Goodbye Louisiana

We have enjoyed 6 nights near Natchitoches, Louisiana, the original French colony established in 1714. It is also the beginning of El Camino Real de los Tejas, the 300 year old road through Texas to Mexico. Lots of history, a favorite interest of mine.

Tomorrow we'll leave here and head to Newton, Texas. Not a long way, just over 100 miles. Let me say spring is not the best time to travel. We can't go north due to the winter storms and the south has constant violent

thunder storms and many tornadoes. We'll rethink doing a spring trip in the future.

The azaleas are beautiful and fully in bloom.

See you in Texas

Stormy weather

Meridian, Mississippi …Arrived Sunday, beautiful lakefront site with spectacular sunsets. We are surrounded on 3 sides with the beautiful Okatibee Lake. One of the prettiest places we’ve stayed. Lots of nice hiking and several miles of biking.
Today is cloudy and we are expecting rain through Saturday. We will stay a couple a more days due to the stormy weather and the desire not to drive in it. It is getting darker and darker outside, expecting some severe weather. Hope we don’t blow away.
Dale has been out treasure hunting with his metal detector. He has found many matchbox toys and almost 2 gallons of gas money. It’s nice to have a husband who goes off to work each day.
Did you know you can cook macaroni in the microwave, yup you can. And you can cook cornbread in an electric skillet…yup you can and it turns out very nice.

And the next day...

Oh MY!!! Don't know if you heard the news about the weather in this part of the country. We have not only heard it but experienced it in an RV! Around midnight the rain intensified to a mighty roar. The lightening flashed and boomed continually throughout the sky. I kept hearing the "freight train" sounds the folks talk about just before the tornado strikes. I was thinking we would end up in the lake just a few feet behind us. It certainly was not sleeping weather.

We did survive the storm, but just a few miles from us a tornado did level a few homes and businesses. Violent storms were once again predicted for last night (Thursday 3/26). We decided to try to get behind the storms and headed almost 400 miles west to Ajax, La., a small RV park across the street from a log mill. A little daytime NOISE!...but the storm and tornado's just bypassed us about 45 miles north of here. WHEW!...today (Friday 3/37) is cloudy with some rain predicted, but I'll take the rain and like it! Wow Virginia is peaceful....spring in the south is apparently NOT the time to travel. We will be here until Monday am and then head to Texas.

Alabama Sweet Alabama

Thursday March 20 Spring in Alabama.
We are in Valley Head, Alabama at a very nice Rv park. This am Dale, myself and Daisy hiked up Lookout Mountain. A 3 mile slightly strenuous hike with Daisy in the lead. The weather is beautiful in the 60’s and the Mountain Laurel just starting to peek out. The nights are a bit chilly in the 30’s….whew! We have a little heater that does a good job of warming us up in the mornings. There are caverns, cattle, sheep, goats, a peacock, a rooster and his 2 females. A family farm that has been in the same family for over 170 years.

Above is Jane with a couple of machette's at the top of Lookout Mountain.

Back on the Road

Tuesday, March 17 St Patrick's Day..left Roanoke about 11am heading south on 81. Soon the sun was shinning through the fog and the day blossomed into spring. About 100 miles out of Roanoke, I realized the key for the Yaris was on the kitchen counter. One key in the Yaris in the ignition, the doors locked and no key. Called Brother Jim who is house sitting for us. He sent the key overnight to arrive this am, but it is now pm and no key....Oh Well!! It is a beautiful spring day and we need a little time to adjust to life on the road again.