DAY 92

It's now Thursday and we are in Sikeston, Mo - 481 miles from home.
We'll be there tomorrow.
Yesterday at this time we were in Texarkana, TX and it was 83 degrees and sunny when we arrived at the RV park.
Today when we arrived in Sikeston it was 44 and cloudy.  A 50% drop!
Looking at Elkhart on the weather channel and it's only 31.  That's really bad.
Ellen is not happy with me for getting home so soon, but 93 days is enough.  I'm ready for HOME.

So assuming nothing eventful happens on the last leg home tomorrow this is it for our winter trip.

Thanks for keeping up with us.

See you all soon.

Day 89

It's Monday night here on Galveston Island (State Park).
We are only three driving days away from home and it's hard to believe we are now sunny and 75 and so close to Elkhart and what looks like some snow in the weekend forecast.

The Spring Break "Crush" seems to be over for now, but there is another weekend coming.
Galveston is still in the process of rebuilding after "Hurricane Ike" two and a half years ago and still has a long way to go.  But we love "our" state park.

Our near-by fish market seems have taken a turn for the worse so we did not buy anything.  Went down to the "wharf" in old Galveston and found a fresh fish market.  But even they were out of fish after the busy weekend. 

Day 87

Got to Galveston today (Saturday) as planned (revised plan) and hope to get into the State Park a day early.  Not so lucky - full due to spring break.  We kind of expected as much but in prior years anyone arriving with the campground full was able to "boondock" in the overflow parking lot for one night.  However, since the park was devastated by hurricane Ike three years ago September things have changed and they don't have the space for overflow camping.

Truthfully, there is not much of a park left at all.  Down to three camp site loops of 12 each from what used to be three loops of about 40 each.  But, at least it's still here.  We went down the road a mile and found the only site left in an RV park (due to a death in the family a camper had to leave about an hour before we got there - so his misfortune was our good luck).  We've never had to spend a night in a Wal-Mart but we came close last night.

Here are some pictures I wanted to post while at Padre Island:

Typical foggy morning

View of Malaquite Beach (and campground) from access road

The beach in front of the campground is off-limits to vehicles so beach-goers don't get run over

But other than that anything goes

Isabelle found a dog friend -Dakota- at a nearby campsite.  Here they are checking each other out.  Isabelle is playing "hard to get".

Ok, now she is acknowledging Dakota.

Dakota is making his move.

Isabelle is saying "leave your paws off me".

Dakota made a "lunge" to mount Isabelle.  I intervened to save my daughter and got knocked on my butt in the process.  Notice I kept my drink in my hand.

Dakota is apologizing to me for being so "forward" with Isabelle and knocking me down, but I think Isabelle has already said "enough".

I got a little frustrated not being able to see the beach from our campsite while sitting down so I took my chair up on top of the RV with a book, a camera, and a "cocktail".

Ellen got jealous and had to do the same.

Never did read - way too windy up there!

Day 86

It's Friday night and we have decided to leave Padre a day early.  I'll loose my $4.00 campground fee for Saturday already paid, but we are ready to move on and I'll just have to suffer the loss.

Today was the best day we have had here - simply perfect!  Temperature was about 80, winds were tolerable, and the sky was blue.  But  other than walking the beach (not a bad thing to do) there is nothing but the Gulf view to enjoy while reading a book.  No trails or hikes other than the beach.  We feel the need to "keep going".  This is a definite camp ground we will return to in the future and anyone with a 4-wheel drive vehicle would be in heaven given the beach driving allowance.

We have no cell phone service here at the camp site but can get a signal out on the end of the pier.  So anyone who may have tried to call has not been ignored, just can't get the service.

The strange thing is that we do have an Internet connection, even if it is a slow one.  I can't upload any pictures but can post.

Tomorrow we are off to Galveston Island State Park for a three day stay - then three days of driving home.

See ya soon.

DAY 84

Rv battery did die today (yesterday actually) when I had to move the rig to "dump" - simply would not start the RV.  Went into town today to do laundry, buy new battery, shop for groceries, bought more fresh shrimp & oysters & grouper & mahi, made some phone calls, buy gas for the generator, etc.

Weather got better with a little more sun and slightly warmer, but the winds just won't go away!  All and all a good day and more on the way.  So good, in fact, we paid for three more days here - $12.00 total.  Why leave?  It's great being a "senior citizen"!

With spring break in "full force" this weekend we could not find a state park reservation anywhere on the Gulf Coast until Sunday at Galveston Island State Park.  So moving on from here would only be "chancy" at best even if we were willing to stay at a private RV park.  We don't.  Most are not good experiences.  So we are here through Saturday night.  Then on to Galveston Island for three days, and then home.  Expect to be home by the 25th or 26th.

Ellen is getting to know everyone around here and Isabelle is a "hit" with all the male dogs.  They are both bitches!  They both like to "walk the walk and talk the talk" two or three times a day.  I keep looking for the spring break "babes" but not having any success.  Oh well, we are having a good time.   Even letting Isabelle swim in the Gulf .  Doing so creates a real mess with her getting so wet and sandy, but she has such fun we can not deny her.

No pictures tonight.  Hope to have a few tomorrow.

Day 82 (2)

I forgot to post this picture of EJ earlier today and got chastised for it.  It's the start of a "cocktail" walk around the park the other evening.  Notice the beverage of choice in hand!  So that is why I had to do a Day 82 (2).

It really is a beautiful part of the country as you can see.  Ellen looks beautiful too, doesn't she.  And happy.  And when Ellen is happy ------
Well, enough said.

We drove about 100 miles today (round trip) traveling the entire barrier reef to the north known as Mustang Island.  There is a state park there we spent one night at a few years back in bad weather and wanted to see it in sunshine.  We liked what we saw.  Would not hesitate to spend time there next trip.

We continued north to Aransas Pass and took the ferry back to the mainland.  Then south to get back to Corpus Christi to have lunch at a seafood restaurant in town.  On the way we stopped at a fresh fish/seafood "shack" and bought shrimp and red snapper.  The look of the place made us nervous, but the quality of the product made us happy.

Found great Gulf oysters and shrimp and Gumbo at the restaurant.  Corpus Christi is a very beautiful and clean city.  Lots of shoreline views.  This will definately be a stop for us again.

Forecast was for rain and thunderstorms today but never arrived.  Clouds, sun, clouds, sun, and then clouds tonight, but no rain.

No more tonight.  Good night.

Day 82 (I Think)

Anyway, it's Monday and we came into town to "lunch" and blog.
Pictures below are the ones I couldn't load last night.

We were in the rv w/ tow car so had to park down the road in a semi lot and walk to Salt Lick

As we got closer we saw they even had a winery

Yee-Ha!

Howdieeeeeeeeeee  (and don't forget to look at my boots)

The smoking pit inside.  There is a big one not visible that smokes all day.  They then just bring out front what they need immediately

Jim's Ribs, beans, and potato salad

Ellen's combo platter of sausage, pork, and brisket

One Happy Cow girl

One happy cowboy

Chincia - I saw this boot and thought of you - Jjjjiiiiiiimmmmmmmm

Issy and I went for a 10 mile run