Had plans today to visit a Vanilla factory but with miss communication we lost the lead vehicle and couldn't find the factory on our own. So my car load went shopping, I got some pecoes and groceries....not too much because we'll be we'll be eating out alot and crossing the border in a few days......
Sunday, May 16, 2010
March 25
On the road to Costa Esmeralda.....High winds! Scary! Trucks travelling slowly, 2x2 along the highway. We decided it was probably a full truck along side an empty to buffer from the wind. It would be too easy to get blown off the road. Parked tonight in "Trailer Park de Alba" on the gulf coast. The winds are still very high and the air is cool. Too cold to enjoy the beach and water. It's a nice park and they are opening the resturant and cooking especially for us tonight. I had a delicious shrimp dinner!
March 23-24
3/23
When we started out this morning on the Mex 185, the thermometer read 67 degrees! Feeling human, actually cold but the countryside is beautiful, rolling hills, cattle ranches.
We are in Catemaco, two nights in a real RV park...water, electricity, sewer and a swimming pool! Hotel Tepetapan and RV Park. Ah, such luxury! Catemaco is the witch capitol of Mexico! Tonight we walked into town and had a nice flirt with some guys at a resturant where we were the only customers.....the one guy who spoke pretty good english told me for him it was love at first sight. We'd had a few beers and it was all in fun!
3/24
Today we had a boat ride on Laco Catemaco and a jungle walk....had another chance to have a mud facial and/or meet with a shaman all for a little donation, ofcourse. Then back to a resturant named La Ola for a good lunch. I was out of pecoes but couldn't get close to the bank....the taxes are due and so the lines are long. So no cash for a taxi I walked back to the RV park in real heat! Felt sick when I got back but got a large water and found a hammock to lie in and recovered!
March 22
We were able to relax this morning and enjoy a late breakfast at the beach resturant. We were cautioned to be alert to the high winds as we crossed from the pacific coast to the Gulf coast. It was really rocking our Casa-mobile! Huge windmill farms..... Tonight we are in a Pemex Parking lot in Matias Romero and our social tonight we were served tequilla sunrise or sunsets which really was a mixture of any or all the booze left from previous socials...I think! We contributed our crock of Black Diamond cheese and what a hit that made!
March 21
How would you spell Whoa Ha Ka? if someone spoke that name to you? Well, fool me! It's spelt Oaxaca. Today we made our way on great roads to a nice beach town of Arista Puerto. We are parked on the street outside the Bugamvillas Hotel. We get to use the hotel pool, Wi-Fi and bathroom facilities. It's blistering hot, so hot it burns your feet on the sandy beach. This our last stop on the pacific side of Mexico... and we'll cool down in the pool instead of the ocean because there is also a fierce undertow as well as hot sand. The beach patrol was out just past the rollers making a rescue of someone who got tired out trying to get back to shore......
March 20
Back to Mexico! Spent the last of our Quetzales on coffee and a sweet roll. Crossed the border in record time 3:10 and Pam won the pool....it was a double pool since noone won the last one. Tonight we are in a Sam's Club parking lot in Tapachula and having a Pizza Party. It has been HOT...a steady 95 degrees.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
March 19
A free day! Not just to play on the water slides but a day to clean, and get laundry done. The park is full of children today and we are blessed with a group of teenagers by our camper. So, what do you do???? We are out there trying to communicate and it was fun as we wanted to be understood. The kids just as much as us..... names, ages, where we are from and where we are going, we brought out the maps, as we talked to eachother, back and forth in halting english and poor spanish. They, as interested in us as we were in them.
Since we leave tomorrow, crossing into Mexico and needing to be rid of raw meats and fresh vegetables, tonight is a group meal called "Stone Soup"organized by the wagonmaster and tailgunners.
March 18
Up and out early....we're on the bus to Chichicastenago! Love that word...it's one to dance or sing to, Chi Chi Caste nago! And shopping and absorbing the local flavors at the wonderful indian market. Lunch was traditonal, typical, local foods, .....grilled meats, rice, beans, squash, fruits. Delicious! Then back on the bus for the long ride back to Auto Maricosa, by way of Lake Atitlan.
March 17
Off on another excursion with the local guide on a bus to Antiqua. Walked the town, learning it's history, politics,etc. and visited the Jade factory and museum and shop. Fascinating! After lunch we toured the Macadamia farm....a real character from the states led us around, expounding the virtous of the macadamia nut and we ended in the little show room where we were offered free facials with the oils(not greasy) from the nut and ofcourse an oppertunity to purchase some of their products...oils, creams, and chocolate covered macadamia nuts! We checked into a lovely hotel with beautiful courtyards. It's a town to come back to.....
March 15-16
Another border day! Back to Guatamala! To Amatitlan and the Auto Maricos.... it's a water park! The kind with many pools and slides of all shapes and sizes. Hot tubs, wave pool, kiddy poolsand lap pools......And a free day just to hang and play!
March 11-14 El Salvadore
Another border crossing day....always dreaded, but today we were pleasantly surprised by the quickest crossing yet. Apparently the local tour guide, "jorge", has a competition going with himself to better each crossing time. So we eliminated a night in another gas station parking lot and drove directly to the Tesoro Beach Hotel at Costa Del Sol....a long drive but worth it! We now have a free(?) day. An extra Beach Day! Another one of those little things I enjoy so much!
Our "campsite" is a pasture next to the hotel and we had a few bewildered cows wandered in but "real cowboys" rescued them from us monsters. I am sure our rigs, in a ring around the field, is an awesome site! The hotel is vertually empty....literally only one or two guests and a whole beevy of employees. It's beautiful! So, we are enjoying the pool, the WiFi, and the surroundings..........our own private resort!
Sunday, we boarded the bus and were transported into San Salvadore with our guide Jorge(www.tourinelsalvador.com, leading. The "Red" party was rallying so there were truck loads of red T-shirted folks waving red flags in the streets, in another part of town the cabellaros were prancing along on their beautiful horses festooned with ribbons and flowers. We visited the Cathedral Metropolitan and the amazing "Iglesia el Rosario". And ofcourse we had to shop, so we visited the Mercado Central and Mercado National de Artesanias. I bought a little painted folding table which I'll probably have to sleep with because we are getting quite crowded in our little camper with all our wonderful T shirts and hammocks and ofcourse "Omar" the flamingo. We ended the day with a visit to Pupusa central. We watched the making of and a few of us ate the "national dish" of El Salvadore, Pupusas.
Monday, April 5, 2010
March 10
Another border crossing...back into Honduras. These days are lost as we sit at the border waiting most of the day. And tonight we are rewarded! We are in a parking area of the Hotel Hacienda Gualiqueme where there is a lovely pool setting with out door snack bar, free Wi-Fi and best of all laundry service! We have come to really appreciate these immenities, especially on border crossing days when we sit and endlessly wait and then stand in hot and dirty parking lots lines to get our passports stamped.....
March 9
It's not fair.....I have been missing all the fun. Listening to the gang talk about all the great food, entertainment, the beach, etc. and I didn't have the energy to do much except lay in the hammock and sleep and read. But the reports are in, this all inclusive resort was GOOD.
But today, after a leisurely breakfast we checked out of the Hotel and returned to our Casa-mobiles. We made our way back to the main road through a very poor area. How there can be such a luxury resort in the middle of poverty!
Finally back on the main highway into Managua with mid-day traffic. School kids everywhere because morning students are in school from 7 til noon and afternoon students are in school from noon til 5. And then there are all the folks out for lunch from their offices..... and we are a spectacle as we drive through cities!
We are camping tonight at Esteli in a field at Club Campestre. Tonight is the Sales Pitch Social. We are just 2 weeks away from jopurneys end and the staff has some great deals for us and discounts on future trips!
Rig #4 organised dinner for us as this club has a resturant but we are the only guests so there is a very limited menu with a few serving of shrimp or chicken to choose from and it was delicious.
But today, after a leisurely breakfast we checked out of the Hotel and returned to our Casa-mobiles. We made our way back to the main road through a very poor area. How there can be such a luxury resort in the middle of poverty!
Finally back on the main highway into Managua with mid-day traffic. School kids everywhere because morning students are in school from 7 til noon and afternoon students are in school from noon til 5. And then there are all the folks out for lunch from their offices..... and we are a spectacle as we drive through cities!
We are camping tonight at Esteli in a field at Club Campestre. Tonight is the Sales Pitch Social. We are just 2 weeks away from jopurneys end and the staff has some great deals for us and discounts on future trips!
Rig #4 organised dinner for us as this club has a resturant but we are the only guests so there is a very limited menu with a few serving of shrimp or chicken to choose from and it was delicious.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
March 5,6,7 and 8
3/5
Chicken soup and gatorade...for breakfast, lunch and feeling okay... Went to Burger King for supper. Not a good idea!
We are camped in a Total Gas parking lot outside Liberia....been here, done this!
But there was a festival happening in town and the Burger King was a perfect place to see the horsemen parade by. There were hundreds, some fancy, some plain....riding down the street. Someone told us this was part of a 14 day event!
3/6
Up and out early... nose to tail in numerical order as we are crossing another border. We arrived at the border at 10 and were not on our way until 3 with a long drive ahead to Montelimer and the Bocelo Resort. We drove through a huge windmill farm along Lake Nicaragua, with volcanoes, Conception and Maderas in the background.
I am very sick!
3/7
I am now vomiting as well as the other... I saw the hotel doctor and her prescibed additional meds to the cipro I am already taking. And he suggested a strict diet of no dairy, no fats, no carbonated drinks....small servings, eating often and drinking alot of liquids!
IT FIGURES DOESN'T IT? We are staying in an all inclusive resort with great food, entertainment, swimming pools, spas...etc. and I am sick! Well, there is a hammock and a cool breeze on our porch and I am loving it!
3/8
Went to the Beauty shop and got another chopped haircut, oh well, it will grow. And a pedicure for my pathetic feet. When the polish was removed I discovered several black toe nails....this trip has been rough on the feet, oh well, new toe nails will also grow!
Obviously, I am feeling better....even went for a swim!
Chicken soup and gatorade...for breakfast, lunch and feeling okay... Went to Burger King for supper. Not a good idea!
We are camped in a Total Gas parking lot outside Liberia....been here, done this!
But there was a festival happening in town and the Burger King was a perfect place to see the horsemen parade by. There were hundreds, some fancy, some plain....riding down the street. Someone told us this was part of a 14 day event!
3/6
Up and out early... nose to tail in numerical order as we are crossing another border. We arrived at the border at 10 and were not on our way until 3 with a long drive ahead to Montelimer and the Bocelo Resort. We drove through a huge windmill farm along Lake Nicaragua, with volcanoes, Conception and Maderas in the background.
I am very sick!
3/7
I am now vomiting as well as the other... I saw the hotel doctor and her prescibed additional meds to the cipro I am already taking. And he suggested a strict diet of no dairy, no fats, no carbonated drinks....small servings, eating often and drinking alot of liquids!
IT FIGURES DOESN'T IT? We are staying in an all inclusive resort with great food, entertainment, swimming pools, spas...etc. and I am sick! Well, there is a hammock and a cool breeze on our porch and I am loving it!
3/8
Went to the Beauty shop and got another chopped haircut, oh well, it will grow. And a pedicure for my pathetic feet. When the polish was removed I discovered several black toe nails....this trip has been rough on the feet, oh well, new toe nails will also grow!
Obviously, I am feeling better....even went for a swim!
March 4
Oh No! I've got the runs.....no cramping just sludge! Found my cipro and keeping my fingers crossed. I slept all the way to Jaco, our destination for today. It's a neat little town on the coast with a camp ground right in town so we can walk to shop and to the beach. I ate some chicken noodle soup and slept!
March 3
Headed out early, nose to tail, in numerical order because it's a border crossing day! We are going back into Costa Rica. But after we cross the border we will change our route. We are hugging the west coast to Uvila and a National Park camp ground. Great beach and surf! We are all very happy with this change of plans.
March 2
Destination is David and the Price Smart parking lot........driving the same road, staying at the same place etc. We decided to take a side trip as soon as the road got closer to the ocean...so at Las Lajas we veered left and drove about 6 or 7 miles til we hit the water. Changed into bathing suits and played in the surf for an hour or so, walked the beach....great way to spend a hot afternoon!
Parked again at the PriceSmart lot and enjoyed a pizza supper again. It started to rain and it cooled right down to a nice sleeping temperature.
Parked again at the PriceSmart lot and enjoyed a pizza supper again. It started to rain and it cooled right down to a nice sleeping temperature.
March 1
Last day before we start the trip toward home! It's a free day but there was a tour offered to a small mountain village called El Valle de Acton. We were promised a waterfall hike, a mineral bath with a mud facial, if desired, lunch, shopping and a zoo. And we got it all! The hike was in a rain forest, the trails were well defined with swinging bridges crossing the streams. We were given walking sticks to help on the damp trails....the waterfalls were spectacular! Off to the mineral baths and mud facials, we had a choice between white mud or black mud. They had different powers I am sure but that escapes me. I used the black mud, got into my swimsuit and sank into the mineral pool where we were to stay for 30 minutes for it to be beneficial. Near the end of the 30 minutes, I swear the water felt carbonated against my skin. Well I am rejuvinated! Back into the village to find some lunch-I had grilled chicken and french fries with rice and beans (that's how the meal was served, everything always arrived with rice and beans no matter what you ordered).... We strolled the street checking out the shops and street venders before heading to the zoo. The facinating exhibit was the Frogs! The collection was amazing!
Back to the RV Park and a pot luck supper and a celebration for rig#10's 51st anniversary.... One of the members brought out his guitar and with tailgunner Brians assist we sang! Fun evening!
Back to the RV Park and a pot luck supper and a celebration for rig#10's 51st anniversary.... One of the members brought out his guitar and with tailgunner Brians assist we sang! Fun evening!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Feb 26, 27, 28.
A weekend in Panama City! Left the rigs behind and boarded a coach for the city. Took a walking/driving tour and lunch in the city. Spent the afternoon at the canal observation center, preparing for our day on the canal. After checking into our hotel we had a chance to walk around the area before dinner.... a group of us went to a chinese resturant for dinner.
Saturday... On the bus early to get to the canal and get the "good" seats in the air conditioned part of the boat. It was a long ride through 2 locks....lots of waiting etc but very interesting! Very glad we were air conditioned as it was very hot. We did have a heavy rain mid afternoon but it really didn't cool us down much! Tonight the group we ate with chose Italian for Dinner!
Sunday...On the bus early again for a trip to the Indian Village! Wonderful Day! We were greated by scantly clad men, helped into life jackets and dugout canoes. They paddled us up river to their village. There are 3 villages and we were taken to the farthest upstream. There we were greated by the women and children and ushered up the path to the village. They had prepared a meal for us as well as entertainment. We were told about the lifestyle and as we listened and asked questions we were offered Tattoos..... I was given a nice arm band. Also girls and women were weaving baskets among us and some men were carving and painting. The man who drew my tattoo was carving a frog and then painted it.. I asked to purchase it, so have added it to my collection.
Before leaving we were invited to swim in their stream....again Fun with a capital F! There was a swift current so the trick was to get into the shallow stream and into position before being swept downstream. If you didn't get out into the stream far enough before the current caught you, your backside got thoroughly pummeled by the pebbles and rocks. Anyway, it was fun and refreshing and my tattoo didn't wash off! They paddled us back downstream and to our bus. It was a wonderful day and a long bus ride back to Santa Clara, and XS Memories, and our Rigs!
Saturday... On the bus early to get to the canal and get the "good" seats in the air conditioned part of the boat. It was a long ride through 2 locks....lots of waiting etc but very interesting! Very glad we were air conditioned as it was very hot. We did have a heavy rain mid afternoon but it really didn't cool us down much! Tonight the group we ate with chose Italian for Dinner!
Sunday...On the bus early again for a trip to the Indian Village! Wonderful Day! We were greated by scantly clad men, helped into life jackets and dugout canoes. They paddled us up river to their village. There are 3 villages and we were taken to the farthest upstream. There we were greated by the women and children and ushered up the path to the village. They had prepared a meal for us as well as entertainment. We were told about the lifestyle and as we listened and asked questions we were offered Tattoos..... I was given a nice arm band. Also girls and women were weaving baskets among us and some men were carving and painting. The man who drew my tattoo was carving a frog and then painted it.. I asked to purchase it, so have added it to my collection.
Before leaving we were invited to swim in their stream....again Fun with a capital F! There was a swift current so the trick was to get into the shallow stream and into position before being swept downstream. If you didn't get out into the stream far enough before the current caught you, your backside got thoroughly pummeled by the pebbles and rocks. Anyway, it was fun and refreshing and my tattoo didn't wash off! They paddled us back downstream and to our bus. It was a wonderful day and a long bus ride back to Santa Clara, and XS Memories, and our Rigs!
Feb 25 Day 58
Free Day! Laundry Day! Shower Day! Beach Day! Hot Day! Relaxing Day!
The Park Hosts prepared a dinner and entertainment for our evening! Dinner was American Hamburgers and the entertainment was local children in native dress, dancing....very charming!
The Park Hosts prepared a dinner and entertainment for our evening! Dinner was American Hamburgers and the entertainment was local children in native dress, dancing....very charming!
Feb 24 Day 57 (45 days on the caravan)
From the town of David to Santa Clara.......
Passed by and shopped at artisans booths along the roadside. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, collars, and native dress. Bought a dress from a vender no one was paying any attenton to as he had no beaded stuff...so I just had to buy one!
Stopped in a little village that has the oldest church in Central America...a wooden structure with great statues and it was huge!
Our campground ia a real RV Park called XS Memories. All amenities! A mile from the Pacific! It is listed in Frommers.
Passed by and shopped at artisans booths along the roadside. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, collars, and native dress. Bought a dress from a vender no one was paying any attenton to as he had no beaded stuff...so I just had to buy one!
Stopped in a little village that has the oldest church in Central America...a wooden structure with great statues and it was huge!
Our campground ia a real RV Park called XS Memories. All amenities! A mile from the Pacific! It is listed in Frommers.
Feb 23 Day 56
Border Crossing Day! Always confusing, too much traffic, too long lines, too hot! Today's crossing took 3 hours 47 minutes... We need to get the drivers and vehicles out of the country, then the passengers. Then some official comes along with our staff in tow to check the licence plates and vin numbers against the paperwork that we fill out. If and when it all matches, we get inspected, sometime verbally and sometimes literally. Then we are fumegated. And the process is repeated to get us into the next country... So now we are in Panama! Camping tonight in a "Price Smart" parking lot.. We got guest cards and were able to shop. Bought a bottle of Jack and a pizza!
Feb 22 Day 55
Free Day! No traveling, no tours....a good day for just hanging out, visiting, reading, swimming , and crafting. Lu Ann, our wagon mistress, continued to teach some T shirt and scarf techniques to dress up some of the T's we had purchased.... adding beads, fringing and braiding the hems. Got to see it to love it!
The resturant was featuring a Japanese theme and the food was fantastic! Served by a guy dressed in appropriate costume.
The resturant was featuring a Japanese theme and the food was fantastic! Served by a guy dressed in appropriate costume.
Feb 21 Day 54
Left San Jose today.... 8 am on a Sunday morning driving through the city should have been an easy cruise thru town but....we ran into the middle of a 10K heading in the same direction we were going. So with the spectaters, the water stations, and the traffic control folks we were in the middle of a mess! When we finally cleared the city we started a 40 mile climb to 11,000. ft and guess what....we encountered bicyclers out for a Sunday ride up hill...we passed 52 as we wound our way up the mountain. The downhill ride was 9000 ft in 40 miles...really hard on the heavy rigs but only one had braking problems.....
It was a beautiful drive...winding roads, great vistas!
Arrived at our next campsite, a soccar field behind the Hotel del Sur, in San Isidro late afternoon to find a fair in progress in the fairgrounds next door to the hotel. And the heavy medal music and gales of laughter continued well into the night!
The hotel is lovely-swimming pool, dining room, and game/ craft area, all outside but shaded. After all we are back in hot, humid air again!
It was a beautiful drive...winding roads, great vistas!
Arrived at our next campsite, a soccar field behind the Hotel del Sur, in San Isidro late afternoon to find a fair in progress in the fairgrounds next door to the hotel. And the heavy medal music and gales of laughter continued well into the night!
The hotel is lovely-swimming pool, dining room, and game/ craft area, all outside but shaded. After all we are back in hot, humid air again!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Day 53 Feb 20
We didn't start out too good today.... our 2 drivers had something for dinner last night that did not agree with them so they had a lousy night. The driver of my car had fallen in the night and hit her head so she had a blooming headache. After medicating and breakfast we loaded into the vehicles and headed to the hot springs..... a fellow traveller at the hotel told us how to get to the free hot spring the Costa Ricans go to instead of paying the $70 tourists get charged. And did we have fun..... then we split up and drove home on our own......
We had a craft class this afternoon...how to decorate a T shirt by cutting into it and adding beads or braiding the sleeves and hem....Walked to a Chinese resturant for dinner with a few others and spent the evening writing. Now I am caught up with the blogging.
We had a craft class this afternoon...how to decorate a T shirt by cutting into it and adding beads or braiding the sleeves and hem....Walked to a Chinese resturant for dinner with a few others and spent the evening writing. Now I am caught up with the blogging.
Day 52 Feb 19
Today was a free day and we, 6 of us tookoff to see the Arenal Volcano We had 2 vehicles and stayed together. Drove through a cloud forest, couldn't see 2 feet in front of your face. Arrived in La Fortuna about noon and decided to find a hotel before sightseeing. The Arenal Volcano Observatory Lodge was our first choice and after 10 killometers of washed out road we found they were full up....so back down the same washboard road halfway to a turn off to Another place that fortunately had 2 rooms left so we grabbed them...one for the girls and one for the guys! After driving those horrible roads we decided not to sightsee. We lunched and swam and hiked and read and prayed the evening would clear so we could see the magnificent Arenal Volcano. It didn't and We didn't!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Days 49,50,and 51 Feb 16,17,and 18
We have had a very busy and long 3 days....
Tuesday we were picked up by the bus at 6:30 and taken east across the mountains. While riding along we learned a new greeting-Pura Vida. It literally means Pure Life but it's used as a greeting similar to Hi, How're you or How are things.....
We stopped at a favorite eatery and were served a typical Costa Rican breakfast of rice and beans, fried eggs, sausages, fruit and coffee.....then back on the bus and off the tarred roads, for a 2 hour drive, through Banana Plantations to get a boat to take us up a canal into the Tortugero National Pk, to an exclusive resort for a frog and butterfly walk and lunch. We were introduced to some amazing toads....a tiny(baby finger nail size) red toad and a bigger (thumb size) green toad that sits on the under side of a leaf, completely invisible, until he moves and then you see his red eyes and red toes....so cute!!! Another froggy is called a blue jean frog because he has blue hind legs and an orange upper half. As you might have guessed, I like frogs and toads....
The boat ride was long, about 1 1/2 hrs but there was lots to see...monkeys, alligater, many birds....warblers, egrits, and heron. We didn't get back until 8 pm.
On Wednesday, we hopped on the bus at 8 and had a bit of a city tour, the main attraction was the Opera House and a Museum that is housed in a fort that has bullet holes in the outside walls from some seige.... the museum was very good...explaining the history of Costa Rica. Then we were off to the rainforest and lunch(beans and rice, chicken, and fruit,) and a tram ride over the canopy.....pouring rain and wonderful...each buggy had room for 5 passengers and a guide. The guide was great and pointed out all the plants that are used for medicinal purposes as well as the multitude of other indiginous plants.... There were not too many birds because of the rain but we did see one hummingbird...blue and purple, and a bunch of warblers flitting in an enormous tree. It's amazing but our entire group was laughing and completely saturated at the end of the ride. We ended the trip to the rainforest unexpectantly by taking a small shuttle bus to the river and then walking across a swinging bridge to another small bus to get to our large coach bus. Because the river had risen so high it was over the road......that's how hard it was raining!!! We stopped at a grocery store on the way back into the city and I bought bacon.....the first we've had since Texas! So ofcourse Supper was bacon and eggs.....next it'll be BLT's!
Thursdsay, we were back on the bus at 8....this time on our way to the coffee plantations for a tour and a chance to buy coffee beans and other souveniers. We are spending too much time on this bus! Next we were hurried off to see the Poas Volcano, ofcourse it was pouring rain and we hiked about 30 minutes round trip to see the place where we should be able to view the second largest active volcano. We are now cold and wet and back on the bus to the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens. The trip was very exciting because part of the road had washed out and was very curvy and we are in a very large motor coach.....at one point we were hussled to the back of the bus so the driver could raise the front up enough to get around some boulders. The rain continued to pour while we ate lunch and then we had 45 minutes to either hike to the waterfalls or to walk thru the animal and insect section....I chose the animal walk and the cats, panther, oselot, cougars were beautiful, the frogs, snakes, and birds were great but best of all was the butterfly room! Butterflies of all colors everywhere...flitting all around, over and under us. You had to be careful not to step on one. Back on the bus and the long ride back to the campground.... The trip was too much to see, or not see, in one day and the wet and cold didn't help.... and then we got scolded for not keeping to the time schedule...Whose schedule??? Oh well!
Tuesday we were picked up by the bus at 6:30 and taken east across the mountains. While riding along we learned a new greeting-Pura Vida. It literally means Pure Life but it's used as a greeting similar to Hi, How're you or How are things.....
We stopped at a favorite eatery and were served a typical Costa Rican breakfast of rice and beans, fried eggs, sausages, fruit and coffee.....then back on the bus and off the tarred roads, for a 2 hour drive, through Banana Plantations to get a boat to take us up a canal into the Tortugero National Pk, to an exclusive resort for a frog and butterfly walk and lunch. We were introduced to some amazing toads....a tiny(baby finger nail size) red toad and a bigger (thumb size) green toad that sits on the under side of a leaf, completely invisible, until he moves and then you see his red eyes and red toes....so cute!!! Another froggy is called a blue jean frog because he has blue hind legs and an orange upper half. As you might have guessed, I like frogs and toads....
The boat ride was long, about 1 1/2 hrs but there was lots to see...monkeys, alligater, many birds....warblers, egrits, and heron. We didn't get back until 8 pm.
On Wednesday, we hopped on the bus at 8 and had a bit of a city tour, the main attraction was the Opera House and a Museum that is housed in a fort that has bullet holes in the outside walls from some seige.... the museum was very good...explaining the history of Costa Rica. Then we were off to the rainforest and lunch(beans and rice, chicken, and fruit,) and a tram ride over the canopy.....pouring rain and wonderful...each buggy had room for 5 passengers and a guide. The guide was great and pointed out all the plants that are used for medicinal purposes as well as the multitude of other indiginous plants.... There were not too many birds because of the rain but we did see one hummingbird...blue and purple, and a bunch of warblers flitting in an enormous tree. It's amazing but our entire group was laughing and completely saturated at the end of the ride. We ended the trip to the rainforest unexpectantly by taking a small shuttle bus to the river and then walking across a swinging bridge to another small bus to get to our large coach bus. Because the river had risen so high it was over the road......that's how hard it was raining!!! We stopped at a grocery store on the way back into the city and I bought bacon.....the first we've had since Texas! So ofcourse Supper was bacon and eggs.....next it'll be BLT's!
Thursdsay, we were back on the bus at 8....this time on our way to the coffee plantations for a tour and a chance to buy coffee beans and other souveniers. We are spending too much time on this bus! Next we were hurried off to see the Poas Volcano, ofcourse it was pouring rain and we hiked about 30 minutes round trip to see the place where we should be able to view the second largest active volcano. We are now cold and wet and back on the bus to the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens. The trip was very exciting because part of the road had washed out and was very curvy and we are in a very large motor coach.....at one point we were hussled to the back of the bus so the driver could raise the front up enough to get around some boulders. The rain continued to pour while we ate lunch and then we had 45 minutes to either hike to the waterfalls or to walk thru the animal and insect section....I chose the animal walk and the cats, panther, oselot, cougars were beautiful, the frogs, snakes, and birds were great but best of all was the butterfly room! Butterflies of all colors everywhere...flitting all around, over and under us. You had to be careful not to step on one. Back on the bus and the long ride back to the campground.... The trip was too much to see, or not see, in one day and the wet and cold didn't help.... and then we got scolded for not keeping to the time schedule...Whose schedule??? Oh well!
Day 48 Feb 15
Free day today... I took off with another couple in their small rig for a trip to the west or pacific coast. It was a beautiful drive on very narrow winding roads with great vistas right and left. At the coast we made our way south toward the town of Jaco and found a free beach so we played in the huge waves....quite a strong undertow. Had a picnic lunch and decided to drive north to find another beach. We checked in at the Best Western about swimming at their beach but they wanted $30 american per person which included lunch....we thought that was a bit steep. And we checked on another resort, Puerto Leona and they wanted $50. each. Continuing north, we arrived at the Port of Caldera, there were tankers and a cruise ship sitting in the harbor. We found a nice swimming beach, stopped and enjoyed some time there in the water.....arrived back at the campsite after dark, exhausted.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Day 47 Valentines Day
Today we travelled to San Jose, to a real campground, and we will stay for a week! Pam and I were in the last group with 2 other rigs and we decided to take it easy since we were told that it would be a long wait when arriving at the campground..... each rig was to dump (gray and black water) before parking and that time was estimated at 15 minutes per rig. We were last so we stopped at gift shops and an orchid farm, and at pull-offs at the high elevations for picture taking.... and it worked because as we arrived at the destination they were waiting for us...
It is a very nice place with all the services we require plus shade although the temerature is now in the 70's.
It is a very nice place with all the services we require plus shade although the temerature is now in the 70's.
Day 46 Sat Feb 13
Travelling day.... left the campsite at 6:30. We needed to get thru granada and on the road before the town got busy with saturday shoppers because the streets are narrow and bumpy. We cause alot of commotion and obstruction with our big rigs.
We arrived at the border amid hundreds of trucks.....somehow we got to pass them up but it still took us 6+hours to leave Nicaragua and enter Costa Rica. We sat along side of the road and watched people in 90 degree heat, fortunately we were on the shady side of the road. And after passing thru we passed waiting trucks for a mile
Our campsite is a gas station/truck stop just south of Liberia....about 50 miles from the border. Our first real meal of the day was at Burger King. A #3 meal with cheese cost 2700 colones....about $4. Nice to have some flavors of home.....
We arrived at the border amid hundreds of trucks.....somehow we got to pass them up but it still took us 6+hours to leave Nicaragua and enter Costa Rica. We sat along side of the road and watched people in 90 degree heat, fortunately we were on the shady side of the road. And after passing thru we passed waiting trucks for a mile
Our campsite is a gas station/truck stop just south of Liberia....about 50 miles from the border. Our first real meal of the day was at Burger King. A #3 meal with cheese cost 2700 colones....about $4. Nice to have some flavors of home.....
Monday, February 15, 2010
Day 45 Feb 12
Free day! Slept in...lazy morning and then Pam and I walked into Granada. Visited the internet cafe and wandered around the Parque Centro. Lots of beggars and peddlers.... Found the "Mona Lisa"Pizza Parlor everyone has been talking about and had a very good lunch!
Walked up 71 stone steps in a church tower for a fantastic view of the town and then down again...very narrow circular stairway. Took a horse and buggy ride back to the campsite at Playa Tourista, as it's called.
Walked up 71 stone steps in a church tower for a fantastic view of the town and then down again...very narrow circular stairway. Took a horse and buggy ride back to the campsite at Playa Tourista, as it's called.
Day 44 Thurs Feb 11
Granada...camping on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Again dry camping plus no swimming as the lake is polluted. But there is a lifesaving breeze off the lake that makes our lives bearable. It is HOT! This area is a local favorite and there are lots of peddlers selling their wares and locals picnicing nearby. Wild horses run along the beach every day....grazing at the far end in a marshy area and cows get herded by morning and evening..
Took a boat tour along the shore in and around little islands formed by the volcano....some islands are empty and for sale, some are lovely vacation homes, available for rent. One is a monkey island. The water flowers beautiful and birding is plentiful.
Then we has a bus tour into the town of granada and a delicious lunch!
The afternoon was spent lazing around the camp, visiting and reading.
Took a boat tour along the shore in and around little islands formed by the volcano....some islands are empty and for sale, some are lovely vacation homes, available for rent. One is a monkey island. The water flowers beautiful and birding is plentiful.
Then we has a bus tour into the town of granada and a delicious lunch!
The afternoon was spent lazing around the camp, visiting and reading.
Day 37 Feb 3
It's a travel day to San Pedro Sula......very slow going thru lush farmlands and then twisty mountainous road with little villages dotted along the way. Then suddenly we arrived in a modern city...highly influanced by Americans.
After getting settled in our new campsite, the gated parking lot of a fancy downtown Hotel, Pam and I trotted across the 6 lane roadway to the "Mall". The food court had Wendy's, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donut, Starbucks, Burger King..... and the shops were Payless Shoes, Fashion Barn, Pennys and Ace Hardware....and a cinema. We saw "Sherlock Holmes" with spanish sub-titles.
After getting settled in our new campsite, the gated parking lot of a fancy downtown Hotel, Pam and I trotted across the 6 lane roadway to the "Mall". The food court had Wendy's, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donut, Starbucks, Burger King..... and the shops were Payless Shoes, Fashion Barn, Pennys and Ace Hardware....and a cinema. We saw "Sherlock Holmes" with spanish sub-titles.
Days 34,35,36 Sunday 1/31-Tuesday2/2
Another border crossing... into Honduras and to the Copan Ruins. The crossing only took 2 1/2 hours. It's always parking along the side of the road and waiting while the wagonmaster takes our passports and tries to proccess us as a group. It's hot and crowded and then all of a sudden it's rush-rush thru the leaving border into no mans land and getting fumigated (like running thru a car wash) and then we are in line, waiting to get proccessed into the next country.
We arrive at our new campsite....a pasture near the Copan Ruins and a town called Copan. Again it's dry camping....No water,no electric,no dumping,and we'll be here for 3 nights.
Monday morning, we climb into the back of a truck and are driven to the ruins for a tour... our guide is Yoboni, he says it was supposed to be Giovanni but no one knew how to spell it. Anyway, he was a great guide and the ruins are a real treasure! The museum was the best we have seen...there was mention of Peabody and I am wondering if the Peabody Essex Museum had some involvement.
Tuesday was a free day and I signed up for a sauna and massage at the wellness center. How to describe the wellness center?? A little concrete building with 3 rooms and a hallway with a cubicle to remove and leave your clothing, except your "bloomers", wrap in a towel and traipse down a stone pathway in the back yard to a "cave" where there is a shower and the sauna.... one hour later after 15min in the sauna then a shower, repeted again and again, then led to one of the rooms and massaged as never before!!!! It was the most draining, rejuvinating experience ever! I was worthless the rest of the day but felt wonderful.........
We arrive at our new campsite....a pasture near the Copan Ruins and a town called Copan. Again it's dry camping....No water,no electric,no dumping,and we'll be here for 3 nights.
Monday morning, we climb into the back of a truck and are driven to the ruins for a tour... our guide is Yoboni, he says it was supposed to be Giovanni but no one knew how to spell it. Anyway, he was a great guide and the ruins are a real treasure! The museum was the best we have seen...there was mention of Peabody and I am wondering if the Peabody Essex Museum had some involvement.
Tuesday was a free day and I signed up for a sauna and massage at the wellness center. How to describe the wellness center?? A little concrete building with 3 rooms and a hallway with a cubicle to remove and leave your clothing, except your "bloomers", wrap in a towel and traipse down a stone pathway in the back yard to a "cave" where there is a shower and the sauna.... one hour later after 15min in the sauna then a shower, repeted again and again, then led to one of the rooms and massaged as never before!!!! It was the most draining, rejuvinating experience ever! I was worthless the rest of the day but felt wonderful.........
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Time out
Sorry.... no travel report for the first week of February. Will try to get back to it soon.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Day 33 Jan 30
Another fantastic day...no travelling! But that's not accurate, we travelled but we didn't drive! We left Nana Juana (google it) by boat and travelled along the river for several hours, stopping here and there to admire the flora and fauna, passing many small inhabited island villages, to the carribean and Livingston, a large town you can get to only by water....
We lunched and shopped..... purchased a Jade necklace with a silver Quetzel on it for 150 Quetzels.....$18 american, made by a german man who has become a local. Also bought an over-blouse, hand made and embroidered, at a womans co-operative. The native women wear them and they are beautiful....maybe I'll wear it too.....and ofcourse be beautiful!
I will be bunching up the next few days....we'll be crossing the border tomorrow into Honduras and dry camping in more Mayan ruin parking lots...we think, not too sure on this one apparently!
WWW
We lunched and shopped..... purchased a Jade necklace with a silver Quetzel on it for 150 Quetzels.....$18 american, made by a german man who has become a local. Also bought an over-blouse, hand made and embroidered, at a womans co-operative. The native women wear them and they are beautiful....maybe I'll wear it too.....and ofcourse be beautiful!
I will be bunching up the next few days....we'll be crossing the border tomorrow into Honduras and dry camping in more Mayan ruin parking lots...we think, not too sure on this one apparently!
WWW
Friday, January 29, 2010
Day 32 Jan 29
Tikal to Rio Dulce 158 miles wow, good roads, a few topas here and there, great vistas, over mountains, small roadside towns.....stopped and shopped. Bought several things from a wood worker, a turtle, spoon, earrings, ring. We were led to a lunch spot by staff...."Finca Ixobel(e-sh-o-bel)", a very nice eco hotel.
Tonight we are at Rio Dulce at a marina"Nana Juana" in the parking lot but there is a hoyel with a pool, changing rooms with hot showers, and Wi-Fi.
The weather here is glorious! low 80's and fairly dry even tho we are by a large lake....
We are staying here tomorrow too.... Happiness!
WWW
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Tonight we are at Rio Dulce at a marina"Nana Juana" in the parking lot but there is a hoyel with a pool, changing rooms with hot showers, and Wi-Fi.
The weather here is glorious! low 80's and fairly dry even tho we are by a large lake....
We are staying here tomorrow too.... Happiness!
WWW
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Days 30 & 31 Jan 27 & 28
Tikal National Park we are here for 3 nights.
First, we had a 5 hour guided tour around the ruins, led by a mayan desendant(beatiful man), extremely interesting and proud! There are lots of local people, artisans, doing their crafts...weaving, doll making, wood working.....
Spent the afternoon doing laundry and catching up with e mail and blogging....
And people watching, tourists, so interesting the large number of young people back packing, tent camping, a few with small children... and a few cycling. Met a young man from Baltimore, biking his way south, by himself. Also alot of europeans.....
It rained all night, had a few leaks since we are not quite level the water ran along the window slides the wrong way...IN. No real damage, it's just so damp, humidity, it takes forever for things to dry!
Second day, the excitement was a Zip line trip through the Jungle! Fantastic, Breath taking, exhilarating, such a rush! At my age I don't get too many of those feelings!
Today is also my eldest grandaughhters 21st birthday!
We were entertained tonight by a loud marimba band at a private dinner given us by Adventure Caravans.
WWW
First, we had a 5 hour guided tour around the ruins, led by a mayan desendant(beatiful man), extremely interesting and proud! There are lots of local people, artisans, doing their crafts...weaving, doll making, wood working.....
Spent the afternoon doing laundry and catching up with e mail and blogging....
And people watching, tourists, so interesting the large number of young people back packing, tent camping, a few with small children... and a few cycling. Met a young man from Baltimore, biking his way south, by himself. Also alot of europeans.....
It rained all night, had a few leaks since we are not quite level the water ran along the window slides the wrong way...IN. No real damage, it's just so damp, humidity, it takes forever for things to dry!
Second day, the excitement was a Zip line trip through the Jungle! Fantastic, Breath taking, exhilarating, such a rush! At my age I don't get too many of those feelings!
Today is also my eldest grandaughhters 21st birthday!
We were entertained tonight by a loud marimba band at a private dinner given us by Adventure Caravans.
WWW
Day 29 Jan 26
Big day...again! We left Belize today....Entered Guatemala. It was interesting, confusing, boring, tireing, very unorganized. Belize, being under british influence is highly organized. And then to enter into Guatemala and find the opposite. Anyway we are here and we have Quezels to spend instead of Belize dollars or mexican pecoes Quezels are $10. american to 80 quezels.
There 's a dramatic change in scenery.. from jungle in SW Belize to farmland in NE Guatemala. And horrible, gravelly roads. We headed straight to Tikal Natl Pk and will stay here for 3 nights. I started my anti-maleria meds today and am feeling some side effects...light head, minor belly crampng. The staff say it isn't necessary to take because we will not be in swamps, etc.... you could fool me, this looks pretty swampy to me!
There 's a dramatic change in scenery.. from jungle in SW Belize to farmland in NE Guatemala. And horrible, gravelly roads. We headed straight to Tikal Natl Pk and will stay here for 3 nights. I started my anti-maleria meds today and am feeling some side effects...light head, minor belly crampng. The staff say it isn't necessary to take because we will not be in swamps, etc.... you could fool me, this looks pretty swampy to me!
Day 29 Jan 26
Big day...again! We left Belize today....Entered Guatemala. It was interesting, confusing, boring,
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Day 28 Jan 25
Corosal to San Ignaisus 139 miles
So today we went to the zoo. Cool setting, jungle, filled with indiginous animals. Saw the biggest eagles!!! i think they were Harpy Eagles....Pam would know, she's a life list person, I just enjoy what I see.....
Then, the next high light was stopping at "Cheers". Not exactly like the one in Boston... it's a cheerful tropical spot, good food, beer (Beliken), and free Wi-Fi. Needless to say we all stopped there for lunch.
I've had several questions asked by blog followers... yes, I am still knitting socks but not as fast as before...the roads are bumpy and I am the navigator so the log book is in my lap. Local people??? we have not socialized outside our group... our guides have been varied. In mexico, they tended to be mexicans, raised in the states and returned to "home".
Day 27 Jan 24
We are off on a jungle boat ride to Laminai....another Mayan ruins! The boat ride was great, slowing here and there to view some birds, a crocodile, and the best.... feeding bananas to a bunch of spider monkeys. They were expecting us and climbed all over the boat and us!
At Lamanai, we were served a lunch of chicken, beans, and rice and then guided into the jungle to view the ruins and learn the story of their restoraton. I let Pam do the climb to the top the temple...60 some deep, steep, steps to the top! Then we had on opportunity to shop before a long boat ride back.... Good Day!
At Lamanai, we were served a lunch of chicken, beans, and rice and then guided into the jungle to view the ruins and learn the story of their restoraton. I let Pam do the climb to the top the temple...60 some deep, steep, steps to the top! Then we had on opportunity to shop before a long boat ride back.... Good Day!
Day 26 Jan 23
Our day started with the sad news that our tail gunners, Richard and Maria, are turning back....Family concerns.
The real biggy today was the border.... we left Mexico and entered Belize. We were prepared, our refrigeraters were emptied of meats, dairy, vegies,and fruits and all beer and liquor hidden away... We sailed through the borders in just under 3 hours and only one rig was searched and since they were "clean", we all benefited.
So tonight we are in a real campground with water, electric, and sewer. Across the street from the gulf in Coroazal, Belize at Henry's Caribbean Village Resort for 2 nights.
Day 25 Jan 22
Can you believe it? We ate Burger King for lunch.... best french fries since we left the states! Cost 56 pecoes! Clear, sunny day...high 70's at sunrise and 92 at mid-day....I think it's time to start keeping track of temperature in C instead of F!
The Wagon Master gave us health tips for living in the heat....
1.Drink more water, 2. Don't use your air conditioning as it hinders your systems from adjusting to the climate.( No problem for us- we don't have air conditioning) 3. Move slowly
Tonite we in another parking lot...this one is at a ruin....absolutely nothing here but us and nature. The stars are fantastic! The holler monkeys are hollering.....
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Day 24 Jan 21
Today we were taken by coach to the ruins of Palenque. This is a very large, dramatic site! This is one of the great archaeological sites fo Mexico. Then at noon we were bussed to Agua Azul, where we ate lunch. A whole fish, head, fins, tail, in place(minus the guts) deep fried! Delicious!
Then we swam(not Pam) in this clear azure water, floating in the strong currents. Lots of fun, very refreshing in this hot, humid climate. The falls are spectacular....I didn't take any pictures of it unfortunately because I was enjoying the waterplay! I am hoping to get pictures from somebody.
We then visited Misol Ha, (more waterfalls)and walked down under the falls...just a short stop.
Ate dinner in the resturant tonight....8 of us, 5 had steak, 2 chicken, and I had Enchiladas!
Then we swam(not Pam) in this clear azure water, floating in the strong currents. Lots of fun, very refreshing in this hot, humid climate. The falls are spectacular....I didn't take any pictures of it unfortunately because I was enjoying the waterplay! I am hoping to get pictures from somebody.
We then visited Misol Ha, (more waterfalls)and walked down under the falls...just a short stop.
Ate dinner in the resturant tonight....8 of us, 5 had steak, 2 chicken, and I had Enchiladas!
Day 23 Jan 20
At 8:30 this morning 8 taxis arrived and whisked us off to La Venta Parque
& Museo to view the OLMEC heads.....the Olmecs created the first civilization in Mexico then the Mayans....
& Museo to view the OLMEC heads.....the Olmecs created the first civilization in Mexico then the Mayans....
At noon we were back in our rigs and on the road to Palenque. Only 100 miles but now the sun is shining and it is hot! 90 degrees. We are camped at a classy Hotel....again no hook ups but we have a lovely swimming pool....cold, refreshing water. And a poolside changing room with toilets. I don't want to go into this too deeply but...... luxury now is a bano with a toilet seat and toilet paper!
Day 22 Jan 19
This was the longest driving day of the trip...300 miles, on these roads that's alot! Almost doubled our distance. ...Veracruz to Villahermosa. Had several fun stops along the way... the best was a rest stop and 4 children appeared with a squirt bottle of water to wash our windows and realised quickly that washing our winshields wasn't going to be easy because of the size of our rigs..... Pam had tennis balls in a bag and started tossing out a ball to each child....and we all laughed. They were curious about our "casa" and where we were from, so we hauled out the road atlas and pointed.... the older kids knew the names of some of the big US cities and also knew where to find their town on the Mexico map.... They were given other trinkets by the other members of our team (pod).
For a few miles we travelled along with a man on a motor bike with 2 huge crates of chickens tied on behind. We had several photo ops....he passed us, we passed him, the motorhome behind us wanted to photograph him so they zoomed up along side and the fell back in line...
Our lunch stop was at the statue of the "mighty men". It was errected to honor the bridge builders. Two men, in their all together, hauling line............ spectacular!
Bought a pineapple along the road side...all sliced, chilled and ready to eat! Very refreshing!
Tonights camp is at the fairgrounds, in the parking lot.... no fluff tonight.
The temp today was in the high 80's.
Day 21 Jan 18
Today we toured Veracruz by coach with Miss Vicki. Started with Cafe Lechero at the famous Cafe de la Parroquia. Then we wandered the shops along the malecon....tossed coins into the water for the boys to dive for.
Cortez named this port Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz.(Rich town of the true cross) because he landed here on Good Friday. The Fort, San Juan de Vlia, was to defend the town from Pirates. There was a wall around the city also but it no longer exists. The fort is closed to the public currently for reconstruction nso.....
we hopped on the tour bus to La Antiqua for a walk through town and lunch. I had my palm read...you'll be happy to know that I am a loving person, in good health, and will have a long life. There is more but you don't need to know everything!
Our climate is warming up...tody we made it to 80 degrees and fortunately it was overcast so the walking was easy
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Day 20 Jan 17
Happy Birthday to my eldest grandson! Off to Veracruz this morning. We are in the first "pod" so it was a 7:30 departure. Leaving the city of Posa Rica on a Sunday was easy...with little traffic. The countryside is getting prettyier, the roads are still very bad! As we neared Veracruz the roads were rutted on huge pot holes one section and the smooth and refinished the next and then back to mud and ruts.....
Arrived at El Rey RV park about 1:30, settled in and headed for the beach. This campground is outside the city....it's a real camp ground with a few other campers. They must hate us coming in and disturbing their tranqil setting. We are along the shore of the gulf of Mexico. The beach is wide, empty, and clean...no shells to speak of. Too bad it's too cool to swim. Oh well, the wave are too high.
Day 19 Jan 16
Today we are off to El Tajin... The tour bus with Miss Vicki picked us up at 8:30 and we are off for the day. This archaeological site is one of Mexico important. We had a very good guide, a member of the Totonac tribe. The Totonacs are believed to be the last inhabitants of the site. We also watched the Voladores perform an incredable "dance", 4 men atop a tall pole, tied around the waist with a rope that has been wound around the pole and a 5th man(78 yrs old) balancing on top while beating a drum and playing a flute. At the right moment the 4 men flip off backward and twirl down to the ground gracefully.
Lunch was Chicken with Mole or a green sauce...I chose the green sauce and it was outstanding! Hope to get a recipe! The Mole was good also but I had that sauce only the night before. Bought an ear of roasted corn, slathered with mayonaise and sprinkled with cheese...delicious! everyone was expecting me to get sick or atleast a protesting tummy but....no problems. Also bought a few trinkets.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Day 18 Friday 1/15/2010
Last night I signed off to go to a resturant... Had a delicious meal of Pollo wrapped on corn tortillas with a Mole sauce and a Modelo!
So today we are on our way to Posa Rica...apparently this will be a good chance to check out our shock absorbers. The roads are narrow and all torn up, our log book is filled with the mile marks locating the TOPES (pronounced toe-pays). Translation: speed bumps. And then guys stand out there as you drive over there Topes with their hands out asking for a peso.........
We are travelling in Pods of 3 or 4 rigs and today we are in the middle with a good leader in front and a good follower behind. We made several interesting stops. One to buy jicama at a roadside stand and had a little chat with the wife trying out her english and we trying our spanish. Then we stopped for lunch...again a roadside stand with a fire going advertising Pollo Asada. All 6 of us were given an unbelievable feast of 2 grilled chickens, tortillas, and sauces for 150 pesoes......that's just under 15 dollars! The town was Naranjas. (Orange) The countryside is filled with orange groves and the roadsides have vender after vender trying to sell of oranges, bananas, coconuts, jicamas. We already have a lot of fruit and veges to eat before we go into Belize. Anyway, the countryside have gotten quite lush and rolling....wish the roads were better, we have to be on constant watch for potholes and wash outs!
And the CB is getting easier to use, even pointing out some sites along the way, etc. Probably because we started giving heads up on trucks barrelling up from behind and Topes ahead!
Have I mentioned the glories of mexican mud? It's so ooey, gooey....We've had rain daily since we left Texas so our Campsites (unpaved hotel parking lots) are very sloppy.
After we got to tonights site we were asked to stay along the roadside while the pulled the first motorhome that entered the lot out of the mud.... so about an hour later and much rearranging we finally were given a spot to settle in.
As I read back through this blog it sounds as though we are not having any fun but there are alot of laughs. Although, not much time for line dancing! Tonight another Margarita party and the tomorrows tour guide, Vicki, will give us the schedule for the trip to El Tajin (ta-heen).
So today we are on our way to Posa Rica...apparently this will be a good chance to check out our shock absorbers. The roads are narrow and all torn up, our log book is filled with the mile marks locating the TOPES (pronounced toe-pays). Translation: speed bumps. And then guys stand out there as you drive over there Topes with their hands out asking for a peso.........
We are travelling in Pods of 3 or 4 rigs and today we are in the middle with a good leader in front and a good follower behind. We made several interesting stops. One to buy jicama at a roadside stand and had a little chat with the wife trying out her english and we trying our spanish. Then we stopped for lunch...again a roadside stand with a fire going advertising Pollo Asada. All 6 of us were given an unbelievable feast of 2 grilled chickens, tortillas, and sauces for 150 pesoes......that's just under 15 dollars! The town was Naranjas. (Orange) The countryside is filled with orange groves and the roadsides have vender after vender trying to sell of oranges, bananas, coconuts, jicamas. We already have a lot of fruit and veges to eat before we go into Belize. Anyway, the countryside have gotten quite lush and rolling....wish the roads were better, we have to be on constant watch for potholes and wash outs!
And the CB is getting easier to use, even pointing out some sites along the way, etc. Probably because we started giving heads up on trucks barrelling up from behind and Topes ahead!
Have I mentioned the glories of mexican mud? It's so ooey, gooey....We've had rain daily since we left Texas so our Campsites (unpaved hotel parking lots) are very sloppy.
After we got to tonights site we were asked to stay along the roadside while the pulled the first motorhome that entered the lot out of the mud.... so about an hour later and much rearranging we finally were given a spot to settle in.
As I read back through this blog it sounds as though we are not having any fun but there are alot of laughs. Although, not much time for line dancing! Tonight another Margarita party and the tomorrows tour guide, Vicki, will give us the schedule for the trip to El Tajin (ta-heen).
signing off,
Wild Wandering Widows
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day 17 Jan 14
The caravan isn't leaving until 11 am so Pam and I went walking.... the street is divided by a wide strip of grass and trees with a nice walkway down the middle. Found a store like a super Wal Mart and we walked the aisles.... We were looking for and found the vegetable wash that the staff reccommends and then bought a few things we really didn't need....arros con leche, light coca cola, a snickers bar...... then as we walked on we passed by MacDonalds....looks just like all MacDonalds...
Finally we got on the road. Today, we were divided into 4 groups, leaving the park in 15 minute intervals.... it is a very different type of driving and travelling. We communicate by CB radio and that's still kind of chancey....a rig may hear the message but not acknowledge....well, we are learning how to communicate. Today we seemed more at ease with it and started pointing out things of interest. There are flocks of goats grazing along the highway with herders... several Army convoys (4 or 5 jeeps with soldiers with machine guns), and several check points. We were waved through but they were stopping cars... kind of disconcerting. It was an interesting drive today....fields of some kind of stalks being harvested, mountains on the horizon, different mix of cactus and flowering bushes........
We are starting to get warm...74 degrees today. So tonight after we were all parked behind a Hotel in Tampico we were treated to a Sangria party by the pool. Too cool to swim.
Time to sign off... Pam and I are eating out tonight in a resturant.
WWW
Finally we got on the road. Today, we were divided into 4 groups, leaving the park in 15 minute intervals.... it is a very different type of driving and travelling. We communicate by CB radio and that's still kind of chancey....a rig may hear the message but not acknowledge....well, we are learning how to communicate. Today we seemed more at ease with it and started pointing out things of interest. There are flocks of goats grazing along the highway with herders... several Army convoys (4 or 5 jeeps with soldiers with machine guns), and several check points. We were waved through but they were stopping cars... kind of disconcerting. It was an interesting drive today....fields of some kind of stalks being harvested, mountains on the horizon, different mix of cactus and flowering bushes........
We are starting to get warm...74 degrees today. So tonight after we were all parked behind a Hotel in Tampico we were treated to a Sangria party by the pool. Too cool to swim.
Time to sign off... Pam and I are eating out tonight in a resturant.
WWW
Day16 1/13
D_day is finaly here! We are al lined up...18 rigs and ready to leave the park at 8 am!
We are cleared to cross into Mexico by the Wagonmaster but at the check point several rigs were stopped and we were one. The guards wanted to look inside the camper...the wagonmaster said they were curioso. The others that were stopped, the guards just looked underneath or just talked to the driver.
It was a long slow day, we arrived at the campground in CD Victorio around 3:30. The staff planned a Margurita Party for us and built a big bond fire. Nice evening!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Day 15 1/12/2010
All that is left for us to do before departure tomorrow morning is our laundry! Actually, that's not exactly true because there is the stuff that needs to be done as we ready for exiting the campsite....dumping, unplugging, battening the hatches, etc. We are to exit in numerical order tomorrow....we are rig 13.
Don't know when I'll be posting again, finding internet sites might be sketchy. So I'll sign out for now....WWW
Don't know when I'll be posting again, finding internet sites might be sketchy. So I'll sign out for now....WWW
Monday, January 11, 2010
Day 14 1/11
I am feeling a bit of pride... not for the quality of the pictures but for the fact that I have been able to get some pictures on this blog site! The track camper is self explanatory, I think. The interior shot is taken from the table looking to the bed over the cab of the truck, with Pam still under the covers. This rig is essentially 8X10, so it's quite cozy. We have a full service bathroom....sit on the commode, brush teeth, and shower all in one motion. Needless to say, we use the campground facilities as much as possible. You an see the covered sink and to the left is a 3 burner stove top.
Todays the day! We have been waiting for this day for a long, long time...We have our first orientation....get to meet all the other caravanners and start hearing what we need to know from the wagonmaster and tailgunners about this road trip we are embarking upon.
I cannot tell you how much I am loving this.... meeting these other travellers and hearing of their adventures, and listening to the staff about what lies ahead for us! It is so exciting!!!! And it makes me realize that we have so much ahead that is unimagineable! All ready Pam and I are awake far into the night talking..... Anticipating, wondering!
signing off..... WWW
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Day 12 & 13 1/9 &10
It's a good thing! This blog writing is making me stay real....well I am trying to keep up with the modern world but I have messed up so much by not paying attention and I apologize to y'all. Forgetting the blog sign-in address and then consistently sending out the wrong address.... Day 1 is on http://www.franstravels2010.blogspot.com and the rest are on http://www.frannysadventures.blogspot.com. Well, that's why I started this whole thing 2 weeks before take-off. Maybe, I finally have it right?
There has been a lot to learn besides blogging and this old brain is trying hard to keep up with all the information being tossed at me.... I've got notes galore all ready and our orientation doesn't begin until tomorrow! Oh well, there is a lot to prepare for this trip. Just getting the vehicles checked out is quite an education for me.... we carry everything to fuel the stove, furnace, frig and freezer....sometimes electric (batteries) sometimes propane... where are the tanks and switches and what do you do when??? And then there is water....fresh or grey....where to fill, how to drain/flush....
It's really great and fun and fascinating.... So tomorrow we get the rules of the road plus meeting and greeting our fellow travellers....
AND for fun there are all the activities here at the trailer park....google Texas Trails RV Resort. Yesterday, there was a pancake breakfast, and in the afternoon a 2 hr jam session(just the "winter Texans" playing their instruments together) playing oldies and lots of couples dancing. And today was an Ice cream social and then tonight a Neil Diamond impersonator gave a concert. Fun and funny!
well, it's time to sign out,
Wild Wandering Widows
There has been a lot to learn besides blogging and this old brain is trying hard to keep up with all the information being tossed at me.... I've got notes galore all ready and our orientation doesn't begin until tomorrow! Oh well, there is a lot to prepare for this trip. Just getting the vehicles checked out is quite an education for me.... we carry everything to fuel the stove, furnace, frig and freezer....sometimes electric (batteries) sometimes propane... where are the tanks and switches and what do you do when??? And then there is water....fresh or grey....where to fill, how to drain/flush....
It's really great and fun and fascinating.... So tomorrow we get the rules of the road plus meeting and greeting our fellow travellers....
AND for fun there are all the activities here at the trailer park....google Texas Trails RV Resort. Yesterday, there was a pancake breakfast, and in the afternoon a 2 hr jam session(just the "winter Texans" playing their instruments together) playing oldies and lots of couples dancing. And today was an Ice cream social and then tonight a Neil Diamond impersonator gave a concert. Fun and funny!
well, it's time to sign out,
Wild Wandering Widows
Friday, January 8, 2010
Day 11 1/8/2010
We line danced this morning.... would love to have more but we enjoyed!
Grocery shopping was next. Our pantry is quite lean and we need to be eating better...too much fast food. And I want to try cooking in this little kitchen before we go much farther. Got the makings for Chili and a Chicken and Rice meals... and lots of salad stuff! Quiet afternoon.... there are lots of park activities but with the cold weather nobodies hanging out.
Dance tonight with a band so we checked it out..... The dancing was definately "Texas Style" but very popular !
signing out....WWW
Grocery shopping was next. Our pantry is quite lean and we need to be eating better...too much fast food. And I want to try cooking in this little kitchen before we go much farther. Got the makings for Chili and a Chicken and Rice meals... and lots of salad stuff! Quiet afternoon.... there are lots of park activities but with the cold weather nobodies hanging out.
Dance tonight with a band so we checked it out..... The dancing was definately "Texas Style" but very popular !
signing out....WWW
Day 10 1/7/2010
Up and out early looking for the Chevy garage for an oil change and check up.... quite frustrating. As I alluded earlier we won't get lost with all our GPS and maps but we got very confused making our way around . Then the afternoon was business with our caravan staff. The tail gunners(we have 2) came around to go over our rig... checked our equipment, our fire extinguishers, generator, asked all sorts of questions about maintenance of the truck.... very thorough. And then pasted our 8X8 Adventure Caravan stickers and number 13's fore and aft.
Then the tail gunner wives showed up and went over the schedule of meetings for Monday and Tuesday, went over all the paperwork with us...health forms, dietary preferences, gave us our log books, maps, name tags, and jackets. They were very chatty and we learned alot about them. Then 6 of us were taken to the border to get our vehicles registered and visas for Mexico. They finally finish with us about 8 pm. We were hungry and exhausted! So glad that's done with....we are free to do as we desire until Monday.
signing out WWW
Then the tail gunner wives showed up and went over the schedule of meetings for Monday and Tuesday, went over all the paperwork with us...health forms, dietary preferences, gave us our log books, maps, name tags, and jackets. They were very chatty and we learned alot about them. Then 6 of us were taken to the border to get our vehicles registered and visas for Mexico. They finally finish with us about 8 pm. We were hungry and exhausted! So glad that's done with....we are free to do as we desire until Monday.
signing out WWW
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Day 9 wed.1/6
Sent yesterdays blog today 'cause we had no internet.
Now I am back on track!
WOW...TODAY FRAN GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL. Pam actually allowed me to drive her truck!!! I offered her my knitting but she declined.... she just sat there chewing her nails and telling me to slow down. Believe it or not I was only going 55-60 mph and the speed limit is 70.
We have arrived at Texas Trail RV Park and we will soon be surrounded by the 30 members of our Aventure Caravan(15 rigs). Our leaders (Staff) are here and handed us our packet with name tags, maps, and schedule of events and meetings til we leave. We have 5 nights here before we hit the trail.... Plenty of time to get the oil changed and pick up any items we have forgotten. We need to get our vehicles registered with Mexico, our visas, fees paid, and our money changed.
My camera has arrived, Thanks Kristin. I feel better having it in hand.... now I'll try to figure out how to post pictures.
Among the multitude of activities offered here there is Line Dancing Friday morning at 9:30...so guess where we will be!
Now I am back on track!
WOW...TODAY FRAN GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL. Pam actually allowed me to drive her truck!!! I offered her my knitting but she declined.... she just sat there chewing her nails and telling me to slow down. Believe it or not I was only going 55-60 mph and the speed limit is 70.
We have arrived at Texas Trail RV Park and we will soon be surrounded by the 30 members of our Aventure Caravan(15 rigs). Our leaders (Staff) are here and handed us our packet with name tags, maps, and schedule of events and meetings til we leave. We have 5 nights here before we hit the trail.... Plenty of time to get the oil changed and pick up any items we have forgotten. We need to get our vehicles registered with Mexico, our visas, fees paid, and our money changed.
My camera has arrived, Thanks Kristin. I feel better having it in hand.... now I'll try to figure out how to post pictures.
Among the multitude of activities offered here there is Line Dancing Friday morning at 9:30...so guess where we will be!
Day8 Tuesday 1/5
Late start this morning.... we ate a leisurely breakfast, it's hard to leave such fine hospitality at Matt and Graces! Thankyou Dillons!
Headed south toward Baton Rouge... it was only 22 degrees and there were snow flurries( I'm tired of saying that too, so it stops here). We started to see fellow camping vehicles as we travelled west into Texas and the temp started to rise.
I finished knitting the first pair of socks (of the trip) started on Day one.
Found a spot at the wal mart in Victoria TX to spend our last night "on the road".
Headed south toward Baton Rouge... it was only 22 degrees and there were snow flurries( I'm tired of saying that too, so it stops here). We started to see fellow camping vehicles as we travelled west into Texas and the temp started to rise.
I finished knitting the first pair of socks (of the trip) started on Day one.
Found a spot at the wal mart in Victoria TX to spend our last night "on the road".
Monday, January 4, 2010
Day 7 1/4/2010
I am not going to talk about the weather...we are all experiencing cold,etc.
I am loving Natchez....Enjoying the hospitality here so much we decided to stay another day. So today we toured two mansions- Stanton Hall and Rosalie while Grace was at the doctors appointment and Matt chauffeured us around.
As I said yesterday...Pam wants to have a say, so she is going to finish todays blog!
Tues 12/29-- Today is the day to start the adventure and guess what- Great, just Great, SNOW-SNOW-SNOW all over my camper, oh well, grab the shovel and make a path, finish loading.
One last check of the house and pray everything is taken care. Unplug the power, clear off the truck, fire up the diesel and pull out the drive with one last look back and I say goodbye to snow and cold. A quick stop in Bangor to see my son as he must go across to serve our country, another stop in Cumberland to see grandchildren and off to pick up Fran.
Well, didn't quite make it before dark, but I found her street, not wanting to back up the camper, I called on my cell, "Fran, where are you?"," here I am, see me?" she says," my, you look impressive with all the lights on", and I pulled into the driveway. Boy, is it cold going into the house. Went out to supper with Fran,Kristin, and Frances. After supper we thought we better spend the night in the house. Went back to get my night clothes from the camper and the lock was frozen...had to get a hair drier to get in.
So off early, 6:30 in 8 degree air. Smooth sailing and light traffic till NY, we took the GW and nearly got creamed in slow moving traffic, a guy pulling over in front of me but he and I stopped in time, all because some crazy man stopped and got out of his car, hope he didn't get creamed. So we got to Winchester for the night. And guess what, it snowed. A little late getting off as Fran had to take back her strawberryjelly for jam(she's living on pb&j) (still cold)
Two nights with my cousin in Kingston and very happy to see my Aunt is doing so well, delicious food and a great visit and we are off again, you guessed it...snow flurries (is this a sign or something) til we got into Alabama but a nice quiet day and pretty as the snow covered the trees aand the rolling hills and fences. It did warm as we got nearer Mississippi, nearly a heat wave...44 degrees.
So here we are at my dear friend Grace and Matt's house.
signing off, M.W. Pam
I am loving Natchez....Enjoying the hospitality here so much we decided to stay another day. So today we toured two mansions- Stanton Hall and Rosalie while Grace was at the doctors appointment and Matt chauffeured us around.
As I said yesterday...Pam wants to have a say, so she is going to finish todays blog!
Tues 12/29-- Today is the day to start the adventure and guess what- Great, just Great, SNOW-SNOW-SNOW all over my camper, oh well, grab the shovel and make a path, finish loading.
One last check of the house and pray everything is taken care. Unplug the power, clear off the truck, fire up the diesel and pull out the drive with one last look back and I say goodbye to snow and cold. A quick stop in Bangor to see my son as he must go across to serve our country, another stop in Cumberland to see grandchildren and off to pick up Fran.
Well, didn't quite make it before dark, but I found her street, not wanting to back up the camper, I called on my cell, "Fran, where are you?"," here I am, see me?" she says," my, you look impressive with all the lights on", and I pulled into the driveway. Boy, is it cold going into the house. Went out to supper with Fran,Kristin, and Frances. After supper we thought we better spend the night in the house. Went back to get my night clothes from the camper and the lock was frozen...had to get a hair drier to get in.
So off early, 6:30 in 8 degree air. Smooth sailing and light traffic till NY, we took the GW and nearly got creamed in slow moving traffic, a guy pulling over in front of me but he and I stopped in time, all because some crazy man stopped and got out of his car, hope he didn't get creamed. So we got to Winchester for the night. And guess what, it snowed. A little late getting off as Fran had to take back her strawberryjelly for jam(she's living on pb&j) (still cold)
Two nights with my cousin in Kingston and very happy to see my Aunt is doing so well, delicious food and a great visit and we are off again, you guessed it...snow flurries (is this a sign or something) til we got into Alabama but a nice quiet day and pretty as the snow covered the trees aand the rolling hills and fences. It did warm as we got nearer Mississippi, nearly a heat wave...44 degrees.
So here we are at my dear friend Grace and Matt's house.
signing off, M.W. Pam
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Day6 1/3/2010
Sunday....A day of rest.
We must be bringing the cold south with us (you think?), it was 29 degrees here this morning in Natchez, Mississippi. The Dillons took us out to beakfast and then they took us on a tour of Natchez....past the beautiful southern mansions. Stopped and toured a mansion called Melrose that belongs to the National Park..... Original furnishings, etc. Lovely!
Spent the afternoon napping, reading, playing games on the computer. Visiting with Grace and Matt is so interesting... They have been RVers for ever and have been all over the States, Canada, Mexico, even caravaning in South Africa and Australia. So they have many tales to tell.
Pam has decided I need to be taking notes during the day because she says I am missing lots of details in my Blog.... So, soon you'll be hearing some from Pam!
signing off, the W.W.W.'s
We must be bringing the cold south with us (you think?), it was 29 degrees here this morning in Natchez, Mississippi. The Dillons took us out to beakfast and then they took us on a tour of Natchez....past the beautiful southern mansions. Stopped and toured a mansion called Melrose that belongs to the National Park..... Original furnishings, etc. Lovely!
Spent the afternoon napping, reading, playing games on the computer. Visiting with Grace and Matt is so interesting... They have been RVers for ever and have been all over the States, Canada, Mexico, even caravaning in South Africa and Australia. So they have many tales to tell.
Pam has decided I need to be taking notes during the day because she says I am missing lots of details in my Blog.... So, soon you'll be hearing some from Pam!
signing off, the W.W.W.'s
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Day 5 1/2/2010
Will we ever get to the tropics? Awoke this morning to snow flurries and 22 degree temp..... Thought we were getting warmer but no such luck! We had flurries most of the morning as we drove south from knoxville on 75 into Alabama and finally it warmed to 45 and the sun came out as we entered Mississippi..... so we had a lovely drive along the Natchez Trace to, you guessed it, Natchez. We are here for a day or two visiting with Grace and Matt Dillon. Grace was the original partner for this adventure with Pam. The Dillons are RVers and have travelled with Pam. Health concerns is preventing them from making this trip.
Sorry to say it was quite the uneventful day.... You know the drill, Pam drove and Fran knit and navigated. You can imagine my dismay to dicover I wasn't getting my daily blogs out there....I hope all goes well now eventhough I still don't know the how, why or when of it. Any suggestions?
Signing off....W.W.W.'s
Sorry to say it was quite the uneventful day.... You know the drill, Pam drove and Fran knit and navigated. You can imagine my dismay to dicover I wasn't getting my daily blogs out there....I hope all goes well now eventhough I still don't know the how, why or when of it. Any suggestions?
Signing off....W.W.W.'s
Friday, January 1, 2010
Day4- New Years Day 1/1/2010
Happy New Year!
We are staying put....sleeping in and visiting with Pam's Aunt Edith, and cousin Phil and wife Connie. Leisurely breakfast, sunny, getting warmer...hope,hope, actually it's pretty nippy outside. We've started wondering how hot it has to get before we will be wishing it isn't quite so warm..80 or 90 drgrees? I guess this isn't nice to be chattering about when North is having WEATHER or expecting it soon.
I have finally had time to unpack my bag and stow my gear. I've taken inventory of all that I have with me. Thanks to my family, I am loaded with Deet, Sun Block, lotions, and the all medicinal stuff one needs for everything under the sun! The only thing missing is my camera..but Kristin located it at her house and is mailing it to the camp ground in Pharr Texas. And Frances has made sure I won't be bored with plenty of sudoku, and cards, and pictures of family and for some reason,Hugh Grant and a paper doll named Fred...What in the world is my family telling me? My travelling Stokley is also here at my bedside.
I forgot to mention Wanda's cookies yesterday....they are so much better when warm! Thanks Wanda!
Another delicious meal with Aunt Edith, Phil and Connie...listening to family stories... We've said our Thanks and farewells as we'll be off at daybreak.
Signing off, W.W.Widows (?)
We are staying put....sleeping in and visiting with Pam's Aunt Edith, and cousin Phil and wife Connie. Leisurely breakfast, sunny, getting warmer...hope,hope, actually it's pretty nippy outside. We've started wondering how hot it has to get before we will be wishing it isn't quite so warm..80 or 90 drgrees? I guess this isn't nice to be chattering about when North is having WEATHER or expecting it soon.
I have finally had time to unpack my bag and stow my gear. I've taken inventory of all that I have with me. Thanks to my family, I am loaded with Deet, Sun Block, lotions, and the all medicinal stuff one needs for everything under the sun! The only thing missing is my camera..but Kristin located it at her house and is mailing it to the camp ground in Pharr Texas. And Frances has made sure I won't be bored with plenty of sudoku, and cards, and pictures of family and for some reason,Hugh Grant and a paper doll named Fred...What in the world is my family telling me? My travelling Stokley is also here at my bedside.
I forgot to mention Wanda's cookies yesterday....they are so much better when warm! Thanks Wanda!
Another delicious meal with Aunt Edith, Phil and Connie...listening to family stories... We've said our Thanks and farewells as we'll be off at daybreak.
Signing off, W.W.Widows (?)
Day3 12/31
This is going to get pretty boring....same old stuff. Pams driving and frans knitting/navigating. But that's the way it is after all, we are driving to Texas to meet up with our "Adventure Caravan". So it's 8 or 10 or how many hours we choose to drive of....Pam's driving and Fran's knitting/navigating and there are the fuel, potty and meal stops. Now the scenery might be of interest but well it's winter and so it pretty much bleak until you look beyond to the frosted trees, the white squares of pasture land with dottings of black cows...Ansel Adams-ish.
What we are appreciating also is the temperature rising... slowly, but rising.
This morning there was 3 inches of snow and 28 degrees and as we continued along Rt 81 we got sun, then slush, then rain, and I don't even remember how far along we were before realizing the fields were greenish and the temp was 50 at 5 pm when we arrived at tonights destinaton. My first overnight beyond the confines of Wal-mart(atleast camping with Pam).
So tonight, New Years eve, we are in Kingston TN at Pam's cousins, having dinner around the table with family and sleeping in the camper in the driveway,(only slightly tilted down hill)and plugged in so we have all the lights on and the heater on too. This could be heaven.
signing off...W Wandering W's
What we are appreciating also is the temperature rising... slowly, but rising.
This morning there was 3 inches of snow and 28 degrees and as we continued along Rt 81 we got sun, then slush, then rain, and I don't even remember how far along we were before realizing the fields were greenish and the temp was 50 at 5 pm when we arrived at tonights destinaton. My first overnight beyond the confines of Wal-mart(atleast camping with Pam).
So tonight, New Years eve, we are in Kingston TN at Pam's cousins, having dinner around the table with family and sleeping in the camper in the driveway,(only slightly tilted down hill)and plugged in so we have all the lights on and the heater on too. This could be heaven.
signing off...W Wandering W's
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