Reunion in San Antonio and Elderhostel at Mo-Ranch, Hunt, TX (1989)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

10/8/89
Left R.R. at 7:33 for Gilbertsville, Ky.
Beautiful, sunny day, temp. in 50’s – 60’s.
Had picnic lunch in Cincy.
Drove routes I 71-270-75-Ky Turnpike.
Louisville looks prosperous and growing.
Arrived at Bel-Air late afternoon after 9-1/2 hr. drive – 550 miles.
Watched a little TV - ate wonderful buffet dinner at the beautiful lodge at Ky. Dam.  Gas $20 – Dinner $18 - Gift Bob + Gen $8.

10/9/89
Breakfast – Dylerville 3.56 Gas $23.43
Lunch $2.88 Mileage 1147.3 – 11 hr. drive 600 miles
Lots of cotton in Ark. as well as the bumpiest roads so far.  Lovely bright sunny day – temp. in 70’s – 80’s.  Delicious Mexican dinner w Margaritas at Francisco’s at the hotel.

10/10/89
Pepsis 1.33 Gas – 20.00 Sunglasses – 9.50
1460 mileage – 6-1/2 drive 313 miles
Beautiful drive to San Antonio through growing, modern cities: Waco, Austin + San Antonio.  Hearty breakfast at the Thunderbird - $7.71 between Greenville + Waco.  Arrived at Bob + Gen’s around 2:30 after 6-1/2 hrs.  Dinner at LaFiesta near Randolph Field then toured the base.  Dinner $14.73.

10/11/89
In the afternoon we picked up “Doc” E at the Emily Morgan Hotel + drove out to Randolph Air Force Base.  While the guys checked Personnel Records, Gen + I shopped in the BX.  Spent $55 on Christmas stocking stuffers for the little guys plus a few incidentals for myself. Had dinner at the Olive Garden $22 – then back to Bob + Gen’s.  Linda + Michael were over for the evening.  Fun day!

10/12/89
Toured Air Force Village I after breakfast.  Eve B + Norma N are both residents + former W/P friends.  The “home” is very comfortable + we had an enjoyable lunch “on the house” in the dining room.  We checked in at the Emily Morgan Hotel for the reunion around 3 pm. Our small room, overlooking the parking lot, was exchanged for an elegant “executive suite” 15 min. later.  The cocktail party + buffet on the 12th floor was very relaxing + informal.  Good seeing everyone again.

10/13/89
Had breakfast in the room.  While Bert attended the parade at Lackland AFB,  I joined the ladies for a tour of the missions: Espada, San Juan, Concepcion, and the large one presently being used: San Jose.  Lunch on the river boats was a combination of Mexican food + margaritas.  We walked thru the air conditioned stores: Foleys, Dillards + many of the specialty shops along the Riverwalk.  Stopped in at the Alamo for a quick look.  Dinner at the Olive Garden (25.00), then back to the Emily Morgan to watch TV.

10/14/89
Breakfast at Wendy’s, then out to Air Force Village II.  Very lovely retirement home, especially the cottages.  Met the girls at 1:00 + Bert drove us out to look at cotton, “beaded” dresses.  Too expensive and goddy.  Had cocktail dinner party in p.m. + bid our adieus to the group.  Lovely reunion.  Lunch + dinner 9.00.

10/15/89
We checked out of the hotel around 11 am + went out to Bob + Gen’s.  We went to Wyatt’s Cafeteria in the mall for lunch, did some laundry afterwards + then our farewells before leaving for Mo Ranch.  It was about a 90 mile drive into the hill country, past Kerrville.  After dinner, we had introductions + then played games.  We’re staying in Flato Lodge just next to Wynn with Grace room in between.  Nice quiet area – no radio, TV or newspapers.  Kinda spooky!

10/16/89
What a wonderful day!  Our classes began + both instructors, Francis Hayward + Leonard Halloway, were very interesting teacher the Apostle Paul + The Art of Conversation.  No classes in the afternoon.  Instead we drove over to Fredericksburg with the group by van to see the quaint German village and Admiral Chester Nimitz’s Museum.  Dinner after the museum trip was down the street at Fenner + Bean’s where we had delicious burgers, fries, iced tea + ice cream.  Wally Rogers was our guest entertainer who played + sang a variety of country songs on his guitar.  Our homework was reading the book of Acts to be prepared for class tomorrow.

10/17/89
Classes in the a.m. lunch, then an introduction to Spanish followed by a walking tour of the grounds.  We made it back to Flato in time for a quick change before Mexican bingo + popcorn/apple juice refreshments.  Bert won $1.00 to be spent in the Cantina.

10/18/89
Classes in the a.m. continue to be interesting.  After Spanish class I sacked out for a nice long nap.  Bert and a small group went on a bird walk on the grounds, but it was too cold + windy to see many birds.  We joined Nancy + Bill P and our program director, Bill G, to plan “graduation.”  We had a bird slide show in the p.m.

10/19/89
Classes in the a.m.  After lunch + Spanish class, we worked on tonight’s program with Nancy + Bill P for graduation.  Everyone had fun + the refreshments of hot cider + cookies were good.  Packed and got ready to leave after class + lunch tomorrow a.m.

10/20/89
Left after lunch for Beaumont Inn Best Western.  Had dinner in the room (15.00) + got caught up on the news via TV.  En route we saw wild turkeys + deer in the “hill country,” then oil refineries + chem plants as we neared Houston.  We drove 375 mi in 6-1/2 hrs.  Motel 38.60.

Rocky River VIII (1989)

In June 1989, we attended an Elderhostel at Incarnation Camp in Ivoryton, Conn. with sessions as varied as the oceanography of Long Island Sound + geology of Connecticut, Victorian music, minstrel music before, during + after the Civil War, etc.
In October of the same year, we had a 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron] Reunion, which we combined with an Elderhostel at Mo-Ranch in Texas.
[See Reunion in San Antonio and Elderhostel at Mo-Ranch, Hunt, TX (1989)]