South West is Home

Here we are, up bright and early to finally get out of Texas. You have to have at least one desert sunrise in every blog.

That's the New Mexico border just past those hills. But first we need to get through El Paso, always a challenge. It's long and crowded what with Mexico on one side and mountains on the other.

We made it and are relaxing at Las Cruces New Mexico. We always try so spend an extra day here so we can go to La Posta mexican restaurant in Mesilla, an historic western town (Billy the Kid used to hang out here). In the town, not the restaurant. As I do at the end of nearly every driving day, I need to wash the bugs off the front or pretty soon you can't see anything.

Way in the background are the mountains east of Las Cruces bathed in the beauty of a desert sunset.

On the road again, heading to our most favorite RV town, Yuma Arizona. If we hadn't found Hemet, this is probably where we'd stay over the winter. Now this looks like Arizona.

A couple of days in Yuma to reconnect with our friends of yesteryear. Thank goodness the happy hour tradition is alive and well. A lot of the world's problems were solved after 4 PM in Yuma.

I don't remember our topics being so serious in 2008. No ISIS back then I guess.

A short time in Yuma and then on the road for our final push to California. First time we've seen fog in the desert. A few miles of this then it cleared off and it was clear sailing the rest of the way.

We arrived at noon so we had all afternoon to get set up and comfortable. I've arranged for someone to come and give Harvey a full body wash, then we'll be able to sit and relax.

3 days after we arrived, Grammies brother and sister-in-law stopped by for a visit and a tour around our little corner of paradise. That will be our excitement for the winter I suppose. We've made it down here safely again and will quickly establish a routine. So I'll sign off now for the season. If something exciting happens I'll probably post it otherwise our trip back home will be my next entry. TTFN.

More West and Less South

 Well, we've said goodbye to the kids and seen them on their way back to the frigid north. We're ambivalent about saying goodbye yet looking forward to our next adventures.

We moved outside Disney a couple days ago so we're back to our site out of the park for a day while we take care of all the preparations needed to get back on the road. Grammies checking her cross stitch threads, an important part of any departure.

We stayed a day in the Florida panhandle then 2 days in Louisiana. Note the moon over Harvey as we start our early morning departure.

When we left Texas and came over this bridge in 2011, we spent 3 hours getting across the Mississippi due to Mardi Gras traffic. If you don't believe me check out that blog. This year, it wasn't so bad.

West of Baton Rouge is the Atchafalaya Basin, Americas largest river swamp. For 18 miles, a raised divided highway gets drivers across the swamp on I-10. The roadway sits on 148 foot pilings that keep the road 28 feet above the water.

Giant freighters go up the Calcasieu River at Lake Charles so the road goes way up. It's one of the steepest and highest bridges I've driven on. What a mess if it got slippery.

A rest break at the Texas border. It looks like some of the Louisiana swamp land spilled over into Texas. You can see that although it was sunny, the air was cold. Keep heading to warmer.

Our second day in Texas got us past the hill country and into more desert with mesas. Check out the speed limit. Harvey couldn't do that going down hill with a tailwind. We stayed at 55.

A nice break from driving with a lunch at a lovely road side rest area. Western artifacts were on display. All in all, a great place to stop.

An iconic symbol of the prairies. Zoom in to the background to see the more modern version.

Just can't seem to stop thinking about the grandkids. Right now we're sitting in Fort Stockton Texas, about half way across Texas, heading to California. I wanted to bring you up to date. I'll probably do one more post when we get to Hemet. In a week or so. Hopefully.

Disney

A big part of the reason we headed to Florida before California was to celebrate our 45th Anniversary at Disney with our family. We arrived a day early and went to a dinner show that Brad and Karen gave us for our anniversary. It was great fun. Thanks Guys! 

Everyone else arrived the next day and after breakfast it was time to visit Magic Kingdom.

Karen planned all the venues and our first supper at Disney was a character supper which all us kids enjoyed.

Some of our favourite childhood characters stopped by for a visit.

Ethan loved it. We thought he might make strange but none of the costumed characters we met while here bothered him, in fact he chased them around.

But, it's all about the food!

Being here during the Halloween celebration made sure lots of decorations were displayed.

We spent the day doing rides and enjoying the sun then headed to the Biergarten in Epcot for supper. Here's the whole group. Quite a motley crew wouldn't you say.

Beer and german sausage (along with a bunch of other stuff) was the order of the night.

Next day was spent at the water park where we did a few water slides and floated down the lazy river. A great relaxing day.

After showers and a change of clothes, we were off to an Italian restaurant for supper at Downtown Disney.

While Michelle took the kids back to the Magic Kingdom, us adults went to the Blues Brothers and relaxed to some great old songs and jazz.

Although it's Halloween, other seasons get a plug as well.

Speaking of Halloween, while we were off for the day, a neighbor moved in next door to our campsite and set up a HUGE halloween display. They really do it up right in the US.

Would you feel comfortable with these next door neighbors?

Grammie rocketing around the race track.

We spent the afternoon at Epcot and managed a sunset before going to supper at the Norwegian pavilion.

Brad and Karen bought McKenzie a princess dress just for this night. She got to hob nob with princesses and loved it. Karen planned all the evening activities and made sure the kids were well entertained. We all enjoyed the variety and special activities she planned. Thanks Karen!

All of her favourite princesses stopped by for photos and to sign her autograph book. McKenzie was in little girl heaven. Ethan was impressed by all the lovely ladies as well.

I think chasing all those princesses around must have tuckered him out.

We spent our last full day at Hollywood Studios. Doing what we usually do, trying to figure out how to get to our next activity.

Lunch always makes the day go better. We got the meal plan and ate like kings. I know I let my belt out during our visit.

The weather was great and the parks were fun. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

So Michelle could go on some of the adult rides, I kept Ethan out of trouble for a couple of hours.

The three of us went through a fire safety pavilion where we smoked the competition.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. Brad and Karen are relaxing at the lodge while waiting for the bus to take them to the airport.

Michelle and the kids waited outside so they could get the last bit of sun before heading back to the frigid north. Fortunately we are heading west from here. We hate to have the Disney part end but we have miles to go so stay tuned

South

 Well, it's time to head south again. When every night has frost, it's time to head to warmer climes.

The advantage of traveling this time of year is the beautiful colors. All along our drive so far the colours are spectacular. This is just north of Pittsburg PA, obviously not that far south yet!

As we normally do, we take a walk around the RV resort to see what's there.  It must be getting close to Halloween.

The next days drive has everything you could want. Fall colours, fog and construction. This too shall pass.

Our next stop is in West Virginia. Still lots of colours. Note the fall jacket; not that warm yet. But it's coming!

Interestingly, this RV Resort has the only operating lighthouse in the state. Not too hard to do when it's a landlocked state, but still unique.

Our next stop is in North Carolina. Probably one of the most rustic RV campgrounds we've stayed at. A weird kid came out and started playing the banjo and he was the normal one.

But this is cotton country. Where the cotton blooms and blows. Why I left my home in the north to roam round the south God only knows. But I digress.

This is how they pick cotton these days. These bales are formed in the back of the combine. When finished, they drop out the back like a giant egg. I'm surprised the combine doesn't cackle when it lays one.

Next stop, South Carolina. A lovely lake in the resort with watch for alligator signs posted. Now we know we're down south.

What would a road trip be like without some problem showing up, like no lights on the jeep when towing. Fortunately I knew just what to do; plug and unplug till they worked. I shoulda been an engineer.

Next stop Daytona Beach. It's like coming home. We used to have a time share here and we spent many weeks coming here to enjoy the sun and beach. 

Next day after arriving, we enjoyed our breakfast overlooking the beach. There is something to be said about parking right at the beach.

After breakfast we went for a nice long walk on the beach. Grammie found a jelly fish; I wouldn't let her take it home as a pet.

After walking in the hot sun I started to shed. Time to go in the water I think.

Back to the RV for a quick change and down to the water. We could get used to this.

After a day on the beach we went exploring, to remember the area and see the sights. What's the point of having a jeep if you don't drive the Daytona Beach strip? So we did, about 16 miles worth. Top down and loving it! The jeep's top, not ours!

Here's where we used to have our time share. Lots of fond memories; doesn't look that different. Last time we were here a hurricane had come through and half the building was closed due to damage. Looks good now.

After a long day of exploring, I'm doing my blog and Grammie's working on her needlepoint. Our next stop, Disney. No relaxing there!