Foothills, Yuma AZ

Yuma, here we come. Stayed at the Voyager in Tucson last nite and had a pleasant stay. Went to Trader Joe's (yes there is one here) and loaded up on cheap wine. Found a Whole Foods store and loaded up on Spelt bread for John. Great store. Bought a Rosemary plant and a Basil plant so I can have fresh herbs like Paula and Bonnie. Took a look at Rick and Bonnie's blog and pictures are awesome. We haven't been to these caverns but look like the ones in Bristol Virginia. Bill and Glenda haven't been on their blog for a year so will send them an email to see where they are. The friends who got us started on a blog years ago toured Oregon and Washington this fall which is where we are headed in a couple of months. So we'll take a close look at their info to see the areas we want to make sure to cover. That's it. Will be in the Foothills just after lunch and staying there until mid April (aside from a 2 week flight to Disneyworld). Life is great.

Big Bend, Texas

We spent yesterday in Big Bend NP touring. The mountains and deserts were beautiful. When we went down to Santa Elena Canyon, we were alongside the Rio Grande River. It is more like a creek in most areas and it is interesting that we could have walked across it into Mexico. We concluded that, as beautiful as Big Bend is, we enjoyed the drive on 170 from Lajitas to Presidio the day before just as much. Now we are on hwy 90 heading north to #10. We stay in or around El Paso tonightand move into New Mexico and a new time zone. Tomorrow we'll be two hours behind the kids. The Strpes in Marfa that we just stopped at for diesel was a very easy in and out and only $3.59 per gal. It is on the west end of the town and last service until we hit 10. It was $3.99 down at Big Bend area. Nice to be on the road again.

Big Bend, Texas

We left Llano Grande RV Resort Monday morning and headed west along the Texas/Mexico border. Very interesting drive. Stayed Monday nite at Seminole Canyon SP and arrived here in Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in the middle of nowhere. Interesting area. Drove to Presidio today thru the mountains on the most beautiful drive ever. Passed a movie set that I have included in our Picasa stream below. Going in to Big Bend NP tomorrow for the day. This is def 'God's Country'.

Texas

Still enjoying Llano Grande RV Resort and will be here until Feb 21st. Then westward ho via Big Bend National Park on our way to Yuma AZ. Had a great Christmas with the kids in Canada. Weather was clear and we were able to take the grandkids to Owen Sound to see the Christmas lights and visit great gramma Gillen. The Days Inn has an indoor pool so the kids got to swim. Mom enjoyed the kids singing Christmas carols to her. Life is good.
Looking forward to seeing Wally and Connie in Yuma end of Feb.

Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes Texas

Well, we finally arrived at Llano Grande RV Resort on October 28th. We were greeted by two of Llano's wildlife (one of whom has been moved to another lake). As you see, we've already had our turn at happy hour. And here I am, wanting to look like a 'biker girl'. Life is good !

Kerrville, TX

We finally made it to Kerrville, TX (Texas Hill Country) to spend time at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort with our friends, Barb and Steve. Shopping in Fredericksburg, dinner and dancing at the 11th Street Bar and Grill in Bandera and a tour of the Lyndon B Johnson State Park and Historic Site in Stonewall,TX made for a fun and interesting time. The picture at the 11th Street bar includes Skip and Lana who joined us on their way to Llano Grande and Larry, a resident at Buckhorn and a friend of Steve and Barb. We learned a lot about the Johnsons and about Lyndon B's time in office. Intersting and fun stop over.

San Angelo, TX

After leaving Polo Duro, we made our way south west toward Kerrville, TX. We spent one night at San Angelo State Park and toured the nearby town of San Angelo. The picture was taken at the first Hilton hotel in the U.S. We ate lunch in what was once a bordello. Interesting ambiance and excellent hamburger.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas

"Grand Canyon of Texas". Opened in 1934, this canyon is 120 miles long and 800 feet deep and is the second largest canyon in the United States. The canyon was formed less that a million years ago when the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River first carved it's way through the Southern High Plains. The canyon is rich in layers of rocks of various colors, rich in history as well as plants and wildlife. One picture was taken at 7 am from our bedroom window. The sunlight reflecting off the red rock walls of the canyon. Another is taken at the bottom of the switchbacks as John is driving the rv out of the canyon. We had camped at the back of the canyon and enjoyed several days of it's beauty.

Amarillo, TX

We finally hooked up with Tony and Barb at the casino in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Had a great time visiting and gambling. Site was free and diesel gas was the cheapest yet. We travelled the next day with them to the Elks Lodge in Amarillo for the night. Along the way, just east of Amarillo, we stopped to enjoy the Stations of the Cross. It was an amazing stop. We found out the Elks was hosting a cookoff on Saturday so we stayed while Tony and Barb continued on home to California. We pigged out on some of the best food. Steve,a member of the lodge, was an excellent host and made sure we had lots to eat. Had a fun time. Then Sunday, John and I moved on the the Palo Duro Canyon State Park just a few miles south of Amarillo.

Little Rock, Arkansas

On the road again. As we head west to meet up with Tony and Barb, we stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas to visit the William J.Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. While there, we picked up two books at the gift shop "The Underground Railroad for Kids" and "The Encyclopedia of World Religions". Will read to the grandkids in the summer. Lots of pictures and will enjoy teaching them about both.

Tunica, MS

After we left Red Bay, Alabama, we stopped over in Tunica, Mississippi, where we met up with Bill and Nancy. Tunica is home to over nine big casinos. We stayed at the Hollywood Casino RV Resort for only $12.50 per nite. Saw our first armadillo. While there, the four of us toured Graceland in nearby Memphis. We were not big Elvis fans but we were really glad we went. We were not aware that he recorded so many songs or that he made so many movies. It was really interesting. Such a loss that he passed so young. Now I wish we had paid more attention to his life while he was here. Such an amazing man.
While in Memphis we went to the site where Martin Luther King was assasinated. As we had toured the March to Freedom in Alabama a couple years ago, we were interested in this bit of history. Great stop and looking forward to meeting up with Bill and Nancy in Texas in December.

Red Bay Alabama

Still here but hoping our repairs will finally be completed on Monday morning and we can head out to meet up with Bill and Nancy in Tunica MS before hooking up with Tony and Barb in Arkansas. Friends took us to the Rattlesnake Saloon just north of Red Bay. Too fun! The cylos in the picture are bunk houses. Many people bring their horses here and go riding for the day. There are pens to put your horse in if you didn't bring a horse trailer. The 'taxi' picked us up in the parking lot and drove us down to the cave. Didn't see any rattlesnakes but sure they are there. Did see a bat and a mouse. We were with Dean and Mary, Bill and Nancy, Hollis and Bev and Joe. New friends and we look forward to crossing paths with them again in the future.

Alabama

Helen Keller 1880 - 1968
"I believe that life is given to us so we may grow in love, and I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower. The Light is my darkness, The Voice is my silence".

Second on our list was the Helen Keller's birthplace and home at Ivy Green. Most of us have seen 'The Miracle Worker' and were impressed with the story of the 'First Lady of Courage'. At age 19 months, Helen Keller was stricken with a disease that left her blind and deaf. At age 16, she could speak well enough to go to preparatory school and college. In 1904, she was graduated 'cum laude' from Radcliffe College. We didn't realize Miss. Keller had written and published 12 books including her autobiography written during her years in college and published in 1903 . She acted in a movie about her own life. We learned she lectured in over 25 countries and spoke 4 languages She dedicated her life to improving the conditions of blind and deaf-blind around the world. The credits to this amazing woman go on and on. We haven't seen the movie 'The Miracle Continues' so will rent it soon.

Red Bay Alabama

Looks like we're going to be longer in Red Bay than expected. Just as we were about to leave Tues, the service tech found that the floor on one of the slide-outs is rotted. They ordered a new floor and will need to rebuild the slide. Meantime, we spent today touring.A visit to the Coon Dog Cemetery in the Freedom Hill area of Alabama was first. Cute stop. The first coonhound buried there was 'Troop' in 1937. Since then more than 185 certified coon dogs are buried in this graveyard, including several World Champions. This cemetery does have 'burial standards'. To qualify three requirements must be met. The owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog. A witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog. A member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coondog and declare it as such.

Back in the U.S.of A.

It is good to be back in the U.S. although we will miss the grandkids. Jack had his heart biopsy and his cancer pet scan last week so we await the results. John is on the last of his antibiotics for his bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infection and Crohns flair up. Back on 'Eat Right 4 Your Type' and believe making a difference. Now in Red Bay, Alabama at Tiffin Service Center getting work done on coach. Stopped in to visit Don and Scarlett on our way here. Scarlett battling cancer and our prayers are certainly with her. When we're done here we will try to hook up with Tony and Barb for a few days as they travel home to California.

Exploring Georgian Bay

July 13th we left Belmont, Ontario and headed to Tobermory to begin our 11 day road trip with the oldest grandchildren. We had to leave Jack at home as too far from hospital in the event of a fever. So we left Sarah behind to keep him company. As it turned out, Jack developed a fever later that day and ended up in London Sick Kids for 5 days. Had a very pleasant stay at Happy Hearts CG in Tobermory. We all enjoyed the company of pirates and lots of fish and chips at the 'Shipwreck'. Up bright and early the next day and were first in line to board the Chi Cheemaun. Stormy day but everyone weathered their 2 hr voyage just fine. Three days at Batmans CG, Sheguiandah, Manitoulin Island turned out to be a fun time. We hiked, swam under the falls at Bridal Veil Falls and enjoyed the waters around the island. Batmans had been recommended and was a great choice. Power weak but plans in place to upgrade to 50 amp over the winter. Would def go back. On leaving the island, we arrived at Little Current just as they closed off the bridge. We climbed out of the rv and enjoyed watching the swinging bridge go around in order to let the boats go thru. Hwy 6 turned out to be an easy drive to connect to Hwy 17 onto Sudbury. We camped at Carols just outside Sudbury while we toured Dynamic Earth and Science North. Awesome!
We bought a 'Grandparent Pass' which is good for all of us for a year plus free and/or reduced prices into 150 more locations outside Canada. Will def take advantage of. The kids loved both places. We ended up the trip with a visit to Santa's Village in Huntsville and the Elvis Festival in Collingwood. We packed a lot into this trip but the kids will have awesome memories for the rest of their lives.