Bond Family Reunion - Oct 3 - Oct 10

For the first time this year, David elected to stay home while his mom, sister and I hit the road for the annual Bond Family Reunion.  We started in Jay, Florida where the reunion was then moved a couple of hours east to Ashford, Alabama.  After a couple days, we ended our visiting north in Georgetown, Georgia.  David's mom was elated to visit with her brother and sister and many cousins (some who are close to her age as she was the baby Bond girl.)

The original Bond Girls

Beatrice, Belma, Delitha, Estean, Nadine and Minnie Jo

Minnie Jo, Mary Ann and Kathy

Linda, Lisa, Jo and Jolene

Kathy, Jo, Ovie and Tammy

Amy, Shane, Tammy, Jeff, Bryan, Kathy, Pam & Leslie

Gene, Ruth, Kathy, Jo and Tammy

Ruth and Kathy

Mary, Linda, Donnie, Jolene, Jo, Carolyn, Betty and Jane

Kathy, Johnny and Mary

There were lots more people but I have orientation problems when uploading the additional pictures.  When fixed, I'll add.  It was a great family visiting trip.

One more out of state trip this year.  I'm headed back to Alabama.  We are Talladega bound!

Colorado - Sep 7 - Sep 23

We left the KOA in Dallas hoping to make Amarillo by the end of the day. Unfortunately we had a wheel bearing failure just a few miles outside of Childress Texas. Luckily we were able to limp into town and find an abandoned lot to survey the damage. With no help available on a Sunday evening we resigned ourselves to wait until morning to find a solution. Note : Good Sam Riadside Assitance is worthless. 

Notice the missing wheel

Miraculously with the help of an auto repair shop across the street and a tiny tire shop across town we were able to get back on the road by noon the following day. 

We decided to stop at Capulin RV park in New Mexico (found using our Passport America app - $14.50/night full hookups).  We had a camping neighbor with a quirky sense of humor. 

Last Supermoon

We visited the Capulin Volcano National Monument which we had driven by many times before. What a beautiful vista from above. 

 

Next we arrive at the Edrington Ranch in Bonanza and spend the next two weeks enjoying friends, family, riding, Aspens, Joyful Journeys spa and good food and drink. 

Fishing at Mosquito Lake

Relaxing in a mineral pool

The Arkansas River in Salida

It's no wonder this is one of our favorite places. Can't wait to return again next year, but there are more adventures to come between now and then!

Rangers game - Sep 5 - 7

After a few days rest (catching up on honey-dos) we pull the camper to the Dallas KOA to hang with friends and catch some b-ball. 

But Mother Nature had other ideas about the b-ball

After a three hour rain delay in which all nineteen of us headed back to the campground and then reloaded and returned to te ballpark, we finally had the sound of balls hitting bats and gloves. 

 But along the way we had fun

The game ended around 130am with the Rangers losing to the Mariners 4-2. By noon the next day we're heading west...

Labor Day - Aug 29 - Sept 1

The LiARS annual Labor Day trip to Eunice was eventful as ever with plenty of games and frivolity. 

Lots of lying going on...

New England - Aug 19 - 26

My Grammie who was 93 years young passed away in July. She was in Florida at the time but was a lifelong resident of Vermont. Thus the family had the memorial service in Vermont. Her three children and four grandchildren were there. It's very possible that this is the last time that all of these folks will be together in one place. 

We flew into Boston, rented a car ( think "recalculating" many times), and headed to Maine where our nephew Kyle lives. We had a great time catching up and doing a little but if site seeing along the Maine coast. 

We then headed across New Hampshire to Vermont where we stayed with my cousin Laurie and family in her 125-year old house that used to house a gambling hall. 

*still need to download photos from other camera

My Grammie service was slightly unconventional, but she loved Pastor Ernest. 

After several days of visiting with family David and I drove back to Boston for a day of sightseeing. 

Hiked the Quechee Gorge along the way 

Old State House in Boston. The subway station in the the basement. 

New State House

Took in a speedboat ride in Boston harbor

Lots of history here

The flight back was long. Glad our upcoming trips are once again in the camper. We get to relax at home for two days before we hit the road again.

Abbeville and Eunice - Aug 8-12

When invited to South Louisiana for shrimping and crabbing, you simply say when, where and what time. Such was the case when Vicki and Gene invited us to Palmetto Island State Park with them. 

Bleu - "Dad, are we there yet?"

The state park, beautifully set on the Vermillion River, has a jungle feel.  

We headed to the Rockefeller Refuge area and commenced to catching crab. 

And saw other critters as well...

We then headed to Shucks in Abbeville for dinner. The next morning we returned to Rockefeller and loaded up with crab and shrimp. 

Which then turned into dinner...

We bid adieu to Vicki and Gene on Sunday and drove to Eunice for a couple days of imbibing and card playing with Lance and Kelly. We even fit in a scooter ride. 

Goodbyes weren't too sad as we'll be back in just a couple weeks. All in all a do-over all around. 

Destin - Arthur Wedding and Alabama Family - August 18 - 24, 2014

What do you do when you receive a wedding invitation to a beach wedding in Florida?  Make plans to attend of course!  And then turn the event into a road trip to visit everyone you can in Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

Our first destination was Destin.  The wedding party stayed at the Emerald Grande - luxury condos with a fabulous view.

While the weather was iffy for a while, when it came wedding time the clouds parted and the sun shone.  Serendipity!  A beautiful moment in time for a beautiful couple.

And then we enjoyed the beach until sunset...

We left Destin and headed for Ashford, Alabama where we stayed with David's cousin Linda and her husband Jimmy.  Her daughter Misty, husband Mike and kids Hayden and Chloe came in on their way to the beach so our timing was perfect and we were able to do lots of visiting including with David's Aunt Nadine in Dothan.

We then drove to Aunt Ruth's house in Georgetown, Georgia where we always feel welcome and relaxed.  She fixed a grand dinner for David's birthday - steak and shrimp - and we enjoyed kicking back for a couple of days.

Our next stop was Prattville, Alabama where we visited with my family.  My mammaw's 90th birthday was coming up the following week so this was a special visit.  

Road trips that only take a week now seem so short whereas they used to seem long.  But it was great to see so many family and friends in so many different places in a short period of time.