Day 4

It's our last night on the road.  We are staying in Victoria, Texas.  Today was a long drive - 674 kms.   Across Texas on country highways.  We avoided Houston all together.  I liked that.  Houston has way too much traffic and curved ramps for my comfort.  No more interstates.  The speed limits are much higher than similar roads in Canada.

Central Texas

Road goes right across Lake Palestine (very large lake)

For supper tonight we had our favourite Texas style burgers.  What A Burger!  Yum!  Wayne has decided that he can indulge once a month.

Well that's about it for tonight.  We plan on an early start tomorrow.  Can't wait to get to our  Winter Texan home.

Day 3

Safe and sound once more.  We travelled 649 kms.  Tonight we are laying our heads in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Separate Beds Tonight

Little bit of excitement today.  I had a fairly severe allergy attack.  Just after we hit the road this morning, I needed to go to the bathroom.  So we stopped at the first available option - which happened to be a roadside restaurant.  It was a smoking allowed establishment.  The stench of cigarettes oozed out the door.  But I was desperate.  By the time I had done my business, so to speak, I couldn't breathe through my nose and I was extremely stuffed up and rather wheezy.  I had to take another antihistamine and felt sluggish all day.  I guess it has been several years since I was exposed to such an over the top smoking environment.  Not a fun time.

What's this?

Snow??

No, it's cotton.  We passed quite a few of these white fluffy fields today.  Cotton crops are being harvested and wrapped with plastic into big round bales.  Just like we do hay in Ontario.

We walked to supper tonight.  Ate at a restaurant called Copeland's.  The original restaurant is in New Orleans and is owned by the man who owns Popeye's Chicken.  They serve Creole food.

 Veal Parmigiana

Shrimp Ettoufee

So delicious that we are going to return on our trip home next spring.  We also brought cheesecake back to the room for later.  It's a specialty.

Bon Appetite!

Day 2

Another successful travel day under our belts.  We are now relaxing in Sikeston, Missouri.

Pretty room - Not as big as yesterday

We drove through 3 states today - Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.  We also crossed the Mississippi River.  Six hundred and fifty kms in total.  This seems a good number for us.  We cover some ground but it doesn't take so long that Wayne is crippled up.

With the time changes (end of daylight savings and we are now in the Central Time Zone), we arrived at about 1pm.  Two hours ahead of our ideal stopping time.  Just as well though......

Because we had lunch at Lambert's Cafe - Home of the Throwed Rolls.  Sunday afternoon is not the optimal time to dine here.  When we signed in with the hostess, there were 60 tables ahead of us.  The wait was about 45 minutes.  We wouldn't have stayed if we lived here.  But because we are just passing through and knew how unique and fun the restaurant is, we waited.

Crowds outside Lambert's

Still waiting

Mural decorating dining room

 I order smoked pork loin with cornbread stuffing, baked beans and corn.  Can you see my flat roll to the right?  The waiters throw the rolls at you from across the room.  I was afraid of dropping mine, so I clutched it a little too tightly.  I had more of a pancake than a roll. lol

Enjoying his pork chops

Heading South Fall 2014 - Day 1

Finally, we have started our wandering way south.  Safely arrived at Gas City, Indiana.  We travelled  712 kms  today.

When we got up this morning, we just knew it was time to leave.  You may ask how we came to that conclusion.

What is that white stuff?

Aaaaah the dreaded S word.  Time to go.

Border crossing was very easy.  Except the customs official thought we should travel more miles each day and carry more cash.  He traveled 700 miles a day coming from Austin, Texas and is aiming for a 1,000 miles a day on the return trip.  Silly man - retired people relax and go with the flow.

Michigan roadside

Oops not far enough south yet!

Ah, fall colours.  That's more like it.

We checked into our hotel at about 3 pm.  Not many of the rooms were ready yet.  I think we got an upgrade.  This room is huge and it has a spa tub.

So we are just chilling out in Gas City.

ttfn

Back On The Blog Wagon

This past summer has been a time of many changes and challenges.  Hopefully less turbulent times lay ahead.

Wayne and I spent time with family this weekend.  Matthew came to visit.  We organized a country outing ending up at a Mennonite restaurant for a late lunch.  Good company and tasty food.

Enjoying dessert at Anna Mae's Restaurant

Our time grows short here in Ontario.  It is good to spend time with family before heading south.

More family time on Monday.  We got together for a birthday lunch.  My little brother, Wayne L. turned 55.

I had a surprise for Dad.

A new orange toque.

Dad has a very ratty faded orange toque.  It must be 10 years old.  Last week he asked for a new one.  I looked online for a pattern for me to knit.  This is the result.  The knitting pattern is titled "See Me Hat".  Too funny.  Such a bright hat makes it easy to keep tabs on Dad when we are out and about. Because the hat is so new, it is very puffy.  Needs to mold itself to Dad's head.

Packing continues to progress well.  We will be on the road bright and early Saturday. Can't wait.

Still Alive - Test Blog

Fifth Wheel for Sale

How Our Lives Have Changed

It's been two months since I last blogged.  Gee, that sounds like I am in the confessional booth.  lol

There have been many changes in our lives. 

Our fifth wheel is up for sale at Doe Lake Rizzort.  Good deal if anyone is interested.

We have bought a modular home at Riverbend Park in Guelph, Ontario.  It is a one bedroom unit with a fairly open floor plan.  After many trips up and down the highway, we are pretty much settled in. 

Riverbend is open 7 months a year.  Perfect complement to Chimney RV Resort.  We will travel between the two parks hopefully enjoying good weather all year long.  No snow for us.

The park has been here since the 1920s.  My dad used to enjoy visiting when he was in his teens.  We are on the edge of town along the Speed River.  Very quiet and rural but only five minutes from the mall and any facilities you could possibly need.

In addition we are just across town from my parents.  We can help out with errands, going to appointments with them, etc.  It is also nice to be close to my siblings.

A brief pictorial tour of our new home.  We have built a storage shed, relocated all our carved animals and added some colourful flowers.  Love our deck.

So big changes in the Hollingshead family, but overall, good changes.

I'll close with a few photos of the park area.

Park Pond

Speed River

Pool

Club House