PENSACOLA

Well, here we are at Big Lagoon State Park for 3 nights.
We leave Sunday morning.
Of all the parks we have been to this is our 2nd least favorite.
The facilities are very nice, but just too much brush - no grass and just not pretty.
We had a wonderful time driving over from LA - the gulf views were outstanding when we got off I-10 and took 90 thru Pass Christian ect.
We stopped at Bellingrath Home and Gardens, so outstanding, huge gardens, like being at the MN arboretum and I toured the house. Like stepping back in time and walking through a new 10,000 foot house with all new furnishings from 1935. I didn't see one computer or TV.
People actually had to read books. By the way I am on my 4th book for the trip. Having so much fun relaxing. The only time it isn't relaxing is when we take a wrong turn when Jim is driving - other than that we laff a lot and eat quite a bit in our camper. Our meals are sometimes better than what we get out.
We had fun last night walking the beaches, you should have seen poor old Makons, so sore from running on the beach she was limping last night. Is she getting old? She will be 4 on June 4th. That makes her only 28 in dog years. Tell me Mac, you are closest to her in age. How does it feel.
I got a bunch of shells for the ice cream pail.
We went thru the National Museum of Naval Aviation yesterday morning, We did the first floor and took a trolley ride. Today we will go back and do the 2nd floor. We just play it by ear and end up with a full day and by gum it's always fun.
I just don't know if this traveling thing is for Jim and I. Time will tell. I can say I almost have as much fun camping in the North Woods of MN. Now is that sick or what.
We had to purchase Front Line for the dogs. Otto already had two wood ticks stick and I brush him every day. He loves being brushed. NOT!
Fill you in on today later.

LEAVING NEW ORLEANS

BAYOU SIGNETTE STATE PARK - LA
i wish you could hear how Jim talks to Makon's when he wakes up. It's a riot - he talks to her about "Pepper" and playing outside - it's a riot.
It's Thursday and we are out of here - we enjoyed Sam Houston Jones State Park - did a lot of walking and taking pictures - I think we were there 3 nights and we are at Bayou Segnette State Park and have been here 2 nights. It rained yesterday for most of the morning but just a light mist and cold - I though I was home.

The only gator we saw was one in a fence in downtown Lake Charles - we did tour an old old cemetery - right near the visitor's center - abandoned and left to the critters I would say - I love old cemetery's - It had a statue of Christ in the center that was as tall as a two story building. Just beautiful. The founder of the city I think it said put it up for his wife.

I am knitting washcloths - haven't finished one yet because my book I am reading is so good.

The state park here is beautiful - in spite of the rain on Wed. morning when Jim went in to New Orleans to the WWII museum for the day the kids and I took many a walk around - even if it was wet we had nice paved roads to walk on.

They even have a free laundry here - heck I did 5 loads - would have done one more but you do get sick of laundry. My coat isn't that dirty - I need to make a new lining for it. Love the coat but the lining is made from cheap stuff and is all frayed - silly for a one year old coat to be so worn - made in China - go figure.

No pictures at this park or of Jim's trip downtown. He really enjoyed the museum. He was there 6 hours and had an easy time getting to and from downtown. We are off this morning for FL - I am not sure how far we plan on driving today but if we can we try not to drive more than 6 hours. He gets a little stiff after so long behind the wheel. Doesn't want me to drive - hummmmmmmmmmm - I wonder why. Can't be because I can't find my way out of a paper bag. I just have no sense of direction. Anyway off we go on another adventure - the kids are doing well - I try to brush Otto every day but missed yesterday because I forgot the brush in the truck - he won't like the drive today at all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAC

SAM HOUSTON JONES STATE PARK - LA.
We found that we couldn't stay Sat night - there were no cancellation's so we were on our way. We were ready to leave by ll:45 and excited about heading for parts unknown. We couldn't find an opening at any Texas State Parks going where we were which is East toward New Orleans but they did have an opening at this park. Even a pull through but we had to commit to 3 nights. Not a problem because we are "Retired". Hello!
We didn't get here until 5:15 but they are open till 10 and they don't take reservations - it's first come first serve. We even have a pull through site. So much easier and what is really nice we are on the edge because the park is almost full up and I think we were lucky to just get a spot. We have a view of the Bayou right outside our window. One side of us is a view of beautiful tall, tall pine trees. I can't wait to go on some of the trails. So many from the looks of the map but I have to run to the showers, we checked them out last night and they are very nice and the wonder of it is that LA honors the "America the Beautiful" pass and we get 50% off so in reality we pay $10 a night. Can you stand it. In FL it looks like it can get up to $80 a night. We will see.

LATER

WE LEAVE TX AFTER CHURCH TOMORROW

It rained all night Thurs night - we have had two huge rains since we have been here. Jim washed his truck so we should have known it would rain.
We have taken some nice walks in the park with the dogs but after these rains, its not quite as much fun, have to look good to avoid getting the dogs all dirty. I even took Otto in the shower and gave him a bath one day.
Friday was beautiful - we did the "China A" buffet again. Larry and Judy took us there one day and for $6.50 you really get quite a spread. Huge buffet. We did have Chinese one other day at another sit down restaurant. Was also good.
Today we get things ready to go. Can't believe we have been here a solid two weeks. So beautiful here on the gulf. The cranes, egrets, pelicans and seagulls sitting right outside our window. I can't believe it but we have been to the laundry 3 times since we have been here.
We did finally check out "Pop's" place around the corner from the campground. We were told you have to see the huge framed art made of beer bottle caps on the walls. Something to see all right - Huge fish art. Bottle caps covered in that clear plastic poured stuff. Kind of neat. We had burgers. So far the burgers we have had in TX eating out have been overcooked. What's with Texans anyway. Our best meals to date was here at the camper and the Chinese buffet. Jim has been fishing a couple of times but with the cold fronts constantly popping in people aren't catching much. Last night on our walk a couple of guys has caught some trout wading. Maybe today will be a good day for him.

LATER!

STILL ON THE GULF

Wed. the 17th - Still at Goose Island - As you can see I have been lousy at posting. Maybe I can fill in what we have been up to. I can't help but think of my Mom and Dad when they went South. I have become my Mom. The things Jim and I do sometimes make me laff because we are walking in their footsteps.

Today was laundry day - a highlight for us - RITE - I just can't believe how many clothes we dirty. We must e dirty people or something - we then took the dogs to the beach downtown Rockport for a walk and then we met Larry and Judy from our church in Remer, they winter here, they bought us lunch at a Chinese Buffet. It was really good, one of the best we have been too, went over to their camper park, they really have a beautiful new two slide Winnebago 35 foot motor home. After we got back to our camper Jim and Larry went fishing off the pier and we will be going to Ash Wed. services tonight.

Tue. the 16th. We went to San Antonio. Jim woke up and said a day trip was just what we needed and off we and the kids went. We sure had a good time. It was between 2 and 3 hours from here. We went one way and came back another. We first toured "The Alamo".
We left the dogs in the truck for this tour and we then picked them up and went the the "River Walk" downtown. What a beautiful downtown area. You go one level below street level and walla - the river. We walked and walked, the funniest thing was as we were walking we saw Marge and Phil from our campground. We got to know them well at our campground and they left the campground a couple of days ago to head for San Antonio but we never expected to see them again and her we bumped into them at a cafe on the River Walk. We emerged up by the oldest Cathedral in San Antonio. Really beautiful - so much gold overlay.
We had lunch with the dogs and headed for the Botanical Gardens.
Really quite beautiful - they had so many seperate glass buildings to house different scapes - desert - rain forest - palms and ferns. A wonderful walk around a man made lake and lots of ducks - egrets.

Got back to camp around 6:30 so a nice day trip.

ONE WEEK AND COUNTING

I can't believe we have been here a week already - On Tue a friend of Jim's, Ronnie Scavo and his wife Mary Beth showed up in their camper, a 40 foot new motor home, quite nice, the living room was huge, they even have a king bed, we all hung around here with them and our new friend's Marge and Phil, they are full time campers. Have a fabulous 35 foot 5th wheel - even has a fire place. Again a king bed. With the dogs - it would be nice but we are cosy. If Jim and I keep gaining weight we will need a king.

We all went out to lunch at Charlotte Plumber's - it was OK, Jim had flounder and I had salmon. Went back to my place and we girls polished off a bottle of premixed margaritas. Headed for Ronnie and Marybeth's motor home and he made everyone spagetti, I made myself steak and salad. I know - I know - I am a twit. Not to like spagetti.
I can't remember what the guys were up to the next day but we gals and another camper we were camped by, Angie, we girls went to see the "Fulton Mansion". Very interesting - I loved it. We meandered back to the campground via "The Big Tree". A fun day .

Ronnie and Marybeth left the next day and Marge and Phil moved on a couple days later - Marge and I went out to lunch one day Jim and Phil went down to Corpus Christie to tour "The Lexington". We took in the local art gallery downtown on the waterfront. Nice stuff. We also visited some open houses. Wanted to see what they had to offer. It was fun.

MONDAY THE SECOND WEEK OF FUN

I can't believe we are into our second week. Seems forever ago since I posted, I meant to post every day but it just didn't happen.

We are happily camping at Goose Island State Park in Rockport TX. On the way down from Ruston LA our bedroom window blew out and we had glass all over. They used ordinary glass in our emergency bedroom window. Probably so we could break it easier, who knows but we were able to get it fixed in Shreveport. It took us 6 hours to go 120 miles and we ended up staying at Lake Livingston State Park in TX on the way here.

We are right on the Ocean, Jim can fish 20 feet from the camper, we love it and look to move down two spots to the end. Won't feel so crowded on the end. Our first day here another camper was within 2 feet of us - we each get a picnic table in a shelter, it's really neat, we have a 1000 foot pier within walking distance.

The wind has been blowing constantly and I don't know if that's how it is but with the temp in the lower 60es, I don't mind.

We found a Lutheran Church, Holy Cross and Larry Probst from Remer was there also. Beautiful new church. What stained glass windows.

There is a mansion called "Fulton House" or something that I plan on touring Tue. with another camper from Mass, Angie. They are leaving on Thurs and I mentioned I was going and she said she wanted to go too. Rockport and right next to Fulton much like Mpls and St Paul.

We also stopped after Church at the hardware store and picked up a ladder, washing wand and some wonderful cleaner that took all the yuck off the camper. It looks great.

Judy and Larry Probst came over for a visit, they are members of our church in Remer and have an 06 motor home, will be fun to see it. A Winnebago.

It's laundry day today and according to the weather channel, rain is in the
for cast. It's OK, we don't care, lots to do. Books to read and dogs to walk. Scarves to knit and I found my embroidery so I am excited.

We drove about 3 miles from here, they have an oak tree that is over 1000 years old. It is so huge it is unbelieveable. Also saw a bunch of whooping cranes, they were nearly extinct some time ago.

We went on a rainy day to the Aransas Wildlife Preserve. Didn't see as much as we would on a sunny day. Will go back. With our America the Beautiful pass it was free.

IN LOUISIANA

Well well well - here we are sitting in the camper on Thurs afternoon at 1:30 pm. Jim just got back from visiting an old Army buddy in the "ASA", he is a chicken farmer down here in Ruston LA. Raises up to 80,000 chickens at a time Mark, so what do you think of that on a larger scale, he has 4 chicken houses that are each 400 feet long. It takes 7 weeks to get them from day old chicks to 6 pounds so we can devour them. Savages - we are a bunch of savages.



Back to square one - we left our house on Sun, got to Mac's by 3 or so - we were able to park around his corner overnight, the kids slept in the camper, we used so much gas two days before we left and the first two nights out we ran out by the time we got to Ruston and Jim had to take the tans in to fill them up.



On Sun night Jim went to see John Peterson, Carrie -Dave and the grand kids, little Jimmy Juniors B-day on the 2nd and pick up a converter box from Heidi's. Laura make us wonder beef Au juice sandwiches. I just have to do that on this trip - sooooooooo yummy, we slept there on Sun night and I got to spend many hours with Hope. Jim had a blast with Little Jimmy and Little Jimmy Junior and what fun I had watching Hope. I expect next time I see her she will be reading.



Wonderful Jim woke me at 3:10 and said let's go, I can't sleep anymore. My snoring kept him awake I guess, the joys of aging. Maybe walking in my sleep is next. We headed out and had a fun day on the road on Mon with the kids. We got to Joplin MO at the Big Red Barn Campground. Got in a little later than we planned on because we took a wrong turn in KC.

Let's see Mac you said about 4 things would go wrong on the way down here , the first thing was the engine light wouldn't go off, second was getting lost in KC, third was getting lost in Eldorado's MO but when Jim went to ask directions (yes you heard right, a man asking directions) he got a hot baked macadamia nut cookie, I even got a bite, we stopped there and made lunch in the camper. Fourth was running out of gas and by the way there was a Fifth, we couldn't get the gas grill to work our first night out because it was just too cold. There was 3 inches of snow on the ground of the Big Red Barn campground but it was 42 degrees out. We thought it was nice but what's a little snow.

Jim met with two of his army buddies yesterday morning - Sandy and Toomey, short for Thompson. One lives in Carthage and one lives in Ruston, only a few miles apart. Jim took me to the same dive for breakfast this morning. Very forgetable, my waffel was doughey and ham tuff. Milk and coffee were great!

Our TV died, that would be the flat screed we had in the guest room at home, and yes Mac that makes 6. Jim bought me a new 19" flat screen TV and DVD player. Quite nice. We are going out to dinner tonight with Sandy and Toomey and his wife. Will check in later.

I wish you could see this camp ground, Lincoln Parish Park Camp Ground. It has a lake with a paved path all the way around, walked around it twice yesterday with the dogs. Rained today but I took Otto for a long walk, Jim and Makons went to see Sandy. My goodness its beautiful out, even in the rain.