In the Hill Country of Texas

Kerrville, TX 55º and bright sunshine, little wind.
    We are at By The River RV on the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas in the Hill Country.

Arrived mid afternoon on Saturday and actually unhooked the Ford from the trailer (for the first time in 8 days) and after setting up we drove around Kerrville.  Had taken a nap first so was kind of late and not a lot of things open.  Did walk through an area of venders set up on the square around the courthouse about the time they were tearing down for the day.

Ate lunch in Hico, Texas - we split a huge "Big K Hamburger with onion rings.  Was delicious.

They had a whole cabinet full of huge pieces of pies, but at $4.95 a slice and with full stomachs we had to pass.  See all the kinds of pie at right.

The Koffee Kup  Click to see their web page.

Saw a lot of goats in the Hill Country of Texas.

This was at the entrance of our Wichita Falls RV Park up in Wichita Falls, TX.

We saw a lot of yellow flowers in the fields, so

I pulled over and had Phyllis pull one out of the fence row.

She pressed some of it to save for later.

Had gotten Diesel at $3.999 and felt pretty good, up in Oklahoma.  Then when was down only a quarter-tank saw a station at $3.899 but it was on the other side of a four-lane street and thought would catch the next one.  Well, next was $3.999, the next was $4.099 and finally later was $4.199.

Was kicking myself for not getting the quarter tank full (which is hard to do while driving) and then happened on to this $3.769 in Texas.  And everyone had said Oklahoma was the cheaper place to get fuel.

Here in Kerrville fuel is $3.999 at most places.  Today (Sunday) we went for a drive in the country to the west, and then north and east back up to Fredericksburg (drove out to Luckinbach for a look-around--or would it be a lookinback-around) and coming back through Fredericksburg got fuel for $3.849.  Diesel and gas prices seem to be all over the place.

We are hooked up to the trailer tonight and will pull out in the morning heading to Corpus Christi.  Plan to tour the USS Lexington and probably stay overnight at an RV Park right on the water before heading to La Feria and our home there on Tuesday.

Lynn

In Texas!

Wichita Falls, TX - 40º bright sunshine

 

   Made it out of Kansas and  across Oklahoma into Texas yesterday.  Lots of scenic areas, and hardly any traffic!  Notice in the pictures at right -- only one vehicle seen.  That was the normal through southern Kansas and it was great.  Southern Kansas, along 281, has some of Oklahoma's red dirt.

    We stopped at Hinton, KS at a small Indian Casino and had lunch. 

Our trailer is in the center of this picture - in Wichita Falls

Our trailer is in the center of this picture - in Wichita Falls

Stayed the night here in Wichita Falls, KS.  Took a walk around the park last night, wearing hooded sweatshirt.  Slept in late this morning and will make our way on south.  For the $22.50 (including tax) got full hook up here, free WIFI and cable TV!
Nothing like having your own apartment with you when you travel.
Lynn

Still in Kansas!

  We left home last Sunday afternoon and it is now Wednesday evening and we haven't gotten through state of Kansas yet.  First night we set trailer at Harold & LaRhoda Neher's place and had a nice supper with them.  The next morning, after a thrasher-man's breakfast we were driven around their farm, Hiawatha, Highland, and Robinson, KS.  Toured the Brown County Historical Society Ag Museum and Windmill Lane, which is on land that Neher's had owned, and they still farm ground beside it.

Got to see where they have lived and farmed for over 55 years, and where their son Tim (who farms their place) and daughter who works in Kansas City live.  We ate at Hiawatha Lodge and then after naps played several games of Pegs and Jokers.  That is a game that is played a lot in our RV Park in La Feria, TX where Harold and LaRhoda are our neighbors.  We had also played Pegs & Jokers the night before.




On Tuesday morning we headed out about 9 o'clock and headed west on Highway 36 to Belleville, Ks and then south on Highway 81.  This was further than going more direct, but 36 was an ideal road, and very little traffic.  After we headed south on 81 there was a little more traffic, but nothing like if we had been on an Interstate.  We have decided we will avoid the Interstates if at all possible.

We went to Hutchinson, KS and directly to the   Underground Salt Mine and Museum    Undeground Salt Museum    We were a little late to take a tour then as it was close to 4 pm and they close at 5 pm.

  Asked about RV parks and were directed to the Kansas State Fairgrounds RV Park.  There were three other units there out of 211 spaces, so we were able to squeeze in.  I had tried to get some TV when we were near Hiawatha and found that the head of the antenna was missing.  Climbed up on the roof when we were there in Hutchinson and found the top had been removed cleanly, no bolts left or anything.  Will have to get a new top. We have several VCR tapes and DVD's so have looked at them in the evening as background noise/entertainment.

This morning we took the 10:00 am tour of the underground Museum.  Was quite a set-up.  It is 650 feet below the surface and has 150 miles of open areas.  We weren't allowed in the place where salt mining is still taking place, or the area where all kinds of storage is kept, but were close to it and most of the different types of machinery used were on display and even simulated (I think) dynamite and holes bored in the walls showing how the blasting and undercutting was done.  Took a train ride that was around a lot of things and a tram ride, all after spending time in their museum itself.  Even the gift shop (Always a gift shop at any attraction) was underground.

We left the Salt Mine about noon and drove several miles south to Yoder, KS and ate lunch at the Corner Carriage Restaurant, in a tiny  Amish town.  Phyllis was looking for some particular books, written by or about Amish settings and they recommended a place near Whiteside, Ks that is actually a wholesaler of many Amish books.  We found it, got some books and then headed southwest on State Road 6l and 54 to Greensburg, KS.

This is the site of the Biggest Hand Dug Well in the world (When the well was completed in 1888, it was 109 feet deep and 32 feet in diameter)

 The Big Well   Click on that link and you can see their web page.

The well went down to the Ogallala Aquifer  and was a source for watering the many steam engines that went through the area in the late 1800's.
  And this is the town that was almost obliterated from the map in 2007 by a tornado.  The museum for the well had much coverage of that tornado.  Was very interesting.

When we left that museum about 5:30 pm we headed south on 183 to Coldwater, KS and then back east through the Gypsum Hills to Medicine Lodge, KS where we are squeezed in a little RV Park filled mostly with construction workers.  Got trailer set up right at dark and will go uptown here in Medicine Lodge to the Stockade Museum.  It us to get cooler here overnight and to be 45 degrees in the morning and only a high of 55 degrees tomorrow afternoon.  At least we will now be getting a tail wind, which should help with our fuel mileage compared to the winds out of the south the last couple days.

We have full intentions of heading south on 281 and being in Wichita Falls, TX tomorrow night unless something catches our attention and holds us up on the trail.  Then will head on south Friday morning, maybe try to catch a glimpse of George W. Bush's ranch west of  Waco, TX, then spend some time near Johnson City and Kerrville, TX in the Hill Country before going on to the Rio Grande Valley.
More later, Lynn

On our Way!

Hutchinson, KS
We left our abode Sunday afternoon after attending a visitation where Phyllis got to visit with some of her Runyan cousins.
Pulled travel trailer to farm of Harold & Lahroda Neher near Hiawatha, KS and plugged electricity in at their shed.  After a big home-cooked meal Sunday evening we played several games of Pegs & Jokers.  This is a favorite game that is played in our Kenwood RV park in La Feria, TX where Neher's are our next door neighbors.  On Monday they showed us around their farm and several towns near the Nehers (couldn't help but put that in) and we ate in lunch in Hutchinson.  In the afternoon some naps and then more Pegs & Jokers.  They also introduced us to a new (to us) card game of  "golf".
  Tuesday morning we pulled out, heading west on 36 and then south on 81.  Although this route was longer than going on the Interstate, it avoided the Interstate.  Both roads were excellent, especially 36, and hardly any traffic.  We pulled a ways off 81 to small town of Minneapolis, KS and found a small lot where we could park and put the slide out and ate our lunch and sat for a minute.
I took a lot of pictures, but they are in a different computer--having trouble getting it to talk to the internet--so am using the desktop while we are on 120V and set up.

Will go to the Underground Salt Mine/Museum here in Hutchinson this morning and then head south.  Will stop wherever we see something interesting.  Plan on spending some time in the Hill Country of Texas before we finally go on to our place in the Rio Grande Valley.

Lynn

Some rain, cooler for short time, and tree color

Clarinda, IA 57º and lite rain just finished.

  Mowed lawn for last time this year, and wind-rowed leaves a little.  Was going to rake them up, but started raining.  Looks like the trees are adding some more to them anyway.

Helicopter taking off - picture taken from our front window.

Helo airborne

Helo sitting on its pad south of hospital

Riding our trikes around hospital, just coming to helo-pad

 All these photos were taken in last few days of the color of trees in our town.

Till next time, Lynn

Photos from our Canada trip to PEI

Side-accompaniment group

 Some photos from our Canada trip -

Quote below is from web site  College of Piping
where we went evening of 8-28-12 to see their show.
"Celtic culture comes alive at The College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada! Based in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and affiliated with The College of Piping in Glasgow, The College has developed a world-class reputation as an international school of excellence in Highland bagpiping, Scottish-style drumming, Highland

Some of the dancers

 dancing and Island step dancing. With a mandate to preserve and promote the Celtic heritage of Canada’s most Celtic province, Prince Edward Island, The College ignites passion in the hearts and minds of students and visitors alike!

Drummers

 Since its inception in 1990, students from all over the world have come to learn traditional Celtic arts, passed down from generation to generation. As the only year-round institution of its kind in North America, The College attracts students from across Canada and as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Kuwait, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the United States of America and, yes, even Scotland! Under the direction of College faculty, individuals and pipe bands have been consistent winners in local, national and international competitions. Instructors at The College have all been selected for their outstanding abilities as both educators and performers."

Drummers & Singers

Drummers

A heck of a fiddler

 I took video of much of this show, took almost 24 hours to load them up to You Tube.

-  Here are websites

College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 1
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 2
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 3
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 4
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 5
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 6
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 7
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 8
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 9
College of Piping - PEI 8-28-12 - 10

Dancers

Dancers

http://www.collegeofpiping.com/
This is their web page.

Dancers