| GYPSY FEET |
| The Chronicles of Moby Who? |
© 2008 Gail Hunter
| Go To Pete's |
| October Page 6 |
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| Next: A fantastic state park in Mandeville, Louisiana Fontainbleau State Park - accepts National Access Passes |
If you care to read about our 2006 auto trip from Burlington, VT to visit
New Orleans and return via Florida's Big Bend and Venice, click here.
New Orleans and return via Florida's Big Bend and Venice, click here.
NOTE: The navigation bar has been moved to the right side of the page, making it easier to
see the enlarged photos. Before, every time you clicked to see a photo, then clicked back
you would be shifted to the left and would have to make an adjustment. This way, you'll save
time and energy. The nav bar will still be available, but on the right hand side. Hope t;his
encourages you to enlarge the photos.
see the enlarged photos. Before, every time you clicked to see a photo, then clicked back
you would be shifted to the left and would have to make an adjustment. This way, you'll save
time and energy. The nav bar will still be available, but on the right hand side. Hope t;his
encourages you to enlarge the photos.
I really wasn't looking forward to The Buckhorn Museum, picturing it as another one like Ole's Big
Game Restaurant in Paxton, Nebraska, but Phil said he was taking us there, so there we went. As soon
as we crossed the threshold I knew I had been mistaken. The place is mammoth! A huge polar bear,
joined by other imposing taxidermy abounded. The walls are covered, two gigantic stories high, with
antlered heads of every size. We were greeted by a cheerful, holstered cowboy who showed us to the
circus-like booth where tickets to the museum were sold. If we hadn't been escorted, I don't believe I
would have bought them and gone upstairs, but Phil insisted - and they were included in the fare.
What a sight! There were dioramas equal to the quality of any natural history museum I've seen. The
stuffed animals, from a prairie dog to my moose (finally!) were so exquisitely cared for - their coats had an
almost-alive sheen, their eyes appeared natural, and they were positioned very realistically.
Game Restaurant in Paxton, Nebraska, but Phil said he was taking us there, so there we went. As soon
as we crossed the threshold I knew I had been mistaken. The place is mammoth! A huge polar bear,
joined by other imposing taxidermy abounded. The walls are covered, two gigantic stories high, with
antlered heads of every size. We were greeted by a cheerful, holstered cowboy who showed us to the
circus-like booth where tickets to the museum were sold. If we hadn't been escorted, I don't believe I
would have bought them and gone upstairs, but Phil insisted - and they were included in the fare.
What a sight! There were dioramas equal to the quality of any natural history museum I've seen. The
stuffed animals, from a prairie dog to my moose (finally!) were so exquisitely cared for - their coats had an
almost-alive sheen, their eyes appeared natural, and they were positioned very realistically.
After stopping to admire Teddy Roosevelt, we moved on to the display of chairs fashioned from horns -
all shapes, sizes and colors. Reminiscent of Adirondack chairs, but it was a lot riskier to collect all those
horns than all the tree branches. There were several displays of wild west paraphernalia, all assembled
like a frontier store. Then, look at the shapes of spurs and the intricate out-of-one-peice-of-wood
carving. I think the sign said it was done by one of the Chinese immigrants in the early railroad days.
all shapes, sizes and colors. Reminiscent of Adirondack chairs, but it was a lot riskier to collect all those
horns than all the tree branches. There were several displays of wild west paraphernalia, all assembled
like a frontier store. Then, look at the shapes of spurs and the intricate out-of-one-peice-of-wood
carving. I think the sign said it was done by one of the Chinese immigrants in the early railroad days.
Cor enjoys a joke with a friendly white
long horn, while I have a conversation
with my very own finally-found moose.
long horn, while I have a conversation
with my very own finally-found moose.
Time slipped by so fast. We rushed back to the rear of the
Alamo to be greeted by Phil, who said, "Step aboard." We
said, "But we haven't seen the Alamo!" Phil said, "You
were supposed to do that during your lunch break." "We
said, "Oh." and stepped aboard. End of discussion.
I did poke my head inside the gate and grabbed this shot.
Alamo to be greeted by Phil, who said, "Step aboard." We
said, "But we haven't seen the Alamo!" Phil said, "You
were supposed to do that during your lunch break." "We
said, "Oh." and stepped aboard. End of discussion.
I did poke my head inside the gate and grabbed this shot.
Decision time: do we eat lunch in the vast, cool,
tiled Buckhorn? Or, do we walk back down to the
banks of Riverwalk, sit at a colorful waterside
table in the sun, and enjoy some food and jokes
with our fellow-van traveler, Kerrylynn?
Complete with strolling musicians! No contest.
tiled Buckhorn? Or, do we walk back down to the
banks of Riverwalk, sit at a colorful waterside
table in the sun, and enjoy some food and jokes
with our fellow-van traveler, Kerrylynn?
Complete with strolling musicians! No contest.
The next stop was at the Sunken Japanese Gardens. Phil dropped Cor, Kerry Ann and me off to
explore the gorgeous landscaping. A pagoda fashioned from limestone blocks and native wood
crowned the hill overlooking the deep pond filled with koi. A waterfall was at the far side of the natural
stone bridge. That's Kerrylynn framed by the limestone columns; and yours truly leaning against the log
railing (nervously - it didn't look strong.)
explore the gorgeous landscaping. A pagoda fashioned from limestone blocks and native wood
crowned the hill overlooking the deep pond filled with koi. A waterfall was at the far side of the natural
stone bridge. That's Kerrylynn framed by the limestone columns; and yours truly leaning against the log
railing (nervously - it didn't look strong.)
| Back to the Alamo. |
We picked up four additional people for the afternoon part of the tour - Missions; I really don't
remember which ones. At this point, I'd seen the Riverwalk and that was my prime destination.
The missions and their history are fascinating, but that tour should stand on its own, complete
with prior reading. We ended with a stop at the large Mexican market, where all sorts of crafts
and souvenirs were available. All I wanted was a string of dried red peppers. All they had were
strings of fake red peppers. Exhausted, we were returned to our campground by Phil.
remember which ones. At this point, I'd seen the Riverwalk and that was my prime destination.
The missions and their history are fascinating, but that tour should stand on its own, complete
with prior reading. We ended with a stop at the large Mexican market, where all sorts of crafts
and souvenirs were available. All I wanted was a string of dried red peppers. All they had were
strings of fake red peppers. Exhausted, we were returned to our campground by Phil.
Left: Our driver, Phil Piez came to Texas
from Mexico several years ago, and has
absorbed the true feeling of San Antonio.
He was a great raconteur, giving us a steady
stream of colorful stories about the city, its
people and its hstory. Thank you, Phil!
from Mexico several years ago, and has
absorbed the true feeling of San Antonio.
He was a great raconteur, giving us a steady
stream of colorful stories about the city, its
people and its hstory. Thank you, Phil!
One of the better
mackerel skies I've
ever seen. But it
didn't rain in 72
hours. How come?
mackerel skies I've
ever seen. But it
didn't rain in 72
hours. How come?
The following night was Halloween. We're glad we didn't leave that day, but took
the time to relax, rest up from the tour, and prepare ourselves for the party given
in the club house at the campground. We had no costumes, but learned that the
dinner was free to everyone who dressed up. We dressed up.
Without a car, we weren't able to do much, but we did have a box of Staples' big,
black plastic garbage bags. Remembering those years gone by, when we would
ski in the rain, wearing garbage bags with holes cut for our heads so we wouldn't
get our seats wet on the chair lifts, we went to work. A bag for each of us, but this
time the holes were cut in the bottom - one for each leg, and in the sides, one for
each arm. We tied the bags up around our necks, and attached signs saying,
"Look What The Cat Dragged In!"
Fortunately, it was not a contest, so we got our free dinner, after which an evening
of karaoke. Cor wanted me to sing "Wilberforce," but the guests were spared.
the time to relax, rest up from the tour, and prepare ourselves for the party given
in the club house at the campground. We had no costumes, but learned that the
dinner was free to everyone who dressed up. We dressed up.
Without a car, we weren't able to do much, but we did have a box of Staples' big,
black plastic garbage bags. Remembering those years gone by, when we would
ski in the rain, wearing garbage bags with holes cut for our heads so we wouldn't
get our seats wet on the chair lifts, we went to work. A bag for each of us, but this
time the holes were cut in the bottom - one for each leg, and in the sides, one for
each arm. We tied the bags up around our necks, and attached signs saying,
"Look What The Cat Dragged In!"
Fortunately, it was not a contest, so we got our free dinner, after which an evening
of karaoke. Cor wanted me to sing "Wilberforce," but the guests were spared.
| Two trashy people at one party? Incredible! |
| Plus a great big chicken and a couple of cavepeople. |
Reaching Mandeville, our next visit, was out of the question so we looked up a Cracker Barrel on the
map they provided us, showing the restaurants that allow RVs to spend the night in their bus and RV lots.
Hmmm? No, that's not far enough and the next is too far, so we opted for a truck stop in Braunig Lake RV
Park, LA.
It was not a good night. Noisy, and we heeled to port which meant the head of our bed was lower than the
foot. Since my polio has given me a minor stomach valve problem (it doesn't work) it meant I had to sleep
with a bunch of pillows. OK if you sleep on your back, but on your side, you get kind of pretzeled.
The truck stop did have an excellent restaurant though; the Bourbon Café. We had good old fried catfish
and oysters, plus fried sweet potatoes. The waitress asked if we wanted sugar and cinnamon on our
potatoes. Why not? We're out of training anyhow, let's go all the way. She brought a shaker of
cinnamon, sugar and vanilla, Cajun Power. Let me tell you, "That Is Good!"
We ended up buying a container of it...now all I have to do is find out where I can get powdered vanilla and
I've got it made! Just like the lemon/horseradish jelly Betty Lou introduced me to in Vermont several years
ago. Plagiarism in the kitchen, I love it!
map they provided us, showing the restaurants that allow RVs to spend the night in their bus and RV lots.
Hmmm? No, that's not far enough and the next is too far, so we opted for a truck stop in Braunig Lake RV
Park, LA.
It was not a good night. Noisy, and we heeled to port which meant the head of our bed was lower than the
foot. Since my polio has given me a minor stomach valve problem (it doesn't work) it meant I had to sleep
with a bunch of pillows. OK if you sleep on your back, but on your side, you get kind of pretzeled.
The truck stop did have an excellent restaurant though; the Bourbon Café. We had good old fried catfish
and oysters, plus fried sweet potatoes. The waitress asked if we wanted sugar and cinnamon on our
potatoes. Why not? We're out of training anyhow, let's go all the way. She brought a shaker of
cinnamon, sugar and vanilla, Cajun Power. Let me tell you, "That Is Good!"
We ended up buying a container of it...now all I have to do is find out where I can get powdered vanilla and
I've got it made! Just like the lemon/horseradish jelly Betty Lou introduced me to in Vermont several years
ago. Plagiarism in the kitchen, I love it!
We packed up the bus that night, got a good sleep then hit the road around 9:00 the following
morning. It was Saturday. We figured it would be less crowded driving through the heart of
Huston (there is no other way) on the weekend...no commuter traffic. That turned out to be a
fact, so we rolled right along on Route 10 through Texas..
morning. It was Saturday. We figured it would be less crowded driving through the heart of
Huston (there is no other way) on the weekend...no commuter traffic. That turned out to be a
fact, so we rolled right along on Route 10 through Texas..
Everything's big deep in the heart of Texas -
including highway interchanges.
Quick! Which way do we go?
Too fast for the GPS to keep up with us.
including highway interchanges.
Quick! Which way do we go?
Too fast for the GPS to keep up with us.
But they do make it easy for us to keep on
Route 10!
Route 10!
Or, as my father always said,
"Follow the traffic." In this case a
group of four heavily-laden bikers
"Follow the traffic." In this case a
group of four heavily-laden bikers