Round Four - That's All She Wrote!

The last part of this trip has been spent relaxing in the great state of Texas, with side trips to Oklahoma and Arkansas.  As we have visited these areas before, sightseeing was at a minimum.  Instead there was a lot of this........

And twice daily walks in very pleasant surroundings such as these

And the occasional refreshment, sometimes enjoyed sitting around the firepit.

(Ya, I know, it's a rough life)









One new area that we visited was Waco, TX.  While there we visited the Texas Ranger Museum.  Pretty cool!  For those of you who watch Criminal Minds, I suspect the guy in the photo below, Frank A. Hamer, was the original profiler.  By using profiling techniques, he was able to track down the infamous Bonnie & Clyde in Louisiana back in 1934, where the bank robbers were shot and killed, thus ending their spree of murder and mayhem.

Towards the end of March, my Mom and Dad flew down to spend a week with us at Tres Rios RV Resort, part of the Ocean Canyon Properties RV resort network.  While there we took them to Fort Worth where they got rowdy and tangled with Wild Bill Hickok, danced at Billy Bob's Honky Tonk and saw a cattle drive through the center of town.






















We also checked out the Chisholm Trail exhibit in nearby Cleburne.  For those who follow the tornado storm systems, the town of Cleburne was hit by a storm two days after this visit, around the same time as the Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport was being pummeled. 










In Dalls we visited the Sixth Floor Museum which documents the Kennedy assassination and presidency. (no cameras allowed)

With the arrival of our first grandchild this coming September, we decided to leave our RV in Texas so we can spend Christmas with family in Winnipeg and still escape the snow and cold come January.  Not sure what next the next excursion will bring - perhaps another quiet trip like this one, or maybe we'll get adventurous again and head to the New England area.  Only time will tell. That's all for now.  Safe travels!

Coastin' 'Round the Gulf

What a month!  Four weeks of rest and relaxation as we worked our way around the Gulf of Mexico.  After departing the eastern Gulf shores near Dunedin, Fl, we next stopped near the Gulf Shores of Alabama before heading on to the beautiful state of Louisiana.

Life on the coast can be very laid back.  The dogs got right into the swing of it.  Trying to get them mobile in the morning can be a real challenge!

Jim and I took advantage of the nice weather to check out golf courses in Fairhope, AL and Abita Springs, LA.  Because of the droughts that have been experienced over the past year, the courses were a little rough, (kind of like our game (LOL)) but we had fun anyway.

We also deposited some cash at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St Louis, Mississippi (no cameras allowed) and we returned to the Pontchartrain Winery in Abita Springs (and forgot the camera, so again no pictures, but lots of great wine)

No trip to the Gulf Coast is complete without a trip to the beach.  The day was cool but the sun was bright.  The picture is taken at Orange Beach, Alabama.  As you can see, BP kept its promise to clean up the area after the massive oil spill, at least as far as the beaches are concerned.  Not sure what still lies below the surface.

That being said, the threat of oil did not stop folks from casting their line.  When I asked them what they were fishing for, I was told, "Anything that bites!" 

I had visions of Alfred Hitchcock's, "The Birds", as I watched these folks feed the seagulls.  I think the little guy was of the same opinion as he decided to make a break for it!

"SILENCE...... I keel you!"

Yep - the highlight of our trip to Louisiana this year was a Jeff Dunham concert. 

Achmed and all his friends were in fine form. 

Again, no pictures were permitted during the performance.

I snapped a pic of the stage just before the performance started.

With three trips under our belt, we've wondered if it's time to park the RV and stay home for a couple of winters.  Just when you start to lean that way, something happens.  This picture was taken on Friday evening, 24 Jan 2012.  With the windchill factored in at home, I think it was around -35C.  Guess which way we're leaning now (LOL).

That's it from the Gulf Coast.  Next up the Lone Star State.  See ya next month!

Florida Fancy

Happy New Year to Everyone.  Since our last entry, we have spent the better part of three weeks basking in the warm Florida sunshine. 

First stop was Grand Lakes Golf & RV Resort in north central Florida, halfway between Ocala and Gainsville.   Finally a chance to dust off  "the sticks" and get in a few rounds of golf.  We often say it's a small world.  The saying held true here.  The second night we were there, there was a spaghetti dinner and dance in the clubhouse.  Lo and behold, the folks sitting next to us were fellow Canadians and one couple were retired from the CF.  Turns out both he and his wife had worked with Jim's brother Dave when he was posted to Petawawa.  Like I said - small world! 















From Grand Lake it was on to Tampa and visits with family and friends.  Jim got to spend Christmas Day with his sister Tish - first time since 1965.  We had a wonderful dinner, with all the trimmings and a good time was had by all.  (So good in fact that I forgot to take the camera out and snap a few photos (LOL)).


You know how you always get tired of eating after the big day and never know what to cook.  Well, my Aunt Anne had the solution for that - moose stew!!!  Here she is getting it ready........

...and here we are eating it!  Yum, yum, yum.  Thanks for sharing your Newfoundland grub!

When we're parked in a major center, it's always nice for Benji and Zoe when we find an off-leash park for them to run and stretch their legs and meet other pups.  Palm Harbor had a really nice park that they took full advantage of.

Last time we were in Tampa, our focus was on attending various sporting events.  This time round, with Tish as our guide, we decided to check out Busch Gardens: Africa Adventure. 

I discovered that Tish is as fearless as Jim when it comes to amusement park rides.  While they took a ride on the wildest roller coaster in the park, I kept my feet firmly planted on the ground and held on to purses and hats and other sundry items that tend to fall off or out of the car when you're being whipped around upside down!!! 

They humored me with a more sane ride - a trip around the park on a train.  You can see one of the roller coaster tracks in the background.

From the train we could see all kinds of animals native to Africa....

New Year's Eve was a quiet event.  Dinner included a BBQ'd steak, accompanied by the odd bottle of vino.  On New Year's Day, our friends, Jan & Dave Thomas, drove up from their winter haven for a visit.  It was good to see them and catch up on their news.

From Florida, we're off to the Gulf Coast.  Take care everyone.