Yellowstone Here We Come!

May 1, 2017 Travel North

We said goodbye to Blue Lagoons and after a 3-day detour to La Feria in South TX to have our slide topper replaced, we were finally on our way north toward Yellowstone National Park.  









We stayed at Walmart in Carlsbad NM the first night.  That is where I got my first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.  They looked like distant ghosts.

 

 

We weren't in a hurry so we spent 3 days at Ramblin Rose RV Park in Santa Rosa NM so we could open up the slides and relax a few days. It was right on Rt 66 and we ate at the Comet Diner. 

We went to see Blue Hole where kids were swimming and having a great time.  It was a hot day and the water looked mighty cool.

After leaving Ramblin Rose RV Park, we saw lots of desert, scrub and rocks.  Some folks think this is beautiful, but I thought it was boring.  Miles and miles of desert, no towns, no houses, no trees.  

 all 

As far as the eyes can see...

One of the bright spots was in Fort Collins CO when we visited Andy Warhol's famous Tomato Soup can situated at the School of the Arts, Colorado State University at Fort Collins. The soup can was part of a 1981 exhibit and signed by Warhol. It was restored in 2013.

 

We stopped at a roadside rest that was over-run with prairie dogs. Even though they were a nuisance, they sure were cute!

Is that the Rocky Mountains? 

Stay tuned!

La Feria and Blue Lagoons RV Parks

February 1 - 28, 2017 La Feria RV Park

March 1 - April 30, 2017 Blue Lagoons RV Park

I caught the camp crud to Hummingbird Cove RV Park so I mostly stayed to myself at this park.  I didn't get involved with their activities or use the pool. 

We had to replace 2 of our slide toppers that were damaged by the wind, so we bought screen covers for the front and side windows and wheel covers.  We also bought a screen shield that attaches to our awning, but we didn't use it since it came 2 days before we left.  It will come in handy some time!

I finally felt a little better and made some new friends a couple days before we left.

I was yelled at for taking our dogs to a vacant lot to do their business. I always pick up, but it seems I can only take them to a small strip of grass.  Since I wasn't feeling good, this was an imposition.  I will not be returning to this park as I felt very unwelcomed. 

So on we went to Blue Lagoons RV Park. It's much more friendly and welcoming.

(Aside: Rockport/Fulton was destroyed on August 26, 2017 as the category 4 Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport TX .  The park was also destroyed although everyone evacuated. We have a reservation to return for 2 months next spring and hope that by the time we arrive, things will be somewhat back to normal. It will be good to see old friends and hear their stories. My heart breaks for everyone who had to go through the pain. It's going to be months, even years, to rebuild.) 

We stayed for 2 months . Our friends Pris and Elaine stayed for a couple days at the sister park Lagoons and Peggy and Patricia also visited a couple days.

Our view, isn't it gorgeous?

One night a party broke out!

Lots off good food and drink, great company.
But that's a regular occurrence here

After swallowing my pride, I finally used the pool and hot tub.  Both were exhilarating.

We took a ride one day and these are some of the pictures I took of the area.

 Many gorgeous houses in the area.

I had a chance to visit the Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport TX.  It was a fascinating afternoon! 

We had lunch at Pops Tavern after reading about the beer cap fish murals.  We talked to the designer who made the murals but I don't remember his name.

This is a beautiful view of the RV park. It doesn't look the same, but it will be better than ever some day.

We are looking forward to returning to Blue Lagoons and seeing old friends.

Next stop, our trip north and Yellowstone National Park!

Hummingbird Cove RV Park for the Holidays and Beyond

December 1, 2016 - January 31, 2017
Hummingbird Cove RV Park
Rio Hondo TX

After our short stay in New Braunfels TX, we headed down to the Rio Grande Valley for the next couple months.  It was a time to relax and have some down time before we head out in the spring.

In the evenings, there was always a game at the clubhouse (usually cards) and they had loads of activities almost every day.  Field trips and speakers are on the agenda and potlucks were a way to meet other residents.  Once in a while there was a fish fry when there was enough fish in the freezer.  Everyone brings a dish to share and it's well attended!  

During the Christmas holidays, they sponsored a parade of golf carts. Anyone who had a cart was welcomed to participate and many folks did!

My brother flew in from Florida and spent Christmas with us.  We went on the nature tour at Laguna Altascosa and had a delicious potluck holiday dinner at the clubhouse.

These are some of the gifts I received from my daughters.

Peggy, Patricia and their husbands came down for a few days.  We went to Hugh Ramsey Nature Park in Harlingen and saw a couple Javelina from our blind! 

And we visited the county park nearby, Adolf Thomae Park. There are fishing piers as well as camping and a boat launch along the Arroyo Colorado River.  

Burning a field of sugar cane.  

It takes over a year for sugar cane to mature in the fields.  When they are ready, they post warnings to people who are hiding in the sugar cane fields.  When the wind is right, they burn the fields before harvesting. The fire burns off the leaves leaving just the stalk, reducing the amount of manual labor.

Harlingen has excellent medical facilities.  I got my new C-PAP which I had gone without for months,  Shelly had eye surgery to remove a cataract and also saw an oncologist.  There are hospitals, clinics and Dr. offices everywhere. We go to a family clinic in Rio Hondo for checkups and prescriptions.  Just so you know.  

You have to eat at Chili Willies before you leave!  A nice homey place to relax and eat to your heart's content. 

See you soon in Rockport TX!

New Braunfels TX for Thanksgiving

November 20 -  December 1, 2016
River Ranch RV Park, New Braunfels TX

Well we left Mufreesboro AR just in time before it got cold and headed down to New Braunfels TX for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It's a nice little park and we were right on the river, however we were under 2 roads so it was noisy!  Eventually we got used to it.

While we were there, we visited Landa Park on the Comal River.  The air was crisp and it had the clearest water I'd ever seen!

Peggy, Patricia and I visited Gruene TX - what a lovely town!  They boast the oldest dance hall in Texas and The Gristmill Restaurant sits high above the Guadalupe River.  

Went to Naegelin's Bakery - mmmm!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends then headed down to Hummingbird Cove near Rio Hondo and Harlingen TX.  We've been wintering at various RV parks in the Rio Grande Valley where the winter is mild (and the livin' is easy).

See you there!