Easter, Fogged Windows, Tornadoes

We left Amarillo on Tuesday, April 15 and followed our friends Dale & Jan Butler home to Westville, OK.   It was nice to just follow for a change!
                                    
They were more than gracious hosts – we had a cement driveway with water and electric and the best tour guides EVER of the area.  We spent some time in Bentonville, AR where the corporate offices of Walmart is located.  There is a visitors’ center which tells the story – very interesting!
                   
We also visited the Cherokee National Museum.  Very humbling experience. 
                                  
We celebrated Easter with the Butler's at their Methodist church (which is right behind their house).  After church, we went with them to Jan's sister's house for a wonderful family gathering.  Jan's family took us right in!

We left the Butler's the next morning and spend the night in North Little Rock.  Then headed the next day to our appointment with the RV Fog Doctor in Searcy, AR.  Wow – they did a great job! 
                                 
We decided to go back to the Downtown Riverside RV Park in North Little Rock.  It’s a nice park right on the Arkansas River with lots to do and see. 


On Sunday, April 27, the weather forecasters had been “going at it” for 3 days about the severe weather that was coming.  It made us a little nervous to see the Weather Channel parked right outside the campground. . . just waiting. . .
                              
The tornado sirens went off about 7:15 pm.  The tornado was about 20 miles from us.  We were very fortunate that all the storms went around us. 

SOITC South Central Regional Rally

We left Medina Lake Thousand Trails on Monday morning and drove to Lubbock for the night.  The deer at Medina Lake have no fear of people.

Wow – we haven’t driven that far in a day since we retired!  We saw some beautiful scenery along the way.

          

The sunset over Lubbock on Monday evening was beautiful!

                              

The Suite Owners’ rally started on Wednesday.  It’s great to meet new friends and reconnect with “old” friends. 

During some of our free time, we drove over to Palo Duro Canyon State Park with friends, Sharon & Ed.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. . . .

Natural Bridge Caverns

Yesterday we visited Natural Bridge Caverns.  They are the largest caverns in Texas.  The size and depth of them was not discovered until the 1960’s.  The first picture is of the “natural bridge”.  The temperature in the caverns is a constant 70 degrees with 99% humidity.  It got a little stuffy. . . . 

On the way home, Rick pulled off for some bluebonnet photo ops!

San Antonio!

We took a short drive (45 min.) to downtown San Antonio.  We found a public parking lot ($5 for the entire day) just a couple of blocks from the Alamo.  The Alamo itself looks pretty much the same as it did 18 years ago.  However, the area surrounding the Alamo sure has changed with all the shops, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, etc. . .

The Alamo                                                      Emily Morgan Hotel

We had to get a picture of the Emily Morgan Hotel – we stayed there YEARS ago when we lived in Laredo.

On to the River Walk!  This was the best part of the entire day.  We absolutely love this place.  It’s amazing to walk along the river with all the beautiful landscaping and realize that you’re smack in the middle of the downtown of a large city. 

We had lunch at the oldest restaurant on the River Walk.  Very good food and decent prices. 

                                   

We took one of the river boat tours when we first got there.  It was so worth it!  Our “captain” and tour guide explained that the water is only about 4’ deep, so if you fall overboard and feel that you need a life jacket, just walk over to the boat and he’ll be glad to hand you one! 

Had to get this picture of the Tower of the Americas.  This is where Rick took Janice and her parents for dinner to celebrate our engagement in 1986.

                                   

Another great day in The Suite Life!!

Cowboy Capital of the World

We went to Bandera, TX today, the Cowboy Capital of the World!  What an interesting town.  .
 
They put on a show at the town square, across from the courthouse, reenacting life in the 1800’s

A Shoot Out!....

                        
Fixing a toothache with dynamite?…     Friends, Frank & Ruth, “horsing” around. .
                     
Bandera County Courthouse           Historic Downtown Bandera

We then headed north out of Bandera on 173, and made a stop at Camp Verde.  Prior to the Civil War, under the direction of then U.S. Secretary Of War, Jefferson Davis (later president of the Confederate States), the U.S. Army began training camels for use as pack animals and cavalry units for use in the southwest.  Hmmmm… maybe this was not a new idea that General Patton came up with for desert warfare in north Africa during WWII after all.  It now seems to us to be a really nice tourist trap and high priced restaurant.  If you have any interest, you can go to www.campverdegeneralstore.com.  So, back on the road up to 2771, south on 16, back to Bandera.  Beautiful drive through the Texas hill country!
 
While we were at Camp Verde, we received a text picture from our niece of their back yard in central Ohio covered in fresh fallen snow with  the caption “really?!?!?”.  We just had to take this picture and respond with, “yes, really!”
                             
We stopped for an early dinner at Old Spanish Trail Restaurant in Bandera.  Great food at great prices.  This gives a real visual of the saying “saddle up to the bar”. . .
                      
All in all, another great day of sightseeing with great friends.  Life is suite!