A good sleep and a muggy morning. Within minutes, the winds were up and it stated to pour. It couldn't have been for more than an hour or so. After, and much cooler, I walked up to the Bayfront beach sites (very windy but beautiful). Pelicans everywhere, some black-headed gulls and even a sandpiper of some sort. Feeling very tropical.
After lunch, we took the bikes and road around the park. Some great pictures taken (we'll upload soon) of water birds, including a white Crane-like bird (this is a spot for Whooping Cranes, but this seemed too small so maybe an egret?), some unusual ducks and two kinds of pelicans.
The wooded campsites were quite different from our Gulf-side spot. Lots of people but not "crowded" So many people stopped and chatted and I felt very comfortable and happy. It was sunny after the storm and very warm (around 70). This is what I expected and wanted. A great day.
More pictures soon.
Well, we're in Texas for sure. saw our first "Ranch" (Walnut Creek) complete with wrought iron gates. Then out first oil rig, first Texas Longhorn, first cactus, and first cowboy hat on a good old boy!
The long-feared drive through Houston was done effortlessly and in about 45 minutes. That is until a 2 X 4, complete with nails, fell off the trailer in front of us. David managed to avoid it and we made it through safely.
Continued south and, as I pointed out our first gun store (it IS TEXAS and the USA!), David pointed out the store selling Donuts and Deer Processing across the road. Loved it.
Another first, a white Crane-like bird, then several dead Roadrunners.
Got to Goose Island State PArk (on the Gulf Coast near Rockport, TX) around 5:00. No sites (there aren't a lot and many are long term stays-30 days), but they let us stay in the overflow area, the parking lot beside the Day Picnic area. It worked beautifully...we have a view of St. Charles and Aransas Bays, part of the Gulf of Mexico. Wow! There are palm trees, sunshine and pelicans so far.
A picture of our first Texas site here.
How can you be across the road from Graceland at the Graceland RV Park and NOT go to Graceland?
It's quite a slick operation and there were few people when we got the shuttle, so it was a nice visit. The house, to me, was smaller and less grand (myth vs reality) but amazing to see. I felt sad often and in awe of the display of Elvis' talent. I shed a little tear when I approached the Serenity Garden and the gravesites. I'm glad we went.
We headed out towards Texas. I saw my first cottonfield ever (white fluff in bloom) in Arkansas (the cat's SIXTH state) then the beginning of many blooming daffodils. Lovely.
We stopped at a "famous" Camping World store and it was bust. But it was a stop in the 70+ weather! We pushed a little too hard in our destination and hit Texarkana, TX (yep, state SEVEN) late. The RV park I picked was unstaffed and a little spooky, so we drove on. It was dark, so another hotel stop (in Cass County, in honour of Cassie).
We've added our Graceland pictures.
An okay hotel sleep and an early departure. It was sunny and quite beautiful (35-40 degrees, we now think in Imperial again!). The drive through Kentucky was good. I sang every Kentucky song I knew (and in fact Ohio songs...anyone know a Michigan song?) much to David's delight. We headed in to Tennessee (yes, Tennessee Waltz, Tennessee Birdwalk,...). State FOUR!
I really feel the Civil War when I pass through the south. We bought a throw-away phone and a cheap plan to keep in touch with Dad, etc.
Saw the greatest sign on the highway: "Used Cows For Sale".
Pulled in to Memphis and the Graceland RV Park. Our first night in the MH. Had to de-winterize. All to the songs of our first Mockingbird! It's a beautiful bird and it apparently really mocks the tunes of any bird. Someone told us he had heard that, in urban areas, it'll even mock a car alarm! Urban myth? Also saw our first trees in bloom!
Great sleep in our lovely bed. Kevin and Alana, you'll like that the wireless login and password were both "happycamper"! A good day.
Our only picture is of our MH at the Graceland RV Park.
After months of deciding on a motorhome (MH), weeks of planning and prepping, and days of waiting for the weather to improve, we finally left about 2:00 AM on Tuesday, March 1.
Any final worries about the cat's adaptation to this new way of travelling were alleviated when we had barely left our laneway, and she pooped in her litter box and horked a hairball onto the floor!
We were glad we'd waited until Tuesday to travel. The weather all day was fine: sunny and no precipitation.
Only about two minutes at the border (the very cute Customs guy was a cat lover and Cassie was cutely asleep on my lap!), and we were into the states.
David drove all day (what a trooper) and we decided on a hotel in Florence, Kentucky (another first for the cat along with her THIRD state!). Nothing too exciting except that we were off and safe and really happy in the little house.
No pictures today.
