[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
Dec. 2, 2001 Pensacola – Beaumont, Texas
We took off at 7:45 am for Bob + Gen’s in San Antonio after getting Kent to the airport about 7:30 for Jax. (He stayed overnight with us after a meeting he had out at the beach.)
It was a beautiful day and we made good time to Beaumont arriving there about 3 pm. The mileage was 438 + we had a lovely room at the Best Western – all renovated + not many occupants so we got a good rate - $45.
The drive through La. was the only rough area – narrow roads + heavy traffic. We stopped in Baton Rouge at a Wendy’s for lunch.
For dinner we went across the street to the Hoffbrau Steak House where we had shaved rib-eye Philly-Steak sandwiches. Yummy.
We spent the night at Beaumont, La.
We tried TV, but it was a long day + we sacked out at 9:30. Great day!
Dec. 3, ’01 Beaumont – San Antonio
We got away at 7:45 again after a good night’s sleep + a hearty breakfast. Bert made a wrong turn + we went about six miles north instead of going west on I-10. Oh well!
He drove without incident through Houston, then I took the wheel through a fine mist to S.A.
We were happy to see that they have started to improve the rest area although the first one was the pits.
We got into S.A. around 1 o’clock + found a food counter + phone at the H.E.B. large supermarket. We got the number to punch in at the gate + arrived at Bob + Gen's mid afternoon + found both Bob + Gen looking good.
We got Mexican take-out + brought it back for dinner with Bob + Gen. It was from the El Maracumbe.
We watched a little TV, then came back to where we stayed at the guest “quarters.” Very nice + retired early.
The mileage from Pensacola to S.A. was 743 miles.
Weather – drizzly + temp. 60’s.
Dec. 4, 2001 San Antonio
Bert + I had a hearty breakfast at I-Hop, then took Bob and Gen out to Brooke Army Medical Center to get the staples removed from Bob's head. That took most of the morning. We stopped for a few groceries at H.E.M., then filled the tank of gas at 94¢ gal.
We ate a light lunch, then picked up Gen + drove her over to the podiatrist’s to have her nails trimmed. We all spent the afternoon resting + reading. Bert caught up on computer news.
Bert + I drove over to Luby’s for carry-out meals for dinner. Watched a little TV + went to bed early.
Dec. 5, 2001 San Antonio
We took Bob out to BAMC for blood work, then we rested in the afternoon. We got a roast chicken + salad at H.E.M. for dinner. Linda + Michael came over in the evening + we celebrated Bob and Gen's 55th wedding anniversary. Had a nice visit, swapped tales, took pictures + said good-night + God bless. This has been a very rewarding visit for all of us!
Dec. 6, 2001 S.A. – Baton Rouge
We got an early start on the first part of our trip home at 7:15. It was quite foggy most of the way to Houston, but we made good time arriving about 10:30.
We stopped at Wendy’s in Beaumont for lunch, then in La. We stopped at the Welcome Center where we checked for a motel.
Our drive through La. was rough with long delays because of construction.
We checked into a clean, comfortable + reasonably priced Sleep Inn at $42.95 in Baton Rouge, a distance of 474 miles that we drove, so we’ll have about 250 left to drive home tomorrow.
The Cracker Barrel Restaurant was next door, so we walked over for a good meal complete with screaming kids.
We watched Survivor and Millionaire + retired early.
In spite of two busloads of kids who came in for the night, it’s very quiet!
Dec. 7, 2001 Baton Rouge – Pensacola
We awakened to a heavy fog, so after breakfast we decided to wait awhile before heading home.
We finally left around 8:45 although we still had lots of fog to contend with.
At the Welcome Center in La. we were greeted by nice ladies who advised us where to stay and we filled out a form to send in rating their Center. It was very nice.
All the way across Miss. we had some fog + fine mist but it was better + driving conditions improved + we took it easy going across Miss.
By the time we got to the Ala. Welcome Center we were not only happy to see sunshine, but smiles on people's faces, even ours because we were nearly home!
L.S.U. banners were flying on lots of cars + I had my picture taken at the rest area with an SUV load parked next to us. They were enroute to Atlanta for the LSU-Tenn. game.
We arrived home around 1:30 - 725 miles from S.A.
