November 28 & 29

November 28, 2017

We left Mark and Bettye’s home in Azel, TX around 7:30 headed for El Paso. It was a very windy day and the desert produces dust storms that are like fog. I rode most of the way with a towel over my nose and mouth to keep the dust out of my lungs! We were able to keep a speed of 50mph up Ranger Hill and that made Duffey happy with the motorhome’s performance.

El Paso is on the Mexico border so we were able to see past the fence to the mountains with very colorful homes stacked upon themselves three or more high.  

November 29, 2017

We left El Paso for Tucson today, where we plan to spend the night, then head into Phoenix tomorrow and find our spot for our new winter adventure. The weather was hazy, which is good for driving, and it was not windy which is also desired when driving a 45 foot motorhome. Most of the trip was through the desert.

In El Paso we were watching a Andy and Barney episode with Aunt Bea and the ladies protesting to save a chicken farmers house and coup so they could continue to purchase his eggs. The state was going to pay him double what his land and home were worth, he could purchase another place for much less than his was worth, but he did not want to move because his chickens might not like it. In the end Andy finds he has two illegal stills below the chicken coup and that is the reason he did not want to move and the church ladies were very upset to realize they had been lied to. We were so close to the border that we could see the fence and the Border Patrol informed us the fence was needed to stop some of the drugs coming into the USA. He assured us that without a fence the unlawlessness south of the border would make El Paso and other cities the bad old west! So, maybe living in IL and judging if a border is needed isn’t proper.

During this drive we had to pass through a Border Patrol stop. We were fortunate and they did not stop us for a search. We did see others at the check point and along the way being searched.

Next, we saw signs about wind storms that quickly crop up and how we should deal with the storm. We were lucky not to have any wind.

One area was called the Texas Desert and it contained huge rocks that were naturally stacked on top and near each other.

Finally, we saw huge orchards that went on for miles. We were shocked to see these orchards in the desert! When the trees were close to the road we could to see that they had planted the trees in ditches so that watering is flooding the area. We are not sure what the trees produce but we were told they were cherry and nut trees.

Azel,TX

November 26, 2017

Our destination today is Azel, TX where Mark and Bettye live. They have a beautiful home and in their driveway they have 50 amp service for their RV friends!!! We arrived late in the afternoon and we spent a few hours visiting. About 5 the deer appeared in the yard and stared in the windows until Mark and Bettye fed them. The deer are not afraid of Mark or Bettye and get fairly close when they are feeding them. For dinner we went to Pappasito’s Cantina for delicious food.

November 27, 2017

When we got up Mark and Bettye were kind enough to have a great breakfast ready for us! We left them about 10 to visit Kay and Keri in their new homes. They both have very nice Texas homes about 20 minutes apart and it was great to see Kay. Keri was at work so we did not get to see her. We had lunch with kay and then about 3 we headed back to Mark and Bettye’s home, about 40 minutes away. 

We arrived in time to see Bettye feed the deer and two bucks came for dinner tonight. They locked horns and pushed each other around a bit but they did not really fight.They were so close it was really amazing to see.

We decided to go for a pizza dinner but when we got to their favorite pizza restaurant something was amiss, not one diner was in the restaurant and was prime dinner time. That scared us so we decided to go to their favorite Rib joint. After dinner we returned to their house  where the three of them had home made Pecan pie and Bunny ice cream. Then we retired for the night!

November 25, 2017

Today we drove to OK City, OK and spent the night. We arrived around noon and spent the day walking around downtown OK City. The bombing memorial was very well done and the Ranger gave an informative talk ending with us dipping our hands into the memory pond and putting our wet hand prints on the wall to honor the fallen and survivors. We ate at Earl’s in BrickTown. On our way to the RV we saw a gentleman grooming one of the horses that pull the carriages downtown. He vacuumed every inch of that amazingly beautiful pure black horse. During the day we had our RV at the Bass Pro Shop and then we went to Flying J for the night.

When we arrived downtown Duffey took the information ladies directions and we ended up going under a bridge that was 14’9” and our antenna drug on the top of the bridge. Yikes-Lesson Learned!

 Cowboy Photo Bomb

 Duf getting directions!

 Duf getting more directions.

Nashville, TN

Friday, November 17, 2017

This morning around 9 we received a call that we could pick up the RV after having it in the shop all summer getting repairs from the accident and the two tire blow outs. We picked up the RV and began to load it up for our trip to Phoenix. It was a long day of loading because we had to empty it for the repairs.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

We continued to load the RV and Natalie called to say she got off work early! This would be her first trip with us and we decided that if she would come we would leave when she arrived. Phil and Elcie brought her over and We left at about 5 PM to get a few hours down the road. I had to meet a friend’s son in Lee Roy to give him a drum that they were going to use as a prop in the FL Madri Gra parade at Periwinkle Park. We mistakenly pulled into a parking lot that was a dead end so we had to unhook the Jeep and back up and re-hook the Jeep. After the delivery we drove another hour and stopped at a Jacks Diner with pull through spots that were open. We at in the diner and the food was surprisingly delicious. This was Natalie’s first night sleeping in the RV and she was shocked how warm and comfortable it was.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

I had surprise items for breakfast so that we could eat in the RV and then head down the road. We drove a couple of hours and then Duffey stopped so he could get coffee. Natalie really enjoyed the ride to Nashville in the passenger seat so high up that everything is visible. We arrived at Montgomery Bell State Park about 20 minutes from Duffey’s house. We called Duf so he would know we were there but it was to late to visit.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Duffey had to work so they were going to come over when he got home. We went to the downtown strip and walked around so that Natalie could see the fun Nashville. We came home around 3 and Katie and Boone came over. Duffey came after he got off work. They stayed until around 9. Boone was a true sweetie and did not fuss the entire time we were all holding him and passing him around and the only time he was upset was when he wanted Mom and to be fed!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

We went to the strip again and then Katie came over and Duffey came after work. We purchased a Boopie Pillow that made it easier to hold Boone. He is a real sweetie and Katie and Duffey are doing research and are excellent with Boone. Boone wears diapers that start out yellow and as they get wet they turn blue, they have a strip along the crotch area that turns bluer the wetter the diaper. Boone does not like wet diapers and they barely get blue until he is fussing and wants them changed and then he is once again clam! Katie likes the Boopie pillow because she has more freedom as he nurses.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Duffey had to work today so Duf, Natalie and I spent the day exploring the mansions and downtown area. We planned to meet Duf for lunch but then exploring got in our way! We met Katie and Boone at our place at 3 and then Duf came when he got off work. Boone was so content and quiet which was great since we were passing him around and staring at him all the time. Boone has been a great baby for them and he is being an amazing visitor.
Planes refueling Helicopters flew over! What a sight!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Duffey, Katie, and Boone came over around 11 and we had a ham lunch celebration for Thanksgiving. Boone is a little doll and we got Katie a boopie pillow for her to use when she is feeding him. It made it a bit easier for her and it made it easier for us to hold him. We all took a walk around the park and Boone slept in the stroller. It was a very sunny day and the temp was 62 so it was a good day for a walk.

Later in the day Boone had a fussy period where he could not get comfortable or full. Katie decided they should leave a little earlier than planned because a car ride would calm him down and although we did not want them to go it seemed like the best plan, so we kissed the cutie and they left. 

Boone is 44 days old and weighs 12 pounds, a growing boy.

Friday, November 24, 2017

We drove Natalie to the Nashville airport for her United 10:55 AM flight. She had a bag that she did not want to check because the flight has a 3 hour layover in Chicago and then on to Milwaukee, but Natalie is getting off in Chicago and taking the bus home. The ticket was only $50.00 and she was able to put her bag in the overhead compartment for no extra fee!

We returned to Montgomery Bell State Park Campground site 35 and got the Motorhome ready to leave for our daily destination of Little Rock, AK where we will spend the night. Duf estimates it is a 6 hour drive so we should be there before 5. Our front tires were at 100 and he added air to get their air pressure to 115.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

We left Russellville for Oklahoma City and arrived around noon. We spent the day exploring the Bombing Memorial, Brick town, Riverwalk and other downtown sites. We had dinner at Earl’s BBQ Restaurant in the Brick Town area. We then loaded up the RV and continued on to the Flying J cause the Bass Pro Shop RV area did not seem real safe. We arrived thee around 7 and found a nice pull through space. After we showered we watched TV and went to bed!

Dog Show

Natalie and I decided to attend the Chicago Dog show in St Charles, IL. It was not the grooming show Natalie expected, but we had an enjoyable girls weekend. Entertainment during the first afternoon was a Magic Show and I’m not sure the magician was the best entertainment. He called all the kids up on the stage to watch and it was priceless watching the kids and their reactions.

One of the booths was Pain Be Gone and he wanted to demonstrate on a few people, so of course Natalie volunteered me to let him ‘fix’ my plantar fasciitis. I told him I had been to therapy and it was a bit better as long as I did my exercises at least 4 times a day and did not walk much. He had three creams he rubbed on my feet, and on other people’s necks, arms, etc., and told us to continue looking around and everyone return in an hour. I hated to admit, as did others, that in an hour I was pain free and he said it would last about 8 hours. He explained it is FDA approved and used in Europe and it is proven to work. It was a bit pricy but to be able to walk around pain free made it worth the money! I purchased a large supply and it is really working great! Did not even need to use it today.

We ate in a really cute restaurant and found Natalie a knitting store for more yarn. She has been trying to teach me but that might just be a lost cause.

Angeli Restaurant Delicious!!

Since we were driving into the suburb of Lisle, Duffey decided to find a nice restaurant for dinner. We ate at Angeli’s Restaurant and it was delicious. 

We started with Bruschetta and then I selected Crab and shrimp ravioli with Lobster sauce while Duf and Natalie had the delicious Chicken Armenia. We ended the meal by sharing a delicious Tiramisu

Football Again!

November 4

We traveled over an hour into a Chicago suburb for the second regional game for the undefeated Hononegah team. The game began at 6:30 on what turned out to be a nice night, it was 50 and quite humid, but we were dressed just right to be warm!

The stadium was on the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Bleachers were quite comfortable with chairs instead of benches, but they were all on the home side. The field was astro turf and the home side had tents, storage areas and nice benches while the visitor side just had a 15 foot bench. The mental game was evident.

The opposing team was an academy, located in a suburb, that recruits athletes from a large  area. This might be a fault in the IHSA way of playoffs judged by the number of students. Hononegah is a community school located in a rural town without even one stop light! It might be an unfair advantage for private schools that recruit to compete with public schools that do not recruit and have a set boundary. 

Hononegah played a good game, but in the end they did not find victory.