HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Meet the newest member of our family.

Our new girl is half the size of Xi Shi Quan.  A very little, dainty, 2 year old Shih Tzu.

BACK HOME AGAIN

Woke up this morning at 4:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep.  Hate when that happens.  Had coffee and read on the computer for awhile till daylight.  Walked the dog, ate breakfast, and packed up to leave for Marksville and our visit to the Paragon Casino Resort.

Stopped to get gas and then turned on the GPS to set our course.  When the screen prompted "Where To" my finger went straight to "Go Home."  I swear I had no control over this act ;-)

When I think of the things that prompted me to do this I guess it's justified.  For starters - my air mattress has been loosing air since the trip began.  I pulled out the manual and it said that it was probably the batteries in the controls on either side of the bed.  So I opened up one of the controls and there was nothing at all that even resembled a battery.  OK.  I'll just sleep on this half filled air mattress.  Well, that got old real fast and my back has been aching ever since.

Next thing is my wireless computer mouse died.  It got stuck on the side of the sofa and looks like I pulled the wires out of the side of the device that plugs into the USB port.  So that meant that I would have to use the laptop's mouse.  I hate that thing.  Took all the joy out of my time on the computer.

Next thing is I starting having kidney pain last night which I'm used to as I have a history of kidney stones.  I usually can melt them with this concoction the doctor suggested I drink and they pass with little pain.  I didn't have any with me and would have to go to the store to buy some ingredients.   So....

I guess you could say that my discomfort was taking its toll on me.  I was missing my big screen TV, my sofa, my fireplace, my back screen porch, my neighborhood, and my time crafting and painting.  So I came home.

It's good to travel and get away but I always like coming home.  And just in time for a cold front coming in tomorrow which means it's Chicken Gumbo File' time.  I'm looking forward to lighting our fireplace and cuddling with my little Shih Tzu.

My RV is usually very comfortable and I enjoy short trips in it but I don't think I can do a month at a time and truly enjoy myself.  So I think I'll stick to short trips.

Expenses for my (26 days) December 2012 Texas Trip of 1200 miles:

Food................... $ 233.47 ............ averages at $ 9.00 a day

Fuel ................... $ 590.98 ............ averages at $ 23.00 a day

Lodging .............. $ 382.85 ............ averages at $15.00 a day

Souvenirs ........... $ 107.11 ............ averages at $  4.00 a day

___________________________________________________

                           $ 1314.41 ........... averages at $50.00 a day

SAM HOUSTON JONES STATE PARK - LAKE CHARLES, LA - MY FOURTH TIME HERE

We left Quintana Park this morning around 9:30 and arrived at SHJ around 2:00 this afternoon.   That was a long drive for me but I wanted to get as close to my next destination as possible.  I stopped for fuel and then a couple of hours later to use the bathroom.

Once at the park I thought I'd have my choice of sites.  Boy, was I surprised.  The park is almost full.  Last year I was here in November and it was empty.  What are these people thinking?

The premium sites were all taken so I had to take site #6.  At least it was a pull through.  I tried to manuever into the site to be able to use the sewer but the sewer is on one side and the electrical and water hookups are on the other.  All of my connections are on the driver's side.  So after trying several times to get situated I decided not to use the sewer and parked in order to use electric and water.  That is really a strange set up.  I'm only here for one night so it's not a big deal.

Took Xi Shi for a walk and took some photos but it is overcast and not any good light for photos.  Then came inside to fix something to eat.

Tired now so am going to take a nap.

QUINTANA BEACH COUNTY PARK - QUINTANA, TEXAS

Left Indianola Beach around 10:00 this morning and arrived at Bryan Beach around 1:00 this afternoon.  Couldn't get on the beach as the sand was soft and I knew I'd get stuck so drove on to Quintana Beach. 

I was pleasantly surprised at the sight of this campground.  Once in the office to check in I was even more surprised.  The office is in an old house fully furnished.  I opened the door and went in but felt like I was intruding on someone's privacy.  I called out "hello" and heard a voice respond coming from the next room.  I followed the voice and met a very nice worker who checked me in.  It was $24 dollars for the night.  There is so much to see in this house that I will have to go back tomorrow to look at all of the displays.

Got set up at my site and had a bite to eat then walked Xi Shi on the beach.  Found some interesting shells that I had never seen before.  Filled a small bag with shells and then came back to the coach to shower.  My site has sewer so it was nice to let the water run while showering. 

This campground has lots of amenities.  For starters, it has a vollyball court, horseshoe court, kid's playground, bath house, screened in room for guests, cabins with a view of the Gulf, primitive camping, lighted fishing pier, and laundry room. 

The Office

Nice landscaping.

Plenty of picnic tables.

Cabins are up on a hill with views of the Gulf.

The beach.

Everything is handicap accessable.

My site #10.

Placed a Peace Rock.

We're leaving in the morning.

INDIANOLA PARK - MAGNOLIA BEACH, TEXAS

Left Port Aransas around noon today and arrived at Indianola Park around 2:00 this afternoon.  This is a great stop off point for me on my way back to Louisiana.  I parked in a different location than before.  There are very few campers here today - only a handfull.

This is right when you enter the park.

The tide is out and the water is extremely low in the inlets.

The bay is calm and smooth as glass today.  Won't hear any waves lapping on shore tonight to lull me to sleep.

Having home made vegetable soup tonight... brought from home.

The entertainment for the evening will be DVDs of Frazier.

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 15 - COLD AND WINDY

The cold front came in during the night and the camper rocked and the wind howled so loud that there was no way to get any sleep.  The wind was gusting about 35 to 40 mph here at the beach.  I was parked next to the dunes but when the wind changed and came in from the north it hit me right on.  It sounded like a train going around and under my camper.  My neighbors were in their tent which this morning had come apart.  There is another tenter further from me who lives in his tent and it stayed up.

Today was a little better but not by much.  I bundled up and took Xi for a walk twice.  The sand was blowing so hard that I was afraid it would scratch her eyeballs.  So if she needs to go again she'll just have to go on the puppy pad.

This about sums it up.

Finished reading the biography of Clark Gable and started on the autobiograpy of Katharine Hepburn.  

Getting ready to boil some shrimp that I brought from home.  The movie tonight is "Clue."

Tomorrow we head out towards home.

  

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - BACK TO THE SCENE OF A CRIME

Packed up the coach and headed out of the park around 10:00 this morning.  Emptied my tanks, filled up the fuel tank and headed for Corpus Christi.

In 1934 my father's brother was shot at his home on 1124 Chapaaral Street in Corpus Christi, Texas.  He later died at a local hospital from a gunshot would to the forehead.  My grandmother and my father were in the home when they heard the shot.  My dad was only 16 years old at the time but it affected him for the rest of his life.  He kept a photo of his brother in his home till he died and I now have that photo displayed in my home.  Lowen married his sweetheart only 5 weeks before his death.

Today, I rode to Corpus Christi and my GPS took me to that address on Chapaaral.  There were no houses.  It was not a residential district any longer.  It is in a very nice part of town a block or so from the bay and all the expensive hotels.  I can only imagine what it looked like back in 1934 when my dad lived there with his family.  It was not at all what I expected.

This is where my GPS took me.

I rode by the Yacht Club.

Found a little park near the bay and took a few photos.  It was so windy that I could barely open my door. 

You can see the USS Lexington in the background.

On 15 June 1992, the ship was donated as a museum and now operates as the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay at 27°48'53 N, 97°23'19, 2914 North Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas.   In 2003, Lexington was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The Japanese referred to Lexington as a "ghost" ship for her tendency to reappear after reportedly being sunk. This, coupled with the ship's dark blue camouflage scheme, led the crew to refer to her as "The Blue Ghost".

On the way back to Port Aransas I stopped at a store for a few items and couldn't resist these colorful socks.

My little Xi Shi was sick a few days ago but is feeling better now and back in her co-pilot seat.

I was going to spend a couple of nights back on the beach but with this cold front coming in, the winds are really blowing strong so I came back to my spot at the RV Park at I B Magee and paid for 2 more nights.  Then I'll be leaving Port Aransas.

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 13 - OUT TO LUNCH

Went out to lunch today with Chris and Donna.  We met at the Beaches Restaurant in Port Aransas.  Enjoyed our meal and enjoyed the conversation.  I had the pulled pork Bar-B-Que, Chris had the brisket, and Donna had the fried fish.

Chris and I met Donna last year here in Port Aransas.  We were all members of a Women Go Solo Yahoo Group at the time.

I hated to see our time together end.  Hope we can all get together again someday.

Placed a Peace Rock.

We're leaving in the morning.

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 12 - THE ART OF DOING NOTHING

Sure, we all know how to do nothing. We all know how to lay around and waste time. But many of us are too busy to do it much, and when we do it, our minds are often on other things. We cannot relax and enjoy the nothingness.  Doing nothing can be a waste of time, or it can be an art form.

I'm new at this art form but hope with more practice I will be a master at doing nothing.

... and I'm just playing in the sand.

~

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 11 - PONDERING

While walking on the beach today, I thought back to the times I enjoyed the beach when I was a kid.  In fact, it is one of the few memories I have from my childhood. 

We lived only about 30 minutes from the beach so it was an inexpensive day trip for our family.  My mom hated the sand.  She didn't like it getting in her shoes.  She was not a beach person.  My dad liked the beach. 

The drive to and from was also a time I enjoyed because we were all together and talked to each other.  It was intimate.  It was different than what life at home was like.

What is your happiest childhood memory? 

What makes it so special?



I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 10 - FOG BOUND

I've never seen fog last as long as it did today.  It never cleared up.  By late afternoon it had gotten worse.  Walked the dog only twice on the beach.  It's not very pleasant here today.

Got really bored and didn't feel like reading.  Had not felt like doing any painting since I left home but today was the day for it.  I brought along only my paint pens and some tablets of drawing paper and canvas paper.  I never tried painting on any of these materials and found out that it's not easy and does not come out as nice as I would want.

Also picked up a few shells and thought about painting them.  Just for something to do.

Before...

After

This is the painting I did on the canvas sheet of paper.  I wanted to throw it in the trash but I'll just do it over again on cardboard canvas when I get home.  I named her Monica because she reminds me of my niece who died a few years ago in a car accident. 

I tried to paint on this drawing paper but it just won't do so I'll not try to finish it.

My week here at the RV park is up on Wednesday and I'll be leaving Port Aransas.

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 9 - SHOPPING

Checked my control panel last night and noticed that my tanks were marking full.  So first thing this morning after breakfast I went to the dump station and emptied my tanks.  

Had to unhook my water hose but left it on the ground at my site and hoped that no one would take it.  Unhooked the electric cord and stored it.    

After leaving the campground, I rode along the beach road and decided to go into town.  Stopped at a store I had noticed before and did a little shopping.  Well, actually, I did a lot of shopping.  It felt good.

I love this store.

This blue windchime was the first thing I saw and as I always say, one can not have enough wind chimes.  I have 4 in the RV.

Bought 2 wooden plaques.  This wooden fish is similar to the ones I make.  I like the way it looks over the sink.

This wooden mermaid is very similar to the ones I make.  I think I will hang her in the bathroom.  

Not sure where this mermaid will go.

Bought a blue and white starfish magnet for the stove hood.

Got some really pretty T-shirts on sale.

And couldn't pass up these tropical cups.

After shopping for fun stuff I had to shop for some grocery items that I ran out of.  So I used my GPS to locate the nearest store which was an IGA store right around the corner. 

Left there and went to my favorite spot on the beach to spend the afternoon.  Did a little reading, took a little nap, and walked the dog a few times.

Crew boats and sailboats... working and playing...

The new kitty was fascinated with the raindrops falling on the window this morning.

I expected a lot of rain but it only drizzled today.  Rain is expected for the weekend.

Had a great day.

I B MAGEE BEACH PARK - DAY 8 - LAUNDRY DAY

The temp today along the beach was in the 60s but behind the dunes where I am was really warm.  I had to use the A/C.  What a difference those high dunes make.

You can see the beach through the pillars under the office from my site.  It's not that far but the Gulf breezes don't reach me.  So I guess I'm ready for the next cold front.

We have a boardwalk and pretty yellow flowers.  I try to keep Xi Shi on that boardwalk and on the sand because there are sand burrs everywhere in the grass.  Poor little thing had some on her upper lip today as well as on her feet.

She found a bone on the beach and started walking back towards the camper proudly holding it in her mouth.  By all means she was gonna keep that bone.  She walked halfway home with it in her mouth.  I eventually took it away from her.

While I did laundry I took a few photos from the second story balcony.  This is the view to my right.  I try to imagine how this would look in the middle of summer with all of the families having fun.

This is the view to my left. 

That's the part of the beach where I usually park... right there in the middle.  You can see the jetties in the background.

It was strange having to use a laundry at a campground.  I usually just bag the things needing to be washed and wait till I get home.  I've never stayed gone longer than a month so it was doable. 

I had to wash some large items like sheets and blankets that had been used by some little 4 legged critters (who shall remain nameless) for a bathroom.  I had not been inside a laundromat much less used one in over 27 years. 

I started a new book today.  A Biogrophy of Clark Gable.  Pretty good so far.

Having flounder filets tonight with squash and a salad.  Movie choice is "Everest."