WE ARE BACK IN RANGE!

So sorry it has been so long since our last update.  There have been a whole slew of reasons, but let’s just say that while we have had some fun, this has been a lot harder than either of us thought it would be.  Between daily chores, having fun, looking for places to stay, fixing the trailer, no internet connection there just hasn’t been time for us to provide any real update.  Hopefully we will be able to get caught up quickly because there is a lot to share.

Day 7 We finally saw the Ocean....

The Reservoir at Blanco State Park

We woke up in Blanco State Park, in Blanco Texas.  Blanco State Park was pretty uneventful so it was good that the plan was to move out and head for the coast....destination South Padre Island.  A spot Don has wanted to visit forever!  We decided it would take the "scenic" route and go to Laredo, Texas (a mexican border town) and travel along the Rio Grande to Padre Island.





But first stop was Home Depot again....after a couple evenings of cooking from the box (we definitely owe pictures of all the trailer features I know), we decided we needed a shelf and once Don got it in his head, it had to be done! So he built a temporary shelf in the parking lot and he wil  build a better one once we are back in Denver (this is just one of many Denver projects).  I think this was the 3rd Home Depot visit so far.  (But the shelf has made Julie very happy as it has really helped out with the "kitchen").

Another parking lot fix!

So finally we were off to Laredo and the Rio Grande.  Well...unfortunately the Rio Grande "scenic" drive was not all that.  We got some laughs driving through Laredo, but the views of the Rio Grande were pretty non-existent!   One or two crossings at best!

The Rio Grande

The ride was long and hot...the temperature was nearing 90 degrees!    Quite different from the temps we were experiences in Denver not too long ago.  Funny thing was....the AC wasn't working.  Neither of us remember checking it when we bought the van....He says it just needs freon....so time will tell if that is the case!  We hope!

Finally we came to the bridge which was the crossover to Padre Island and our first real sighting of the Gulf of Mexico!   And what was the name of it?  Queen Isabella! (Hence several pictures of the bridge) And how fitting as it was March 18th which would have been Isabella's 11th birthday!  For those of you that don't know, Julie lost her beloved dog, Isabella, last Christmas.  Instead of coming on the journey she is our little angel watching over us.  She has been on this journey with us in spirit!  

First Stop on Padre Island was to get a shot of the sunset

After a long day of driving we finally reached our destination, Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island.  It was cold, dark and windy when we parked at our spot.  We were tired and hungry.  Julie made a quick pot of taco chili, we ate it in the trailer with a few cocktails, toasted Isabella and called it a night!  As I am now.....more about Padre tomorrow!

Julie and IzzyBear 

Days 5 & 6: Off to Hill Country

On Sunday morning, March 16th we got up at the Drury's, had a quick breakfast of yogurt and homemade banana bread (Thanks Kathy!) and we set off for Hill Country, which is West of Austin and North of San Antonio.    We had another long day of driving (280 miles) and pulled into Pedernales Falls State Park, a few miles east of Johnson City, Texas.  We were stoked to finally be in a state park....seems our trip was truly beginning.

We went on a short hike to check out the Twin Falls near our campsite...we were anxious to stretch our legs and be in nature.  Of course, we both forgot to bring our cameras.  We thought we would go back but never had a chance.  So our first waterfall is just going to have to burn a memory in our minds.   Julie got her first chance to make a real meal in there "kitchen" of salmon, rice and snow peas!  We celebrated with a some Colorado Stranahans and Colorado chocolate bars!  It was a good night for all three of us!

The next morning we got up early (yes...we have been setting the alarm), hit the showers, had more banana bread and yogurt and then went down to the Pedernales Falls, which was obviously the main attraction of the Park.  The falls were breath-taking, with cascading falls that were formed by the flow of water over layered limestone that that a cascading effect.  There were many pools of water flowing over the limestone.  We played around here for several hours.

                  

 

   

Alas after a fun afternoon in the Park we had to leave for the night and move to another park because the campsite was full.  We packed it up and headed out about 25 miles for the night in Blanco, Texas. See you in Blanco!

Days 3 & 4 spent at the Drurys

Friday & Saturday, March 14 & 15:  We spent the next couple days with Julie's cousin Don Drury (Donny) and his family.  The first day Don spent most of it working on the trailer, thanks to Donny, his garage and power tools, and close proximity to the local home depot.  He reinforced the racking for the box on top of the trailer to elevate all the rocking and rolling, and changed the front blinker in the van...already...

Nice job Don!  Steel reinforcements!

We also needed to take a few minutes to reorganize the van.  Turns out that with the trailer on the back we could not easily open and get in and out of the back of the van.  We shifted around all the gear in the trailer for weight distribution and to keep gear we don't use daily in the back.

Rain was coming down...we were happy to be out of it!

Best part of these couple days was some good old Texan hospitality.....a nice bed, shower, good meals and company.  Also we averted our first rainstorm of the trip.  Thanks Donny, Kathy and family!  We really appreciated the time spent in Allen!

The Drury Family:  Zach, Drew, Ryan, Don, Lizzie and Kathy

Don & Sheba

Collaborating....and discussing business ideas!

Julie & Don

Our first day comes to an end...

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 / Thursday, March 13, 2014:  Our first day was short, after some work in the Walmart parking lot, quite a few safety stops to check on things, and a dinner on the road that consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and apples, Julie trying to figure out connectivity on the road and a place to sleep, we drove over Raton Pass without issue and into a rest stop outside of Des Moines New Mexico,  climbed into the trailer and spent our first night on the Road.

DAY 2 Begins at a Rest Stop in Des Moines, New Mexico

When we woke up it was 16 degrees and windy.  So we made a quick pot of coffee for the road and got started for our long trip to Allen, Texas.  

About an hour later, we stopped just shy of the Texas border in Clayton where we took our first showers at Love's Truck stop.  Yes....we showered at a truck stop and it was actually really nice.  $10  for the two of us....and yes we will do that again!

Then in the lot we made a quick breakfast and turkey sandwiches for the road.    We then spent the day in the car, with safety checks and gasoline stops. (Gasoline stops the first day were a story in and of themselves).  Don was nervous all day with the high winds and worrying about the box on the trailer.  We definitely had some things to figure out and work through the first day.  It was 9pm before we pulled into the Drurys, Julie's cousin and family that live in Allen, Texas.

More Fun in Castle Rock...

Wednesday, March 12, 2014: We stopped in Castle Rock to change out the hitch....obviously we had to try a few because the first one was too big....so between the racks and the hitch we were there for a little while.

The view of Castle Rock from the Walmart Parking Lot!

Don putting on the new hitch!

Unfortunately you can't see them, the but young couple in the white SUV behind we oblivious to repairs because they were too busy making out to notice us there for an hour. HA! HA! HA!  LOL

Thank God for Ratchet Straps....

Wednesday, March 12, 2014:  Our first hiccup occurred within the first hour of our departure from Lakewood due to all the lovely potholes in Denver.  We stopped in Castle Rock to buy a higher hitch for the trailer and discovered our first real issue before anything serious happened.  The weight and swaying of the box proved to be too much for the racks.  

With the Ratchet Straps on...Disaster Averted!