Saturday, 12 October 2019: Puebla

We talked to Jordan this morning.  As he gets ready to go help at boats out, he was donning long Johns, jacket, woolen hat, etc.  They had a freeze warning yesterday so he’s scrambling to get the water lines at his cottage blown out.  Us? We are in the mountains outside of Puebla.  We hit dense fog and the temperature dropped to the mid 50’s.  Justin really enjoys this part of the drive in the twisty turns roads in the mountains.

One day I’ll need to check out Hotel Orizaba.  The town of Orizaba is about 23km out of Córdoba in the mountains outside of Puebla.  If ever we want to go a bit farther than Puebla, this might be an option.  And, we might want to check out hotels in Frontera if we don’t want to go as far as Ciudad del Carmen.  It is passed Villahermosa but not as far as we are tonight.  

As is typical, Justin and I read to each other when we are on the road.  Lately, Power Up and The Daily 202 from the Washington Post have monopolized our attention with fodder of impeachment, phone calls with the Ukraine, pulling troops from Syria, and the elections.  Since today was Saturday and those publications don’t come out, we were forced to turn to Packer  news.  Last week Aaron Jones scored four, count them, four running touchdowns in the game against the Cowboys.  Today, we read that he’s been fined over $10,000 for his taunting wave at one of the Cowboys as he headed into the endzone.  I’d say that was quite nice coming from a Texas boy...he went to UTEP.  He might be my new favorite Packer.

Justin sold both his Morgan 30s today.  He had mixed emotions about this but he didn’t have mixed emotions at all about his feelings toward a member of Windjammers Sailing Club who was snarky with Jordan today.  Lord knows I wouldn’t want to be that guy when Justin gets to the next board meeting.  I don’t think between now and May is enough time for him to calm down.  Justin penned a very calm, but very clear email message to the guy and selectively chose to forward to a few others.  My, oh, my.

Meanwhile, if we don’t have a boat in the water at a slip next year, Justin is talking about travel.  Where shall we go?  I asked Kim if we’d have an event we needed to add to the calendar but she said not yet as she and Brian will need to wait for a fiancée visa which apparently could take between 6 and 9 months.

The last two hours of driving found us on a two lane road filled with big ole trucks, bicycles and lots of topes.  Yes, we are definitely back in the land topes.  I swear Gemma is going to stroke out on us.  She gets so anxious.  I feel really bad for her but dang it, she is one hot mess.

We pulled into Ciudad del Carmen just after six pm.  Raju was at the desk of the Hotel Azul to greet us.  We only had to unpack the most minimal of items for this our last night.  We got halfway settled in our room before Gemma fell into a pool of standing water — again.  She did this when we were here one time before.  She did not have a good day.  And now, she stinks to high heaven.  

Fundido con carne -- yummy!

We went to a new little restaurant right next door and as we were walking the bottom fell out.  I was so glad this didn’t happen while we were driving. 

Friday, 11 October 2019: Pueblo

With about eight hours of driving ahead of us, we were on the road by 8am this morning.  Our hotel neighbors from New York who are on their way to Lake Chapala were not yet gone and neither were the other neighbors from Florida.

Our lunch stop was a little hole in the wall -- well, we are in Mexico!  Sure was yummy!









The top priority today for Justin was to make sure all the plans are in place for tomorrow with regard to boats.  “Boats out” is tomorrow at Windjammers Sailing Club and since he isn’t there, he has to depend on Jordan and Mark.  They will take care of getting Merlin out and on its trailer.  Later, Mark will take care of winterizing.  The other big chore for tomorrow is to oversee N and J Marine as they take away Emerald for salvage.  This has been a huge decision for Justin.  As much turmoil as he’s been through to get to this conclusion, he’s had equal grief with the sailing club in general.  As much as I want to support him, I also need to stay out of it.  

By the time we got to our hotel, we were just beat.  We quite like staying at Villas Magnolias in Puebla but there is a good bit of city driving to get to the location.  Today, Justin drove through a hailstorm as we were crossing through the city.  

Once we got a bit settled, we thought about going out and we thought about having something delivered.  In the end, we just lost interest and chose to forage in our food bag.

Thursday, 10 October 2019: Matehuala.

By 9:30 this morning we had driven from Cotulla to Puente Columbia, cleared the border and were officially on our way.  We left Austin Wednesday morning.  Our odometer read 42,794 miles (and 74'). We spent the night last night in Cotulla at the Microtel.  We met Allison and Jeremy for lunch yesterday in Gonzales.  (Justin had lamb ribs.  He was very pleased but, as for me, I’m still going with Luling.) They said they spend the night in Laredo.  There doesn’t seem to be much closer to the border than Cotulla until you get to Laredo and I guess I’d rather stay about an hour out.  

We drove through Dilly, Texas this morning.  Dilly is home to the largest detention center in the states.  It’s official name is The South Texas Family Residential Center.  It is 75 miles from the border.  I shutter to think what goes on behind those fences.  

Our visit with Dellene was perfect...too short, but perfect.  She is getting ready for a European adventure with Lorayne.  They will leave right at Dellene’s birthday from Brussels (Mons) and go to Munich, Prague, Auschwitz and a few other stops all within one week.  It is an ambitious trip but it will be a great 65th birthday celebration for Dellene.  

Gemma left her pink flamingo at Dellene’s so she is without one of her favorite toys.  

When we got gas this morning we realized that might be the last time we do self-service for a while.  

Our driving today brought us butterflies, mountains, windmills (ok, turbines) and smog.  And, our arrival to our hotel brought us a happy hour of delicious guacamole along with Justin’s first Indio and my first margarita.  The pool was under construction (they said it would be up and running next week) so we couldn’t take a cool refreshing dip.  We could have played put-putt golf, but, instead we chose to have another beverage.

First round of beverages and first real 

guacamole in a long, long time!

We stayed tonight at Las Palmas Midway Inn.  Jeremy and Allison told us about this pet friendly hotel and the location seemed to be good.  As it turns out, the hotel is quite a find.  The room didn’t have frig or a microwave or coffee pot, but it was fine.  English television meant that we were able to watch the Democratic nominees in their town hall focusing on LGBTQ issues.  I am liking Elizabeth Warren more and more. She might be a little to folksy but she is quick.  Poor Joe Biden, especially with all the hoopla right now with his son Hunter, can’t seem to string a sentence together.  

The biggest news today wasn’t political at all — Kim and Brian are engaged!  They are in the middle of a road trip somewhere so far north in Canada that Kim needed to buy new snow boots before the trip.  Ok, maybe it’s not all that far north at all, but wherever they are, I am simply thrilled for them.  And, now we get to have a wedding celebration!!!

Monday, 7 October 2019: Austin

We left Alvin by 9:00am on yesterday bound for Austin. We had a quick visit with Dellene before the Packer game started at 3:30. We had a front row seat at Billy’s on Burnet. Later Dellene and I enjoyed Indian food for dinner while Justin helped out with the 7pm game. He’d had a brat at Billy’s earlier.

I got up in time to chat with Dellene before she had to go to work this morning. Justin and I had Sister Schubert’s pigs in the blanket for breakfast while we both went through mail and made phone calls. Yes, Justin had his share today too. 

When we finally left the house we were able to mark several chores off the list: car reregistration, supplies for Justin’s CPAP machine, Gemma to the vet in Georgetown, flu shots.  We even bought a few groceries for Celestún.  Yes, I need to take a few items I can’t get there like canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, canned black eyed peas, corn meal, baking powder, and of course, we needed salty snacks for the road. 

It was a simply gorgeous day in the Texas Hill country today. Mostly sunny with highs in the low 80’s, humidity at 45%. What  a perfect day to be at home!!!

Saturday, 5 October 2019: Alvin

We’ve been with Uncle Harold and Charlsy the last two days.  We watched the 

SMU /Tulsa game after dinner this evening.  The game appeared to be over at the beginning of the fourth quarter with Tulsa leading 30 to 9.  Then we found ourselves in triple overtime, ending with SMU on top 37 to 43.  

And, watching college ball along with awareness of the political field has reminded me that I need to reestablish myself as a member of the University of Houston Alumni Association.  If Elizabeth Warren is a proud cougar, that’s what I want to be too.  Seems whomever accused her of having an affair with a much younger associate.  It was debunked rather quickly.  Her response: somthing along the lines of "I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had as a result of being able to go to school and get my education."  She went to U of H whose mascot is the Cougars... maybe I’ll just get a new U of H T-shirt.

Our time with Uncle Harold and Charlsy almost always includes bacon-wrapped fillets from Perry’s.  You just can’t beat Texas beef.  I caught up (almost) on the blog while Justin trimmed Gemma.  Roxie was very concerned about Gemma while she was on the grooming table; she was convinced she was being tortured.  

Uncle Harold is failing; conversations are harder and harder.  I wished I’d been able to talk to Hal about it all.  

We did get to see bill and Diana this trip.  Justin and I wanted to eat Greek since we won’t have that choice much longer.  We went to a little place in Clear Lake Charley recommended, Mediterranean Chef, we won’t need to go there again.  

We got our car into the shop at Gay Family Kia We and also for the inspection.  Went to Krogers to get to get reregistration and the sticker. Found out they didn’t do it do them I went to HEB to learn that they could only complete the reregistration process for cars in their own county —aargh!, I’ll have to wait until we are in Austin. 

Thursday, 3 October 2018: Alvin

After a perfect couple of days in New Orleans, we were on the road by about 8:30.  I called Gay Family Kia in Alvin to make an appointment for our car’s 45,000 mile check up.  We were just passed 40,000 but that next 5,000 miles will go oh, so quickly.

We met quite Cousin Terry for lunch in Lafayette.  Our visit was way too short.

As we closer to Alvin, we decided to make a quick stop at our favorite Packer Sports Bar, Time Out in Friendswood.  We wanted to get the words to the Packer Pledge of Allegiance we heard there two years ago.  After meeting Rachel and Kim we asked.  They knew all about the “wedge of allegiance.”  Rachel texted the words but when I read them, they weren’t the same ones we first heard.  She said she knew that was what they said each Sunday.  We were disappointed ...we tried.

On into uncle Harold’s and Charlsy’s. Unfortunately we would not be able to see Hal and Will this trip as they were out of town at a rodeo where Will could ride bulls.

Tuesday, 1 October 2018: New Orleans

On the road by 8am this morning...that’s pretty darned good for us.  Any time we might have gained we lost as we headed toward Atlanta.  Justin knew we should have pressed last night to get farther south, but we were just too tired.  Justin was jumping out of his skin in the traffic.  I don’t make as good time, but my blood pressure stays pretty level thankfully.  We stopped and switched drivers once we were passed Atlanta and continued on our way.

Dang it if we didn’t get stopped near Evergreen, Alabama.  The state trooper said Justin had failed to signal when changing lanes.  Really?  Ok...  As many miles as we put on our car, it is a wonder there aren’t more stops like that.  

I was so excited when I found a pet-friendly air BnB right in the French Quarter.  It was a bit too expensive, but it was New Orleans!  We off loaded luggage and navigated parking (another $30/day).  When we first entered, we were so, so pleased. 

They’d redone a block long building into 
maybe five or six separate flats.  We had an open concept living room/dining room/kitchen, separate bedroom, bathroom with full sized washer and dryer.  There were fabulous wooden floors.  But wait...  What!?!?  The dryer was running when we got there.  There were 13 bath towels in there plus a few hand towels and wash cloths.  It would have taken a week 

for them to thoroughly dry.  We divided the load into four parts and decorated the house as we shifted them through another cycle in the dryer.  And, the coffee pot didn’t  work.  The internet didn’t work...aargh.  I’ll need to keep looking for the perfect spot.  

We had a dining experience at The Joint for lunch.  We’d been here a couple of years ago with Steven and Barbie Marco.  We remembered the BBQ as quite good and we were not disappointed.  

We made a quick stop at PetSmart to get a slicker and comb for Gemma before we started on a walking tour of the Garden District.  We really turned it into a driving tour since it was so hot...or at least so hot for us.

We stumbled across the Bombay Club in the back on a parking garage and it was a great find.  It was old world charm tucked away in the back corner of the Big Easy.  The pianist was a master of stride numbers reminiscent of Scott Joplin and ragtime.  Our dinner there was fabulous.  We started with a duck and andouille gumbo then a Caesar salad.  We rounded off our dinner with a Boudin scotch egg (a hard boiled egg wrapped in boudin sausage with the yolk replaced with hollandaise sauce sits 

atop braised black eyed peas with bacon) before we topped it all off with a brownie topped with Guinness ice cream and oodles of toasted pecans.

We went to the Bombay Club first and then went on to something more raw.  New Orleans never disappoint to provide good music and a good time.  If this is how we were winding down our honeymoon, we were going to make the best of it.  Justin and I didn’t close up Bourbon Street but if we’d had a curfew, we might have not met it. 

Monday, 30 September 2019: Lavonia

There's  little hotel called the Shady Rest... at the junction...  yes, that song was running through my head as I sat outside with coffee this morning..

We jumped back onto the parkway this morning at mile marker 191.  Justin wanted to drive the entire parkway but we had to exit yesterday at about mile marker 120 due to who knows what...a tree down? Construction? 

We took time today to visit the Blue Ridge Music Center.  There were some great displays as well as demonstrations -- yes, even in the middle of the week.  

We also took time to stop at Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi.

As it turns out, we left the parkway early today too.  We exited at mile marker 388 just outside of Asheville.  We just didn’t allow enough time and right now, we need to head to New Orleans.  Today's travels took us out of North Carolina and into South Carolina then into Georgia.   We spent the night in the thriving metropolis of Lavonia.  Anyone who ever reads this will need to Google it as we sure did.   And to mark the occasion, we ate at a Shoney’s.  Where else can you get meatloaf, sweet potatoes and green beans that are rather gray because they’ve been cooking all day?

Sunday, 29 September 2019: Grassy Creek Cabooses on the Blueridge Parkway

Justin talked to the local folks while I got dressed.  I think he had a much more colorful experience than I did.  The lady that washes dishes in the restaurant lives in one of the eight hotel rooms with her three kids, her husband and her father.  We met the oldest of the boys last night when mom needed to come referee a conversation.  Justin had an immediate affinity for the young man who was obviously special needs.  They showed Justin pictures of their lizards and iguanas (I think.)

We both donned Packer attire this morning.  Even though we lost earlier in the week, the day held promise.  

We packed up and left our quaint little Inn and headed to the Blueridge Parkway!

We crossed into Virginia pretty early on in our day. We were still working out the settings for Justin’s new phone.  I’d downloaded an app for the parkway so we were set.  



At 1:33pm we entered the Parkway.  The views were simply spectacular.  We pulled over at half a dozen vistas and overlooks as well as a stop or two for short hikes.  Ok, they were really quick walks more than hikes but we got out a bit.  There were so many opportunities for exclamations after jaw-dropping inspired views.  The golds, reds , maroons and oranges were vibrant and breathtaking.  

We watched this guy prepare for hang-gliding but the wind was never right for him.  He was disappointed too.  

We checked into Grassy Creek Cabooses just after 7:00pm.  Justin really wanted to drive the entire Parkway.  That was our plan until we came to a road closure.  We got back on the regular road and still pulled into our hotel much later than I anticipated. We arrived just in time to have a glass of wine outside before kickoff of the Cowboys vs Saints game.  Funny how I didn’t factor football in my the planning of our honeymoon but, thankfully, I did have Packer attire so I was prepared.  

In our cabooses we have great satellite tv but for internet we have to go outside...metal building and all.  I want to watch the SNL cold open from this weekend but that will need to wait for another day.  Trump consults Kanye West, and a few others on impeachment.  Gotta watch it soon.  

Justin and I worked our way through a good bit of white wine as well as two bottles of red this evening.  I doubt we will have an early start in the morning.  

Saturday, 28 September 2019: somewhere in West Virginia

It was still dark when we got up this morning and since the falls are only illuminated until 2am, this was the first time I couldn’t see the falls.  Did they turn them off?  I simply can’t imagine that amount of water flow constantly... for how many years?




We bid farewell to Niagara Falls and to Canada this morning and set our sights for the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Other than the airport, I’d never been to the state of New York before.  The countryside was breathtaking.  I doubt we had full fall colors just yet but it was grand enough for me. Most of our travel was on two-lane country roads rather then six or eight-lane expressways thankfully.  If this is upstate New York, I’ll come back.  Next we crossed into Pennsylvania.  Again, this was a first for me.  We stopped, just by chance in the little town of Ridgeway; they were having a fall festival so we stopped to take a look.  And then we started exploring.  The Elk County courthouse was picturesque and the public library had a staircase and hardwood floors I’d just want to pack up and take home.  When we were driving in a nearby neighborhood, a gentleman asked us if we were lost and that led to a conversation of course.  He encouraged us to go look at one house and grounds in particular.  The owner was in Florida and he looks after the property.  Three or four acres of wonderfulness.  

Back on the road we continued our trek toward the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Fallingwater.  We couldn’t get reservations for a tour of the house but Justin wanted to see the grounds.  But no luck.  Whoops, we didn’t see the closed sign at the road, but the very polite gate attendant said we couldn’t even drive around for even a few minutes.  We only got a tease...drat!

Ok, what’s next...the Blue Ridge Parkway.  However, we have several hours of driving to get to the beginning which is at Rockfish Gap.  Back on the twisty-turny two lane roads, we crossed into Maryland.  Justin seemed to have a good time driving although he’d have preferred to have been in the EOS with the top down.  

We spent the night at the Lost River Inn in West Virginia.  I sent a text to Dellene.  I wanted someone to know where we were just in case no one ever heard from us again.  Then I realized the text didn't go through ...