Palmetto SP

 On our way to Mansfield for Thanksgiving we stopped for three nights between Luling and Gonzales. This was our first trip to this state park. Nice park typical of most Texas state parks. A lot of Texas history in and around this area. Great bar b que at City Market in Luling.

Lake Livingston State Park

 On Sunday, June 16th, we drove the 120 miles or so from Galveston to Lake Livingston. The weather folks were predicting heavy rain and possible severe weather. They were correct but we got here and settled in long before the weather got rough. Since then the weather has been nice and the fishing terrible. Nobody seems to be having any luck so it is not just me. Once again we have shortened this already short trip. Friday finds us driving to Victoria via a route that avoids Houston. One night stop there then on to home on Saturday the 22nd.

 I have kept open a reservation for mid July at Lake Corpus Christie. Time will tell if we get to make that short trip. This is really a nice state park. Not sure why we have never visited it prior to now.

view from our site #65

calm after the storm from our site

hey buddy are you lost and need help? Ms squirrel was trying to help me

Galveston

 Have enjoyed our week here. Seen and done most things that we wanted, will knock off one or two more today. A nice park that would definitely stay in again, should we return.

seen in railroad museum, brought back a lot of memories

 On to Livingston tomorrow. Heavy rain is in forecast.

Matagorda to Galveston

 On Sunday the 9th we made the 100 mile drive to Galveston. While here we have been behaving as proper tourist. Also ventured to old haunts from our youth that have changed greatly. Here till the 16th when we head north toward east Texas.

Aransas Pass to Matagorda

 After 4 days in the Aransas Pass/Rockport area it was time to move along. Enjoyed some great meals, two days of good fishing, and overall quality time with Mike and Cheryl. Third year in a row we have met them some where and will try to keep the streak going. We are now camped almost on the beach where the Colorado meets the gulf. My fishing plans for here may not come to pass. Heavy rain upstream has the Colorado bank full and milky covered. Here for three days then on to Galveston.

second days catch

site at Ransom road

site at Matagorda  bay nature park

looking toward gulf

from Google earth

Ingleside

Started our abbreviated trip by meeting up with Mike and Cheryl in Aransas Pass. Nice couple of hours catching speckled trout along with a redfish and mangrove snapper. Hopefully will do as well tomorrow morning. Dinner reservations at Latitudes in Rockport. Fun times.

Fredericksburg

 It has long been a favorite for weekend tourist. We have visited before but have never stayed in the area. This visit we changed that by staying 3 nights. It was a fun visit and we did most everything we planned. More to do on a return visit we hope to do in the fall. Follow this L I N K for a short video of where we stayed while there.

 It was, as always, very busy on Saturday. We got an early start and beat most of the day trippers. The weekend we where there was also the trade days weekend. We visited but left quite unimpressed.

 We picked up a couple of treasures in town but not wanting to add to clutter with "stuff" we were selective.

 Learned that one must go online and reserve a day pass for state parks. No just driving out on a whim like we did to Enchanted Rock. The nice young man let us in to drive thru, promising to not exit the car.

 Tomorrow it is on to Garner State Park where we have never camped. In the past we have camped at RiverBend camp. Used to be Richie's, then Yearnegans now Riverbend Resort. Not the same place we loved. No tents allowed and sites costing $70 per night by the river. Oh my....Bob would have a fit and not believe the pricing.

 No cell coverage or wifi in Garner so we will be off the grid for 4 days. Friday the 26th we move to Choke Canyon

An old friend

 We visited an old friend. We last visited for one night back in 2015. Plan to return sooner next time. We have been here countless times, know it like back of our hand. It is full of memories of days gone bye, maybe that is what pulls us back. No, it has to be more than that. Someone once said it is ok to look back but it is not polite to stare. Memories or not, we like the park.

https://youtu.be/A2SV7iUsA5Y

Bush Presidential Library

 Something we had been meaning to do since it opened. Been a busy week with Ada and other task but we took Friday to brave the trip to Dallas and the museum. Enjoyed the visit and the overall feel of the place. Very different feel than that of the Clinton library.

 We managed to get a spot at Texan RV park which proved very convenient. Not the best park but decent value.

 Tomorrow the big party then we leave for Brownwood SP on Monday

feels weird

 You truly can never go home again.

 We are in Mansfield, a town we called home for 26 plus years. But it is not the same. Sure it grew a lot in those years but it seems to have exploded since. To be honest we could not afford to live here. How do the young people do it? Signs for new homes in new subdivisions luring buyers in. Prices from $280k to $400k for track built homes, not custom! What the hell...

 For most of the years we lived here it was dry. Had to drive 8 miles or so to Arlington to buy a beer. Now there is a new grocery store in town that includes a tap house with happy hours and live music Thursdays. HUGE wine section and massive beer coolers.

and this cooler is craft beer ONLY. mass produced is in another

No, we are not home, just visiting another different city along lifes road.

On the road again

Fair warning that things are changing.

 In the past I tried to entertain and inform my reader(s). In doing so I stressed about content and timeliness of my post. In looking back at photos from past trips we had difficulty remembering the where and when. This little blog will morph into an open diary of sorts to help us remember or give a place to refer back to.

 April 7th we left home just ahead of a squall line. Do we wait till it passes? Do we leave while we can knowing that we are driving into it hoping to pass thru quickly? Decisions, decisions. Our choice put us in heavy rain for 60-70 miles. Even after that it rained off and on all day. We always try to get thru Austin on a Sunday hoping for lighter traffic, alas it was still a nightmare. Once dreamed of living there, so thankful that never happened now.

 Last year in Yellowstone we met Dave and Diane who live in Bee Cave. Dave is a orthopedic surgeon. He jokes that he has more degrees than a thermometer. Surprisingly we have kept in touch since. He called when we were in heavy traffic so I did not answer but called him back from Belton. Enjoyed some laughs again. Need to try and meet up in Austin.

 Live Oak ridge at Lake Belton is a nice corp of engineers park. At $12 a night a very economical place to stop. We are in site number 1 where we we were 3 years ago. Move on to Mansfield today.  Life always presents challenges and ours are minor compared to others. Everything worked when we parked it but now ice maker is not working...geeze.

 Beautiful sunrise that the boss is missing...