And..... we're off!

Our 5th wheel at Shady Pines

Oct 12, 2009

We left Texarkana today -- Gus' 26th birthday -- to begin our travels.  It was bittersweet to leave.  I cried most of last night. Hard to leave Gus, Edith, Jakeb, our peeps.  But very happy that we are realizing our dream!  God has allowed it all to come together.  We would've been gone about a month ago.  But David broke his leg and Dr. Pappas has finally given him the green light to drive again.

George and Jerri at Catfish Hole

Rocky's new Hog Sweater

We spent our first 2 nights in Fayetteville, AR.  Visited with Will (sr. year at U of A) and Jerri Cooper and hubby George.  Met them all at the Catfish Hole.  Yum!  The foliage around Fayetteville is beautiful right now! Got Rocky a new Razorback sweater for the fall and winter.

Oct. 14, 2009:  Left Fayetteville for Stuart, Iowa. Foliage really popping between the 2 spots. Had to bring the new Excel back over to Bob & Jo's in Guthrie Center to repair a couple of things. While they are working on it, we will drive over to Little Rock, IA to visit Laura Lee for a couple of days. She's loving her new job at Odesseyware in Rock Rapids (birthplace of Jerry Mathers). 
Went with her to Worthington, MN and ate at the Ground Round.  Very good -- she and I had tried it when I moved her up here a few weeks ago.

Laura Lee

Oct 15, 2009:  Laura's apt is great.  She looks great and seems very happy. No snow while we were here, but it was in the forecast.  It was windy and COLD - 20's and 30's!!  Iowa forecasts change often, I'm learning.

Oct. 16, 2009:  Met a girl from TN in the Worthington, MN Walmart. We had a fun conversation and understood each other!  No language barriers. haha

Oct. 17, 2009:  Beautiful foliage in Iowa.  Who woulda thought it? Lots of "Wind Farms" (turbines) which are kinda fun to see. Huge!

Oct. 18, 2009:  Headed to Shelby, IA after picking up camper. Had a flat tire and ended up "stranded" at Shelby Country Inn RV Park. No trees and very high winds! But sufficient rv park.

Oct. 19, 2009:  Enroute from Shelby to Topeka.  Saw eagle on a fencepost along 129.  We are infested with ladybugs from the Iowa combining! Flushed our first pheasant out of a field in Nebraska as we drove by. Spent the night in an excellent rv park in Topeka - Deer Creek.

Bec and Rocky at El Dorado SP in Kansas

Oct 27, 2009:  We're in Kansas and the foliage is great!  After coming here for nearly 21 years, I guess this is my first October in KS -- we were always working during this time. Really pretty!  Guess I'm still having accent issues.  Went into a Walmart and had to ask a manager for help finding ice trays. He took me to the ASH TRAYS!

Oct 28, 2009:  Our 21st wedding anniversary. Went to see Couples Retreat - pitiful. Then out to eat at On the Border. The server was from Argentina and he actually asked me about my accent!

Bike Trail to see the trains

Playground time at El Dorado SP

Grandpa, Grammy, and the Boys

Nov. 8, 2009:  This has been a really good visit. Justin and his little family spent some time at the camper during days.  The boys love the playground and going on the bike path to see the trains -- Andrew's fave thing!  Had a lot of good visits with nearly all the McClintock's.

Nicole and Family

Nicole and her husband and boys came out for supper one day. That was the first time we'd met her husband.  Had a lot of good visiting time with Mac and Wanda, too. Ate at Freddy's Custard in El Dorado -- my new fave burger!

Nov. 9, 2009:  Headed to OK City and stayed at Twin Fountains RV Park.  Very nice!

Nov. 11, 2009:  Went to the Nat'l Cowboy Museum today.  Really good!  Nice gift shop.  haha. Santa got me a new Globe bike today.

Entering the OK City Memorial

Bec walking thru the Memorial grounds

Inside the Memorial

Markers for each person killed that day

They still bring flowers

Sad day

Nov 12, 2009:  Visited the OK City Nat'l Memorial today. Very sobering.  It's where the federal building was bombed a few years back.  Can't walk around it without feeling the sadness from that day and remembering the news reports. Very nice memorial.

Nov 15, 2009:  Got back to Texarkana where we will stay through Thanksgiving.  Staying at Shady Pines a few days.

Set up at Clear Springs

flooded campsites

Nov. 18, 2009:  Moved to Clear Springs at Wright Patman.  Have a great spot: tall pines, woodsy, outdoor sounds, spacious sites. No sewer and too many mosquitos.  But sights and sounds made up for it.  Really enjoy campgrounds more than rv parks.  Loop B is flooded.  Sherry and Billy are camping out here, too. Gus and Jakeb came out for supper.  Tried my new bike for the first time. Very comfy! Santa did good.

Edith's 90th: David, Gus, Bec, and Edith

Edith's Emmaus Peeps: Lisa, Bec, Kay, and Alice

Surprise!

Edith with Sharon and Jimmy

Edith, Manning, Bill

Pam and Edith

Nov 21, 2009:  We had Edith's surprise 90th bday today at Big Jakes, AR side.  Very fun and she truly was surprised!  She cried -- which we don't see too often.

Cranford/Kathey and Bec/David and The Rock

Cran on his new toy

Kathey and Cranford set up their camper across the road from us.  Great to have friends and family around again!

Nov 26, 2009:  Went to Bill and Pam's for Thanksgiving. Such a nice setting and wonderful day!

Gus and Becky

So glad we could just venture out a little and come right back home as we begin our journey.  I think that helped me with the transition. Now we are about to really begin our travels!


Until Later,

David and Becky