2025 wrap up

  2025 shall best be described as the year of cancellations. All major trips ended up being cancelled. Health issues won out. We did sneak away to Blanco for three nights. Purpose was to view Christmas lights. Call it successful. Also spent three nights at Meridian over Christmas. I was sick the whole time but we achieved our goals. Call it a success. Refuse to even make reservations for 2026 at this time. The spring is already shot, ability to go to high country in question so summer seems uncertain. We shall improvise, adapt and overcome as required....

All good things must end

  After a nearly 9 hour drive we arrived safely back home. Had fun, relaxed, met some interesting people, visited 2 state parks. I call that success. The goal was to separate ourselves from the tragedy of the flood. We came home to an empty field where debris trucks were staged when we left. Progress. Sadly an excavator was working right beside our community pier. Terrible job that needs doing to try and bring closure for Celi's family. Let us hope they are successful quickly.

 Next up beginning September 26th, a six week excursion thru the Ozarks. Things to see and do.

resting till next time...   

Playing tourist

  Today was a light schedule day. Some shopping, some history and touristy things. First on the agenda was an historic section of old route 66, the Mother Road. Sadly it was not as we remembered it to be. Instead of quaint shops, mostly bars. No picture perfect murals to capture nostalgia. No problem we have other opportunities in our near future. Next up was some shopping and that was both successful, surprising and informative. We went to Hobby lobby and were surprised at it's size, probably three times the size of the one at home. We were able to secure a few yards of batting for our quilts. Next up came a small quilt store across street from Hobby Lobby. I scored some route 66 fabric and some neutrals. Ended up recounting our flood story to some ladies. Doing so got us all choked up. The Big lots store in Kerrville closed and is being replaced with an Ollie's. One was nearby so we stopped in to get an idea of what to expect. Don't believe we will be a valued customer by any stretch.

 If one travels at all, you quickly learn about tourist traps. Amarillo has a big, well known one. Fully aware of what we were going to, off we went to the Big Texan steak house. Some times you just have to check off a tourist trap list of places to visit. No plans ever to return, but our meals were decent.

No, we did not try and eat a five pound chunk of meat...

carpe diem

Prairie dogs and bison

 If one drove straight to Amarillo from Lubbock, it would be a fairly short trip. But our goal for the day was to visit Caprock Canyons state park and Palo Duro state park. Long day but mission accomplished.

 The state bison herd was a little timid but the prairie dogs picked up the slack. We were blessed with good weather and enjoyed our visit. Doing what we enjoy most, just roaming around exploring nature as best we can.

 

 We enjoyed a nice meal at Chuy's restaurant. A restaurant we have never tried before. Very tasty, large portions at a reasonable price. What's not to love? To top it off the Drury suites offers free drinks from 5:30 to 7pm. Nice way to finish out the day.

 On tap for remainder of our stay is a museum or two, old route 66 shops and many quilt stores. Should be a relaxing 3 days, just what we needed.

back to gathering rosebuds...

At long last

   This year has been one for the books for sure. So many planned trips only to have to cancel them. Doctors, delayed remodel, floods all played a part. As the title suggest, we finally left home on September 6th. First stop in Fredericksburg to view a reenactment of a WW2 battle. Very enjoyable presentation.

 Then it was on to Lubbock to spend the night. Tomorrow brings two state parks and a visit to Amarillo.

Blanco wrap up

 Well we were expecting rain. But...

  We got back to camper without any additional rain. However about midnight some strong thunderstorms rolled thru. Bumpy for awhile that led to river rise. That is important because the entrance is across a low water crossing. They closed it due to high water. No problem we were not going anywhere. While soggy Wednesday was a relatively nice day. They were however predicting rough weather. On most occasions you see it develop out west then move east. Radar was clear so perhaps an error in forecast? Not to be. About 1am storms developed on top of us. Worst rain storm we have ever been in. And the lightning, oh my was it severe. Learned later in day it spawned two tornadoes in Wimberly, about 20 miles away. Too close and too rough for our liking.

 The remainder of our stay was quite pleasant.

 

Just part of the adventure. Home till mid July then off to Cloudcroft for two weeks.

carpe diem

Blanco day 3

 As previously advertised today was wedding day. We made the trip to Belton for the wedding of Cory and Jasmine. It was an outdoor wedding and thunderstorms in the morning made things seem a little iffy. The skies cleared and the festivities went on without a hitch.

 

 The wedding also presented the opportunity for 6 cousins to be together. A rare thing and probably the final time.

 While the rain spared the wedding, it paid us a visit early Wednesday morning (1am early). A rough night to say the least.

  That lovely storm left us with this result.

 Which led to this result

 Plan was to go out for dinner, will have to see about that. Probably is an escape route, just need to find it.

gathering soggy rosebuds....