May 29, 2015, Friday, San Antonio, TX
Day 29

Visited the Spanish Governors Palace which was neither a palace nor a governor’s house.  Built in 1749, it housed the Captain of the Presidio.  The Spanish built presidios to guard against further advancing by the French and to protect the Missions.  The building was reconstructed and rooms added in 1930.  That’s conservation in 1930, preserving the past by modifying it.  Lunch at Commonwealth Café & Bakery for a light bite and delicious croissants.  Not too far away was the North Star Mall which Rosemary wanted to go to get more tea filters at Teavana.  I did not object since that gave me a chance to see the largest pair of boots in the world which are at the mall.

May 28, 2015, Thursday, San Antonio, TX
Day 28

Today we were on a mission.  Four missions to be exact.  We visited each of the Missions of San Antonio.  The four and the Alamo comprise a National Historical Park.  The four are Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and Espada.  Espada is the oldest established in 1690.  The Missions were complete villages that the Spanish set up to solidify its claim to the new world and to convert the natives to Catholicism. Each, except the Alamo, still contain an active church.  Then Dinner at Rosario’s, a delicious TexMex place in Southtown.  Tres Gorditas appetizer was a good start followed by chicken with a great mole sauce and an even better second sauce of cilantro, pumpkin seed and cheese, a dish of lengua (beef tongue) with a tomato type sauce similar to a ropa vieja and lastly, cheese enchiladas with charro beans. After supper we visit the McNay Art Museum which is open until 9 pm on Thursdays and which unexpectedly was free the day we went.  The museum is housed in the former residence of the McNays.  The house is a piece or art by itself.  Concluded a full day with a trip to Mi Tierra Panaderia (bakery) for a mango empanada and Calabaza (a candied pumpkin slice).  No wonder my “baby bump” seems to be getting bigger!

May 27, 2015, Wednesday, San Antonio, TX
Day 27

Depart Austin in the rain which puts a damper (literally) on dumping and unhooking the utilities while hooking up the car.  Two hour drive to the Travelers World Carefree RV Resort in San Antonio.  After lunch we visit the Mission San Antonio de Valero now known as the Alamo.  The visit included a lecture on the history of the Mission which refreshed our memories that the battle fought in 1836 at the Alamo was a battle of the Mexican state of Texas seeking independence from Mexico.  It is not U.S. history.  Independence was won about 6 weeks after the Alamo slaughter when General Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna.  Texas did not become a U.S. state until 1846.  Next was a trip up the Tower of Americas, an observation deck 750 feet high built for the 1968 World’s Fair.  A great view provided a good orientation of the city.  A walk along the Riverwalk was pretty neat as the Riverwalk is about 20 feet below street level.  People and restaurants everywhere but none fitting Aaron’s criteria.  After walking all day, we walked another mile to Southtown (of course the opposite direction of where we parked the car) and finally arrive at the Hot Joy restaurant (Asian fusion).  Supper was fantastic, brussel sprouts with sweet chili sauce, tater tot chaat with paneer and a tamarind sauce, lamb dan dan noodles with cotija cheese and szechuan sauce, and Cheese Ramen with chicken, guajillo miso, dollop of sour cream and tonkatsu broth and served with tortillas and lime.  Tempted to go there again but many other places to try.  30 minute walk back to the car meant no trouble falling asleep that night.

May 26, 2015, Tuesday, Austin, TX
Day 26

No rain today made for a pleasant visit to the Zilker Botanical Gardens.  However, the gardens definitely showed some scars from yesterday’s storm. Lunchtime is a trip to the original Whole Foods in downtown.  An incredible store which may be larger than any Super Walmart.  In addition to groceries with many free samples, many food stations to eat at including Asian, Mexican, Italian, BBQ, Vegetarian, etc.  Aaron and I split a bison taco and a goat cheese, pesto and sun dried tomato calzone.  Rosemary had Asian, what a surprise. Afternoon was spent at the Blanton Museum of Art on the UT campus. Supper was spent with Joanne at the Iron Cactus which included a Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout by the Independence Brewery Company of Austin, a perfect accompaniment to our TexMex supper.

May 25, 2015, Monday, Austin, TX
Day 25

A wet soggy day limits our planned outings.  We visit the State Capitol for a tour and observe both the Senate and House in action as the session runs until June 1 and then not again for 2 years.  I wish the Florida Legislature would meet only every 2 years, or better yet less frequently.  We get stuck at the Capitol while waiting out another monsoon and get a good laugh at the people who leave thinking their umbrellas will be of any use.  Several return to the Capitol when they realize their mistake and are soaked.  When it lets up a little, we drive around downtown and end up turning around a couple times when streets are under several feet of water.  Yes, the flash flood warnings ring our cell phones all day.  Supper at Ramen Tatsu-ya was Aaron’s choice and a very good one.  My first experience at a ramen restaurant and hopefully not the last. Not at all like ramen in a microwave cup familiar to all college kids.  Dessert in the coach is mamey ice cream pops from Hendersonville, NC.  Due to my incredible restraint, they make it to Aaron’s visit which was the plan. Rosemary had her frozen coconut yogurt.  Hoping for better weather tomorrow.

May 24, 2015, Sunday, Austin, TX
Day 24

A visit with Joanne to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for a very pleasant half day.  Checked into the Austin Lone Star Carefree RV Resort.  For supper, we head to the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, TX, about 30 minutes away.  I have been looking forward to Salt Lick for years since my old friend Hank (who had family in Austin) and I used to talk about it.  I also saw it featured on one of the BBQ shows on TV.  We arrive at 5 pm and are overwhelmed by the crowd.  Checked in and told a wait of about 2 hours.  Fortunately, Salt Lick Cellars is on the premises and we partake in a sampling of Texas wines.  Surprisingly good wines and we buy a bottle of Salt Lick BBQ Red.  A Sangiovese and Dolcetto blend, no bbq sauce.  We meet up with Joanne, Judi and gang and have a beer, byob.  Luckily, the beeper goes off at 6:05.  Bench style seating and family style meal with ribs, brisket, sausage, coleslaw, beans, potato salad, pickles, onions, jalapenos, bread and our beer.  All you can eat and I ate all I could shove down.  The ribs were definitely the best I have ever had and the burnt ends of the brisket were also outstanding.  And they kept bringing more every time we asked.  At the end, still plenty of food on the table and take home boxes filled enough for us and for Judi’s family to take. Salt Lick lived up to my expectations.  A evening walk around downtown and a stop at the bridge to watch thousands of bats fly out to feed at dusk.  A heavenly day.

May 23, 2015, Saturday, Austin, TX
Day 23

Easy 250 mile drive to Austin.  Visit Joanne who cooked us supper, pick up Dr. Aaron at airport and drive back to the coach in a monsoon, cell phones-a-beeping with tornado warnings and flash flood warnings. Fortunately, no damage to the coach.  With holiday weekend and UT graduation, we could not get into campground until tomorrow.  So with permission, we spend the night at the Austin Ridge Bible Church who has a very large parking lot.   Very quiet but downside is we have to be out by 8:30 am before the flock arrives.

May 22, 2015, Friday, Greenville, TX
Day 22

Realizing the stop bolt on the driver side slide was “repaired” while in Red Bay I measure the fixed bolt with the other stop bolt and discover the fixed blot is out about 1/4 inch more than the other. I call Tiffin and am told the bolts are adjustable.  So I get the tools out and crawl under the slide and do the repair correctly this time.  Problem solved.  We head to our first National Park this trip, Hot Springs Nat. Park.  The area is covered with naturally hot springs, 143 degrees. The park surrounds the city of Hot Springs and the area is loaded with fountains each with the hot water pouring out of them.  Like little kids, we have to stick our hands in every fountain.  The park includes bath house row which dates from the 1830's.  The current structures date from about 1910-1920.  Hot Springs was a destination for the wealthy and not so wealthy as most folks did not have hot water back then.  Each bath house tried to be more elaborate than the next one. The Fordyce Bath house is the park centerpiece and included a tour conducted by park ranger, Toni McDowell, whose great aunt was a bath attendant at Fordyce.  This was Toni’s (and the park service’s) entrance into tracking down and interviewing 34 former employees of the bathhouse together with their stories including tales of Al Capone and his annual visit.  His “musical instrument” case remained at his side during visits as well as 2 bodyguards. One of the bath houses now contains the Bath House on Tap, a microbrewery.  A perfect place for lunch washed down with a Foul Play Stout. A visit to the park’s observation tower of 210 feet offered a great view of the area and the Ouachita Mountains. Back to the coach about 3:30 and hit the road for 230 miles to Walmart in Greenville, TX. Our first night driving after supper was uneventful.

May 21, 2015, Thursday, Hot Springs, AR
Day 21

At last we depart Red Bay!  Our planned 3 days in Red Bay turned into 10.  However, we now have a “new and improved” coach.  We head west.  About 140 miles to Horn Lake, MS, and the Memphis Barbeque Co. restaurant. Located just south of Memphis, TN and home to multiple award winning ribs.  Ro and I share a combo platter.  First up are complimentary pork rinds.  The best I have ever tasted, light and crispy.  I don’t think I’ll mention that to my cardiologist.  The BBQ sauce was very good as was the brisket and pork but the ribs were disappointing, overcooked and falling off the bone requiring a knife and fork to eat.  Continuing west, we stop for the night in Rockport, AR, population 792 but it has a Walmart Supercenter.  It seems like a Walmart at just about every exit in Arkansas, home state of Walmart.   We covered 330 miles today and throughout the day we experienced a new annoying tapping sound in the coach.  It appears to come from the driver side couch and stops when Ro sits on the couch.  So first on tomorrow’s agenda is a call to Tiffin.

May 20, 2015, Wednesday, Red Bay, AL
Day 20

I reported to the paint scheduler at 7 am.  I am assured we will be painted today and informed to go to the coach and wait for a call.  Next step is trying to get the earlier repair of the windshield wiper corrected.  Again told to wait.  Mid morning, got the wiper call and it is corrected.  At noon we get the all important paint call.  Arrive at the Red Bay Body Shop and lunch hour begins.  At 1:00 told to be back by 3:00.  We walk the complete downtown of Red Bay and sat for awhile in the “Central Park” of the “city”.  Decide to visit the Red Bay Museum only to find its hours are 1:00 to 4:00 Tuesday and Thursday only.  So sad we will miss this museum, NOT!  Walk back to coach around 2:00 and no work has begun. Told to come back around 4:30.  Walk to the Tiffin plant and visit some new coaches.  Hang out in a new 45 foot Allegro Bus, nice digs.  Walk back to coach at 4:30 and just in time to watch the paint dry.  While waiting, I get my ladder out and start wiping down the sides of the coach which is filthy after all the work of the last 3 days.  Finally depart after 6:00 and back to the campground exhausted and excited that this will be our last night in Red Bay.

May 19, 2015, Tuesday, Red Bay, AL
Day 19

Reported to the cap rail replacement bay at 7 am and then we became homeless for the day.  Found out that one day to do the cap rails really means two.  One day to replace the caps and then a second day to paint them.  Rats, we lost Memphis for the second time.  Having all day to wait, we head to the Tiffin Paint Plant in Belmont, MS, which is only 7 miles away for a self guided tour. Remarkably, we can wander anywhere throughout the plant except the paint rooms.  It is incredibly labor intensive to paint the designs on the coaches each of which is 4 colors.  Back to the service center to wait some more.  Cap rail replacement done about 3:15 and angered when I find out that we are not scheduled for the painting the next day.  That is a different “department” and the scheduler went home at 3:00.  Frustratingly, Tiffin will not schedule a second step until the first step is completed.  More frustrating is the Tiffin work day ends at 3:00 (and even earlier in some cases).  Planned to be at the paint bay at 7 am to beg.  If we don’t get painted tomorrow, we won’t ever get painted, unless we return to Red Bay in the future which is the last place I intend to return.  Well, I guess we can’t have fun every day.

May 18, 2015, Monday, Red Bay, AL
Day 18

Up at 5:50 am to get to Muscle Shoals about an hour drive away to get a new wet bay floor.  We watch as it seems as though our coach is being torn apart removing the old wet bay.  The fresh water tank comes out of the coach. Reciprocating saws destroy the old flooring and rotten wood comes flowing down.  Metal frames cut to bend out of the way. Wonder if it will ever get put back together.  Hope the engineer who okayed a wood floor below the wet bay was fired. The new floor which is hard plastic should last forever.  A good thing to come out of this is that I now know the exact location and configuration of my 3 tanks and the sensors of each tank which measure the fluid levels. About 3 ½ hours and the new bay floor is done. Back to Red Bay for another exciting afternoon of waiting.

May 17, 2015, Sunday, Red Bay, AL
Day 17

While the coach is stuck in Red Bay still, we have a second day to go play.  15 minute drive to the Natchez Trace Parkway, a delightful scenic drive of 36 miles to Tupelo, MS. Lunch at Sweet Peppers Deli then a visit to the birthplace of Elvis.  Afterward a visit to the Tupelo Automobile Museum.  A fantastic collection of 150 cars dating from the 1880's, some of which are one of a kind.   That’s me in front of a 1929 Duesy and one of two of the cars driven by Tony Curtis in The Great Race.  That’s Rosemary next to Elvis’s 1976 Lincoln Mark IV which he gave to the Sheriff of Denver as a gift.