GARY & KAY SHAFER "ON THE ROAD AGAIN"..Oct 2011 Full Timer's Now

GARY & KAY SHAFER ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
October lst, 2011 (late afternoon) (mileage on the coach was about 48,000 miles.
 Left Mitchell for Rapid City, met Angie, Mark, & Tyler in the Cabala’s Parking lot so they could pick up the 32” Long WALLEYE that was mounted at our home in the Dining Room since it was mounted. Mark now has it mounted in his new home for safe keeping and enjoyment as we begin our Full Time Retirement in our Gulf Stream 40 ft Crescendo Motorhome.  Rapid City was our first time to Boon Dock, and it was fine…noise didn’t disturb our sleep after many weeks of long hours working to clear our books and pack away all the belongings we placed in storage bldg or in the coach.  The Moving/Garage Sale was over…our girls took most of our personal furniture belongs…that way we get to see them on and off as we come and go thru their homes during the summer months.
 The plan now was to drive thru Montana & get to IDAHO/WASHINGTON a.s.a.p.; next stop was White Sulpher Springs, MT.  Then it was Ponderosa Falls, RV Resort in Cheney, WA where we stayed Oct 3rd thru the 9th; it was a Coast to Coast Park so the cost was at the $10 per night.  Then we could tour with the Jeep in the Wallace & Coeur d Alene, IDAHO area, & not have to worry about a large area to park both the Coach and Jeep, plus it also allowed us to drive in certain areas that would not be advisable for the Coach. 
On Oct 10th thru the 13th we were in the Mt Rainier area, and stayed at the Cascade Park Rv Resort.  Mt Rainer had an elevation of over 14,000 ft and it was good we only took the Jeep.  Winding Roads and so many massive trees and greenery growing up and around the trees, it reminded us of The “Road to Hana” in Maui, especially when we came upon all the waterfalls.  As we drove thru the mountain area we experienced rain and snow and sunshine, and read that up to about 126 inches of rain can fall in this area in a year.  It is understandable as we view all the green vegetation and the really Tall Trees…lots of Red Cedar Trees.
Oct 14th & 15th we were in the Mt St Helens area, where we stayed at Castle Rock, WA while we toured the mountain.  This mountain wasn’t as tall as Mt Rainier, but had its own beauty and did they ever preserve this area magnificently since the 1980 eruption.  They saved the area where the mudslides and lava knocked over the trees as it made its way down the mountain thru the Toutle Valley area.  The Johnson Observatory was the best in depicting the event itself and then to also show us how Mother Nature had survived it all, and once again you could see the beauty and return of the lush trees and vegetations.  They also told us that the animal life had also returned as well. 
Oct 16th thru 18th we were at Corbett, Oregon to stay at the Crown Point RV Park, where we toured Mt Hood, which was rather blah after viewing Mt Rainier, which was so tall and massive, and Mt St Helen that was so well preserved.  Mt Hood was a bit plain and was mostly a Skiing Resort Area, until we saw the history of the Timberline Lodge.  It was a WPA program under Pres. Teddy Roosevelt.  The furniture pieces, and the Blacksmith designs, all designed by Government Employees at the lodge.  Even the cloth was weaved at the lodge area and sewn and designed by those in the WPA program.  The best part was the massive pieces of furniture, the wrought iron pieces, and the curtains were so well made and so well preserved yet today or some replicated too.
It was admirable to enjoy the beauty created during such traumatic times, and to realize how many people were involved way back in 1925 designing the Lodge, but mostly how well preserved it was & to keep it all in such good working condition.  The Restaurant we ate at had window seating so we could enjoy a glass of wine and have a nice lunch, & look right at Mt Hood outside the window too.  We were lucky that day to have had a sunny warm day to make it a perfect visit.
The next day we toured the Colombia River Gorge area and the Oregon Scenic Hyway with all of its many many Waterfalls.  The most massive one was called Multinomah Falls, which measured at a 632 ft. drop.  We have some really nice photos of the Falls and with Gary & I in them too.
In Boneville, Oregon we toured a Salmon Fish Hatchery, & saw a 70 year old Sturgeon that was 10 ft long.  I found that more exhilarating than the ponds with the tiny fish & their fish food.  Now that I have seen a Hatchery, don’t need to do that again.  Also along Highway 101 we stopped at Fruit Stands for Fresh Fruit Selections: Pears, Apples, Nectarines, & some Wild Berry Preserves.
Oct 19th thru the 27th of Oct was the drive to the famous Highway 101 along the Oregon Coastal Beach area. Our First RV Park was at Neskowin Creek, OREGON, which was full of more greenery, but just around the corner was the OCEAN BEACH.  In this area we could hear & see the loud crashing ocean waves, see the tall granite/volcano rocks sticking out of the ocean area everywhere (they called them haystacks). We found a lot of Sea Lions in the wild, we didn’t have to pay to go thru a cavern to hear and see them either...we were lucky to hear them first…then see them.  I couldn’t get enough of viewing all the Crashing Ocean Waves, hitting the rock walls…mesmerizing to me over and over again.  Our only disappointment was lots of Fog, Rain, and a chill in the air most of our touring.  Needless to say we didn’t walk on the sandy beaches, just enjoyed the view most of the time.
At Newport, Oregon we toured Our First Lighthouse (might be our last) it was Yaquina Head, which is to be the tallest at 93 ft in the Oregon area.  We got pins to wear that said, “I Survived the Climb!”.
We drove up to Tillamook, Oregon to tour a Cheese Factory & saw how the cheese was prepared, ate the samples and purchased almost every one we tasted, then ate the best Ice Cream Ever…we think it was the fresh crisp homemade cones that made it ever so tastefully.  We saw lots of the prettiest Fall Colored Trees and many Cows in the pastures along the Oregon Scenic Drive.  They store the Feed for the cows in White Plastic Bags, instead of stacking up the hay or grain.
Our 2nd RV Park on Hwy 101 was at Coos Bay, OR called the Midway RV Park.  We again saw basically the same things in the Neskowin area it was just more Open or we were a bit closer to the Shore here.  We saw the most Sea Lions here along the Simpson Reef, went to Bandon to walk the Boardwalk & bought our first soveneirs.  We really like the town of Bandon a lot, very historically preserved and reminded us of Hill City and Keystone, wide streets, good parking, clean Boardwalk area with Sculptures.  We thought Coos Bay was too crowded in the downtown area, streets were narrow, not well kept either.
The 3rd RV Park on Hwy 101 was Klamath, California.  This was deep into the woods this time, but we toured more of a historical area and were able to see Whale Fins…from shore.  We were told to drive down a very rural road that followed the ocean to a WWII FARM, where our government kept a Cabin/House & Farm well hidden along the coast during WWII to watch for ships that might come to shore.  Of course, after Radar became more available and useful, didn’t need the farm crew, but now it is kept up as a Historical Site. 
At Klamath we also toured the REDWOOD trees here in Klamath there was a Tree of Mystery, which was a self guided tour that depicted Names of Trees in their special contours:  One Tree we drove thru, there was a Cathedral Tree area which looked like a Cathedral &  they played symphony music here & weddings can be held there too, or there was a tree that had over 12 tree trunks growing out of it, and _____________________________________
All in All the Oregon Scenic Byway on Highway 101 & the California Hwy 101 referred to as the Pacific Ocean Scenic Byway were awesome. Gary & I didn’t travel too many miles in a day as the winding roads and trying to view the ocean as you drive along could be exhausting…so took it slow and lazy.  The best part is to be driving along the road, then all of a sudden it opens up to the Ocean with all it’s beauty.  In some ways it reminded me a lot of “The Road to Hana” (in Maui), accept we were in our own car, instead of a bus and could stop and view whatever we wanted for as long as we wanted.  The trees had greenery mostly Ivy growing up the bark of the tree to their tops too.  Then of course every restaurant we ate at we tried to stay near the Ocean and eat Fresh Fish at each of them. Even though the weather wasn’t the most enjoyable the scenery and food sure was.
Now farther west into California we stop at Redding, to stay at this Mountain Gate RV Park & stayed some extra days as it was the first time we have been out of the Fog/Rain/chilly air.  It was 72 to 75 degrees, washed all of our clothes, and only left the campground to tour a SUNDIAL BRIDGE over the Sacramento River.  It is a one of a kind Pedestrian Bridge, it was designed by a world renowned Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.  It is the first bridge of its kind in the U.S. and is the largest working sundial in the world!  The massive 210” pylon leans due north & functions as the gnomon of a sundial, casting its giant shadow on a garden-bordered dial plate at the bridge’s north end.  The bridge is made of glass, granite, & steel only. The tall pylon & cable stays allow the bridge to encourage the public to appreciate the Sacramento River & the salmon fishing too.  Any Engineer would have been more amazed than we were.
We were safely tucked into the Redding RV Park for Halloween, and 2 really cute kids knocked on our door for trick or treat.
In Redding we drove around Lake Shasta, but didn’t take the time to actually tour it, we had an agenda to meet cousin, Pam (Campbell) Loomis in Reno, NV.  One of the RV camping neighborns at Redding told us stay at the Grand Sierra Casino RV Park.  So we did and Pam with her husband John, & 2 daughters, Katlin & Laureen, with 2 of the cutest grandkids came to visit us.  What a Nice Family they are, we could have visited for a couple more days I am quite sure.
Now it is time to consider a visit with cousin, Tom & Sue, & Aunt Dorothy; however due to the weather & a trial date, we hit the road in time to get out of the mountains to avoid the Snow and Ice that was to soon pounce on us.  We were lucky enough to miss the Turkee Pass that was closed, had mostly gusts of wind to drive thru off and on, until we drove into Lone Pine, CA for the Boulder Creek RV Resort.  We had more warm weather, along with very dry sandy white soil. 
At Lone Pine we discovered that Old Western Movies had been made in this area referred to as Alabama Hills which are below the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and in a valley of the Inyo Mountains.  My dad would have loved this tour, and see where those old westerns were filmed…with Randolph Scott in “The Tall T’, the Lone Ranger, Robert Taylor, Tyrone Power in “Rawhide”, John Ford in “How the West Was Won”,  Audie Murphy in “Hell Bent for Leather” & “Showdown” , or Cary Grand in the famous classic movie about India “Gunga Din” , which was inspired by the Rudyard Kipling Poem.  Some of the more recent movies filmed there was “Tremors”.
The best part here was we could drive the many miles in the same area with a self guided book that showed the exact spots in some of those same movies and more.  They were even filming either another movie or a commercial the next day after we left (Nov. 9th); the crew was all around us and stayed in the same RV Park with about 7-9 Rental Camping Truck units.  That crew even cooked outside and did campfires too.
On the Road again this time a short quick jaunt to Dessert Willow RV Resort in Hespario, CA, then onto Hemet, CA for my cousin, Shirley (Hemmer) Danish RV Resort called Mt Shadows.  Shirley had us a lot to rent for the month of November, 2011, it had been purchased by her special friend, Bill Becker, who will be putting a Park Model on the lot in Jan 2012..  We spend quality time meeting many acquaintances of Shirley’s in the Park, and eating and drinking with a few of them too and Bill when he can get away from work in LA to join us retired ones.
Shirley has more plans than eating and drinking with as many people as we can with friends in the RVPark & family too.  I ate my first Fried Zuchini at Farmer Boys and was it ever wonderful…good and bad for you both I guess.  What will they fry next??
There are many fully retired people in this Park, all are nice and quite active.  They each have their own routines, walk, ride bikes, or exercise in the water swimming pool.  Some eat as early as 4:30 or as late as 8:00, then some get up as early as 5:30 and some mid morning.  Here with Shirley we eat early…as it gets dark here around 5:00, plus Shirley likes to wind down around 3:00 with the wine.
So far we have been to San Diego to tour the Midway Aircraft Carrier (much like the U.S.S. Lexington in Corpus Christi, so now we have seen two of these ships, and won’t need to do that again either.  Quite amazing they are.  At the Boardwalk we also saw a Museum of Ships…a Russian & U.S. Submarine, wooden ships, large sailing ships, and a lot of history of ships.  I like seeing the historical ships for some reason, as wouldn’t want to get on one and leave shore however, just walking in them was enough for me.  I would attend another Museum of Ships anytime.
In Hemet they have dug a Reservoir that would serve most of the southern part of California for at least 6 months, along the Diamond Lake area.  When they went to dig the Dam they discovered bones and artifacts, they had a 10,000 year old Mastedon and a Teen Queen Mammoth (teen age when it died still a big one), plus a couple of mean looking Sloth’s skeleton’s.  An excellent museum it is for sure.
We also walked the Historical Old Town of Temecula, what a fine job they have done of preserving those buildings and area.  The town was established around 1869 had many fine antique shops, to bad we didn’t need anything.  About the only Historical town of this quality we have viewed is Fredricksberg, Texas or Stillwater, Minnesota.  We shall continue to walk more Historical towns.
So now we only have maybe Palm Springs, Idyllwild, and a place called Julian, and a winery.  I wanted my first winery to be with cousin, Shirley, as we are Hemmer’s who enjoy our wine.  It was Shirley’s respite when her parents were killed years ago (1979) along that Foggy Interstate Entrance. It was then I discovered she was a wine lover.
Her daughter, Vickie is planning to have us for Thanksgiving meal, and Shirley’s friend, Bill Becker, makes Pecan and Pumpkin Pies.  He will prepare some for his daughter’s meal, and some for our Meal and be at both.  It sounds like he will have a very eventful day eating pies for a good part of his day.
Vickie has a son, Phillip who is totally disabled, a daughter, RaeAnne, and a son, Gabriel, who has spinal bifada.  Shirley says if it weren’t for Vickie Phillip would never have lived to be 24 years old.  He just got out of the hospital again for double pneumonia.  We shall meet her husband too. 
Our next trip will be to Chandler, AZ to attend Nathan Bies’s graduation from the Virginia Golf Academy on Dec 16th,  after we figure out the rest will post more newsy updates.

finally Jan 25th thru Feb 4th...events

January 25th thru Feb. 4th 2011
Sorry so slow with the last update.  We got home in Mitchell SD about 6:30 Feb 4th after stopping at Sioux Falls to visit Norma, Beckie just happened to stop by too at the same time and we got to hear about her Mexico trip also. Gary’s Mom is fine, and remembered us well…we are so grateful for that.  She was in a discussion with other residents and the nursing staff, waved us over and introduced Gary and I to the group.  It thrilled me to no end, as we assume someday it may always be that way with most Alzheimer patients.
On January 27th we were all packed up and ready to leave the Rockport TX house.  Chuck and Carol Krcil made a mad dash home for a favorite sister in law’s,  SISTER’s funeral, at Yankton that following Sat the 29th.  She had been ill and so they more or less expected her death.
Bonnie and Jerry Krcil left for Houston to visit their son, Kevin & his wife & 3 grandsons.  Bonnie & Jerry were scheduled to meet with the John & Shirley Little and head to New Orleans to travel that area. 
Sandy & Wayne headed out to tour the Goliard Mission ‘LaBahia’, which we had toured already with Krcil’s and the Little’s.  Our grandson, Josh, also toured it, when he left Rockport for San Antonio, and then home to Mitchell.  We all agreed it was better than the Alamo, because so much of the forte was still preserved you really get a good picture of a fort/mission area in those historical days. 
Gary and I headed to San Antonio to tour a Witte Museum and to then meet Sandy and Wayne on the Riverwalk.  This proved to be more of an adventure than we had imagined, as we met up with what we shall call a volunteer Veteran, who walked the legs off of us & showed us the highlights of the Historical Area of San Antonio.
One area was the Old San Antonio with LaVillita village, San Fernando Cathedral, oldest church (1731) in the U.S.  There are relics of the Alamo heroes entombed there.  Our volunteer Veteran Guide, Mr. LaRoache showed us the hole that the people went into the tunnels to be saved from the killing rampages, and how well the church itself was preserved, and updated some.  Unlike some of our local churches they saved most of the marble statuary and gold in the altar.  Do a website tour of it on the internet to really get all of the information, hopefully the tutorial tour is up and working when you do.
We ate on the veranda at a Country Line restaurant on the Riverwalk, was a fun & most enjoyable meal time & rest…it called for a Martini as we were totally exhausted.  I got my photo of Sandy and Wayne to have on my cell phone so when they call me their photos pops up, so I know who is calling at a glance.
Just before we all headed out the door at our Rockport TX house, we took photos at the in front of the large Sailfish mounted on the living room wall.  The lady of the house must have caught it as there was a photo at the house of her and this fish.  Messed up though and didn’t get a photo of Josh at the house with us. 
So the Jefferis’s and Shafer’s decided to stay at Craig and Corky Porter’s house while in San Antonio, as Gus and Virginia VanSteenBerg had offered us a 2 bedroom  apartment in their Majestic Bldg for our San Antonio visit, but since Virginia’s Sister-in-law was ill and possibly dying from a Brain Tumor, we weren’t too sure that the VanSteenBerg’s would be there during our entire 3 day stay.  Wished we had now as we were downtown on the Riverwalk area so much, would have been more convenient.
We were able to visit with Gus & Virginia a couple different times, and met their son Nick, his wife Alejandra & their son Nickky, plus their daughter, Drew, and Ginger’s sister, Felisa Kazen.  Felisa was  visiting from New York to also see the ill sister in law, who resides in Laredo.  I found Felisa Kazen was most fascinating, and she is a writer and producer in New York.  She explained a lot about the horses-cattle-culture that we viewed in the Long Horn Cattle Drive parade.  Gus and Virginia were there with us the entire duration of the Rodeo Parade, we then ate lunch with them it a very amazing historial BUCKHORN SALOON MUSEUM.  If you go there plan to spend 1.5 or more hours to view.
Virginia (Kazen) VanSteenBerg is a very accomplished woman too.  She and Gus have preserved & gutted out & refurbished the MAJESTIC THEATRE as close to the original décor as possible, and gutted out & decorated all of the offices & apartments in the huge building complex also. 
Then on top of it all, she was part of again preserving & moving THE FAIRMONT HOTEL.  It was done on a roller set up, and took 3 days to do it.  She hired a large firm out of the New York area to move the Hotel, it too can be viewed on-line: http://www.thefairmounthotel-sanantonio.com/ of it’s historical venture.  Virginia renovated this hotel too.
Their son Nick, and daughter, Drew are involved in their business properties too.  It was a honor to have been with them, and to see Virginia and Gus’s most historical home.  It should be on a website too.  I was too embarrassed to take photos of their home, but did get one of their front door area.  I ran out of battery on both our video and digital camera, after the Long Horn Cattle Parade in front of their Majestic Bldg., so didn’t get any photos of the inside of the Majestic Theatre.  It is most unbelievable & outstanding—words cannot describe it, I wished they had a website of that to view also.  Just go to http://www.themajestic.com/ to view some of these buildings.
While in San Antonio, the Jefferis’s and Shafer’s attended Sunday Mass at the Mission of San Juan, toured this mission and two others: Mission of San Jose & Mission Concepcion, which were quite well preserved.  It is amazing to view all of the marble statuary in those churches and to think they were saved also from the rampages those forts went thru.  These sites can probably be viewed on-line too.
Craig and Corky Porter were wonderful hospitable friends to stay with.  Sandy and Corky enjoyed discussions about teaching children, Corky and Craig do a lot of volunteer work at their grandsons school, and also with boy scouts.  Craig loves to cook while we all sit at his 12ft granite curved island.  He made us caramelized salmon, while we drank his wine and watched him prepare the food right in front of us.  It’s  what he requires his guest to do.  The rule is ‘Don’t cross into his kitchen work station’, it upset and aggravates him mostly.  What a great cook he is and loves to do it for guests too.  Let’s say it is his creative hobby.  He has 2 refrigerators, and 2 dishwashers, and Corky & Craig each have their own sinks.  They really did a good job when they built that house let me tell you. 
The plan was to leave San Antonio on Monday the 31st of Jan, and tour Ft Worth TX stockyard area.  When we were near Ft Worth time was getting late, and then we heard of the plans for the Super Bowl in the FtWorth/Dallas area, plus the up & coming winter storm that Porter’s had warned us about. 
We then decided to drive up north more, a mistake as got stuck in a little town of Sherman, OK and the storm hit.  We were brave the next morning, drove 30 miles North in the snow and ice to Durant OK, to a humongous ChocTaw Casino…4500 machines to play around with for 2 days to wait out the storm.  It was stupid to drive in it and a delight to be in the Casino during the ICE/SNOW STORM.  We saw cars & pickups fishtail & swerve into the ditch, trucks get stuck going up the slightest hill off the interstate exits (no chains), and people do ‘loop de loops’ in front of us.  This happened on our 30 mile treck from Sherman to Durant and then out of Durant into Kansas City.  So it didn’t make much difference waiting for a couple days, other than most of the truckers were off the road, but Oklahoma doesn’t have crews for Ice/Snow events…so didn’t seem like the driving conditions were too different waiting it out.  Those people don’t know how to drive on winter roads either, we must have guardian angels as we made it.  In hindsight we should have stayed at the Porter House when they warned us of the storm approaching, & extended their invitation for the favorable San Antonio weather.  Just thought it wouldn’t be that bad, wrong again!!!. 
The Jefferis and Shafer’s had planned to stop and see Aunt Elnora (Hemmer) Snow in Blue Springs, MO (suburbs of Kansas City), but she had an attach of the flu that day and actually made a trip to the hospital, & back to the Manor bedridden for hours.  So we drove on home instead, arrived like I said on Feb 4, 2011 about 6:30..safely.  God Blessed us that is for sure. 
Kay Shafer signing off until our next adventure:  California to see cousins, Shirley Danish, and Tom and Sue Hart, & meet with friends The Porter’s to tour San Fransciso.  It will be our first trip in Our 40ft Gulf Stream Motorhome for our Full time Retirement Traveling years, starting around the late Fall of 2011, as we sell the business to our Daughter Kim and husband Rick Swank and retire full time.

Jan 19th thru 24th 2011

January 19^th – 24th…2011

The 4 Krcils made their trip to San Antonio to view THE ALAMO & RIVERWALK, it was a good trip up and back to Rockport.  Gary and I toured various campgrounds in Rockport/Fulton area, and found a neat souvenir shop for our turtle purchase, and 4 surprises for our daughters.  The twin turtles and the branch they set on was carved in Bali, the branch is made out of parasite wood, and the twin turtles are of suar wood.

The 20^th (Thursday) was an R & R day, wash clothes & grocery shop, cook supper.  The 21^st we decided to be young again and bar hop.  The first place Pickled Pelican has a rough and tough bar maid, who charmed and entertained us.  The 2^nd place we walked in was an art gallery type bar area, great drinks, and Gary and I visited with a man at the end of the bar who was in the granite counter top business.  He recently purchased a house here in the Fulton/Rockport area.  He suggested a couple other bars to go to with music.  We tried 2 of them walked in and walked out.  Too crowded, too loud of bands, or too cold as one was an outside bar with band, one didn’t have a table for us…Then it was on to Charlotte Plummer for a nice evening meal on the by the pier.

Saturday the 22^nd we went to Goliad, about 60 miles of here, and it was a beautiful day.  It is a mission (Espiritu Santo) with a forte (Presidio La Bahi) , talked to a lady who was the 7^th generation of the Spanish immigrants who originally settled there and fought the fight in the 1740’s.  She was precious.  They also had a couple informative rangers too.  A well preserved forte and catholic missionary church area, it was better than The Alamo, and significantly the same war, but since only 200 men instead of 5000 men died it is not stated highly in history books, but should be.

At Goliad we saw the largest Hanging Tree (used for hangings 1846-1870 in front of the most beautiful 3-6 steeple Courthouse on

Main Street

. But because it was Saturday we didn’t get to tour the inside of the courthouse. 

On the way back to Rockport to attend church, we stopped on the edge of Fulton to find the 1000 YEAR OLD CROOKED OAK TREE.  It is supported by stakes, has been treated for bugs/termites/diseases and all fenced in and wired for support too.  The nices verse is written there, as if the tree was talking to us about admiring her and preserving her both.  We still made it to church on time too.

Sunday the 23^rd, was more cleaning up the house to get ready for the 2 football playoffs, and listen on the internet to the DWU basketball games at the Corn Palace, and make popcorn & meatloaf.  Sandy & Wayne showed up in time for meatloaf supper too.  DWU won and so did the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Monday the 24^th, Sandy and Wayne took off for Corpus Christi, to see the Museum.  And we met our friends John & Shirley Little from Mitchell, who are staying in a campground at Victoria.  We also wanted them to see our large mansion of a rental house.  Big Lunch, snack for supper is all that is needed.

Jan 13-18th...from Kay Texas adventures

January 13-14-15-16-17-18^th 2011

the 13^th….It was a very rainy windy time-(been that way for couple days), and we decided the USS Lexington would be inside so we toured it, but so cold on top deck, just couldn’t enjoy that part as much.  We enjoyed the tour just the same all 6 of us.  Gary and I had been on the tour before, they had individual narrators we when did it in 2005, but not this time.  Okay, but not as learned if would have had a narrator. 

We ate lunch at Joe’s Crabin in Corpus Christi and the waiter did a little train dance for us that was cute, and food and atmosphere was great too.  Ate so much at noon when it came to suppertime, we snacked only.  

the 14^th…we washed clothes and shopped for groceries and cooked supper…pork chops and sauerkraut…fresh vegetables and fruits here are awesome.  Gary & I waited for Josh who arrived before midnight, hugged him and went to bed.

the 15^th…(Saturday) the 7 of us took off for Corpus Christi to tour the MUSEUM to view the 3 Columbus ships, spent about 3 hours there so much to see and so very nice. 

Time for Lunch..we choose Landrys Restaurant and ate fish as usual.  We then toured the Texas State Aquarium, which was nice also, they had a really nice Dolphin show, and each of us enjoyed finding the sea animals in the glass displays.  The 7 of us came back to Rockport & went to church at 6:00 and had plans to go to Big Fisherman, but were not hungry after eating so much at noon.  So we just came back to our comfortable House at Rockport to R & R and eat snacky food mostly for supper; besides there was some kind of Football game on with Green Bay Packers...

…16^{th …} (Sunday) Josh left for Corpus Christi to tour the USS Lexington.  He continued on to South Padre Islands then to stay overnight.  He bartered for his room had to beat grandma’s $60 quote and got the Ocean side room for $55.  He walked/jogged the beach and took in the ambiance of the ocean beach area too.

…17^th…we met Josh at King’s Ranch in Kingsville, TX toured the ranch which was okay, but Gary and I enjoyed the Ranch in Montana more as we didn’t get to see all the cowboys working on this Ranch of 825,000 acres.  Saw lots of ranch animals and deer-birds in the wild however.

…18^th…Josh left for Goliad ( a bit north of Rockport..Mission Church similar to the Alamo), then he went into San Antonio to tour the Alamo & the Riverwalk, and onto Dallas for the evening to drive back home to SD/Minnesota for the weekend.  The 6 of us washed clothes again, got groceries, and sat in the SUN all afternoon for R & R.

….19^th is planned for the 4 Krcils to drive to San Antonio for their Alamo and Riverwalk tour.  Gary and I shall R & R  & find our turtle souvenir for our Rockport TX excursion.

As Ever, Kay

Jan 9th-10-ll-12th..adventures

Jan 9^th-10-11-12^th 2011

Saturday night it blew and hailed here…sounded like a herd of buffalo on the roof, and we all worried about our cars parked outside.  On Sunday the 9^th, we went to the same Sacred Heart Church and ate an American Breakfast Buffet at the Panda Bay (Chinese restaurant), then Gary and I went to the movie “True Grit”, and Chuck and Carol to “The Flockers III” movie, & Bonnie and Jerry read their books & etc at our Rockport House.  When we came home I was able to get the most beautiful Sunset photos off our 2 tiered patio verandas.  It had been cloudy all day until about then.  It was surely a treat to see God’s Beauty all around us. 

Monday the 10^th…more windy and cloudy than ever.  We adventured out anyways to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, which would have been more adventurous if we hadn’t chosen the cold weather conditions.  Too cold for the birds to be out and about and the crocodiles too.  We did see a few cranes and a few rosetta spoonbills (pinkish colored) birds, and lots of deer, both the mule and white tailed deer.  Both had pretty dark eyes…that looked straight at us.

Tuesday the 11^th we scheduled to venture to Victoria to see Mitchell friends, John and Shirley Little, who stay at a campground during the winter months.  They suggested lunch at a new place called Buffalo City (Chinese/American buffet).  Good choice too.  Since it was too cold to do the Goliard Mission near Victoria, we came back to Rockport to do our grocery shopping for 3 meals instead.  Hope to schedule Goliard when the weather gets better.  We have asked the Little’s to join us at Rockport to eat at the Big Fisherman.  Hopefully the same day we take Josh there, excellent seafood, large servings, all the fish or chicken you can eat.  Lesser priced for food and drinks both too.

Wednesday the 12^th…was a work day….laundry and get our supper into the crock pots.  We had repairmen for both the dishwasher and Satellite TV also.  We got a new Dishwasher, and learned about the ins and outs of Satellite…some cords for 3 of the 6 TV’s hooked up inappropriately mostly.   Thursday is planned to tour the U.S. Lexington at Corpus Christi for the 4 krcils and for Gary and I a different adventure to be determined yet….paddleboat tour of the history of Corpus Christi (weather permitting), or other history places to view. 

Josh is to arrive late Friday evening, the plans then are: Kings Ranch at Kingsville, Corpus Christi Museum to view the 3 replicas of the Columbus ships, San Antonio for the Alamo and Riverwalk for Josh and the 4 Krcils…Gary and I shall do San Antonio with Sandy and Wayne.  It appears the weather will be better over the weekend. Josh is driving to Texas instead of flying, so that only leaves him 3.5 days of touring…we all hope to join some of it…our ages determine if we can keep up with his agenda.  As Ever Kay

Jan 5th-6th-7th-8th from Kay

Wednesday the 5^th of January was Chuck’s Birthday…and the sun was shining so we took advantage of that and spent time on the outside verandas reading and catching up on e-mails (some Birthday greetings by e-mail and mail shared too), we also had to get groceries too (we sneaked in the choc. Cake for Chuck too).  We also packed for our 2 day trip to South Padre Islands and to visit friends in McAllen and Harlingen. Went to the Big Fisherman to eat and had martini’s to celebrate the big occasion.

We had a 3 hr drive to McAllen to get to the Citrus Valley campground to visit Al and Barb DeLange (Mitchell friends who winter there), they gave us 2 bags of fresh grapefruit off their trees by their camper.  This campground was originally a grapefruit farm, until some were frozen out and then when they don’t have the right combination of male/female species the fruit sometimes changes to lemony taste, so turned it into this campground. 

Our drive in this area consisted of many groves of grapefruit trees...with fruit laying on the ground.  I said why don’t they get out of bed and pick up all that nice fruit?  They were of course working, just not enough trucks to put all the fruit in.  The DeLange grapefruit was/is tremendous.

Then we drove into South Padre Island/Port Isabel area & stayed overnight in the Sheraton Hotel and we were able to get 3 rooms with Ocean Views, eat in their Restaurant with Ocean view for supper, and on the outside patio for Breakfast, then we walked on the beach with the best weather conditions ever.  We saw many men fishing, they stand in the water a ways out with their waders on, and stick their poles in the ground with the ocean waves spashing against their bodies & poles. 

We didn’t get to see any fish pulled in, but one fella caught a nice size STINGRAY.  He was very heavy and brought him to shore laid him on the sandy beach so we got lots of photos/videos of him. He tried many many times with a bucket to push him out to the Ocean Waters, and had to be very careful at the same time for the barbed stinger he flipped around. Also saw more Portuguese Man of War.  We also saw a fisherman hold up a stringer of fish...but he was so far out couldn’t really see what size or what they were.  Talked to one fisherman who said you catch Trout and many other varieties of fish.

Then it was off to Harlingen to visit Billy and Ruth Hinton at the Tropic Winds Resort campground.  On the way home to Rockport stopped at a fruit stand to select fresh fruit and vegetables. 

All the time we have been here we get to hear or watch the BASKETBALL GAMES…imagine that 1200 miles away and we can sit with our laptops in front of us and together the 6 of us still get to view the games.  We told DeLanges about it, and hoped they saw the Mitchell/Watertown game last night…we ordered pizza when we got home and it was so much fun for all of us, to bonds our friendship even more. 

We get to see our soaps together on TV if we are home, or on the Internet if we aren’t…thanks to Kim telling Mom how to do it.  Guess a person is never to old to learn new things. 

Saturday…it is R & R for us old foggies…a bit of fatigue from the last 2 days out and about.  Josh comes Jan 14^th thru 20^th or 21^st, then Bonnie & Jerry’s son, Kevin and 3 boys, followed by Sandy and Wayne about the the 24^th or so.  Then off to San Antonio with Sandy and Wayne to visit a cousin, Gus VanSteenberg & friends Craig & Corky Porter…Porter’s invited us 4 to stay with him.  Then back home about first part of February.  Jerry and Bonnie will head to New Orleans, and Chuck and Carol to Kansas to visit relatives.

Our plans are to play cards, Mexican train, or pokeno…since it is cloudy and windy probably in the 50’s we won’t get to spend too much time on the verandas.  We have planned our meals to cook at home all weekend.  They have a meat market to purchase fresh meant, enjoyed filet mignon’s for New Year’s Day, and a pork loin with sauerkraut, and soon a meatloaf.  Carol had a delicious Lasagna you cook in the crock pot, I shall post this and send to my 4 daughters. 

I shall see if Kim can assist me with posting photos.

Jan 4th posting..for last 2 day events..at Rockport

We only washed clothes and such on Monday went to Mustang Island...rode a Ferry Boat..while sitting in our cars to get to the Island..in the Port Aransas area, drove on a very rugged sandy beach area to view whatever was present...only most amazing site were they blue floating balloon type things...everywhere we went. Bonnie was brave, and curious too, brought one to the car on a paper after trying to investigate is's spongy texture...beautiful blue appearance just made us more than curious to really see it up close...thank goodness no one decided to puntcure the darn thing...it was a 'PORTUGESE MAN OF WAR' and they were literally all over the beach area.

If you google these fishy items...they are poisinous and even when they are dead on the beach.  If you puncture them and the fluid inside their beautiful blue body permeat onto your skin...oOh would it be painful.  Then we would have to find vinegar or meat tenderizier to realive the exposed area.  It makes the red blood sells appear on the outside of your skin...if you have enough of the fluid on your skin you could be so very uncomfortable that a person could go into cardiac arrest.  Bonnie has a 'guardian angel'..WE NEVER  punctured the darn thing.  It was in my face and Bonnie's too...I have a very close picture of it.

 Tuesday we had to purchase more groceries..washed more clothes...and read some more watched it rain.  Cooked the most delicious Lasagna in the Crock Pot..  We all pigged out actually..with salad and toast too.

Tomorrow (Wed. Jan 5th) is Chuck Krcil's Birthday...so only plan we have is eat at Big Fisherman again.  We have to take Josh there..he will pig out on Shrimp.  We all ate fish and never tasted anything so tremendous.  (we will surprise him with a chocolate cake...hidden in our 2nd refrigerator)....

We must rest up and enjoy the outside sun and air..read aalot more...then pack up for Thurs. Morning early adventure to South Padre Island..Halingen and McAllen TX area to visit more friends...(Shields....Hinton's...DeLanges...) then overnight stay in South Padre Island area..we plan to stay on the beach in a motel.  Hope for a Romantic Sunset..view for suppertime.  Back to Rockport Friday sometime..   by then we shall need more R & R.  As Ever, Kay Shafer

Sunday we...went to Church, ate at Big Fisherman Restuarnt..wonderful, then

Sunday we...went to Church, ate at Big Fisherman Restuarnt..wonderful, then went thru the Texas Maritime Museum.  Saw the French ship that Capt. LaSalle sailed in 1800's to near Rockport, it sunk, they found it and revived it, found a skeleton well preserved learned about his DNA to confirm why ship sunk & such.  Saw Nautical Tools used in the  how the measured with instead of a map or GPS, and alot of items that were salvaged off the ship too.  Also a minature Oil rigs and such.  Walked around the top part of a Light House there too.  then we came back sat in the sun even though chilly outside.  Left house this morning with very warm jackets, saw people in church with winter jackets on too.  We wore our jackets all day.

then we played more Mexican Train...(dominos type game), played it all day Saturday and had a better day in the sun..lots of wind then too.  told josh to bring sandal, may not need shorts, but we are old foggies...so he should bring one pair at least and jackets.  Love to all who read this.  Kay

So how is the weather in Mitchell, Custer, & S.Falls area today?

I haven't seen any entries from you gals and guys about the weather and if all of you got home safely too.  Waiting to hear from our 4 daughters.  Love MOM

Happy New Years...

Hope all of you are safe and warm in your homes.  Since the Bies's are at the Swanks, hope to hear from you when you arrive home safely, plus when Nathan and Erica get back home safely to Phoenix.

Post what you all did last night, and are doing today.

We are going to cook a big breakfast at the house, play games, hope to sit outside awhile, cool and windy somewhat as of yet.