WINTER TRAVEL PLANS 2014-2015

Sunday, November 2 – We've been doing a little travel planning recently and thought we would throw it out to our readers to see if anyone had any suggestions on thing to do, see, or experience.  There is so much to see and experience in this great country, and no matter how much research we do, we always seem to miss something.  Of course, that gives us an excuse to return to areas we've been previously.

Our main focus is to spend the winter in the Arizona area, with a couple excursions into California and New Mexico.  We want to return to the RV Show in Quartszite, mainly to re-new friendships with the group we met the last time there in 2010.  It's a full-timer group once known as the Escapee's Class of 2009, but has since expanded welcoming many more RV'ers into the group.

The other “big event” will be to attend Spring Training Major League Baseball in the Phoenix area.  Of course, this is where the Cleveland Indians train during March's Cactus League season.  Again, we did this back in 2012. and enjoyed it very much.  Marsha thinks this is going to be the Cleveland Indians’ year to win the pennant …... she's such a fan.  Paul enjoys them, but nothing like Marsha.

So, here's an rough outline of where we are headed, and the approximate time we will be there.  Of course, this is written in caulk and subject to change.  If we're passing through an area where you are staying, let us know and maybe we can plan a rendezvous.

Nov. 1 – Jan. 4	Houston, TX	Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas
January 6	Elephant Butte, NM	Socorro – VLA Telescopes
January 8	Tuscon, AZ	Hiking, Karchner Caverns, Catalina SP, Tubac, Sonora Desert Museum
January 16	Scottsdale, AZ	RR before Q
January 20	Quartzsite, AZ	RV Show and visit friends
January 24	Yuma, AZ	Mexico – dentist;  RR after Q
January 27	Borrego Spring, CA	Anza Borrego Desert SP, Hiking
February 1	Indio, CA	Sightseeing
February 8	Tonopah, AZ (W. of Phoenix)	Kofa Wildlife - hiking
February 11	Cordes Junction, AZ	Sedona, Jerome, Cottonwood, Flagstaff – weather permitting
March 1	Phoenix, AZ	Cleveland Indians Spring Training baseball, Visit family and friends, Sightseeing, Hiking
April 1	Houston, TX	Visit family, Indians vs  Astros - Opening Day Baseball,

                          
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.

A VISIT TO PROGRESSO, MEXICO

Monday, October 27 – On Friday, October 24, marked Carrie’s first visit to Mexico.

She wanted to experience the culture of this country. We knew exactly where to take her.

One of the many, many outdoor bars, Red Panty Bar.

We visited our favorite pharmacy, Jessica’s. The bartender was so taken with Carrie, he asked her to dance. Hope his wife doesn’t read this blog…lol

Later in the afternoon, Angie and Rick arrived, and we introduced Carrie to a real Mexican Margarita. She loved it.

Notice in the photo above the orange bag behind Carrie and Marsha’s pink bag which is full to the brim. Carrie did some serious shopping. She loved the bargaining process that all the merchants engage in. She got some super buys.

Carrie even got her hair trimmed for a whole $5.00.

There was more dancing….

and maybe some tourist had a bit too much to drink.

Carrie bought a couple of little sombreros for Cinco de Mayo. Bella just couldn’t wait to try one on.

All in all, Carrie loved her experience. We all had a great day visiting our neighbor to the south.

We have one more post about Carrie’s visit. We have left Mission and are at the Elks outside Houston until after the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

OUR DAUGHTER, CARRIE, VISITS THE RGV.

Thursday, October 23  - The next few posts will be a bit dated, but when Carrie is around, it is go, go, go. Carrie arrived early this morning. We packed in as much as we could on day one. She is only here for the weekend and wants to experience everything we have done in five years in three days. This should just about kill us for sure.

After picking her up at the airport, we visited Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine. Our first visit here was in 2010. It is just such a gorgeous Basilica. For centuries Christians have made pilgrimages with a spiritual purpose to holy places.The history of this Marian Shrine begins in 1920, when the Reverend Alfonso Jalbert, O.M.I., built a small wooden chapel in San Juan, Texas as a mission church of St. Margaret Mary Church in Pharr, Texas. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops designated Our Lady of San Juan del Valle a national Shrine on March 24, 1998, and the following year on June 12,1999,  Pope John Paul II designated it as a minor Basilica. If you are in the area, be sure to put this on your must see list. You won’t be disappointed.

There is a gorgeous walking tour of about a mile. It commemorates 14 key events on day of Christ's death. The majority of them concern His final walk through the streets of Jerusalem carrying the Cross. The fourteen stations of the Cross are depicted by life-size statues crafted in bronze and resin. There are 30 life-size bronze figures in all. Absolutely gorgeous…according to Marsha.

Our next stop was the famous Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing. This is a must see, must do for people who have been there, done that. It's the last hand-operated ferry operating on either border. It is a 3-car barge crossing the Rio Grande River from the U.S.  to Mexico. At the crossing there is custom/border patrol. You can park and walk onto the ferry, or you can drive your car on the ferry. Most U.S. citizens that cross over into Mexico here go to buy liquor or cigarettes. They must be desperate. We wouldn’t cross here, that’s for sure!

If that wasn’t enough for one day, we had a social and game night at the clubhouse. There about 20 of us playing horse racing and Farkle. Wonderful time with dear friends.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!