WYLIE, TEXAS
After spending the night in Tyler, Texas, home of Josha Moss, we headed to Cracker Barrel in Lindale. Debby thought this might be our last CB until we return from New Zealand. That's probably true unless we find one in WANAKA, NZ. You never know......
We continued driving north and made it to our friends' house in Wylie, where we will spend a couple of days before we fly out to LAX Saturday to catch our flight to New Zealand on Sunday.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
GALVESTON
Galveston, TX
We decided to take a drive over to MOODY GARDENS and check out the Aquarium. To get into things like this is very easy to do during "off season" months and weekdays during school hours! Normal people are either working, in school, or NOT tourists! But Deb and I are not normal.
There was no ticket line at all. Not only that but Tuesday is "Senior Day", where a senior pass costs only $5 per attraction. So we bought tickets for the Aquarium and the Rain Forest. We saved $48. That's almost the same cost as our beach front motel. It's all good!
We have reservations to eat at Gaido's Restaurant at 5:45. It's supposed to be a great place to eat. We've heard from a reliable source that Bill Wilkins eats here often!
(UPDATE): we did have dinner at Gaido's and it was very good!
It's Wednesday morning. We are heading towards Dallas via Port Arthur on the Ferry. Ts a beautiful sunny morning!
We decided to take a drive over to MOODY GARDENS and check out the Aquarium. To get into things like this is very easy to do during "off season" months and weekdays during school hours! Normal people are either working, in school, or NOT tourists! But Deb and I are not normal.
There was no ticket line at all. Not only that but Tuesday is "Senior Day", where a senior pass costs only $5 per attraction. So we bought tickets for the Aquarium and the Rain Forest. We saved $48. That's almost the same cost as our beach front motel. It's all good!
We have reservations to eat at Gaido's Restaurant at 5:45. It's supposed to be a great place to eat. We've heard from a reliable source that Bill Wilkins eats here often!
(UPDATE): we did have dinner at Gaido's and it was very good!
It's Wednesday morning. We are heading towards Dallas via Port Arthur on the Ferry. Ts a beautiful sunny morning!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
GALVESTON, TEXAS
GALVESTON, TX
We left Spring, TX this morning about 8:45 after saying goodbye to our good friends Debbie and Bill Wilkins.....also their daughters, Megan and Jennie and their two Chinese exchange high schoolers, Jill and Xiaone! Oh, yes, and grandson, Max! What a great visit we had! We hated to leave!
We drove through downtown Houston on our way to Galveston. My, how it's grown! A busy place, for sure!
We are in Galveston, on the beach, in a beachside motel overlooking The Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the mild weather! For some weird reason I can't get Glen Campbell off my mind. Inside my head, he keeps singing, "Galveston, Oh Galveston"!
We stopped for an IHOP breakfast about 10:30. We drive around for a while before checking into out Motel. Now we are resting and deciding what's next!
We left Spring, TX this morning about 8:45 after saying goodbye to our good friends Debbie and Bill Wilkins.....also their daughters, Megan and Jennie and their two Chinese exchange high schoolers, Jill and Xiaone! Oh, yes, and grandson, Max! What a great visit we had! We hated to leave!
We drove through downtown Houston on our way to Galveston. My, how it's grown! A busy place, for sure!
We are in Galveston, on the beach, in a beachside motel overlooking The Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the mild weather! For some weird reason I can't get Glen Campbell off my mind. Inside my head, he keeps singing, "Galveston, Oh Galveston"!
We stopped for an IHOP breakfast about 10:30. We drive around for a while before checking into out Motel. Now we are resting and deciding what's next!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
HANGING IN HOUSTON
HOUSTON, TEXAS
We left San Antonio Friday morning and headed towards Spring, Texas. We stopped along the way at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, TX and took a tour of the ice cream plant. It was fun to see how they made the ice cream.....but even more fun getting a free sample afterwards!
We are vegging out in the home of Bill and Debbie Wilkins near Houston. We have been friends for more years than we care to confess. We served The Lord together in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 70's and 80's, in the great Garnet Road Church of Christ. After we moved to Oregon in 1988, Bill and Debbie moved to Houston. We've only seen each other about 3 times over the years....not nearly enough, but it is what it is.
It's been great just relaxing around the hot tub, sitting in front of their outdoor fireplace and enjoying Houston's mild weather. Debbie and Debby enjoyed shopping. Bill and I took a couple of short hikes and swapped stories.
We went to church with them this morning. Afterwards, we went to a Tex Mex restaurant for lunch. This afternoon we went to a birthday party for one of their grand-daughters.
We met up with Mike and Diana Griffith at Starbucks this evening. We sipped on caffeine and visited for a couple of hours. It was great renewing old friendships and catching up on all the news!
We will be spending one more day with Bill and Debbie before heading on down to Galveston, TX.
We left San Antonio Friday morning and headed towards Spring, Texas. We stopped along the way at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, TX and took a tour of the ice cream plant. It was fun to see how they made the ice cream.....but even more fun getting a free sample afterwards!
We are vegging out in the home of Bill and Debbie Wilkins near Houston. We have been friends for more years than we care to confess. We served The Lord together in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 70's and 80's, in the great Garnet Road Church of Christ. After we moved to Oregon in 1988, Bill and Debbie moved to Houston. We've only seen each other about 3 times over the years....not nearly enough, but it is what it is.
It's been great just relaxing around the hot tub, sitting in front of their outdoor fireplace and enjoying Houston's mild weather. Debbie and Debby enjoyed shopping. Bill and I took a couple of short hikes and swapped stories.
We went to church with them this morning. Afterwards, we went to a Tex Mex restaurant for lunch. This afternoon we went to a birthday party for one of their grand-daughters.
We met up with Mike and Diana Griffith at Starbucks this evening. We sipped on caffeine and visited for a couple of hours. It was great renewing old friendships and catching up on all the news!
We will be spending one more day with Bill and Debbie before heading on down to Galveston, TX.
Friday, February 22, 2013
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
San Antonio Stroll
Friday the 22nd
We arrived in town yesterday afternoon. Needing a place to stay, we pulled into The Tropicana Riverwalk Hotel. Debby went in to check out the cost and was in there for a very long time. When she came out, she was very excited about the good deal she made! She wheeled a deal, for sure!
The desk clerk was busy and Debby was patiently waiting, when the Manager came over and asked if she had been helped. She said she had not, so he asked how he could help her? She told him how she had found The Tropicana on line and the website said a room cost was $125 but that in addition to the AAA discount, booking on line for "tonight" would result in an additional 25% discount. The problem was, the Internet in New Braunfels was slow and would not allow her to make the reservation. He asked a few questions like why we are in San Antonio. She told him she had taken off a year of teaching to travel for 10 months following my retirement. He thought that was so cool!
He wanted to help her and gave her the "Manager's Special", which, as Manager, he could do! Debby wanted a river view unit, so he excused himself to go up and check on a particular unit that he had in mind. He returned shortly and told Debby that our room was ready and we could go ahead and check in. She asked, "How much?" He said $99; includes a breakfast buffet and parking. She took it and paid the man, thanking him several times.
We decided to go check out The Alamo for now but would return later with our luggage. When we returned, we picked up our keys and took the elevator to the second floor. Unlocking the door we discovered this to be a corner Suite with a river view from the bedroom. We had a couch, sofa chair, desk, widescreen TV in two rooms, large bedroom with King bed, very nice shower and kitchenette.
I decided to check out "our deal". Doing the math, the Suite normally costs $174.00/night with tax. Breakfasts are normally $9/each and parking costs $18/day. So it looks to me like Debby's deal for a $210 value cost us $99. Good job, Deb!! That's a NICE upgrade and a NICE $111 savings!
The hotel is a 1970's era building that has a lot of history. The people who work here are very nice and helpful. The hotel is unique. We give it two thumbs up!
The Alamo was awesome to see and read about. Nearly everyone knows about the history of Texas, but standing inside The Alamo and hearing about the history has a different feeling. Every man who took up arms to defend The Alamo, was put to the sword by the Mexican Army. Santa Ana thought that wiping out the defenders at The Mission Alamo would stop the rebellion. The result was just the opposite, however. It rallied the Texans and they, eventually, defeated Santa Ana.
We took a walk down the River Walk and headed for Casa Rio., a riverside Mexican restaurant that was suggested to me by my Vietnam friend, "D-ring". It was very good, even though we had an audience of begging Ducks, birds and Pigeons. We sat watching the River Taxis, Tour Boats, maintenance craft and river Police cruise the manicured river. The area is quite beautiful and well kept. It is very clean and feels very safe to be there.
After lunch we purchased tickets for the River Cruise Tour. It was very entertaining! Our witty boat captain had done this tour many many times before, for sure!! The people who sat next to us on the boat were from Albany, NY. They would be going back home Sunday. When we left them, I encouragingly said, "Good luck with all that ice and snow!"
We headed back to our hotel room and relaxed a while. Later we went downstairs and sat outside on the patio with our Latte and Mocha and enjoyed the warm 79 degree weather. With all the ice and snow falling on much of the country, we are blessed to be here in the warm.
Life is good!
Friday the 22nd
We arrived in town yesterday afternoon. Needing a place to stay, we pulled into The Tropicana Riverwalk Hotel. Debby went in to check out the cost and was in there for a very long time. When she came out, she was very excited about the good deal she made! She wheeled a deal, for sure!
The desk clerk was busy and Debby was patiently waiting, when the Manager came over and asked if she had been helped. She said she had not, so he asked how he could help her? She told him how she had found The Tropicana on line and the website said a room cost was $125 but that in addition to the AAA discount, booking on line for "tonight" would result in an additional 25% discount. The problem was, the Internet in New Braunfels was slow and would not allow her to make the reservation. He asked a few questions like why we are in San Antonio. She told him she had taken off a year of teaching to travel for 10 months following my retirement. He thought that was so cool!
He wanted to help her and gave her the "Manager's Special", which, as Manager, he could do! Debby wanted a river view unit, so he excused himself to go up and check on a particular unit that he had in mind. He returned shortly and told Debby that our room was ready and we could go ahead and check in. She asked, "How much?" He said $99; includes a breakfast buffet and parking. She took it and paid the man, thanking him several times.
We decided to go check out The Alamo for now but would return later with our luggage. When we returned, we picked up our keys and took the elevator to the second floor. Unlocking the door we discovered this to be a corner Suite with a river view from the bedroom. We had a couch, sofa chair, desk, widescreen TV in two rooms, large bedroom with King bed, very nice shower and kitchenette.
I decided to check out "our deal". Doing the math, the Suite normally costs $174.00/night with tax. Breakfasts are normally $9/each and parking costs $18/day. So it looks to me like Debby's deal for a $210 value cost us $99. Good job, Deb!! That's a NICE upgrade and a NICE $111 savings!
The hotel is a 1970's era building that has a lot of history. The people who work here are very nice and helpful. The hotel is unique. We give it two thumbs up!
The Alamo was awesome to see and read about. Nearly everyone knows about the history of Texas, but standing inside The Alamo and hearing about the history has a different feeling. Every man who took up arms to defend The Alamo, was put to the sword by the Mexican Army. Santa Ana thought that wiping out the defenders at The Mission Alamo would stop the rebellion. The result was just the opposite, however. It rallied the Texans and they, eventually, defeated Santa Ana.
We took a walk down the River Walk and headed for Casa Rio., a riverside Mexican restaurant that was suggested to me by my Vietnam friend, "D-ring". It was very good, even though we had an audience of begging Ducks, birds and Pigeons. We sat watching the River Taxis, Tour Boats, maintenance craft and river Police cruise the manicured river. The area is quite beautiful and well kept. It is very clean and feels very safe to be there.
After lunch we purchased tickets for the River Cruise Tour. It was very entertaining! Our witty boat captain had done this tour many many times before, for sure!! The people who sat next to us on the boat were from Albany, NY. They would be going back home Sunday. When we left them, I encouragingly said, "Good luck with all that ice and snow!"
We headed back to our hotel room and relaxed a while. Later we went downstairs and sat outside on the patio with our Latte and Mocha and enjoyed the warm 79 degree weather. With all the ice and snow falling on much of the country, we are blessed to be here in the warm.
Life is good!
THE CONDO
The Condo
Tuesday, February 19
This night we are staying in a three bedroom Condo at Worldmark New Braunfels, Texas, just north of San Antonio, TX. It is a German community noted for water recreational activities. The Schlitterbahn Water Park Resort is nearby.
Required check in time is 4:00 pm, but attempting to check in at Worldmark at 4:30, we were told to come back later as the Condo was not ready. So we left to grocery shop and returned at 5:30. The room was still not ready. The little lady serving us said we would be compensated with cookies and popcorn and a free movie, (probably saving us 5 or 6 bucks). She explained the reason for it not being ready was because we made the reservation late and the print-out's they normally get on occupancy day that lets them know which units will need cleaned, was not printed with our unit on it; therefore they were late getting started cleaning our condo. I told her that it's a good thing they were not fully booked and asked how do they determine which units don't get cleaned in cases of full occupancy. She said all of them do. I asked which ones would be late getting cleaned and she made another excuse that people were late checking out today; that some of them usually check out around 6:00 am or 8:00 am but today it was 10:00 am and later. I asked her what is the required checkout time? She said it was 12:00. I said, "so, if everyone checked out at 12:00, would the rooms be ready for the next tenant"? She said, "yes, but the tenant in our unit checked out after 12:00 which made them late getting it done on time. Then she said, "but we didn't have enough people". "So you are shorthanded today?", I asked. She said they were.
It was like one excuse after another until we boiled it down to the fact they didn't have enough help today to do all the cleaning to have the rooms ready in time.
Another 15 minutes and the phone rang from the cleaning people that they had finished. As we drove out to the top of the hill to our unit, the front door was open and the maintenance man was inside our unit working on the door.
We were not unhappy. We simply found it to be an interesting experience. Of all the experiences in life, this was one if them.
It's all good!
Tuesday, February 19
This night we are staying in a three bedroom Condo at Worldmark New Braunfels, Texas, just north of San Antonio, TX. It is a German community noted for water recreational activities. The Schlitterbahn Water Park Resort is nearby.
Required check in time is 4:00 pm, but attempting to check in at Worldmark at 4:30, we were told to come back later as the Condo was not ready. So we left to grocery shop and returned at 5:30. The room was still not ready. The little lady serving us said we would be compensated with cookies and popcorn and a free movie, (probably saving us 5 or 6 bucks). She explained the reason for it not being ready was because we made the reservation late and the print-out's they normally get on occupancy day that lets them know which units will need cleaned, was not printed with our unit on it; therefore they were late getting started cleaning our condo. I told her that it's a good thing they were not fully booked and asked how do they determine which units don't get cleaned in cases of full occupancy. She said all of them do. I asked which ones would be late getting cleaned and she made another excuse that people were late checking out today; that some of them usually check out around 6:00 am or 8:00 am but today it was 10:00 am and later. I asked her what is the required checkout time? She said it was 12:00. I said, "so, if everyone checked out at 12:00, would the rooms be ready for the next tenant"? She said, "yes, but the tenant in our unit checked out after 12:00 which made them late getting it done on time. Then she said, "but we didn't have enough people". "So you are shorthanded today?", I asked. She said they were.
It was like one excuse after another until we boiled it down to the fact they didn't have enough help today to do all the cleaning to have the rooms ready in time.
Another 15 minutes and the phone rang from the cleaning people that they had finished. As we drove out to the top of the hill to our unit, the front door was open and the maintenance man was inside our unit working on the door.
We were not unhappy. We simply found it to be an interesting experience. Of all the experiences in life, this was one if them.
It's all good!
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX
NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS
Wednesday the 20th
Traveling through Gainsville, Ft Worth, Waco, we ended our day at the Worldmark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas. We will stay here a couple of days before hitting the road again.
New Braunfels is an old German community, established back in the 1800's. the Worldmark is actually 3 or 4 blocks from Gruene, also an old German community. This particular area is a tourist town and, from what we hear, quite busy during the summer! There are numerous water activities that draw kayakers, rafters and the mile. The water park, Schlitterbahn, is nearby. It calls people from as far away as Oklahoma!
Gruene is a cool town. Very old buildings give the town an antique appeal, drawing shoppers and bargain hunters to find really old stuff! Entertainers come here to perform. Famous people started out here. I don't know their names, but I'm sure they became famous. Actually, George Strait was one of them.
Our condo was the farthest one away from the main entrance. It backed up to a large brushy field on two sides and provided a little wildlife viewing. The first morning I stepped out back on the patio with a cup of coffee to welcome the warm morning. As I stepped towards the edge I heard noises in the dry grass and brush in two places. My eyesight isn't the greatest and I was straining to try to see what I saw, when Debby stepped out with her coffee. I told here there was something out there. She got all excited because the noisy animals were Deer! In fact, we counted five of them. We watched them graze and walk around in the brush. Two,of them were in the yard. Later that afternoon, Debby was in the bedroom when a couple of them came by and looked at her through the window! She doesn't get that excited when I link at her! Hmmmmm
We had no Internet service but we survived anyway.
Wednesday the 20th
Traveling through Gainsville, Ft Worth, Waco, we ended our day at the Worldmark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas. We will stay here a couple of days before hitting the road again.
New Braunfels is an old German community, established back in the 1800's. the Worldmark is actually 3 or 4 blocks from Gruene, also an old German community. This particular area is a tourist town and, from what we hear, quite busy during the summer! There are numerous water activities that draw kayakers, rafters and the mile. The water park, Schlitterbahn, is nearby. It calls people from as far away as Oklahoma!
Gruene is a cool town. Very old buildings give the town an antique appeal, drawing shoppers and bargain hunters to find really old stuff! Entertainers come here to perform. Famous people started out here. I don't know their names, but I'm sure they became famous. Actually, George Strait was one of them.
Our condo was the farthest one away from the main entrance. It backed up to a large brushy field on two sides and provided a little wildlife viewing. The first morning I stepped out back on the patio with a cup of coffee to welcome the warm morning. As I stepped towards the edge I heard noises in the dry grass and brush in two places. My eyesight isn't the greatest and I was straining to try to see what I saw, when Debby stepped out with her coffee. I told here there was something out there. She got all excited because the noisy animals were Deer! In fact, we counted five of them. We watched them graze and walk around in the brush. Two,of them were in the yard. Later that afternoon, Debby was in the bedroom when a couple of them came by and looked at her through the window! She doesn't get that excited when I link at her! Hmmmmm
We had no Internet service but we survived anyway.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
HEADING TO TEXAS
ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Debby's Mom is on the road to recovery and we are on the road to Texas! We left Branson, MO Friday evening and spent the night with the Pinkerton's in Arkansas. There were a few things that the girls needed to do in preparation for our upcoming trip to New Zealand. We remained there through Sunday morning in order to go to church with them.
We hit the road and headed for Tulsa, OK to take our daughter out to lunch. We had a good visit and left in enough time to get to Oklahoma City before dark. We met up with our son, Matt and went to a Mexican Restaurant, where we had dinner with Matt, Sarah Vaca and cousins, Ryan and Katie. We had a great evening of eating and visiting.
After dinner Matt took us out to Pop's, a new icon on old Route 66 near Oklahoma City. It is a very modern gas station with a 66' tall lighted pop bottle out front and a glass store front, tiered with glass shelves bottom to top, all along both sides of the store, that sports more than 600 different kinds of soda pop. It's an amazing place to see and draws large crowds for that very reason! Two thumbs up!
We spent the night in Day's End. This morning we took off with Matt to visit Oklahoma University. We stopped by the Country Club where Matt works he gave us a great tour of the facility as the Club is closed on Monday's and we got to see everything! Even Debby got to go into the "MEN'S ONLY" room!
At OCU we visited with our good friends Mickey Banister, Bonnie Howard and Janet Nixon. We hugged on 3 or 4 girls who had spent a night or two in our home a few years ago in Portland. They all work for OCU.
We went to Chapel and met up with Ben Meaders afterwards. The three of us headed over to a nearby Statbucks, where we met up with Andrea Beekman. It was great visiting with her again. the caffeine was also good!
We enjoyed our time with Ben and Andrea. Sorry we couldnt wait around another day to see other old friends, but we have to be near San Antonio tomorrow afternoon.
When we left Oklahoma City, we headed South along I-35 towards Texas. We spent the night in a Best Western near a huge Casino just north of the Texas border.
As we blew all of our money on the Motel, there wasn't anything left for the Indians.
Sorry guys!
Debby's Mom is on the road to recovery and we are on the road to Texas! We left Branson, MO Friday evening and spent the night with the Pinkerton's in Arkansas. There were a few things that the girls needed to do in preparation for our upcoming trip to New Zealand. We remained there through Sunday morning in order to go to church with them.
We hit the road and headed for Tulsa, OK to take our daughter out to lunch. We had a good visit and left in enough time to get to Oklahoma City before dark. We met up with our son, Matt and went to a Mexican Restaurant, where we had dinner with Matt, Sarah Vaca and cousins, Ryan and Katie. We had a great evening of eating and visiting.
After dinner Matt took us out to Pop's, a new icon on old Route 66 near Oklahoma City. It is a very modern gas station with a 66' tall lighted pop bottle out front and a glass store front, tiered with glass shelves bottom to top, all along both sides of the store, that sports more than 600 different kinds of soda pop. It's an amazing place to see and draws large crowds for that very reason! Two thumbs up!
We spent the night in Day's End. This morning we took off with Matt to visit Oklahoma University. We stopped by the Country Club where Matt works he gave us a great tour of the facility as the Club is closed on Monday's and we got to see everything! Even Debby got to go into the "MEN'S ONLY" room!
At OCU we visited with our good friends Mickey Banister, Bonnie Howard and Janet Nixon. We hugged on 3 or 4 girls who had spent a night or two in our home a few years ago in Portland. They all work for OCU.
We went to Chapel and met up with Ben Meaders afterwards. The three of us headed over to a nearby Statbucks, where we met up with Andrea Beekman. It was great visiting with her again. the caffeine was also good!
We enjoyed our time with Ben and Andrea. Sorry we couldnt wait around another day to see other old friends, but we have to be near San Antonio tomorrow afternoon.
When we left Oklahoma City, we headed South along I-35 towards Texas. We spent the night in a Best Western near a huge Casino just north of the Texas border.
As we blew all of our money on the Motel, there wasn't anything left for the Indians.
Sorry guys!
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