Though this year didn’t bring the quantity of Adventures as in the past...I feel it had the quality that a few of us are fortunate to experience....
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| Big Bend (c) Horst Kelly photographer |
Last year closed with a trip to Big Bend National Park...one of my favorites, and the opportunity to try true “Boondocking” and also the pleasure of meeting Barney...the Full-Timer of the Blog OFM...
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| Big Bend (c)Horst Kelly photographer |
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| Big Bend Sunrise (c)Horst Kelly Photographer |
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| Waring General store (c)Horst Kelly photographer |
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| St. Stanislaus Catholic Church (c)Horst Kelly photographer |
The new year was slow in starting any Journeys...first was a Texas Trip to Bandera...Cowboy Capital of the World, so say the locals......Ms Casita stayed home but we found a quaint place to stay.....Bandera has some awesome structures... the Courthouse, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, OST Diner, etc...Great folklore and even a Buffalo Herd. Took side trip as we where meandering home to the Hamlets of Comfort, Waring, Boerne and the like.....a quick trip but quality time!
In April came a trip north through “Tornado Alley”...Destination Kansas City, Mo...it was cold, but so was the rest of the Country...did have time to go out with one of the Twins to places like “Loose Park”, Neighborhood called Brookside with its Old Homes, and eclectic stores and pubs....where we managed to chow now and have a Bloody Mary...or 3....
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| Daughter(c)Horst Kelly Photographer |
Also made time to take a photo trip to the Local Zoo....get together with my BIL’s brother and wife who have a Bus conversion and go with Daughter downtown to an old Industrial area now converted into Lofts, pubs and music venues....a younger generation event...but a nice evening with a couple that she is friends with....chowed down with Sushi and Japanese Beer....
Stopped to visit a historical site that was called New Santa Fe.... a village that sits on the state line (Kansas and Missouri)..
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| (c)Horst Kelly Photograpger |
Still made time for “Chores” around FIL’s home....and then it was back on l-35 heading south to Texas.
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| KC Zoo(c)Horst Kelly Photographer |
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| KC Zoo(c)Horst Kelly Photographer |
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| Painted Church Schulenbury, Tx (c)Horst KellyPhotographer |
In May I took a trip East on l-10(100 miles) to Schulenburg, Texas and the surrounding area...known as the Official Home of the Painted Churches...what a fascinating history this area of Texas has....worth a stop over for anyone traveling along l-10 between Houston and San Antonio...if interested, see my 15 May ’13 post for details of the trip...
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| Painted Church Schulenburg Tx (c)Horst Kelly Photographer |
In June came the Grand Opi adventure with my two Grandsons from Charleston SC.....and what a fun experience it was...camping across half of the USA and back, seeing old forts, pure white beaches, Alligators, Dinosaurs, Johnson Space Center, miniature golf, Go-karting, swimming, hiking, watching Barges travel up the Mississippi, visiting the like of Vicksburg, Ft Pickens, The Alamo, Ft. McAllister, watching sea Turtles, Trips to two Zoos, A day at the Wildlife Center, Theme parks with water slides, rock climbing, parachute drop, arcade games....and the list of Activities goes on...the time pasted so fast....
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| The Trip Begins |
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| 2 future Astronauts |
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| Smores and more |
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| Splash town Fun |
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| How Far do we Drop Down.....Opi...HELP |
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| First Campsite |
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| A History Lesson |
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| A Blue Angle |
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| Another....Blue Angle in the Making |
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| Vicksburg |
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| The Alamo |
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| The River Ride at The Riverwalk |
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| The Riverwalk |
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| The Zoo |
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| Another Zoo |
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| Awww...to be Young Again |
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| Amusement Park |
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| Happy Campers...A Navy Family |
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| Another Zoo |
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| OK...enough Photos Opi |
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| The Boys of Summer |
Two months of pure unadulterated fun....a once in a lifetime experience for me.....one I will never forget...I recommend that it goes on every “Opi and Omi’s” Bucket list!!
October we took a quick trip to Wimberley and Salt Lick Texas for some of the best BBQ found anywhere ...and November we again got on l-35 for a Thanksgiving trip to KC...to be cut short by approaching storms which made us “hi-tail” it back to Texas...Christmas found us having us enjoy some downtime...and here it is New Years Eve.....spent in reflection....and a glass of Brandy or two...
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| Salt Lick.....it Can't Be beat...so go eat |
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| I Love Liquid Samples |
This retirement life is not bad.....no schedules, obligations or commitments...ok a Doctors appointment or so, minor surgery here or there, getting more medications for the cholesterol problem..though they keep changing what the high numbers are...so you finally say...Bring on a Rack of Ribs and another Guinness Beer please....and at the end of it all, you witness another Sunrise for a Brand New Year...Life is GOOD!!
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| Another Sunrise to another New Year of Adventures |
I have no idea what the coming year will bring...other than I want to continue having new Adventures and meeting folks with like interests....I thank all of you that have taken the time to stop by now and again and also those that took the time to leave comments....I wish for you a New Year filled with only Special Moments....Horst sends
Great wrap-up. Only fair that most of the pictures were of the grands. What a wonderful journey you enjoyed with the two of them. You set my mouth to watering with that picture of bbq. Happy New Year to you and Omi. May you have a year filled with more great memories than 2013.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jerry..Yup...The "Grandkids Summer Tour" is a memory keeper!! as I said in my email "Lockhart tx"...your belly will be full and happy and you'll have a smile the size of Texas....Have a safe trip.....you will enjoy Big Bend..if you have the time take at least 3 days for camping inside the park... Horst sends
DeleteI think getting over to Goosenecks State Park is one of my new years goals. Want to come along????
ReplyDeleteBarney I love that area....I'm thinking maybe thats a plan....will keep in touch to work out any details needed...thanks for asking....keep warm, its going get down in the mid 20's next week in this area...Horst sends
DeleteLoved your review and I had forgotten about the Big Bend trip...need to go back and read again as we are heading west. May want to make a detour down that way!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Thanks Lynn...for some reason I thought you where going to BB on your way to Quartzite...I guess I was thinking of Jerry and Wanda...woe is me....I think I could go down there for a week every month and still never see it all....Have a Super New Year and safe journeys...Horst sends
DeleteHorst, what a lovely recap. I loved re-living our virtual tag alongs with you. :)
ReplyDeleteEvery year seems to be more special, and the memories warmer and more satisfying, don't they? Maybe it's because time itself is more precious now.
Thanks for enriching my world. :)
Thanks Sharon.....You are so right that as time rolls on, "stuff" gets more special, or is it that we finally realized how to stop and "smell the roses"...sunsets seem more vivid, reflections come on a daily basis and as you said the small things seem to have more meaning and put more smiles on our face.....Yup...even with all the aches and pains, life is VERY good right now.....Wishing you and Ron a super New Year and only Happy Trails for the coming year...Horst sends
DeleteThanks Carla...The "Grand's Summer Tour" was one of those rare Life time experiences, at least for me...You two seem to be enjoying your time on the Golf Shores, even more so with your new Rig....glad all is working out...Happy New Year and Have the Best Year EVER.....Horst sends
ReplyDelete