AUSTIN, TEXAS - HOME TO AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

Tuesday February 17th we left the Dallas area and headed to Austin, Texas. We arrived at a really nice state park outside of Austin. When we got there we were greeted by 3 huge deer hanging out at our picnic table. We only were there for one night so we decided to visit a little barbeque place I had seen on the food channel. It was a alright place, I guess I am just a North Carolina barbeque snob but Stameys in Greensboro, North Carolina is the best. Well we are heading to San Antonio tomorrow and see what we can find there.






"HEY, I KNOW THERE IS SOME LUNCH AROUND THIS PLACE SOMEWHERE."















JESSICA THIS ONE IS FOR YOU... COULDN'T RESIST TAKING THIS PICTURE







HEARD ABOUT THIS PLACE ON THE FOOD CHANNEL, IT WAS OK BUT NOT STAMEYS BARBEQUE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

WILL WE EVER GET OUT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS? SO BIG AND SO MUCH TO SEE

We have finally arrived in Texas....













Sunday February 15th we finally came to civilization “DALLAS” you can’t get any bigger than that. In a way it felt great to be in a town where any and everything you want is right at your finger tips (starbucks & chipotle), but there is something to be said about peace and quite. We just kinda chilled on Sunday and on Monday decided to do some running around. However if anything could go wrong it did, we or should say I just had a BAD DAY. First the washing machine broke and sent water everywhere (inside and outside the camper), then I lost $75.00 dollars (which is 5 nights camping or a tank of diesel). I left the money in the restaurant we were at and didn’t realize it until I got back to the truck. I went back in and talked to the managers who looked everywhere for it, after searching for 20 minutes I just left. I went back to the truck and we started to drive away, but for some reason (my shoulder angel) I asked Darrel to go back so we could leave our number in case they found it. As I was walking up to the door the manager came running out looking for us, he said they found the money in my napkin, talk about relieved. I am just glad this day is over and we head back to the woods tomorrow. I told everyone this trip would be an adventure and it defiantly has been so far. Tomorrow it’s off to Austin…


The best barbeque we have found in Texas was at Bone Daddys...

THE WONDERFUL STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Friday February 13 we arrived in Oklahoma and were kinda leery of the state park we had decided to stay at. We had tried over and over to call but had gotten no answer so we just decided to go for it. We were wonderfully surprised, the park (Raymond Gary) was beautiful and the rangers were just good ole boys who would do anything for you. The reason we couldn’t reach them was, when they got off work they head to the lake for some fishing. We definitely have found that small town America does still exist, the average size of town we have found has been fewer than 2000 people. We went into the town of Hugo (3000 people) and found a wonderful town museum that was part of the original Harvey girls. If you do not know what they are please Google them and learn a great part of our American history. We left the museum and went to another cool cemetery. This one has a history with the circus; they have a whole section that is dedicated to them. The area is home to four different circuses that winter in the town of Hugo. After 2 days here we head of to Texas tomorrow…

Oklahoma has always been one of my favorite states... And after this visit it still is....

There are 4 circuses that winter in Hugo. The local cemetery has a section that is dedicated to just the circus people.

This picture is of one of the original Harvey Train Stations in Hugo, Oklahoma. Home to the "Harvey Girls"




















This is the most awesome picture Darrel has ever taken. This is truly Gods beauty!!!!




Darrel and me by the lake.

DIGGING FOR DIAMONDS AT "CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK"

Thursday February 12th we headed to another state park

in Arkansas called Crater of Diamonds State Park. At the park you can dig for diamonds, it is the 8th largest diamond deposit in the world. We got our bucket, shovel, sift and off we went to find diamonds. Well needless to say you didn’t see or hear about us on CNN so I guess we didn’t find any diamonds. There are diamonds to be found here however, someone found ¼ of a carat diamond today and the largest diamond ever found here was over 40 carats and is called the Uncle Sam diamond. The state park here is not near as nice as Lake Catherine but it is clean and nice and at 10.00 a night you can’t complain. Well tomorrow starts a new state, and we will see what adventures it brings.

THE WONDERFUL BATHHOUSES OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Sunday February 8th we got to Hot Springs Arkansas and found the most unbelievable state park. Lake Catherine, we were told that all of the state parks in Arkansas are like this one. The site is huge and level with a separate site for another RV or a tent. All of the sites are like this. The site we were on is right on the water and the price is right, only $14.00 a night for the winter months. I hope we will continue to find this kind of rate the further south we go. We have been here 4 nights and 2 of them were down time. It continues to amaze me that my health is not how I wish it would be. It seems for every good 2-3 days I have, I have 1 or 2 bad days. Thankfully it rained so I didn’t feel like we were wasting time just doing nothing. On Tuesday we went into Hot Springs and found an interesting little town. There were bathhouses down the main street where we learned they had been there since the early 1920’s. The waters from the springs come to a localized reservoir where it is distributed to all of the bathhouses in the area. When the water comes down from the springs it is 143 degrees out of the ground and by the time the bathhouses get the water it is 135 degrees. On Wednesday we actually went to a bathhouse for the thermal bath’s and a massage, we felt like we were on a cloud. We went in to the spas for about an hour then had the massage then back to the spas (Tony you would have loved this). I will have to put this on our list of great places we have visited.

HERE WE ARE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Friday February 6th we left Nashville, TN and headed to Memphis where we found a nice park but not sure we would recommend it. It was a great state park called T O Fuller very small and quaint the only problem was the area it was located. On Saturday we found the nicest museum called the Pink Palace and a must if you ever visit the area. Next we went to the largest, coolest cemetery I have ever been to it was called Elmwood and if you like historic things you would love this place (even though it is a cemetery). It dates back to the 1800’s and the design of the monuments is unbelievable. We then “drove” past Graceland (sorry Elvis lovers) I am not a big Elvis fan and I could not believe all of the hoop la surrounding the area, but I can say that we “went to Graceland”. We finished the evening with dinner, with one of Jeremy’s friends from college (another one of my adopted children) Casey, his mom and dad (thanks again for dinner). It was a great restaurant called Rendezvous which was downtown across from the Peabody Hotel. After dinner Darrel had to see the ducks which were already sent to bed but we were able to visit them in their sleeping area which was on the 13th floor (or what they call the roof).

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NASHVILLE AND MEMPHIS

Wednesday February 4th we left Chattanooga, TN and drove to a great state park between Nashville and Memphis called Natchez Trace it is absolutely beautiful here. We are right on the lake and the view is breath taking. The only problem we could find is that it is at least 20 miles from any civilization. We drove 35 miles into Jackson and spent the day. The love of history sent us to a site where there was a civil war battle in 1862 it was a neat little graveyard called Salem Cemetery Battlefield. There were over 2500 troops between the north and south that fought there.







We were right on the water at Natchez Trace what a great place to bring the family when the weather turns warm. Noah will love feeding the ducks...

GRAMMIE AND GRANDDADDY LEAVING NOAH

Well we are off on our adventure Noah watched us at the window as we left. I think i cried half way to Memphis. But alas i must put the tears away and have some fun. Darrel thinks we need to visit Graceland only because we are in Memphis. I have never been a Elvis fan, I think it goes back to the womb. My mother was pregnant with me when he came to Greensboro, NC and as he was leaving the theater he bumped into her and just kept on moving, so much for saying "I'm sorry" so I guess that's why he has never been one of my favorite people.

grammie and noah at the park

Sunday was a great day at the park; the first sunny and warm day in Chattanooga in awhile. Jen, Lucas, Noah, Grammie and Granddaddy went to the park and played on the swings and slide. What a joy to spend time with Jen and her family.