Last Day of Rally.....

It has been a great week here in Texas, but like all good things, it comes to a end.
Meeting lots of new folks.. Being with our "old" friends... It made the time go by so fast,
and here we are on our last day.
As usual, Howard and Linda close it all out with a BIG BANG.  This year the GOOD BYE DINNER theme was Hollywood Oscars. 
Our catered dinner, as usual, was something else.  Jim always looks forward to this.
You won't believe it, so the following picture shows why Jim is awed by their cooking.  see why?

Our good buddy, Denny, came in costume....

Our "wagon master", Howard, stopped by our table for a bit of conversation before the dinner.
Thank goodness, there was no dances for us this rally.  (Private joke from last rally)

Jim just HAD to take a picture of this gas pump outside of the barn.  Enlarge it, and you will see why.  Oh, those good ol' days, huh?

Howard and his wife, Linda, showed up after the dinner in full costume.  As always, they blew the place apart.   Ah, Brad and Elizabeth, you have nothing on this couple...

Our buddy, JC, stopped by to say "howdy, ma'am" to Pat before heading out the runway.
 

We had a wonderful time, as usual, with this group of great people.  It was our 6th rally..
Guess we are the only ones that have made it to each and everyone of the rallies.  We want
to thank Linda and Howard for all their work, and how we all appreciate them. 

Our trip home was not much to write about, other than I have never seen so much rain!!  It is always
so wonderful getting back home.  Our flowers and friends were all waiting for our return.  Isn't that
wonderful ?
That is about all for this trip.  Hoping to go up to the mountains in the Blue Ridge this summer, so
will be back then to tell you all about it when we go.  Till then, take care now... safe travels to the
full-timer friends out there on the road...
And.. as always, friends....WALK SOFTLY....


The Thomas'
Jim, Pat and Thor

RV Dreams rally #6

We finally arrived at Buck Horn in Texas for our 6th rally with the RV Dreams.  It was so exciting..  lots and lots of new folks to meet, along with our "old" fellow Dreamers that we have met along the way with former rallies. 
Going through the gates to the park, found us looking forward to the week ahead...

We were assigned to a great spot.. right on the "putting green".  This is about the same spot that we
occupied the last time we were here for a rally.  Feels kind of funny... being all surrounded by these
big and beautiful coaches and mobile homes.  Feel kind of like the "kid".  But, Thor held his head up high, and scooted right in there like he was Big Stuff.  They all welcomed us, which made us feel as we were just like them.  We felt right at home.  It is a wonderful park to stay in.  Nice level, paved lots, Internet provided, along with cable TV.  All services, and all together a beautiful place to stay.

The evening we arrived, before the rally began, Howard and Linda gather everyone, who have arrived, to join them in a "campfire circle".  Of course, no fire, but you get the drift.  Gives everyone a chance to meet and greet.  Linda constantly amazes us all how she goes around the circle, announcing each of us by name.  Some of who she has only met once, herself.  This time Howard showed us he can do as well as his wife in remembering each one.  We all look forward to this each rally, thinking maybe this time she will not be able to complete them all.  But she came through again this year!

Our circle kept growing as the evening went on.  This is the other side .

Bringing laughter and joy to our group was our good friends, Char and Denny.  This was their 5th rally with us.  We always have such a good time with this great couple.

Our first evening of the rally was a get together and meet dinner which was catered by the great folks at at Buck Horn.  Food, as always, was great.  Brisket and Chicken BBQ.  Linda got everyone in the mood for a great time with her "Our Gang"..  This is a tradition, which never fails to get everyone up on their feet. 

Our table enjoyed it all...  as usual...

Within an hour, we were meeting our friends from former rallies, and catching up on news since we saw them last.  The first were our friends.. Lauren and George.  Did not take long before Lauren and I had lost our voices!!!

We know it will be a great week, and needless to say, we are SO looking forward to it.  Will try to be sure and send along more pictures while here.  Thanks for dropping by to share it all with us
Till then..  take care, and as always..   Walk softly....



The Thomas'
Pat, Jim and, of course, Thor...

BIG BANG #2

Our travels seem to be a lesson in patience.  But....  we are moving along.
While in Sommerville, Texas, our next experience was with our truck.  We were traveling down the road, when we started hearing a weird sound.  Jim was hoping that we had just run over a piece of plastic.  We hopped out right away, and by the time we got out, our tire was deflated about 90%.  We could not believe that a tire could go flat... so fast.  What made it even more strange was what made it go flat.  See the following pictures.  We not only had a puncture, the whole needle-nose pliers was inside the tire, with just the tip being seen.  The man replacing our tire said he had never seen such a thing.  Needless to say, our tire could not be repaired, but had to be replaced .  Jim would consider nothing else than another Michelin.  These are very expensive, ours was only a year old!  ...  and the tires are a extra heavy duty, needed since we pulled a RV weighing thousands of pounds.  Thank goodness, nothing else was harmed, and we were safe too.

While here in Texas, we found the cactus blooming with the prettiest yellow flowers.  Naturally, we had to take some pictures..  I had to take some with my new little camera too... 

At our campsite here in Potter Lake is full of the sweetest little deer.  They are curious, and do not seem at all scared of us.  This little one comes by to see us early in the morning and at dusk in the evenings.
The people across the way feed them corn, but so far, we have not bought any.

Before going out shopping this morning and doing some site seeing, I took a picture of Jim in front
of our camper.  The COE parks are our favorites.  Notice the lovely lake behind us.

Monday we will be on our way again, to Kerrville for the rally. 



Take care now.... and as always...  walk softly....


The Thomas'
Jim, Pat..  (and Thor)..

Our vacation starts with a BIG BANG......

Hi friends... Well, you have heard of the TV program called The Big Bang?... the Thomas' started out their vacation with their own...
We were just on the road three hours, tooling along with our favorite Elvis songs playing, enjoying the beautiful day and BOOM.  We looked at each other, saying at the same time "oh geeze".  We both knew what it was.  No mystery with that kind of sound.  Jim pulled over, immediately, jumped out, and confirmed our worry.  Yep, flat as a pancake.  But, as always, we knew how worse it could have been , if not for our Father's hand upon us.  Nothing was tore up under the camper, and we hit nothing else before coming to a stop. A call to On Star, and our insurance, and within a hour, we had not one, but two trucks there to change the tire, and we were on our way!  Whew what a way to start our vacation, isn't it?

We are in Mississippi this evening.  Lovely campground, and lots to see and visit tomorrow.  We both enjoy visiting historical places, and there are lot of that here in Vicksburg.  Will send along pictures in our next blog.  It seems to be more and more difficult to find camping places that have Internet services , so at these times we pack up our computers and head off to the library.  We enjoy visiting all the diff rent libraries in the towns we visit.  Loving books as we do, it is usually a day long experience.

Till then ..  take care now.. and our usual message  "Walk softly"....

The Thomas'
Pat, Jim and Thor...