Butterflies to Sea Lions

Thursday has been a somewhat rainy day.  In the morning we met as a group at the nearby state park for a talk about monarch butterflies.  They have been staying in the area until mating season, which will take place around Valentine's Day.  Eucalyptus trees work very well for that purpose, and after mating, the females will need to find milkweed plants upon which to lay their eggs.  The docent gave a most interesting talk and we were able to see the pods of butterflies through a scope, as well as the few who fluttered about

For lunch we caravanned to Shell Beach and the restaurant at the end of the pier.  Our fish and chips were delicious and the rest of the group also commented favorably on their lunches as well.

After lunch we took Bob and Elaine and went hunting for the Worldmark Resort.  We located it a short walk from our RV park, in the shadow of a larger resort.  Their advertising is just a bit misleading...Then, since Elaine did not join us last night, we had to take her to Doc Burnstein's for ice cream.  She was properly appreciative.  We then strolled the village of Arroyo Grande and returned to the car just as it started to rain with more authority.  

The Mystery Albino

By The Sea Caravan

This is Day 2 of our latest caravan.  Yesterday we met the group at Casa de Fruta, east of Monterey.  We are 20 rigs strong and met for the first Happy Hour in the RV Park meeting room, after taking a short walk to the fruit and nut stand, stopping at the bakery and deli and wine shop on the way back.  

Dinner was in the resort restaurant.  Larry and I each ate only half of our dinners and took the rest back to the trailer.  

This morning we got up early and took off walking with Bob and Elaine Vasser down to the bakery for breakfast.  On the way back we visited their albino animal of some kind or other.  He looked a bit like a small reindeer with long antlers.  Yes, he was white.  The sign in the office told what he was, but no one remembered.  Friendly little guy, though.  

The drive to Pismo Beach was uneventful, although the CHP's were really out in force.  We didn't see that many law enforcement officers during our whole month-long trip to Texas!  Not counting the Border Patrol!  We heard from the grapevine that one Airstreamer was pulled over, but the informant didn't know or reveal if he did know - who it was.

After unhitching, we took off with Bob and Elaine for the local crab shack and got ourselves some clam chowder in mid afternoon.  Then we walked along the beach and out on the wharf for awhile.  Bob is turning into quite the photographer, and has promised to share his expertise with newly acquired skills.  

Back at the park, we had a drizzly Happy Hour and then headed for the Elks Lodge and its "all you can eat" spaghetti dinner.  The 50/50 raffle prize of $90. was won by our very own Ethelwynne Golden.  Alas, the dinner did not include dessert, so Sue and By Campbell led us to Arroyo Grande and Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab.  Tonight was the weekly "show" at 7:00 and we were just in time to observe and help.  Bob Vasser was one of the volunteers who got to pull the switch that activated the machine.  We had previously voted on the flavor and extra added ingredients and then got to sample the results, which were actually produced very quickly.  English toffee with marshmallows and M&M's.  Interesting... We thought a little more freezing might have helped!  Then we got to choose a name for the concoction.  Mine was:  MMMallowToffee.  

Home From Texas

We arrived home yesterday around noon, after spending the night in Los Banos at the RV dealership/repair shop.  Now to get back to the business of everyday living.

Our trip home was highlighted by a tour of Kartchner Caverns, near Benson, AZ.  It's a fairly new discovery and the state park system has done an excellent job.  Instead of hiking for 45 minutes uphill (as we did at Slaughter Canyon - Carlsbad), we were driven to the caves' entrance by a tram on nicely paved roads.  Once inside, we followed another paved path with railings and appropriate lighting.  They are very protective of this cave, allowing NO touching whatsoever - or food, cameras, gum, etc.  The formations are still growing and anything and everything would disturb that process.  

After that, we drove to an RV Park in Eloy, AZ, for the night.  It's a fairly new park that is designed for snowbirds, most of whom had not yet arrived.  A big drawback is that it's right next to I-10 freeway and traffic did not slow down all night.  

We then drove and drove and drove - and now we're home to gorgeous weather.   Since we'd been going through Costco withdrawal, we took care of that, as well as bought fresh fruit and veggies at the grocery store.  However - the Super Wal Marts in Texas did have great prices on bananas!  

It's a treat to be back on the computer, even if it is dial-up.  WiFi is very hit-and-miss and the last few stops didn't have enough power for me to upload any pictures.  But, for that I'll have to get out the laptop and connect it because all the trip pictures are on it.  And, I simply must show you pictures of the giraffe family!  

YO Ranch Animal Park

How could I forget the animals?  Yesterday we toured the ranch by way of old school bus.  Our first stop was Belcher, the camel.  Our driver, Debbie, has trained him to do a trick with his mouth, which he demonstrated, and we fed him carrots.  Luckily, Belcher has forgiven her for moving him to a different pasture.  Camels have long memories.

Then it was on the giraffe family - Carlita, Enoch and Baby Saba (14 weeks).  Baby giraffes are in danger from their fathers, but Saba seems to be pretty wise and keeps his distance from Dad.  We also fed them - cookies and carrots.  Not the baby, though.  

Our last stop showed us the year-old longhorn steer, Sparky.  He's a runt and very sweet.  When I fed him the pellets he slobbered all over my hand.  We also saw their white buffalo and a prize longhorn bull that was a beautiful color, which made him even more valuable.  

Many of us found the hunting practices in Texas to be odd.  There are feeders all over the place with deer corn and they shoot out the food at timed intervals.  The deer come running.  That way the hunters don't have to do much "hunting".  Kind of like sitting ducks, which hardly seems sporting.  The kids start young and it's considered a rite of passage to get one's first kill, which then is sent to the taxidermist to be made into a wall hanging.

Gone to California

The Gone To Texas Caravan officially ended last night with a delicious BBQ dinner.  The group had dwindled somewhat in number from our original 34, but Jim and Vickie returned to us on Thursday.  They were happy to be back, but had high praises for his medical care in Del Rio, so we were all glad to hear that.

Our stay in Bandera was highlighted with the trip to San Antonio.  The tour bus arrived at our RV park early on Tuesday morning and when we boarded it was a big surprise.  I didn't know limo buses even existed, but that's what it was.  Talk about riding in luxury!  Our return home had to be on a regular (but very nice) bus, but we retreated to the rear where we had a table with another two facing seats.  Should've brought the Joker board.

San Antonio was great.  After we toured The Alamo, Bob Vasser's nephew-in-law picked us up for a tour of the Market (mercado) and the older exclusive area.  He also took us to Schilo's German deli for lunch.  We then took the river boat tour through the downtown area.  My big purchase was a cowboy boot cookie cutter.

On to Ingram and our last stop.  I'd already discovered the greatest quilt shop ever while Larry was getting his tire fixed in Kerrville, so when the two other tires also needed replacing, it was a no-brainer.  Kay Cole and I left "the boys" - Bob and Larry - and quilt shopping we went, only to discover that we weren't alone.  A huge tour bus descended upon the place shortly before our arrival and it was wall-to-wall quilters shopping as quickly as they could!  They were from all over the country and headed for Quilt Market in Houston this weekend.  One woman told me that they "had" to stop and see the LBJ ranch, so that cut down on their quilt shop time.  They were very nice and even let Kay cut in line at the checkout - after our frequent phone calls from "the boys" about when we'd be picking them up!  That just meant we'd have to return another time - and we each did.

Gibson's store is an expanded hardware shore that has "everything".  I even bought a pair of shoes - in my size, no less!  Larry found some hard-to-find flashlight batteries.  

We also toured the Western Art Museum and JC Avery Jewelry company - and store.  

After one last Joker game with Kay and Bob and Jim and Vickie, and all the good-by hugs, it was time to leave this morning to begin our journey home.  Bob Vasser is traveling with us, as Elaine flew home from San Antonio this morning.  She can't handle long drives anymore.

I'll try to post some pictures before they shut down the WiFi.  This is a great connection so far.