This week has been stationery as we had planned to stay in Bandera through Christmas before moving on. We've taken it slow, done a little shopping, toured the countryside (including Medina Lake) and even done a little country-western dancing which we used to love. Our boots are loosening up again and we are convincing ourselves that this would be great exercise!
Tomorrow we will go to San Antonio to stay with my mom and dad on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Mom and I have planned a special feast that includes Beef Wellington and healthy side dishes. Calories are banned during the dessert, however!
So on 12/26 our travels resume. We will be heading west on I-10 and staying in Alpine, TX for about a week. My brother, Bob and his wife, Cindy will be joining us for the first couple of days and acting as tour guides. The McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis and the lights in Marfa on definitely on the agenda. We also plan to do a day trip to Big Bend while we are there. After that, we plan to travel north to the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico then will turn south and head for the Rio Grande Valley and the tip of Texas. There, we will join up with Dean's brother and his wife in Donna, TX. As the plans get a little more firm, I will furnish dates and better details.
By popular demand, I am also reporting on the progress of the third member of our family. Molly is a 5-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (big name, little dog) who thinks the motor home is her castle and we are her subjects. She is an excellent traveler who rarely lets us out of her sight. She doesn't seem to mind the change in venue but is having a little trouble adjusting to doing her business on the grass instead of concrete and pavement. After all, she was raised as a city dog; this country life offers a little too much freedom for her taste! If technology allows, I will post a picture of her.
Meanwhile, we hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday. Our hugs and best wishes are with you all!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Greetings from a very cool South Texas
This week we spent in the car visiting sites around the Bryan/College Station area. I forgot to mention how charming Fredericksburg was during last week's report. It is a town with strong German roots and has managed to maintain the wonderful architecture and influence of it's heritage. It is a great place to go shopping, but I think we will go back to study the history and visit the wineries. It will definitely take a couple of days to see it all.
On the way to B/CS, we stopped to visit Bastrop, a place that initially intrigued us because there was a nice bunch of "piney woods" and lush green landscaping, right after emerging from the chalky Hill Country. They have a historic downtown area, but haven't done a great job of perserving some of the old houses and original features of the town. It was very foggy and cold when we were there, so we may need to revisit it to see it in a different light.
Yesterday, we drove to Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe, both just north of the Houston area and east of Huntsville. We REALLY liked Lake Livingston, as it reminded us a bit of Lake of the Ozarks. It also seems there is a lot of affordable waterfront property and may still be a bit primitive. It does have an active RV community and this is the home base for the Escapees, a very large club that specializes in mail forwarding. We went ahead and joined, and will use that address as our permanent address. Lake Conroe is smaller, more refined and a closer commute for those Houstonites who prefer a weekend respite. The housing does seem affordable but you'd have to like your neighbor, as the houses are close together and there are a lot of condos.
Today, we drove to Brenham via Navasota and Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, which is beautiful and has a special place in Texas history. We spent a short time in the park, then traveled on to Brenham, home of Blue Bell Ice Cream and Blinn Junior College where one of my little sisters went to school. The town has a wonderful square with lots of antique shops and cute restaurants. After touring the town, we traveled back to B/CS via Lake Sommerville and found a wonderful little RV Campground just off the highway. This is a small Corp of Engineers lake, so there are no home available, but it is a beautiful setting. I also understand it has an active summer life, but it looked kind of sleepy and peaceful today. It got up to 73 degrees today, so this was a wonderful day to explore.
Tomorrow, we head back for Bandera, but we will go via LaGrange, which we are told is another wonderful little town just off I-10, halfway between San Antonio and Houston. We will report on that trip next week. Meanwhile, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday. Stay warm and safe!
On the way to B/CS, we stopped to visit Bastrop, a place that initially intrigued us because there was a nice bunch of "piney woods" and lush green landscaping, right after emerging from the chalky Hill Country. They have a historic downtown area, but haven't done a great job of perserving some of the old houses and original features of the town. It was very foggy and cold when we were there, so we may need to revisit it to see it in a different light.
Yesterday, we drove to Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe, both just north of the Houston area and east of Huntsville. We REALLY liked Lake Livingston, as it reminded us a bit of Lake of the Ozarks. It also seems there is a lot of affordable waterfront property and may still be a bit primitive. It does have an active RV community and this is the home base for the Escapees, a very large club that specializes in mail forwarding. We went ahead and joined, and will use that address as our permanent address. Lake Conroe is smaller, more refined and a closer commute for those Houstonites who prefer a weekend respite. The housing does seem affordable but you'd have to like your neighbor, as the houses are close together and there are a lot of condos.
Today, we drove to Brenham via Navasota and Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, which is beautiful and has a special place in Texas history. We spent a short time in the park, then traveled on to Brenham, home of Blue Bell Ice Cream and Blinn Junior College where one of my little sisters went to school. The town has a wonderful square with lots of antique shops and cute restaurants. After touring the town, we traveled back to B/CS via Lake Sommerville and found a wonderful little RV Campground just off the highway. This is a small Corp of Engineers lake, so there are no home available, but it is a beautiful setting. I also understand it has an active summer life, but it looked kind of sleepy and peaceful today. It got up to 73 degrees today, so this was a wonderful day to explore.
Tomorrow, we head back for Bandera, but we will go via LaGrange, which we are told is another wonderful little town just off I-10, halfway between San Antonio and Houston. We will report on that trip next week. Meanwhile, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday. Stay warm and safe!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
December 13 update - post Midwest ICE Storm
WHEW. What a week. It started in Missouri as we were preparing to close up the lake house for the winter. On Sunday, we lost cable first (TV & Internet), then power about 3:00 pm. We decided that we couldn't stay there (no power means no well water, which means no flushing) so we packed up and got to Springfield, MO by 7:00 pm. On Monday morning we reviewed the news and weather and decided to leave for DFW. It would be real easy to complain about the travel, but you don't want to hear that, so we will let you know what we are thankful for. (1) We are thankful that we skated for 300 miles through MO and OK without incident. (2) We are thankful for a little gas station in Adair, OK that had electricity, restrooms and gas for $2.65 a gallon (only cash) (3) We are thankful for the OK Tollway Authority who must have generator-powered stations to ensure that they collect tolls to support those wonderful roads (I didn't say that we wouldn't be sarcastic). On Tuesday, as we traveled from DFW to San Antonio, we were thankful for 75 degrees and dry ground. The motor home was as we left it - even Molly (our furry child) heaved a sigh of relief as we returned home.
So Wednesday was a day to recoop and for my sister-in-law and I to do a little shopping. Today, Thursday, we drove to Fredericksburg for shopping and sightseeing. Dean gets extra points today for sticking with us, being patient and napping on the benches along the way. He did manage to find a bakery, which makes his trip complete. Tomorrow, we head for Bryan/College Station to see the kids. We hope that this is uneventful as well, but will report in as the opportunity arises. Take care!
So Wednesday was a day to recoop and for my sister-in-law and I to do a little shopping. Today, Thursday, we drove to Fredericksburg for shopping and sightseeing. Dean gets extra points today for sticking with us, being patient and napping on the benches along the way. He did manage to find a bakery, which makes his trip complete. Tomorrow, we head for Bryan/College Station to see the kids. We hope that this is uneventful as well, but will report in as the opportunity arises. Take care!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
December Itinerary
After a quick trip back to Chicago, we are presently at home base (MO) waiting for the icy weather to pass and preparing our home for a 3-month absence. The motorhome is waiting for us in Bandera, TX where we left it the day after Thanksgiving. Our plans are to leave for DFW on Monday 12/10 and continue on to Bandera on Tuesday.
We will plan some day trips later that week (one day to Fredericksburg) and travel to Bryan/College Station on Friday, 12/14 where we will stay through Tuesday, 12/18. Two of our three grown children live there and we will look forward to catching up with them. On Wednesday, we will return to Bandera. We will stay there through Christmas (spending two days with my parents in San Antonio), then prepare to leave on 12/26 with my brother and sister-in-law for South or West Texas for a few days through New Years Day. In early January, we will be traveling to the Rio Grande Valley and will meet up with Dean's brother and sister-in-law where they are RV Winter Texans for about 3 months each year. This is near Donna, TX where we hope to find an RV spot close to where they are parked.
I'll update our location and/or discoveries about once a week. Meanwhile, we hope you all are safe and getting into the holiday spirit!
We will plan some day trips later that week (one day to Fredericksburg) and travel to Bryan/College Station on Friday, 12/14 where we will stay through Tuesday, 12/18. Two of our three grown children live there and we will look forward to catching up with them. On Wednesday, we will return to Bandera. We will stay there through Christmas (spending two days with my parents in San Antonio), then prepare to leave on 12/26 with my brother and sister-in-law for South or West Texas for a few days through New Years Day. In early January, we will be traveling to the Rio Grande Valley and will meet up with Dean's brother and sister-in-law where they are RV Winter Texans for about 3 months each year. This is near Donna, TX where we hope to find an RV spot close to where they are parked.
I'll update our location and/or discoveries about once a week. Meanwhile, we hope you all are safe and getting into the holiday spirit!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Lowary's RV Adventure
Greetings from Dean and Anna -
Now that Anna has retired, we will be RVing part-time and using this vehicle to report where we have been and, more importantly, where we are going. We would love to hear from you and would welcome your comments and suggestions (like places we should be sure to see). If you have time to meet up with us somewhere, we'd like to know that as well; we want to keep up with friends and family all over the Northern Hemisphere (we aren't thinking any broader at this point).
Our base will be Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. After all, when you are in Missouri, you are half-way home from almost anywhere! When we land at our base, we welcome you to stop by and visit with us here as well. Spring and Fall is beautiful here; Summer is a bit hectic and Winter is unbearable. Therefore, we will typically winter with the snowbirds in Texas which is closer to much of our family.
This weekend, we will put together a tentative plan for the winter months and distribute to you all. If at any time, you want to be removed from this blog, please let us know and we will be glad to edit our list. Meanwhile, welcome to what a friend has termed the "3rd Age" (thanks JP!). We hope you enjoy this adventure almost as much as we are!
Now that Anna has retired, we will be RVing part-time and using this vehicle to report where we have been and, more importantly, where we are going. We would love to hear from you and would welcome your comments and suggestions (like places we should be sure to see). If you have time to meet up with us somewhere, we'd like to know that as well; we want to keep up with friends and family all over the Northern Hemisphere (we aren't thinking any broader at this point).
Our base will be Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. After all, when you are in Missouri, you are half-way home from almost anywhere! When we land at our base, we welcome you to stop by and visit with us here as well. Spring and Fall is beautiful here; Summer is a bit hectic and Winter is unbearable. Therefore, we will typically winter with the snowbirds in Texas which is closer to much of our family.
This weekend, we will put together a tentative plan for the winter months and distribute to you all. If at any time, you want to be removed from this blog, please let us know and we will be glad to edit our list. Meanwhile, welcome to what a friend has termed the "3rd Age" (thanks JP!). We hope you enjoy this adventure almost as much as we are!
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