Spicewood, Texas

Hello from the great state of Texas!!  Sunny and 58 today and we are in the truck heading south without dogs or horses going to San Antonio to see the Alamo.  Staying at Tom and Carrie's has been fun, they live in a  beautiful place  along Lake Travis, a 68 mile long man-made lake.  We are in the Texas hill country which is as described rolling hills.  Yesterday they talked me into do a little shoot for a bit we might produce with ACTHA.  So we did a proper sit-down interview, a horse/raincoat demo and a faux ride through the rain. (meaning tom turned the hose on us as we were riding in the back yard).  Went to dinner in Johnson City at a cute little cafe that had the most extraordinary art on the walls.  We have been riding every day since arriving here.  They ride right out their yard into the Colorodo River Authority land available for riding and hiking, no wheels allowed. The trails are hilly and windy. Beautiful!  Lady and the Tramp are doing good, they got warm water baths yesterday and we washed the winter off of them.  We will head out Friday, not exactly sure where yet.

Camped along Carrie and Tom's front yard.

Tom, Carrie and Terry

Shorty their red heeler leading the way

Kramer.

Tom and us riding down to get a drink out of the lake.

Gracie running along with us.  MJ got to come riding too.

Bobe's two cents:  Tell everybody I said HI.

Monday

This is our campiste at the Cal-Cam Fairgrounds in Sulphur, LA, kinda scary but not too bad.  The horses had to stand tied to a metal pole all night in the rain.

They didn't seem to mind one bit in their raincoats with lots of hay and water.  I went to bed hoping they would still be there in the morning.  They were.  I went and did laundry (Lola can find laundromats I found out) in a very nice place, mostly Bobe's since he is Mister Clean and has to change his clothes a lot.  Yes....I told him we were CAMPING and not really doing much of anything  so he could maybe stretch those jeans a few days. 
We are both itching to go riding since we haven't been since Talladega.

I stayed in bed this morning and tried to sleep while Bobe drove the first two hours.  Not so much fun with two scared dogs whining and complaining the whole time, Grace kept plastering herself to me.  I finally gave up and called to be let out, of course we were right in Houston and had to stay in there a while longer.  We had breakfast at Denny's and are about 2 hours from our destination at 11:18 am.  We are doing good.

Here is the other part of the fairgrounds, there wasn't much else to it except a lot of trash in a ditch. NICE...at least it was FREE!!!
I am trying to make these letters super big in the hopes that our friend Bob (Cooter) can see it.  Sending you big Hugs Bob!
So one of my favorite moments from the week in Gulf Shores is when Joyce asked me at lunch, "So...why do you have those horses with you, are you just really attached or something." 

Like we are some super eccentric people that travel with their giant pets because we can't bear to leave them at home.  I thought that was hilarious.  Joyce if you are reading this I am not picking on you I just love to hear other people's perspectives.  Hey, I know a lady who travels with a bunch of cats !!! And another lady who travels with a bunny named Thumper. Now that is hilarious! 
So I think we are in Texas Hill country and starting to see some beautiful big horse ranches, you know the kind with a gazillion acres, very pretty.
Okay here is Bobe's Two Cents for the day:
By the way, NJ has not drove not one mile of this trip and we have went 2462.4 miles so far.  It would be nice if y'all would put in a good word for me and get her to drive once in a while. Also, she has only done chores one time on this whole trip (lying) and she has got this certain odor about her now as in spoiled rotten. whew!  If anyone can put a comment in here to get her to do anyting besides eat breakfast in bed everyday. Thank you very much, Bobe.

Sunday, On the road again

Good Morning!  We are traveling today, left Silverhill about 7am and are in LA heading for Sulphur.  We found a FREE place to stay tonight at a fairgrounds.  Not sure what we are getting into but it is FREE!  Here's a cool thing, they have dump stations down here at the rest areas and they are FREE too.  Had a great visit with my Dad and Joan.  We are crossing some Huge bridge now over the great Mississippi in Baton Rouge, LA, really cool if you don't look down.  Terry says we are officially out west now. 

self portrait in front of the great USS Alabama.

Galley in Alabama.

bunks on the ship.

Golfing

Here it is January 15th, Wow does the time fly when it is warm out. (relatively speaking of course).  We have just said a sad goodbye to Dad and Joan as we are departing Gulf Shores in the morning heading for Austin Texas.  We will stop at a fairgrounds in  Sulphur, LA in between for 1 night.  We have had a crazy busy week here, it is hard to keep up with the 80 year olds I  will tell you. 
THEY PLAY HARD!

Yours, truly.

Today I went golfing with them, TWICE.  We did the 9 hole course, went to lunch at Jesse's a fabulous little restaurant (kind of reminded me of the French Laundry in Fenton) Then back to play it again in the same day.  Now I am not a golfer, only played once in my life about 10 years ago but it was FUN.  The first round I scored 55, it was under 100 so I was pretty happy.  The second round I got the low score of 36.  I do catch on fast.....sometimes.  Now I want to go to the golf range to practice.  Terry will have to learn how to share those clubs because i might be hooked.

Joan in her short pants.

Bobe

Dad

Yesterday we went to the Grand Hotel, walked on the boardwalk ogling the mansions then had lunch at the hotel.  We went with Tweety Bird, Mrs Tweety (Angie) and their two friends, Joyce and Gary.

One of the many nice beach houses but the live oaks are spectacular with their hanging moss.

Two days ago, Terry and I went to see the USS Alabama, parked in Mobile Bay since 1965.

View from above.

Capt Bobe.

I was really quite neat to scramble all over the thing.  Except freezing cold in there.

I'm saving the USS Drum, the submarine for tomorrow. And the story of Lamberts.

Goodnight all.

BRRRRRR

Just left the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.  What a fantastic place.  Had a free tour from a Vietnam Vet who flew in some of these planes and was in general very interesting to listen to.  44 young Marines were in our group.  I had a crazy thought that I was old enough to be their Mother.  ECK.  The new year resolution finally kicked in today...you know which one I am talking about so I got my "princess" butt out of bed and worked out than went for a nice sweaty walk with the dogs and Bobe.  I did the P90X Ab workout!  Rough but I felt good after...good I could do it (mostly).  Yesterday Terry and I went to tour the Alabama in Mobile Bay you know the battleship and also toured the USS Drum, a submarine, very interesting.  Both are self guided tours so it was fun to just climb all over everywhere although it was freezing in that big boat. ( I know you are thinking how cold can it be DOWN THERE but it was really cold here yesterday and 28 this morning when we got up.)  Pics of ships and subs later and planes later.

Today is the first day I went out without my long underwear on.  To some of you that may be TMI. But for those who have known me since childhood, I NEVER take them off until at least April.

Hope all of you are doing good.  Oh yeah for those of you who are horse lovers, I passed my Parelli Level 2 on-line and Freestyle!!!!  It has been a very long journey to this point and I can't express my excitment at the accomplishment.

Goodnight

Greetings from the Beach

Okay, I know this looks bad, on the beach in my long johns and winter coat but

IT'S STILL A BEACH AND IT IS JANUARY 11TH.  AWESOME!!!!

MaryJean loving the warm sun.

We are in Gulf Shores hanging out with Dad and Joan and Tweety Bird and Angie.  It is about 40 ish here right now but sunny today finally and it feels heavenly.  The trailer and horses and us are parked at a horse motel in Silverhill, AL about 20 miles north of Gulf Shores.  A lovely place to camp on a 25 acre horse ranch.  We are the only ones camped there but since the weather has been cold (for here) we are inside alot.  Lady and the Tramp are resting up for the next journey we will leave in a few days.  Terry and Tweety went to breakfast today and to the driving range. Joan and I went walking on the beach (no dogs allowed) with the dogs, lovely.    It's happy hour here now at Dad and Joan's condo.  Life is good and I am getting used to this life.  You know...Not everyone who wanders is lost.

Alabamie!!

Howdy all!  We are on the road again heading south now towards Gulf Shores, AL.  There is an ice storm heading towards GA and where we just were so we are leaving there one day early to avoid it.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a high of 34 degrees in Talladega.  EEECCHH.  We are outta here.  We managed to get out of that danged camp without tearing up anything and had a really nice ride there yesterday afternoon.  Yesterday I went to town to do laundry, make calls, do internet banking etc.  I was gone 4 hours and Bobe was ready to call in the search party.  I did get into a Piggly Wiggly.  I just couldn't go by without going in.  I had Val on the phone with me.  We had our second night in a deserted horse camp, we were creeped out the first night and went to bed heavily armed but last night we were fine and didn't even think about it.  We have started a new habit (thanks to Richard and Roz) of having our morning board meeting over tea in bed with Gracie.  Now when we were in GA, that included hot breakfast in bed. (Cary spoiled us)   oh well, guess you can't live like a queen every day...

Lady and the Tramp are doing good traveling around, he is still a little nervous to get in the trailer and getting out of the trailer but yesterday on the trails he was a maniac, leading very bravely, pushing up the hills, just doing great.  He is still a little afraid of water puddles but we are working on that.

This morning a group of trail riders pulled in and we met some nice folks from the local area.

Well, we are staying at our first horse hotel tonight, will write more later.

Ray the wonder dog getting something treed.

On Mark's trail.

Tina & Cary's west pasture and house in the distance, and Lady's ears.

Our campsite in Talladega, AL

Testing the weight load limit of Tina's couch.

Michele and her 4th child Chuck.

Cary and Cody

Me and Chuck snuggling.

The Midnight shooters on 1/1/2011