February 5, 2019

January 15, 2019

 Last night we went to Willie’s Grill and Icehouse for supper, our second visit to this restaurant.  Joyce and I each ordered their rack of ribs that we thought were very good.  Read more about Willie’s here:  https://williesgrillandicehouse.com/about-us/

January 19, 2019

 We left Hidden Valley at 11:00 AM yesterday to begin our nineteen day “vacation” to the Caribbean.  Our first stop was at the Seaside Inn (link is only for Room W on the 4th floor.  Our’s was on the 1st floor.) Airbnb in Kemah, TX.  The drive wasn’t too bad, just some slowing through Houston and then when entering the Kemah area.

 This is our first stay in an Airbnb.  The Sea Side Inn is a 4-story building that has been remodeled sometime back.  Each floor has individual rooms have a different theme and provide a king bed and in our room, a Jacuzzi tub.  On the third floor is a common living room and kitchen area.  There is free WiFi but it does slow down when heavily used.

 Last night we went to Tootie’s Seafood for supper and had a great meal.  If you are ever in this part of Texas make sure you check out this place.

 This morning we were in the living room having coffee and tea when one of of our house-mates, Brad Kerr came in to make his coffee.  We talked a little and he said he was the grandson of Mr. Robert S. Kerr who was a very powerful U.S. Senator from Oklahoma.  Mr. Kerr was the 12th Governor of Oklahoma and the first governor to have been born in the Oklahoma Territory.

 In 1929 Mr. Kerr founded the Kerr-McGee Corporation, the huge energy corporation with holding in oil and nuclear power.  Anyone remember the movie “Silkwood” staring Meryl Streep, Kirt Russell and Cher?  Yep, the same Kerr-McGee that the movie was all about.  Learn more at these sites:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086312/
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000144
https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/k/kerr-robert-s-1956

 On Brad’s recommendation we had breakfast at Skipper’s Cafe.  Even though the place was packed when we got there we got seated right away.  Very large portion’s and everything was delicious.  Darn, we missed the belly dancing on Friday night.

January 26, 2019

 On Sunday the 20th we drove down to Galveston for our cruise to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.  You might recall that we cruised on Liberty two years ago, doing a back-to-back stay on her for fourteen days and now we’re doing the same thing this time.  The only difference is that we will be visiting Costa Maya, Mexico this time.

 After getting checked in our cabin we reacquainted ourselves with the ship and then checked out the Diamond Lounge.  We left Galveston about 4:30 PM and headed headed south.

 After cruising for two days we made it to our first stop in Roatán, Honduras.  Since we had been here before and did an excursion then we just decided to stay on the ship and relax.

 Our next stop was in Costa Maya, Mexico.  After having breakfast we got off the ship and fully intended to hire a taxi and see some of the city.  There were five other ships in port, one being the Oasis of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships the world.  When we got off the ship and walked around the shopping area in the pier area it was packed with people.  We started walking and we walked, and walked and walked some more.  We both said, “the heck with this” and went back to the ship.

 Our next stop was in Cozumel, Mexico where we have been many times.  We did get off the ship to pick up some Amoxacillian and some Arnaca cream that I use on any bruises I get.  Joyce scored a couple of t-shirts and a necklace/bracelet combo.

 During the course of the week Joyce did real well in the casino, winning a very nice jackpot and earned enough points to get a free cruise.

January 28, 2018

 After a day of cruising we arrived back in in Galveston yesterday morning.  Since we are on a back-to-back with another 118 folks we all met in the Star Lounge to be escorted off the ship and to clear customs.  The last time we did this all went very smoothly but this time, not so much.

 We sat in the lounge for well over an hour and then more time down in the terminal.  After getting through that ordeal fe finally got back on the ship for the lunch that Royal provided for us.

 Today is a sea day so Joyce booked us a massage yesterday afternoon.  Joyce did her’s yesterday and I got mine done this morning.

January 30, 2019

 Yesterday we arrived in Cozumel, Mexico about 7:30 AM.  After a nice breakfast in the dining room and then headed to town to exchange a t-shirt that Joyce had bought last week.  That chore was taken care of very quickly but Joyce then went into the same jewelry store she was in last week and of course she had to buy something.  She scored a really nice earrings and necklace set that is beautiful. After returning to the ship we just relaxed for the rest of the day.

 This morning we arrived in Grand Cayman at 10:30 AM.  We had every intention of getting off the ship and wandering around for the day.  However, since this port is tendered and we have been here a couple of times, we decided to hang out on the ship.

February 1, 2019

 Yesterday we arrived at Falmouth, Jamaica at 7:00 AM.  I had been working with Richard, a dining room waiter Liberty to set up a private tour with one of his relatives who works for a tour company.  After getting off the ship Richard met us and escorted us to meet our tour guide and driver Jevaun Foster.

 We had a great time talking to Jevaun, learning a lot about the culture and other things about Jamaica.  We had planned to go see the Rose Hall Mansion but when we got there the parking lot was full with tour buses and they were short of tour guides.

 We then drove just down the road to the main part of Montego Bay and to a little outdoor cafe’ to have a Jerk Chicken lunch that out of this world good.  Next we made a stop at a grocery store to pick up some hot sauces which were a lot cheaper than in the tourist stores.  We then drove the “upper” road to the Roof Top Bar and Grill (used to be the Sky Bar And Grill) for a cold one.  The views from there are spectacular.

February 5, 2019

 We are now back at Hidden Valley RV Park after an easy departure from the ship and an uneventful drive from Galveston.

 All-in-all this cruise was great.  We met some really nice folks and saw some beautiful things while in the ports.  Will we do another back-to-back?  Probably, but will most likely combine two shorter cruises.  Fourteen days in a long time on a cruise ship.

 Our next cruise is on the Ovation of the Seas out of Seattle going up to Alaska in August.  I think there are still cabins available so if anyone of our friends who would like to go on that one book it ASAP.

 As I said earlier Joyce won a free cruise.  Well, she actually got enough points to get two freebies.  We will use those to do another back-to-back on the Enchantment of the Seas starting 28 October thru the 6th of November out of Galveston and going down to Mexico.

 We have been studying the idea of only staying in Texas for a three months and then making a run to Florida in January 2020.  Also, we have been thinking about doing a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s owned Celebrity Cruise Lines for sometime now.  With that said, Joyce checked into a twelve nighter out of Fort Lauderdale in February 2020.  Since this would be our first cruise with them they offered us free drink packages, pre-paid gratuities and a $500 onboard spending credit.

 So on the the Silhouette we’ll be going to the southern Caribbean and visiting St. Croix, U.S.V.I., Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Kits.  Anyone want to go?


More later.

Barry & Joyce

January 15, 2019

January 8, 2019

 Wow, time is flying by for us.

 Not much happening around Hidden Valley RV Park.  We did have a couple of bonfires that are always nice.  Last Friday Mark and Teri had us over to their house for a delicious steak dinner.

 Yesterday I took the car up to Star Collision Repair to get the damage from the parking lot accident repaired.  Jesse, the Service Writer thinks it will only take a day or two to get it done.  Enterprise Car Rental picked me up, took me to their office and I was back on the road, all in less than an hour.

 Time for another “Where We Have Been and You Should Go Too”:

 In October 2014 Joyce and I had the opportunity to visit all of the national parks in Utah; Arches, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion.  All of the parks provided us unique and beautiful experiences but we both think Bryce stands out above all of them.

 Bryce Canyon is located in south central Utah about 76 miles (scenic route) from Cedar City or about 89 miles via the easy driving route.  The rim of Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet so you might need to do some altitude acclamation before your visit.  I had a little light headiness, especially when we drove up to the highest areas.

 What makes Bryce so unique?  It’s all about the rock formations (called Hoodoos) here and the way the light plays on the them.  If the sunlight hits them just right (which happened when we were there), the formations almost look translucent.  If wish I had the words to tell you how spectacular the views truly are.  Here is a piece that really says it all:
    “Every year, Bryce Canyon National Park awes visitors with spectacular geological                 formations and brilliant colors. The towering hoodoos, narrow fins, and natural bridge seem to deny all reason or explanation, leaving hikers gazing around with jaws agape in wondrous incredulity. This surreal landscape is what brings people from around the world to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.”
    Source:  https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/most-visited-parks/bryce-canyon/

 The camping inside the park, North and Sunset Campgrounds.  North is directly across the road from the visitor center and the lodge.  Sunset is approximately 1.5 miles from the visitor center.  Neither campground has RV hookups.

 Joyce and I stayed that the Red Canyon Village RV Park, about 15 miles from the park but there are others in the area:  http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/utah/bryce-canyon-national-park

January 10, 2019

 Yesterday we made a drive up to San Marcos to the outlet mall to get me a new pair of shoes.  Found me a really nice pair at the Bass Shoe Store.

 On the way back we stopped at Black’s Barbecue in New Braunfels.  We have been to the Lockhart location a couple of times and had some of the best ribs we have ever eaten.  This location opened in June 2018 and they are also serving some great barbecue as well.  In addition to the Lockhart and New Braunfels locations they have now opened  store in San Marcos and Austin.

January 11, 2019

 My back has been acting up again just like last winter when we were in Arizona.  So, I Googled Chiropractors’ here in San Antonio and at the top of the list was Pecan Chiropractic so I gave them a call yesterday.  They were able to get me in this morning.

 After doing all of the paperwork I was ushered into a room and very shortly by Dr. Cudnik who explained everything he planned to do.  First, he did a very through exam and then took some x-rays.  Normally that would be it for the first visit but given that I am leaving shortly for our next cruise he did a quick reading of the pictures and did some adjustments on my spine.  Next, they did some heat and muscle stimulation which really felt good.  i have another appointment on Monday when Dr, Cudnik will go over a plan to help me further.

 After that was done we went to see the new movie “Up Side”.  It’s based on a true story about a very rich gentleman who is a quadriplegic and hires a guy who is on parole from prison to be his helper.  It is a comedy but with a very moving story line.  We highly recommend seeing it.

 Next on the days agenda was to get our car out of the shop.  That was painless and we were even allowed to leave the rental car at the shop for Enterprise to pick up there. Now that is what I call service.

January 15, 2018

 On Sunday we took a drive up to Comfort, Texas.  I had been hearing about all of the antique shops in the area and so we finally decided to check it out.

 On of the things I learned about that is located in Comfort is the Treue Der Union Monument (loyalty to the Union), the only monument dedicated to the Union south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Dedicated August 10, 1866, it was built to honor thirty-four soldiers that were killed (some were executed after being captured) during the 1862 Nueces massacre.

When the monument was dedicated there were 33 states in the Union.  This flag has 33 stars representing those states.

 After spending some time at the monument we then walked around the historical district of Comfort checking out the antique shops and taking pictures of the buildings.  On of the shops (I can’t remember the name but it’s right across the street from the Faust Hotel) is huge.  You could spend several hours there.

 We are definitely going to go back to Comfort since we got to town late in the day.  There are several more things we want to see there.

 Yesterday we went to see “A Dog’s Way Home”, a feel good movie that kids will enjoy.  For us, it was OK.

More later.

Barry & Joyce

December 31, 2018

December 26, 2018

Joyce and I had a very quiet and peaceful Christmas Day.  Joyce made a turkey breast that we got at Costco and then we just sat around watching TV.  We had decided not to exchange gifts this year buy but I did slip this to Joyce anyway:

The song was played at our wedding.

 It’s been raining here today with some thunder bumpers in the area.  Not really going to cause us any problems here at Hidden Valley.

December 29, 2018

 The days are rolling right along here in Von Ormy. 

 On Thursday we drove up to Fredericksburg, one of our favorite towns in Texas.  First, we had lunch at the Sozial Haus that was once owned by our friends Trey and Sandy who we met a couple of years ago at Tumalo State Park in Bend, Oregon.  Trey and Sandy are full-time RVer’s that are now in Sedona, Arizona where Trey is workamping at a private golf course.  After having a delicious meal we walked around town checking out all the great shops.

 If you follow my Facebook page you know that our car was hit in a parking in the Whole Foods parking lot in north west San Antonio.  Here is that post:
“Just sittin' in a parking lot minding my own business this afternoon waiting for Joyce who was shopping and I hear a "whack'' with a sharp movement. A gal who was pulling into the spot next to me hit the right back quarter panel of our car. I jumped out the car and asked her did she know she hit my car and she said, "Did I hit your car"? Duh. Well, we exchanged information and I told her she might want to call her insurance company ASAP. I did take pictures of the damage to my car, the marks on her car and her license plate. After getting back in my car a gentleman walks up and told me he saw the whole thing and gave me his card. He's a lawyer no less. Brian advised me to call her insurance company now before she did and told me he is available if I need anything. I did that and got the ball rolling to get my car fixed.”

 After getting a call from Progressive Insurance Company I went through the relatively easy process of doing the online appraisal.  All I had to do was download an app for my iPhone and just follow the directions.

 Yesterday morning we got a call from Progressive letting us know that they are accepting full responsibility for the damage to our car.  They then sent an email with their network shops here in San Antonio.  So we drove up to Star Collision Repair and started the process of getting the repairs done.

December 31, 2018

 Joyce and I can’t believe that this year has gone by so fast.  And what a year it has been.  Se saw a lot of beautiful places in this great country, dodged some fires and even saw some serious flooding in Texas.  But, all in-in-all it has been good and we're looking forward to 2019 with enthusiasm.

 Here are a couple of screen shots of our travel’s in 2018:

We made so many stops this year that I had to make two maps.

 Happy New Year to all.

Until 2019.

Barry & Joyce

December 26, 2018

December 13, 2018

 Our Norcold refrigerator’s ice maker has been giving us fits for sometime now.  It leaks water during the filling process which freezes in the ice tray making a mess and sometimes the shutoff arm sticks.  After doing some research and found a couple of suggestions that might fix the problem but neither of them worked.  Finally gave up and ordered a new one which should be here today.

December 15, 2018

 Joyce has been having some problems with her Ninja mixer lately.  It looks like that the large mix attachment is missing a part so the only thing she can use is the smaller smoothie canisters.  Also, the darned thing is large and takes up a lot of storage room.  So yesterday we drove up to the outlet mall in San Marcos to see if we could find a immersion blender.

 She wanted to get one with a silicone end so she could use it with her really nice cooking pots but we couldn’t find one.  All the ones we looked at had a metal tip.  So on the way back to the house we stopped at a couple of stores but didn’t have any luck.  After we got home she found one online and got it ordered.

 This morning I went over to the office for the usual Saturday morning coffee and snacks.  I met  a couple who are part-time RVer’s and a home is Portland, Maine.  They have three son’s who are all in the military, two U.S. Marines and one who is a Navy Seal.

 The other day I was doing some research on some of my relatives who live in and around Spartanburg County, South Carolina.  After a few minutes I came upon some Bryant’s from that area that were married to some of my Crocker relatives.  For sometime now I have suspected that I was related to the Bryant’s but never had any real proof until now.  Well, that discovery has opened up a whole side of my family so I probably have a year or more of research ahead of me on that side of my family.  I’m pretty excited about this discovery.

December 22, 2018

 Father Time is is marching at a very fast pace right now.  Both Joyce and I can’t believe it is almost Christmas.

 We have been staying close to home lately with just a couple of trips up to the Quarry Shopping Center that is north of here.  Joyce likes to go to the Whole Foods store to get their chicken sausage and healthy stuff.

 Since I don’t have a lot to write about so how about another edition of “Where We’ve Been and You Should Go Too”.  This one is about Gettysburg, PA. and the Battlefield.

 The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1-3, 1863 and pitted Major General George Meade’s Army of the Potomac against General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.  It turned out to be the bloodiest battle of the War Between the States with Union Army casualties over 23,000 and the Confederate’s at somewhere between 23,000 and 28,000.

 If you plan to make a trip to Gettysburg we highly recommend taking a guided tour through The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides.  Our tour was an hour with the guide riding in our truck which he would have driven if we had wanted.  During the tour we went to several area of the park and where we didn’t stop, our guide pointed out areas that we should go back and see later.  By-the-way, we recommend you take at least two or three days in the battlefield area.  See this page for making a tour reservation:  https://gettysburgtourguides.org/reservations/

 In addition to touring the battlefield make sure you visit Gettysburg National Cemetery.  The cemetery was dedicated November 18, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln during a “few remarks”, now known as the Gettysburg Address.

 Also in the area is the we also visited the President Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower’s home that is also worth a visit.  https://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm

 You can read about our September 2012 visit there here:  http://barryandjoyce.blogspot.com/2012/09/

 Here are more link’s that you might be interested in checking out:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg
    https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm
    https://www.destinationgettysburg.com/index.asp

 Joyce and I stayed at the Artillery Ridge Campground which is affiliated with Passport America giving us a half-price discount for all four days we were there.  This park is closest to the battlefield but the roads and parking sites are on dirt/stone and might be muddy when it rains.  Read the reviews here:  http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/pennsylvania/gettysburg/artillery-ridge-campground-2429
December 25, 2018

 Merry Christmas!  We are spending a quiet day here at the house today.  Joyce plans to make us a turkey dinner but that is going to be about the whole she-bang.  We do plan to call the kids sometime today as well.

Barry & Joyce

December 13, 2018

November 23, 2018

 When we got back to Hidden Valley after our Florida trip our Directv receiver was indicating that we had no signal from the Winegard Trav’ler satellite dish.  After resetting the receiver we were still getting the same error.  After resetting the dish system we got an error message on the controller that there was “No LNB Voltage”.  Well, that ain’t a good thing.

 I suspected a loose or corroded wire in the system somewhere could be the issue so I checked the wiring in the coach but all was well there.  While I was doing that Joyce got on the internet and found a web site that explained the problem and what was done to fix it.  One of the suggested fixes (and the fastest) was to replace the wire from the LBN to the dish connection.  I got a new temporary cable at the Lackland AFB Exchange and that fixed the problem so we ordered a new cable from Winegard.

 On Wednesday we got up early to have the rental car at Hertz by 9 AM.  After that task was completed we then drove up to Joyce’s allergy doctor’s office to pick up some more inhalers for her and to get the office to call in the prescription to Express Scripts.  Next, we then went to Costco to get a pumpkin pie for the Gobble Day dinner here at Hidden Valley on Saturday.

 Joyce has been wanting to get headphones for sometime now so we stopped by the Lackland Exchange and picked her up a pair of Sony WH-1000XM2’s.  After she setup her new headphones they were great for music but when talking on the phone there was a lot of echo that was annoying.  So we took those back and picked her up a pair of Bose QuietComfort35’s that are working great.  By-the-way, with all the discount’s and a loyal customer refund card we had the price was way below the sticker price.

 Yesterday we went out to the Gateway Club at Lackland AFB to have Thanksgiving Dinner.  They put on a great buffet with just about anything you would want including turkey, prime rib and all the fixings.

November 26, 2018

 On Saturday we went over to Mark and Teri’s house for their Harvest Potluck celebration.  There was a lot of food and we got to meet some really nice folks who are staying here.

November 29, 2018

 Yesterday we were up very early to drive up to Randolph AFB to get Joyce a new retired ID card.  Seems that is the only base in the San Antonio area that takes walk-ins and they old do that from 7:30 to 9:00 AM.  It turned into a painless process.

December 2, 2018

 For the last couple of days Joyce hasn’t been feeling all that well so yesterday I took Joyce to a urgent care clinic where she was diagnosed with strep throat.  So she is going to hanging around indoors for the next few days.

December 12, 2018

 I can’t believe how time is flying by here at Hidden Valley.  We haven’t done anything special so I think I’ll wrap this edition up and publish it.

Justin, Adrian, Travis and the new addition Victoria Athena.

When I went to Basic Training we stayed in two-story, open bay barracks.  The new "barracks" are a lot different.

The old Lackland AFB Chapel.  I think I actually went to services there once.  Today it is used for special occasions, especially for weddings.

 

Until next time.

Barry & Joyce

November 24, 2018

November 5, 2018

 The trip from Smith Rock State Park, Oregon to Hidden Valley RV Park was interesting to say the least.  We had to do some changing of the route due to fires in Idaho and Utah.  Also, Joyce’s asthma problems, which are not under control, have intensified dramatically. We did get to see some amazing country, visit some family and friends along the way.  Joyce was able to reconnect with a first cousin she had not seen in many years.  The trip was 3556 miles long and we used 403 gallons of diesel fuel.  We averaged 8.2 MPG with prices ranging from $3.55 a gallon in Rawlins, WY to $2.95 in Pleasanton, TX.

 On November 1st Mark and Teri, the managers of Hidden Valley hosted a campfire get to together.  It was nice to meet some of our neighbor “Winter Texans”.

 On Friday Joyce had an appointment with a Veterans Administration Audiologist where she had yet another evaluation of her hearing.  This time the doctor didn’t think she will need hearing aids but wants to get an MRI done just to be sure there is no tumor affecting the nerves.  We hope that can be scheduled soon.

 After getting that done we made a Costco run to get some needed things and while there we picked up some really nice prime sirloin steaks that were on sale for $7.49 a pound.

 After getting back to the park we invited Mark and Teri over for supper.  We fixed some of those steaks we got at Costco which were delicious.

 November 9, 2018

 I am writing today from the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Crestview, FL.

 Joyce and I picked up our rental car in San Antonio on Wednesday and started our drive to St. Augustine, FL fro visit our Michelle and her family.  We spent the first night at a Holiday Inn and Suites in Lafayette, LA and now last night here in Crestview.  So far the trip is going pretty good but we are driving a lot more that we like.

November 10, 2018

 We left Crestview around 9 AM, jumped back on I-10 and made the trip to St. Augustine arriving about 3:30.  That part of the drive was a tad stressful since we had to get through the traffic in Jacksonville.  That place is a zoo!

 Today we took Skyler shopping for his birthday which is actually the 17th but we aren’t positive we will be stopping back here after our Bahamas cruise.  He picked out a stuffed pillow and decided to save the rest of his money to put toward a hoover-board, whatever the heck that is.

November 19, 2018

 We left St. Augustine on Friday the 9th and made our way down I-95 then out to Port Canaveral for our five day cruise out to the Bahamas.  Enchantment of the Seas is an older Royal Caribbean ship but she has all the amenities that we like.

 Our first night was at sea and we arrived at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Cococay.  Joyce and I decided to stay on the ship here enjoying the peace and quiet.

 Our next stop was at Nassau, Bahamas.  Joyce had booked us on a Land and Sea excursion so at 10:30 we met our tour guide on the pier.  They put us on a boat and cruised the shoreline checking out all of the “rich folks” homes and some of the yachts along the way.  Next we boarded a bus for a tour of Nassau.

Symphony of the Seas being welcomed to Nassau for the first time.  She is the larges cruise ship in the world.

On of the many private yachts parked in the harbor.

There were some really impressive private homes on the harbor as well.  This one was once owned by Elvis Presley

The Atlantis Resort is amazing.  We had been there before a few years back and Joyce one a few hundred dollars.  Not so lucky this time.

Jim Glaspey, you need a pair of these.  Only $800 a pair.

Victoria Athena Crocker

November 13, 2018

7 lbs, 19 in.

Big brother Travis meets Victoria for the first time.

Justin, Adrian, Travis and Victoria.

 We spent a day at sea arriving back at Port Canaveral on Friday.  This cruise was short but we did enjoy the tour of Nassau and meeting some really nice folks.

 On most days while we are on the ship I usually got up early and head to the Windjammer Cafe’ for some coffee and “me time”.  On the 14th I did the usual thing and when I turned on my computer I had a huge surprise waiting for me.  Justin had sent a text with a picture of our new grand baby, Victoria Athena Crocker who was born on the 13th and was actually a couple of weeks early.  Joyce and I have a trip planned in February to go to North Carolina and see her.

November 21, 2018

 We finally got back to San Antonio yesterday after spending four days on the road with stops in Perry, FL, Gulfport, MS and Port Arthur, TX.  It was a long drive all the way to Port Canaveral and back and we drove many more miles a day than we like but getting to see our daughter and her family was all worth it.

More next time

Barry & Joyce 

November 5, 2018

October 25, 2017

 We left Colorado Landing RV Park about 10 AM, jumped onto US-77 south and arrived at the Angels In Goliad RV Park in Goliad, TX around 1 PM.

 Joyce and I have been to Goliad several times in the past which included volunteering at the Goliad State Historical Park a couple of times.  We’ve grown very fond of the town and have made several friends here.

 Angels In Goliad is a no frills RV park but at only $20 a night with our Passport America discount it works for us.  The park is owned/managed by a young couple that purchased the park a couple of years ago and have made some nice improvements.  They’re making plans to build bathrooms, a bathhouse and a doggie park among other things.

 On Thursday we went to the Commercial Street Bar so that Joyce could meet with her friends, the Kacklin’ Hens.  This is a group of ladies who own businesses or work in the downtown area and meet every Thursday evening for cocktails.  It was good to see everyone again and to meet some new folks.

The Hen's have their on sitting area.

 We think this "fan" is really cool.

 Yesterday was laundry day so we got that chore done early and then drove to Victoria to do some shopping at the H-E-B. 

 On Saturday night we went into town for the 28th Scare On The Square, an annual event That is primarily for the kids in town to have a safe and fun Halloween. 

 Joyce and I had several folks recommend the Mustang Cantina just down the street from the Commercial Street Bar so we walked down for supper.

 The Mustang Cantina is located in and old building that first served as a mercantile store.  Purchased a number of years ago  by Mr. Scotty and Mrs. Patsy Light of San Antonio, they have completed a renovation that has kept the old-time charm of the town but with numerous upgrades. 

 Joyce and I had the opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Light who provided a lot of insight into the renovations that were done to the building and the Bull Durham Tobacco advertisement that sign was painted on the side of the building next door.  You can read more about the Mustang at these websites:

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/massive-bull-painting-found-under-store-wall/article_911941e5-9a45-5a00-98dc-5b0317f027b0.html

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/new-businesses-to-open-in-historic-downtown-goliad/article_18654c13-b3dc-5545-892f-7ca0c75ac817.html

http://www.texasescapes.com/Signs/Bull-Durham-Ghost-Sign-Goliad-Texas.htm

The Light's found the door handles in a antique store in New Orleans.

The stones that were used to build the original basement were taken from the old mission at what is now the state park.  It is now called the the "wine cellar" and used for special events.

October 29, 2018

 Yesterday after having breakfast in Goliad we made the drive down to the Wilderness Oaks RV Park in Rockport, TX where we will be for four days.  This is a Passport America park so we got our pull-through site for $28 a night.

 After getting set up we decided to drive around town.  Rockport took a direct hit from Hurricane Harvey last year and although there has been a lot of reconstruction, there are still signs of the destruction caused by the storm.

 Since we were out and about we decided to take the ferry over to Port Aransas on Mustang Island.  While there we went to Wenton’s Island Candy to get some of their delicious fudge.  That stuff is really good!

October 30, 2018

 Yesterday we drove over to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to visit their Commissary.  Note to self.  We should have done some homework before making that drive.  The Commissary is closed on Monday.

 On the way back we stopped at Corey’s II Seafood Market in Aransas Pass and picked up some fresh shrimp that Joyce fixed for supper.

November 3, 2018

 On Thursday we left Rockport and made the drive up to Hidden Valley RV Park in Von Army, TX.  If my memory serves me this is out fifth time staying here, the first being in January 2008 when Joyce and I started full-time RVing.

Our home for 4 to 5 months.

More later.

Barry & Joyce