Winding down

 Now that we are preparing to leave it has finally stopped raining. Have done very little other than work while here. Have visited the casino's in the area. Saturday will find us on a 300 mile drive so a long day. Will stop at Goliad State park for two nights then on to Edinburg. Enjoyed Goliad in February and was about the right spot, distance wise. Next post from there unless some major change.

Rain

 It has rained every day since our arrival two weeks ago. Thankfully no flooding here but a lot of damage just to the east of us. Iowa, Jennings, Lake Arthur, Baton Rouge all affected. That water has receded but clean up continues. People who have lost most everything to the flood do not have the financial resources to rebuild or recover. Sad situation.

 Part of our motivation to travel was to do so while able. You never know what tomorrow might bring. That fact was reinforced sadly this week. Our close friends Dan and Rhonda are facing some tough times. Dan's health is not what we would like it to be. They are trying to make the best of the situation, but it seems the road gets tougher almost daily now. The four of us had plans to return to the Yucatan but that now seems unlikely. In addition this week we learned of more sad news. A friend from Tyler is now under hospice care. Ron was dealing with diabetes for years but suddenly deteriorated with liver failure. Years ago we spent a lot of time with Ron and Kathy. We were young and poor trying to raise our children. Went to church together, helped mediate marital problems. Memories from an important, formative time in our life.

 How do you process information like that? What are the take aways, how does it affect your decisions?

 For us it reinforces our resolve to chase our dreams. Plan for the future but live for today. Our hearts ache for our friends but their situations motivate us even more. We care for others, but somewhat selfishly are going to focus on ourselves, strive to achieve our dreams. Sure, we will rush to their sides and help in anyway possible, have in past and will in future.

  Sorry this travel blog took a somber tone but it has been a tough week emotionally.  Seems trite to complain about the rain...



"...gather ye rosebuds while ye may..."

Hell week

Well we have survived hell week. A good bunch of students that we have dealt with this week, a far cry from those in Alabama. We are here and open for another week but next week wil be s-l-o-w and l-o-n-g. But then it is off to south Texas for two months of sun and fun.

Take time to smell the roses folks, we are only here for a short time...


"...gather ye rosebuds while ye may..."

SOWELA

SOWELA, (southwest Louisiana) is a growing technical college. It, and Chennault International Airport, are on a abandoned air base. Creative use of old hangers but they are growing and building new facilities. Along those lines they have plans for a permanent store in the new building. I guess we will be retired again after spring rush. Oh well...

 Some pictures of SOWELA.

Fall rush

The fall semester rush is the biggest, regardless of school. It has been a week frought with problems, help not showing up, technical issues. We have we think a good team at this point in time. Next week is hell week so do not expect any new post. Very wet with daily downpours.

Rain and lies

 The worst of the flooding you are hearing about is just east of our location. Having said that, it is coming down very hard where we are in Westlake so we will watch and wait.. I-10 is or was closed just east of here near Iowa. You forget how hard it can rain down south. Think of a heavy thunderstorm, minus the thunder, then multiply by an order of magnitude. In the RV, conversation is impossible. We are safe for now and rest assured are paying attention to the weather.

 I take you back to last August and our working at Trenholm. There the books were delivered to the side walk and we had to move them inside. About 20 feet or so at the furthest point. Five pallets of books but four or five of us so not so bad. They told me SOWELA, where we are working, was better. College has loading dock and everything better. Got to cal bs on that statement. Pallets are delivered to loading dock at central receiving. Then they have to be brought to sidewalk in front of portable building. From there you have to load them on two wheel handcart, UP a sloping ramp for about sixty feet. Now make it 6.5 pallets and only TWO to unload. Now you can get 5 cartons per load, each carton weighing 60 pounds on average, or total of 300 pounds. Bend over, pick up sixty pounds and put on cart and repeat four more times. Now push/pull that cart UP that ramp into the building. Repeat that process thirty or so times, rushing between rain storms, in hot humid weather. Yeah, I will pass on going to gym. Times like this when I realize that I am no longer a young man. I will be hugging my pillow while many of you are watching the Olympics. No, Mary did not move any cartons of books.


A couple of photos for you.

A very tired boy...

Arrival

We have arrived safely in Lake Charles. To avoid Houston we took 105 east out of Conroe and it was a very pleasant trip. When we reached Beaumont we ran into heavy rain. I-10, like dang near every other freeway is under construction. Heay rain plus the construction led to water covering the freeway in many places. The last 50 miles was less than pleasant.  More later.

Sam Houston

 Huntsville was the final home for Sam Houston. Stands to reason there should be a statue of him. If you have ever traveled I-45 between Houston and Dallas you have probably seen it. We had on numerous occasions but never stopped. Visited the statue and his museum.

Did you notice Mary at the bottom of the picture?

 Forty five years ago this month Mary started her college career at Sam Houston State. In spite of having made untold number of trips past Huntsville, we had not returned to the campus. This stop was all about breaking that string.

 I present to you Belvin Hall, her dorm for that year. Way back then the girls had curfews and that porch was a passion pit at 10:59pm. Curfew was 11pm. Back then Sam was predominately female, Texas A&M not so far away was mostly male. Old fashion thing known as "pantie raids" were not uncommon.

 Her room was 318, next to the last. Four girls shared the bath between the two rooms

 Our campsite at Huntsville State Park.

 This fellow was not happy with my intrusion into his morning routine.

 This feeder back in Alvord is dry by now. Pretty sure this fellow not happy with me either.

 Till further down the road, here's looking at you!

carpe diem

Huntsville SP

After a crazy day we arrived safely at this state park. In preparing to leave our pre check indicated no left turn signal on the tow. Ended up having to replace the wiring receptacle. Worked when we parked it six weeks ago. Have not been to this park since we were in our teens. After getting our spot assignment we found a car in our spot, a day visitor. Was enough room to park the coach beside the intruding car.

 Today we visit some museums and retrace history, more on that later. Sunday finds us heading into flooded Louisiana. Do have our eyes and ears open, and some concerns...