Hello Friends and Family

The Turtle had a little slowdown for awhile, that is why there has been no blog for a few days. Sometimes we are in areas that have no power for my air card.

When we left Louisana, we spent a few days on the road. I don't work on the computer while we are traveling. I do like to enjoy a little time veging out with TV at night, thats one of the reasons we bought a generator. One night, in a Wal-Mart parking lot of course, I ask Bill to go out and turn on the generator which he was happy to do. I heard it start up and so I picked up the remote and tried to start the TV. No luck. When Bill came in, I said we have no electric power to the TV in the bedroom. We had used the generator to make coffee earlier so we did not understand what was wrong. Then I said maybe we had better check the wall switch in the kitchen again. So brilliant me carried the TV down to the kitchen to plug it in to the switch there. No luck, no power. Then I wanted to check the plugs in the living area, but I grew some brains and decided to try my curling iron to see if there was power (its a little lighter weight than a TV). No luck, no power.


Bill said he thought we had somehow blown a fuse, so out we went to check that out. Bill pulled out all the fuses and none of them were bad. It was a big mystery. He said there was another place where there were fuses and he was going to check that out and that is when I ask him, as I walked to the back of the pick-up, if he could have possibly plugged in the generator wrong. Well no it was not plugged in wrong, It was not plugged in at all. Mystery solved, no electric power unless you plug the cord from the trailer into the generator. Amazing what you learn on the road.

We finally reached Lazy Palms Park which is about 20 miles north of Edinburg Texas. I would have to describe that park as the " armpit of parks" in all of Texas and maybe even in the whole United States. We could not step out of our RV without getting sand burs all over our shoes, shoelaces and the bottom of our pant legs. But even worse was the wind... blowing soooo hard that it would grab the trailer door and try to rip it off its hinges every time you went in or out. Needless to say we did not ride the bike at all. We stayed 4 nights and then got out of Dodge.

We did have one nice day when we drove (the truck of course) up to Kingsville and toured the famous King Ranch. At one time it was the largest cattle ranch in the U S. The movie Giant was a fictional story based on the family that started the King Ranch. We saw lots of horses and cattle and even a coyote, but he got into the brush before I could get my camera up to take his picture.

Of course before we left the ranch we had to ask about a good resturant. The nice lady in the welcome center told us about one not too... far out of our way back to the Turtle. It was located on Baffin Bay and we were able to eat and look out the big windows right into the bay. Best shrimp and fish (black drum) that I have ever had. It was worth the drive.

Happy Trails.....

Hamburger Surprise

Today, Tuesday Jan 20, we played tourist and went a little north in the truck to Avery Island and toured the Tabasco factory and then the oldest rice mill in America. That was lots of fun and we learned a little too. We were able to get free samples to eat at both places, but just little ones, so we asked some locals about a dinner we had spotted on the way into town(you know how important food is to the Booths, it is always included in any outing).

Without hesitation we proceeded to Duffy’s Diner and we both ordered the special. Hamburger, fries and Coke. When our order was brought to the table it looked like many other hamburgers I have ordered in my life. By the time I took my second bite I thought my mouth was beginning to tingle a little, and when I took my third bite things began to heat up even more. It seems that in Cajun country a little something extra is included in your patty. As the locals like to say "Cher, laissez les bon temps rouler!". (Let the good times roll)

Thursday Jan 22, we went to New Orleans and took a carriage tour of the French Quarter. Our tour guide was very informative and the mule pulling our carriage managed just fine even when I thought we were going to get run over by some impatient autos.

We had to sample some of the local sweets called Beneigns.

I want you to know that Bill ate more than half of these.

We have one more day here and we will spend it riding the back roads, then it is on to Texas.

Happy trails.....

Trash To Treasure

Here we are in Gibson, La. We have been here for 5 days so far, and it has been very enjoyable. We did have one cool day and two cold days but we are Michiganders and we can take it(that's me trying to put a good spin on this yarn). On the drive here we noticed an RV show about 20 miles before we got to our campground. As soon as we got set up we got on the bike and went back to the RV's. The show had been there for 3 days and it only had 2hours left so we thought we might get in free. Think again we were told to pay full price of $6.00 apiece. Bill mentioned the show was only going to last 2 more hrs. and we thought maybe $3.00 apiece would be more in line. We were told $6.00 apiece once more so we left and road back to the Turtle. We didn't just fall off of a turnip truck. (maybe were just cheap)

The next day we went for a ride on the bike down toward the gulf. It was fun but a bit windy. Also, it was kind of sad because we saw a lot of damage from last years storms.

We stopped to check out a little country store and Bill found a real treasure. He wants to ship it home as a project to work on in the future. No not really, I would have to shoot him first. This would only be someone else's trash becoming our trash NOT treasure.

Happy trails.....

Waiting For Friends

I wasn't able to post anything while Bill and I were in Robertsdale, Al. because I wasn't able to get on-line. Our cell phones (the lifeline to the outside world) were not working there at all.

When we left the campground and drove back into town we could make calls but not from the Turtle.

It was too blooming cold to ride the bike, down in the high 30's or low 40's all the time we were there, but I know I get no sympathy from anyone in Mich about that. I always hear the same old refrain "you should be here it was 40 below wind chill yesterday".

We never did get to meet up with Harpo and Barb, the best laid plans don't always work out. But we did get to two different AA meetings, always a good idea for us and one of those days I was able to get in a few minutes of shopping after lunch.

Well maybe it was more that a few minutes, Bill did take a nice nap in the truck so we both were happy.

More to come of the exciting adventures of Bill and Kerry on the road.

Happy trails.....

Rainy Days

The Turtle is in the panhandle of Fl for 4 days. We are staying in this park until it is time to go and meet up with Harpo and Barb in Alabama. What do you do when you are traveling and it is cold(32 at night) andrainy?

Kerry enjoys watching the History Channel the Discovery Channel or reading a good book while the dinner simmers in the crock-pot.

Bill on the other hand likes to watch football on TV.

After all that excitiment, I said it was time to go to the laundry room. Bill said he thought he would take a little nap. I informed him that when we are on the road he would be helping me with the laundry. He was sooooo happy to hear this.

Happy trails.....

No Cookies for Bill

The Turtle has left the park. At last we are on the road. It took us a little longer than I thought it would to get started but we left Vero Beach and made out way up to Juniper Springs campground in the beautiful Ocala National Forest. We were slowed down on the way in a small trafic jam (slow going but never a complete stop) on I95, it lasted about 45 min. This is our first time in a camp that doesn't have hookups.

The good news is that we can run the generator anytime between 8 in the morning and 10 at night. We only get 2 chanels on the TV and they are kind of fuzzy. Oh the spanish ch comes in real clear. We were really tired the first night what with all the work we had been doing for 2wks before we left and there is some work once you get to your destination. Getting the camper in just the right spot (we got a pull thru site) unloading the bike and getting all the furniture in place etc....Thank goodness we had brought leftovers with us and only had to heat them in the microwave.

After we had our pjs on Bill asked the question "Well where are my cookies?". I thought they might be in the cupboard over the couch and he looked there to no avail, then I said they might be in the cupboard over the sink and he looked there with the same results. He looked for about 10 min everywhere he could think that I might have put cookies but the results where always the same. With a sad face he turned and announced "No cookies for Bill tonight", I might even have seen a tear slide down his cheek. I guess on each trip there are happy times and some sad times too.

I found the cookies the next day!!

Happy trails.....

Getting ready

Bill not having fun



As you can see, we have not left yet. Who knew there would be so much to do before you even leave your own driveway. Bill thought this was just going to be "fun on the road". We cleaned the inside of the Turtle yesterday and I sprayed inside to get rid of any tiny(I hope) critters that thought they could get a free cross-country trip. I have packed a few things but there is still a lot more to go. We try to do a little bit each day, because we like to leave time for the pool in the afternoon. It is hard work...but someone has to do it so it might as well be Kerry and Bill.

Happy Trails.....