We have some catching up to do. It’s been quite a while since the last post. We are currently at Canyon Lake. We’ve been for just over a week. Our campsite is on the shore. The views are spectacular and this is one of the most nicely laid out campgrounds that either of us have ever seen. Our first day here, Laura said “I like it here. I feel like I’m on vacation!” The weather has been hot and windy most of the time. The past couple of days were windy enough that we felt it necessary to stow the satellite dish, which is rated for 40 mph winds. Mornings have been for walking and biking. In the heat of the day, we hunker down inside and do computer-related stuff with the air conditioner running. When we’ve had enough of that, it’s off to the water (all of about 50 feet from our door) to play fetch in the water with the dogs, swim, drift on the floaty-thing, and/or take the canoe out.
We’re so proud. Dottie has had a breakthrough. All of her siblings take to the water quite naturally. She never did…until now. Something changed a few days ago. Maybe it’s the heat. Maybe it’s the warm water. Whatever. Now she can’t get enough. She doesn’t even wait for you to throw the stick, she heads out into the lake anticipating that you will throw it. The swimming is good physical therapy for Noche, and Grayson and Ginger are very content with our location too. The surrounding area is a mecca for “Americana” music, the genre that we have been listening to for years. We can find good concerts more readily than we can a decent grocery store, and closer, too. We like it enough here that we’ve been looking at real estate.
Now, let’s go back in time and fill in the gaps since the last entry. We worked our way through New Mexico, with designs on visiting Taos, since Westi and Mike have such a fondness for it. Unfortunately, fate intervened and we found our path blocked by a road closure due to snow that they hoped to have cleared within the next week. The sign suggested “seek alternative route”. We did, but not to Taos. That would have been about a 75 mile detour. With fuel prices continuing to escalate, we decided that Taos could wait for another trip. Instead, we spent a couple of days on Santa Cruz Lake, a small reservoir about 30 miles outside of Santa Fe. A lesson learned: the designation of “state highway” in New Mexico does not mean anything. After we turned onto route 503, the road went into a neighborhood and a sign warned “no middle line next one mile”. That meant it was a single lane, no shoulder, and hairpin turns. More than one expletive escaped my lips as I had to find a way to let cars pass coming from the other direction. Next, a stop in Santa Fe where we planned to restock at Trader Joe’s, where we could count on access to some of our favorite foods that we hadn’t found since beginning the Journey. We found that Santa Fe wasn’t designed with travel trailer parking in mind. It wasn’t exactly the most fun we’ve had on the trip. Nightfall found us camped at Santa Rosa Lake.
We crossed into Texas the next day where we had an unexpectedly pleasant evening at the Waylon Jennings Municipal RV Park in Littlefield. Waylon was definitely the biggest thing that ever happened to Littlefield. He was born, raised, and dropped out of high school there. The community provides free RV camping (with hookups) at no cost for up to 4 days. Next stop: South Llano River State Park outside of Junction, Texas. Amazing birding, warm river water, a little canoing, a little swimming. The thought of spending time here as campground hosts someday. Moving on to Kerrville. We got to town in time to attend McKenzie’s First Communion. We enjoyed the gracious hospitality of Richard and Barbara Dill, who allowed us to park in their driveway for a couple of nights. Laura met with their son, Rian about the website that he has been waiting for her to redesign for his quilting loom business (Jasmine Heirlooms).
Then, off to Rockport. The first week was about visiting with my brother Dennis and his wife, Nancy, and getting an education in fishing. Another lesson: parking too close to salt spray will cause rust and corrosion at an amazing rate. Oh, and another: fire ants are evil. Laura and the dogs learned that one on our first night at Goose Island State Park. Dennis and Nancy took us to a spectacular birding spot in Port Aransas. Nicole joined us in Rockport the next week and liked it enough that she rented a little bungalow and will be moving there mid-June.
After Nicole went back to California to prepare for her move, we spent three nights in Port Aransas, the first one on the beach (you would have though we learned the lesson about salt spray at Goose Island), the next two in a wind-protected campground just off the beach and then headed for the hills, visiting Cabela’s in Buda before overnighting at Camping World in New Braunfels. Two nights at Guadalupe River State Park, complete with fireflies over the river, and we’re up to date.
Glad to see you writing again. I know Laura has worked hard to get ourhousehaswheels.com up and running. Your tribute to Penelope Sue, SK is special. The calmer waters of the lake must have been part of the puzzle for Dottie. It will be interesting to see what she does with wave action in Gulf when you come back to Rockport. Glad you are enjoying the area. Nancy
Hey, You Two ~
I’ve been thinking of you…a lot…and hope you are most well and happy. We all miss you here!! Bunches!!
Bill is now in Malaysia for 4 months…and the girls and I will be going over the end of July for 2 months +/-. Laura, oh wonder woman, can you help me get something like this together for the urchin twins?? We’ll be flying to Hawaii to meet him, then onto Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, driving onto Melaka to *live*. We’ll be taking adventures to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Australia (although I like New Zealand much better!), rain forests, and some other areas. On the way back, we’ll be stopping in the Cook Islands.
We all survived the lovely fire over the hill, albeit Vaiva and I had our strategy and escape plan intact… i.e. packed with what mattered (dogs, kids) and a few things that couldn’t be replaced (photos/hard drives, grandmother’s things). Very surreal experience. Would have been one way to have the house remodeled! (Have to find someway to put a positive spin on it!!).
Will write later. Have two waterlogged twins crashing right now.
Love bunches to you both ~
Patti
Patti… wow… Bill’s gone for four months! Yikes! I would happily set up a blog for you like this for the adventure. I’ll give you a call. I am SO glad they got the fire under control. I watched the news and worried from afar!
Thanks Nancy, for being the first to comment on the new site. The Army Corp approved our request to stay a few days over the usual limit here so we’re staying put till it is time to come back to Rockport. See you next week!
Hi Laura,
adventure truly everyday – wow!
You’re missed here at Louden! I remember your finesse with the public, all the folk and crew here. You made efforts to connect with folks on a sweet emotional level, which I enjoyed! When I see people wear your favorite shade of purple I think of you.
I made plans to fly to Michigan July 22-Aug 1st for some summertime family time. It sounds like you may be remaining in Texas.
Nancy and Bob say hello or howdy (the am Monday crew).
We send our love to you and your family,
Caro
Wow… Caro … we’ll be in Michigan at almost exactly the same time. I think we’ll get there on the 20th or 21st, and stay through the first week in August. It would be fun to connect in person again. Howdy back at you and Nancy and Bob, and the rest of the family too!
Laura,
I just got done doing a quick look at your website and some of the other things you have done. Wow, you have a wonderful talent girl! I have an impatient female farmdog that is insisting on going to bed now, so will oblige her. We live in Lincoln, NEI think you know…if you are close on your way north would love to have you.
NEBRSKAFARMDOG : Kennel DANASA
Pam & Pups
Thanks Pam. Lincoln is a planned stop. I’m looking forward to seeing you and Paul, and Tukko and Anna again. I hope you are all weathering the storms okay. Jeesh… it is awful out there!
Hey, you two. I love reading all the comments from
everyone. I have to figure out how to get to some as
I didn’t see Wes’. I was at Jill’s awards this morning
with Steve (dad had to teach and Kathy has one of our
cars)Jill got top 6th grader with $500 scholarship among
several other awards. She was one pleased little girl!
Glad you get to stay at Canyon Lake. Give my girls a
hug and a kiss when you go to Kerrville. love you lots
Glad to see my coworkers are up on the news from the road. Also REALLY glad you got your site up and running. Hopefully, it was on your own volition and not my threat to strike as the info conduit for our happy wanderers.
Weather rivals Texas this week. But not quite. Of course, for us Left-Coasters, it is unbearably hot. If it doesn’t break soon, we will have to designate Ed as the “wake-up fairy” for our afternoon class attendees.
Glad Ginger got a kiss on the nose today. And glad she kissed you back!
Hi Road Warriors!
Thanks for the update on your journey and for keeping us in the loop. Ms. Laura, you did a mighty fine job on the website. And coming from a reformed techno-tard perspective, that means I paid close attention!
I must say, from the number of times I passed through TE’xas as a kid, it was never a “destination location” for me. But you guys make it sound kinda cool.Uh oh, is this an age thing? And I didn’t see a photo of either one of you wearing a Stetson, so I think you’re both okay.
It seems you got out of Santa Cruz before the heat and flames surrounded us. Today was another really scary wildfire up in Bonny Doon. From my kitchen window, it looked like a smoke-cloud plume extending a couple thousand feet into the air, then sailing on the wind and currents for a late afternoon orange sky.But it now appears to be under control, thank goodness.
It’s time for us swine in lard land to say good night.
Happy trails and keep us posted.
cheryl
Hello! Good for dottie, I’m glad she likes the water now. I wish my dogs liked the water. I can’t expect my cats to like it, though.
Hey Jill… good to hear from you! We both use to have golden retrievers and we want ALL of our dogs to be water dogs like that, don’t we?
Can’t wait to see you in Michigan in a couple of months!
steve. today wally retired. i am sad and apprehensive. i gave a emotional speech at the board meeting about how he was the soundtrack of paracruz, with all his endless jingles and popular song refrains. made me think that i wished i was at the board meeting when you retired instead of watching it a week later on tv. i would have spoke about crystal balls and writing on the wall in reference to you. well, maybe. whole new world out there. sorry that noche did not show up for wally’s event, but a dog is a dog, whether you attach postage stamps to their hairy forehead or not….nostalgic day, my son beau’s birthdate today. he called last night and is doing well, maybe only one more deployment to iraq. keep in touch, and let me know when you are in a place where i can actually ask you advice that applies to metro. or not. take care mentor man. april