rainbow's end

Reasons for being here and not in the cold and wet.

Fresh flowers by the side of the road







And trees and blue sky

Rocks

On the recommendation of the guy at the tourist center, we headed east to “The Rock Shop” about 10 miles east of Livingston. Several turns and down a very muddy road.



We came to the Rock Shop collection of very old, unfinished, Hillybiilly-like buildings.


We were greeted by Jim, and he traveled with us through the 7 buildings. Apparently, this is the biggest and best rock shop in North America and busloads of people come to look and buy.

Any and all types of rock - all colours, sizes, Common and rare. And petrified wood. Very beautiful and quite amazing all the different colours and formations of rocks. Plus he explained how rocks are cut and polished.




On the way home, we picked up a nail, and when removing the luge nut, the screw thing broke in half, so we have to wait until Monday and hopefully, we can get it fixed quickly. Fortunately, there is a jeep dealer in Livingston.

Unfortunate events

Decided to have one last tour of the coast before heading inland. Drove east into Louisiana. Just as you cross into the state there are 3 really big casinos and a Race track. ( Remember, there is no or very little casinos or gambling in Texas ). As we drove to the coast, there was still a lot of damage from Hurricane Rita …..and a lot of new roofs. Again we had fog, so we could barely see any of the coast. So that was disappointing. then we drove through Nederland and we disappointed with the lack of windmills ( I guess Rita got them ). And then Disaster. My computer started up and froze, stopped working, ceased to function. Not a good day!!!! So we decided to go out for dinner –but checked on the place with the Rv park manager before we went. Had a delicious meal at Pappadeux – Cajun style cooking. Blackened Catfish with pecan butter Mmmmm.


Left Beaumont and drove to Livingston ( about 2 hours ). Just after we left, the terrain changed - we had hills, and a few trees. We have got into hill country. Now the hills are like the one behind our house, only not as steep. Haven’t seen hills for a month. Got set up and went in search of a computer repair place. Found several of IBMs but no one knew of a Mac person. Oh, oh.

On Tuesday, a young man working at the gas station found a computer place in Huntsville which is about an hours drive west. So off we went, and yes they were Mac trained. So I left the computer and we went north to Cognagoches to find a place that might repair on of the leather seats. It was within a company that assembles motorhomes, as it makes them. They are very high end, but the interior designer was very friendly, and we met the seamstress and the fellow that assembles the furniture. Chair goes in on Monday on our way to visit Peter and Dorothy in Dallas.

Wednesday: Weather has turned cold and wet. I went to pick up the computer and George stayed to wait for the propane guy. So, the computer is working, the propane is full and I got our Christmas tree. All is well.



Thursday & Friday: Drove to Houston to check out parking at the airport, and toured around the city. It was just like all other cities. In the evening, there was a swing band concert at the RV park. They played a mix of swing and Christmas music and were quite good. It was a community group made up of many people in the music part of the school system. On Friday, we went to Trade Days aka Swap meet and toured around Livingston lake. Stormy night with lightning and rain.

Dec 11

Where have we been this last week? Those who have Google Earth, search for Garrett Ranch, Texas. It the midst of the ranch, you will see both the golf course and the RV park ( small white area at end of golf course )

We meet the owners at the “Covered Dish”, and Will, the son, was the guy who was plowing the golf cart paths. He doesn’t work the ranch - that’s his uncle, but he has 3 airplanes - 2 crop dusters ( biplanes ) and one that will carry 6 passengers.
I thought it would be a great picture to have George teeing off with the yellow bi-plane on the runway behind him. Will offered to oblige by moving the plane out, but we are leaving in the morning, so no time.

And so we moved on to Beaumont. The weather has changed and there is lots of fog about. This happens when the temperature is about 80 and the dew point is about 74 - very warm, and very humid. Anyway, Beaumont is an oil town, site of the “01” (that’s 1901), oil geyser, the first major oil find in Texas. At this point hum the tune of Beverly Hillbillies, because many Texans became very rich, very quickly. Great Oil museum here.



This is an old house that we toured. The owners did not throw anything away when they remodeled over the years, so the museum has all the original furniture and rugs, and can theme the house to a certain period of time. Well done. But again, no pictures are allowed in the house.

Especially for Golfers

Did I mention that this little place is on a par 72 nine hole golf course?



It has several water hazards, and they are really good at snatching the ball from the sky!! It is really pretty with brush on the north side, and the Rv park on the west. The ranch / farmland is on the other sides .

And the cost - $15 for 18 holes and that includes the cart, and if you want to play more, $4 for each 9 holes. Really helps the budget!!


Here it is Dec 5 and we are in our shorts playing 27 holes of golf, and the sky is total blue, and the temperature around 80 with a slight breeze to keep you cool. On the course, there are turtles, and hurons. And on the day after the frost, the air was filled with little spiders on little webs and covering the ground. Apparently they come out of the trees after a frost

Think we will play tomorrow and Friday.

Touring - Dec 2 - 7

Up early for a round of golf. Finished by noon, so we headed to Galveston to do some tourist stuff. Galveston new building style - stick houses.



First we went to the Ocean Oilrig tour. On one of the piers, they had an old oil rig set up with displays as to the history and the workings of the off shore oil rigs. Quite interesting but very technical.

Then we visited Moody mansion and museum. I got a coupon off the internet that was 2 for 1 admission, so we went on the tour. Our guide was really, really good. And the house was amazing. Pictures were not allowed. It was build in the late 1800s, and has been restored to that time period. And of course, it is decorated for the season.

On Tuesday, we headed to the Verner-Hogg Plantation ( State Park) and had a wonderful tour of the building. I still have trouble remembering that the plantation house is really a farm house, a summer retreat from the city. This building had four rooms on each floor and a separate building for the kitchen. The servant bringing food from the kitchen to the dining room had to whistle, not to warn them that she is coming, but to show that she/he was not eating the food!! We are becoming experts on Texas history!!


And everywhere you go, you see:

Brown, black, reddish. They are everywhere!!

Sunday wildlife

Spend the day driving in two national wildlife refuges. Basically, they have an information center run by volunteers, usually snowbirds who get their Rv spot and hook-ups in exchange for 30 hours of work each week. It is a huge acreage for wildlife with occasional hunting and fishing, and an auto tour and a few hiking trails. What could be lurking in this waterway?



Driving slowing, it is fairly easy to spot critters that live there. Did you know that there is a lot of waterways, bayous, creeks, and rivers in texas? And living in those are many ‘gators of all sizes.







And that is why cowboys wear alligator cowboy boots!!!

Other reptiles like it here too.




And there were lots and lots of birds!!

Should we go?

Sunny. Up early and on the road, heading east. I found a RV/golf RV park on the internet – no ratings in any of the guides. Interesting claims

“Nestled on a 1200 acres working farm, lies the beautiful Austin Bayou RV Park. Here, you will enjoy unmatched peaceful serenity, coupled with the Garrett family's exceptional down-home Texas hospitality.

Looking for the hustle-bustle of big city camping? How about trying to stuff your RV into a typical "sardine-city" atmosphere of most so-called "resort parks"? Sorry, that wouldn't be us...

Instead, you'll discover that we only have 23 sites, gigantic by normal standards, full-hookups, free laundry and exercise facilities and ... well ...the list goes on.. “

Could be a gem? Or disaster? The road in ... should we go, where are we heading?


Took the risk. Found the gem.











With its own 9 hole golf course.

We're here a week.

Palacios

Sunny. We decided not to go to San Antonio, so we are heading north along the coast. We went a far as Palacios, which is a small community on Palacios Bay by Trés Palacios River. The park is right on the water, with its own small marina filled with sailboats. Note the Rv's in the background. Can you see ours?? Look carefully, look for the green awning.

On either side there are commercial docks with fishing and shrimp boats. Got settled and toured the town on bicycle. Most of the buildings are really old, but in good shape. Most of the waterfront has a wall and sidewalk so the cycling was easy. But forgot camera, so just image some very old buildings and a seawall. Campground had a turkey soup dinner and we were invited!! Mmmm turkey leftovers.

Sunny. Spent the day touring along the coast. Miles and miles and miles of beaches, and everyone has a boat and everyone fishes.