South Padre Island, Beach & Christ of the Fishermen

Feb 21/13  Windy, Windy, Windy - Sunny - 80 and only 69 at night
Did I say Windy????  The wind just never stops and it is more than a breeze its gusty up to 35mph.

view from Isla Blanca towards the city center

With this wind the kite surfers and regular surfers just love it here.  Everyday they are out and the Red Flag on the beach is too, so you need to be a serious surfer to contend with the Riptide.  All the beaches are public and allow dogs.  

At the south end of the island there is a state park; Isla Blanca - it is the largest State Camping Park in Texas, with over 600 sites.  In the park there is a memorial  El Cristo de los Pescadores; which means Christ of the Fishermen.  The base of the statue has an inscription in spanish and english: "Father! Receive the souls of these brave fishermen who have sailed through this pass and never returned." Plaques inserted into the statue's base provide the names of all the fisherman who never returned.  The location is beautiful, right on the beach with amazing views from your motorhome; but be forewarned of the winds.  Since we are so cautious we did not want to camp there in the winter months you will take the brunt of the weather and last year we had to replace a topper awning from winds so add that $ risk into your decision to stay there.

 

South Padre Island, Texas

Feb 15 - 22/2013  Windy, Windy, Windy + warm 75 to 80, night only down to 60's

Bridge onto the island

 South Padre Island is a spit of sand that follows the Gulf of Mexico all along the border of Texax.  When I say a spit its not much more... in the city you can see from one side of the island to the other.  It might be about 6 city blocks.  

One side of the island to the other

 We road out of the city center to the National Seashore which start out ok, just a paved road with sand dunes on each side.  But then a few miles farther we found the sand encroaching onto the highway.

And then..... "Road Closed".   It becomes completely covered over with sand.  So it was time to turn around and head back to civilization.    The ride back into the wind surprised us with sand blowing into our faces, it can really sting!

time to turn around

It is always always windy.  And so there are many kite boarders and surfers and wind boarders out on the sandy seashores.  We hear it gets pretty crazy for March Spring break too!   Our campground was full for the week but you could see where the bars and restaurants and condos were getting ready for the big party.

is that a salad in your Ceasar?

Taking the Kids on the Road

Feb 15/13

Classroom + us in the middle + Family motorhome

We pulled into a KOA in South Padre Island, Texas to find ourselves wedged between two campers.  We have not been to the Keys in Florida with the motorhome but we imagine it is the same type of scenario from what we have heard - they cram as many rv's into the park as possible.  But that is the not the big news.... what we find out from our neighbours is that the motorhome is the Family ride and the truck and trailer on our other side is the Classroom and teachers quarters.  We asked them if they were homeschooling when they explained they come equipped with a young elementary teacher to school the children (3 of them from kindergarten to grade 4) on the road.  The parents from New Jersey decided to take the family cross their country for the next 6 months.  Each morning the kids go to school in the trailer while the parents have their quiet time. 
When we contemplated this later we realized what an expensive proposition this is since they have their unit + the salary of the teacher + her unit.   This is the first we have come across this arrangement in our travels!!!

Rio Grande Valley, Texas - Pharr

Feb 8 - 15/2013  Weather is hot!  up to 92 Sunday, then cooling into the 80's.  low at night is high 60's.  Very nice weather.

Only 1 main road across the Rio Grande Valley Hwy 83

We received an email from friends of Billy's (hockey buddies) that they are in Pharr, Texas and our presence is requested at a Canadian Chatham-Kent BBQ.  So we decided that it would be easy to change our route and just go from Galveston right down to the border of Texas/Mexico.   Not getting carried away we drove about 4 hours and stopped overnight at Victoria-Coleto Koa.  The Rio Grande Valley is about 75 miles along the Rio Grande River which divides Texas from Mexico and starts at the Gulf of Mexico.  It is a very busy area and we did not take the motorcycle out the whole week - just too congested for our liking.

Happy Hour in the pool at Tropic Star

Christmas Cactus

This area is Snowbird haven; there are over 450 RV parks and it reaches across about 7 different cities that run into each other - Mission, McAllen, Pharr, Mercedes, Harligen, Rio Grande City, Brownsville and Edinburg.  We stayed at Tropic Star in Pharr, Texas it is a mega RV park, with about 750 sites.  Nice place with great amenities and tons of activities. At first we could not understand why?    After spending the week we understand what draws the Winter Texan's here - the very warm weather, not too humid, cool evenings, and very inexpensive.  Now there are so many parks that the activities abound.   It is also known as the Square Dance Capital of the World.   You have to see this.  We snuck into the dance on Saturday night and it was sold out - over 500 people.  The outfits were something and the dancing looked like fun!  (The two short videos you just need to hit the arrow button to play them.)

As well we find it funny that we are 1676 miles from home and what do we do?  Get together with 30 other people the same distance from home to have a BBQ.  Ironically there were two other couples from Lighthouse Cove!   Glad we came to see this area but it is time to move on to something a little slower paced for Billy and Rosey - not so much traffic so we are headed to South Padre Island.

Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas

Feb 3/2013  75 Sunny, Breezy low of 62

We don't know much about Mardi Gras since at home we only associate it with New Orleans and a festival or carnival with masks and costumes and beads.  It seems it is so popular along the southern coast that from Alabama to Texas all the cities have their own celebrations along with the biggest in New Orleans.  Galveston celebrates for 10 days... every day they have parties and parades.  The actual meaning of the words means "Fat Tuesday".... thus it is the last hurrah before the Lenten season begins.

So since we were here we decided to go a parade on Sunday in the historic area of Galveston known as The Strand.  It happened to be the kids parade put on by the Shriner's - so much fun, the kids were having a great time.

Galveston Island, Texas

Feb  1 - 7, 2013  Breezy from the Gulf Coast, High of 72, low 55

Ever since we got here I keep thinking of that Glen Campbell song Galveston.  And "no I am not a fan of his"  but you know how sometimes things get in your head and ramble around in there???
This city is know for its devastation in 1900 from a hurricane that had one of the highest fatalities in history - 6000 to 8000 people.  When you visit Galveston you will travel for miles along the water and a cement seawall.  After the 1900's hurricane this Seawall was constructed to keep any future storm surges out of the city.  It goes for 10 miles along the front and everyone walks and has public access to the water from it.

Seawall

There is Paradise Pier that reminds you of the Jersey Shore (although its my impression only; we have not been there) - it has a Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster and other family rides that is open year round to the public - right out into the water on a huge pier.

We found a campground right on the seawall coast - Dellanera RV Park  it is run by the city.  It felt new with lots of pull thrus and cement sites/pads.
It was such a great spot for walking on the beach and up on the seawall and the sunset was right over the local biker bar next to us;  life is just about perfect!

Just like home

Digital Picture Frame on the left

One thing that you would not think of is how hard it is for people to buy you a present when you are living in your motor home.......
See we don't think about it because we are the recipients but we hear it every christmas and birthday.
In a motor home you do not hang pictures or put out photos typically since you don't have any empty wall space and if you did it would most likely shake off when you travel down the road.  We received a digital picture frame and it is so nice to just plug in a memory stick and presto our memories come to life.  We love it!

Margaritaville Casino Biloxi

Jan 28 to Jan 30, 2013  On Monday when we came it was very warm and sunny, next day fog so thick you could not see all day, then a thunderstorm today with a cool down following - at least no tornado!
From Cedar Key we ran up to Chattahoochee, Florida and just over nighted at the KOA, it was nothing special but fine for what we needed.

Last year we wanted to stop in Biloxi but we kind of skipped over it so this year we made a point to see it.  Most people remember Katrina hitting New Orleans' which it did; however what you tend to forget is that the eye of the storm actually hit the Bay St. Louis which is just a few miles west of Biloxi.  This city had water 43 feet high washing it away.  Along the waterfront boulevard many antebellum homes went with it and there are huge gaps in the landscape leaving you with the ghost of the past storm.  There are many casinos along the coast but we are not much for gambling, but we do want to see Jimmy Buffett's casino.  We stayed at a very nice place - Majestic Oaks RV Resort.

We had a bit of bad weather while we were here for the most part.  It was so foggy that we decided not to venture out on the motorcycle;  it was just not safe.  We decided not to get wet at night to get to the  Margaritaville Casino it was worth the taxi ride.  So we had a couple of margarita's since we were not driving!

the restaurant has boats built into it for seating

sweet ride

Tony's Clam Chowder - Worlds Best

Jan 23, 2013 Sunny and warm about 75, foggy a bit first thing

You know how every where you go someone lays claim to the best steak, the best hamburg, the best chowder.....  and often it is good but not the best.  Well Tony's Clam Chowder is 3x Worlds Best and you will not believe it but it also gained the Rosey seal of approval for the best she has ever had!!!!  It was so good that you can buy a quart can to make at home and of course we had to buy one too.
Billy will not eat it so he is worried that when I make it we will be having chowder for 10 days.
If you ever get to Cedar Key, Florida have the Clam Chowder.  There is a bit of a kick to it that compares to none:)

Oh and see this eyeglass holder - it is so funny looking.  But you would remember to use it to put those darn reading glasses on.

Treasures in the Most Unlikely Places - Trenton, Florida

Jan 24, 2013 Cooler about 70, Sunny - cold at night about 45
We went to the potluck in the clubhouse the other night and Billy was telling this lady we met that on a rainy day I will get out my Sewing Machine and Breadmaker and Mixmaster and just have a great time because I like to be a bit of a Suzy Homemaker.  She suggested if I like to make things I should go up to the little town of Trenton where there is a Quilting Shop in an old Coca Cola warehouse and a Needlework Store and a Machine Quilting Store.  Well she was so right!!!!  We went for the ride today and I bought Billy the best lunch as you can see (he is so easy to bribe) if he would please take me there.  They also had an old time soda fountain.

The quilts were stunning.  Absolutely beautiful pieces of art.  I just wanted to buy enough bolts of material to quilt for days..... just wish I knew how.   That is definitely going on my New Years resolution to learn how to make these heirlooms.   In the machine quilting shop - holy talk about a professional piece of equipment.  There was a large screen TV monitor setup with a computerized program and a full wall setup with a quilt on rollers and the machine head that came down to complete the design.  Amazing.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

Jan 22, 2013  We had a bit of a close call the second day we were camped here in Cedar Key RV Resort.   Surrounding us are a number of acres of scrub land and wild life reserve.   There was a controlled burn going on nearby however; suddenly our campground was filled with firetruck and EMS vehicles and sirens.  Apparently there was another fire that was not a controlled burn and it was headed for the campground.  Luckily the wind was pushing it away from our location but it still came with in a few hundred yards of the last row of campers.  It is very, very dry in Florida.

Cedar Key, Florida

Jan 19, 2013  70's, cooler but sunny
Cedar Key is one of those little "off the beaten path" towns that is on the Gulf of Mexico Coast in Northern Florida.  Our friends told us to check it out and it is worth the trip.  A few words can describe it; quiet, forgotten.  We are staying at Cedar Key RV Resort which is very new and clean and wonderful big sites with nice cement pads and sites.  A great find so we will hangout out here for a week and do some exploring and riding.

The little town has about 700 permanent residents and is a cluster of little islands with half a dozen bars and restaurants.  Yesterday we noticed it seems to be a destination ride for motorcyclists.  So we fit in real well!  We spotted a great spot up on a deck to have some refreshments and a bite too eat, but before we did this there is a little story we have to share with you.
Last summer when we stayed in Sturgeon Creek RV resort in Leamington we had a quite a few laughs with our neighbours.  Carol and Charlie and ourselves would visit with Annette and Bob(who Billy dubbed 'no-show' because they were not there very often!).  As it turned out Bob had quite a large deck that he built onto their fifth wheel and would often tell us to go and enjoy his "Big Deck" whenever we felt like it.  Of course it was always taken in the wrong context and it became more about how the "women enjoyed his big deck".... what a guy!   So yesterday when we spotted this little whole in the wall bar called "The Big Deck"  we instantly thought of our summer neighbours and the good times we had.  We can certainly say our way of life has led us to meet the nicest people and some good times along the way.

The Big Deck

Moving along the waterfront street we also noticed a great t-shirt hanging in the window of one of the shops that had us laughing and thinking of our friend Jason who is a big fishing enthusiast.

Just because the reel is old, doesn't mean the pole is broken.

Seems to us that you can find the best places in the most unexpected little spots along the way.

Russell Stover Candies in Wildwood, Florida

 January 18, 2013

Well I think Billy had found his place that he could die and go to heaven!!!!  Just down the road from the Alliance Coach service center was a Russell Stover Candies Outlet.     We had to visit a couple of times and load up on armfuls of sugar!!!  It was so funny while I was looking up and down the aisles Billy was tasting samples.  Every time I tried to talk to him his mouth was full of delectable treats.  He was the happiest I have ever seen him. haha

Billy hiding amongst the candie

Rosey with a shopping cart

Wildwood, Florida - Alliance Coach

January 9 - 19, 2013  Florida warmer than normal 80 to 85; then last two days cooled down to 65.
A whole ten days spent at a service center for motorhomes....... 

Campground at Alliance

Don't fret we were not in mechanical trouble it's just we had a list of items that needed maintenance work and to get professional recreational vehicle places to do the work is not that easy.  We talked to Monaco and they suggested going to Alliance Coach in Wildwood, Florida.  This place is a 5 star service center.   They have 42 bays to work on anything you can think of on your coach, inside and out; including a body shop and paint booth.  They also have 40 campsites right on site so they come and take your rig to work on it for the day and return it at night for you to sleep in.   They understand full timers and wanting to watch and stay with your rig.  We had four items completed, and one of them took a week so we were not too surprised that it took ten days.  Here's the list of fix its that were beyond Billy's expertise: installation of a new wiper slide seal on the drivers' side slide, new sending unit for the oil pressure gauge, new heat pump unit in front roof area and the door window was removed and defogged and reinstalled.  Sorry we are not going to share the cost of the final bill however; it was below what we estimated after doing the research and yes the shop time is $120 per hour!  Our only "but" is that it is our house on wheels and when you take your house down the road your bound to make repairs.  It was definitely a good experience and we will return in the future for other things, the professionalism and convenience was better than any place we have been before.   Talking to fellow RV'ers here was interesting and enlightening..... there is always someone else with a much, much, much larger bill!!!   Approximately half of the campers here were full timers too.  That is the most we have run into since we have been on the road. 

Campground of motorhomes waiting for service

2013 Another year

It's been so long since we posted.... you most likely think we fell off the face of the earth?  No we are still rolling along.  Actually we flew home from Orlando, Florida to Detroit, Michigan for Christmas; and once again it was very heart warming to be home with Mom and Dad and see our kids and brothers and sisters and friends.  Not one day went by without us heading somewhere to visit or to catch up on personal errands and appointments.  We warehoused our rig at Auto Boat Storage in Orlando at a huge and immaculately clean, climate controlled warehouse for a very reasonable price.  They even had a driver to take us to the airport. We called about 3 or 4 places to get estimates then we sent the lowest price to this place and the manager met our quote.  The building was as big as an airplane hangar and so clean; right away Billy was very impressed.    The other advantage is that flights from Orlando to Detroit are very frequent with several airlines so the price is also quite reasonable.  

Warehouse doors to pull into

We are lucky to have the best of friends who dig what we do when it comes to living on the road; they are always so accommodating when we need a ride.  Thanks again to our friends Les and Barb for picking us up at the DTW airport and taking us back again in January.  You make our journey so much easier.

The biggest question is always where to stay when we fly in for a month; that is fully furnished and gives us our own space.  The internet is a wealth of information and we found a granny flat that was only 10 minutes from Mom and Dad's farm which was perfect for us to see them every day.  We always keep our car at the farm so we have our own wheels when we fly in too!  This year I crafted a Christmas tree for the holidays and it felt very homey and happy.  Yes it kind of looked like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree......  :)

Once again with the start of a new year we both are counting our blessings that we are able to live our dream on the road and on our second year of adventures.  Here's wishing you all are as happy and healthy and thankful for your life. 

Homosassa Springs, Florida

Dec 3 - 11/12  Warm and warmer everyday 80+, nights about mid 60's but very very humid.  Fog a few days in the morning.

We did a little zig zag across the north Florida.  First in Silver Springs then over to the coast to St. Augustine then back to Umatilla.   This was our last stop before we head down to Orlando to fly home for Christmas.  The park we are staying at is very big with many snowbirds; I think we are only one of three that are only staying for the week or less, it's called Olde Mill Stream in Umatilla.   They do have a big rally area where groups come in and all stay together, even have a clubhouse for them - which is really unique.  We have not seen any park cater to rally groups before, last weekend there was a Good Sam Club from Osceola, about 20 motorhomes.

Anyways while we are so close to our friends we did some more riding around all the lakes in Lake County.  Little, little lakes.  One day Don and Annie and little Buddy took us with their pontoon boat over to Homosassa Springs where it is one of the best places in Florida to see the Manatees.   We saw a few of them, a Mom and her baby too! Beautiful.  
In the river they have this island that has a bunch of monkeys on it, now that's the life!