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We departed Smithville, TX on Wednesday December 18th for a roadtrip to Thornton, Colorado to visit the Teague Clan for the holidays. From Smithville to their home is a 14 hour drive, so we planned on three days to get there. Day one we departed around 9:30 AM and headed northwest through Austin towards the Panhandle region of Texas. We chose highways less traveled and passed through some small rural towns and villages arriving in Childress, TX for the night. The Panhandle is a narrow, straight region in the northernmost part of Texas. It's part of the same grassland that extends from the Great Plains of the Central United States. The Panhandle remains a top producer of fed beef, cotton and sorghum, as well as dairy, corn and wheat. Thursday, December 19th we continued heading northwest to the the town of Texline near the corner of the Panhandle with Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. We crossed into New Mexico and continued through the northeast corner to the town of Raton. We picked up Interstate 25, US 85 and started north into Colorado. through Trinidad and ultimately Pueblo, Colorado for the second night. Pueblo is a city of 111,000 people and is located about 4,692 feet above sea level. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk is an urban development, with boat rides, public art, restaurants and events. The project commemorates the river’s original location before it was diverted in the wake of a 1921 flood. El Pueblo History Museum has a recreated 1840s trading post and artifacts tracing the city’s past. To the west, Lake Pueblo State Park is a popular fishing, boating and camping spot. Pueblo has always been a major part of Colorado history. At Pueblo’s start it was just a small fort; however, it was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Colorado. We visited the Riverwalk area of the city to enjoy a short walk along the water then enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Angelo's before returning to the Hampton Inn for the night. The Riverwalk decorated for the Holidays Friday morning after breakfast at the hotel we departed for Erik's home in Thornton, CO by way of a circuitous route up through the Rocky Mountains. We drove past Colorado Springs and headed west to Woodland Park, CO just 7 miles from the Continental Divide at 8,481 feet of elevation. From there we headed up CO67 to a remote region near Deckers, an unincorporated community along the South Platte River in Douglas County, Colorado. We had to use 4-wheel drive to navigate the dirt road covered with ice up the 15% grade where we discovered the Sprucewood Inn along the way to Sedalia, CO for a quick lunch. This was a unique inn remotely located in the mountains above the Denver Metro area with some colorful characters who like the remoteness of the region away from the busy city life. The inn is frequented by bikers and fishermen alike. We finally arrived at the kids' place around 4:30 PM after inadvertently transiting through downtown Denver during rush hour on a Friday! Well, that was a mistake and definitely not a do-over. Finally arrived to see the grandkids next to their Christmas tree.

After three major RV trips including the ALCAN to Alaska we decided it was finally time to replace our trailer brakes. Since we purchased the rig in December 2021, we've driven 40,548 miles on the original brakes so we wouldn't just replace the brakes pads on all four wheels but the entire brake assembly as well as repack all the bearings. Getting our "ducks in a row" for the work. One of the four new brake assemblies all shiny and new! I researched on YouTube doing the work myself and quickly realized it was worth the money to pay some else to do the work. We hired My Mobile RV Tech, Donnie Klesel out of La Grange, Texas on a recommendation from folks in the Village to do the work. He arrived at our site in the Village on Wednesday, November 11 and had the work done in about three hours. When he removed the first brake drum assembly I got to see first hand the physical condition after 3 years on the road. We were definitely ready for new brakes. I was frankly expecting the wear to be much worse. The brake pads exhibited uneven wear depth with thinning on one end more than another. But all the pads still had some material left which I thought was amazing. The wheel bearings were last replaced and repacked about a year ago in South Carolina, so they needed to be redone. The old bearing grease looked dark but there was still plenty in the bearing/spindle assembly even after a year's travel and the ALCAN highway up and back. Before and After comparison. I'm convinced, after talking with Donnie, the brakes lasted this long because of our RAM 3500 diesel truck's exhaust braking feature. For those who are unfamiliar with what it does, here's a brief explanation: A Ram 3500 diesel exhaust brake works by electronically controlling the opening of the exhaust valves to restrict the flow of exhaust gases, creating backpressure that slows down the engine and thus the vehicle, essentially acting as a braking mechanism when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal; it's primarily used on downhill stretches to reduce strain on the regular brakes, especially when towing heavy loads. Is it good to keep your exhaust brake on? Running the exhaust brake all the time, except in very slick road conditions, is a very good idea and reduces wear on the service brakes. And, the mechanism that changes the turbo vane angles needs to be worked to keep any carbon buildup from accumulating and obstructing it. Yet another advantage of a diesel truck over the gasoline version for towing. With this RV maintenance job completed we are all ready for the road again come February 2025. Thank you Donnie for doing a great job and getting the work done so quickly!

Following our return from the Western Caribbean cruise we decided to spend an extra day in Houston with Bob and Gail Conrad before their departure on Tuesday, December 10 back to San Diego. We checked into the same Hilton Garden Inn and rested up for our tour of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) on Monday, December 9th. Being a "card carrying space nerd", I was looking forward to spending more time in another of my "happy places". Unlike the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, no rockets are launched from this NASA facility. JSC is where Mission Control is manned by space flight managers, technicians, and mission specialists. Here scientists provide support and monitor missions and the spacecrafts after they're launched. This is where the International Space Station (ISS) is monitored and managed from the ground and communication is ongoing with the ISS 24/7. The museum we visited is on the actual Johnson Space Center grounds and we got to include a visit to the Rocket Garden, home to one of the only three remaining Saturn V's, the actual Boeing 747 that transported all the Space Shuttles back to the Kennedy Space Center and numerous wonderful exhibits and displays. In addition we took two tours onto the JSC campus; one to the Mission Control Facility and the other to the Astronaut Training Facility. Most of the space shuttle landings were at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. A few weeks after the landing, this specially modified 747 would transport the shuttle, mounted piggy-back, and return it to the Kennedy Space Center for another future flight. NASA's Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center (MCC-H, initially called Integrated Mission Control Center, or IMCC), also known by its radio call sign, "Houston", is the facility at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, that manages flight control for the United States human space program, currently involving astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The center is in Building 30 at the Johnson Space Center and is named after Christopher C. Kraft Jr., a NASA engineer and manager who was instrumental in establishing the agency's Mission Control operation, and was the first Flight Director. We were allowed to visit the Mission Operations Control Room 2 (MOCR 2) that was used for all Gemini and Apollo (Saturn V) flights (except Gemini 3); it was located on the third floor. As the flight control room for Apollo 11, the first crewed Moon landing, MOCR 2 was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. It was last used in 1992 as the flight control room for STS-53 and was subsequently converted back almost entirely to its Apollo-era configuration and preserved for historical purposes. Together with several support wings, it is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the "Apollo Mission Control Center". In January 2018, the first set of consoles in MOCR 2 were removed and sent to the Kansas Cosmosphere for archival cleaning, refurbishment, and restoration to Apollo-era configuration, for eventual display back in the control room. On July 1, 2019, the newly restored Apollo-era Mission Control was reopened to the public after a two-year long effort to restore the room to its configuration as seen during the Apollo Moon landings. Period-appropriate accents were acquired, from cigarette packs and ashtrays to wallpaper and carpeting. The room is accessible via the tram tour at the nearby Space Center Houston visitors' center, but only from behind the glass in the restored Visitor's Gallery viewing room. As we sat in the visitor's viewing area, we relived the Apollo 11 descent of the LEM with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon's surface and landing on July 20, 1969. "Tranquility Base here...the Eagle has landed." Following our tour of MOCR 2 we visited the Astronaut Training Facility at NASA Johnson Space Center. The only way for the public to view this facility is through Space Center Houston’s Astronaut Training Facility NASA tram tour! Astronauts train within this full-size classroom in the heart of NASA Johnson Space Center. Since its inception in 1975, the Astronaut Training Facility has supported NASA’s missions. There have been several types of mockups within the facility and each served a different function for astronauts and engineers. Initially, the facility housed space shuttle training modules such as the full fuselage trainer and two crew compartment trainers. Although equipment in the building may change, the goal of this training facility has remained the same. It houses almost 200 training courses to help astronauts become familiar with the spacecraft, understand its various systems and prepare for emergencies that may occur during a mission. This facility houses a full-size and complete with all the modules International Space Station, a Boeing Starliner, Soyuz capsule, and NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis missions The Astronaut Training Facility has become the central hub for resolving issues during missions. If a problem were to occur aboard the ISS, JSC officials would come to the facility to work through the situation with engineers, then relay the step-by-step process to the astronauts in orbit. Space Center Houston offers this behind-the-scenes look at NASA Johnson Space Center on the NASA Tram Tour. As part of this tour, on a walkway positioned right above the training mockups, we observed the engineers, astronauts and equipment used for daily trainings. Karen really got into the spirit of the tour. Well, we all were "space nerds" for the day and celebrated our completion of the JSC mission with dinner at the Olive Garden restaurant before dropping Bob and Gail off at the hotel. We hugged and said our goodbyes with talk of a future cruise to be determined. We drove the two hours from Houston back to Smithville and got home about 10 PM. We left everything in the truck and cozied up in our own warm bed after a wonderful adventure of sightseeing and travel.

On Sunday, December 1 we drove to Galveston, Texas to board the Regal Princess with our good friends, Bob and Gail Conrad for a seven day cruise. The trip would include stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico plus Mahogany Bay, Roatan Island in Honduras. This was our first time cruising with Princess so there was a bit of a learning curve. We've cruised with Celebrity Cruise Ships in the past and we needed a few days to understand the different services and the layout of the ship as well as the on board App for the day's activities. We arrived around 10 AM at the cruise terminal long-term parking, parked the truck and took the parking shuttle directly to the port facilities. We dropped off our luggage and went through the check in process where we received a personalized medallion that would provide us access to our cabin and on-board purchases. After getting to our cabin, C606 on deck 10, we checked out the view from our balcony. Across the shipping channel from our berth was an amazing view! There, directly across from the Regal Princess was the USS Texas. USS Texas (BB-35) is a museum ship in Galveston and former United States Navy New York-class battleship. She was launched on 18 May 1912 and commissioned on 12 March 1914. Texas was the first U.S. battleship to become a permanent museum ship; she was turned over to the state of Texas on 21 April 1948 as a permanent museum in Houston. In 1976 she became the first battleship to be declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and is the only remaining World War I era dreadnought battleship. She is also one of the seven remaining ships and the only remaining capital ship to have served in both World Wars. USS Texas is owned by the people of Texas and is officially under the jurisdiction of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Everyday operations and maintenance of Texas have been handled by the non-profit organization 'Battleship Texas Foundation' since August 2020. At the end of August 2022 she was moved to a dry dock in Galveston, Texas, to undergo a $60 million repair project. On completion, her new permanent home will be Galveston. As of March 2024, the repair project is still underway, but she has moved out of dry dock. On the Regal Princess, this is the view from the Sky Deck looking aft over the Sun Deck as we departed Galveston at 3 pm. This is the view from the port side Sky Deck looking forward as we transit the shipping channel past commercial cargo ships at anchor on our way to the open sea. Our ship featured the inviting piazza-style grand atrium -- the stunning centerpiece of many of the ships in the Princess fleet. The majestic atrium spans several decks and features the International Café, Vines Bar, a spiral staircase and several glass-walled lifts that provide panoramic overviews of the ship. We really looked forward to a week of relaxation, good food and hanging out with old friends. Much to our surprise, we found out at the last minute that our friends, Paul and Rhonda Harlin, from the RVICS Village were on the same ship with us! So now our cruise included two other couples to share the on board party experience. We had a great time together playing cards, eating delicious food and enjoying shows on board! Sunrise at sea on Monday, December 2 from our cabin balcony heading south to Cozumel, Mexico.

We're settling into Smithville and life here in the village. Everything in town is a short bike ride away so we try and use that form of transportation for short errands as well as visits to the local donut shop, hardware store or Dairy Queen. The town is larger then we originally thought and there are many ways to navigate using the residential streets avoiding the rural highway that runs through the center of town. We are adjusting to the train noise. Union Pacific Railroad: Smithville, TX Depot is a transportation hub that serves as a vital link in the railway network, facilitating the movement of goods and materials across the region, therefore, we hear trains throughout the day and night. Every trip to and from the village requires traveling over the four tracks entering the depot and first it was difficult to get used to the trains horns in the distance. But now we are accustomed to them and amazed how we've come to appreciate the sound of an approaching train, reminiscent of a past era. Karen has found a chiropractor in Bastrop and will be using that office for adjustments while we are in the area. Bastrop has a huge HEB grocery store and a Walmart we'll use for our provisioning. When we were there shopping earlier in the week we stopped at the Tractor Supply, Dollartree and Harbor Freight. Bastrop has all the big box stores off the main highway. We checked out the town of La Grange later in the week. It is about the same distance as Bastrop but south of Smithville. It is less busy according to villagers and has the nearest VA Clinic if needed. The HEB store there is smaller but not as crowded; there's a RAM dealership as well. Karen also recently found us a local dentist in Smithville and we both had appointments. This completed our needed annual dental check ups and cleanings. This is yet another convenience in our new base of operation. Our plan for the next three months is to leave the rig here during our scheduled future travels in December and January. On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 28 we drove up to have the holiday dinner at the home of Frank and Nina Phelan, Karen's cousins who live in Cedar Park, Texas which is north of Austin. Cousin Cass and Auntie Ann were also part of the celebration. It was great to be together with Auntie Ann and the rest of her side of the family. After a wonderful meal and family fellowship we returned home with plenty of leftovers that we will finish before leaving again on December 1. From left to right: Frank, Nina, Cass, Auntie Ann, John and Karen. Thank you for inviting us to join y'all. The turkey, ham, and all the fixins' were awesome. Dessert included pumpkin and pecan pies. Smithville has a Christmas Festival and parade every holiday season. Throughout the town gingerbread panels decorate the streets and homes. The gingerbread man, later named “Smitty,” became a reality on Dec. 2, 2006, at the 16th annual Festival of Lights celebration in Smithville, Texas. He weighed 1,308 lbs, 8 oz and measured 20 feet from head-to-toe. He consisted of 750 lbs of flour, 49 gallons of molasses, and 72 dozen eggs (separated!). He was baked over a dump truck load of charcoal before being raised by crane to an angle of 65 degrees in order to qualify for the Guinness World Record.

Well it is official, we are " Village People "! We arrived on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at our new home site #24 in the RVICS Village (Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service) in Smithville, Texas. This is the final destination on our third RV adventure that started back on Friday, April 5 of this year. The journey started in Livingston, Texas and took 229 days as we traveled through fly-over country to Canada and eventually Alaska then back through the Pacific Northwest to California, Arizona, New Mexico to Texas. A total of 99 stops along the 14,128 miles of various highways and byways. Now Trinity has landed for the next three months for a well earned rest. She will get a much needed brake job and new wheel bearings while we are off the road. I'm hoping to have her detailed with a professional wash and wax spa treatment while we are here. I took the Thule box off the roof rack of the truck and it is stored in the 8x12 storage shed we have on our lot. Thursday, we drove into Bastrop, Texas for lunch with a bunch of RVICS Village People at a great barbeque place called Southern Market BBQ. After lunch we ran some errands and Karen had a first visit with a local chiropractor. Bastrop is about 25 minutes northwest of Smithville and has most of the big box stores we would need for weekly shopping. Every Thursday a group from the village goes to Bastrop for lunch, so we will probably use that as our main shopping day in the future. There are some things to get use to living here. We have some train noise living in the village; still getting used to it, especially at night. Other than the train noise it is very quiet here. There are 71 sites in the village and some residents have two sites in their name. We still getting to know our neighbors. All of the residents are either active project or retired RVICS members. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Our site faces to the east so we get the morning sun until about noon then the trees on the back of our lot filter the sun and provide some shade in the afternoon. So far the weather has been pleasant with a slight breeze and temperatures in the 70's. On Friday Karen did the laundry at our community center while I washed the trailer and truck. Later in the day we rode our bikes into Smithville to see the town up close after stopping at the Dairy Queen for lunch. Smithville is located in southeastern Bastrop County near the Colorado River, 12 miles southeast of Bastrop and 42 miles southeast of Austin. The population was just 3,922 at the 2020 census. Thomas Jefferson Gazley arrived in 1827 and set the pace of development for Smithville by building the first house and establishing the first store, which served incoming settlers. He later served in the Mexican government, helped write the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Constitution, and became a true Texas hero. William Smith's family arrived several years after Gazley. They also owned a store and were early influences on the area, including the naming of Smithville where about seventeen families lived on the south bank of the Colorado River. On December 2, 2006, at the city's 16th Annual Festival of Lights, Smithville broke the Guinness World Record for the world's largest gingerbread man . The record breaking "man" measured over 20 feet (6.1 m) long and weighed 1,308.5 lb (593.5 kilograms). Some of the ingredients used were 750 pounds of flour, 49 gallons of molasses and 72 dozen eggs. The pan used in the baking now stands as a monument at the James H. Long Railroad Park in Smithville. Friday evening we joined two other couples from the village for dinner at Pockets Restaurant. We've only been in the village three days now, but it is beginning to feel like home. The villagers are so welcoming and we both are enjoying the new connections we are making with our brothers and sisters here. We thank God for this opportunity to be part of the RVICS community!

Today is the day! The sixth test flight is scheduled for 4 PM this afternoon and we will have great seats for the launch. Yesterday we drove out to Boca Chica Boulevard (Hwy 4) all the way to the state beach next to the launch tower with the complete stacked rocket literally a football field's distance from where we stood. The road to the Star Base comes from the Port of Brownsville and eventually passes the Mega Bay and High Bay of the factory and assembly facilities of Space X. We drove to the launch tower facilities and parked the truck on the north side of the highway opposite the fuel tank farm. This is a county road and is only closed from 8 AM to 10 PM on the launch day. From there we walked to the beach to get even closer to the launch towers. We couldn't believe how many people were out there. The road ends at the beach where some folks with four-wheel drive drove right on to the sand, parked and set up camping equipment. Many of the people are serious rocket geeks like me but we met people from all over the world who were just curious. While we were out at the launch tower site we could see SpaceX workers up on the orbital launch mount (OLM) where the booster sits continuing the last minute preparations for this flight. It truly gave me a scale of the massive size of the space vehicle. Trust me when I say it is bigger than the Saturn V we saw at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The vibe here is surprisingly layed back. Nothing like the uptight government security at a NASA venue. It's more like a big block party with people hanging out around this giant rocket. They do have security around but they're very low key. There were some creative vendors selling water and snacks but no big concessions. It was a very family friendly environment with kids running around the surrounding sand dunes and playing in the ocean. This is a bit unexpected for this massive engineering facility and the seriousness of the project. I wonder how long they will continue to allow this community access to continue? While we were near the SpaceX Star Base we drove through the living quarters area which is the only area open to the public. There are some permanent homes, both new and old, but many of the living quarters are manufactured homes or Airstream trailers. They all had Starlink antennas, of course! This was an amazing opportunity to see this incredible venue up close and personal. I'm glad we took the effort to drive the hour from South Padre Island (SPI) to see this place in person. After our visit we drove back to SPI but first had to stop at the Hopper Haus in Port Isabel, a space geek watering hole, for a couple of micro brews and an appetizer. We met even more rocket geeks there of course. Karen was so supportive and even admitted to having a new appreciation of this subject. Tuesday, November 19 is Starship Flight 6 launch day. This morning the weather has improved. There were partly cloudy skies, with the winds lighter and out of the NNE at 10 to 15 MPH. The temperature is 85º F with humidity dropping down to 41% by launch time. At 10 AM Karen and I walked down to the viewing area and were surprised at the number of people already there. Most of these folks are probably here in Isla Blanca Park for the day use only and didn't want to miss out on getting in. The park has limited day use parking and I'm sure if you wait too close to the launch time you wouldn't get in. We got in a mile walk and dropped off the RV trash before heading back to the air conditioning in Trinity. I took the time to wash the RV and truck. The last time I washed the rig was in September while we were in Washington, so it needed a quick spray down with water to get off some of the dust. At 2 PM we rode our E-bikes to our selected spot and waited for 4 PM and the "Big Event". WE WERE READY TO RUMBLE!!! Literally!

We arrived at our southern most destination in Texas to view the launch of SpaceX Starship 31 and Booster 13 at the Boca Chica flight facilities. Our home for the next three days is Isla Blanca Park located at 33174 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island, TX. If you ever want to see a live Starship launch this is the place to do it. We are only 5 miles north of the launch pad across the Port of Brownville's main shipping channel. From the shipping channel we have an unobstructed view of the massive rocket that is stacked on the launchpad and scheduled to liftoff at around 4 PM on Tuesday afternoon, November 19. The park is managed by Cameron County and is very well maintained; all the services work well, the landscaping is kept up; there are a wide verity of sites - full pads to all grass sites; direct beach access; and security is very present. Our site was booked online before we arrived for the first time, so we didn't have the advantage of knowing what sites to request. We're on a large concrete pad (parking lot style) for the next three days. When we arrived on Sunday afternoon around 2 PM the wind was blowing in the neighborhood of 20-25 mph. We set up and walked around the 600+ site park. This place is huge and a definite do over. Next time we come here we'll get one of the larger grass site closer to the water by the shipping channel. There are several good places recommended to get fresh seafood. Some less formal than full service restaurants which are overpriced. We selected Los Tortugos in Port Isabel just over the bridge for dinner on Sunday night and weren't disappointed. It was an amazing meal that included a Ceviche appetizer. Ceviche is generally made from raw fresh fish or shrimp, that’s marinated in lemon and/or lime citrus juices. The acidity in the citrus cures the fish causing it to denature the proteins and become firm and opaque while absorbing flavor. We ordered two Sangria drinks and began our culinary experience. We shared an entree that included a small serving of fish broth. The main course was five jumbo shrimp cooked in butter with garlic, onions and green peppers along with fresh caught fried Gulf Calamari hoods! We had two sides of house salad and coleslaw and finished with an enormous slice of flan chocolate cake. The bill came to $45 for everything...amazing food and service at a incredible price. The wind blew all night long but the air conditioners created white noise to help us sleep. Some wind gusts actually woke us up when the RV rocked sideways. Monday's winds are predicted to calm down by the later afternoon and, Tuesday, launch day should be even better. This "steely eyed missle man" is getting excited for Tuesday afternoon and I can't wait to see the "largest ever" rocket take off in about 26 hours from now!

We departed from Balmorhea State Park at 9:15 AM on Friday, November 15 heading east on Interstate 10 towards Fort Stockton,Texas for fuel, From Fort Stockton we traveled south and east on US 285 and US 90 to Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. This part of the journey follows the Rio Grand River southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. There isn't much along the route except desert scenery and the occasional US Border Patrol vehicle. We passed through the small, unincorporated town of Sanderson stopping only for lunch along the way. Before arriving at the park we crossed the Pecos River that flows into the Rio Grande. Anyone driving Highway 90 between Del Rio and Langtry will find it necessary to cross the significant canyon gorge carved by the Pecos River. Before the mid-20th century, travelers were required to negotiate a two-lane switchback to descend the canyon walls before reaching the first highway bridge across the river, built in 1923 and destroyed by flood waters in 1954. Two temporary low water bridges were also washed away over the course of the following year. The current Pecos River Bridge is the highest highway bridge in Texas, at 1,310 feet long and originally 273 feet above the water (a measurement that now fluctuates with the rise and fall of Lake Amistad water levels). An overlook alongside a pullout on the northeast end of the bridge affords excellent views of the Pecos River canyon. Upstream just a few miles, out of sight around a river bend, is the second iteration of perhaps the most famous bridge in Texas – the Pecos High Bridge, also known to railway enthusiasts as the Pecos Viaduct. Completed in 1892 to accommodate the southern transcontinental railroad, it was at the time the third-highest bridge in the world. The cantilevered bridge, composed of an iron and steel latticework suspended across the canyon, contained over 1,820 tons of metal. Reinforced in the 1920s, the bridge remained in service until a replacement was constructed during World War ll, another engineering marvel still in use today. Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site has 46 campsites. These range from primitive drive-up sites to sites with water and electricity, all with restrooms and showers nearby. One can hike and bike to the Rio Grande or along the Seminole Canyon rim. The park has almost 10 miles of trails. Saturday morning we scheduled to take the Fate Bell Shelter Tour: a fairly rugged hike to the Fate Bell Shelter. Protected by a huge cliff overhang, the shelter holds some of Texas’ most spectacular rock art. Early canyon dwellers left clues to their lives on the stone walls of Seminole Canyon. Their pictographs tell stories that we try to understand today. So we come to see this special place for ourselves along the Rio Grande near Del Rio. Almost 4,000 years ago, in southwest Texas (USA) and Coahuila (Mexico), hunter-gatherer artists painted some of the most complex murals in the world. They wove together layers of black, red, yellow, and white paint to create visual narratives. In Indigenous realities, images such as these are not passive decorations. They are reservoirs of power actively engaged in creation-past, present, and future. This exhibit explores how form, color, materiality of the paint, and the image-making process infused the murals with meaning and activated the characters in the stories they relate. Archaeologists have reported more than 300 prehistoric murals in this region. New rock art sites are discovered every year. The murals range considerably in size and complexity. Some are small, less than a meter in length and height, and have only a few figures. Others hold thousands of figures and are as much as 150 meters long and 15 meters high. While some may see these as a random collection of images painted over long periods of time, trained artists have shown that many of the murals are planned compositions. Fate Bell Annex, Fate Bell Shelter and Running Horse Shelter are all situated in Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. Seminole Canyon is a major tributary of the Rio Grande River. Fate Bell is one of the most famous and largest Pecos River Style rock art sites in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands Archeological District — A National Historic Landmark. Not only is the rock art breath-taking but the archaeological deposits within the shelter are also extremely well-preserved. Before we took the walking tour, we visited the museum at the park ranger headquarters. There were multiple exhibits about the life of the canyon dwellers including how they hunted bison, gathered plants to eat and prepared their food. This was a fascinating experience 'off the beaten path' as we journey through this region of Texas.

We departed Green Valley, Arizona on November 12 with the original destination of Deming, New Mexico as our next stop back to Texas. We got on the road by 9:15 AM so there was a good chance we could travel some serious miles. Our original destination was the Dream Catcher Escapees RV Park for one night but we were making good time so our plan changed to driving through New Mexico and getting to El Paso, TX for the night. We found a new Cracker Barrel on the east side of the city early enough to park in their huge parking area behind the restaurant. This restaurant was located in a new shopping area with a lot of new facilities, traffic and unfortunately noise. Sleeping that night required ear plugs. The next morning Karen stayed in the trailer to enjoy her "quiet time" while I headed to breakfast for eggs, bacon, hash brown casserole, biscuits and gravy at the Cracker Barrel. Yummy! Before departing we took a walk to burn off some of that big breakfast before hitting the road again. The destination for Wednesday was Balmorhea State Park, a 46-acre state park located on the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County, Texas, opened in 1968. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages the park. The park is open year-round, and visitation is capped at 900 people per day. San Solomon Springs is a collection of artesian springs located near the small towns of Toyahvale and Balmorhea in Reeves County, Texas. Between 20 million and 28 million US gallons of water a day flow from the springs, so no chlorination is required for the 1.75 acre swimming hole before flowing through a reconstructed marsh, all located within Balmorhea State Park. The springs line the sandy bottom of the central portion of the swimming hole, about 25 ft beneath the water's surface. The pool is home to several species of fish and turtles, including the Texas spiny softshell turtle. The main feature of the park is the 3.5-million-US-gallon freshwater pool built around the springs. It is the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. The spring's constant flows 22 to 28 million US gallons or about 300,000 bath tubs worth a day. The water temperature ranges from 72 to 76 °F (22 to 24 °C) and up to 30 feet deep. The pool bottom is flat in the more shallow areas and has a more natural rock bottom in the deeper areas. The pool is used for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Texas State Parks Board bought San Solomon Springs and the surrounding land in 1934. Company 1856 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the pool between 1934 and 1941 as part of the New Deal during the Great Depression as a way to open up jobs for people needing work. The CCC also built San Solomon Springs Courts, which rents rooms available for overnight stays. Camping and recreational vehicle sites are also available. A private concessionaire operated the facility until 1968 when the Parks and Wildlife Department took over management and it became part of the state parks system. The Balmorhea State Park Cienega Project, started in 1995, recreats a desert wetland in the park. The original cienega was lost when the CCC channeled water from the springs into the pool. The cienega now serves as a habitat for endangered fish such as the Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia as well as other aquatic life, birds and other animals. We arrived at the park and set up the rig then walked over to check out the spring. The water was a bit cool and there was some wind, so we decided to wait for tomorrow to get into the water with our snorkeling gear. This will be a great location to test out my new underwater housing for my iPhone before our Princess cruise and trip to Indonesia. We walked around the entire pool at the spring and as you can see there was no one there. The water is near crystal-clear and I spotted fish and turtles swimming in this massive body of fresh water in west Texas. On Thursday, November 14 we enjoyed a light breakfast of coffee and avocado toasted bagels before heading to the spring with our snorkeling gear. We had the whole spring to ourselves to explore. I wore my 3 mm wetsuit to help me keep warm while trying out the new underwater housing for the first time. I had a problem with my "cheater lens" in my mask so I couldn't really see how sharp the images and video appeared in the water. All in all, I am pleased with this first test of the new underwater housing. But I definitely need to deal with the mask issue before we leave for Indonesia.

I've never been exposed to the American Legion before our visit to Arizona. Our good friend Mary Johnson is an active Auxiliary member and leader of American Legion Post 66 in Green Valley, Arizona. We had the opportunity to meet some of her friends in Post 66 and attend the Veterans Day ceremonies on Monday, November 11, 2024. American Legion Post 66, Green Valley, AZ was chartered in 1966 has been welcoming veterans from all branches of our armed forces who qualify for membership based on the rules established by Congress. Today, they continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining their Post enables individuals to continue serving God, country, and community. Together, members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, The Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion Riders make up what is known as The Legion Family. All four organizations place high importance on preserving our American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship. Veteran's Day is a big deal to the American Legion Post 66. They had a wonderful celebration of all veterans on the morning of Veteran's Day which included presentation of the colors, some inspirational speeches, musical numbers by the local high school band, a US flag folding demostration by the Boy Scouts and a fly over by four US Air Force F-35 Lighting II jets in formation. Probably the most memorable event was the meaning of the flag folding. While I was in the Navy I was a member of a honor guard unit at military furnerals. I was a Boy Scout as a youth and a adult leader in the scouting program when my boys were involved. I've always been a stickler for flag prodocol when our club scouts and later boy scout units handled or displayed the "Colors". However, I never was made aware of the tradition and reason the U.S. flag is folded in the triangle for storage. This was the most meanful part of the ceremony for me. If you’ve ever attended a military funeral, perhaps you noticed that the honor guards pay meticulous attention to folding the U.S. flag that once draped the casket. Guards make crisp, precise folds a total of 13 times to complete the ceremony. Much like every other aspect of our nation’s greatest symbol, each of the 13 folds holds a special significance. Flag etiquette dictates that every time an American flag is to be stored or presented during a ceremony, its handlers should fold it in half twice lengthwise; then starting with the end opposite the blue field, make a taut triangular fold. Handlers continue to fold the flag in triangles until the flag has formed a triangular “pillow” with the blue field showing on the outside. It’s a dignified way to treat the flag, and gives a powerful touch to patriotic ceremonies. What Happens After the Flag Folding Ceremony? The source and the date of origin of this Flag Folding Procedure is unknown. However, some sources attribute it to the Gold Star Mothers of America while others to an Air Force chaplain stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. Some sources also indicate that the 13 folds are a nod to the original first 13 colonies. The flag folding ceremony is provided as a patriotic service. This is what the 13 folds mean: The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The second fold signifies our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor and tribute of the veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace. The fourth fold exemplifies our weaker nature as citizens trusting in God; it is to Him we turn for His divine guidance. The fifth fold is an acknowledgement to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.” The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day. The ninth fold is an honor to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the character of men and women who have made this country great have been molded. The 10th fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first-born. The 11th fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The 12th fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. The last fold, when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.” After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it has the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones and were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the U.S. Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

We arrived at the Green Valley RV Resort (GVRV Resort) a day earlier than expected. We had expected to stop in Yuma, Arizona after crossing the state line and stay at the local Escapees park, but the wind was horrendous so we only stopped for diesel fuel. From Yuma we traveled to Dateland for a brief stop for a propane refill and an obigatory date shake. This really put us close enough to complete our day of travel in Green Valley, which is south of Tucson. We pressed on and arrived around 3PM after leaving California early in the morning. We did lose an hour because Arizona is in Mountain time so we had to spring forward when we crossed the border. GVRV Resort is a 55+ gated community with 304 total spaces, each approximately 35 feet wide and 50 feet long. 144 of those lots are permanent park-model homes, another 104 are annual RV’ers, and the remaining 56 spaces are for seasonal / short / mid-term campers. We had made arrangements with our good friend Mary Johnson, who works in the RV park, to stay there to visit her and many of our friends in the greater Tuscon area. Each lot consists of a gravel area for your rig, a concrete slab next to that for landing your stairs, then an asphalt pad next to that for your vehicle. The clubhouse is central to the resort and contains their offices, laundry, commercial kitchen, a large banquet and entertainment hall, a library, professional billiards room, and several craft rooms. And just outside the clubhouse proper you'll find professional-grade shuffleboard courts, a salt-water swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit, and a comfortable outdoor seating area with a gas grill. A full men’s and women’s shower area and restroom is in the pool area. Mary arranged for a corner site with plenty of room for our rig that faces predominantly north near the club house and pool area. Karen is in her happy place having daily access to the pool every morning so she can swim. We spent five weeks in the Tuscon area a couple of years ago dealing with some needed RV repairs to our fresh water tank, so we had plenty of time to take in many of the tourist sights back then. This time around we are enjoying a more relaxing pace and are looking forward to seeing our new and old friends in the area. The last two mornings so far have been slow and lazy. I'm getting out to walk and swim, watching YouTube segments on TV and napping in the afternoons. No real projects need to be addressed in the time we are here so I'm truly "chilling out". The weather is mild this time of year, in the 70's during the day and down to the low 50's at night We will be here for the Veteran's Day festivities on November 11 and plan on returning to the road the next day headed for Dream Catcher RV Park, an Escapees Rainbow Park in Deming, New Mexico for a two day stay.