[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
You can read about our trip to S.A. to visit Gen + family + visit Kerrville to see Millie.
You can read about our trip to S.A. to visit Gen + family + visit Kerrville to see Millie.
5/19/2005
Pensacola – Beaumont, Texas
Mileage
64,183
We pulled
out of the parking lot at 7 am as planned. Our first stop was at the Miss.
Welcome Center both entering + leaving where we had a refreshing coke. Gas
prices so far have been slightly under $2.00. We crossed the Pearl River into
La. + Stephen Ambrose Hgwy. We stayed on I-10 until I-12 in Baton Rouge. At the
Atchafalaya Visitors Center we sat on the porch in rocking chairs having our
lunch of cookies + apples. From Lafayette to Lake Charles we passed rice fields
+ in Lake Charles we noted the number of casinos because of the deep-water port
where quite a few ships were docked. (We kept going!)
When we
pulled into the parking lot of a newly furnished Howard Johnson Motel, we had
driven exactly 8 hours.
Luby’s
Restaurant was just a walk away so we enjoyed our meal - $7.99. I had catfish +
Bert had liver + onions.
The
mileage today was 441 mi. Our room including tax was $68.00.
5-20-2005 Beaumont
– San Antonio
It was
just 6 hrs from the time we left Howard Johnson’s until we checked in to the
Brooks Lodge in San Antonio.
We topped
the tank – 17.57 gal @ 1.99 + $35.13. The breakfast was more than enough
to get us on our way, so we skipped lunch – just had our usual apple + cookies
at a rest area in Seguin. We were able to call Kent + Mike on the cell phone +
assured them we were doing well.
It was
amazing how well we managed to stay in the right lanes going through the maze
of highways. There’s no end to the construction in the city of nearly 2 million
people. It owes its prosperity as a deep-water seaport first from cotton, then
oil + space exploration. Steel, chemical + synthetic rubber factories, not to
mention the medical centers + the arts – all have contributed to Houston, which
extends all the way to Katy now.
After
checking in to our lodge at Brooks we had a call from Linda who came over for
us to show us her office where she is chief of operations at the aero-space
med. bldg. We unpacked after going to a nearby Luby’s. We found Gen looking
very well at the Chandler House. We’ll visit with her + the rest of the family
tomorrow. Mileage was 748 miles. We filled the tank – 11.8 @ $1.93 + $22.98 –
the cheapest price so far.
5-21-2005
San Antonio
We made
our annual run to the SAS Shoe Store this a.m. Bert drove back roads + had no
trouble finding it in S. San Antonio.
When we
got over to Gen’s, the girls were there ready to go to lunch. Michael met us at
the lovely La Pasoda, our favorite Mexican restaurant.
The girls,
Gen, Bert + I went out to the Ft.
Sam National Cemetery to put
fresh flowers on Bob’s grave. They
were a variety of beautiful roses, Bob’s favorite flower. It was hot today, we
had to wear hats + carry umbrellas to provide some shade. Gen managed very well
in spite of plus 90 temp.
On our way
home we stopped at H.E.B. for a few groceries to tie us over till Mon. when we
leave for Kerrville to spend a few days with Millie.
We tried
to connect via the cell phone to talk with Kent + Mike, but had no luck, so
Linda called them + Bert sent E-mails.
Our
evening was spent relaxing, watching the Braves/Red Sox game. The score was 7-5
– Braves.
The loyal
fans sat through pouring down rain.
5-22-2005
San Antonio
Things to
remember from today’s events.
First we
were challenged by the cell phone. After Kent got through to us last night + a
quick lesson from Linda + Joyce, we figured out this little gizmo is going to
be an asset on our trip after all.
We made it
over to Chandler to meet Gen + the girls about 11 am and made plans for lunch.
We decided on Demo’s, a new Greek restaurant that Linda recommended. I had a
Greek salad sandwich, the traditional salad I enjoy so much, + it was wrapped
in a warm pita. So good.
After
visiting back at Gen’s, we took off for Lackland AFB where Bert bought AF
Command + Senior pilot wings at the BX.
We checked
our mileage when we came back + it’s now 853 miles we’ve traveled since we left
home, and about 100 miles we’ve added while we’re here.
I forgot to mention yesterday
what the description reads on Bob’s his marker at the cemetery. At the top
is the Presby. Cross, then his name and dates 4-4-21 to 7-10-2003. Included are
the WWII + Korean wars where he served in the AF for 20 years. Finally - Loved
by family + friends.
5-23-2005
San Antonio to Kerrville
Millie was
ready to greet us when we arrived about 11 am. What a beautiful home. Her
neighbor, Rita Belle, came over and we had a delicious lunch of cold cuts,
coleslaw, fresh fruit + rolls.
If it hadn’t
been for a nagging knee problem which I’ve nursed all the way from Pensacola,
all would be well.
Millie
made an appointment for me to see a doctor at the Family Clinic, and we found
out that I have a patella tendon attachment to the tibia that is strained. The
treatment is ice pads + that’s where we are on this.
For dinner
Millie’s friend Julie came over + we had another delicious dinner of roast
pork, sweet potatoes, carrots, jello salad + Black Russian cake.
We watched
the hour long video of the hurricane (Ivan) that we brought over for Millie to
see.
We planned
tomorrow’s activities + it does sound like fun!
5-24-2005
Kerrville
Today we
left about 10 am + drove about 65 mi. southwest of Kerrville to visit Y.O.
Ranch.
We saw
elands, wildebeast (gnus), axis deer, fallow deer, black ferocious wildebeasts,
giraffes, ostriches (Gretchen I + II) – the latter two came inside to eat corn
out of our hands, zebras, and hundreds of other exotic animals. The Ibex is
known for its large curved horns. These animals came from all over the world. The long horn cattle were especially many in number.
This ranch
has been in existence since 1880’s. They’re on the 5th generation of
the Schreiner family. The bus ride through the 40,000 acres was bumpy beyond
words. Our cowboy bus driver had many amusing stories to tell us.
Our lunch
of rare chicken, pasta, peas + carrots, tossed salad, iced tea, rolls + cookies
had much to be desired. (The cook must’ve been on vacation!)
The tour
lasted about 2-1/2 hrs. + we almost got locked in because the gate was locked +
we had a difficult time getting out.
It was
fun! Y sitting on top of O + Younger Olsons [Ranch symbol].
Other
animals: siks, oryx, + aoudads.
It’s a
working ranch. Hunting is available the year round. Home to the largest herd of
Texas Longhorns.
5-25-2005
Kerrville
Even
though it’s been extremely hot in Texas, there’s an advantage. We’ve had to abort
our mission to drive to the West coast! We got to spend another day with Millie
enjoying her wonderful company and beautiful home. She provides a 5***** B+B.
Today we’ve
had a relaxing day catching up on updating the computer, checking out nail salons,
and printing soup recipes.
We finally
got Millie out of the kitchen and convinced her we’d all enjoy the Chinese food
at China Town Restaurant; even though it didn’t measure up to her fine cuisine. It was good though + the service was great.
The mileage
now read 939 miles and we have a full tank of gas. We tried cleaning off
the love bugs that are so determined to make the trip home with us, if we’re
able to see that is. The price of gas was $1.99, so the full tank now will
probably get us to tomorrow’s destination wherever that may be.
Even
though my patella tendon + the attached tibia didn’t behave any better today,
we’ll make it home and they’ll get the TLC they need.
5-26-2005
Kerrville - Lake Charles, La.
After our usual
hearty breakfast at Millie’s, we had our final hugs and departed at our usual
8:10 time.
We took
Rt. 27 to Comfort where we picked up I-10. We avoided a mishap where a pickup
made a right turn from the left lane in front of us.
We missed
the Exit 33 from 410 to I-10 and drove 12 additional miles to get back onto
I-10.
We had a
45 min. delay in Houston because of a major bus accident. While we were
crawling along I made phone calls to the kids + had a connection with Tamiko
who brought me up to date with their news.
We had to
make an emergency pit stop at Whataburger at Exit 23 on 610, then went on to a
Dairy Queen where we stopped + had a sinfully good sundae + blizzard loaded
with enough calories to skip dinner. We’ll see!
I took the
wheel through Beaumont, another long delay, then switched drivers, crossed the
Sabine River + on to Lake Charles where we spent the night at a lovely three
diamond Best Western Richmond Suites Hotel for $80 + tax.
We had a
light supper at Wendy’s, filled the tank at Wal-Mart, bought some chocolates for
the Andersons, showered + hit the sack. We drove 436 miles today.
5/27/2005
Lake Charles, La. – Pensacola
We had
excellent accommodations at the Best Western + a breakfast that was a buffet style
– all we could eat. Left around 8 a.m.
Everything
went well today in spite of horrendous traffic – everyone traveling over
Memorial Day weekend.
The most
interesting event of the day was at the Welcome Center at Atchafalaya, La. There was a very clever animated film depicting the wetlands in the area.
We’re home
now, partially unpacked. Talked to Kent, Mike, and Millie. Had 10 messages –
nothing too important.
We stopped
at the post office + picked up the mail.
We noticed
that all gas here in Pensacola is over $2.00 + on our trip to Texas, it was all
under $2.00 – the lowest was $1.89 in Texas. Our total cost charges:
$275.80 Lodging
110.20
Gas
138.44
Food
170.34
Shoes
79.11
Military Memorabilia + YO Ranch
100.00 (Cash we had
with us)
$873.89
Mileage to
Pensacola 820 – Time 7 hrs.
