Gonzales, TX , March 18

The weather forecast for today is for severe thunderstorms with possible hale, plus a tornado watch. With that in mind, we left Steven Austin SP early and headed for our current campground at Independence Park in Gonzales, TX, about a two hour drive.
Here's a little bit about Gonzales:
Often called the "Lexington of Texas" because first skirmish of Texas Revolution was fought here. Settled 1825 by Green C. DeWitt, American empresario from Missouri, named for Rafael Gonzales (then governor of joint state of Coahuila-Texas); town was designed by Mexican government. Interestingly, streets were named for saints, and markers today show original plan. Current seat of Gonzales County, center of large pecan, cattle and poultry production.
It's been raining on & off all day but, fortunately, nothing like the predictions. We have the weather radio on. It went off once just before a heavy rain came through. Right now, about 4pm, it's starting to clear up. The rest of the week is supposed to be beautiful.
We both enjoyed a day off the road.

Sunday-Monday, March 16 & 17

We had the most wonderful time with all our friends at Hanna Park. It was decided to schedule the 4th Annual Hanna Park Get Together for the second week in March, 2009.
After saying last minute goodbye's, we headed out at 8:30am on Sunday morning. On our way to California. The plan was to stop around Pensacola for the night but I wasn't tired so we just kept going. We take a rest break about every two hours. The next plan was to spend the night at the Louisiana Welcome Center but is was closed for renovation. We finally found a Wal-Mart in Slidell, LA and spent the night in their parking lot. Well lighted, other RV's were there plus Gopher is a very good watch dog. She really goes crazy if someone approaches the camper. We feel very comfortable sleeping in rest areas & such with her around.
On Monday we drove from Slidell, LA to our first planned stop at White Memorial Park near Anahuac, TX about an hour east of Houston. What a disappointment. The "campground" was just a field off ae dirt road. We parked for a while and had lunch. After that we headed to our alternate stop; the Steven F. Austin State Park, west of Houston. The Houston traffic wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Heavy but not to the point where it was disturbing. The Park is very nice. It was part of the original Steven F. Austin homestead. Austin is considered as the founder of Texas. The park is about 1/2 full. We've been on the road since early Sunday morning. We're both tired. It felt very good to not be driving. Starting tomorrow, we slow the pace down. Four hour drive per day at the max.
Got an e-mail from Jennifer today. She & Karen decided they would keep caring for Balou & Bagera. Carol was very, very happy with the news. Balou & Bagera are two good dogs; I'll miss them but it's probably best.
It's 9:30. Bed time.

Hanna Park

Left home at 6:30am, on Wednesday, March 12th. Heading for Hanna Park near Jacksonville, FL for the third annual Hanna Park Lazy Daze Get-Together. Saw our first $4.00/gallon diesel fuel price. The price of gas at the Flying J in St. Augustine was $3.22/gallon. We arrived at Hanna Park about noon time. On Wednesday night we hosted the ice cream social. On Thursday evening everyone went out for dinner at the Caribee Key restaurant.
After everyone finally checked in, there were about 50 people at the rally. The farthest away being from Maine. Some from Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and all of the New England states. About half the people are Snowbirds. We're having the most wonderful time, as we always do, with our Lazy Daze friends.
Our good friends Joe & Clara Ellis called us last Tuesday to say there was a death in the family and they would have to cancel out. Clara called during dinner tonight to say they were on their way and would be here Friday afternoon. Looking forward to seeing them again.
The weather has been just perfect. Clear & sunny. The New England people just love it.

Getting ready to go

We've been home way too long. We're both anxious to get on the road again.
This coming weekend we're going to Disney World to meet the people who are buying our 2000 Lazy Daze. Steve & Carol Crisp from New Hampshire. They're flying in and we're camping at Fort Wilderness on Sunday & Monday. They bought the motorhome sight unseen so they are, understandably, anxious to see it. We'll spend the weekend going over it from bumper to bumper.
Looking forward to the trip to Disney. Always a fun place to stay.
Spent a few hours today getting things ready for the Disney trip plus our big trip to pick up our new 2008 Lazy Daze. We were planning on keeping our 2000 LD forever but we just enjoy traveling so much, we decided to treat ourselves to a new one. It's being built now with an estimated completion date of mid-April. We're going to a Southeast Lazy Daze Get Together(GTG) at Hanna Park near Jacksonville from March 12 to the 15th then heading West. Carol & I formed the Southeast LD Club in 2006. The plan is to spend time in Texas, New Mexico & Arizona on the way to the Lazy Daze factory in Montclair, CA. The Southwest Lazy Daze Club is having a GTG at Theodore Roosevelt Lake east of Phoenix, AZ on April 4th. We're going to join them. It's always fun meeting other LD owners. After that, we'll see what the delivery schedule for our new LD is and plan accordingly. Some of the people from the Southwest Club are heading to Mexico after the Roosevelt Lake GTG. Depending on the delivery schedule, we may join them. The people who are buying our 2000, are picking it up at the LD factory on the same day we pick up our new one.
After picking up our new motorhome, we plan on touring California, Nevada, Oregon & Washington, then visiting with Suzanne & family in Longmont,CO then stopping by to see Johnny & Marge near Kansas city, KS, to be home by June 15th.
Well, that's the plan. We'll see how it all unfolds.
Carol is doing much better these days. Doesn't need her wheelchair anymore. Can get around for short distances with her cane. We'll be traveling with Gopher on this trip. Balou & Bagera are still with Jennifer. We'll be picking them up this summer.