One Chapter Ends and Another Begins

Sunday, December 3, 2017

  

Eleven years ago, Ron and I purchased our first RV, a 1996 gas 36 foot Dutch Star motorhome and started our adventures as RVers.  We joined a Good Sam chapter in Albuquerque, met lots of other RVers, learned how to care for our RV, places to go and enjoyed the camaraderie on our many trips with our chapter and alone.

In 2009 when Ron retired, we traded in the Dutch Star for a 38 foot diesel pusher and began going on longer trips and became vendors attending rallies selling kitchen products.  Our travels took us to more of the western U.S. states from Texas north even into Canada.  What fun we had enjoying all the states, cities, historic sites and meeting new people everywhere.

We longed to try the full time lifestyle so in 2014 we once again traded in our RV for a 2008 40 foot diesel Tiffin Phaeton with four slides and lots of storage in the basement allowing us to have lots of room for all the “stuff” we thought we would need to be full time.  In 2015 we sold our sticks and bricks home and started our adventure as full timers traveling all the way to the east coast to visit my son and family and take in some of the historic sites of that part of the country.  This past summer we completed our travels into the last of the western states (Oregon and Washington).  There is so much to see and so little time to see it all.  All you can do is scratch the surface and enjoy the ride.

In October we came to Kerrville, TX to enjoy the fall and to see my daughter and her family who live near by.  Our intent was to remain here until after Christmas and then spend January through March in Arizona at the RV Resort we enjoyed last year and then venture to the eastern U.S. next summer.

After arriving in Kerrville, we decided to talk to a realtor about housing, costs, etc. as we had decided we might settle here when we were ready to quit RVing or at least full timing.  One thing led to another and we found the perfect home for us and decided to make an offer.  We were in quite a quandary for a week or more as we had not really thought we were ready to give up full timing, but something had said this was the time.  Long story short, we have now purchased a home here moving in over the Christmas holidays and New Year. 

Kerrville is a small town of about 26,000 people 65% of whom are retired like us.  Everyone we have met has been very friendly and welcoming.  While shopping is adequate, at times I miss some of the big box stores, but they are only 40 miles away if I really need to visit them.  Less distance than traveling from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.  Kerrville has many activities each month including a performing arts center, swap meets, city events, the Guadalupe river for water events, an active Elks Lodge, golf for Ron and a wonderful quilt and craft stores to keep me happy.   We have also found a church similar to the one we attended in Albuquerque for many years.   In all, we feel very at home and welcome here and look forward to getting involved in activities we enjoy.

As for “HaRVey” as we have called our RV these many years, we plan to put it on the market soon hopping this is the best time of year with all the snowbirds in this part of the country.  We want to continue to travel some and may purchase something smaller that we can travel in for a weekend, week or month at a time. 

We will miss our visits with RV friends on the road and hope that they, our friends far and wide and our family and extended family will come and visit us here in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas.  The early spring is a great time here as the Texas blue bonnets and other wildflowers are truly gorgeous.  We are close to San Antonio with the many historic sites and river walk to visit as well as many other quaint and interesting communities of this part of Texas.    The door is always open and a guest bedroom awaits anyone who cares to visit.

 

Our New Home in Kerrville

I will be be sending out our annual Christmas letter with our new home address.  Our email and phone numbers which you currently have will remain the same. 

Thank you to all our family and friends for your love and support during our travels and for opening your doors to our visits.  Thank you too for being one of my blog readers this past two and a half years.  Life is an adventure and journey and we are ready for the next chapter and what it brings.

Final sign off to begin our new life.    Kathy and Ron

Enjoying our Days in Kerrville

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Weather here is changing up and down.  One day it is cold, cold at night (down in the 40’s and even into the 30’s) with temps during the day in the 70’s.  A couple of days ago it was only e in the low 50’s then back up to the 70’s the next.  Crazy, but that is the way Texas is during this time of year.  We have had no rain for quite some time and humidity is tolerable as it is quite low.  We have also had some winds, some quite high at times. 

The Elks Lodge has been a frequent place for us to visit as they have Hamburgers or Chicken sandwiches each Wednesday and a dinner on Friday night so we go to get acquainted with the lodge members.  Wednesday is also the day the Lodge is open to the public and there is a country western band for dancing from 7 – 9 p.m.  They are quite good though I have not convinced Ron to stay as yet.  We used to dance several nights a week but that has been quite a few years ago.  It would be nice to be back into it a bit again. 

Dinner last Friday was Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, roll, salad and assorted desserts.  The cooks did a great job as usual and turn out is picking up as is membership in the Lodge now that the “season” is beginning. 

Saturday night we attended a musical play called “Nunsense” put on in the small playhouse theater here in town.  Hilarious! and tickled your funny bone.   It is a cute play with lots of humor and songs and fast moving.  There were only 5 women involved and a pianist for the musical numbers.  What a kick several of the actresses were.  All were in nun garb with one of them wearing black and white knitted knee socks and sneakers under her habit.  This Playhouse has 5 plays during the year including mystery, drama and musical plays. 

For a small town of around 26,000, Kerrville has a lot to offer in the way of community events and activities and organizations to be involved in.  Of course, we are also close to San Antonio, Fredericksburg and other small towns with activities as well.  We really do like it here and are seriously thinking of putting down roots here when we are ready for our next sticks and brick house. 

Lots of deer around in the early evening so driving in this very rural environment means being aware of what is beside the highways and in the residential areas.  The deer are used to people and cars so not afraid of you driving near them or stopping to take pictures.  Leaves are beginning to drop off some trees though we are told many do not lose leaves until December and then begin getting new ones quite quickly. Some have turned color but where we are there are not many that have.

Signing off til next time.  Kathy

A Weekend with the Family

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

This past weekend we drove to Kyle to attend Kaylee and Garrett’s (our grandchildren) Band O’Rama Fund Raiser dinner for their marching band, attend the football game to watch both play and then a lunch with the other two sets grandparents (all visiting for the weekend), daughter and family and us at a place called the Salt Lick. Quite a place.

Kaylee in her band uniform.  We think she's adorable. 

We elected to stay in a hotel rather than have to pack up the RV which we had done two weeks ago on our way to Livingston, drive 90 miles for a night and then return the next day.  Hotel appeared on line to be a decent place at a decent price for the area (we all know how different pictures can be from the real thing), but we were not prepared for the stripped down room we found.  If we had known we could find another place, we would have done so, but hotels were at a premium for the weekend due to events occurring in downtown Austin even though San Marcos is a good 40 miles south.  We made the best of it, but elected not to partake of the continental breakfast included in our room rate.  Can’t imagine why we did that!  There is a great I-HOP located in Kyle where we had breakfast.

We met up with the rest of the family for an early lunch at a place called Salt Lick which is located out in the country in a town called Driftwood where this cute old station is located.

The restaurant opened in 1967 located on what was once a ranch where the owner was born with the buildings made of locally quarried limestone.  The owner’s wife was of Hawaiian heritage that inspired the sweet barbeque sauce used in the restaurant.  Today the Salt Lick is owned by the son of the original owners.  The primary cuisine is beef, sausage and pork ribs. 

Kaylee, brother Garrett and Dad Kyle enjoying dinner

Ron and daughter Laurie

There is also a banquet facility and an open pavilion located along the Onion Creek as well as the original mansion built by the owner and used for parties, weddings and the business offices.  A huge dirt parking lot is available for parking.  Live entertainment is also provided at times.  This cute phone booth was also found on the property.

We arrived around 11:30 a.m. and were seated immediately even though there were 10 of us, but arriving after noon, means you stand in line and have quite a wait even though the facility is very large. 

Just inside the door to the main dining room, you pass the huge pit where all the meat is cooked. 

You can order individually off the menu or order at a set price per person family style with an all you can eat meat (you specify the kind you want), rolls, potato salad, cole slaw, cowboy beans, and dessert (large cobblers served with ice cream in a soup bowl).  If you want other than tea and soft drinks, you can purchase them at the Salt Lick Cellars located next door and bring it into the dining room.  The Cellars sells locally made wine and Texas beers.  A delicious, very filling meal with family and a nice way to spend the weekend.

Ron and I left after lunch since the restaurant is a good 15 miles from Kyle and on our way back to Kerrville.  We noticed outside Fredericksburg on our way to Kyle that Trade Days was occurring this weekend and decided we would stop on our return home.

While many of you have attended large flea markets like we have in Albuquerque or may have been to the Mesa Marketplace in Mesa, you ain’t seen nothin’ til you’ve been to Trade Days (held once a month every month of the year for  Friday, Saturday and Sunday).  This is basically a flea market of used merchandise as well as vendors selling new and located on several acres of  grassy open fields with security people directing traffic first to the ticket booth ($5 per car) and then to a particular part of the field where you can park.  It is huge like everything else in Texas

After parking we walked up the dirt hill and through some grass to where the vendors were located.  Very rustic long barns with tin roofs (not sure just how many since we didn’t cover the entire area), outdoor booths with canopies or not, live music, and many other buildings, etc. make up this facility.  If you want it, they probably have it somewhere.  

There were even some vicious looking long horn cattle reclining behind a fence behind one of the  buildings.  I don't think they were for sale, however.

After our large lunch and walking around for over an hour or more, we were tired and retreated to our car for the remainder of our journey back to Kerrville.  I’m looking forward to attending this event again while we are here though Ron may decide to stay home.  It is about 35 miles  from where we are.  Not much different from driving to Santa Fe for an afternoon but much prettier countryside along two and four lane highways.   

Signing off til the next venture.

It’s Official. We are Texans.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

It’s Official!  We are now registered Texans with a new address, car registrations, driver licenses and license plates with voter registration in the works. 

We left Livingston on Wednesday morning and had our first ever overnight at a Walmart in Kyle, TX where my daughter lives.  New store, close to I-35 and a well lit area in the corner furthest from the freeway where we heard very little freeway traffic noise though we did have two guys working on a car across the way until about 3 a.m.  They were quiet most of the time but did have bursts of chatter and lights from time to time.  We would stay again if we need to. 

Had a nice dinner with daughter and family especially the grandchildren whom we had only seen for a hug last Friday night. 

Returned to Kerrville on Thursday afternoon and decided to see about getting our drivers licenses since the Dept. of Public Safety (where you get your license in Texas) in Livingston had been flooded out recently and was thus closed.  We both had no problem getting our licenses.  We had thought Ron would have to take special tests and a driving test for the RV but his NM Class E license  which allowed him to drive a non commercial vehicle over 26,000 lbs was honored with no further testing.  Yeah!  Yeah!  We walked out in less than an hour as the office was not busy that afternoon.

We are now settled back in our site at the campground, getting out to get more acquainted with Kerrville and spent Friday evening at the Elks eating the 3 prize winner’s Brisket from a contest they sponsored at the Lodge recently.  Wonderful.  The Exalted Ruler is a very friendly gentleman and made sure we sat with Lodge members to get better acquainted.  I have to say that this Lodge is one of the more friendly ones we have visited.  We are looking forward to many more enjoyable evenings and events there.  For a small town, Kerrville has many local activities and events to enjoy.

It is hard to believe that after 44 years and 8 different dwellings (only one of which was not in Albuquerque), I am no longer living in Albuquerque and New Mexico.  That is the longest I have ever lived anywhere in my life.  Prior to New Mexico had lived in 5 other states (CA, NJ, NY, AZ, MI), 9 cities and 11 other houses and all that from birth to age 29.  Wow!  Do you think it’s time I stayed put for a while?  That does not seem to be happening since we are now full time RVers traveling 4 months of the year in summer then two months in Albuquerque, three months in Texas and three months in Arizona.  Moving just seems to be in my blood and Ron’s.   We do think we will settle inTexas once we are through full timing.  

Signing off until we have something worth reporting and pictures to see.

Becoming Texans

Monday, October 9, 2017

Yesterday I mentioned that we had taken a drive around Lake Livingston and I would post some pictures.  This  very large reservoir/lake is about 12 miles from here with trees right along the edges.  Lots of homes along the water with docks and covered marinas jetting into the lake as well as a large KOA campground right next to it. 

  Lots of small manufactured and large homes sitting amid large grassy plots in one area, a gated community in another and lots of other homes interspersed among the trees close to or right on the water.  With the weather still so warm (in the low 90’s), there were a few boats and jet skis out on the water as we drove over the bridge.  

I spied this old run down house next to the road with its wood siding, overturned resin chairs on the porch and rusted metal roof.  It is still  inhabited as there were several cars and trucks in the driveway.  I love old beat up places as they make interesting pictures.

Today was the day for us to change our residence to Texas and start changing all our business addresses as well.  What a headache making all the calls and emails.  The worst was trying to get new rates for medical, prescription, car and RV insurances.  With one company I spent over an hour on the phone trying to get rates and change our address.  Only a few more to do tomorrow, mainly those companies (government offices and banks) that take off for Columbus Day.  Hopefully tomorrow we can go to the DMV,  get our car and RV registrations done and new plates and I can get my drivers license.  Ron must take a written and driving test since he has to get a special license to drive the RV.  (I no longer drive the RV.)  Not sure whether he can get in the driving test without an appointment.  If not, hopefully, he can get this done in Kerrville when we return.

Signing off for now, Y'all.

Journey to Livingston

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Friday we left Kerrville for Kyle where we will stayed overnight to see our grandchildren play in the high school marching band and to get in a quick visit with my daughter.  The band was great and the new uniforms up to date and smart looking.  We will return on the 20^th and 21at for a fund raiser dinner, another football game and a chance to hear the band perform again .  Don’t get to see the kids much during October as they have competitions on the weekends and are so busy going here and there.  Hopefully in November and December we will have a chance to visit when they are around.

We left yesterday morning heading to Livingston with the intention of staying at the Elks Lodge in Huntsville, about 160 miles north and east of the Austin area.  Arrived at the Elks to find it was down a narrow dirt road, the grounds were grassy but very bumpy and lumpy and the only sites available were 15 amp.  You can’t get the A/C on with that.  After some consultation, we decided to try Plan B which was a private campground in the area.  We were informed they were full due to some events going on in Huntsville today so on to Plan C with a phone call to the Escapees Park in Livingston (50 miles further on) to see if we could check in a day early.  With an answer to the affirmative, we drove on, checked in and set up. 

The set up in itself was not the easy one we expected at an Escapees Park.  The grounds here are well trampled gravel with lots of dirt in between from all the rains they have set next to a grassy area with a picnic table.  After several tries at finding a more level area within this nice long spot, putting wood blocks under the front wheels and adding pads under the front jacks, we finally have things level but our entry steps required our little step stool to get to the bottom step.  Whew!  It was not an easy setup in the low 90’s temp with high humidity. 

Our dinner plan was to eat at a local family restaurant.  It too was an entertaining experience.  The restaurant was very pleasant and food good home style.  As we waited for our food and ate our meal, we were entertained by the couple sitting behind us.  The lady was quite elderly and may have had some dementia and he was either her son, grandson or nephew in his late 40’s who apparently had been in prison and was awaiting a court date with a judge for perhaps another visit.  He kept telling the lady about conditions at the prison, about not having salt and pepper and sugar, only having a spoon to eat with that he was responsible for washing it each day over the toilet (gross) and keeping track of it, that breakfast was at 3:30 in the morning and lunch at 2:00 in the afternoon and about who could or could not visit him based on whether they had warrants for arrest, tickets, etc.  The poor lady just could not seem to understand and kept asking questions and suggesting that the prison should let him attend church, have special Sunday clothes, etc. With no first hand experience, we were not sure how much of what he said was actually true.  What a hoot!

Tomorrow we will post a few pictures from the area and our visit to Lake Livingston, a large reservoir in the area today.

Settling In

Thursday, October 5, 2017

We arrived here at Buckhorn Lake RV Park in Kerrville, TX where we stayed last year in November and are settled, sort of, in the same location as last year where we overlook the creek and bridge shown below.  Nice to have a view of something instead of other RV's.  This is one of the reasons we like this particular part of this resort.  Our weather has been so so with much rain and high humidity but also some sunshine.  Well, let’s face it, this is Texas in the fall.   

We are very happy to be here once again and really do feel at home in this Park and the town of Kerrville.  Have already been to the Elks Lodge, where people are so friendly and welcoming and even remembered us from last year.  I have found a new hairdresser and nail salon and have already spent money at tbeen  twice to the local crafts store (equivalent to Hobby Lobby).  Ron has not been out yet to the golf course due to the weather but hopes to get out there in the next week.

We leave here tomorrow for an overnight visit with my daughter and family in Kyle (about 90 miles) taking in the football game where our two grandkids will be playing in the marching band then on to Livingston where we will begin the process of becoming domiciled in Teas with our mail, car registrations, licenses, voting, etc.   This will be through Escapees which is an RV organization we belong to and has much to offer the RVer in terms of benefits.  We hope to only be there for a couple of days and will complete the rest of the process here in Kerrville.   We think Kerrville might be our permanent home once we decide to quit RVing full time, but who knows until that actually happens. 

We should be settled back here once we arrive back next week but will spend a few weekends off and on with the kids over the next three months including Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is nice to be close by to spend time with the family who have always lived so far away.  Wish my son lived closer as Virginia is soooo far away.   However, it was nice to see Bill recently in Albuquerque for his Dad’s surprise birthday party. 

Yesterday we had quite a thrill when the bird below flew into our creek and spent a bit of time there.  We think it is an egret, stork or a whopping crane.  Not sure which since we are not bird watchers.  Beautiful bird as you can see from the picture.  

Signing off until we return from Livingston next week.

Moving On

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Our month in Albuquerque is up and tomorrow morning we leave here for Kerrville, TX where we will spend the next three months.  Hopefully, I can send out more blogs about our time there and some of the things we will be doing.    

Ron and I both got a good bill of health from our doctors here though Ron has a continuing dental issue that will be resolved when we return in April of next year.  We plan to continue our lifestyle of traveling in the RV and doing all the right things to keep us in good condition and enjoying life. 

We enjoyed our visits with family and friends as always.  Everyone we visited is also in good health and we enjoyed catching up on all their news and exchanging information about our travels.  We returned to Albuquerque in time to participate in a surprise 80^th birthday party for my former husband.   My son Bill was here from Virginia for the event and spent part of the week with us as well.  It was great to see him since it has been 2 years since we were back in Virginia and will be another two before we are there again.  Wish his wife and girls could have been here as well.  Daughter Laurie could not attend as she was tied up with setting up an Emergency Operation Center in San Marcos, TX due to the hurricane and flooding in Houston.  Fortunately, they did not have to open the doors as people were sent into downtown Austin.  We missed her being with us but will see her in the next week or two in Texas.

We also spent some time with Ron’s son Kent helping him clear out his Mother’s house since she passed away in August.  Sad time for him (an only child) having to deal with all the details of settling an estate.  We are happy he has his finance with him to share the load and for support since we are so far away most of the time.

We will be on the road to Kerrville for the next three days arriving there on Wednesday.  Looking forward to our time there again this year and to meeting up with another couple we met there last year as well as another couple who reside there in fall and winter that we met in Washington this summer.  Plan to do a few day trips to other communities we have not visited before as well as several trips over to daughter Laurie’s house to watch our grandchildren play in the high school marching band and for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  Hard to believe both kids are in high school already.  Kaylee graduates in June and Garrett just started his freshman year.

Signing off for now.    

Albuquerque

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

  

We arrived in Albuquerque on Thursday, August 24 staying at the Elks Lodge for one night moving to the KOA on Friday for a month.  My son Bill arrived around 10 p.m. from Virginia staying in town until Tuesday, August 29.  My daughter Laurie from Texas was due to arrive on Friday, but due to the Harvey Hurricane hitting the golf coast of Texas and parts further inland, she did not come.  While her home  just south of Austin had only rain and so far no flooding, plane travel was questionable and she also works for emergency preparedness and worked all weekend at the EOC in San Marcos.

 Both kids were to be here for a surprise 80^th birthday party for their Dad held on Saturday.   We missed having Laurie here but had a nice visit with my son whom we have not seen for two years.  We will see Laurie in October when we are in Texas for October through December, God willing and there is space for us at our resort at that time.  In previous years, many of the campgrounds and resorts neighboring communities have housed evacuees in HUD trailers until they could return home.  This may be the case this year as well though Kerrville (where we are going) is quite a ways distance from the Houston area. 

For now we are comfortably set up in our back in site under a nice big tree which shades the RV a part of the day in our still rather warm days here.  This afternoon we had a real gully washer with pea size hail and rivers of fast moving water flowing in front of the RV and also behind us in the street outside the campground.  Lots of thunder, but no lightening and considerable wind.  It lasted about 30 minutes.  Since we have seen very little if any rain all summer, we enjoyed watching the storm.  This is still the monsoon season here so we will probably have more of these afternoon rain storms. 

Next week we begin our semi annual doctor visits and hope to get together with friends and family in town.

On the Road

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

It is Tuesday, August 22 and it has been a week since I wrote a blog.  Just not much to report from our end. 

We left Baker City, OR last Tuesday and spent two nights at the Elks Lodge in Caldwell, ID about 25 miles west of Meridian. The bar tender in the Elks recommended a local restaurant just down the street called Mr. V’s.  It is a local owned restaurant and serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.  The restaurant has been locally owned by the same family for 29 years.  They certainly found the right formula for staying in business.  Our meal was great and we recommend it to anyone traveling through the area.  It is also just off the freeway. 

On Wednesday evening we had dinner with Ron’s nephew who lives and works in Boise. Nephew John met us at Big Jud’s in Meridian which is basically a hamburger place.  Great burgers, Tater Tots and Onion Rings. 

Friday we moved on to Twin Falls stopping to have lunch with friends from there before moving on to Rupert, ID Elks Lodge where we stayed for two days on grass, under tall shade trees and right next to the first hole of the golf course owned by the Elks.  Ron played on Saturday and we enjoyed getting acquainted with another RVer also staying at the Lodge. 

Saturday, we moved into Utah stopping in Brigham City, about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City to visit with friends of my brother Gil and his wife whom we met several years ago.  They too are RVers and had just returned from a two week trip to Canada where the smoke  from the Canadian fires was really bad.  The guys and my sister in law played golf on Monday while Sandy and I ventured downtown to a local quilt shop.  Of course, I found the perfect fabric for a project I am working on.  A nice early dinner on the back covered deck finished our visit.   Hope everyone had a chance to look at the Eclipse.  We did not see much, but the temperature did drop but it was not dark in Brigham City.

The rest of this week we are heading back to Albuquerque where we will arrive on Thursday. 

Signing off til sometime next week.