Midway COE Park, Woodway (Waco), Texas; April 20 to 27, 2015

We knew this would be a good stop, since our friends Kevin and Anna live in Woodway, but it just got better. Once we got set up, we drove over to Kevin & Anna's home to pick up all the things we'd bought online and had shipped to them. While we were there, we met Kevin's dad, reacquainted ourselves with Nolan, Olivia and Emery, and had dinner. The next day we stopped by Leal's for a breakfast burrito and their spectacularly good green sauce, then headed out to the Mammoth Site – soon to be part of the National Park System. This is an amazing place – after a rain in 1978 a couple of local boys were roaming the woods and found some bones. They went to see a zoologist at Baylor and told led him back to the location. There had been more rain and more bones had been uncovered. To date, 15 different mammoth skeletons have been found from two different events some 15,000 years apart (50,000 and 65,000 years ago). A large, climate-controlled building has been erected over the excavated bones to aid in slowing the deterioration and more excavations are in the future. It is a breathtaking collection and our docent was wonderful – we were lucky enough to be the only ones on the tour, and we peppered him with questions. We can't wait to return in a few years and see the additions to this burgeoning museum.

From the Mammoth Site, we picked up some groceries and I got a much needed haircut.

Our next excursion saw us at the Waco-Cameron Park Natural Zoo Habitat. The admission price was under $15 each and well worth more. The zoo sits on a 52 acre site and is obviously run by energetic folks who have the animals well-being at heart. We were amazed at how beautifully the different areas were landscaped to make secluded homes for the animals, with lots of waterways throughout. What an amazing job they have done.

From the zoo, we headed out to Homestead Heritage Traditional Crafts Village. While there we had a wonderful lunch – Rich had a delicious burger and I had a poblano bisque and a salad with lime-cilantro dressing. Much of the food served was grown on the homestead and is organic, and the folks who prepare it were first rate. After our wonderful meal, we visited the general store, market, and cheese shop. We bought some of the best brie and bleu cheese we've ever eaten and a marvelous pressed, dried fruit bar that went well with the cheese, baguette, and red wine we had later. We wimped out before we visited the pottery, woodworking, and blacksmith shops, or the gristmill and fiber craft barns. We'll have to return next time we're in the area – it will give us a good excuse to visit the café again.

We had Kevin and family over for dinner one night and were happy that our friend Ryan was able to come by from Dallas. He had planned on spending the night, but was called out of town on business at the last minute. We had a great time with our first two “adopted” sons from my stint at the University of Florida and look forward to seeing them all again.

We had to make a stop at Rudy's – wonderful green chili stew and BBQ chicken – and found Katie's Frozen Custard. The best frozen custard we've had since New York (and maybe including NY!).

Another great stop and we were sorry to have to leave, but if we're to make it to Oregon and Washington this time, we've got to get a move on!

Jim Hogg COE, Georgetown, Texas; April 13 to 20, 2015

We've been to this park before and it is large, usually quiet during the time of year we visit and it's the first place I saw a roadrunner in the wild

. Embarrasingly, in the seven days we were there, we found excuses to have lunch at Plaka Greek Cafe four different times. While at Plaka the first time, there was a flight crew from an Angel of Mercy flight. These were the folks who flew my cousin Mary (Trish's Mom) to the hospital for her cancer treatments. I tried to thank one of the pilots, but ended up in tears and he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Happily the nurse came over and (mostly) I was able to explain to her how grateful we were to the organization, since although working in the medical profession, she lost her job when her cancer advanced and she had neither income nor insurance. Our heartfelt thanks to Angels of Mercy.

We did go to Austin to visit the Penzey's Store to pick up some spices we were running low on. Of course, on our way back to Georgetown we stopped at Plaka for lunch... And, in our defense, we did get back into the habit of doing our exercises and 1 to 2 mile walks which my sprained ankle had curtailed. Now we're on to Midway Park in Waco.

Rocky Creek Park, Somerville, Texas; April 6 to 13, 2015

On the drive we began seeing the wide varities of Texas wildflowers in shades of orange, yellow, purple, and pink that seem to grow everywhere. There were huge ranch houses, small, tidy homes, barns with corrals, black Angus, and working pump jacks. We're definitely back in Texas!

The drive, though short, was tiring – bad roads and a stiff wind hit us broadside most of the way, but we made it safely. Once we set up, we headed into Brenham for an H.E.B. and groceries. During our stay at Rock Creek, we ate at Guadalahara in Brenham (pretty good) and Los Fuentes in Somerille (very good) and I saw my first Texas longhorns in Texas (the only other ones I've seen were in Florida (that's just not right, somehow!) The highlight of our stay was Saturday when my cousin Trish and her two adorable kids Maddie and Bradon came over. We had a great visit, Trish brought some wonderful old photos from the 1800's of our Goldsmith ancestors that I had never seen before.

Now it's to Jim Hogg COE park and our favorite Greek restaurant, Plaka in Georgetown, Texas.

2015 - Rayburn Lake, USACE, Broaddus, TX March 30 to April 6

Rayburn Lake, USACE, Broaddus, TX March 30 to April 6This is another new campground for us, although last year we stayed at Mill Creek Campgound, about 45 minutes away on the other side of this same 114,000 acre lake. The park was quiet except on weekends when it was loaded with fishermen and families. We enjoyed our time here – the attendants Russ and Janet, and hosts Nancy and XXX were friendly and helpful. The sites were all paved but many were so buckled from roots that it was very slow going to coax the RV into place. (The good part was if the trailer wasn't level, pull forward a few inches and it probably would be.) Restrooms were well maintained and in spite of push button showers with no temperature control, had a long enough time for each push and the temperature was comfortable.

We were 25 miles from the nearest grocery store and as we found out, 47 miles from the nearest urgent care center... We were doing some much needed cleaning on the outside of the RV Tuesday, when I walked across the grassy area between the RV and picnic table and stepped into a hole which was hidden by the thick grass. Of course, I fell hard and sprained my ankle which was the same one I sprained two years ago in Texas and am still have difficulties with. I decided I'd get it x-rayed this time to be sure there wasn't a problem. While I wasn't impressed with the last two folks I interacted with at the hospital the outcome seems fine – still swollen and colorful after a week, but it doesn't hurt much to walk. The doctor and an aide I saw didn't bother to fit the brace or crutches to me but I was given a prescription for tylenol with codeine which I neither needed nor wanted – no wonder we have an epidemic of people hooked on pain kilers.

We had planned to go to Nacogdoches Wednesday, but I didn't feel like fighting with the crutches, so that is postponed for the next time we're in the area.

Rich had made reservations at the Texas State Rail Road in Palestine for a steam engine train ride on Friday and my ankle was enough better that we went. It was a 2 ½ hour drive to the depot so we got up early, picked up some groceries in Palestine, and headed for our train ride. We were disappointed to see a deisel engine hooked up to the train and upon asking at check-in, were told they hadn't started running the steam engine yet this season (contrary to information on the web site and the person we spoke to on the phone when the reservations were made). Since the allure of the ride was the steam engine, we got our money back and cut our losses – the 250 mile round trip was bad enough. We saw two other parties who also cancelled due to the misinformation. We'll try one of the other steam engone rail car rides around – hopefully they will be better informed.

Saturday we checked out the weather forecast, got our outside items loaded into the truck, hooked up, and did some straightening inside. Sunday saw hard rain for three hours or so, and it continued to come down for several more hours – glad we got our outside work done before it hit! Monday we headed out to Rocky Creek Park near College Park, Texas over some awful roads – going to have to straighten cupboards out after that drive!