Heading out after the Holidays

 

January 20, 2014 - We left Willsboro, NY, after bringing our last trailer load up from our house in Ballston Spa, NY, to be placed in our Morton Building for storage.  Everything else is up to the movers to place in the building now.

Time to leave the snow behind and start heading South!

 

 

January 24, 2014, we arrived at Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC, where our rig had been stored since the end of November over the holiday season.  That night it was 19 degrees above zero.  Gee - I thought we were heading South??  Had to keep the faucet running all night long so our water lines didn't freeze up.  Our plans were to Leave Myrtle Beach on the 28th, spend time leisurely traveling west and arrive in South Padre Island on February 1st.  Storm Leon decided we should do otherwise, and hit the deep South and Southeast with freezing rain.  Instead of leaving as planned on the 28th, we hunkered down as everything was blanketed with 1/2 inch of solid ice and a dusting of snow.  The next two days never got above freezing.



 

January 30, 2014, we left Myrtle Beach at a balmy 28 degrees headed west to meet up with I-95 with plans to take I-20 via Atlanta, Georgia, to I-10 in Alabama.  With only two ruts of pavement that were not ice covered for our wheels to travel in, we decided to change plans and head south towards Jacksonville, Florida, so we could get above freezing ASAP.  We hit I-10 in Jacksonville and traveled west noting that ice was all along the sides of  I-10 as far as Pensacola with numerous tractor trailers off the side of the interstate.  It was obvious they were flying along until they hit a bridge that was ice covered and lost control at too high a speed with the tractors and trailers being severely mangled. At least the driving surface of I-10 was dry as we headed across.

February 01, 2014, Finally arrived at our winter haven/home of South Padre Island, Texas, where we will stay until we head for Missouri to start our next caravan travel for Fantasy RV Tours in May.

Site #137

A collection of washed up flip-flops made into a totem-pole located in a desolate area of the South Padre Island seashore.

  It is amazing what travels and collects here from all over the world!  Even this old escape pod.

Hope to have a repeat of last years surf fishing success!

 

One of three Cravalle Jack's caught last year.  Scale was topped out - over 50 lbs.  I let him go after about 20 minutes of coaxing in the water.

 

 



February 6th  What is up with old man winter as he has decided to visit us in SPI.  A high of only 51 today with strong winds and rain all day.  Did get out yesterday to wet a line but strong cold winds were not fun.  At least we are getting a chance to see and catch up with many of our friends.

 Bill and Linda Gerling from Muskegan, MI

           Jim and Susan Lovay  from Manistique, MI

 

Just got to love Texas Gulf Shrimp!!

 

 Our friends Mike and Marty from Canada

 

 

 

Can't wait until February 22nd so we can be judges

again at the "Smokin On The Rio" Texas State Barbeque Championship!

Bring on the food - we're ready!!!

 

 

 

 

Louis's Backyard all you can eat seafood buffet.  Did I tell you they have crab legs??

 

 

Phil and Linda Andrews, Carol Savage (she makes super fudge for me every year - Thanks Carol) , friend of Carol and Tim Savage at our favorite Italian Restaurant on the island - Gabriella's.

 

Dick and Judy DeRose from Texas are here to spend a month on SPI. We met them on our 2013 Cheyenne Rocky Mountains Tour. Ted and Judy Holmberg (pictured below), also from the same Fantasy RV Tour, are on their way to SPI to spend time as well.  Hope the weather improves before they arrive!

 



Ted and Judy Holmberg

 

My Mom (Ella Coonrod) and Capt. Phillips

 

Wanted to share this picture as it is way too cool not to include.  I got word that my Mom and Dad got a chance to meet the real Capt. Phillips last week who was the Capt. of the merchant ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates, rescued by the US Navy and Navy Seals, and made in to a movie starring Tom Hanks playing his role.  The movie is called "Captain Phillips"

 

 

More updates to follow