Not bad for only 4 months old!  He’s getting in shape for future pub hopping with his Grandpa.  We were also able to get all 3 kids, a grandkid, my current wife AND my mother together for a photo…

to the bayous…

we have traversed more miles in less time than any group of olde farts in recorded history…close to a gazillion miles in only 30 days!  In the process we managed to transport our pal, Queen Bee, and all of her worldly goods to San Antonio where she took delivery of her brand spankin’ new Dynamax motorhome and Jeep Liberty…

There did, of course, come that “moment of truth” when she finally realized the turn her life had taken…

I still find it hard to believe that we have turned this refined California socialite into a road-worn trucker in so little time!  She did require a bit of help getting started but there are always kindly souls around to offer advice and provide a few pointers...

Although not on the menu, we managed to convince our waiter that Bananas Foster would be the perfect dessert.  He is recovering nicely at the local burn center and should be back to work in no time.  The Alamo is most likely the prime destination for anyone visiting San Antonio but one of the prettier areas is found along the Riverwalk…

With a bare minimum of instruction, and only one stop to ask directions, she quickly located the garage door and emerged into the world of Olde Farts on Wheels (or, more appropriately, Road Hazards R Us)…

and marine life of southern California (notice “das boot”)…

one of the many Cardinals…

and even a beaver…

an elusive lizard…

After an inspiring Knute Rockne-like pep talk and a gentle reminder that, “There’s no crying in motorhoming”, she bounced back to some semblance of normality and we celebrated her newfound freedom with a night of unbridled gluttony at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in San Antonio…

From the beach bunnies…

Not only do these folks carry a huge variety of hardware and gadgets, they also have a complete line of Radio Flyer products, which I seem unable to resist buying for the grandkids whenever we’re in town.  Melvin Sugar Bear has a Radio Flyer Retro Rocket heading his way at this very moment! Speaking of Melvin, we taught him how to hold his bottle with one hand before we left Los Angeles…

There are tour boats available that offer guided tours of the river but my ever-thrifty bargain-hunting Norwegian war bride discovered we could save 10% by taking the self-guided tour.  Other than having to paddle, frequent stops to collect trash and a phalanx of flies, it was a nice tour.  The Alamo is actually considered a shrine to those who died there and photography within the building is forbidden.  Undeterred, my budding nature photographer nevertheless found photo ops aplenty on the grounds including this 100+ year-old Live Oak tree …

That’s Mom on the far left (coincidence??).  We’ll be here for a few more days and then it is off to Red Bay, Alabama, for our annual pilgrimage to the Allegro factory for a few upgrades to our home. Until next time, Hugs! Chuck and Zook 

and antebellum homes of Louisiana…

   Beach To Bayou                                                           May 24, 2007

Okay, so it isn’t really a beaver.  I have an entire file full of pictures of interesting signs we have discovered in our travels and I have to take any opportunity afforded to work one into the commentary.  We are now staying at the Nakatosh Campground in Natchitoches (pronounced “Nak a dish”), Louisiana.  This is also the home of one of our two favorite general stores, Kaffie-Frederick…