles or we were going through rock mountains.

There are beautiful flowers throughout the flats.

Can' get much flater than that can it?

Then you would move out of the flat land into something like this.

There were lots of windmills on the hills and below them you would see the oil drilling rigs. We saw cattle out on the flats and wondered where they got water -- it seems like all streams are dried up.

Stockton was dry, windy, and dusty --a good place to spend just one night!!

Lake Medina,TX Feb. 4-Feb. 8

Pictured below is beautiful Lake Medina taken from the hills surrounding the lake. The sunset was taken right from our camper where night after night we get to watch an incredible sunset.

We ran into Bob Shirley and Julie our first day here. We have enjoyed playing Pickle Ball with them each morning and their friend Mark. The second day here we did a car tour of the hill country with Bob and Julie and 2 other couples. Beautiful scenery and charming western towns along the way. We stopped in the town on Bandera and did some shopping and had some lunch. This is where I found the perfect cowgirl hat!

Town of Bandera

San Antonio

Next day Lee and I took off for San Antonio. We've done the river walk before but enjoyed it even more this time because the crowds were lighter and it was cooler. This the kind of place where one can go crazy taking pictures because it is all so charming and picturesque. In reality no amount of film can capture it -- you must go there and experience it first hand. We had a lovely lunch on the balcony of a sidewalk restaurant. Lee found a cowboy hat that he liked so now we're really ready to head west because we have the proper head gear!!

Colorado River, TX Feb. 28-March 3,2009

What a lovely park! Trees are just beginning to bud now but the groves of Pecan trees seem to be the last to get their leaves. One can only imagine how beautiful this will be in another couple of weeks.





Our RV is facing the Colorado River . Quite a nice view. It was extremely gusty our first 2 days here. Last night it got down to 33 but by late afternoon I was sitting outside in a tank top and shorts---go figure and finally NO WIND!! It's a very beautiful large piece of property and finding a place to walk my 5 miles has been easy and very scenic.










There are hundreds of deer here and at dusk they wander all through the campground. It's driving Nicky nuts!!! this picture is taken from just outside my camper door.

























We toured the Blue Bell Creamery in Breham, TX. It's got to be the world's best ice cream. It tastes like it's just come out of the ice cream churn. It's sold in 17 states in all --mostly the southern states. Nicky enjoyed his sample along with the rest of us and he gave it a definite thumbs up!!









One of the highlights here has been Peter's BBQ, which we were told about as soon as we pulled in. The place is not much to look at but BBQ ribs, 3 sides, dessert, and a drink for $4.95 ---just can't afford not to do that!!!!! We've only been here 4 days and we've had 2 rib dinners and the Sunday buffet. It's a good thing we're leaving tomorrow!!!! This restaurant is right up there with the Pioneer Restaurant for value for the money.

Lake Conroe,TX Feb. 25-27 2009

Our time at Lake Conroe was spent was spent relaxing. Time was spent catching up on bills and paperwork. Made a trip to Costco, did some wash, played some pickle ball, and just relaxed. No touring to speak of.











We met a lovely couple Les and Carol Wright. Their labrodoodle, Mimi, and Nicky had a grand time playing together. Being full-timers we found Les and Carol to be a wealth of information. We look forward to meeting up with Les and Carol along the road again.

Abita Springs ROD park, New Orleans 2/18-2/23/09

Our first day in New Orleans we spent on a walking tour of the French Quarter and Jackson Square. We also spent time walking the Moonwalk along the Mississippi river. Mardi Gras season began here Jan. 6th and ends on Feb. 24. There are a total of 54 parades in all. It's been truly fascinating discovering what Mardi Gras is all about.































Don't you love the contrast here of the old and the new?




















This picture was taken in Jackson Square. You are looking at the oldest cathedral in the US. The statue is of Andrew Jackson. We enjoyed a lunch in the French Quarter of Red beans and Rice--really fantastic!!! Many friends told us we has to try a coffee and a beignet, which is a French donut. So naturally we had some of those too. We returned to the RV tires and full.

Next day we did a driving tour of New Orleans. We made a stop in City Park and had a picnic lunch. The park is so large there are 4 public gold courses in it. The live oaks in the park are incredible. In the Garden District we saw many beautiful homes that at some times reminded me of Charleston. We also drove past several of the city's cemeteries, which are unlike anything I've ever seen before. There are 5 universities in this are and several junior colleges.

Policing Mardi Gras

Parade seats ready to go

The park here has been lovely. Very clean, very friendly,nice amenities and a pretty setting.

Nicky and I wearing our beads after the parade.We're discussing our favorite parts.

Henderson SP, FL Feb. 13-17 2009

What a beautiful, scenic drive to the park on highway 98 which runs right along the water. This area of coast line is know as the Emerald Coast. The water is the same blue/green color you see in the Caribbean.

The sites here are all graveled and nicely leveled. Each site has the pull in area and a picnic area to the side and a wash line in the back--very nice!!

There is a lovely nature trail through the dunes and the boardwalk to the beach is incredible!! pictures cannot do it justice.

We've had rain and the weather has been cool 59-64 and a mixture of sunny and cloudy days.

We visited Topsail SP, which is 12 mile east of this one. It is the most upscale state park I've ever been to. Full hock-ups, concrete pads, resort landscaping throughout the park, and once again an incredible boardwalk to the beach.

Today we did our 5 mile walk along the Emerald Coast Hwy which runs right along the water.

What a way to spend a day, but some one's got to do it---Might as well be me!!!!!!!!!