April 6, Good Friday

After an uneventful 796km drive, - which included a 3 minute wait at customs - we arrived at Ken & Lynda's home in Caledon East. We will leave the trailer there and spend the weekend in Mississauga, visiting our son & his family and my parents.

The final leg of our journey will be on Monday.

Until next time, safe travels!

April 5, On to Indiana

After surviving the near-tornado, we got to Nashville yesterday. (826 km)

This morning was sunny & 19C as we hit the road. The campground forecast looked good!







As we continued north-east, the skies clouded over and the temperature dropped to 12C by noon. We encountered construction through Louisville (of course). After crossing the Ohio River, we were in Indiana and stopped for lunch. The next challenge was to get around Indianopolis, which went fairly smoothly. We were making good time until we encountered a construction delay just 8 km from the campground.

Finally arrived at 5:00 to an even older park than the one 2 nights ago! The bonus was that the lilacs were blooming, scenting the air all around us and the temperature had warmed up a little.

April 3, Austin, Texas to Texarkana, Arkansas

We were on the road by 8:10 hoping to get past Dallas today.
After a rest stop south of Dallas, we continued on and reached Texarkana at 3:45. We had heard that there were some weather warnings out, so wanted to go as far as was reasonable. Ended up covering 624 km by the time we settled in to the RV park.

It turned out to be a very old park, but had cable TV! Our site was a "Pull-through", but not very straight!

By 5:00, rain and wind started and as we watched the weather channel, we saw the tornado warnings around Dallas. There was a tornado that touched down in Arlington shortly after we passed through and apparently a couple more about 10 miles from us. Close call!

April 2, Austin, Texas

This morning is humid and 21C. While chatting with my brother via Skype, he told me that next weekend is Easter and my parents are going ot our son's in Mississauga! Hadn't looked at the calendar, so was rather surprised. We decided to head north tomorrow, so as to be at our son's for Easter.

Spent the morning doing laundry, then after lunch we all went to the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin, which is an impressive 8 story building.
www.lbjlibrary.org
However, it was a disappointment due to the fact that the LBJ Library is in the midst of a major redesign of its exhibits. In late March, the bulk of the major construction in redesigning the LBJ Library begins. Visitors should expect that the core exhibits of the Library will be closed.
Just our luck! We did see the replica of the Oval Office and on the same floor, a pictoral history of Lyndon Baines Johnson's life. At least it was free admission!

Since the library was a short visit, we had time to go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre,






Many wildflowers were blooming beautifully, especially the bluebells!

After supper, we got together with Ted & Jeanette







We convinced Ted to get his guitar out & had a jam session with Lynda on the "Ugly stick" from Newfoundland and Marcel on the spoons. Had a great evening with old friends!


We'll be heading north in the morning!

April 1, On to Austin, via Johnson City

At 8:00, it was overcast, humid and 20C, as we hit the road.

By 9:40, we arrived in Johnson City, found the Visitor Centre and watched a movie about LBJ.

Went on a Ranger-led tour of Lyndon Johnson's boyhood home.






We left the RV's in the parking lot & took the car to Stonewall where the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & National Historical Park are located. www.nps.gov/lyjo
There, we signed up for a self-guided driving tour of the LBJ Ranch.

We stopped at the Junction School, a one-room school that LBJ attended at age 4.

Included in the tour was the reconstructed birthplace, the Johnson family cemetary, where he is buried, and the "Texas Whitehouse" and Hangar.

This is the Texas Whitehouse, where a lot of meetings and business was conducted during Johnson's Presidency.
We toured the home, which has been restored to its 1963 - 1968 appearance.

The hangar houses LBJ's personal plane, a Jet Star, which he used to commute to & from Washington DC.





Following the tour, we returned to Johnson City and our rigs. The temperature was a humid 31C.

The Bluebonnets are in full bloom as are other flowers.







Off we went to Oak Forest RV Park in Austin. As we pulled in, who should walk up, but Jeanette & Ted Lloyd, a couple we toured Alaska with in 2006! They are on their way home to Tottenham after spending the winter in the Rio Grande Valley. What are the odds??????

March 31, "Chill-out" Day

Weather was clear and 20C this morning. Opened the windows for some fresh air, but by 11:00, closed up & turned the A/C on. It was very humid - 95% I was told. This comes after the 5% relative humidity in Arizona!

Walked around the park. The sites surround a man-made lake........






         ....... complete with waterfowl. (Cormorant)

There is also a beautiful pool thhat no one is using!







In the afternoon, Lynda & I went shopping - to Wal-Mart, where else?

March 30, San Antonio Tour

Very foggy this morning, but 20C. Hoping we didn't make a mistake booking the tour for today.

We were picked up at the campground for the all-day tour.

The first item on the tour was a Riverboat ride on the San Antonio River on the Riverwalk.

We had a beautiful, narrated boat ride. The weather was perfect - sunny & warm.







Next, we visited the Japanese sunken gardens which sported a huge stone pagoda

And beautiful gardens






Then it was back to the city for 2 hours on our own for touring and lunch.
We visited the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum www.buckhornmuseum.com which houses an amazing display of wildlife from around the world.

The displays were very realistic, displayed in their own natural setting!

This is what a Javelina looks like - I didn't get a good pic of the live ones at Big Bend.







We enjoyed walking on the Riverwalk & people-watching on a beautiful day.

At 2:00, we returned to the tour bus and were off to visit two missions, San Jose and Mission Concepcion, which are being restored.
This is San Jose Mission.
Founded in 1720 by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús, Mission San José became the largest Texas Mission. After early setbacks, 300 inhabitants were sustained by the vast fields and herds of livestock. A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen of the Missions." The church's carvings are among its most notable features and the famous "Rose Window" is considered one of the finest pieces of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the country. Other features are the convento area and the stairway to the belfry and choir loft - each of the 25 risers was hand-hewn from a single live-oak log and constructed without nails or pegs. Also featured is a granary with flying buttresses, a gristmill, restored defensive walls and quarters.

Mission Conception. This handsome stone church was dedicated in 1755, and appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. In its heyday, colorful geometric designs covered its surface, but the patterns have long since faded or been worn away. However, original frescos are still visible in several of the rooms.


The final stop was at the Farmer's market, which was full of Mexican crafts.
All in all, it was an excellent but tiring day.

March 29, on to San Antonio

Cloudy morning, but pleasantly warm at 19.5 C.
It s so nice to see everything green & big trees! We have definately left the desert behind.
Since we are heading north from the Texas/Mexico border, we encountered a border inspection station, complete with a K9, who sniffed around the trailer. No problem, of course!

It was a relatively short drive (284 km), so we arrived at the park by noon & got set up. After lunch we went in San Antonio to the Visitor Centre, then to the IMAX Theatre.
Watched the IMAX movie, "Alamo, the Price of Freedom", which was a real eye-opener for me (I was never interested in history!)

Afterwards. we explored the Alamo www.thealamo.org for 1 1/2 hours.

We are sure there is much more here now than there was in 1995, the last time we were here.
The collection of artifacts and descriptions were fascinating.

March 27, Big Bend National Park, Texas

At 7:30, the day started off clear & 17.5C then warmed up quickly. By the time we drove to the Hot Spring Ranger-led program at 10:00, it was already 28C.

After explaining some of the history of the area, which in the early 1900's was a "health resort" the Ranger led us to the "Hot Spring". This is what it usually looks like.




Hot spring water is considered old water, fossil water, ancient and irreplaceable. Heated by geothermal processes and emerging at 105° F., the water carries dissolved mineral salts reputed to have healing powers. The therapeutic value of heat has long been touted as a remedy of both body and soul. Be aware that some hot springs can burn you either with the scalding effects of heat or the caustic nature of the water chemistry.  J.O. Langford's impressive bathhouse is long gone; today the spring is contained by the foundation remains of the bathhouse, on the north bank of the Rio Grande. 

When the Rio Grande floods, muddy water flows over the spring, often submerging it. Once the flood has receded, the spring may be covered in rocks, mud or debris. This will require some digging to form a suitable space for bathing.

This is what it looked like when we visited, due to heavy rain last night somewhere upstream! The Rio Grande was 3 feet higher than it was yesterday. The remains of the wall separating the river from the Spring was flooded over.

Ken, Lynda & I decided to hike back to the campground on the Hot Springs trail, following the Rio Grande. Wonderful scenery as we scrambled over the rocky trail.

It was extremely hot & sunny - no shade on the trail - as we went up & over one rocky hill, down the other side, then up & down again and again. The 3 mile trail was all shale-type rock.

 

At times, it was difficult to find the trail, which was not too well marked.

As we approached the campground, very hot & thirsty, we were met by Marcel & a Ranger. We had been reported as missing! We were never so glad to see civilization after a challenging 1 3/4 hour hike!

After a long, cool shower, Marcel & I went on the 3/4 mile Nature Trail, which led to a wildlife viewing platform on a pond. 

At 6:30, Marcel got the BBQ out, then the wind picked up! Pollen was everywhere in thick clumps. Then it started to rain - thunder rumbled & lightening streaked across the sky. The temperature dropped from 28C to 18C in very short order. Heavy rain & hail fell for a bit, then just a light, steady rain continued into the night. It was the first rain we had seen since embarking on this adventure!

Delayed updating....

For those following, I apologize for falling behind in the posts, but we have been busy during the days & have not had great internet at night. We are presently on the way home and the remainder of our trip will be posted when we get home. All is well! Have had a SUPER time.