A trip to Irving Texas

 

The phone alarm was going off and I just laid  there. Why is the alarm going off this morning? I don't have to be at work...Oh yes I have to drive to the warehouse in Irving to pick up some equipment for the store we are working at. They were suppose to deliver it to us but that did not work out so they are paying us to go and get it.

We drank our coffee and talked for a while. We were in no hurry to hit Dallas traffic this early. We decided to take our time and get there after the traffic had died down and then we could scoot across town much faster and get on back.

This was going to be an all day deal so we planned on eating along the way. Sherri had breakfast here and I decided to wait for lunch. Not being real hungry I took my shower and got ready while she finished eating and then she got ready and we headed out.

The drive took about 3 hours from here and then we had to remember how to get to the warehouse. It had been some time since we had been here and we were not real sure how to go. Beside not being sure we had come in from a different direction the last time and that was confusing.

The GPS got us in the general area and then we recognized the building and we were home safe. Did not take long to get all our equipment loaded and we were back on the road to east Texas. We would stop along the way and have lunch and then drive the rest of the way back. We planned to stop at our barn on the way and drop off some extra equipment we had picked up. We also would drop off some items we had accumulated over time that we did not need in the RV.

Then it was back to the house. By the time we reach our part of the country we were ready for dinner. We elected to stop at a family restaurant we had spotted some time before. When we arrived we noticed that they served a Dairy Queen type of menu and we were not really wanting that type of food so we backed out of there and drove to the Mexican Restaurant down the street and had some cheese enchiladas.

Back to the campground after a long drive. By this time my back and legs were sore from all the driving. I really don't like long days of driving. I will be among the RV'ers that like to drive about 3 hours and then park for a while.

Not much else happen today...just one of those days...

Somewhere in Time

Love the park...but it sure is dark!

 

 

It is hard to tell but the light shinning off the tree mid picture is a raccoon peaking out. Yes it is dark here for sure

WOW!! talk about DARK!!! The piney woods gobble up all the light early on just before the sun goes down and when it does...baby it is dark. When we went to bed last night I peeked outside and there were no lights what so ever. I listened to see if I could hear anything and there was no sounds at all. We decided to turn on the fan in the bedroom so there would have some sound. We can't sleep without some kind of noise. That started when we moved from the city to the country some 35 years ago. Love the country but the quite??

We took off for work and did our thing...then it was time to eat lunch and we decided to try the Mexican food place in town. Not much to choose from here so we ate there. The food was not bad at all...I think tomorrow we will have to try the Dairy Queen.

Time to go home came quick...I was surprised when I looked and it was time to head to the house. We did not actually head to the house we headed to Atlanta to check on an RV park there. Amazing Grace RV Park was on Boggie Blvd in Atlanta. Well Glennie...our GPS took us right there. When we pulled in Sherri informed me that we would not be staying there. Number one the road going in looked like the highway going out of Kuwait after Desert Storm. There was no definition to the campsites...just power boxes with water faucets on them...no numbers and no idea where to back-in or pull through. I don't mind pasture parking but I like to know where my home is going to be setting.

We left there and headed to another RV park in the town we are working in to see if we could stay there. Well that was a mistake! WOW...there was no way we would leave our home here without an armed guard. What a disappointment. Some little towns have real nice City Parks that you can stay in at a reasonable price. This park we would not stay in if it was free!

OK so we will stay where we are and drive the extra distance. We are only 25 minutes from work...we pull out of the gate...turn right onto the highway and head into town. Doesn't hurt to look around though.

After all the exploring we both were hungry so we decided to head into town to get some BBQ. We stopped at Outlaws BBQ and ordered. Sherri got the sliced beef with two sides and a glass of tea. I got the two meat plate with two sides and a Root Beer. Let me tell you this was good BBQ. I had the ribs and chopped beef. We did not leave there hungry.

Took a hike around the lake and took some pictures to remember my adventure. This is really a great State Park. The only sites that accommodated our size RV are the pull through sites...which by the way have sewer. 

Back home to watch TV for a while. We do not get Satellite here in the deep woods of east Texas. I tried the dish everywhere I could find a break in the trees...to no avail. We are now on antenna and get one digital channel that does not pixilate every five seconds and 4 Mexican channels that are clear as a bell. What is the deal with that? I guess I need to bone up on my Spanish so I will have something to watch when I am in the wilderness.

Well we are both tired so it is time for bed. Been a wonderful day filled with new places never before seen by either of us...

Somewhere in Time        

Moving East

Sunday morning...time to get up...need to get ready. Yes we are headed out east to a new site. Wont have the "It" factor we are leaving behind but it will be new. I like to be in new spots now and again...but when you find one like we are in now...it sure is hard to give it up.

 

Above are some pictures of the "It" site and I have to leave it for now.

We had planned on being in a motel this next week but those plans changed overnight. We are now headed to east Texas to spend a week working there. We will not be too far from our friends Weldon and Sandy http://mtnairetravlers.blogspot.com/ ...by the way if you read this we will be calling you.

Most of the time when we work these stores we spend two weeks setting them. That will mean that we will need to extend our stay for another week. We both love east Texas but are real leery about the weather this time of year. I hate to even say the word....Tornado...but this is the time of year that you do not want to be in this area. I guess it is much the same as Hurricanes to the coastal people during that season.

OK so this morning is a pack up and move day for us and we have to prepare ourselves for this. We sat down as usual and drank our two cups of coffee and talked about our future trips to places we want to go. This has become a ritual with us and we love to dream and plan...even though we can't go as yet. We know that the time for that will come soon enough and when it does we want to be prepared.

We have been looking for a new home base in Arizona too. We would love to be there in the winter so we have shifted our thoughts to finding someplace there that we could have a home base. This would also keep us closer to California and Colorado and all the other states we have not seen yet. We find that in Arizona you could stay for many more months due to weather conditions than most places around the country. This would make that move more cost effective.

We got everything packed up and pulled up at the dump station about 10:00 am. Got that done in short order and pulled out of the park and onto the interstate. The trip was uneventful and we enjoyed the scenery along the way. As you go further east the Pines get taller and the Oaks are bigger. We noticed how much the landscape changed and the hills got closer together.

The road to the park seemed to close in on us as we came closer to the gate.

 

The Pines are taller and taller and taller and then they start to fold over the road and block out the sky.

Then we pulled into our new site and "It" happened...again. Is that cool or what...we hit another "It" and we were happy!

Sherri likes her new home and shows it.

Now it is time to get everything set up before the sun goes down....

Somewhere in Time

Rain is here again

 

 

Nice time out with the kids.

Woke up this morning with rain hitting the roof. I could feel the RV moving a little with the wind. We have more wind than rain and when it hits the trees it blows the accumulated water in the leaves onto the RV and you would think we are having a down pour.

After the second round of water pellets slapping the roof I decided to get up and get some coffee going. I went back up stairs and took my shower and got dressed. I was a little tired this morning due to the fact we were outside late visiting our son and his new wife. We took them out to dinner at a Chinese Restaurant that Jason had suggested. We had an enjoyable time with them and ended the night at their home.

Jason and Susan have put together a real nice home. We are so happy for the two of them. Many hours of work have gone into the house and the end results are very pleasing to the eye.

 

Jason and Susan's home

Their neighborhood

Jason being his funny self...love the hat son.

Susan is working on furthering her education in education. She is working toward a masters so she can pursue a principles job and on to superintendent of schools. We are very proud to have a daughter with so much ambition.   

We will be working today and if it rains who cares. The only thing that I don't care for is the fact that I have to drive in the rain to get there. When you're inside you don't know what is happening outside...and really don't care.

The day was a long one with having to work at two different stores in two locations. We got home about 5:30 after stopping at Wataburger for a sandwich. We ate and watched our soap opera and then read blogs on our computers. We have been looking for a winter location for some time now and this was one of the projects that I had been working on. Some of the places we looked at had waiting list as long as 7 to 8 years...well you know I would be too old to go there if I had to wait that long.

We did find some SKP parks that looked real nice with shorter waiting list but we will continue to look until we find the right one. We want to lease not buy. If anyone out there has information on nice parks with lease options in warm winter climates give me a shout.

Better get out of here now I have some blue jobs to get done before the next rain hits...

Somewhere in Time

Nice Warm Night and a move to the site with "It"

 

 

This is our new site down the road from where we were. We are on a point with the lake on three sides. This is one of the nicest in the park. We will be coming back here for sure.

We slept with the AC on last night. It has been warm here at night lately. Last night I think the low was in the mid 60's. When we woke up it was nice and cold in the bedroom. I really did not want to get up this morning. I heard Sherri down stairs so I decided to go ahead and get up. I was just laying there playing like I was somewhere far away with a view of the mountains. If I get up and go to the window my dream will end...so I just laid there for a while.

OK it was time to shake hands with reality so I managed to get up and take my shower. I looked straight up out the shower stall skylight and noticed it was cloudy. I could see the limbs of the trees swaying and knew that we were on the verge of some weather...what kind?

I finished my shower...made the bed...got dressed and went downstairs to get me some coffee which Sherri had prepared. We commented on the fact that we have been drinking motel coffee for two weeks and it was good and cheap too. We have a co-worker that collects the coffee out of his motel rooms and we do too so we have a good supply for the month.

Sherri was at the computer and so I sat down at mine and started reading journals. There are so many that I have not had the chance to read in so long! I read and read trying to catch up with all my good friends out there. So many of witch are traveling back up north...east and west. We on the other hand just circle like hawks looking for their next meal.

Next week we will be on company expense and will not have to worry about meals. We will leave our RV here and travel south and stay in a hotel for the week. All expense paid trip...with one catch...we have to work. But then not that hard and we get to eat real good.

Today we have to move sites within the park. We will be staying here through next week and the only way to do that was to move to sites that were available. We had to go by the dump for the black tank and then headed over to our new site. We are now right on the lake and what a great site it is! I wish we could stay here for the week but it is only available through Sunday and then it is reserved. We will have to move across the cul-de-sac to another spot on the lake.

This is the back of our site...appears we are in the wilderness

This is the southern view from our site

This is the northern view. Here I set this close to water and no boat!

We sat around most of the day just reading and then did some cleaning. For the most part we did nothing at all and enjoyed it immensely. We look forward to more of these days...

Somewhere in Time

The lake is calling me

 

Good morning...and I do mean it is a good morning. We have clear sky and warm temps here in north Texas and I hope to get out and enjoy it today.

I have some issues with the pollen that has collected on my RV and I have to get it off. This has been a heavy pollen year and it shows on everything around us. There are places on top of the RV that are so green I thought it was growing. I have worked on the truck several time but it is back so once again I must get it cleaned up.

Being in so many RV parks that do not allow you to wash your RV is causing a dirt build up that takes longer to clean when I can. I hope to be out at the barn in a few weeks so I can give everything a good cleaning.

I did get the inside of the bays cleaned...well I have the rear bay to do...but for the most part the inside of the RV is looking OK. The truck on the inside is clean but the outside...that is another story. I will be getting it clean soon. We have had a lot of rainy days and washing seems fruitless.

Sherri and I walked yesterday around the park. We took some of the trails here and enjoyed the cool weather. We really need to get back into our walking program but with working we have fallen off. We both enjoy walking and feel so much better after we do. Staying inside your RV all the time is not good for you and it makes you feel bad...Get out and enjoy the outdoors whenever you can...that is what this life style is all about!

We worked today and when we finished our set we went back to the Lewisville area to eat some lunch. We stopped at Soup or Salad and had a great meal. They have the best chili there and I topped it off with two of the best gingerbread cakes I have had in a long time.

When I got home I just had to kick back in the recliner and take a nap. I will have to get to that back bay...

Somewhere in Time

 

Back in the Groove

Staying on Grand Bayou Louisiana

Sherri and I woke up to an overcast day in Louisiana. We were down on Grand Bayou this week at a family reunion. We have a reunion on the 3rd Sunday in April each year. All the family gets together and we visit and go to the cemetery to place flowers on all the graves.

Our back porch here with the Bayou off the lake in the background

This year we met at the campground on Grand Bayou...which is a privately owned park that was once a state ran park. It was not a state park but just ran by the state. Well it has all the attributes of a state park and even the rates are comparable and a really beautiful park to boot.

Looking back from the lake up the hill to our campsite. Really a nice site...I really did not want to leave.

 

 

We had a good time and really rested for a day. Our campsite was far from the main camp which was OK because we had a great place. We drove all day Friday to get there and then spent Saturday and part of Sunday there. Then it was back on the road again.

Cleaning out the bay...gotta have room for that boat

We headed to Lewisville...which will be the center of our work area this week. We like this area and really enjoy the park when we get to stay here. I will be spending some time in the next few weeks cleaning and getting some things organizing.

 

Always wanted a view out my window like this

That all happened yesterday and now it is Monday and we are just setting here relaxing. Tomorrow is back to work so we just want to do nothing today. I'm setting here looking out my side windows at our side yard. What a beautiful view we have. I just love it here and having this view is so relaxing. The lake is calm and my boat is still in the barn! I would be out in it if I had it with me. I will be loading it up next trip to the barn.

We are starting to plan our trip to Chimney Rock. We will be heading out in that direction in September. We plan on making it a 4 day trip up there and then we will stay for however long we want. I am not sure what park we will  be staying in.

Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow but I knew that would come back around...

Somewhere in Time

Hello

 

We were up this morning early as usual and I could hear the highway noise...first time since I have been here. Must be the way the wind is blowing. We are on the north side of Interstate 30 so the wind must be out of the south today.

I had prepped the coffee last night so when I got up all I had to do was flip the switch and viola coffee in minutes.

While it was brewing I took my shower and got things ready to leave for work. We have a pretty long day ahead of us so we need some extra coffee to get going :) They provide free coffee to all of us every morning but it is so strong I can't drink it. \

We have about a 30 minute drive to work so we kind of get ourselves up for it while going down the interstate. As I said we really don't have to work that hard it just takes us some time to get the mind ready to W O R K

Last night Sherri did two loads of laundry and then after American Idol I took both loads to the laundry mat and dried them. While I was there I found some fishing magazines on the counter.I opened one of them up to read while the clothes were drying. As I was reading I got the strong urge to go fishing again. I took my boat out of the RV and left it at the barn. I need to go get it and put it back in the bay. I must make some time for me to go fishing again.

I still need to get me a battery for the trolling motor. It has been over a year and I have not got one yet. That will be high on my list for this coming month.

OK better go now and get this thing posted...See ya....

Somewhere in Time

Back to Work

 

These are our Kansas boys...They are growing so fast...can't wait to see them

OK Sherri and I were up and going this morning (Monday) and having coffee talking about the day ahead. We have a full store set this week and it will take some time to get it done. This means that we will have to put in some long days. I will have to say this before you start feeling sorry for us...this is not that hard of a job to do. In some ways it is a lot of fun...designing shelf layouts. Each day is a new day and a new set.

We have to drive a ways each day because we are staying in the RV this week. When we travel far from our home base we stay in motels and sometimes we have to travel a ways there too. This time the store we are working is not that far from Wills Point so we moved the RV as close as we could to the store and drive from there.

All is well with this working gig. We are getting closer to our goal and our comfort level is growing. We look at it as though we were work camping somewhere. With this job, however, we don't stay in one place and the routine changes somewhat. The money is much better too.

Well I have to get ready to head on out this morning (Tuesday). We will be stocking coffee...you know how I love coffee.

Yes I read all the journals about the rally and I am soooo jealous of everyone that got to go. We could have gone but the time constraints would have made for a lot of stress. This should be the last year we miss the rally...so we will see you there...

Somewhere in Time

Having too much fun

 

 

We arrived at our new park and settled in.

Sherri and I have been real busy entertaining the G-kids this weekend and I fell behind on my posting. I know many of you are at the rally and I envy you. Sherri and I both wish that we could have made it this year...but as things would have it we have other obligations.

This is our campfire we had with the kids at our previous location.

Sherri and the kids enjoyed the campfire

Next weekend is our family memorial in Louisiana. We would not have been able to make the trip to the east coast and back in time to be at the reunion on the following weekend. Well I know this will be the only one we will miss from now on...good Lord willing.

The weekend with the G-kids was fun. I had told you that I was buying Kris a bicycle but that did not pan out. We took him to Wally World and once on the bike he decided that it was too scary for him. He is a little skidderish when it comes to things like that so I will have to  buy him one and take time getting him use to it.

The bicycle did not happen but we did get them a wagon that they  both enjoyed

We did by him and his sister a wagon. We put them in the wagon and pulled them all over the park. This was fun for them and good exercise for us. Lord knows that Sherri and I need all the exercise we can get.

Sweetpea would not let Sherri put her down the entire weekend

Well she did let Sherri put her in the sink for a bath

Well all good things come to an end and Janet came and picked the kids up Sunday about 2:00. Check out time was at 2:00 so we loaded the kids up and they went home...we headed to the dump. It did not take long and we had the trailer dumped and were moving on down the road.

We reached the next park about 4:00 after missing our turn. Yes the sign for the Campground had been run over and we missed the road and had to stop at a truck stop and call. They knew the sign was down but failed to tell us. Oh well we made it OK and got set up.

Without the kids Sherri and I had time to relax and soak up the quite

We sat around outside for a while and then I grilled a steak out and Sherri made her a TV dinner. I had spinach with my steak. It was good and fast to fix without too much clean up...which was right up Sherri's alley after traveling all day.

My new gas grill...and does it cook great!!

We watched 4 episodes of Justified and then Brothers and Sisters. Then it was time to call it a night. We closed our eyes and dreamed of wondering in the desert...

Somewhere in Time