2/28-3/3/19 – DESTIN/FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA. No RV sites available in Destin, so we stayed @ the Elks Lodge in Fort Walton Beach (water/electric) – toured Destin Beach area (white sand beach)  Golfed  @ Kelly Plantation in Destin, played the front 9 w/ Alex and his boys Kale (7) & Booker (5).  Fun boat ride w/Alex & his family on the Gulf of Mexico, stopped off for drinks & dinner.

2/27-2/28/19 – TIMBER CREEK GOLF – Another Harvest Host spot.  We parked Tiffi P in their giant parking lot in a beautiful development & played golf on our way to Destin, Florida.  Had a hearty breakfast & played their Magnolia course (9 holes) twice because they had a tournament going on.  We met the owners – loads of hospitality!

2/27/19  GULF COAST GATOR RANCH – Airboat Tour.  Another Harvest Host spot.  We stopped here with the intention of spending the night in our coach.  Instead, we finished the tour and moved on down the road…

2/25-2/27/19. BILOXI, MISSIPPI.  We stayed in the Biloxi Elks Lodge & had the parking (water/electric hookups) all to ourselves.  Very friendly bar & local Elk’s members filled us in on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and gave us great restaurant recommendations! Enjoyed a round Great Southern Golf Club too!

2/18-2/25/19  NEW ORLEAN, LOUISIANA – “NOLA”

Mardi Gras – Parade for Doggies! Krew de Bukus.

Coming soon – New Orleans, Biloxi, Destin!

2/17-2/18 Arrived at a  Harvest Host’s (Harvest Host’s is a unique RV camping experience at over 700 wineries, breweries, golf courses, farms & museums across the USA)  in Arnaudville, Louisiana.  Bayou Teche brewery is where we “boondocked” with Tiffy P on their property while enjoying great beer, entertainment & southern hospitality!

2/17  Bye-Bye Ya’ll.  We Departed Katy, Texas and had a surprise stop at Buc-ee’s!

Buck-ee’s is a Southern Icon!

Tiffy P parked @ Buc-ee’s

Amazing Pecans!

Jim is loadin up on the Best jerky & pecans!

Check out this sign!

Vicky loves anything Ya’ll!

 2/8-2/16 – Annual Golf trip to Guadalaraja – We had great flights out of Houston!

2/3-2/7  LAKEVIEW RV RESORT-HOUSTON, TEXAS

SUNDAY SUPER BOWL!  Our friends, Brad & Sue Marnitz (Truckee neighbors who live in Houston) invited us to their friends/neighborhood Super Bowl party.  We are really enjoying the southern hospitality!

MONDAY – Elise & Sue took me shopping @ the famous Houston Galleria – Wowsie!  Ya’ll need a week to shop at the Galleria!

Vicky- Elise – Sue at Galleria-Houston

Sue, Vicky & Elise. A dress for Nick & Emma’s wedding!

TUESDAY – Jim golfed w/John Oren, Brad & Steve @ a “Men Only” club – LOCHINVAR GOLF CLUB: http://www.lochinvargolf.com

Golf – Steve, Brad, John & Jim

Lochnivar Golf Country Club

Vicky & Shelby found a wonderful park to play in.

Our Houston Friends!

Brad & Sue Marnitz

Elise Oren

Oren’s Doggies, Mitch & Oliver

Dinner Tuesday night @ Perrys Steakhouse with the Marnitz’ and Oren’s.

WEDNESDAY – Day trip to Galveston with Brad & Sue. Galveston is an island city on the Gulf Coast of Texas. It’s known for Moody Gardens, with giant glass pyramids house sharks, monkeys and other animals. Amusement rides and restaurants line this beachy Galveston Island.  The snowbirds call themselves “Winter Texans”!  Lovely old beach town with lots of history!  I can hear Glen Campbell singin’….. Galveston, oh, Galveston,
I still hear your seawinds blowing…

Zumba @ Sue’s fitness club!

1/27 – 2/3  AUSTIN, TEXAS – LA HACIENDA RV RESORT

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN * STEINER RANCH * LAKEWAY * LAKE AUSTIN * GOLF * PICKLEBALL * MOTHER OF THE GROOM SHOPPING * HIKING * MOUNTAIN BIKING *RV RESORT HAPPY HOUR   RESTAURANTS: Eberly, Torchy’s Tacos, Taco Deli, Sienna Restornte Toscano, Country Line BBQ Lake Austin.  Special note:  “Keep Austin Weird” is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas.

Great visit with good ole friends, The Heidgers & The Orens!  They have awesome Texas Hospitality!  Thank YOU!  Upon arrival @ our resort, we were greeted by nice folks Gary & Lynn (from Upstate NY who winter in Austin every year) – they invited us to a 430pm Happy Hour in the park – Definitely, the friendliest RV park so far! At Happy Hour, they invited us to join them for golf, pickleball, Super Bowl party & LRC game party!

MONDAY,  we had Great walk around “Town Lake” in downtown Austin on a 70 degree sunny day! Met Ben for lunch @ Torchy Tacos, then back to resort for LRC (left,right,center) game party.

TUESDAY, we met the Oren’s @ their home on Lake Austin which is absolutely beautiful!  John & Jim golfed Austin CC while Elise & Vicky went dress shopping for Vicky’s “mother of the groom” dress.  We enjoyed @ fab dinner @ Eberlys in downtown Austin.  Their lake house is conveniently located only 15 minutes to downtown!

WEDNESDAY, we hiked Steiner Ranch trail (located in the Heidger’s development) Weather turned cold, so we bundled up in beanies & gloves!  After hike, back to the Oren’s lake house – Shelby loved playing with their 2 labs Oliver & Mitch on the large grass area overlooking the lake!  After lunch @ County Line BBQ,  John took Jim to Bob’s house for a look @ John’s corvette conversion.  Elise & Vicky went to the Garden Room in search of the “MOTG” dress… Finished up a great day w/ dinner @ an amazing Italian restaurant (which we highly recommend!) – Siena Restorante Toscano

THURSDAY, we played pickleball @ Hill Country Indoor – what an amazing 85,000 sq.ft. sports-plex! Everything really is bigger in Texas!  Went to Heidger’s home in Steiner Ranch – great to see their kiddos: Bowan, Mazie & Sadie.  Max is off to college @ ASU.  Then off to dinner w/Ben & Heidi & back to their Golf Country Club where University of Texas plays golf for a “final-final”. Continue reading “January Adventures” →

Thanks for joining us!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Go Rving It’s a great way to see our beautiful country in the comfort of your home away from home!

12/28-1/1/19

Jim took coach to Oceano Elks Lodge (Robert followed in is truck)  Not full hook ups!  Water/Electric.  4 of us living in the coach for  4 days made the holding tank situation sticky….  Short showers and we dumped the sink water into back shrub area.  By 1/1/2019 our toilet was so full that we couldn’t flush, so Robert and Vicky went to McDonalds in Grover beach to use the am restroom.  Garet, Aubrey, Chad/Crissy joined us for the Elks Lodge New Years Eve party.  Surf & Turf dinner and drinks were 3.00. We danced the night away & even made it to midnight!!!  On 1/1 we departed around noon so that we could make it to Big Bear for Rob’s birthday on Jan 2

Oceano Sunset

Garet & Jim

Robert & Chad

Aubrey & Crissy

Game on!

Games in the RV Park

Aubrey & Karen

Chad & Crissy Elk’s style

Chad & Garet

Robert, Jim, Chad & Garet

THURSDAY 12/27: Garet & Aubrey treated us to an outing of disc golf and wine tasting @ Castero Cellars.  The 18 hole disc golf course is set amongst the vineyards.  Put this place on your “bucket list”!

Jim, Garet, Vicky, Aubrey

18 Holes in the Castero Vineyards

This place should be on everyone’s bucket list!

Wednesday (day after Christmas), we treated ourselves to breakfast @ Louisa’s Place in downtown San Louis Obispo.  Aubrey works at this famous restaurant!  It opened in 1958 & Jim has fond memories of breakfasts here during his college days at Cal Poly, SLO.  Vicky’s Mom, Eva, & grandkids, Maddox & Jameson enjoyed a hearty breakfast

Eva, Vicky, Jameson, Maddox & Jim (taking the picture) enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Aubrey is the best waitress-ever!!!!

Let the magic of Christmas begin with cookie decorating!

We had so much fun decorating gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve!

Melt in your mouth – Prime Rib!

YaYa & G-G in their Holiday Spirit on Christmas Morning!

Christmas morning traditions with Aubrey, Garet, Maddox & Jameson

Jameson, Pops & YaYa “Stylin”

YaYa & Maddox feeling the joy of Christmas morning!

Jamo made a plate for Santa & his reindeer. It says “Santa Stop”

Surprises for YaYa & Jameson! Jamo got an iPad!

Garet & Aubrey’s Christmas morning tradition of Eggs Benedict!

5 mile hike with View of Atascadero!

Hiked off some of all the Holiday yummies!

2nd STOP WALNUT CREEK/ORINDA  Walnut Creek Elks Lodge (https://www.elks.org/lodges/lodgefacilities.cfm?LodgeNumber=1811 RV sites were full, so we “dry” camped in their giant parking lot.  Tiffy is so good being self sufficient!

Hook up sites were full, so we “dry camped” – Tiffy style!

 Blake, Dom & Mila popped in for a little Christmas cheer & gift exchange prior to heading over to Dom’s Dad, Robert & Carla’s house (Orinda) for their annual Ravioli making party.  So fun – Pictures are worth 1000 words!

Dadio Chefs!

Raviolo Bergese

Raviolo Bergese

Corndog Ravioli!

Dominique, Blake, Vicky, Mila

1ST STOP- SACRAMENTO, CA  Well, we didn’t get very far from Truckee… Ian & Sara invited us over to see their new home in Sacramento, and in true Stephenson style, they threw a full blown out party inviting family & friends to kick off the Christmas Holiday spirit!  Thanks Ian & Sara for adding us to your “party plans”!

Ian & Sara’s new home sweet home!

We officially “hit the road” on our winter adventure on Friday 12/21/18.  Our Truckee home is in the hands of our ski lease tenants for the next 4 months…. Skislope did not have Christmas decorations – just call us “Christmas with the Kranks” – skipping Christmas and winter in Truckee!  Looking forward to explorations from the road in our Tiffin Pheaton Motor coach.