Home

I never did complete our journey so here goes. Our last few days consisted of mostly driving although we managed to make a few stops and add some fun along the way. Steve wanted to go to four corners on the way home. So after four hours of driving on a fairly deserted and remote road we arrived at our destination.  The road in was unpaved, rocky, and full of bumps and holes. As it is not run by the govt. it is fairly rough and unimpressive as you drive in. The monument or area itself is surrounded by four sides of stall like structures where the Native Americans can sell their wares...food, crafts, shirts, etc. the four states come together in the center of this open structure where all four state flags are displayed as well as the American flag. The four states are Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. We took a few pictures and then we're on the way again. Another 4 hours to our destination. We found the cute little tourist town of Moab, Utah where we took a short gelato break. It would have been a fun town to stay in but we had to get a bit farther down the road. It was close to Arches National Park so had lots of restaurants and hotels as well.  We arrived in Price, Utah late...grabbed a few things at Walmart and called it a night. Steve was really starting to not feel too well so we are glad to be heading home. We started out early Wednesday morning for Meridian Idaho where we stay and have dinner with my nephew, Austin and his sweet girlfriend, Aubri. It was a long day of driving but we enjoyed seeing mountains and evergreen trees again! We drove town a bit and gone settled before dinner. Austin and Aubri shared one of their favorite places...Hawaiian BBQ. We had a great meal and a nice visit! 

I was so looking forward to Thursday morning because I was getting together with Kristi Miller for coffee, I had taught with dear Kristi at Kings. Her family had moved to Idaho last Spring. We had such a great time catching up and I understand why they moved...the area is lovely!  We got a late start but we were determined to get home that night. Poor Steve continued to feel poorly but managed to keep going! We stopped and stretched a bit along the way and walked around Baker city a bit before we stopped for gas in Yakima. We drove into our driveway just after 9pm. We had driven 9500 miles and we're gone 51/2 weeks. After unpacking the car with the help of Donald and Bethany, Steve headed for bed and stayed there or in his chair for a few days as the flu bug had hit...mine came a few days later! We had just completed an amazing journey where we witnessed Gods amazing handiwork first hand and experienced His protection and blessings daily. We are truly thankful! 

Albequerque Old Towne and beyond

After we left Oklahoma City our next stop would be Albequerque NM. Another state we had never visited. Our hotel was close enough to Old Towne that we could walk which was nice.  It was also adjacent to a Starbucks!  Arriving Sunday afternoon we were not sure if much would be open...many of the restaurants were not but of course many shops were.  We enjoyed a meal in town after striking out a few times...and then walked around the town square.  There was a young lady singing in the square but thankfully she was finished by the time we were done eating.  Steve really wanted to experience Tex Mex while we were there...our first meal was at La Hacienda...formally a large home from the early 1700's that had been added onto over the years.  The meal was tasty...Steve had a chicken breast smothered with a green chili sauce and I had chicken fajitas...probably the best cooked chicken we'd ever had.  Monday morning we walked around the town square, met some local artists, saw much of the same merchandise in tourist traps and made a few purchases...Steve found himself another hat!  We did enjoy many of the art galleries particularly the glass and metal work. As anywhere you really have to check where things are made.  It was recommended that we visit the museum and cultural center and so we headed there where we enjoyed some authentic Tex Mex food...both of us enjoyed the green chili stew and Steve had the best chili relleno he's ever had.   We headed back to the hotel for a break.  Later that evening we went for a drive and discovered the Nob Hill area of Albequerque.  Oh if we had only found this darling neighborhood earlier...a revitalized part of Route 66!  Great shops, restaurants and antiques...maybe another time.  We just needed a little something so settled on a dinner salad and shared a burger at the Frontier Restaurant...a fun find, frequented by University of New Mexico students!  Next up...a driving day to Price, Utah.  We are nearing the end of our trip and I think we are both ready to get home...Steve's feeling a bit under the weather tonight so hopefully after a good night's rest he will feel better!

Oklahoma

Our daily began early Saturday morning as we had a long driving day and knew we may want to stop a bit.  We have been amazed by the miles and miles of hotels, motels, gas stations, and restaurants along the highway in Texas.  There are also an incredible amount of Billboards that advertise all kinds of things...food, entertainment, even quilt shops!  After leaving San Antonio we were traveling west towards Oklahoma City.  I was surprised and pleased to learn we would be traveling through Waco, Texas.  For those of you who watch HGTV perhaps you have seen the program Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines.  They are headquartered in Waco and have a delightful shop there.  My darling husband drove off the designated highway so I could peruse, purchase and have my picture taken there.  What a fun find...they were actually in San Antonio at a Home Show but so fun to see the shop which was packed with lots of shoppers!  I came home with a few fun finds!  I wish I could have brought home one of everything!  Steve found an outdoor store to visit and then we were back on the road.  We saw another interesting Billboard some hours later that advertised a "bakery" and café.  Collin Street Bakery has been on the Food Channel and is famous for their varieties of fruit cake.  Of course they had samples...I don't care for fruit cake at all but this was good.  They also have all kinds of cookies and make sandwiches.  We elected to split a sandwich and purchase a small fruit cake for Christmas...of course they have a long shelf life!  Our hotel in Oklahoma City was comfortable and convenient to many restaurants and such.  After a recommendation from the hotel desk we headed out a ways to the Stockyard area of town and readied ourselves for an hour wait at Cattleman Steakhouse.  Definitely the hangout for the local cowboys and girls...the décor hasn't changed in years but the food was delicious!  It was worth the wait.  It was also fun to walk around the block and look in the store windows while we waited...lots of cowboy hats, boots and Wranglers! 

San Antonio

On Friday we spent the entire day in San Antonio...it really is designed to be walked.  We began with a lovely breakfast buffet provided in our hotel and then headed out to the Alamo. It was just a short walk from our hotel and on the way we found a Starbucks!  Surprising the actual area of the Alamo church, park and memorial is very small.  It is guarded and only so many are admitted at a time but it is free.  However there is a paid guided tour if you wish.  Of course they take your picture at the front and offer them for sale at the gift shop later.  We have found that most places we have visited really have the marketing down...shirts, key chains, mugs, you name it they have it!  A short while later we walked back to the river walk and purchased two tickets for the river barge...a 30-40minute guided tour on the river.  It was very informative and very fun.  We saw the stage where Sandra Bullock played the glasses in Miss Congeniality along with other special spots.  There are so many places to eat along the river as well as little shops and hotels.  Our next adventure was walking to the Mexican Market.  I actually found stores where I didn't want to buy a thing!!  We enjoyed a fantastic lunch in the Market at Mi Tierra.  A restaurant that is open 24hrs. a day and there is often a wait...a wonderful sight for the eyes and yummy for the tummy!  Walking back to the hotel we felt a few raindrops which after we arrived turned into a downpour that lasted for hours.  We had planned on going back out but opted to enjoy our hotels manager's reception which included a light supper and beverages. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas bound

Left early this morning from Abbeville Louisana so we could arrive in Katy, Texas around 11am. It was dark and quiet as we pulled out of the hotel but we saw the beautiful sunrise as we made our  way to the interstate meandering through farmland...both rice fields and sugar cane .  Today I was able to visit with dear Kristen Peirce who along with her sweet family relocated to Texas a year ago.  What a treat to see her and catch up...and to see her two children as well. What a fun way to start the day!! On her recommendation we stopped at two touristy places...Potter country store where they specialize in pecans...yum!! We also stopped at Buc-ees...a rather large family truck stop/ gas station...over 40 places to pump gas and the store...food drinks gifts oh my what a place!  We arrived in San Antonio this afternoon and after checking in we headed out to the river walk . This is an amazing place...so fun to walk along and see all the hotels shops and restaurants!! We ate at a Mexican restaurant called Iron Cactus. We enjoyed a shrimp, avocado, cilantro and citrus salad and then shared some yummy tacos!! Tomorrow we will explore more!! Blessings!

Tabasco Tour

Today we spent the day on Avery Island.  Avery Island is the home to the McInhenny Co. makers of Tabasco!  It is a beautiful area, in the heart of Cajun country.  The company owns the entire island which is actually a fairly hilly area as it sits on a salt mine.  They not only make the sauce...a 6 generation company...they mine salt and have some oil interests as well.  We took the factory tour, visited the Company Store...they have branding down...so many things you can purchase!  Steve had found that they did a local Cajun food tour so we had signed up to do that in the afternoon.  It was a 3 hour culinary experience that really took me out of my comfort zone.  However in the comfort of a group the experience was made easier.  We visited 6 places and had "bites" not complete meals at each place.  We began with boiled shrimp...had to removed the heads, tails and shells, and onion rings. So good but this was not going to be a kind diet day!!  Our next stop was a meat market where we tasted Boudin-a sausage like substance made with pork, vegies and rice.  It is his specialty and it was very good.  We also had pork cracklins...nothing low fat about this day!!
We spent the rest of the afternoon, tasting more boudin, shrimp gumbo and chicken gumbo, stuffed bread, and ended the day with bread pudding, topped with meringue and whiskey sauce.  Fortunately I don't care for bread pudding so I didn't eat it all...but for someone who doesn't like it...it was good! Needless to say we did not have dinner tonight!!
So looking forward to tomorrow.  On our way to San Antonio we are stopping in Katy, TX so I can see my dear friend Kristen who I taught with at King's years ago and was Bethany's Kindergarten teacher!  What a special treat this is!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf Coast

We skipped breakfast this morning at the hotel.  It's been hard to go back to the typical continental after being spoiled with fresh fruits platters and made to order omelets at Disney!  Traveling on down the road...surrounded on both sides with water...we have driven across many bridges!  Leaving Panama City we continued on down the Gulf Coast.  Next came Panama City Beach...amazing!  Wish we would have stayed here....so many new things being built here.  Lovely hotels, beaches and restaurants...much be a vacation destination for many folks.  Stopped at a brand new McDonald's for a smoothie and then took a drive along the lovely beach.  Lots of vacation rentals, cute little shops, etc.  Heading back to the highway...the beaches, hotels, and restaurants continued for miles and miles across the bays, causeways, etc.  We even happened upon a Starbucks.  We have been so impressed by each states Visitor and Welcome Centers along the major highways.  We visited three yesterday as we traveled from Florida, to Alabama, to Mississippi, and finally to Louisanna.  We made a stop in Alabama for a little walking tour.  After visiting a fort we walked awhile, took a trolley and found a great lunch spot.  Wintzell's Oyster House has been a fixture in Mobile for over 75 years.  Tables are covered with paper and walls are covered with all sorts of signs and sayings.  They make their own sauce which they sell of course.  We started by sharing a bowl of Gumbo...it was very good!  After lunch we walked back to the car and headed west once again.  Down the road as well drove through Mississippi we both noticed a large billboard advertising a quilt shop...so Steve very kindly made a quick detour.  The small town of Gautier, MS was deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina.  The owner is actually originally from Maple Valley, WA.  She and her husband went down to help and ended up staying!  After working for 6 years for Home Depot, she opened a very beautiful quilt shop 3 years ago.  It was so nice to visit with her.  We arrived in Abbeville, LS late last night.  Steve headed out for a Po Boy but I opted to stay in...I was more tired than hungry!