Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes Texas

We arrived here October 29th and decided to stay a month to try it out. Well, we soon paid for Dec and Jan to extend our stay. We are loving it here. Sites are a good size, lots to do and great facilities. Web site is www.LlanoGrandeResort.com . We start our day at 7 am with Tai Chi lessons followed by a workout at an awesome fitness center. Then we go to line dancing lessons. Have been to Mexico for pedicure $9. Manicure, pedicure and 1/2 hr body massage is $40. Life can't get any better. Outlet mall nearby. So far weather has been great. Grapefruit, lime and avacado trees around the resort. 5000 people when full and will be by Jan. and everyone is so friendly. Spanish lessons start in Jan. They welcome beginners so we fit right in. Dances every Sat. nite.

San Antonio, Texas

The Shrine at the Alamo. We learned more about American history and about Texas fighting for their independence from Mexico. Then photos taken on the Riverwalk. It was very impressive. The bridge that John and I are standing by was in the movies, Selina and Cloak and Dagger. Will have to rent them. Miss Congeniality was also filmed on the Riverwalk. We took a narrated ride on one of the riverboats but still did a lot of walking. Stopped at a couple of the restaurants for beer and snacks along the way. Def a 'must do' in one's travels around the U.S.

French Quarters, New Orleans

We met Bob and Patsy from Cape May, New Jersey at the rv park and hooked up for some fun times. They are headed to Texas so will likely see them again. Patsy and I bought funky earrings and scarves at one of the shops at the French Quarter so now we are 'with it'. Really enjoyed our new friendship.

French Quarters, New Orleans

We arrived in New Orleans on Thursday and spent Friday at the French Quarters. Really enjoyed walking around the area and are taking the free shuttle from the rv park to Jackson Square again tomorrow. Met Bob and Patsy who are going with us. Bob got us tickets to the House of Blues Sunday Gospel Brunch. Lots of places to go and most restaurants and bars have entertainment. The man with the dog did not move the entire time we were in the area.

Yes, that's water we're driving through !

We left Canada on Monday October 5th after attending Derek and Amanda's wedding in Owen Sound on the 3rd. Headed to New Orleans but decided to stop in at Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama to finally get the ice maker fixed. Arrived at the Allegro CG on Thurs, they put us in to the express bay Monday and got us looked after just fine. As usual they pampered us. Left there Tues and drove south on 59 for most of the day. Decided to stop at an Elk Lodge for the nite and found this one in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was a challenge getting to the site but it was fun. And only $10 with water and 50 amp service.

Ontario Canada

After Woodland, we moved the rv to Bus and Jane's dairy farm in Springmount for two days. Ended up staying a week. Too fun. Lightening hit their phone line and blew out their computer, phone lines, printer and modem. Also hit a tree beside the rv. Good thing the huge branches fell the other way. John and Bus cut up over 4 cord of wood and stacked in the barn. Jane got her computer up and running at a minimal cost so all is well that ends well. Jane and I went to the Keady market Tues morning and I loved it. We went to the Hanover Raceway Wed afternoon where I donated a few dollars on the horses and on the slots. Had dinner at the track and the food was good. Ate fresh veggies from Jane's garden, had a LOT of laughs and brushed up on our eucre skills. Girls still the best. Looking forward to going back next year.

Waterloo, Ontario Canada

Back at Green Acres in Waterloo with internet again. Wow I miss it when we are in Canada. Had 120 email to download when we got here. Have been busy. Before leaving here the first of July, we went to see Jersey Boys in Toronto with Nat and Candy. Loved it. Spent a lot of time with Ty and Tate and attending their soccer and hockey games. We then moved to Spring Lake in Mt. Elgin (just south of Ingersoll) where we spent a lot of time with Abby, Grace, Jack and Sarah. It was so much fun to have the grandkids on board agn. We attended a stag and doe for Derek and Amanda in Woodstock on the 18th. It is their wedding that we are staying in Canada for Oct 3rd. Then July 20th we packed up 5 grandkids (except Sarah, who is too young yet) and travelled to the KOA in Port Huron. Awesome campground for kids. They had a riot, in spite of the rain. After almost a week there, we returned them to their parents and moved ourselves in to John and Charlene's driveway in Stratford. It was good to see them again and we had a lot of laughs. We then moved north to Woodland at Sauble Beach, stopping over for a few nights at Pike Lake in Mount Forest. We stopped just south of Pike Lake to fill up with gas and ran in to Ced and Shirley from Orillia (the couple we met in Florida 3 yrs ago). Great visit. If you go to Pike Lake to stay and golf, ask for a site in 'f' section. Their overnight sites are brutal. Woodland never fails to impress us. We are already booked in next year July 29th to Aug 9th. When we got to Woodland Campground, people on our site had their dates mixed up and were not ready to leave. Their driver was away for the day. They said they would move off the site if someone could drive their Prevost. That was John's excitement for the summer, getting to drive a Prevost. Good lesson for us tho. We will now pay close attention to our check in and check out dates. Bill and Gail booked in to Woodland at the same time (Bill was bestman at our wedding 43 yrs ago) and we had so many laughs together. While at Sauble (which is the second longest freshwater beach in the world) we spent a lot of time at Sprey Lake where our family were spending the week. A friend of Scott and Kathy's (John's brother) had given them their resort to use while they went out west. Scott invited all of our family to stay either in the cabins or in their own campers. We had a great time. The resort was amazing! Hope we get invited back next summer.

Waterloo, Ontario Canada

June 1st we arrived at Green Acres CG in Waterloo. One of the nicer campgrounds in Ontario and centrally located to kids, attractions and friends. Have been to Waterloo/St.Jacobs Farmers Market which is also one of the nicest. Will enjoy this area until July 6th. Then not sure where going. Tony and Jo are coming here from Indiana June 22nd along with new friends, Ron and Lynda who we met in Florida at Tony and Jo's. Ron and Lynda live in Kitchener near where we lived for 10 years. Will be a busy and fun month.

Canada

On May 22nd we received a call from family that John's mom was failing and we may want to go home. We closed up Saturday morning and drove north. By 5 pm, we had reached Sleepy Hollow CG in Buffalo NY area and had a great time with the kids. The folks there were so nice giving us an easy in and out site with water and electric. Not easy to find on a long weekend. The kids enjoyed the playgrounds, a wagon ride and a dance. We were really fortunate to land here as the kids were soooo good on a full day of driving. Sunday we crossed the border and met Bob and Dione in Guelph. They took the kids home and we continued to the KOA in Owen Sound. John was able to spend quality time with his mom before she passed on the 27th. It was such a healthy week with family remembering the fun times and laughing a lot. We all partied for the next few days just as Marg would have wanted. She didn't believe in sadness at a passing. It was nice sharing the love with the family. So many family and friends came out to the funeral home and to the mass on Saturday. She was well loved and will be missed.