3/5/12 Port Aransas, TX

We're into day three of our stay with Larry & Mary Mediger. Day 1 was a trip to Rockport, TX, for oyster fest, we stopped and picked up a friend of Larry & Mary, Vicky Hamm. We got to Rockport, paid our admission and it was off to the feed.(at least for me) A 1/2 dozen on the 1/2 shell, yummy, tabasco sauce, doesn't get any better!

A walk in the craft tent, lots of nice stuff! Belly dancers, photo to follow.

The ladies oyster eating contest was, well, very interesting! The time limit was 5 minutes, 3rd place ate 147, 2nd place ate 149, (with one slipping down inside her t-shirt), and 1st place ate 150. Unbelieveable!!!

Tuesday Larry and I went fishing. Our first stop was for Kingfish, about 20 people on the boat, it took us 20 minutes to get our limit of 2 Kingfish per person. Then off to a different spot for Vermillion snapper. We caught a few of them also.(Photos to follow)

Our evening was supper at Snoopy's on the bay side. Very good shrimp they served up.

We rounded out our evening in the hot tub, very relaxing.

Today, a light lunch, golf, then a potluck fish fry at the condo's, more to follow on today's activities.

3/3/12 One week down

Our first week is complete, and we're sleeping in this morning. Not much planned for the day. Maybe some returns to the spots we liked. Maybe a trip to a Mexican restaurant we got a tip on.

Here's Abby in the cavern we toured. We ended up going down 185'. Like previous caverns we went into we thought this would be chilly. It wasn't, it was very warm and humid!

Our dinner on Thursday night was to the towers of Americas. aka the space needle of San Antonio. The view was wonderful! The food was great! Abby had the snapper and I had Ahi, seared just right, the wasabi could have had a better kick!

Friday was up to Fredericksburg.  A nice drive through the hill country. Fredericksburg is larger than we thought, about 10,000. The stores were wonderful, not a lot of repeats stuff like a lot of tourist areas. Lots of high end merchandise. We had lunch at a German restaurant German beer, german hotdogs and pastrami, white bean soup, & german potato salad. Very nicely done. We didn't tour the Museum of the Pacific War, didn't have time, but talked to a gentleman from, hard to believe, Watertown, MN, and he said this was one of the best museums he's seen. A return trip is in the works and next time we'll lodge there, take in the museum, and get on a wine tasting tour bus.

We stopped at two winery's on our way back. I think two is all Abby could handle! haha. Tasted some very good wine, bought a couple bottles to take home.

We'll finish today in San Antonio, pack up and will be heading off to see our friends Larry & Mary tomorrow.

3/1/12 Thursday in San Antonio, TX

Wow, it's already Thursday, two more days in San Antonio area.

Yesterday was a busy day for us. Started with a visit at the Alamo, then the double decker bus tour of the city, a walk on the river walk looking for some tex mex to eat, we chose one, it was ok, but I think there are better places. Then a little more walking, you know most of the tourist shops have all the same kind of merchandise. Pottery, gadgets, belts, straw hats, leather goods, etc. etc. It's all the same junk.

We went back to our apartment, for those of you who don't know, we rented a place through Air BNB. This is a company that list rooms, flats, homes, that are available for rent by the day, week, or month. Plus this is the company our daughter Rebecca works for. Check it out at airbnb.com.

The night took us back to the river walk. Supper at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub with a piano bar. (http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/play/attraction-details/index.aspx?id=2560) A pint for each, split the rueben and fries, then off to the river boat ride.

Thursday was a trip to the Market Square. Ditto to what I said prior on the tourist shops. Then a side trip to Woodcraft. While there we asked the clerk what might be a good place to eat lunch. He pointed us to Willie's Grille & Icehouse (http://www.williesrestaurants.com/). This ranks right up there with the best food we have had so far. Starters, fried mushrooms, and oysters on the half shell, entrees, John had the grilled catfish and Abby the pulled pork. Very, very, good food! One more thing about the oysters on the half shell, 1. Only John would do these, 2. Tabasco, horse radish, and cocktail sauce. Abby said my expression after each oyster was that of being in "horny goose heaven!" Amen!

Then off to a golf driving range, to check our the swing, and Abby's knee. Horray! The swing is good and the knee had no pain! Next stop soon, 9 holes! Then a quick stop at Edwin Watts golf, no new clubs or shoes.

Finished off the afternoon at the San Antonio Art Center. This was more of a history museum than art in my mind. It's nice, but not what I look for in a Art Gallery.

Tonight it's to the Tower of Americas for supper at the Chart House(http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/chart-house-restaurant.asp) more to follow on this.

Two Visits down......

We had a wonderful time with Dean and Deb. They took us downtown Dallas to the Kennedy memorial. Then out to South Fork. No didn't see Bobby or JR. Dean prepared us a great dinner and we then watched the Oscars. You know, at times the Oscars are so predictable. All you have to do is think political correct and sazam, you have the winner, if you know what I mean.

Monday was a travel day to Austin. We stopped at Waco and took some time to look at "Texas Ranger Museum". What a very brave bunch of men and women there. God Bless them all.

We met up with Dave and Tegan in Austin. Bar B Q is the flavor in Texas! Last night is was at the County Line. Wow, what a great supper! Ribs, Chicken, Pork! Dave and Tegan looked great! We had a very enjoyable night with them. It's fun talking with people you knew as "kids" but are now adults. They enlighten me!

Well good places to eat and check offs of this trips bucket list.

Rudy's   www.rudys.com

Countyline   www.countyline.com

Both are great bbq places, and both are chains.

Winter 2012 Trip South

2/25/12-Norman, OK, 63*F when we arrived, back home maybe 20*F, it's nice, looking forward to two weeks south. Our first stop in Texas will be the Dallas area, with a visit at Dean & Deb's. Our next day will be Austin, will meet up with Dave & Tegan. Then five days in San Antonio, being tourist. Then over to Corpus Christi area meeting up with Larry & Mary. Look for some upcoming photos and more discussion.

Archery Hunting

Fall for me is archery hunting, this little 3x4 I let go tonight, this was only my 3rd time out this year. I'm looking for the big guy. As I sat in my stand, at least 16' up, this guy came within 13 yards of me. He grazed, moved in front of me and I let him go.

Why do I hunt deer? It's tradition for me, and memory's. I hunted deer 1 year with my grandfather. I shot my first deer with his gun, a 30-30 Marlin lever action, I still own that gun. I hunted deer with my father. I remember as a boy that he would go up north to the hunting camp every November for the opener on the 15th of the month. He finally talked mom into taking me with, when I was I think 13. The next year I went and I could hunt. I hunted deer with dad for 10 years.(Actually more, as every time I go out I think of him and he is with me.) Now I hunt mostly alone, sometimes though, I get a license with my boys, I saw both of them get their first deer. Also, I was with my wife Abby when she shot her first deer. She no longer hunts, we don't need more than 1 deer a year. I keep saying, I don't care if I shot another deer, but when they come close to me, the blood starts flowing and I get excited, and I'll try to take it. It's my heritage.

As I sat in my tree stand tonight, the call of the crow could be heard, the splash of the carp, a slow moving muskrat went in front of me, also a mink, the wings of a hawk was heard, a doe and a fawn walked by, geese honked nearby, the wheels of the 18 wheeled grain trucks could be heard in the distance, the whining of the grain bins. These are the reasons I really enjoy my hunting.

Fall time and family.

Well, yet another fall is upon us, so far so good with the weather and all.

Late summer brought us a trip to visit our youngest Josh, golf, good food and all. These made the trip, a treat for Josh since he can't get these every week.

Talking of ribs, I got a new grill this last summer, it's a wood pellet grill. If you like smoked food, check these out. I absolutely love it.

After, visiting Josh, we headed home and stopped in Madison, WI. 9 holes of golf, lunch with Buck and Deb at a A&W, and sight seeing in Madison. We had a wonderful evening with Doug and Karen Wahl, drinks in their beautiful backyard and then supper a local brew pub.

All in all we're very blessed, we have good friends, a roof over our head, and a few toys to play with. One of my favorite toys is my 08 Kawasaki Nomad, I just had her face lifted.

Pretty soon I'll have to park it for the winter, the leaves are mostly off of the trees now, the docks and boat lifts are out of the lakes, the geese are flying south, the hummingbirds have left, the air conditioner has been covered, my brother texted me today saying there was 6" of snow in his drive way, lucky him, I've started my winter beard, been out deer hunting a couple of times. These are the signs that winter will soon be upon us. I miss summer already. I'll be getting my cross country ski's out soon.

Until next time.....love you all.