Texas to Indiana

We left Tier Drop RV Park near Yuma, Arizona on March 4th. We have been visiting friends along the way. After we left Texas and crossed into Oklahoma our first stop was at a park we have been to before in Checotah, OK. It's Terra Star on Lake Eufaula.   

They have a great way to allow full-time RVers to live under covers that allow room for a large deck, too.

We headed on down the road the next morning.  I took a picture of the type of construction barrel that we ran over in the CR-V the other day.  It's been pulling fine down the road, but we are looking forward to getting it appraised to see what needs to be done to it.

The trees were just beginning to bud.  

We took a few of the back, winding roads to get close to friends of ours that we knew in Colorado who now live in Cape Fair, MO near Branson.  They are now getting ready to move back to Colorado.

We stayed near Reed Springs in Aunts Creek RV Park.  We felt like we were perched in a tree, but it was a great place to meet up with Sherm and Yvonne.

Craig, Kathy, Sherm and Yvonne

We had a great meal out and then went back to the RV.  Sherm backed a cake and brought it along for dessert.  It was great!!!  The sun was going down over Table Rock Lake.

Saturday night found us looking for as RV Park for the night, but there weren't many.  We went to the Sullivan Walmart, but they had barricades up with height restrictions to prevent trucks and RVers from parking there.  We didn't feel very welcomed.  So, we parked with the big guys at the Flying J.  Since we saved the money on a parking spot, we decided to have an Applebees dinner and then did a little shopping before heading back to the RV.

We looked pretty small next to those big rigs.

We have been skirting along on the east side of a rain storm moving up through the country for a couple of days. The sun was just breaking as we heading down the road on Resurrection Sunday.  We were missing church with all of our friends, but we knew the Lord was with us and we happened across a Bible Study program that spoke about the real proof of Jesus's resurrection.  The scriptures that predicted his life and death in Psalms and Isaiah.

We crossed over the Mississippi.

Traveling on Sunday morning was easy with very little traffic.

Today is the 27th and we crossed over into Indiana.  Craig and I both grew up in Crown Point, Indiana, so it's as close to "home" as most other places we have lived.

We got to a spot we have been before just a little north of Vincennes, Indiana.  It's called New Vision RV Park.

Lake View

We had fun catching some lively and healthy Bass.

We had a nice lunch and dinner and then the wind picked up and the rain came in.  It tried to hail a bit, but didn't amount to much.  I  think it's passed for tonight.
Tomorrow we will head on in to see friends in North Salem.  Carolyn has had shoulder surgery and I'm sure she would appreciate prayers. We hope that we can help them out for a couple of days.

So far we have driven 2200 miles since we left our wintering spot in Wellton, Arizona.

Blessings,
Kathy

Bonham, Texas

It was a wonderful time seeing old friends in Gun Barrel City!  We pulled out on Monday and drove the short 2 1/2 hours up to Bonham.  The weather was good and clear.

Pulling out of Gun Barrel City.

 Bonham Lake has a nice RV Park and Marina on the south side. They don't take reservations, but it's still early enough in the year that there were plenty of places.

We lived in a home we rented on the Lake for nearly two years in 2009 and 2010.

We met our old neighbor and friend, Beth, at a Chinese Restaurant in Bonham and then we went back to her home for a time to catch up.  She also made a wonderful batch of cookies!

Beth R.

We had a treat on Tuesday morning when this sweet couple we knew in Aurora, CO and now live in Dallas, drove over to spend some time with us.  How good is it to catch up on life!  One of their sons worked for us when we owned the Hardware Store.

 Perfect timing with an invitation to attend a soup and bread and Bible Study night with some great people and even met someone new!! John and Debbie have a lovely home and property on the Lake.  Thanks for the great food and fellowship!

Beth, John, Craig, Ruth Ann and Debbie

 The moon was glistening across the lake, but it's hard to really see it in this photo.

Wednesday breakfast was a great time of fellowship with Kathy and Vern A!  We visited so fast and furious and then went to their home to see all the work that have done and I never took ONE picture.  So, I borrowed this one from Kathy's FB page.  I guess it's true that people will steal things from your FB pictures.  Ha.  Love you two and sorry we didn't get to visit more.  Hope to see you in Michigan!

The wild flowers were just starting to bloom.  Here's some of the Blue Bonnets.

We went out for a drive to see a property that was interesting near Tyler, TX.  The trip went well until just past the Blue Bonnets.  An orange construction barrel came flying off a truck going in the opposite direction and somehow at 55 mph Craig managed to straddle the monster.  It bump the whole car up into the air.  We got pulled over and couldn't see any real damage.  We pulled into an Auto Sales place and a very nice guy got under the car with Craig and they decided it's mainly cosmetic damage.  We were so thankful that it didn't hit the windshield or cause us or anyone else around to swerve into each other!  We filed an insurance claim and after talking with them, they decided it was safe to pull behind the RV up to Indiana and have the damage fixed up there.  We drove the Honda CR-V the 40 miles back to the RV Park and it seems fine... for the most part.  Craig had to tie up the front undercover with a zip tie.  I wonder what they will do with the orange skid mark down the full length of the RV?

We got back in time last night to see a storm rolling in with lightening and thunder.  It had been awhile since we were in a good rain storm like that. 

It was still windy today, but we woke up to sunshine.  I got to see my favorite hair dresser today and had a very quick 30 minute catching up time.  She just fit me in between on a very busy day.  Bless your heart Stacy!!  (I didn't take a picture and couldn't find a FB page.)

The rope swing that hung down across the bay from us reminded us of fun family time swinging on one in Minnesota.

It was a late start to the day, so we only drove 155 miles.  Bonham is just off route 78 NE of Dallas and just a few miles from Oklahoma.  So, we took the back roads into Durant and jumped on 69 for the rest of the trip.

The Red River divides Texas and Oklahoma.  I was high and pretty muddy looking after all of the rain.  There is a joke we heard in Texas, I'm sure they tell it the other way around in OK, but this is how it goes:  One guy was throwing sticks of dynamite over the Red River to fight his Texas neighbor who lived on the other side.... the Texan would then pick up the sticks, light them and throw them back over to the OK side.  Hee hee.

The country side is just starting to come alive with Spring.  Southern OK is full of rolling hills and lakes.

Eufaula Lake is monstrous!!!  We drove along it for about 30 miles and crossed many bridges until we reached the north side and the Terra Starr RV Park.

Tomorrow, Friday, we will drive up near Branson, Missouri and spend some time with friends that we first knew in Aurora, CO.  They are actually in the process of moving back, but we'll get to see them before they leave town.

Not sure where we will be on Sunday, so I want to pray that you all have a wonderful day of celebrating our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!

Blessings,

Kathy