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

Homeward Bound - Spring 2014 - Day 1

Our first day of travel went very smoothly.  We have stopped for the night in the small central Texas town of Franklin.  Hotel is nice but not much in the town. 

The best part of today's drive was avoiding Houston.  Our route missed all of the major Texan cities.  My kind of day.

It's spring in Texas.  Wild flowers abound along the highway and in the fields.

 

 

Lots of road construction.  The highway leading out of the valley has been recently designated as an interstate.  Lots of work need to modify state highways to interstates.

All of these trucks are filled with asphalt - at least 15 lined up waiting.

As you drive out of South Texas on Highway 281, all traffic passes through the Falfurias checkpoint.  It is like going through customs at the border.  A border patrol agent asks you questions, dogs sniff for drugs or illegal aliens and vehicles can be xrayed, searched and seized. 

Tomorrow we head for Arkansas.

Chimney Park Season Winding Down

I'm so far behind in posting - so I think I will just add a few pics to show our season winding down. 

Wayne participated in the Golf Cart Rally

Celebrating St. Paddy's with Al and Rosemary

Border Patrol chopper hovering over field next door.  Looking for illegal aliens or drug runners.

Celebrating at the local German restaurant - boys' table

Girls' table

More fun in the sun

John cooking on the bry

Waiting for dinner

Our hibiscus is thriving.