...brewery,twins,church,snow...oh my....

yes, it continued to rain all night...however, the next day was beautiful...so, we took off to tour the painted churches and to meet up with Kristi for some wonderful chili and cornbread AND some out of this world bread pudding with I'm sure low cal topping...he he...our first stop was in Shiner, Tx...the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church...it dates back to the 1890s...if you haven't seen any of the painted churches, they are beautiful....being of Czech and German decent, it was extra special to see and learn about the early settlers...the Edwin Wolters Museum had wonderful displays and collections of everything from WWI and WWII memorabilia to antique furniture and farm equipment from the early settlers...it is worth a stop...we were soon on our way to the other attraction in Shiner...yep, the Spoetzl Brewery, founded in 1909...it is Texas' oldest independent brewery...those early Czechs and Germans missed their beer...they even brought over a Bavarian brewmaster, Kosmos Spoetzl to get it going...it continues to brew in the same tradition today...after a short tasting of four of their brews, we decided to visit another church before our visit with Kristi and the twins in Weimer...Praha,Tx and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary...Praha...our next stop...finally, we got to meet Jordan and Winston Okruhlik...and two of the cutest babies ever...Kristi, you are going to be a wonderful mom...an evening of visiting and learning all about the Jack Daniels legacy from an actual owner of some property in Tenn. where the distillery operates...a real Tennessee Squire...we were impressed...we just had a great time and hope to get back to Wiemer again....tomorrow, more churches....

...someone opened the floodgates....

here we are in Shulenburg,Tx,and it is pouring down raining...good news, it at least waited until we arrived and got set up...we did manage to find a few shops to spend a little money in...he he...tomorrow we plan on seeing a very good friend and her two cuties...but for now, TV and listening to the rain...

...Happy Thanksgiving...

...I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and all of your favorite teams win...we are heading to Schulenburg, Texas the week after Thanksgiving...we are planning on touring the painted churches...will update as soon as we arrive....

...check ups....

...getting ready for a fall trip...checked out the generator...the carburetor had to be cleaned...checked the tires...found only 1 small screw in the tire that had been causing our slow leak...got that fixed today...I'm ready, Gus is ready and soon Bill will be ready...he he...not sure of a destination but any place is fine with me...

...we're baaaack....

...and our mail was waiting...he he...it's been a little over a week now that we have been home...we have been working on the yard and finishing little projects around the house and wondering how soon is too soon to head out again...he he...

...Hummer/Bird Celebration....Rockport,Texas

...Hummer/Bird Celebration....

...it should have been called "Mosquito Fest"....seriously, we saw hundreds of hummingbirds in one location AND thousands of mosquitos at the same time...not a problem...everyone was wearing the same perfume..."off" and "cutters"...he he...rumor even has it that Walmart ran out of insect repellent....if you have any interest in these little birds you should attend next year...there were 25 homes opened to the public for viewing...one house even had 39 feeders...they said they have to refill at least twice a day during the migration period...these little hummers have to double their body weight to fly all the way across the gulf to Mexico for the winter... then it happens all over again in the spring when they come back on their way north...some even fly all the way to Canada....we also were able to take part in the banding...can you imagine the little tiny band they put on their legs...this is vital in their tracking and record keeping...lots of workshops, lectures and yes, two malls of arts and crafts...he he...something for everyone...we had a great time and will be back next year...met lots of wonderful people and got many ideas for Bill to do in the back yard when we get home...which will be day after tomorrow...this will probably be my last posting until we get home....it's been a wonderful trip...two and 1/2 months and 22 states....we'll get home...check things out, rest up and head out again....he he...thanks for taking the journey with us....

...destination...Rockport, Texas....

...we are here...got the hummingbird feeder out...got the car and Gus in the shade and we are ready for the week....yes, one whole week in one spot...we are excited to be here...

...don't feed the alligators...

...yep, that was in the rules for the campground at the FamCamp at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana...and the lake did look a little spooky...the campground was great, beautiful trees and wonderful large concrete pads...we spent four rainy days there...I got my ID renewed,we toured the 8th Air Force Museum, and of course, visited the commissary, BX and class 6...one of the exhibits in the Museum was a video of President Bush's address to the nation on Sept 11 2001....I hadn't realized he was at Barksdale when he spoke to the people about the attacks....he had flown to Barksdale to deliver the speech...our next stop....the Lone Star State....

Vicksburg, Mississippi

...Vicksburg, The Fortress City....

...after hooking everything up and beginning to relax, our electrical connection went kaputt...in other words, our rig was 95 inside and 98 outside and no air conditioning...we had to head out to...what else, a Walmart...but no luck on a part we needed...we did find the part at The Home Depot..."our electrician" spent a good hour cutting and rewiring the cord and today we are cool as cucumbers...it was scary because the plug part of the cord started melting...it was a good thing we were there...Vicksburg was a very interesting city...we've been there before, but just for overnites...this time we really had a chance to tour the city...we saw the old candy story where coke was first bottled and the old County Courthouse had the largest collection of Civil War relics I've ever seen in one spot...all local findings and donated by local people...we spent one whole day touring the battlefield...we rented an audio/visual gps "thing" to show and tell us everything we needed to know about all the spots in the battlefield...it was outstanding...I'd recommend it to anyone...I think we missed a lot by not doing that at Gettysburg...I guess we'll just have to go back...he he...it was interesting to find out the town of Vicksburg did not celebrate July 4th for 100 years because Pemberton had surrendered to Grant on July 4th....the cemetery had the largest number of Union Soldiers buried there...the story of the Ironclad Cairo was unbelievable...it had set on the bottom of the Mississippi River for almost 100 years and was able to be restored...there were so many artifacts that were found inside....very interesting...next stop is another FamCamp at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana....

Horn Lake, Mississippi

...Elvis and the Blues...only in Memphis....

...we arrived in Horn Lake, Mississippi Thursday...we thought we were going to have a hard time getting a spot over the Labor Day Weekend, but it was not a problem...Yogi was there to greet us...Horn Lake was within a few miles from Memphis, Tennessee...as a matter of fact, part of the city was in Mississippi and part in Tenn...it was also located about 15 miles from Tunica...a little Las Vegas, or so they would like for it to be...there were nine casinos and yes, we made them all...playing the penny machines and only playing a dollar we weren't going to get rich...he he....we also took a ride on the Mississippi, River on the Tunica Queen...great relaxing ride and learned alot about the river....we were excited the next morning when we had a little visitor to our hummingbird feeder...Sunday we drove downtown Memphis...a walk thru the famous Peabody Hotel to see the ducks...we were too late to see their "march" thru the hotel but did get to see them in the fountain...we then walked down Beale Street...found a great blues patio and listened to the music...I had to have a "big ass beer"...Ms Louisiana Mojo Queen was very good...it wasn't Westfest but it had to do....he he...we ended our day driving past Elvis' mansion...neither Bill nor I had any desire to fight the huge crowds to take the tour...we couldn't leave Memphis without some of that great Bar B Q...Interstate Bar B Q was featured on the food network so we figured it had to be great and we were not disappointed....

Hayti, Missouri

...in them ole cotton fields back home....

...literally, the campground was in the middle of cotton fields...I don't remember the cotton plants being that tall...only stayed a couple of nights, but did manage to tour Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River...home of Rush Limbaugh...yes, we drove by his boyhood home...the one that he threw water balloons at people out the second story window....AND took pics of the Wall of Fame of all the famous people born in Missouri...that was impressive on the wall along the river...we had lunch in the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant which is the oldest building on the waterfront and was Grant's headquarters during the Civil War....that evening we had dinner at the famous "Lambert's", the home of the throwed roll....yes, they do throw the dinner rolls across the restaurant...it was something to experience....he he...

...basketball...clabber girl...donkeys....

...what???...yes, after our scary morning with the fire, we departed...driving thru Indiana, we had to stop at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame...WHY??...because they had a huge tennis shoe...he he...we did arrive in Terra Haute, Indiana just after the Colts finished their training camp so no luck in seeing Peyton...we did stay in a nice campground...lots of trees and donkeys.... yes, we woke up to them saying "Good Morning"....they were so cute....we just have one adventure after another...never knowing what is around the corner...who knew Clabber Girl Baking Powder has its home in Terra Haute AND a museum...you gotta love this country...off to Hayti, Missouri....

...oh my gosh...dial 911...

...we had had a great time visiting the Air Force Museum and had retired to bed early because the next day was a driving day...the weather was just beautiful and we were able to sleep with the windows open...around 6 am we were awakened to the sounds of someone shouting "dial 911"...I looked out the window and the RV across from us had fire coming from underneath...we jumped out of bed and Bill grabbed out fire extinguisher and ran to help...both of the people got out...the base fire trucks arrived in about 10 min...it didn't take long for the whole rig to be in flames...so sad...the couple from North Dakota lost a pet cat and most all their belongings....we helped as much as we could and then had to leave....a very unsettling morning....

Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio

...fly, fight and win....

...driving into Ohio and heading toward Dayton, we decided to try and take advantage of Military Camping...we haven't ever stayed at a FamCamp before, which is located on military installations....we saw that Wright-Patterson AFB was outside of Dayton and we gave them a call and reserved a spot for three nights...upon arriving we were greeted by numerous groundhogs....Puxtuwanny Phil for sure...he he...it was great to be "on base" again...not a problem going thru the gate because we have both vehicles registered and our IDs are up to date....our site was a wonderful concrete pad with full hookup and a pull thru...the best part was half the price we've been paying...we met some great people...once military always military...it's family....we set up camp and quickly headed to the BX...yes, a BX not PX...Class VI to restock the wine and then the commissary...I was finally able to get Bill his Air Force Flag for his birthday...that night it rained like the sky was falling...the next morning was beautiful and we were off to the National Museum of the United States Air Force...OMG...three HUGE hangars of aircraft with a separate offsite presidental aircraft hangar...it took us over five hours to tour the first three hangars...Bill was in heaven...it was like the military channel and history channel all rolled into one spot and being there live....it started with the history of flight with the Wright Brothers and going thru each war to the present...unbelievable...Bill found every airplane he worked on and everyone he flew in....standing in the airplane where LBJ was sworn in was unbelievable...Roosevelt's
"Sacred Cow" was impressive to see the wheelchair elevator he had installed...seeing the stealth bombers up close looked like something out of star wars...and to think it all started with those two guys with a bicycle shop who had a dream...and yes, the field where they did their testing is still untouched....saw a documentary on the Wright Bros...it was so interesting...Bill even took a simulated flight test just like Orvile and earned a certificate....we are heading west tomorrow....

...covered bridges...

...I was sad to leave the beautiful Amish Countryside...eventho we were still in Pennsylvannia, it was not the same...our next stop was in Washington Pa...we decided to take a driving tour and try to find all 12 of the covered bridges in Washington Co...we missed the first and then the second, just when we decided the directions were all messed up we happened upon the 3rd on the list...after deciding it wasn't us, it WAS the directions, we persisted and located three more...it wasn't easy and many more miles than we had anticipated...after the fourth one, I knew Bill was done when he said, "I think we're done with covered bridges for today"...he he...the next day we were off to Ohio....

Bowmansville, Pennslyvania

...Amish Country....

...we left New York and arrived in the Pennsylvannia Dutch Country...this area has left a surprisingly wonderful impression on me...as I'm typing this, I still am in awe of the area and the people...it leaves me with wanting to know more...we spent two days in this area riding around and I could have stayed for weeks...we just rode around and looked at the beautiful well kept farms...the movie "Jacob's Choice" answered questions about the "choice" they have after their teenage years...we toured a home that shows how they live today...no electricity, but the ways they make things work is unbelievable...we also took a buggy ride in one of their wagons...I can see how relaxing and unrushed their way of life is...Lancaster County Pa has the largest Amish population in the US...Ohio has the most in a state...each family has an average of six children with 90 percent of the children choosing to live the Amish way of life....everything in Lancaster County seems to move just a little bit slower....by the way, Monday must have been a washday...clothes were on every line in every farm...if you are interested in the race track pics...email me...he he....

Newburgh, New York

...duty, honor, and country...

...when the Browns and Thomas' left, we ventured out around our campground....seeing a huge bus with out of country plates we had to find out about it...he he...it was a sleeper bus from Germany that is stationed in Washington DC....we've never seen anything like it...about 30 Europeans come over every year and travel around on this bus...it had sleeping berths and an outdoor kitchen....can't imagine...after they parked the showers were busy for quite a while...he he...we later decided to tour West Point...OMG...what an impressive military installation....since we have a sticker to get into military facilities, we decided to check out the PX, Class 6, and commissary....we both needed haircuts and figured NO PROBLEM...Bill's was great, mine was the haircut from HELL...he he...maybe by the time I get home it will be okay...he he...the post was so crowded we decided to take a guided tour...I'm so glad we did...it was wonderful...we were able to go inside the chapel and see the enormous organ and stain glass windows...each window was given to the chapel by graduating classes...our tour guide noted the books lined up according to regulation...we saw the Michie Stadium...our side said "Beat Navy" and "Beat Air Force"...go figure...he he...Trophy Point was a tribute to aritfacts from all the wars of the US...it was right above the Hudson River...a very important strategic spot for the Revolutionary War...the museum was the largest collection of military weapons in the US...seeing the full scale replica of the A Bomb dropped on Japan was breath taking...as was the oil painting of D-Day donated by Eisenhower...the next morning we had to get out the "rain duck suits"...first time on the trip....next stop...Amish Country.....

...together again....

...he he...after saying goodbye at Cape Cod, the Browns and Thomas' were heading to New York City and we were going to go south along the east coast...well about 5 hours later...we sorta had second thoughts about the coast when we saw Hurricane Bill heading that way....the Browns and Thomas' were totally lost and separated from each other...so when we got to a campground and called them and told them there was room for them, they headed our way...what a fun reunion...he he...we enjoyed another evening together around the campfire and took pictures by the Statue of Liberty so Gordon could say he saw the Statue of Liberty....I did give lessons on the Garmin the next morning and we all said our goodbyes again....

Cape Cod, MA

...COCKTAILS with the Kennedys.....

...a pilgrimage to HY Anus....driving from Maine to New Hamsphire into Massachusetts had surprisingly numerous tolls...AND the roads were horrible...lots of traffic...wanted to turn around and go back to beautiful Maine...arrived at a KOA that was only "26" miles from Cape Cod...Monday morning we set out on our adventure to the very tip...Provincetown...it was only 112 miles....WHAT...we couldn't believe....it was very different...having to search for beaches and shopping...I guess that's why people like to vacation there...we did find the beach at the very tip...Destin, Fl wins hands down....THEN there was Provincetown...oh my...Karen wanted to know why all the rainbow colors....did find out that's where the Pilgrims landed first but then went on to Plymouth to settle....we tried to find Hyannisport....I guess "they" forgot to tell the secret service to let us in...he he....we did see a new park dedicated to Eunice...the next day we toured the Plimouth Plantation...very interesting...then celebrated Bill's birthday at the Weathervane Restaurant in Plymouth Harbor...we found the "rock" and toured the Mayflower...how I wish I had done this while still teaching....our "last" nite together at camp was sad/happy steak dinner...OMG...Gordon had the best cattle for meat...thanks Gordon and Bessie...took a "last" picture the next morning and we all left to go our separate ways...OR SO WE THOUGHT...check the next entry...he he...

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

...got lobstah?....

...Maine has to be my favorite to date...have I said that about each new place...he he...honestly, every place gets better and better...the drive from New Hamsphire to Maine was again a beautiful drive...we don't do a lot of planning on routes, we just plug in the Garmin and go and so far we have not been disappointed or lost...well, I take that back, once the Garmin took us to the wrong site, but we quickly found our way...we arrived in Boothbay Harbor region around 4:30 in the afternoon...first time we were rained on...it only lasted that evening...the next morning was hazy but nice...went into Boothbay Harbor and along with all the other tourists walked around and "shopped"...met Dan Dan the Lobster Man and booked a trip to go out with him to check his traps so we had to extend another two days at the camp...not a problem....went back to town and ended up in a 1946 bowling alley with tiny balls and "stick pins"...Bill said his dad had been a city champion of Atlanta back in his day...could not believe Karen was champion of the evening...she said she had never bowled before...had a great time...next day, Bill and I took off for Pemaquid Point to the lighthouse...what a treasure...thanks, Faith, for the tip...it was the most beautiful sight ever...we climbed all over the rocks and decided to take our friends back the next day...we had our first lobster at the Lobster Dock...soft shell and easy to peel...soooo good...took a drive into Camden...another harbor on the coast and had an afternoon meal at the Waterfront Restaurant....a different clientele from Boothbay...can you believe I got acquainted with a group of teachers having "happy hour" on a Friday afternoon...he he...no difference from state to state teacher groups...he he...as we were leaving a little ole man approached me and asked us to take him home...being Texas friendly, we did and found out he was a lawyer from Austin Texas...small world...Saturday had to be the highlight of the the trip so far...going out on the lobster boat...catching the buoy, hauling in the trap, rebaiting it and measuring and tagging the lobster...how cool was that...it didn't even matter that once again the Norwegian was the winner...he he...a wonderful time was had by all...we ended the day having a cup of New England clam chowder and a beer....I'm thinking next stop...Massachusetts...

Wilmington, New York

...the Adirondacks are MORE than chairs....

...we traveled thru the adirondacks to our next spot, North Pole, NY...how appropriate....maybe, I was expecting tooooo much, but I did not see one moose, nor a bear by the stream catching a trout nor a seaplane bringing in the mail....he he...I did see lots of beautiful crystal clear streams and lakes...our spot in the campground was wonderful...the second one that is...we had a little trouble with the first one...woke up to 48 degree weather...finally a little cooler weather....our first day was spent with all the rest of the tourists, walking around all the shops in Lake Placid, reminded me a lot of Vail or Aspen...typical ski resort....drove out to see the Ausable Chasm...very pretty.....one of the highlights of the trip was an elevator ride to the top of the ski jump used in the 1980s olympics....always wondered what it would feel like to look down from that high....actually, it looked scarier from the bottom up than from the top down....Sunday morning we had to be at Port Kent to catch the ferry at 10 o'clock...we were hoping all three motorhomes would be able to make the same trip...we were in luck....how cool was that....an hour long ferry ride across Lake Champlain from New York to Vermont....we had a very smooth ride across....drove across Vermont and spent the night in Littleton, New Hamsphire on the Ammonoosuc River...pretty campsite, but we were anxious to get to Maine.....can't wait to taste those lobsters.....

Pulaski, New York

...visiting with friends...

...our last morning at Golden Hill State Park was a beautiful, crisp, cool, windy beginning to the day....the water was all whitecaps with huge waves...totally looked like the ocean...it was sad to leave such a beautiful place...the drive from the campground to Pulaski was filled with sights of cobblestone houses...amazing...Jim and Karen and Bessie and Gordon had our spot for us and plans to spend the evening with their friends, Audrey and Bob, who own a home right on Lake Ontario...very pretty sight...they spend 6 months in Arizona and 6 months in NY....how hard can that be....during our stay there we drove to Southwick Beach...OMG...white sand and sand dunes....also drove to Sachets Harbor...another very important player in the War of 1812...who knew history would be so interesting....he he...our last evening we spent eating a fabulous dinner at the Wigwam on the lake....our last goodbyes were said at breakfast the next morning....before breakfast, Bill, Gordon and I went to have a last look at the lake and Bill got into a nest of yellow jackets and was stung on the head....not a great way to start the day....

Golden Hill State Park, New York

...I LUV NY...

...after picking up Gus, we headed north to New York...the drive from Harrisburg Pa to Lake Ontario thru the Sequahanna River Valley was just beautiful...each state and place we go seems to be more beautiful than the one before....we arrived at Golden Hill State Park around 8:15 just in time to see THE most beautiful sunset ever....just to the left of the sun you could just make out the CNN tower in Toronto...our campsite was right on the lake, which by the way looked like an ocean....also across the street was the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse...OMG...being tired from the previous day, we decided to make it a "light" day...as if we know how to do that...he he...we met lots of wonderful people while walking around...hey to Ann and Reed, Tom and Marylynn and Annie and Roy...our "light" day turned into taking a boat trip down the Erie Canal...the ERNIE canal...can you believe...went thru Locks 34 and 35...kinda scary knowing a wall of water of 25 feet at a time was on the other side of the door...very interesting...our next day was the biggee....Niagara Falls...like I said each day just keeps getting better and better....you can't imagine the feeling standing by the railing with the falls behind me...we again took a tour which included the Discovery Center, Restaurant on Top of the Falls, Cave of the Winds, IMAX show on the history of the falls and my favorite, the boat ride into the falls...Maid of the Mist....it was definitely the best.....the next morning Bessie and Gordon and Jim and Karen left for Pulaski, NY....of course, Bill and I were not ready to go so we stayed behind for another couple of days....in that short time we shopped at an Amish store and bought some of the best goat white cheddar cheese, tasted wine at Shultze's Winery...met the granddaughter of the lady who at one time lived in the lighthouse in our campground...even a small world in NY...he he...drove to Olcott, walked the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park beach and found lots of sea glass...our last stop was Fort Niagara which was an important harbor in the War of 1812....arriving at the campground, we were given a private showing of the lighthouse....thanks Annie and Roy....hope your mom is doing well.....the next morning we were off to Pulaski, NY for our next adventure.....

...Gus goes to the clinic...

...Jim and Karen and Bessie and Gordon left for Golden Hill State Park in New York on Thursday morning and we went to York, Pa. to find out where the Ford dealership was located...once we checked in with them and everything was a go for Friday morning we headed back to camp...as we were on the way back we saw the Harley Davidson Factory/Visitor Center...not being bikers ourselves, we went in to get some brochures for the local area and decided to take the tour...why not...he he...turned out to be awesome....very interesting seeing the assembly line and the pride and dedication the employees take in building the bikes...everyone there LOVED their jobs...especially, the two guys that road test the bikes...of course, we had to see what we'd look like if the urge ever hit us...he he...we then continued back toward camp when we turned on a side road and found a great old covered bridge...glad we didn't come up on it in the RV...he he...next morning we were up and gone by 6:30 and had Gus checked in at 7:45...we found the coolest 24 hour diner and had breakfast...we even found out what scrapple was... by the time we finished and took a short shopping trip to the mall, they called and Gus was ready to go...only a bad coil that warranty took care of and we were on our way to Golden Hill State Park...right on Lake Ontario....