Christmas in Riviera, Texas

Merry Christmas to all!  

I thought I would take a few quiet minutes to post.  After our extended stay in Red Bay and a few stops along the way, we traveled to Sea Wind RV Park in Riviera, TX south of Corpus Christi.  The park is on Baffin Bay and is somewhat isolated.  Before we actually found the park, we were diverted by the GPS to this little road.  I thought the Whale was going cross country.

We could tell right away this park is different from others we have stayed in.  People from all over the county stay here for 2-3 months during winter and are very proud of the welcoming culture of people in the park.  In fact, we met Steve and Fran while still in Elkhart, and they were the ones to recommend we come and stay for while.  We plan to do just that.  We've never gotten too involved in a park's activity schedule because we have not felt this welcomed, and of course, we often do not stay very long.  There's lots to do here.  A person can be as involved or not involved as they want.  No pressure.

The sites are sparse, but wide apart. Mesquite trees are the going fare for foliage and of course cacti some of which are just getting ready to bloom.  Since I took the picture of our site the first day, we have settled in and are quite comfortable.  The biggest battle we have are with the sand spurs.  Maci gets the brunt of those as she gets them stuck in the pads of her feet from time to time.  It doesn't seem to slow her up much.

As you can see, the overall countryside is a bit stark at first glance, but I've come to realize that every place has it's beauty.  I'm in the process of looking for that here...

Jerry has been fishing twice since we arrived.  The bay is too rough most days for our little boat, but a small group of guys with larger boats have invited him to join in.  Black Drum fish is the going fare here, and we have already enjoyed fish for dinner a couple of times.  They also have a skeet shooting range across the pond.  Jerry's in heaven as fishing and shooting are two of this favorite things to do.

My focus while here is healing.  To that end, I'm spending time preparing three different on-line courses for second semester, and I'm walking, walking, walking.  My goal is to walk at least five miles a day.  Lots of room to roam in this location.  

I've also been practicing my flute, playing guitar and plan to pull out my spinning wheel after the holidays.  Being able to go from one thing I love to the next all day long is the best part of retirement.  The flute has been an interesting journey.  At first I had to make sure all the windows were closed as I sounded that bad.  Over time, like anything when you practice, it's better, but Jerry tells me I'm not quite ready for a flute festival just yet.  Maci, the dog, is not fond of the flute.  Must hurt here ears as she shakes her head periodically when I'm playing.

Over the Christmas holiday, we have been blessed with a visit from our dear friends John and Sueann from Elkhart.  They arrived Christmas Eve and will be here until the day after Christmas.  With them are their South Korean daughter, Ji and her sister Julia.  Both are delightful young ladies who are studying here in the States.  Ji is a freshman in college, and her sister is a sophomore in high school.  They are fortunate to travel with John and Sueann, and we are fortunate to be able to spend this time with them.

I will say, the Christmas holidays are still very difficult for me when we are not with one or the other of our kids.  Being with such a welcoming group in the park and having our friends here has certainly helped to fill that void.  

Jerry and I wish anyone and everyone who reads this blog the most blessed holiday and a new year full of all that you wish for!

I still have a lot to learn...

I've long since realized this journey Jerry and I are on is not all about beautiful scenery and great restaurants.  I still have a lot to learn about being a good person.   We pulled our overnight in a Walmart parking lot in Lafayette, Louisiana last night.  Those large parking lots are entertaining sometimes so we left the shades up for a while as it turned dark.  While we were talking, there was a knock on the door.  This is highly unusual in the Walmart  parking lot as visitors don't usually come calling, and we had already checked in with the security guard.  As I was whispering, "Don't open the door," Jerry opened the door.  A lone man was there and he said, "Sir, I just ran out of gas.  Might you be able to help me?  I'm not a bum sir."  Jerry looked back at me, reached in his pocket and handed the man a five dollar bill.  "Here you go sir.  I hope this helps a little."  The man thanked Jerry and walked toward the street.  Jerry's response to me...  "Sometimes you just have to follow your gut level feeling."

After 33 years of marriage, my husband never ceases to amaze me.  So cautious and inclined to survivalist tendencies, somehow he knew that was the right thing to do.  No matter what the gentleman actually did with the money, Jerry held up his end of the "deal" to be a good human being and do the right thing.

I wonder if one can grow that kind of instinct? No pictures are available of this interaction as I think I was hiding behind the front seat...

Headed South...

After leaving Elkhart on November 11, we stayed in Indy to get our (hopefully) last dose of blowing snow.  Traveling south, we spent two days in Mammouth Cave National Park.   We stayed there last year and could not go on any of the tours due to my bad knee.  This year, I was determined to see the cave.  We chose the shortest, least strenuous tour.  I thought we would walk out of the Visitor Center and into the cave entrance, but getting to the cave entrance involved a bus ride a few miles from the Visitor Center.

Caves are incredible!  I was surprised that the air in the cave was not damp or stagnate smelling.  Our guide explained the cave "breathes" every 18-24 hours.  Stale air out, fresh air in.  Of all things, we met a new bug - a cave cricket.  The cave cricket, according to our guide, is the only cricket in the world that does not make a sound.  No chirping.

After touring the Wind Cave last summer, I expected this guide to do the lights out demonstration.  I was not disappointed.  When many of these caves were discovered initially, candles were the only form of lighting the way.  Blow out the candle, and you have deep darkness.  You can't even see your hand in front of your face.  Even more disturbing is the silence.  Our guide was able to get the group to be totally silent for a few minutes, and after awhile I had to really work at not making noise.  My ears rang in the silence.  People who have been lost in caves and found tell stories about talking, shouting and singing to themselves because the silence even more than the darkness was so disturbing.

Our tour lasted a little over an hour, but there are other more strenuous tours available including one of six hours where you are a spelunker crawling between very tight places in the formations.

 Unlike the Wind Cave in South Dakota, Mammouth Cave has constant water dripping.  The stalactites and stalagmites take hundreds of years to form as in the pictures below.

Early explorers and visitors to the cave were not as conservation-minded as we try to be now.  Visitors would just break off pieces of the formations for souvenirs.  Fortunately, that was stopped early on, or there would be no formations to look at.

Reluctantly, we left Mammouth Cave and headed for our annual trek to Red Bay, Alabama.  The Whale engine and generator were in need of maintenance, and we initially had a short list of up-dates and repairs.  Our stay in Red Bay lasted three weeks and a day.  Tiffin has stopped taking any appointments for service.  First come, first served.  We started in an express bay after waiting a week to get in.  In express, we get three hours of service to complete as much as possible.  We actually would have been done after that if someone hadn't spotted our sagging ceiling.  I hadn't noticed it, but Jerry had.  The technician checked it out, and told us it would just get worse.  We needed to be scheduled into a regular bay to get this fixed - a two day job and most have to stay in a hotel while the glue dries.  When we finally were able to get into a regular work bay, our technician worked the job so we didn't have to be in a hotel.  It's worth going to Red Bay for maintenance as the techs know our Whale, and they are so great at working with you to minimize the hassle.

The best part of Red Bay this trip was meeting Cathy and RJ.  They were parked across from us, and right away we started talking back and forth.  What a great couple!  We compared stories of traveling and things we have had done to our motor homes in addition to like hobbies and interests.  We hope to see them again when we pass through Arizona this spring.

We also met Theresa and Dwayne.  They have full-timed for 11 years, and their MH is also that old.  Dwayne is a distributer for a company that makes Native American flutes.  He always has a pocket flute hanging around his neck.  I love the soulful sound of the flutes, and started thinking how playing one could help build lung capacity.  I'm now the proud owner of two flutes. Something new to learn...

Finally, our maintenance was completed yesterday, December 11, and one month after leaving Elkhart, we are on the road headed south.  Currently, we are driving the Natchez Trace headed to Jackson, MS.  The Trace is beautiful even this time of year.  We stayed last night in Jeff Bigsby Campground at mile marker 193.1 - one of three free campgrounds on the Trace.  The sites are primitive in that there are no hook-ups, but most of the spots are pull-throughs with enough room for a big rig.  At below freezing temperatures, we had our pick of spots.

This morning was clear with a promise of a great day's drive.   Soon....

On the Road Again!

So cancer diagnosis is not always an exact science...  The lung cancer was cut and dried.  At very early stage one, surgery to remove the lower lobe of my left lung is the only treatment required at this time.  The initial lymphoma diagnosis was questioned by the first pathologist.  So the slides of the lymph node were sent to Johns Hopkins who said no lymphoma.  Because I have a very thorough oncologist, the slides were also sent to the University of Chicago who also said no lymphoma.  The family joke was we would try to collect frequent flyer miles for the node on the road.  

Surgery on October 21 is now three weeks in my rear view mirror.  Elkhart is also in the rear view mirror of the Whale.  We left Elkhart at 10:30 this a.m. headed directly south to New Orleans.  Overall, I feel good.  Each day I get a bit stronger.  Rehab consists of eating a healthy diet, breathing (very grateful to be able to do that) and walking a bit longer every day.  I can handle all of that.  So why not get back at this journey we have been on?

Needless to say, as we were working our way through diagnosis, surgery and the beginning stages of recovery, we spent a lot of time counting our blessings and becoming more and more determined to not give up the dream.  So here we are starting the second lap around the U.S. Even though we've only been on the road a few hours, I can tell this will be a much slower pace for now.  That's the beauty of traveling in the Whale.  Need a nap?  No problem!

For now the travel trajectory will be Indianapolis to New Orleans to Red Bay, AL, to south of Corpus Christie, TX for extended R&R, walking on the beach and healing sunshine.  In the spring, we will head to CA for a delayed Christmas trip present with grandsons, Miles and Donovan before we head to northern Washington.

Of course, we could segue at any point in the trip.  We'll keep you posted...

Fall in Indiana

We've been in Elkhart now since the end of August.  During this time we have enjoyed family and friends and made final plans for our daughter Sara's wedding.  The wedding was this last week-end, October 12th.  Such fun!  The ceremony was at Central Christian Church, which is one of the oldest in Elkhart.  They kept all parts of the ceremony uncomplicated.  I made Sara's dress, constructing it in the first four weeks we were home.  I was able to set up in the home office of my dear friend, Sueann.  The entire time I was sewing, I spent quality time with my friend and much alone time thinking about our daughter and son, their families, how happy they are, and how at peace we are with our traveling life style.  I'm proud of the dress, and she looked beautiful.  Her brother Chris, wife Marisa and nephews / grandsons Miles (9) and Donovan (6) were here.  Miles was an usher, Donovan the ring bearer.  Rowan, Patrick's (husband) daughter was the flower girl.  You never know when young ones are in a wedding how that might go, but all three took it very seriously.  Everything went off without a hitch.

Because both Sara and Patrick love Halloween, the reception was a giant Halloween party.  Everyone appeared to have a great time.  The afternoon after the wedding, after Chris and his family were headed back to CA, the newlyweds stopped by, and they couldn't stop talking about how much fun the wedding and reception were and how many people told them it was all such a fun time.  What is so important is not that others were happy, but that Sara and Patrick now have such great memories of their wedding and reception.  They will be talking about it for a long time.  These are the memories that we fall back on when the going gets tough.

Originally, our plan was to take a couple of days to recoup and regroup before taking off for southern IN and beyond.  We were scheduled to be in CA in December for a trip to Leggo Land with Miles and Donovan.  As has been true throughout this last year, plans change and we remain flexible...

In the brief time we have been home, I have been diagnosed with two different primary types of cancer - lung and lymphoma.  This is a very rare occasion - to have two different types at the same time.  Both are stage one, or at least at this point that is what the doctors believe.  I will have lung surgery next week, and three weeks after that chemo will start if I am healed enough.  We may stay here for chemo, or we may head to Houston to Anderson.  We are so fortunate to have the flexibility to choose.  All last year we managed to avoid really cold weather, and I'm concerned if we stay here about healing in the cold.  

So I've thought a lot about our travels last year and of all the places we still want to go.  We had many twists and turns while traveling - some by choice some not.  We lived the adage... "Trust your journey." That's exactly what we plan to do now in the next few months.  We will trust this journey... that we will only become stronger and certainly more resolved to continue our travels.  

Meantime, we are totally enjoying the slow turning of the trees here in IN.  Everyday, the colors get more varied and brilliant.  It's as if the color is slowly seeping south from Michigan to Indiana and points further south.  We've also had some brilliantly blue days - sunglasses required.  If you close your eyes, turn your face to the sun, and breath deep,  fall in IN on a sunny crisp blue day just smells so pure.  I'm sure this is true of other locations, but for us this is home, and it's good to be here right now.

I'll keep you posted.  Although our journey will not involve much movement right now, I'm sure it will be an experience. 

You can go home again...

Of course you can go home again, but never expect everything to be the same.  We arrived in Elkhart, IN on Friday afternoon.  We secured a spot at the Elkhart Campground.  Bob and Geta  are owners / hosts and do a great job of constantly upgrading and taking care of the facilities.  The campground sports over 100 spots, many with full hook-up and 50 amp service.  A number of travelers come and go here, and most are extremely friendly.  Of course, many travel with dogs and cats.  So Maci has had lots of friends since we got here.  Unfortunately, Bob has not set up a dog run yet, but he tells us there will be one here next year.  This campground usually shuts down by the first of Nov. and opens the first of March - providing freezing weather has stopped.  If you ever top here, be aware the water in this area is full of iron.  In addition to our many filters, we also include a water softener to help.

By Saturday we were on our way to the local botanical garden for "A Taste of the Gardens."  Area restaurants had booths set up to sample (for a price of course). In addition, a number or local artist had booths along with small musical groups throughout the gardens.  The best part was we ran into  a number of friends who we had not see for the past year.

One of our first realizations when driving around was we could drive around town and not use the GPS or map.  It's nice to know where you are.  As we drove around, we discovered a number of changes - the old armory is being torn down, parking downtown is now diagonal, new buildings are being erected.  Life goes on, and the sense of stepping out of your community for a prolonged time and stepping back in tends to make you look through a different lens.  Getting reconnected with friends and family in person really makes us appreciate our friends and family!

The purpose of our time in Elkhart is much more than just a visit.  Our daughter Sara is getting married on October 12.  I'm making her wedding gown, which brought a new challenge.  Where to sew?  A close friend offered space in her home office overlooking the St. Joe River.  What a deal.  Dress construction is going slowly, but successfully so far.

Jerry is busy with projects - maintenance, collapsible boat trailer, wine rack, stove top replacement and anything else that comes to mind.  We had quite a list by the time we got here.  Most will get done.  When we are set up for a period of time, we usually grow a large "to do" list.

This time is also valuable for me to catch up with the courses I teach on line.  While traveling, we have to be rather discerning where we park in order to have a strong Internet connection with either one of our phones.  When we have a good connection, I plan and post ahead.  I have been known to do a chat group sitting in the parking lot of McDonalds from time to time.

The time is passing quickly - more to come later.

Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, and the Badlands... We are "from" South Dakota afterall...

Before we got really serious about making a dash for Elkhart, IN, we knew we had to spend some time in South Dakota.  We had to go to Mount Rushmore - it's a national monument - top tourist attraction for Americans and folks from Canada and other countries.  Ho hum?  We were not prepared to to be awestruck, and we were.  Once again we found ourselves immersed in the history of the place - how it came to be, why in that spot, who all were involved.  Why those four presidents?  We decided to walk the many, many stairs - the presidential walk.  Fortunately, we also took the tour, renting the electronic devices that provide historical information at various points along the walk.  Let's just say, believe it when the sign says this is a strenuous walk.  We put both of our new right knees to the test.  It was all worth it at the end as we were literally standing in the "face of history."

After Mount Rushmore, we visited the yet-to-be-finished mountain sculpture of Crazy Horse.  When it was decided this sculpture would be created, the Native Americans were the decision makers.  According to the documentation, Crazy Horse was the embodiment of the spirituality of of all Native Americans.  Some of the most  interesting aspects of this monument are the work is all privately funded, and the work is overseen / done by family members of the original sculptor... who was an apprentice of the sculptor of Mount Rushmore.  The model of what the finished work will look like shows the head of Crazy Horse in full feathered head dress, on his horse, with his arm / finger pointing out over the land.  "My land is where my people are buried."  We speculated how long it would take to complete the Crazy Horse monument.  Time is not the primary issue.  Money is.  The family is committed to its completion.

The museum and educational facilities connected with the monument reflect a long range plan to preserve the history of many Native American tribes and to promote education. 

Our next venture was to Wind Cave National Park.  This park is a fascination blend of the prairies of the Black Hills and the mystery of what lies beneath the prairie.  As the story goes a young man named Alvine and his older brother were hunting one day and discovered a hole in the side of a rock hill about the size of a football.  As he leaned to look into the hole, a strong wind blew his hat off.  Alvine and his brother thought that was great fun and came back the next day to try it again.  This time when he looked into the hole, his hat was sucked into the hole.  The exploration of this "place" started, and Alvine discovered a cave that has now 144 miles of mapped channels. Scientists estimate that only one tenth of Wind Cave has been discovered.  The cave has the largest amount of box formations of any cave.  There are no  stalactites or stalagmites.  Formations that look like short honeycombs and crystals that are called snow crystals fill the cave.  I've mentioned my fear of heights, and now I share with you the dark close places don't thrill me either.  Mark off spelunking as a future career for me.  Our guide reminded us that Alvine explored and mapped a total of ten miles of Wind Cave before he died at the age of 21 - by candle light.  She turned off the electric lights that dimly lit our passage way after light one candle.  Then she blew the candle out.  We literally could not see our hand in front of our face.  I've never experienced such darkness, and it was unnerving!

Jerry fascinated with the rock formations

Boxwork formations throughout Wind Cave

 We completed our time in South Dakota as visitors in the Badlands.  Years ago, both our children went on distance running camps each summer, and Wall, SD was one of the stops.  They loved Wall Drugs.  So a stop there was a bit of our family history - plus the purchase of two t-shirts for Chris and Sara - that just had to happen.  After that stop for lunch, we traveled into the Badlands National Park and were able to find a camping spot in the park.  There are parts of the Badlands that look like we just drove on to another planet.

 During our brief stay in the Badlands, the temperature stayed well above 9 degrees.  Long range hiking for us was out of the question in that heat, but it didn't stop us exploring this unusual landscape for two days.  Time and again during our journey this year, we have been struck by how well the National Park Service has constructed so many of the parks to be user friendly.  We also appreciate how well versed the rangers are and how often they emphasize that these are OUR parks. 

An interesting note about the sunset picture...  I'm really into sunsets and often shoot short time lapsed pictures as the sun appears to rush to sink below the earth's skyline.  I never have issues with focus.  I tried several shots with both my camera and my phone and could not get one to focus.  My untested theory is there is a strange atmospheric disturbance in the Badlands causing this hazy result in photography...  The Badlands does look like another planet after all.

Our last stop before heading to Sioux Falls was at the Minuteman Missile Site which is now a National Park.  The tour which is a must do includes a tour of the decommissioned D-9 control building and a self guided tour with cell phone recording of the actual site where a training sample of a Minuteman 2 missile is housed.  It was at this site I confirmed my belief that no U.S. history should be taught in a classroom. Field studies of one to two years should be taken by all high school students to learn, in the field, about their country.  Financial support of this idea is yet to be worked out...

We learned from a young ranger with a degree in history what it is like to be a missilear - working 24 hour shifts on watch.  We learned of the incredible protocol connected to missile defense in the U.S. The space provided the missilears below ground was half the size of our motor home.  The young ranger challenged us to think about being the persons (it takes two at one site along with a partner site) to launch the missiles.  Each missilear knew that in  the event of a nuclear strike, their job, and their value to the country was over.  This last visit was chilling as well as humbling.

After a brief overnight in Sioux Falls to pick up mail (Alternative Resources), eat at HuHot Mongolian Restaurant and check out our favorite sporting goods store, we are headed back to Elkhart for some much needed time with family and friends. Soon... Pam