Port Aransas, Texas tonight

Waited all day for dinner. Fresh Gulf shrimp  at Finn's restaurant in Port Aransas, Texas.

Baton Rouge to Lake Charles

Relatively short drive from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Interstate 10 is a raised hiway for miles over the Atchafalya Basin and every time we go this way I am so impressed by this freeway over a swamp for so many miles.

We soon turned off the freeway toward the Louisiana coast and enjoyed the drive through the countryside--rice fields, sugar cane, interesting crops that we surely don't remember from our youth on the farm. Crossing intercoastal waterways was at first very foggy but cleared out soon enough.

Came upon a flock of White Faced Ibis who didn't seem to mind the fog.

Yep, that's an alligator! Right along a board walk 

What we were hoping to see!!! Huge flock of wintering Snow Geese. Couldn't get so close to them but great binocular views.

And then we ran into group of wintering Sand Hill Cranes.

Dinner at a lively local chain--Steamboat Bills. Great place to go for local Cajun/Creole cuisine. We shared a sampler plate--from left to right, Shrimp Etouffee, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice and Boudin Ball. (Local sausage made with pork, rice, spices and then deep fried) Really good.

Still Christmas lights abound in Lake Charles.

Tupelo to Baton Rouge

Checked out the Tupelo Civil War Battlefield Memorial before we left town. Then back on the Nachez Trace for another 200 miles.

The Trace is a paved modern hiway today but there are sections of the historic road/trail that still remain. 

Lots of pull offs and historic markets and reasons to stop. Like this Cypress Swamp and Indian Mounds.

Left the Trace at Jackson, Mississippi and headed south to Baton Rouge. Last night's rain storm in Tupelo was actually tornado weather in Jackson. We were of course, glad we missed that. Storm long gone before we got there and clear blue skies and warm temps!

Parting and heading home

A day to drive back to Bloomington, hang out with Steph and Reynard for another day and then start the return journey to Tucson! No hurry -- we will see what we can find on the way! 

Stopped for breakfast at an interesting Amish buffet in the town of Loogootee, Indiana. No kidding, that's really the name of the town! 

Just outside of Nashville, Tennessee we got onto the Natchez Trace, which is a parkway and National Park that angles 440 miles and cuts thru 5 states to get us to Natchez, MS on our way to the the Louisiana coast. Historic and interesting things to stop and see but mostly it is just a scenic road following the route first used by native Indians and then early settlers opening up the South. 

Notable spot where Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame is buried. He died here under questionable circumstances when he was only 34 years old.

Lots of hiking trails and scenic woodland areas that was nice even in bleak winter colors. Cloudy all day with some light showers but luckily the rain held off until we were getting ready to stop for the night at Tupelo, Mississippi. Then the sky opened up!!

DeBoer family 2024 Christmas, Seven Springs Resort, Pennsylvania

Christmas Eve with plenty of snow!

Building a gingerbread house

The girls skied yesterday and today. And Doug skied today. He was able to do it by following the girls down the runs. He did well! And Lia, especially is becoming a really good skier!

We found the hot tub. Wonderful!! Outdoors, too.

Girls opened Christmas presents

Even celebrated Doug's birthday.

Had Doug's birthday dinner at the resort. The nachos appetizer was absolutely huge! That could have been our whole meal!

Hanging out

Steph tried "ax throwing." The guys and Lia did it too. Takes a lot of practice--and some technique, for sure.

Family meet-up at Seven Springs

7 hour drive to Pennsylvania. The 4 of us piled in our car and headed out for a day drive to Seven Springs Ski Resort. Doug and Tammy and girls plus one little dog are coming from to New Jersey and we'll meet up for a family Christmas!

Beautiful clear sunny day most of the day. Snow flurries about 30 miles out but conditions continued to be ok for driving. Plus the added snow just made for good conditions on ski slopes!

The girls are  about only ones that will ski but there is lots more to do here. Indoor mini golf for one.

We are only a few miles from Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling water, a unique mansion built by a wealthy Pittsburgh businessman in 1936. Now belongs to a Conservation group and open for tours.

It was a cold Pennsylvania day, half the tour was outside and half inside so we could get a total perspective of the house in its natural setting. Despite the bitter cold it's a fascinating place to see and hear the story 

There is preservation work going on so couldn't see past some of the scaffolding but still amazing to see this house cantalevered over a waterfall!

Nice dinner at the "Out of the Fire Cafe."