New Year, New Adventures!!

NOLA!

We left Mobile, AL and headed to New Orleans, LA.  We stayed at a campground that said it was the closest to the French Quarter.  It was still 6 miles away!  Essentially it was a dirt parking lot with hook ups, which for the time we were there that was fine.  We only stayed two nights and met up with three friends – Mary Gugliuzza and Elisa Speranza (both water people) Elisa’s partner Jon and good friend Lorraine.  Lorraine just returned from full time RVing for three years. We picked her brain and we were especially excited to hear about her RV trip to Alaska which is on our bucket list!  Mary came to visit us at our RV which was great to show our “home” to someone!!  That way they know we are not living “on the land” but really “glamping” (camping with glamour)!!   Jeanne, Mary and Elisa talked water for a while – you can take the girl out of water (retirement) but you can’t get her to stop talking about it! We also saw our good friend Bill Disley whom we’ve known for 30+ years.  He recently moved to New Orleans.  It was fantastic to visit with him and catch up.  He lives in the French Quarter and works as a server at a swanky restaurant. He loves it!! 

Windy West Texas

From NOLA we headed to Texas.  Our first stop was at Lake Livingston State Park.  What a beautiful lake.  Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate and it rained most of the time we were there.  We were able to get in a few hikes and bike rides and of course a walk to the lake numerous times. The weather did provide us with some spectacular sunsets!  It was quite chilly there and windy (we know, we know – nothing like the cold snowy weather that some of you have had).  Codey took to his perch on the picnic table so it was the perfect opportunity to brush him which he loves.  He is doing well since surgery.  His breathing is so much better yet we have noticed he isn’t able to take the long walks we have done in the past – he gets tired very easily.  Health wise he is doing well but after all he is a “old man” of 11.5 years.  He loves to ride in the truck and occupies the entire back seat.  

San Antonio

We headed to a local campground near San Antonio, TX.  Jane has never been here so we made sure it was part of our trip through Texas.  It was a bit rainy here as well but towards the end of our stay is cleared up which allowed us the opportunity to do the Riverwalk, a river cruise and of course seeing many of the historical sites – “Remember the Alamo”.  As many of you may remember prior to us leaving Mobile, AL Jeanne had an tooth ache which required a root canal and a temporary filling.  The dentist told her she would need a crown within a month.  So, since we were in a larger town she saw a dentist in San Antonio and got her new crown – and what a lovely crown it is – and expensive!! Now she is out of pain and can eat on that side of her mouth.  Since arriving in AL and Texas, Jane has been having sneezing fits and what felt like a perpetual runny nose.  So she decided to see an allergist to see if she was allergic to something that caused this.  Jane did tell the doctor if she found she was allergic to dogs, don’t even tell her cause it wouldn’t matter.  There will be a dog(s) always in her life!!  Thankfully there were no allergies just irritants and mostly from things indigenous to AL and TX (wet weather stuff and certain trees and in Texas she’s sure it the Dallas Cowboys that are the irritants!!). A steroid shot and a few squirts up the nose and she was all better.  We spent a good part of a day in San Antonio doing the tourist thing which included a ride up to the top of the Tower of the Americas.  Jane faced the wall of the building as it went up a million feet (well it felt like it). Once on the top she did fine!!  We walked around town and saw a beautiful old chapel and walked in.  A gentleman was there playing the piano and invited us to sing with him.  I think he was quite surprised when we sang and harmonized.  He kept saying, “let’s do another verse.” He was very complimentary to both of us for our singing voices!  We hiked in a national forest while there which was so nicely done and the trails were clean and had easy terrain.  On the way back we stopped at a local convenient store and as we left Jeanne turned onto the road back towards our campground only for both of us to realize she was going down the wrong side of the road!  Head lights were coming at us, so without even a blink of the eye, she turned onto the median and drove to the correct side of the road. Very calmly she said “thank God we had a truck to get over the median”.  With our jaws open we both burst out laughing, knowing we were okay.  A little excitement in our day!!

Waco, Texas

One of the first days in San Antonio, Jeanne said, “want to drive to Waco?”  She knew Jane’s answer would be yes as she loves the HGTV show, Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines.  Waco just happens to be where their show is taped and their Magnolia empire is including a bakery, shop, garden and other things shown on the show.  It was a 3 hour drive but well worth it.  One of the folks on their show is Jimmy Don who makes metal signs.  We purchased two of the signs and as it happened, as we were walking to the truck to leave – Jimmy Don was across the parking lot at his shop.  We headed over there and chatted with him for 30 minutes.  He signed our signs we purchased as well.  We had a great time talking with him.

Seminole Canyon State Park

We headed west to Comstock, TX and stayed at the state park there. This park is right on the border of the US and Mexico which is separated by the Rio Grande.  It was an awesome park with large sites and the campground sat on top of a hill so when it got dark we could see so many stars and it was amazing!!  No ground light to block the star light!  Staying here also gave us a beautiful sunset and a beautiful sunrise every day.  We also experienced lots of wind while there, up to 40 – 60 mph.  It shook the trailer and gave us a bit of a scare, but we survived as did the trailer.  Thank God!!  We hiked down into the Seminole Canyon with one of the park rangers one day and saw petroglyphs which were estimated to have been on the rocks for over 4000 years.  We also rode our bikes down a 6 mile trail to the Rio Grande – it was spectacular.  

We left Seminole and headed further west and are now in Big Bend National Park area.  We are staying in Lajitas, TX which if also right on the border of the US and Mexico.  That being said, we need to finish this up so we can go explore this area for the next blog.  Take care all!  We miss you and if you are close to our adventures we will definitely give you a call to get together.  Until next time…