Final Stop Before Going Home

25 Oct 2010--Made our final stop, to see John and Carol for a couple days, before going into San Antonio for a couple months. They have been at Big Chief RV Resort for about 3 weeks, just relaxing and doing some antique shopping, so we thought we would stop for 2 days for a quick visit. Big Chief is in Burnet, TX, about 100 miles north of San Antonio, and right on Lake Buchanan. Carol said they had beautiful sunsets every night they have been there...a nice park to just chill out at.

The 1st afternoon we were there we headed to this fundraiser for a local health care clinic in the area. They had what they call a "Chuck Wagon Cook-off", where all these people dress up in period costume and literally have a cook-off with awards in beans, beef, pie, etc. Below is Bob with his son. Bob had entered his 1st cook-off and actually took 1st place in beans. He had a few 2nd place finishes also, so I took his picture and told him I would make him famous on the blog.

They had some stuff for sale there too...cowboy stuff!!!

They were giving buggy rides, and had some music...in all honesty the cowboy band was a little rough, but it was for a good cause so no one seemed to mind.

On Sunday Cathy and I went into the town of Burnet (pronounced like burn-it), a town of about 4500 people. It had the feel of a place trying to hang on...even most of the buildings in their historic district were empty.

With the exception of 2 antiques stores, the few places that were occupied were closed because it was Sunday. The barber shop reminded me of Andy of Mayberry...and the building marked "City Hall" was actually empty.

This was interesting. In the middle of the town square, in front of the court house, was this historic walkway. It laid out milestones in the town's history on marked bricks, so it was different and cute.

On another side of the courthouse was this explanation of how we came to lower the flag when someone of import dies, and then this small monument to the brave.

I don't know why this was here, but it was so I took a pic. Just one of those stupid things to give you a little chuckle, I guess.

So there really wasn't much to do in Burnet, but we went there to see our friends, not the area, so we had a great time anyway.

Pulled into San Antonio late this afternoon. We'll probably be here till sometime in January when we will head east. So until then, I won't be blogging every day, just here and there to let you know we are still out here. I am thinking that over the next couple days I am going to try to digest everything we have seen and done over the past 5 months, and then I might have an "impressions" blog to post...hahahaha...I know you all can't wait for that one!!! hahahaha

Almost Home

23 Oct 2010--We left Oklahoma on Thursday, making a couple stops along the way to San Antonio. This is the map we are using to keep track of our travels...sent one to Emily and Kaleigh so they could follow us...so Marie, you can tell the kids to fill in Oklahoma as the 14th state we have visited in our travels so far.

Stopped in Hickory Creek, TX, just north of Dallas, to visit a couple friends living there. Lynn and Breena live in a 5th wheel in an Army Corps of Engineer Park where they "work camp"...that means they cut the grass and police the area as "camp hosts" and get to live there for free (Ellen I can see you doing this in the future). Lynn just quit her full-time job at the airport, and Breena is a school teacher and coach at a local High School. They are looking to start their own RV Park within the next couple months, so we are keeping our fingers crossed for them that everything works out as they hope it will.

Outside their RV they have this contraption, called a "Texas Night Light"...I thought it was pretty funny, but pretty handy, too!

Lynn took us out Friday to see the site where they hope to build their RV park, and after that we stopped for a short visit in the town of Grapevine. There are so many quaint little towns like this out west...cute, but I don't think I would want to grow up here.

City Hall has a cowboy holding a lantern on the top of it...haven't seen this sentry before.

Another log cabin.

Ode to a windmill!

Monument to the pioneers...check out the guys eyes!!!

Cute little town, had a farmer's market going on while we were there.

And I'm not sure it gets any better than this! Looks like Marie is making a comeback since she was on Dancing with the Stars!

On our way to Burnet, TX to spend a couple days visiting with Carol and John, then on to San Antonio for a couple months. Talk to you soon.