Coast to CoastI

February 17-19

After we left Ed and Susan's we drove to Schlulenburg, TX in the rain. About the time we arrived it just poured. The whole RV park was flooded, but we hooked up and just hunkered down for the evening.

Is it still raining, dear?

The plan was to spend one night here and two nights at Livingston, TX at the next stop and get our rigs weighed, and look the place over. Harold and Sandy, however, had to continue the next day, because Harold had business in Chicago. Their plan was to leave Sandy in Tallahassee while he flew to Chicago.

Long story short, they left the next day hoping the weather would allow their trip. We decided to stay and wait for better weather because severe thunder storms were predicted along I-10 eastward. So Shirley did laundry, and I cleaned off more mud from the day before.

By afternoon, the worst weather was over and we walked to "Franks" and had brisket. At home in CA we have almost given up on eating beef. They have done something to it....it tastes plastic. On our trips it tastes wonderful in other states. They make pies there too and we returned in the evening for our share.

So we went to Livingston, TX with the idea of staying two days and getting weighed. Livingston is the headquarters of Escapees and has lots to offer folks, but was not for us. They have care facilities or those who are infirm, mail service, etc. etc.

Also their showers were the first I have seen telling you to deposit your "Depends" in the trash. Makes me want to add this to my essay on "Bathrooms I have known."

Yep, that's us.

So we left after one day and headed for Baton Rouge, LA. What a drive! Traffic, accidents, you name it! Nightfall found us on the wrong freeway, headed the wrong way and it was getting dark. So we pulled in to a Cracker Barrel, not Crate and Barrel as I said before, had dinner and spent the night right next to the busy freeway. Busy, because of the three day weekend and today was the official day of Mardi Gras.

After a not too restful night we left and had a really pleasant day of travel we drove 330 miles, which is the longest drive we have had on this trip and arrived early enough in De Funiak Springs, FL to walk around and enjoy our evening.

Tomorrow we head for Pelham, GA to spend a few days with Mac and Mary who we met and enjoyed on our very first caravan in '07. Some great stories here.

We realize we have not taken many pictures along the way, but we have seen this area before. There was a highlight today however. Shirley was driving and we crossed the Pearl River in LA which is really a swamp and I saw a real live alligator! Want to fight a Civil War in that?

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Ft. Stockton to Junction, TX

We drove to Junction, TX to visit some California friends, Ed and Susan. We had not seen them since a Rally in 2010. Ed, we learned got a foot infection and was in the hospital as we drove toward Junction. Well he got home the day after we arrived so all ended well.

None of you knew that I had had a sinus infection before we left and had some side-effects from the antibiotic I took for it. Well, ever the optimist I thought I would improve. I didn't. So while at Junction I finally got ahold of my doctor and got some meds for the problem. It is a whole story, drives to "town" because his phone could not reach us. Yes, I'm much better, thank you.

Anyway, it rained the night of the 16th and if I had not had 4 wheel drive we may have been stuck in the mud 'til summer. Actually Ed has a tractor and could have pulled us out.

We had some good rain all the way to Schulenburg, TX our next stop.

The day we arrived.

Some of our view.

The Higgins trailer and shed for Ed and Susan's trailer.

The site of Ed and Susan's new house, to be built.

Happy Hour site.

Harold, Ed and Susan.

We made tracks, the mud dries like cement.

Oh yeah, the door mat.

Mud was washed off at an auto-wash.

Don't take that!

Now we are off to Schulenburg.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Las Cruces, NM to Ft. Stockton, TX

Feb. 14, Valentines Day. I remembered to get at card before we left home. Good thing too. My complaint when we went to bed was no coffee in the morning because there was no electricity here. For those of you who don't know, coffee is a big deal. Mornings, I just can't wake up without it. I wonder around with my cup in my hand, bumping into walls stumbling over things, and muttering to myself until I get enough coffee in my body to fully awake.

Well, unknown to me, Shirley had loaded up an old percolator coffee pot and there was coffee awaiting me with a card when I stumbled to the table. One year I had forgotten our anniversary so I was wary this time. Anyway this got the morning off to a good start. Also, a good thing, because it was to be a long driving day. Breakfast was at Crate and Barrel with not so good coffee.

Us and the Higgins at Ft. Stockton just before we left for Junction.

Not much here and not much to see.

Next onward to Junction, Texas.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley