A Slow Start and Naco

We were late getting up, spent a long time reading blogs and drinking coffee—then took a long walk around the neighborhood. 

Last night I suggested to Michael that we try getting medications in Naco, Mexico this year instead of taking the long trip to Algodones while we are in Bouse.  He thought that was a good idea so this afternoon off we went to Bisbee then Naco.  Jim and Linda have been getting dental work done there and gave us good directions.  I wasn’t able to get all the medications I normally get in Mexico and I think the prices were higher than in Algodones but the trip itself was much easier and the border crossing guards coming back into the US were much easier to deal with in Naco than Algodones. 

Tonight Linda suggested we try out the new Mexican food place in Tombstone.  The decor was lovely-- our waitress was great and the food was good.  I even tried a prickly pear margarita and let me tell you, I thought about ordering another one of those and forgetting about dinner!  Jim ordered a hamburger and his potato chip fries were way over done as in burnt—Linda pointed this out to the waitress and she not only brought him some more fries, she brought us a complimentary flan dessert and gave us 10% off the bill!  Now that’s a restaurant trying to please and gain customers!

We decided to rescue our pooch who had been alone much of the day and said our goodnights.  Jim has a shooting match tomorrow and I think we may try a road trip to Slaughter Ranch.

Balmorhea State Park

Our plan was to travel to Van Horne, TX yesterday and boondock in the parking lot of Chuy’s where JB and Brenda stayed the other day.  Instead we ended up at Balmorhea State Park.  It is about 6 miles off I10 and what a find—an older park which has some trashy neighbors but the park itself is a wonder!

Built by the CCC in 1935 Balmorhea swimming pool is fed by an artesian spring that has a ONE MILLION GALLON per hour flow!!!!  The 1.75 acre pool (it’s a huge swimming pool) holds 3.5 million gallons of water and maintains a constant temperature of 72-76 degrees!  One of the work campers was waiting to lock the gates and told us that yesterday when the weather was sunny, the pool had lots of visitors.  There is motel style lodging with a Southwestern look and the campground that has water, electric and cable at each site.  There is a restored cienega (Spanish for marsh or wet meadow) that provides habitat for the Comanche Springs pupfish. 

The only drawback, it costs $31 a night to stay here!  Texas has a $7 per person entry fee at this park and I’m not so sure that it isn’t at every Texas state park.  The RV site is $17 per night. 

We are one of four rigs in the park tonight and it is quiet and dark—just the way we like it!

After a relaxing morning of coffee and blogs we started making tracks again.  We were in three states today having finally gotten out of Texas-- and pulled into our friends, Jim and Linda’s driveway in Tombstone just about 5:30.  We had stopped just outside Tombstone at one of the easy to get into RV parks and filled our propane tank. 

And, the best news of all—thanks to JB and Brenda’s tip—Michael was the proud recipient of a shingles vaccine today!!!  When I was talking to Linda today on the phone before we arrived at their place, she mentioned that another friend had gotten his shingles vaccine at the Safeway store in Benson.  Got out the IPod, Googled that Safeway store for the phone number and was told yes, he could get his vaccine there.  And, Gina and Rollie, the person on the phone must have thought I was crazy cause I asked three times, “are you SURE you have the vaccine in stock and are you SURE someone can give it to him TODAY.” 

Our motorhome reached a milestone today: We drove over 400 miles today and the motorhome purred all the way—we are really liking this RV!

We met Jim and Linda several years ago while participating in Cowboy Action Shooting.  They were full-timing RVer’s when we met but have sold their big RV (a toyhauler with a Harley in the back) and bought an older home in Tombstone.  Renovations have turned the home into a show place—I love the way Linda has decorated—it is a great place and in a very quiet neighborhood.  Jim likes living in Tombstone as it is very near to several shooting events every month.  Linda likes Tombstone’s proximity to Sierra Vista and all that shopping!  We will spend a couple days here with them before continuing on to Tucson. 

Just a great day!  Except poor Emmi has discovered what goat head grass stickers are—nasty things and now she won’t hardly get off the pavement to go potty!  We are trying really hard not to track those lethal things into the rig but I stepped on one just a while ago!  OUCH!

Leaving San Antonio Behind

We were saying our “see you in a couple of weeks,” to Jim and Ellie and heading down the road by 10:30 this morning, toward El Paso. 

It has been a totally uneventful day traveling across west Texas—jeez it takes a long time to get across Texas!  Not much to look at but windmills, mesquite and hills.  I am posting an early blog because we intend to stop for the night in Van Horne which is out in the middle of nowhere—so we may not have any internet connections.

Emmi has become such a good traveling dog on this trip—she wanders for a little while when we get started but then curls up on the couch and sleeps.  I think she likes the new couch as much as we do!!

I’ve been kept busy supplying Michael with Cheetoes and bottles of water.  I’ve also been hand sewing the binding on the quilt I made for our bed. 

JB and Brenda commented that while in a Safeway store in the Phoenix area they noticed a sign that said ,”shingles vaccine available.”  Maybe we can just go to our local grocery store and get a vaccine???  And Max, thank you for your comments about your rheumatoid arthritis treatment and hope those shingles go away soon.  My little brother Ross recently had shingles (he is 49 which is young to have shingles) and he was miserable for several weeks. 

We have about 100 miles to go today, YEA!

We Are In Texas

We pulled out of Gina and Rollie’s driveway about 8:30 this morning after lots of hugs and lots of “see you in a couple of weeks.”  At 4:30pm we were pulling into the Braunig Lake RV Park in San Antonio.  Houston was a piece of cake today, a little busy with traffic but not bad.  I drove for about a hour today to let Michael take a rest. 

This resort has a little guy in a golf cart lead you to your site and direct you as you park.  He lead us into our site, performed a few hand motions, walked around the front of the rig, looked down the passenger side and said we were good to go.  OK, when I go to open the door, the steps open out almost on top of the picnic table.  Emmi and I almost had to do leap frog to get out of the motorhome.  Did he not see that he parked us on top of the picnic table, was he a practical jokester???? 

Ellie and Jim are parked right across the street from us and rushed out to give us lots of hugs.  Deb and Rod whom we had not met before were also there.  I took Emmi for a little walk and Michael got the rig leveled and set up.  We then took THE QUILT over to Ellie and Jim’s where Ellie had dinner ready.  As you can see from the photo, Ellie is pleased!!  We unmade the bed and put the quilt on—it fits perfectly and looks absolutely great if I do say so myself.

Emmi enjoyed getting to meet up with Jasmine and Mr. BoJangles again.

And she also enjoyed being Dad’s back seat driver today.

Ellie’s dinner was delicious, roast beef, potatoes, a great salad, angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.  Very, very good and thanks so much Ellie! 

So, Mr. Clark is back on the west side of the Mississippi.  We found out tonight that Jim and Ellie are not traveling to the desert with us but instead are going to Rockport for a couple weeks then coming to the desert.  So, you know what that means??  We get first pick of our spot in the desert! 

We are tucked in for the night and our plan is to head west tomorrow sometime.  Gina and Rollie—we had a wonderful time, thank you so very much!

Last Day In Louisiana

The plan was for Gina and I to be on the road by 9am heading for a quilt shop in Baton Rouge.  We didn’t quite make 9am but close—Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield intervened—that’s another story!

Michael and Rollie headed off to look at an enclosed trailer and other guy errands.  Gina and I found the quilt store and purchased some fabric for placemats for Gina—we are going to have quilting classes in the desert.  Next stop was just a little shopping for Gina and I at a place called Stage—great, great after Christmas sales! 

Called the guys and made plans to meet at the doctor’s office (Gina and Rollie’s doctor). 

OK, this is the other story.  Michael’s rheumatologist wants him to have a shingles and pneumonia vaccine before beginning a particular drug that might compromise his immune system.  We tried to get these vaccines in Billings before we left and again in Arkansas while there with family—the medical field right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing anywhere in this country!  Called Medicare this morning and found out that the shingles vaccine is NOT covered. 

Last Thursday I called Gina and Rollie’s doctor’s office, specifically to ask about these vaccines.  I was told, “yes we give the vaccines, you will have to pay up front for the shingles vaccine, we will not bill Medicare for that one.”  I said, “paying for the vaccines isn’t the problem, can you give him the vaccine?”  After much going back and forth between the person on the phone and someone behind the scenes, she tells me, “yes we can give the vaccine, when would you like to come in?”  We agreed on an appointment for 1pm today. 

Filled out the paperwork and was called back to an examine room.  When asked why we were there my sweet husband says, “I need a shingles and pneumonia vaccine.”  And, now comes the kicker, “we don’t have the shingles vaccine.”  WHAT?????  No shingles vaccine, it is back ordered and there is a waiting list.  We left.  Isn’t medical care in the United States just the greatest??? 

So, to heck with even thinking about doctors for the next three months—that is our decision. 

Came home and decided to forget about medical care and have a wonderful lunch with Gina and Rollie.   Homemade spaghetti sauce, great salad and homemade bread.  Dessert was some of Gina’s homemade millionaire candies. 

The afternoon consisted of Michael and Rollie fixing the pond/waterfall plumbing, laundry, packing the motorhome and visiting.  Ashley, Parker, Dana and Nicole all stopped by and we also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rollie—Rollie’s Dad. 

Tonight we opened a bottle of wine, baked another loaf of bread and spent our last evening visiting some more.  It seems like we can always find something to talk about with Gina and Rollie.

Tomorrow we began our journey west hoping to make San Antonio by tomorrow night—not sure if we will get that far, will see what kind of time we make through traffic but Jim and Ellie are waiting for us (really Ellie is waiting for her quilt).  We had hoped Gina and Rollie would be traveling with us but they will only be about a week behind.

We have had a great time visiting here in Louisiana and are so glad we came.  It has been an absolute pleasure to see where Gina and Rollie live and to meet their families. 

I took this photo of the fish in Gina’s pond—the greenery is a reflection—I loved how this photo turned out!

Oak Alley Plantation and Shopping

We must just feel so much at home here in Gina and Rollie’s driveway—we sleep in every morning getting a late start on our day—but then we are retired, isn’t that what we are supposed to do??

Gina wanted to spend the day with Ashley and Nicole as both will be leaving soon and it will be a while before their family is back together—they invited me to go along on this shopping trip and who was I to say no to a day of shopping with three fun women!!!  And we did have a ball!  Ashley and Parker will soon be returning to medical school out of the country where things such as Atkins Bars are not available—Ashley purchased every chocolate chip Atkins Bar in the local Wal Mart—9 boxes!!!!  They carry a multitude of things back with them—very organized and on a strict budget!  Nicole had Christmas gift certificates to spend, Gina and I just went along although we did find a couple of things.  I got some incredibly warm and comfortable slippers at Sam’s Club. 

Rollie decided to take Michael to Oak Alley Plantation.  In the early 1700’s a settler built a small house along the Mississippi River and planted 28 evenly spaced live oak trees.  In 1839 Jacques Roman, a wealthy planter built the present mansion for his wife.  The trees are now almost 300 years old.  Enjoy the photos Michael and Rollie took.

Isn’t that the most incredible sight—those big, old trees! 

We all gathered back at Gina and Rollie’s to feast on leftovers.  Another absolutely awesome day in Louisiana!

A Great New Year’s Day

In spite of fireworks going off in the neighborhood we both went right to sleep and even managed to sleep in this morning. 

Michael and I took Emmi for a walk around the neighborhood and we began to make plans for the day.  The guys helped Nicole transfer vehicles around and also helped her with some furniture and boxes. 

The menu for tonight was pork tenderloins which I started marinating, black eyed peas, cabbage, homemade macaroni and cheese, cornbread and homemade bread for Rollie (the rest of us got to sample some too).  While we were busy cooking all the above I decided to make spaghetti sauce, too.  The house smelled wonderful!

Dana (Rollie’s sister) and her husband Ricky, Nicole, Ashley and Parker all joined us for dinner tonight.  Rollie and Gina—you raised great kids—easy to talk to, friendly, wonderful sense of humor—you should be very proud of them! 

While we were cooking and Gina was taking down Christmas decorations, I worked on Ellie’s quilt—hand sewing the binding—I am just a little over half way done, YEA!

Today was a good beginning for 2011!

Uncle Jim’s cabbage he raised which we cooked tonight—that was one big cabbage!

A King Cake—a Louisiana tradition.  Usually sold around Mardi Gras time, see the plastic baby sitting on the edge of the cake—in times past the plastic baby was buried inside the cake and whoever got the piece which contained the baby hosted the next King Cake party.  Here is a link to the history behind King Cakes. 

Emmi was saying all day, “Mommmmm, she has my duck.” 

The guys grilling the meat or shall we say, Rollie grilling the meat and Michael supervising??

This is the first time in my adult life that I have not sent Christmas cards.  I toyed with the idea of sending New Year’s cards but decided against that too.  Today I thought about writing a recap of this year’s blogs and maybe over the next few days I will get around to that, maybe not!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!