more pics from winery bistro...

November 14

On any trip there are mishaps.  So far we have been pretty fortunate - in Hot Springs, Arkansas however a guy in an RV drove just a little too close to us as we were parking - off went our add-on mirror.  We waiting for him to stop and talk to us but he didn't.  As we watched him park down the street a man came over to us and told us he had seen what happened.  He walked down to the other guy with Paul to let him know what he had done.  Well RV driver thought he had hit a tree branch - but, he willingly handed over $30 to pay for our mirror.  We were happy.

Now, here in Oklahoma City, we went out to see the sites and after lunch all we saw was a flat tire.  Paul is now dealing with that - it looked like a big slice was in the tire.  I thought it looked like a knife had been plunged into the tire - have to wait and see what the tire guys think.  So far, no tourist time here in OKC and we plan to leave in the morning so all I might see is yet another Wal Mart.  But a nice thing, while Paul was taking off the spare tire a man came out of an office and offered to help.  Nice!

Besides our "witness" and the tire offer,  another kindness was extended to us on this trip.  Matt just notified us that he received a postcard from Paul, but it had an extra note on it.  The note was from a complete stranger who said she/he had found it.  He/she not only put a stamp on it but mailed it.  How cool is that!

I don't know if I blogged about it but on one of our first trips a year ago we needed a traveling water dish for the dogs.  We asked our waitress if we could have a to-go container - she asked what it was for as our plates were clean.  When we explained it was for the dogs she came out with an old chip bowl and said we could have it.  Well, down the road a ways we heard crunching - bowl must have really smelled like chips and Chloe decided it was a taste treat!  Still using that bowl but the bottom is started to lift up little shredded pieces so it will go bye-bye soon.

November 11, 2013

Happy Birthday momma - I called her and she won't even see this because she does not even own a computer, but I still wanna say, happy birthday.

Paul has been quite the tour guide - this trip I really haven't done ANY research on sights to see - he does.
We have stayed in some great places and seen great things - and had some great food.  A few days ago we traveled from St. Louis, Missouri to Lake of the Ozarks.  On the way we stopped to try some Missouri wines and it worked out so perfectly to eat lunch at the winery's bistro.  We dined in a lovely room, up on a bluff, overlooking the Missouri River. Great wine and yummy food - ate way too much but it's ok - then I didn't eat dinner.

 now i wanna go back....

         i wanna fix this pic!  I'm made the reflection is there...

                 oh welll

 a lot of color was done in Missouri but we found some on the path down to the restaurant...lovely.

I love fall.

Almost November 8 - why do we stay up late the night before we travel??

Traveling is interesting. When we have a destination deadline we rarely go into rv parks.  We have spent the night behind a McDonalds, in Wal Mart parking lots, and in rest areas.  Some of the rest areas are like parks - one even had a 24 guard.

On the way to Arkansas we stopped near Oklahoma City in a park like rest area - someone there had a good sense of humor.....

our dogs are definitely country, they do not get the idea that streets are dangerous places!

This trip has been different because of Chloe's declining physical condition.  We have bought a ramp so Paul doesn't destroy his back lifting her in and out of the truck - it's amazing how many people have come over to ask about it - many thinking it's a portable wheelchair or scooter ramp.



And after discovering multiple "accidents" IN the rv - one spot being on the couch - Chloe must now wear doggie diapers when inside - unless we are right with her.  And her humans must take her out more often.
Oh well, whadda  ya gonna  do when she's old and you love her?



She still enjoys traveling, her body just isn't what it used to be - we hope she makes it home to doggie-doze by her wood stove.

November 7, 2013

Can't believe it's November and we've been on the road 6 weeks!!  Due to many parks with rotten internet I just haven't blogged much.  Tonight I worked on pictures like crazy and am determined not to go to bed until I have written SOMETHING!

So we have been to San Diego, Helena Arkansas, Harrison Arkansas, Little Rock Arkansas, Hot Springs and Eureka Springs Arkansas, West Memphis Arkansas, Memphis Tennessee, Marmaduke Arkansas, and are now in St. Louis, Missouri.  Tomorrow we turn west and head into the sun to motor in to Kansas City, MO.  We have had mostly good weather with occasional rain, but now have had freezing temps here in St. Louis and are a little worried about the snow we hear may greet us in Kansas City.  Sigh....I told Paul traveling in these states in November could be dicey.

We began this adventure driving for hours and hours for four days to Helena, AR for the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  King Biscuit was a flour/cornmeal product that sponsored a radio show dedicated to playing the blues.

This show began 50 years or more ago and the original disc jockey who started it is STILL on the air at the age of 82.  The festival is 4 days of blues - well known and no so well known musicians fill the streets and the headliners play on a very state of the art stage.  People come from all over the world to hear the blues.  Helena is a very economically depressed city and I did not want to be on the streets for long after each show ended.  We had no trouble and our park was a little stark but we had the basics.  It was hard to deal without having internet and in fact, Helena does not have an internet cafe - really!


We did have some fine southern fare at the festival:               fried crawfish for Paul

fried green tomatoes for me - yummmy



now I thought I would have the courage to have this....  but I just couldn't do it

there was also barbequed bologna!!  Passed on that too.  :)

October 22, 2013

Have downloaded some pictures, will officially begin to blog.  You see, I just feel like it's so boring if I don't use picture now, so I delay until I have pictures, but then I have to organize the pictures.  This trip I had my niece's wedding shower and wedding pictures not to mention all the pictures I've already taken on the trip - hundreds!  So, it delays me.  Then I push a button (I guess, not understanding how or if I did)  but then I got "short cut copies" - what the heck are those and how did I manage to get them?  I don't know, but I did , so THAT took a lot of time to correct.  Sigh.  There's so much to learn!!

Blogging - how to do it and not put someone to sleep - do I wax poetic chronologically or by subject matter or both.  I'll just go with the flow.

We traveled to Helena, Arkansas in 4 days - now Paul thought we could do it in 3 but he was wrong because we got a late start on Monday, having stayed out late for the aforementioned wedding and we are older and can't put  in 12 hour days every day.  Before I go onto Helena though I want to talk about two things - places to park a 5th wheel so you can sleep, and decorating a C.O.W.  (condo on wheels, which I won't define anymore because if you read my blog you have now seen this more than once).

My daughter thinks I am old because I have decided to put THIS on my RV....

now, I don't think of myself as old - I am a younger senior!  I see the skeleton as two things:  first of all it is a safety measure.  It prevents one from running into the king pin.  Secondly, I think it says I am whimsical, friendly and have a good sense of humor!  And that I like Halloween.  Ditto on Big Jack in the back.

Now, to me old is one of these well meaning decorations (it is VERY interesting to see how people decorate their RVs):

Flags are nice - I'm all for patriotism - but a full size pole, wow.  And there is usually the couples names underneath as you can see.

While in San Diego, strolling to the laundry, I saw this lovely site decoration and knew I had to get the story...not the flags over here  >>

the giant cardboard people.....

scroll down a little

really  Had find out the story here - the younger type males coming out of the RV said it was simply a night of too much alcohol and what seemed to be a good idea at a Circle K - theft plain and simple.  They wouldn't let me take their pictures but insisted on taking mine.....V
                      V
                      V
                      V

 there's just no accounting for some people's taste!

I said I would talk about two things, but it's late - I'm tired - 3 mile hike today.  Will talk about places to park and Helena next time.

Happy Trails

October 17, 2013

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Delays in posts are due to really ssssssllllllllooooowwww internet or no internet or internet accessible only in the clubhouse, which I did not want to sit in.  I am spoiled.  I want to sit in my C.O.W. (condo on wheels) and do my blogging there.  Even here at this site in Hot Springs I have been trying to access my blog for an hour at least and it's midnight!!  We have had to stream one of our shows during the day because at night we assume their bandwidth at this park is not enough to support everyone who wants online.  Yes, I know my children.  I am whining about a "first-world" problem.

And of course there is another reason why I haven't blogged - I'm tired!!  We go and see stuff all day - that's why we drove thousands of miles to get here after all.  And I'm not young anymore so I get tired.  Then all I want to do is sit and watch a little tube and then go to bed so I can get up and do it again the next day!

And of course, as I recently revealed to a  room full of toastmasters, I am a procrastinator.  I have to download some pictures so my blog is even remotely interesting to someone.  So now you have it - I am a busy, lazy, frustrated blogger.  I'll get to it, eventually, really, I promise.  But for now, I'm tired.  It's after midnight - my pillow needs me.