March - June 2014

We are now in Mayhill, NM at Deer Spring RV Park. In March we spent three weeks in Lubbock at Loop 289 RV Park. We had our Vue worked on and had our annual checkups. Below are a few photos of the last three months...


A quick trip to Lubbock last week for more appointments with our GP. We were so glad we got to say goodbye to our friend Jim Kean, although we missed seeing Peggy as she was out of town. They are moving from Loop 289 Park to North Carolina to be nearer their son and his family. We sure will miss them, the park just won't be the same when they're gone. Jim and Peg, we wish you all the best and don't be surprised if we show up on your door step one day!




A few photos of our first space (#11) at Deer Spring. We arrived on April 18, after spending a couple of weeks with the kids in Artesia. As you can see it was so early there were no leaves on the trees yet. For a month or so we were one of only two campers in the park. The birds (and butterflies) were very glad to see us, finding the feeders in short order!



Donnie and Maddy in our new site (#10) for the summer. We moved here the end of May.


Donnie has been planting grass and watering our lawn for several weeks now. All the water has really brought in the robins. Almost every evening we enjoy watching this mom feeding one of her babies supper. From the size of him it looks like he needs to be feeding her instead!


A view of the mountains to our northeast. The setting sun really lit (lighted?) up the clouds.

Throwing in this photo of our March trip to Lubbock. We were at the mechanic's shop and ran into Jeff from Car Chasers, the program on CNBC. He was so friendly, even posing for a photo with us. When I told him we watched the show every week (even reruns) he said he would definitely tell his wife Meg, because she didn't think any women watched the show!

Julia Madison Jarratt

No matter where we roam...Maddy is always at home...



Amid the Texas Hill Country Bluebonnets



With a snootful of sand at Mustang Island State Park



With her parents at Montgomery Bell State Park, Dickson, TN



Wearing her "hoodie" on Cherohala Skyway Drive, TN/NC



Checking out a possible purchase at a Goliad TX antique shop



Finding the fifth wheel's furnace vent for the very first time



Deciding she has found the perfect spot to spend a cold winter's day



Her favorite perch for checking out the birds and deer outside her window

Winter 2013 - 2014

After spending a couple of weeks at Thanksgiving with the kids in Artesia, we headed down to the Texas Coast. We stayed December through mid February at Ransom Road RV Park (again) in Aransas Pass. We had more drizzle and cool temperatures this winter than in years past. But we were still able to get out and do some of our favorite things...watching ships, looking for birds and...eating lots of seafood!



A sign outside one of the RV park buildings...I couldn't resist snapping this one!



The "Big Tree" at Goose Island State Park, just north over Copano Bay, from Aransas Pass. The tree is a live oak believed to be almost 2,000 years old. It is said to have survived an estimated 40 to 50 major hurricanes as well as numerous floods, droughts and wildfires.



Lydia Ann Lighthouse which operated from the 1850s until it was decommissioned in 1952. It stands on an island east of Aransas Pass and is now privately owned.



Sunset at Ingleside on the Bay, to the south of us



One of many ferry rides between Aransas Pass and Port Aransas, which Maddy learned to love.



Watching a tanker enter the Corpus Christi ship channel. Looks like a tight squeeze under the Harbor Bridge, huh!



An offshore oil platform being constructed at Kiewit Offshore Services in Ingleside


While on the coast we were lucky enough to see an offshore oil rig base being towed out to the Gulf. The first photo was taken at the ferry dock, where I visited with a gentleman who worked on the (single) base as a welder for almost two years. He said he was very proud of the work he and his coworkers had done, but was ready for a day off! The second and third pics show it moving through the Port A ship channel. The last is of the tug boats needed to move the rig. We were told it was going to Louisiana where the platform was being fabricated to place on top.

Fall 2013

Our third fall trip to the Smoky Mountain National Park, mid Sept to mid Oct.


When we arrived at our usual campground we were shocked to see the gates closed. As Look Rock was one of the few campgrounds in the Smokies that was "first come, first served" we had no idea it had been closed due to funding cuts.


We were so lucky to find Big Meadow Family Campground in nearby Townsend, TN. We were told we could stay only one night, but the owners were kind enough to work us in for a month's stay.


Our site at Big Meadow


Our new "toad"...goodbye little red Tracker, hello Saturn Vue. Donnie found the Vue online at nearby Morristown, TN and we just love it


The Little River near our RV park




While on the Cherohala Skyway (43 mile National Scenic Byway that connects Tellico Plains, TN with Robbinsville, NC) we saw some impressive fall colors and this group of antique car enthusiasts. The temps were in the 30s, so these folks were really tough cookies



We had been at our RV park for a few days when the government shut down the national park for two weeks. Sooooo, we spent a lot of time driving surrounding country roads, photographing my favorite thing...old barns!



Our first drive into the park when the road blocks were lifted...Cades Cove Loop.

Summer 2013

We spent June and July at an RV park in Aransas Pass near Corpus Christi, TX. We had a great space right on this canal





Casey, Angie, Rylee and Parker came to see us for a few days the end of July. We had a great visit and had fun... Here we are with Parker (L) Rylee (R) in front of their RV.



We rode the ferry over to Port Aransas and played on the beach at Mustang Island State Park



Touring the U.S.S. Lexington was interesting but a little too warm in July!



One evening we watched the Corpus Christi's minor league team play ball. A first for the kids and our second Hooks game