middle progress

 It has been a rainy couple of days here in the valley. Have not been able to work on tan so might as well work on planning for fall. As I have stated before, planning is part of the fun for me. Good internet connection so what better time to begin to piece together a little journey. I will spare you the details for now but I do have it plotted out.

  As always, click on picture to enlarge it for easier viewing.

  Those place marks represent planned camping locations. These show year plus stop number. May stick with that, may not. Have used different names in past and am trying to find a happy method. Next picture will show why. As a frame of reference for the above map number 1 starts July 28 and number 9 ends September 25 in southern Kentucky. Another six weeks or so to fill in but will wait on those.


The next photo shows a bigger picture of camping spots. I have not included most Texas locations. may just do a Texas only map later.

The above map shows two things in particular. One, we have been relatively busy, two we have a lot to go.



having a dance tonight so time to put on my dancing shoes...

A beginning and a end

Now for the middle...

About now you are wondering what the hell I am writing about. In our last post I wrote of the difficulties in planning a little trip. Well, we can report progress on that front. We will meet Mike and Cheryl in Aransas Pass the last weekend in July. Off shore fishing trips, good meals, wine and conversation all on the agenda. The second weekend in November will find us in Broken Bow for the Folklife Festival. What about those three plus months in between you ask? Depends on which way the wind is blowing! Check back then as we explore the back roads of America.


retirement is hard...

Progresso Mx

Back in September and October we went across the border into Mexico. Nice relaxed time, ate and drank on the first visit. Second visit was over and back quickly but still relaxed. It was not high season, the winter Texans had yet to arrive.

  Needed to make a drug, excuse me a medicine run so went today, in high season. Holy crap on a cracker what a mess of people. The parking lot was full of vehicles with out of state plates. Of the ones i saw, Illinois and Iowa were the leaders in the count. More gringos on the streets than Mexicans.

  We are up close to the border problems. Imigration changes lead the news cast down here. Since October they have apprehended 86,000 just in this area alone. Mostly kids. Like it or not the problem is real and understated. The "wall" is a fricking joke, but the tide must be slowed.

  All things considered, we like it here more and more.


  Planning an extended trip is proving to be a challenge. May not add to our states visited map but Maggie will hit the road to somewhere, probably Arkansas and Missouri.


Till next posting...


Carpe diem

winding down

  No, not us but the park in general. If you were along back in October you know I spoke of the winter Texans arriving. Even though the March calendar is full of activities, the slow but sure exodus has begun. A month from now the park will be closer to empty than full. We have task yet to complete here, but have begun to sketch out our travel plans. Those do not include the obligatory trips in April to Arlington, more on the line of a three month trip north. On my short list is a trip to Kentucky-West Virginia-Virginia-North Carolina. Or we might go north to the Dakota's then west thru Wyoming-Montana-Idaho maybe even Washington State. Time will tell which way we go.

  We both have been fighting the cruise crud since our return. That has put us a little behind schedule, but being retired we have no place to be and all day to get there. Not a bad situation to be in.

more from cruise

 On a previous visit to Key West we enjoyed visiting the Butterfly Conservatory. It again was our choice on how to spend some time. While pretty, they flitter and flutter regardless if you are in focus and ready to shoot

Here's looking at you kid!

Half Moon Cay

clear water and school Sargent majors

Grand Turk

Dominican Republic

Another zip line shot

on board the ship

Cruise

 A quick review of our 9 day Cruise. We sailed out of Tampa, spent day at sea then visited Key West. Then onto Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas after another at sea day. From there it was on to Gran Turk for a day, then next onto Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. That led to two sea days before arriving back in Tampa. Yes, I know Carnival is not on top of the food chain when one compares Cruise Lines companies. Having said that, they like doing the type cruises we will do. In reviewing all these photos it seems I took more of Mary than anything else. Not a bad thing in my opinion, your's may differ. Our goal was to relax after a stressful couple of months, mission accomplished!


 In the beginning:

nice leaving from small airport

 leaving Tampa

 not quite ready for dinner...

 now she is ready!

 another day, another dress

 Private Oasis on Half Moon Cay. Very memorable day. Google it if you do not know

 Gran Turk

 yes, I was on the cruise

 full moon over Gran Turk, not as sharp as hoped for but best I could do.

 Amber Cove, Domican Republic

 Mary on a zip line. She LOVED it

ready for Valentines day

 another dress

 and so it ended where it all began

 We are already booked on next years cruise. It will take us back to Half Moon cay and Amber Cove, in addition we will sail to Aruba, Bonair and Curraco. More fun soaking up the sun for next February, now on to planning a three month RV trip

A little update

Harvested some grapefruits today. What you see is but a fraction. Set them in chair beside road and neighbors come by and take what they want. Same with Meyer lemons.

 Left one golf cart in Alvord, sold the other one to friend. Bought another today. While it looks and runs good, i have some projects planned for it.

 Tomorrow we fly to Tampa and board the ship on Sunday. Stories and pics from the high seas around the sixteenth or so.



Bon voyage!