Home again!!

We left before sunrise for a long ride ahead. It was windy on the road yesterday from Fredericksburg to Van Horn so hoped to get some miles in before the winds picked up again 

But they never did and was a good run home. We were determined to make it home, gained an hour back to Mountain time. Interstate 10 all the way. Even El Paso was a breeze passing through. And that gorgeous sky and first sight of Arizona mountains lifted my soul. Sorry about sideways pics--dont know how to change them

This is Texas Canyon east of Benson. Wierd lovely landscape that pops out of the playas.  We put on 3300 miles on this trip and the dash says that we were in the seat actually driving for 60 hours. Love sitting up high and watching the world go by! 

All good at home. 

Another grand trip, lots of wonderful family times, lots of stories, so many blessings.  One big "thank you Lord!!"  We had considered breifly stopping at Lordsburg and take two days to get home but was such a good drive day, and we were up for it so we ran on home.  When we got home we got busy right away unpacking RV.  When we went to extend the bedroom slide out, it suddenly made an awful noise and got stuck!  We were able to get it in with some difficulty but needs to go to the RV shop for repair.  It happened at home AND NOT on the road.  

Found this plant blooming on my patio. Have never seen it bloom before and didn't even know it could bloom. And in December?!

More Fredericksburg

Out for a drive in the Hill Country we came upon this old, abandoned mill. Wanted to really explore it but private property signs all over discouraged us. The stone marker told us it had an active history so fun to guess what all went on here when the German immigrants brought their grain here.

We stayed at Lady Bird Johnson Municple Park. Nice place. It had some nice trails and a great bird blind where I got a good look at a Carolina Wren along with several others.

Sunset over campground.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Left the Texas coast and hopefully unseasonable weather. Spending a couple of days in Fredericksburg, a Texas Hill Country city that plays up it's German heritage big time. And it has an amazing Christmas lighting display in the downtown "Marketplatz" square. That animated Christmas pyramid is pretty amazing too. 

Christmas

Christmas Day on the Texas Coast!

I cooked a traditional Christmas dinner in the RV and turned out yummy! Did a fresh turkey breast in the crock pot. Found recipie on line and it worked great. My old standby cranberry jello salad (modified a bit,) potatoes, gravy and stuffing. Boughten pumpkin pie--not my recipie but lots of whipped cream so was good. We have had nonstop seafood and Southern dishes so traditional turkey dinner was perfect!

Just for something to do we took our favorite free ferry over to "the island" and made our way to Padre Island. Just happens to be the longest barrier island in the world-- most of it National Seashore. Wouldn't mind coming back sometime --when it is warmer. However sun did come out today!

Christmas Eve

Best fruit cake ever--has become a tradition for Doug to send me one every Christmas!

BTW, Doug's birthday is today--he is  celebrating the big 5 - 0!!

Outting to South Texas Art Museum in Corpus Christi. Nice place. The architecture of the building itself is as interesting as the collection. Happened to have an Andy Warhol exhibit--remeber his soup cans?  He also did a portrait of Mick Jagger--interesting.

Seafood lunch at "Finn's".  Will thought it best he's had on this trip. My fish and shrimp Poboy was good too.

 Christmas Eve candlelight service at local Methodist church up the road. Back home in time to stream candlelight service from our church in Tucson also. THEN watched the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life" on tv!  Never tire of that one.

Cold hits south Texas

The big 2022 Christmas storm rolled into South Texas about 5pm last night with a vengeance. Had enjoyed almost 70 degrees temps midday but the thermometer dropped like a rock and wind gusts picked up as the front went through.  We were a tad nervous about the RV and unhooked from city water and crossed our fingers awaiting the below freezing temps predicted.

  Did get down to 21 degrees and strong winds but we survived just fine--no frozen pipes. We were nice and snug with furnace and extra electric heater running normally. Winds rattled the RV a bit which sounded worse than it was. 

 High today of 34 and will dip below freezing another night or so.  But not complaining when news of other parts of country are really horrific!! Heard from Steph that she got home to Indiana last evening as cold front and winter conditions hit there!  She made all connections from Mumbai to London to New York to Indianaolis--I was praying hard for them!!

  Today was a good day to see a movie. We went into Corpus Christi to a theater that served food at your seats!! We saw the new Avatar movie which was actually pretty good. If you liked the first one, you'd like this one. Lots of action and special effects! And it's 3 hours long! We had bottomless popcorn and pizza and even an order of Avocado Toast. 

Interesting to drive along the coastal waterways and causeways to see the ship traffic. Not a day to be outside, however.

Best birding day in a long time

First place we went was on Mustang Island, to Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center for a closeup at life in a wetland and panoramic views of the marsh. Features a observation tower a 750 ft boardwalk and a gazillion shore birds.

White pelicans

ducks, ducks, ducks and a white ibis

And binocular looks at Whooping Cranes!

   Next stop was Aransas National Wildlife Refuge which was established back in the 1940's as a refuge for migrating Whooping Cranes. Back then there were only about 20 birds left from extinction, today they number something like 800 birds. Still endangered but they come here to Texas coast to winter from summer breeding grounds in Canada.

Just to show perspective in the visitor center-- huge bird, 7 ft wing span!!

This is zoom lens photo--I guarantee I did not get that close to this big guy!

Also saw my first Armadillo lumbering across the road.

Toward Corpus Christi

Up early again, cloudy day, drove back through the huge sprawling Houston metropolis-- no problems, just once was semi-intetesting, but second time through just tiresome! On our way to Corpus Christi.  Our plan is to get a bit farther south to get away from Arctic blast of winter that is coming. Below freezing temps is a worry in RV. We can stay warm inside just fine--furnace works well--but worry about frozen pipes!

  It's going to be a few degrees warmer here than New Orleans but really, not that much. Forecast says this cold front goes all the way to tip of Texas. Won't complain too loudly because Tammy and Aeri will be suffering through it in Lincoln Nebraska with bitter cold and Lia and Doug will be getting snow and cold in New Jersey. (Steph is trying to get home from India in the midst of this holiday storm--last message from her, she made it to Heathrow in London--praying for you girl!!)

We found a quite nice RV resort in Aransas, Texas just short of Corpus Christi. Got settled and out to discover what is here. Made our way to Mustang Island barrier island where we could drive on the beach!

Little chilly for a beach stroll but caught a few sea birds and fun free ferry to get out to the island.

We plan to be here thru Christmas so lots of time to discover what is here!

More plays, more food, more New Orleans

Will and I took a couple of hours to walk through the Garden District. Area of grand antebellum homes. The one area of New Orleans that is truly nice. Coffee and more of those French  donuts (beignets) ended the morning.

   Another chance to see the "Grinch" show with everyone--that makes four times for us! And then dinner for more Cajun foods to enjoy!!

Up early this morning, break camp and head back West, leaving our amazing  family gathering . Doug and Lia heading back to New Jersey and Tammy and Aeri leaving for Lincoln, Nebraska for the last run of the show. The last performance and then they can all be home Christmas Eve!

Well, hopefully if this winter storm raging through the country doesn't interfere!

 We made it as far as Port Arthur, outside of Houston. Interesting driving through southern Louisiana to see changing landscapes--from Boyou to agriculture to coastal waterways.

boyou

coastal activities

Rice fields

sugar cane

(Sometimes) sunny New Orleans

It's been colder in southern Louisiana that we expected, colder than normal and think I didn't pack enough winter clothes. When it gets cloudy and a tad rainy like it has been, the damp wind can be bitter!! We are pretty snug in RV but we made a trip out of RV park to fill up on propane as we can see it's not going to warm up soon!

  We found a local restaurant yesterday for Brunch that was a bit out of the city that was pretty fun. Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried catfish, Boudin sausage, waffles, specialty Praline Bacon--all very fun and tasty in a funky atmosphere.

Then a New Orleans cemetery tour which was interesting except we couldn't actually hear our tour guide tell all the stories. But we did see the burial cript of famous VooDoo  queen of New Orleans.

Aeri was off today. No shows for her for a full day. The girls came and spent the night with us in RV so Tammy and Doug could have a (17th wedding) Anniversary dinner out!

Hamburgers on the grill and improvised roasted marshmallows over the grill.

All tucked in for the night. Amazing what we can accommodate in our small space.