The Adventure Continues - Ft. Worth and the Stockyards

Got a day off and we headed to Ft. Worth for the day.  Fred and I both  had been to the stockyards but have never really looked around or took part of anything there.  To do on our list - Stockyards; eat at Tim Love's Restaurant; go to Bill Bob's; visit courthouse; and eat at Edelweiss German Restaurant.  Full day planned and lots to see.


Stockyards - Wow it was really neat.  We walked through the mall area and saw a lot of neat things - replaced my Minnetonka sandals as my dog eat my others.

Track is for train that runs
on weekends

Center of the Mall

We then found out there was to be a cattle drive down the middle of the street so we found a place on the curve and waited.  While we waited we watch a guy with one of the biggest long-horn I have ever seen allow kids to climb all of him and take pictures.  It was such a well behave bull that I was wondering if he was stuffed - but nature called and found out he wasn't.  The guy had a bucket sitting right under him and he hit the spot - it was so funny. 

Went to the Cowboy Hall of Fame - neat place;

Then off to lunch at Tim Love's place; (for those that don't know he is a famous chef and was on Iron Chef -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceMPVzDpBpA).  The food was wonderful and Fred said his Buffalo burger was the best he ever ate.

After lunch we went to the only winery/wine bar in the area for a wine tasting. 



Walking around we found out that the White Elephant Bar was the bar where Walker, Texas Ranger was filmed - CD's Bar.  Of course we had to go there as Fred's nickname as a police officer was Walker.  It was interesting and had some things there from the TV series.

Then we were off to Billy Bob's, the larger bar in world and I really believe it is.  What a place!!!  There had to be at least 10 different dance floors; lots and lots of bars; pool tables everywhere; a bar area that is out from the noise so you can visit but still get the atmosphere; a fancy bar room with animals mounded ever where; and even a bull ring.  They have real bull riding every Friday night for $3.00 with stands for watching.  It took us about an hour to just walk around the place.

We had some time before dinner so we decided to hit the Botanical Garden.  This was nice and made for some great pictures.  Really big place and we only got through a small part before the heat and time caught up with us.  If you ever get the chance I would say go but not in 100 degree weather!!!

 

Now on to dinner at Edelweiss - YEA!!!!  Well so we thought - they are closed on Tuesday so will have to go back - oh rats another trip to Ft. Worth - lol. 

Fourth of July 2013

This is our first holiday in our coach and our life on the road.  We have met some new friends workamping here at Coffee Creek and they have invited us to join them in traveling to Granbury, TX.  We all had to get up early and go do our duties as workampers, but today did not require everything we do normally, just the necessary items - pick up trash and clean out restroom - YEA!!
It was a wonderful day out and the weather was just great.  Temp was 59 when we got up that morning and the high for the day was only expected o be in the upper 90's. 



The drive to Granbury (30 minutes) was really nice and the small Texas towns that we saw along the was were unique.  We are enjoying seeing the beauty of Texas; it is as if we are old west explorers and seeing it for the first time. We get to Granbury and it is really a lovely town; has a lot of the old favor to it but yet it is still a good size modern town with all the extras as if you are in the big city.  Granbury is also the county seat for Hood County so I was able to get another one of my courthouse pictures.  The town square was all set up for the 4th of July celebration.  I loved the courthouse and the old bell tower - it stills works also!!

Rick and Pat took us to a place called Babe's Chicken House for lunch and it was really great.  They serve only chicken cooked different way and in a family style matter.  We had a wonderful lunch and then headed out to look around and just see what we could find.   

 

The town has a lot of great old building and the old jail is still standing.  Of course Fred being retired cop and jailer he was really interested in seeing it.  The old stone building was really neat and the jail was upstairs with the living quarter for the sheriff downstairs.  I would highly recommend if you get a chance to stop by this town.  The Brazos river runs through it also and there is a great park and beach area along it for enjoyment.  We definitely plan on going back before we leave the area to do some more looking around as it was crowded today needless to say. 

 

 

 



 



First Week at Full Time Workamping

Coach all set in place
 

We made it into Coffee Creek on Saturday, June 29, 2013 about 4:30 and  met Don Rash, owner of the RV Resort.  The place looked wonderful and we were excited to finally get here.  Don took us for a ride around the park and let us chose our site from those that were available.  Got checked in and he told us to just get set up and chill until Monday and we could get started working then. 



Fred doing what he does best



Club house directly in front of us






 

 

Spent the day Sunday getting things somewhat in place and tried to get organized.  Met a number of the other workampers that we will be working with and  got the dogs settled down in their new place.  The park is really nice.  Took a ride into Mineral Wells for some shopping and dinner.  We found Mineral Wells to be interesting and really need to go back to do some looking around.  There was this old abandoned building that we were not sure about but it was really intriguing, I am going to have to do some research and find out what it is about.

 

Monday we went into the office and got our "marching orders".  I was teamed up with Pat Ratzlaff and Fred with Rick Ratzlaff; so off we went workamping for the first time!!!  The jobs have ended up not being hard at all and in fact somewhat enjoyable.  I was finished in a hour and half and Fred . . . well he kept his going  as long as he could - he was having fun --- he said it felt good to be back to doing something as he has been off work for two years due to his hand injury.

 

Since we are off in the afternoons we started looking around for places to go and things to see.  Tuesday we went to the National Vietnam War Museum Complex in Mineral Wells - wow is all I can say:

 

Wednesday afternoon we took a ride and went to Palo Pinto.  The country side was wonderful and I got my second Courthouse picture.  On the way back we found this wonderful BBQ place called Natty Flat Smokehouse a & Gift Shop.  The gift shop next door to it the Guinness World Record for the largest rocking chair.  The furniture inside was all made from wood in the area and was some of the best looking rustic furniture I have ever seen.  It was really a cook place. 

 

Countdown

Monday - June 24th - Fred took out tow vehicle to the shop as the AC was not working; had to get a rental so a new compressor could be installed in the tow; Russell called - the coach is ready.  Went to Russell picked up coach and then home to load up.  Worked late into the night to get things loaded; got exhausted and just stopped we will get up early and finish - famous last words!

Tuesday - June 25th - up late (who would have thought - lol) just loaded up no organization to it as we needed to get the coach to PPL for warranty work, was suppose to be there at 8:00 and it is now 8:00.  Oh well they will still be there when we get there.  Things to do - 1) coach to PPL; 2) dogs to son's house for babysitting; 3) return rental car and get tow with AC working; 4) back to house to pick up final things to go to storage and Salvation Army and drop off; 5) back to house to get last of things going with us; 6) drop off items going to kids; 7) get EZ tag for coach for toll roads; 8) go get dogs from son's house; 9) stop at store for food (most important); 10) go to coach for night at PPL - work not finish so staying on residence lot.  Wow what a day and it all got done.

Wednesday - June 26th - well clock was wrong and was up I thought at 7:00 but it was really 5:00.  Things to do - 1) wash clothes at son's house; 2) get final load out of the house; 3) generator fixed on coach; 4) WiFi Antenna installed; 5) dinner with Fred's brother  - not to bad of a day

Thursday - June 27th - well tow package is being installed today, so will just stay with the coach and maybe try to get something organized. Got just about everything inside the coach now.  Still have a couple of containers at my son's house that we will pick up tomorrow morning.  Got the tow package installed, got the wifi antennas installed; got the jacks working right.  Grandson came and spent the afternoon with me, it was great to see him and have the time with him before we take off.  Son came later in the evening and got all my computer/wifi all setup and working.  It is nice to have a son that is a computer engineer!!!  Exhausted but excited.  Pull out of PPL in the morning and headed to Westlake RV Resort for the night. T

Friday - June 28th - up early and got things packed and ready to travel.  Finally hit the road around 11:00 but that was okay as we could not check into Westlake RV Resort until 11:00 anyway.  Staying in West Houston tonight as our kids want to have a send off party for us tonight.  This gave us a chance to go check the mailbox for the last time and go say goodbye to some friends we had not gotten a chance to yet.  Westlake RV Resort is really nice, very clean and has a great place for the dogs.  If you are passing through Houston look it up - would recommend it.  Oh, it is a Good Sam park so you also get at 10% discount.  Had a great dinner with our kids and now on to our new life!!!!

Tow in place and ready to go!!

One last check

Fred's favorite Mexican food with our kids

Fred remembering

Finally - the last days

Well the closing on our house is set for Friday, June 28th.  We got word today that we could pick up our coach from Russell this afternoon - repairs are completed!!  Going to PPL for some warranty work and my son will get all the wifi set up and ready to go while there.  Going to close Friday and then we are heading out on our new life.

 

Camping out in the house these last few days has been hard with a lot of mixed emotions, but we are ready to go and start a new life.  It has also been uncomfortable sleeping on this air mattress for 10 days - lol.

 

Going to miss some things, but looking forward to new adventures.  We have loved our yard and the wildlife here.  I am sure they are going to miss Fred as he feed them every night, but out with the old and in with the new.  Now we will have a bigger back yard and will see more types of wildlife than just our deer.

 

 

Until next week!

Will we ever get back on the road????

Well we are getting anxious and cabin fever.  Have found an auction company that is coming Wednesday to get the rest of our things and will auctioning them off on June 15th.  This will finally take care of everything except what we are taking with us. Finally got this worry off my mind!!

 

 My youngest granddaughter is taking my great (4x) grandmother's bed that came with her from England.  Fred and I went and set it up in her room today so it will surprise her when she returns from their summer vacation to San Antonio.  Well guess we will surprise her parents also as no one had any idea we were doing this.  This was the one piece of furniture that I was really not liking to get rid of so I was happy when our son said Kylie needed a new bed. 

June 15th - my birthday and the date of our auction.  Went to dinner with Ed and Debi Hurlburt at The Red Brick Tavern in Conroe.  What a wonderful place, we really enjoyed and the food was super.  Went to the auction after dinner to see what was going on.  Things were selling but not at the price we wanted, but I just told them to sell things so things were sold.  Then again things are only worth what someone will pay for them.  At least the last of our "things" were sold and no more worries of having things own us anymore.

Now for the coach - well it is still in the shop.  Winnebago has shipped the fender and it will be in next week.  Repair shop found more damage to the coach and the insurance company has approved those repair.  Plans now - we should have our coach back by Friday.  I sure hope so as we are camping out in the house right now but closing is on June 28th.  Empty house and sleeping on air mattress is getting old. 

My one lesson I would like to convey to all is to make sure of your tires when you purchase a RV - whether old or new.  We have learned that the tires that were on our coach when we purchased it were the original tires with the coach when it was new in 1998.  There is a date code on tires and you should make sure of that date before you go out on the road.  If you look there is a DOT stamp with numbers right after that - those numbers are the month, week during that month and the year the tire was manufactured.  Your tires should not be more that seven years old.  It is best to replace them regardless of usage every five years but no later than seven years.  We had a second tire explode while it was in the shop getting repair from the damage of the first tire exploding while we were on the road. Please take a lesson from us and check your tires before you take off with your coach - you could save your life or someone else's life in doing so and/or save yourself a lot of frustration while your coach is in the shop. 

Safe travels !!!