The Rollercoaster Ride Continues

Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/
Second printing done!
Order on-line or directly!

Well, since we’ve been home we’ve totally emptied the Motor Home with a view to selling it and going south to buy a bit larger unit – that has changed again. Once we got it all cleaned out and started looking at other units – we discovered that what we have has most of what we want and it is certainly better built and just as well designed as most of the others. We did manage to survive and not slaughter each other last winter (it wasn’t that bad) so out with the plan to sell the Citation!! Now we’re going to hang onto it and just enjoy what we have.

Fred managed to paint the front hall and kitchen so now we live in various shades of Peanut Butter (the name of the colour we choose). He does such a good job and it looks so good.

I, on the other hand – after wading through almost seven months of accumulated mail, fifteen loads of laundry and getting the Income Tax done – have been putting my energy into writing and promoting Jacob’s Tails and trying to get the next Penwheels Newsletter together.

When we got home, I discovered that the Canadian Stories Magazine has been serializing Jacob’s Tails chapter by chapter (it sure looks good!). There is also a piece in the March/April issue of the Escapees Magazine and (hopefully) an issue of RV West Mag. (feels good!)

I have contacted a few RV magazines and they are interested in articles on our magnificent journey so I’ve been writing and talking to people (like these is not my favourite activities anyway?).

Oh yes, because I completely ran out of copies of Jacob’s Tails, we ordered another printing and managed to get caught in a snow storm when we went up to Calgary to pick them up. Thankfully we have good friends up there that fed and bedded us through the storm. We’re not used to snow storms anymore – no complaints – and we did have good visits!

Other than that, it’s the same old – same old, except – I am doing a book signing at Chapters on May 10^th – that’s kind of exciting, too.

What are we going to do this summer?? Don’t have a clue but we’ll keep you posted.

The Condo Feels Like a Mansion

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/
Call 1.866.479.3248 to order
Second printing coming up!
Get your copy now!
Only a few copies left!

Six months, two weeks and five days – three countries, five provinces and over 20 states – an incredible adventure!

Las Vegas to Lethbridge in two days!! Wind – yes; cold – yes; but it’s good to be back!!

I can’t help but compare travelling in the motor home with travelling with the fifth wheel trailer. The motor home can’t be beat when you are actually driving on the road: the space; the convenience; the sense of safety; the ease of setting up; and being able to use the car instead of being restricted to the truck. On the other hand, the motor home seems to be more affected by weather conditions (particularly wind and wet roads). It is less flexible when the car is attached (like needing to back up) but once the car is unhooked, it is, oh, so much nicer to manoeuvre!!

The greatest drawback to our choice of the 27 foot Class C is the restricted space when you are stationary for a time and the weather prevents spending a lot of time outside. BUT – we managed not to kill (or even maim) each other.

We did meet Stan & Tracy (folks from New Westminster we had met at the seminars in Kelowna about five years ago) in Quartzsite for their first southern winter excursion.

Quartzsite has changed dramatically since the last time we were there. More and more permanent buildings (as opposed to the big white canvas shelters that housed the vendors) are popping up all over. A multitude of RV dealers occupy large tracts of land (the lots are fairly empty this time of year but you can just imagine the hundreds of RVs that are there in January and February).

I talked to some vendors who said it seems the city fathers are trying to create another Palm Desert and the prices – to lease a booth – have gone up so much, they can’t afford to sell there anymore.

I had forgotten the intrigue of the desert – how vast, harsh and inhospitable it appears but really how the environment can be so delicate and fragile. Tiny yellow, purple, white and orange flowers force their way up through the barren ground fighting for the sparse moisture – and the shapes and textures of lifeless skeletons that support them.

We rekindled old friendship and found some of them had moved out of Quartzsite to Brenda (a community about 20 miles away).

We did manage to be there for the annual Blue Grass Musician Association meeting where the musicians gather at the end of the winter festivals to jam. Clusters of RVs are scattered throughout the area – close enough to stroll from one to the other, but far enough apart be able to enjoy the diverse musical offerings of each group.

Stan and Tracy joined us on our trip to Laughlin and we took them on a jaunt to Oatman to see the wild burros (that didn’t show up). The geology of Arizona comes to life along the old Route 66 as the road wanders back and forth and up and down the hills.

Las Vegas was another opportunity to see old friends. We spent some time with Ann (who helped lead us on our very first adventure (back in 2001) and settled in L.V. after Eldon died) and with Ann Marie’s family there.

I just re-read some entries from previous PhotoJournals and discovered nothing really changes – that is – once we start on the trip back to Canada, we get fairly antsy about getting there.

AND SO IT WAS!

The condo feels like a mansion!!

Leaving Hondo and Texas (on-the-road notes)

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/

Call 1.866.479.3248 to order

Second printing coming up!

Get your copy now!

Only a few copies left!

Well, we finally did it! We got out of Texas! Both of us really wondered if we would ever make it – Texas goes on and on and on.

It's been so long since we have really been on the road; I forget how Fred gets behind the wheel and goes and goes and goes. Ten hours we drove and we were still in Texas when we finally packed it in for the night!

While he drives – I watched and wrote and occasionally managed to convince him to stop so I could take a picture. Here are some of my “on-the-road” notes:

Friday

• It was very early in the morning; the sun coming up lit the rows of RVs, each with its own distinct character.
• The odd dog walker meandered down the road as their four-legged love objects wander from side to side sniffing to find out what had gone on since their last visit and leaving their marks for the next caller that came along.
• With arms flaying, the exercise walkers strutted forward relentlessly to fulfil the purpose of their missions.
• It was quiet and calm.
• Heading out on the road was exciting. We were flanked on both sides by the same flatness – fields on either side – some ploughed but more covered with dry brown grass and leafless bushes – few building, little traffic.
• A bit of a giggle – a semi trailer truck hauling a huge tanker with MAALOX written across the side of the tank. We need to make sure we don’t eat at the same place he does!!
• The further west we go: the more cactus invaded the fields – prickly pear mostly.
• We still saw some live oak but more mesquite showed up along the way. I felt like I was watching an old Halloween movie with its gnarly, twisted, eerie, branches.
• The road turned north; waves of hills emerged against the horizon. The road ripped through each hill exposing layers of limestone and history built up over eons of wind, water and time.

• Now the land is peppered with Yucca plants rather than mesquite. Creosote bushes take over and we have desert.

Once we reached the Texas border, it was like putting your foot into an old shoe – not exciting but familiar and comfortable. Same road; same RV Park (Sunny Acres, Las Cruces) in New Mexico; and the opportunity to visit old friends and revisit treasured places.

Paul and Lynne have done wonders with Sunny Acres. The first time we were there it was an old worn-out mobile home park. They’ve managed to transform it into a welcoming spot for RV’er to come, visit and even stay on for an extended period of time and Las Cruces still is one of our favourite cities.

Onto Casa Grande, with a couple nights stop in Benson, and the opportunity to visit with more friends – Ed and Mary, who we met earlier this year in Tennessee, and Arnie, who is from our Condo in Lethbridge.

Well, now we’re in Yuma. This part of the trip is definitely the visiting friends piece. Sallee and John are just next door here in the Foothills, we’re visited with friends who are down here from Pincher Creek, and we are meeting other friends from BC in Quartzsite next week.

We’ve been down to Algadones, Mexico for Fred to get new glasses. I got my teeth cleaned for $20.00 and bought a new purse and vanilla and ate great fish and shrimp tacos. And some great shots of some of the of kids!

We went back out the Felicity, California (population maximum 5 people) to the “Center of the World”. It’s just as weird now as it was three years ago!! But I did get a few pictures – the stairs from the Eiffel Tower sitting in the middle of the field and their infamous pyramid .

Next week, we’ll be off to Quartzsite for a week or so. After that we will probably stop in Laughlin, then Las Vegas and (depending on the weather) work our way north.

What a trip and adventure this has been.

Here We Go!

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/

Call 1.866.479.3248 to order

We left Rockport and the ‘Big D’ on Friday (Feb.1) and to our amazement there were people at our place at 7 in the morning to say good-bye! It reminded me so much of leaving camp on the last day – maybe things don’t change that much? Close relationships happen quickly - some last and some don’t.

I’ve decided that I am “a friend collector” – once I find a friend, I have a hard time letting go. I so value the friends I have made along the way – even as far back as elementary school.
I had mixed feelings about leaving - on one hand I was looking so forward to being on the road again but on the other hand, it was so tough to leave all the fine friends we made over the past 6 weeks.

Oh, we stopped for gas before we left Rockport and found out all the rear lights on the right side aren't working. No, it's not the bulbs - tried that!! There's always something, isn't there?

We stayed at the Lone Start Corral in Hondo (about 30 miles west of San Antonio) It's an interesting park - an Escapees Co-op park - which means that most of the sites are owned by members of the Co-op. Other RV’ers, like us are called Visitors. If an owner is not going to be there, their sites can be rented to “visitors” or “temporaries” like us.

The site we had was at least twice the width of the one in Rockport and half the length again. BUT - there's something to be said about being closer together - the people seem to be more connected! But then each park has its own unique character. They don't seem to sit out and visit - maybe it was just too cold.

That first day Fred tried to find out what was going on with the lights (and I judged a chili cook-off I got volunteered for). No matter who we talked to, we were pointed in umpteen different directions to see and explore - our decision - San Antonio and the Hill Country.

First Stop – San Antonio

Sunday - San Antonio! For a city San Antonio is not bad (if you can tolerate cities). The biggest attraction for us was the River Walk that everybody talks about.
Apparently it was always a waterway used by the Spanish to supply water to the various missions in the area. But occasionally it flooded and in the '20's after a particularly devastating flood, they decided to do something about it. It wasn't until the late 60's that it really came into its own. It's not unlike the canals in Venice, Italy. It runs for about 2 1/2 miles and all sorts of fancy restaurants, shops, hotel, churches, vendors, etc line both sides of the water. We took a gondola-like boat ride with a great guide - told us all sorts of stories - and got a great view of the whole place. Of course, we stopped and ate at one of the outside cafes!!

Then we went out to the Market Square that is definitely a Mexican Market - some inside - but the best was outside. It extends about 2 good sized blocks with all types of vendors, restaurants and musicians.

Touring the Texas Hill Country
Monday, we decided to head up into the Hill Country - up towards Bandera and Fredericksburg. What different terrain. As soon as you start heading north you start heading into hills. They're not mountains, but rolling hills covered with some trees but mostly bushes. The fields are scrubby and winter dry and brown. It reminds you that even if it is in the '70's - it is winter!

The area is one huge ranch after another and Bandera is called the Cowboy Capital of Texas.

Unique and creative entrances decorate almost every driveway leading up to the ranches. Stone walls often extend on an upward slope from the highway to powerful Gate posts. Most often the gates are elaborately designed rot-iron with intricate overhead arches depicting the ranch’s name, brand and animals. There must be some kind of competition amongst the ranchers as to who can build the biggest and fanciest entrance-way to their ranches.

We went up as far as Fredericksburg which is a very old German community. It's become fairly touristy with unique little gift shops all up and down the main street. Some of the buildings date back to the mid 1800’s and reflect the surrounding rock and stone as well as the Bavarian heritage.

Our major stops were at the Pioneer Museum - talking with a 90 year old tour guide - fifth generation Fredericksburg’er - and incredible German meals of Weiner Schnitzel and 'Knockers' with sauerkraut.

Exploring Around Rockport - Out and About

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/

Call 1.866.479.3248 to order

Rockport is fairly central and we did a number of day trips out and about. Heading north, we visited some of the smaller historic sites like Beesville, Goliad and a small place like Skidmore.

Skidmore had a great little Mexican Cafe where they fed us authentic food we had never heard of before - then onto Beesville with it's historic buildings and my farourite fence and Goliad that has become quite an artists' centre and is surounded by a number of Mission sites,

Beesville Fence - Sundial - Mission Complex - Church Alter

Exploring Around Rockport- Aransas Wildlife Refuge

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/
Call 1.866.479.3248 to order

We didn’t choose the greatest times to see all the wildlife but here a snapshot of a few things we did see. The marshes are fascinating! The armadillos, javelins, whoopers, nesting turkey vultures .

Exploring around Rockport - Mustang Island – Port Aransas

"Jacob's Tails ... (Back-to-the-Land)"
http://www.firstepbooks.com/
Call 1.866.479.3248 to order

Aransas Pass is just a few mile south of Rockport where bridges, causeways and finally a ferry take you over to Mustang Island and Port Aransas. The gal at the Gift Shop in Goliad told us that since Port Aransas started developing as a winter tourist destination the prices have escalated and many of the artists have moved out and gone to Goliad and Rockport. The beaches were the greatest attraction for us.