Blowing home

There's a reason we see hundreds of wind generators.  Today we blew toward home or in the afternoon it was headwinds pushing south 20-30 mph.  We camped at Sidney, NE Cabela RV Park.  Honest, I didn't know it was even there when I picked out night's destination!

Mike BBQed the last of the burgers and he beat me 3 times at gin.  Been a great trip.

God willing, we will be home tomorrow 2 months and two days after we left.  But that may be ambitious as its 8 hours of driving from here and if we have wind like today, no way.

Steve Becktel in Dumas

Steve was like a dad to Mike, getting him started in the drilling business back in 1974.   He looked great as did his first wife who he is remarrying  when the 7000 Sq foot house gets done. I though"Who put a quarter in you" as Mike talked nonstop the first hour when they stopped by the coach ( free campground provided by the city of Dumas).  Fun day.

back patio facing the swimming pool.  Will be stucco and cultured stone. 

Unique fans

Linda's house she will sell when rural house done.

CadIllac RANCH skip it next time

 A few miles out on I-40, these cadillacs were buried in a tribute to the fins of the 60s, back in 1974.  They have seen their better days and I've never seen so much litter in my life.  People just leave their empty pain cans even though there are trashbins by the  highway where everyone parks. SaD.

Spray paint is holding these together.

CADILLAC RV PARK  has better caddies!

FREE 72 oz. Steak in Amarillo

Big Texan Steak Ranch has quite a marketing ploy.

  Billboards advertise the Free 72 oz. Steak ( small print:dinner if you eat it in an hour).  Almost 12,000 have since they started in 1961, about 1 in 10 who try.  You sit up on stage with a timer behind you. and have to eat the baked potato and roll too. We didn't eat the big meal but food was good and got fudge for dessert,  A free limo comes to the RV park to take you to the  cafe.  They featured great microbrews.

RV Museum - Step back in time.

How fun was this - a free museum at an RV dealership that he'd been collecting for years.

cadallac of coaches

borrowed this for the Robin Williams RV movie.

1936 Alma ( the camper, not me)

Signature of every president from WWI Harding to Bush.

USS Signourney.  On the old radio in the 1935 Alma.  Notice the pesidents' signatures.

Grand Canyon of TX

We left Dallas early in the morning, or tried to.  The plan was 5AM but Shopcat got out the front

door and hid under some coaches. 15 minutes later lured by yogurt, we captured her and took off.. We got on some wrong roads in that spaghetti noodles of highways.  Finally several hours later it finally got light and we were out of Dallas Fort Worth Metro area and back to farmland. That daylight savings time seems like a month earlier than usual.  Are we saving any daylight?

New destination: Amarillo.  The campground at Palo Duro Canyon State Park was full so we stayed at Amarillo Ranch RV Park.  Nice Place and pool (forgot to use)  Mike and Shopcat had a great place to explore.

The next morning we headed to Palo Duro Canyon State Park 22 miles S of town, flatter than a pancake with cattle ranches dotting the countryside.  We pay $5 entry fee/person and within 100 yards of  the entry, we are heading down an 800' canyon with trails.  Horse rides, mountain biking and hiking trails live in harmony here. Campgrounds are at the bottom on the canyon so thank goodness it was full.  Mike would have been a wreck with the coach.   Perhaps they would have directed us to the campground and zipline .

The visitors' center tells the story of the Indians  hiding here and Coronado before that. This canyon has water and protection from the elements so they could live here year around.  In 1876 Lt. Mackensie in  the battle of Palo Duro, they ran off the Indians, burned their supplies and took 300 of their horses and killed the remaining 1000.  The Indians had to walk back to the reservation or starve.

 We checked out the zipline as people have suggested that for Makoshika.  They are on private land and charge $25 for 1st, $14 for repeat trips.  They also offer repelling.

He asked me some questions on population, private land  and location.  He's a consultant so I go his  phone #.   He said you used to install them for $150,000 but now because of popularity it can be another $100,000.

This was just a one zip line, not a series.

Dallas - God works in mysterious ways

We got back to Dallas by 1pm as were only 150 miles away.  They got right to work on the on the hose to the black tank, even tho we were scheduled for Thursday.  I went to office lobby to use their wifi and later a first walk in a week cuz of rain and food poisoning.  Mike was busy with Shopcat, Marathon crew and swapping stories with the neighbor. Clayton and Priscilla were invited for dinner, but as the day wore on, it would be 8 until they arrived, so opted out until Thursday night.  Since we were grilling bacon wrapped pork loin stuffed with bou
din that we got at Holliers Meat shop and restaurant, we invited the neighbor, Tommy who was washing his coach with mineral free water filter system so, no spotting.  We guessed on the timing of the meat we wrapped in foil.  Taters and onions, applesauce, and garlic toast.  Tommy was delightful company and said he  never socialized this way cuz he's reserved and some fans have gone crazy in the past.  His wife and 13 year old son went to a church youth gathering tonight.  Before the evening was over, he shared his story. His dad owned a bar and Tommy had booze by age 3, alcoholic before a teenager, homeless, broke and millionaire before giving it up to follow music Florida time as a Christian cowboy musician based out of Nashville.  Not being g musical (Mike plays 80s  on 8 or ads of his favorites.) We didn't recognize Tommy Brandt.  www.tommybrandt.org
How humbling. Turns out he was entertainer of the year, vocalist of the year, etc.  Mamma's Arms, 3 nails.  God works in mysterious ways.  We enjoyed his company till 10.

Creole Nature Trail - Sulphur LA

This was the weekend before leaving for Texas. Posted in the wrong order.

  More pics to come, but check the website. 

We made the most awesome tour around the Creole Nature Trail, we probably made a 90 mile loop with commentary by clicking on the app and descriptions from everything from pintail ducks to offshore oil rigs to Hurricane Rita.  It was like have a local in the back seat giving us a guided tour and he happened to have pictures and videos along on his phone. www.creolenaturetrail.org

Washed my shells at the fish cleaning station at A+ Motel & RV Park.  The best!

Church nearby,  Lay down your burdens

It's a fine time to meet you, Lucille

TV shows quiz=solve the puzzle.
Bottom left-Column bow  Columbo.

Deb Jensen Kleppelid, me & Lucille Jensen.  Deb was Melva's bridesmaid.

Singing black granite the artist found, taken from bank front.
Rare. Not all granite sings, but Lucille remembers the mountains around Butte called the singing hills.  Could it be the granite?

We put a bead on Huntsville, TX to meet  old family friends from Circle.  When 90 year old Lucille saw my comment on facebook we were headed to Dallas, she messaged me to come through Huntsville. After a day of either food poisoning or flu, we did head that way.   It had rained of course after Mike washed the coach, and the forecast was for rain all week in LA.  Since I was feeling better Monday morning, I went to wash my shells at the fish cleaning station.  By the time  I was done and feeling weak, Mike had loaded up and all I needed to do was get there. I told him I'd given him 5 stars; two minutes later I had my refund and we headed out, although I could have explored more.  I guess I have left most everywhere with a few things or places left unexplored.

Made from pallett by Lucille's granddaughter.

I'm wary on campgrounds cuz none have good reviews in the area.  Our highway took us through about 5 miles of construction mud.  Mike was furious at Roada, & the cars splashing as they passed us. The state park ranger wasn't sure we would fit so we circled out and went 19 miles north to Home on the Range RV.  All gravel but a port in the storm.

We met Lucille and Deb at Yummy Yummy Mongolian Grill and Sushi.  Was so fun to catch up. They are building a home on 39 acres on a lake 30 miles from town.  Lucille and I went out to see it Tuesday afternoon.  Wow- what a great plan: Steel building welded with wood interior 100 x 30 with 10' porch.  Lucille has 900 sq feet with a breezeway between Deb & Donnys.  She's paying for the house and they will care for her.  Ss Lucille put it, That's better than paying a nursing home $5000 a month.  Donny works 12 hour days in Houston, 60 miles away so he's up at 4 and in bed  early. 

MARDI GRAS MUSEUM -AWESOME

Circus theme for this krewe queen.

The mantel that we would call the train.  All beaded.

another kids on our tour.

the all female krewe.  Only gals could ask men to dance.

king and queen or duke and dutchess.  Wow

Sheriff was the king
See star

LAST YEARS GOWNS FROM  1 OF 50  KREWE. Going to th civic center for display.

The Lake Charles Mardi Gras Festival is 2nd only to New Orleans.  This festival from 12th night to Fat Tuesday ( last day before lent to have the rich food).  The captain was the chief organizer of a carnival krewe or organization. The king and queen would ususually volunteer as they have to pay for the gown and host the party.  Royalty would donate costumes to the museum for a tax receipt.

Sesame Street theme.  People in the crew would dress to the theme for the balls and parades between  Jan 6 and fat Tuesday.

Mardi Gras came to D.C. in 60s,

Part of a float.  king and queen and royalty road and threw  beads.

Typical headress building area starts with the white mesh skull in center front.  The huge headress with the breastplate maybe 6-12' high was worn during ball  grand march and were bolted to float with king/queen standing in front of so looked like wearing it. 

1962 queen costume from Washington DC.  Kennedys in top photo.

King cakes were a pastry that would be in Walmart and grocery stores from Jan 6 to Mardi Gras.  How much preservative is in them cuz they don't mold?  There's a plastic baby inside.  Whoever gets that in their piece has to host the next party.  A sign of luck??

Beads and other trinkets are thrown to the fans.  It might be other things like stuffed animals or plastic alligators.

Those krewe in costume are masked many times cuz they are making fun of royalty.  I remember when were at the first New Orleans parade in 2011, they were sarcastically making fun of the mayor, BP oil, Sarah Palin, Bush.  It might be a good idea to wear a mask.