We did leave Galveston Wednesday, but got on the road by 11:00am. Made it well into Louisiana and found a clean RV park for the night just a mile from the interstate. A 325 mile day!
It was warm and pleasantly humid with smells of fresh cut grass. If we were not on our way home it would have been a nice spot to spend a day. We loved the water and waves of the Galveston beach, but the constant wind was wearing on us. Here, no wind. Very nice.
Thursday we got an early start - 9:00 am. Did a long 400+ mile day. Up through the middle of Mississippi, then east into Alabama. Got to Birmingham for rush hour and were happy to find a state park just north of there for the night. It was "woodsy" and the bugs were out in full force. The first problem with insects the whole trip. We left early Friday morning!
The goal was to drive another 350 miles to get to Louisville or just into Indiana to spend the last night out giving us an easy 300 miles on Saturday to get home early afternoon.
But, we got on the road and Blueboy just wanted to get back to "the barn". We drove the entire 675 miles home in just over twelve hours to arrive home at 9:30 pm.
So folks, this trip is in the books! We are happy to be home!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Day 90, Wednesday, 03/26/08
Last night was our 5th here at Galveston State Park. It's been sunny and warm, although quite breezy, the entire stay. We planned on leaving yesterday, but looking at the forecast for Elkhart we decided to extend one more night. Then late yesterday sitting in the afternoon sun we thought we would extend again tonight. However, this morning, a warm 67 at 7:30am, is cloudy.
So my guess at this time (Ellen is not awake yet) is we will pack up and leave, but not until our 2:00pm checkout time. We'll get in a 200 -250 mile drive, then three days of 350 miles (avg) to arrive home Saturday late afternoon.
See Ya all then!
So my guess at this time (Ellen is not awake yet) is we will pack up and leave, but not until our 2:00pm checkout time. We'll get in a 200 -250 mile drive, then three days of 350 miles (avg) to arrive home Saturday late afternoon.
See Ya all then!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Day 87, Sunday, 03/23/08
Happy Easter!
We have just been enjoying the weather here on Galveston Island. It's so much different than what we have been experiencing on this winter trip. It' s like a real vacation! No dirt, no dust, no wind storms, no temperature extremes, some humidity, water, and beautiful beaches to hike where dogs are allowed.
On Thursday, the day we arrived, we stayed in the overflow area. On Friday we got into the campground. On Saturday the campground began to clear out. Today, Sunday, the place looks empty - end of Spring Break. At least for the family campers. The party beaches which have no overnight camping, but allow autos to drive onto the sand, are still packed. We were afraid to drive down and see what was going on, but my mind is sure wondering!
Still warm today, but the wind is up and makes being outside feel colder than the 70 degree temperature. We are just enjoying ourselves here and would stay a while longer if we did not have to be home this coming weekend. The dogs look and feel clean for the first time since their last grooming before we left. Twice a day swims in the Gulf of Mexico (with fresh water rinses) have made them "fluffy" again.
We are not trying to hike or sight see here, just enjoying the sun and sand before we go home to the cold. Being on the beach here at the State Park is a multi-million dollar experience for just $24.00 per day. We can't say enough about this State Park! It's clean, right on the Gulf, big sites, dogs allowed on the beach, fresh fish market 2 miles away, and close to all the amenities of Galveston Island.
Pictures below. Probably the last of the trip as we do not expect much on our 1350 mile push home to be very interesting.
Ellen playing ball with Gracie
View from our camp site
Sunrise today over the Gulf from our "spot"
Our backyard view
The Galveston Island Beach
Another view of our camp site with the Gulf in the background
We are right next to the board walk over the small sand dune that drops us off right on the water.
The girls really played long and hard the first day on the beach and never got up the whole night.
JPL with Gracie
We have just been enjoying the weather here on Galveston Island. It's so much different than what we have been experiencing on this winter trip. It' s like a real vacation! No dirt, no dust, no wind storms, no temperature extremes, some humidity, water, and beautiful beaches to hike where dogs are allowed.
On Thursday, the day we arrived, we stayed in the overflow area. On Friday we got into the campground. On Saturday the campground began to clear out. Today, Sunday, the place looks empty - end of Spring Break. At least for the family campers. The party beaches which have no overnight camping, but allow autos to drive onto the sand, are still packed. We were afraid to drive down and see what was going on, but my mind is sure wondering!
Still warm today, but the wind is up and makes being outside feel colder than the 70 degree temperature. We are just enjoying ourselves here and would stay a while longer if we did not have to be home this coming weekend. The dogs look and feel clean for the first time since their last grooming before we left. Twice a day swims in the Gulf of Mexico (with fresh water rinses) have made them "fluffy" again.
We are not trying to hike or sight see here, just enjoying the sun and sand before we go home to the cold. Being on the beach here at the State Park is a multi-million dollar experience for just $24.00 per day. We can't say enough about this State Park! It's clean, right on the Gulf, big sites, dogs allowed on the beach, fresh fish market 2 miles away, and close to all the amenities of Galveston Island.
Pictures below. Probably the last of the trip as we do not expect much on our 1350 mile push home to be very interesting.
Ellen playing ball with Gracie
View from our camp site
Sunrise today over the Gulf from our "spot"
Our backyard view
The Galveston Island Beach
Another view of our camp site with the Gulf in the background
We are right next to the board walk over the small sand dune that drops us off right on the water.
The girls really played long and hard the first day on the beach and never got up the whole night.
JPL with Gracie
Friday, March 21, 2008
Day 85, Friday, 03/21/08
Just a note that we got a regular campsite this morning and we are all set here for 4-6 more nights. The seven day weather report looks great so we are not moving until it's time to head home.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Day 84, Thursday, 03/20/08
Made it to Galveston Island today but boy what traffic going through Houston and down to Galveston. This area is unbeliveable! If you think of Grape Road and all the development there, turn it into 8 lanes of traffic and 70 miles long and you have the corridore between Houston and Galveston.
Plus it's spring break.
We did not get a campsite at Galveston State Park, they were full. We called all the local private campgrounds and they too were full. But we were able to stay in the overflow lot at Galveston State Park with no water, electric, or sewer hookup's for the night. Basically we are in a parking lot for the night and have to be out by 9am. But we are here, and the dogs can go on the beach, we can see the Gulf, and we are happy. We will get in line at 7am tomorrow morning to try to get a regular campsite, but we will be happy to just stay in the parking lot for 6 or 7 days if they let us do it. It's really not too bad! There is the beach with dogs allowed, a fresh fish market just down the road, a near by liquor store, lots of sunshine, and warm weather. What more could anyone ask for?
I have a couple of pictures from around here, but will wait until I have more to post them.
Brother Tim called to say a snow storm is heading towards Elkhart, we may just stay here a little longer than planned. Elkhart is our next destination, but not a fixed time of arrival.
See Ya All Soon!
Plus it's spring break.
We did not get a campsite at Galveston State Park, they were full. We called all the local private campgrounds and they too were full. But we were able to stay in the overflow lot at Galveston State Park with no water, electric, or sewer hookup's for the night. Basically we are in a parking lot for the night and have to be out by 9am. But we are here, and the dogs can go on the beach, we can see the Gulf, and we are happy. We will get in line at 7am tomorrow morning to try to get a regular campsite, but we will be happy to just stay in the parking lot for 6 or 7 days if they let us do it. It's really not too bad! There is the beach with dogs allowed, a fresh fish market just down the road, a near by liquor store, lots of sunshine, and warm weather. What more could anyone ask for?
I have a couple of pictures from around here, but will wait until I have more to post them.
Brother Tim called to say a snow storm is heading towards Elkhart, we may just stay here a little longer than planned. Elkhart is our next destination, but not a fixed time of arrival.
See Ya All Soon!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Day 83, Wednesday, 03/19/08
The following commentary is from about a week of travel. Could not post it so I just kept writing until I could.
Seminole Canyon cave where humans lived for thousands of years
Seminole Canyon is normally dry, but the heavy rains the last two days has resulted in some flow
The petroglyph pictures are not too clear. And no one knows for sure what they mean.
View from inside the cave
Ancient butcher block or cutting board. The surface is very smooth after centuries of use.
Rio Grande River as it flows through Big Bend NP
Not so great a view of El Paso from a scenic "skyline" drive taken from the car. It was too windy to get out of the car. But you can see how spread out the city is.
Ellen and baby Grace
Another cave picture
Big Bend hike down into a canyon. US on the left, Mexico on the right
The line of "green" in the distance defines the Rio Grande
Campground view from Big Bend
Blue Boy squeezed into his spot in BB
Thursday (the 13th), we drove from Karchner Caverns to
We drove to Alpine, TX and spent two nights to do laundry, grocery shop and wait out the high winds. The next stop is
Today, Sunday, we went to
So we are here for at least two nights. It’s not a pretty site or sight, but it works. The big thing is that we have shade trees and electricity to run the air conditioner. We are right on the Rio Grande River so it’s like an oasis in the desert with not only the trees but grass as well. Shade is important as the temperature today was 100. Too hot to do much!
Presently we are located at the far southeastern edge of the park. Not a whole lot available from here but the full service campground attracted us. Actually, with the two dogs there is not a lot to do in any National Park. They are not allowed on any trails, they should not be left alone in the motor home, and it’s too hot to take them and leave them in the car while we explore. Two short hikes (one with the dogs down a park road, and one nearby without them so we could safely leave them in the motor home) took up our second day here. We move on to the west end of the park tomorrow, Tuesday morning.
Monday it cooled off to low 90’s and this morning (Tuesday) its 57 and still falling!
So what’s up for the next few days? I’ll let you know later. Big weather front coming in so we may get out of here.
Well, guess what? Before we left for the other side of the park this morning we just decided leave and head east. The best part of any park is hiking and we just were not going to be able to do any with the dogs in tow. Plus bad weather on the way in.
Drove to
Today, Wednesday, we woke up to a fantastic sunny morning with no wind. And what a fresh breath of clean, cool, rain infused air. We signed up for a ranger led hike into the Canyon to view the ancient petroglyphs. It was nice but way too many kids on spring break along for the tour. Dirty faces, crying, irrelevant questions taking up too much of the rangers time, and running all over the place causing concerned parents to yell at them. Plus some "real" senior citizens who walked at a millepede's pace causing the ranger to slow everything down so they could catch up. We saw the petroglyphs and got out fast!
We packed up and are now in
Good night for now!
Seminole Canyon cave where humans lived for thousands of years
Seminole Canyon is normally dry, but the heavy rains the last two days has resulted in some flow
The petroglyph pictures are not too clear. And no one knows for sure what they mean.
View from inside the cave
Ancient butcher block or cutting board. The surface is very smooth after centuries of use.
Rio Grande River as it flows through Big Bend NP
Not so great a view of El Paso from a scenic "skyline" drive taken from the car. It was too windy to get out of the car. But you can see how spread out the city is.
Ellen and baby Grace
Another cave picture
Big Bend hike down into a canyon. US on the left, Mexico on the right
The line of "green" in the distance defines the Rio Grande
Campground view from Big Bend
Blue Boy squeezed into his spot in BB
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Day 77, Thursday, 03/13/08
As planned we stayed a third night at Kartchner Caverns State Park just south of Benson, AZ. Left this morning.
Drove 285 miles to an RV Park East of El Paso, but still on the outskirts of the city. It was windy on the drive today but the winds were out of the West and we were traveling East so we were being pushed, not buffeted by the winds.
We want to go to Big Bend National Park from here, a mostly Southerly route. Very high winds are in the forecast for tomorrow, still from the West, so driving tomorrow in the direction we are heading may not be possible as we will be blasted from the side by the extreme winds.
So tomorrow, if the winds are not too bad, or Saturday we leave El Paso for Big Bend. There certainly is nothing to keep us here in El Paso except for bad weather.
We're thinking about March 29th as a return to Elkhart date. But as always, our plans may change.
Drove 285 miles to an RV Park East of El Paso, but still on the outskirts of the city. It was windy on the drive today but the winds were out of the West and we were traveling East so we were being pushed, not buffeted by the winds.
We want to go to Big Bend National Park from here, a mostly Southerly route. Very high winds are in the forecast for tomorrow, still from the West, so driving tomorrow in the direction we are heading may not be possible as we will be blasted from the side by the extreme winds.
So tomorrow, if the winds are not too bad, or Saturday we leave El Paso for Big Bend. There certainly is nothing to keep us here in El Paso except for bad weather.
We're thinking about March 29th as a return to Elkhart date. But as always, our plans may change.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Day 75, Tuesday, 03/11/08
We drove 350 miles Monday from El Centro to Benson, AZ where we are currently at Karchner Caverns State Park. A beautiful system of caverns exists here and is now open for public touring. We did two tours today of different parts of the cave system. Great stuff, but we thought the park service kept the tour too dark for us to really see what was there.
We have encountered "big" winds out West this trip and more are in the forecast for this week. Our plans are to avoid driving in the 50-80 mph winds expected. So we will probably stay here for a third night with great weather in the forecast, then make a run to El Paso to "hunker" down for the winds Thursday and Friday. Then we will be off to Big Bend National Park.
We have encountered "big" winds out West this trip and more are in the forecast for this week. Our plans are to avoid driving in the 50-80 mph winds expected. So we will probably stay here for a third night with great weather in the forecast, then make a run to El Paso to "hunker" down for the winds Thursday and Friday. Then we will be off to Big Bend National Park.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Day 73, Sunday, 03/09/08
The Blue Angels!
Wow!
There is absolutely nothing I can say, or any pictures, or any videos I can post that will come remotely close to describing the awsome sights and sounds of six blue and gold Navy F-18's flying so close that you think you could reach up and touch them. It was 85 at the air show yesterday and we had goosebumps during most of their performance.
A few pictures are posted below and four different videos are on the blog home page. Hope you enjoy them, but if ever you get a chance to see these guys in person - Do It!
The link below will take you to photos someone took in San Francisco at a Blue Angels show last year. Excellent pictures and the link to a video at the end "3 sneak passes" is really neat!
Blue Angels in SF 2007
Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam
The white high water line shows how low Lake Mead has fallen
Going into Boulder City
Lake Havasu RV Resort
Imperial Sand Dunes on our way to El Centro
Ellen with the Budweiser Clydesdale's at the El Centro Naval Air Facility
Ellen waiting for the "Blues"
Our campground friends (Steve & Colleen) who have a Golden Retriever "Abby" attended the air show with us.
We had to carry these chairs a long way, but what a great "plus" for watching the "Blue's".
A two-fisted drinker
The girls begging for food
Air Show Poster
Wow!
There is absolutely nothing I can say, or any pictures, or any videos I can post that will come remotely close to describing the awsome sights and sounds of six blue and gold Navy F-18's flying so close that you think you could reach up and touch them. It was 85 at the air show yesterday and we had goosebumps during most of their performance.
A few pictures are posted below and four different videos are on the blog home page. Hope you enjoy them, but if ever you get a chance to see these guys in person - Do It!
The link below will take you to photos someone took in San Francisco at a Blue Angels show last year. Excellent pictures and the link to a video at the end "3 sneak passes" is really neat!
Blue Angels in SF 2007
Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam
The white high water line shows how low Lake Mead has fallen
Going into Boulder City
Lake Havasu RV Resort
Imperial Sand Dunes on our way to El Centro
Ellen with the Budweiser Clydesdale's at the El Centro Naval Air Facility
Ellen waiting for the "Blues"
Our campground friends (Steve & Colleen) who have a Golden Retriever "Abby" attended the air show with us.
We had to carry these chairs a long way, but what a great "plus" for watching the "Blue's".
A two-fisted drinker
The girls begging for food
Air Show Poster
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)