Wal-Mart is RV Friendly

We stayed in Wal-Mart parking lots on Monday and Wednesday nights. When we're just focusing on getting from one place to another, it's hardly worthwhile to set up camp and hook-up just to sleep for a few hours. We do like to stop every 2 or 3 nights in a campground so we can take a "big" shower and I can wash my hair. Besides that, we bathe in the RV's shower and function just fine.

Wal-Mart stores have a reputation nation-wide of being RV friendly, meaning they allow RVs to overnight in their parking lots. That's a smart move considering that most every RVer goes in to buy supplies. RVers are often senior citizens, which means they're quiet and responsible (Well, maybe there are a few exceptions!)

Someone pointed out that the RVs add another element of security to outer corners of their large parking lots. It's a win-win situation and we really appreciate their hospitality! (We ALWAYS ask the manager's permission.)

Yay for Wally-World!

Western Trip is Winding Down

Our Big Western "Trip of a Lifetime" is slowly winding down.

When I look at the map of our trip route, I'm amazed that we really went all those places! Plus, we're still getting along after being together 24/7 since August 1st!

(Click on map for a larger view.)

The good Lord was watching over us and I am thankful for the many things we were blessed with, such as good weather, decent health, and the motor home running well.
We left my brother's home in Texas on Monday morning and traveled about 300 miles to Alexandria, Louisiana. Tuesday, we covered another 300 miles to Biloxi, Mississippi. Wednesday we knocked out yet another 300 miles, crossing the bottom tip of Alabama and ending up in Tallahassee, Florida.

Once we hit the Florida state line, I thought, "Ah, we're home." Then I remembered that that's not right at all.....it's hundreds of miles to get to Ft. Lauderdale.

Thursday we left Tallahassee at an all-time record of 8:00 a.m.!! We drove the 180 miles to Summerfield, which is just south of Ocala and near The Villages.

A couple of our dearest friends, Jan and David Clements, live there and we've stopped to see them before. (Click here: Bye-bye, Tampa....Hello, Jan and David and Our First Trip - Part 2) We're looking forward to seeing them.


P.S.

The cranberries are in the supermarkets. We learned that they only show up once a year, so stock up. Buy those bags and freeze them.

Oh, how I do love cranberries. They now have a cranberry flavor in Crystal Lite!

Biloxi's Beautiful Beaches

Biloxi, Mississippi is a town we almost missed. We stopped at the visitors' center when we crossed the state line. We were planning to continue on Interstate 10 but they suggested that U.S. 90 is a good road right along the beach. They were right!

The only thing I had heard about Biloxi were joking comments made about the military bases here....that it was the armpit of civilization (and worse). So when we came upon these white sandy beaches, it was a surprise.We also saw for the first time, evidence of Hurricane Katrina (2005). There are many empty lots, foundations without walls, and walls of houses. I never could seem to get a decent photo of these things.

It is good to see that many of the new houses and hotels are being built on stilts, using the ground level as parking.

Lousy Louisiana Roads

Our trip through Louisiana was uneventful except that we were jostled,rattled and rolled for many miles by the rough roads. Even Pepper got grumpy and meowed and screeched, jumping from one of her beds to other, as well as on and off my lap about a hundred times.

We did pass through a few areas of swampland and it was remarkable how the highways were built in those areas.

The roads were built up on pilings for miles upon miles...
...because of the swamps.

Here's Baton Rouge, LA as we drove by it.

Cat Competition - My First

Saturday, Ed read in the local Waxahachie newspaper that there was a cat show. This was my first cat show and I got a kick out of seeing all the cats.

It took me a while to figure out what was happening but it finally started making sense. The cats and their owners were in long rows in the middle of the room. On each end there were 3 judging areas. The loudspeakers were calling for various cats by number. Each cat is judged and rated by 6 judges on Saturday and a different 6 judges on Sunday. The results are then tabulated on Sunday.

Walking in the aisles of cats and talking to the proud owners was lots of fun. We even saw 3 Cornish rex cats! One was an endearing kitten and naturally, Ed wanted to get her as a companion for Pepper. I say Pepper is the queen of her domain and she would be quite distressed to share her fiefdom. Besides, the motorhome is NOT big enough for two cats!

I'd never seen these Bengal cats in person......they're just beautiful!

The May's Oasis in Texas

We tease my brother, Phil, because when he was young he said he was going to have an A-frame house in the woods and live off the land. Now, he has a lovely house that is quite the opposite of an A-frame in the woods. Phil continues to play classical piano and treasures his Baldwin that he bought from a church in the Midwest.When Phil was in the Air Force, they lived in the Philippines for several years. They were wise to purchase some exquisite furniture and have taken care of it. Maribeth has created a peaceful, inviting music room.

I didn't realize how important window treatments can be for a home. The elegant draperies and wood plantation shutters came with the house and Maribeth has used colors that coordinate with them.

Maribeth loves to decorate. Their house has closets everywhere and that's a good thing because she has decorations for every season.

She has a knack for making things pretty and at the same time user-friendly. They both enjoy having people over and do so often.

They both enjoy the back yard that Phil has worked for years to create. They use their hot tub often and Levi gave swimming lessons there during the summer.

As of Monday, the day we left, they're officially Empty Nesters. When Levi went off to college last year, Maribeth's brother was living with them. He returned to Pittsburgh and 2 days later we arrived. (We were easy guests because we brought our own house, parked it in front of their house and only used their shower and washing machine.)

Anyway, we hope the Empty Nesters thrive in this new stage of their lives. Cheers!

Mother, My Brother and His Family

Many people have asked about Mother, Levi, Maribeth, and Phil. I'll also tell you about Sylvester.

Mother has been here in Texas in a nursing home near my brother for almost a year. She's really had some ups and downs along the way. Phil has worked closely with the doctor and it seems they have tweaked her meds to a nice mellow balance. She is amazingly clearheaded and knew me immediately.

She is getting good care at Pleasant Manor and this is, no doubt, affected by Phil and Maribeth's daily visits. I really appreciate and admire their dedication. Mother is like the energizer bunny who takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. We hope she will continue to be peaceful in her surroundings.

Maribeth's idea for me to have a slide show for Mother worked out well. We set up a screen in a visiting area Saturday afternoon, invited Shelly (a lovely lady hired as a sitter for Mother several hours a day) and Maribeth's friend, Lynn. We all "took a trip out west" and had a break for pizza. Thank you, Maribeth, for such a good idea.

I saw Mother every day during my week in Waxahachie but forgot to take a photo. Here's one from 2003.Levi is a sophomore at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It's ironic that he had a grandmother and an aunt and uncle nearby when he started school last fall. Now, his grandmother's here in Texas and his aunt and uncle are traveling. Nevertheless, he really loves JMU.

Maribeth works at the elementary school where Levi went. She's in charge of writing grants, fund raising, recruiting students, and public relations. She stays busy all day, every day and loves her job.Phil is retired from 20 years in the Air Force and is a nurse anesthetist in private practice with a group here in Waxahachie. He works very hard and also loves his job.

He's had a challenging fall as he had brain surgery. It was discovered that he had too much fluid build up in his brain (hydrocephalus) and a shunt was inserted. The doctors find it hard to believe that he had no symptoms (This was discovered when he went to the doctor about something else).

This is the first time he's had major surgery and, as with anyone who has surgery, it seems to take longer than expected to recover. He is back at work and doing OK except for some neck soreness and spasms.

Sylvester makes a charming room decoration. What a lover he is!

West Texas Wind Farms

We had been planning to see a few more places in New Mexico, ending up in Albuquerque to see Jerry and Kathy's house.

Ed watched the weather reports and when he saw the cold weather predictions, he decided he had had his fill of cold weather.

We got an email from Jerry on Wednesday saying it was snowing in Albuerque and Ed had made a wise decision to split when he did.

One of the first things I noticed when we crossed the Texas line were the speed limit signs for 80!!

We stayed in Pecos, Texas on Sunday night....not an especially pretty place. This was the view out our front windshield Monday when we woke up -- a lot of nothingness.

Next, we noticed there were lots of cotton fields.I didn't realize that they grow cotton in Texas!

All along the way were oil wells, steadily pumping. Everyone should have one in their backyard, don't you think?

Ed's sister and his daughter-in-law are both named "Lorraine" so this sign caught his eye. You can also see lots of power poles.

Monday morning we started into the wind farm country. We just couldn't get over how MANY of these windmills there were. They were along every ridge for as far as the eye can see. Most were moving but quite a few were still.....we don't know if they were down for maintenance or what.

Click this photo for a better view.

Trip Map as of October 31, 2009

Click on map for a larger view.We plan to leave Waxahachie, TX on Monday morning, November 2nd and head to Florida. It's only about 1,400 miles away......piece of cake, right? Easy for me to say since Ed does all the driving (mostly because it makes him AND me nervous for me to drive).

Silver City Slickers

I saw my first roadrunner one afternoon as we were driving out of the campground. I thank Jerry for being quick with his camera to get this photo.

Saturday, the girls (Kathy, Rosalie, and I) went to "downtown" Silver City for the farmers' market and to visit the galleries and shops there. We bought sprouts, squash, watermelon, and chard. We combined for a great supper of hamburgers with healthy veggies. A good time was had by all!

After we turned out the lights, we heard coyotes howling and barking. It was a unique sound and I only knew what it was because Kathy had heard them the night before.

So ended our delightful week with friends in Silver City.

Catwalk near Silver City, NM

Friday, we (Jerry and Kathy Millspaugh and their friends, Rosalie and Mike) drove north of Silver City to a place called Catwalk National Scenic Trail.

This catwalk was built for the silver miners to get up to the mine to take the silver down to the processing area. There was also a pipe for water to run their generator and to supply the town which had grown to 200.

These walks were built in the 1800's and have been rebuilt by the Forest Service.

Ed and I were not so smart......it said the walk was 1.1 miles. However, that was for only one way so we ended up struggling through an unexpected 2.2 mile hike!After I was over 3/4 of a mile in, I wanted to see the end. so I plodded on. Being with our friends added to the motivation.

The canyon was narrow, which added to the drama of the high rock cliffs on both sides.I'm always a sucker for swinging bridges. This was one of my "rewards" near the end of the trail.

Here we (Kathy Millspaugh, MaryMay, Ed, Jerry Millspaugh) are at the end of the trail.

The highlight of the walk was looking up to the top of the cliffs and seeing a bighorn sheep (female). We grabbed our cameras and got some pictures before they left.

Then one of the female sheep came out onto another high ledge and seemed to be posing for us. (top center of photo below)

Jerry took this shot. I was pleased that my little camera captured this.