Day 13--Bay St. Louis, Miss. to Weeki Wachee, Fl -- 526 miles & Final Leg of the Trip

Winging it to Texas has now officially ended. Today was packed with 526 miles of travel. Thank God for all the safe traveling mercies. We started the day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and ended it at the home base in Weeki Wachee, Florida.

 

Photos of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

 

 

Roger fueling up. We did a lot of that. Lowest price we saw.

 

Crestview, Florida --We were sittinng @ Hardee's eating our burgers and saw a couple of bikes go by. I recognized the bikes and there was Shirley, Charlie, and Kelly Stone calling it a day. It's a small world we live in.

 

TRIP STATS

Date of Departure--July 01, 2014

Date of Return--July 13, 2014

13 Days 12 Nights

Trip Mileage---2,320 Miles

Touring Miles--793 Miles

Total Trip Mileage--3,113.2 Miles

 

 

 

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Day # 12-Travel Day--200+ miles I think--Crystal Beach, Tx to Bay St. Louis, MIssissippi

We started the day with a healthy breakfast at Waffle House, fed the white stallions some oats and hay, saddled up and ventured out to Interstate 10-East. We were doing great until traffic was backed up bumper to bumper and they closed I-10 East down completely. Off the interstate we go and make a stop and program the GPS to take us on back roads. Finally we reach 190 East with heavy traffic also. We were told there was a semi truck that had wrecked and caught on fire. Now we have a Haz-Mat situation that must be dealt with by the professionals. Yikes. Finally we are back on I-10 and doing great until the dark clouds moved in and the rains came down. Off the road again to take shelter at the canopy of the Shell station. Yikes. The rain stopped, the sun came out, and we saw a beautiful rainbow. (No pic-darn it). Once again we were making good time until the rains came for the second time. Yikes. We rode to the next exit and you know the rest--off the interstate again. As soon as it stopped we jumped back on and started looking for a hotel. Lady Luck was on our side--we found a room in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

 

Asked the locals where to go to dinner and found ourselves at "West End" restaurant. The slowest service ever--took almost 2-hours to get that chore over with.

 

This was the view near our outdoor dining. Food was good and fairly priced.

 

Just hoping tomorrow is a better day. We contemplated going into Pensacola and seeing Sis (Clara). She has a bit of a stomach bug so I'm detouring that route. Besides the Blue Angels are putting on an air show at the beach tomorrow. Not gonna deal with bumper to bumer traffic again if I can avoid it. Rough Rough Day.

 

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Day # 11--Travel Day--Kerrville Tx to Crystal Beach, Tx. 370 miles

Roger and I hated to leave the beautiful and accommodating Inn of the Hills Resort & Conference Center. We had so much fun and met lots of new people. It was great visiting and spending time with other Motor Maids and their guests that we don't see very often. It was a fabulous convention. Hats off to Texas ladies (make that a cowboy hat) and a big "YeeHaw" to all who offered a helping hand.

 

We left Kerrville this morning @ 09:45 and hit Interstate 10 East just a gittin it as they would say in Texas. Before long we passed San Antonio and headed for Houston. We stopped @ McDonalds and found the nicest one I have ever been in--when you take a photo of the ladies room you know it's got to be impressive.

 

Lunch stop in Schulenburg, Tx. @ Whataburger. Scarfed the burgers and fries down. Senior drinks were free. Always ask for your senior discount. We can always use that savings for gasing up them motorcycles. Aging does have benefits other than Social Security.

 

Now it's off to the 4th most populous city in the United States--Houston. OMG. OMG. That was all I could say. My first time through Houston and you can take this to the bank--It's my last time also. That 75 Mile speed limit turned into major traffic, malfunction junctions, and a mouth that would not stop. Stop. Go. Move up an inch--you get my drift. Oh--I forgot the road construction and the mowers out mowing next to the interstate. I quit checking the temperature on the bike when it hit 100 degrees. All I know is I was boiling hot. I survived it. Thank God.

 

We headed south on Interstate 45 toward Galveston with thoughts of Glenn Campbell whose song "Galveston" was a number one hit back in the 60's.--I believe. We made a much needed stop for Gatorade since we must stay hydrated and off we go in search of the "Ferry". The Galveston-Bolivar ferry connects Galveston to the Bolivar Peninsula and the resort community of Crystal Beach, Tx. While making our way up to get in line we ran into Coleen Murphy, Janet Pratt, and Tricia DeToni. We sneaked right in line behind them (500.00 fine if you are caught) . Lady Luck was with us--no ticket unless it's coming in the mail. The ferry has been operating since the 19th century and it's "Free".

 

 

Someone must have given Roger a headache. Maybe it was me.

 

Stopped for the night in Crystal Beach, Tx. Just a no-name hotel which does not merit pics. We ate at a delicious seafood restaurant called "Stingarees". Good food. Tomorrow -- thinking it may be a beach day.

 

 

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DAY # 10--Kerrville, Tx.--Luckenbach, Tx. & Convention Banquet

This has been one busy day. The Motor Maids started off with our annual business meeting followed by the election of officers. I was honored to be asked to be a member of the election committee. Thanks to all who have served and to those who will be taking on new positions in our organization. Thanks to our President, Susan Gibson and our Florida District Director, Pam Tiller, for all their hard work and dedication as we move forward. Now it's time to go to Luckenbach, Texas with Waylon and Willie and the boys.

 

 

 

 

Heelz-(Darlene Robbins) New Jersey--check out them boots!!!!!

Just a wood sculpture

Troll under the bridge.

Lots of Trolls.

 

Roger has me stumped--but I like it.

Bobbi Aitken--one of our Florida Motor Maids.

 

After our wonderful ride to Luckenbach it was time to shower and put the Motor Maids uniform on--no white gloves required for the banquet and awards dinner. There were over 250 members present and over 125 guests. WOW--that's a lot to feed at one time. We enjoyed a delicious dinner with lots of sweet teas--it's always sweet tea in Texas--and a wonderful apple pie dessert. Check us out--we sure know how to put away the grub.

 

Marsha & Ras

Jan, Tricia, Beth, and Tim

Norma & Keith

Marianne McBride--one of our snowbirds from Canada.

Mother & Daughter--Betty Fauls (FL) & Dottie West (CO)

Tammy, Jeanne, and Cathy

Joyce & Ed Cadorette-Florida

Pam Tiller & Lisa Snow

Lynne Ellis-FL--way to go.

Pam, Florida District Director, and husband "Slim"

Coleen Murphy & Janet Pratt--Fl--looking good gals

 

Spike (Diane Cox) Fl

Guess who--??

Susan (President of Motor Maids) and husband "Hoot"

Florida is in the house

 

More Florida gals

 

The 74th annual convention of the Motor Maids has ended and what a success story it has been. Those Texas gals sure set us up pretty at The Inn of the Hills Resort & Conference Center. A big "YEEHAW" to Texas. We are all leaving with memories to last a lifetime. The Hill Country motorcycle riding is awesome. Praying for safe travels for everyone as we depart for home. Hoping to be able to make the 75th Convention in Moncton, New Bruinswick, Canada area. Also, looking forward to the 76th in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Good-bye Kerrville, Tx.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Day # 9--Day-Tripping to Gruene, Texas

We started the day with a trip to the historic town of Gruene in the Texas hill country. Fun, shopping, and entertainment awaited our arrival. We hit a few of the boutique shoppes and boosted the Texas economy up a bit.

 

 

Roger and Ras shopped for new hats.

 

Whiskers greeted us at the door of the store. Check her out--looks like she has a moustache. That is one lazy cat.

 

 

 

Ran into more Motor Maids--Kathy Sanders, Joann Graff, and Valerie. I understand they needed a little help with directions and met a possible future Motor Maid, Laura Lopez, who led them in.

 

 

The beautiful Guadalupe River.

 

The Gristmill is considered one of Texas's finest restaurants. It was once the boiler room of an 1878 cotton gin. A lovely setting overlooking the Guadalupe River. You can't beat the view and the prices aren't bad either. Food was excellent. With lunch behind us it's time to go dancing.

 

 

Gruene Hall is the oldest continuous operating dance hall and most famous in the state of Texas. Not much has changed since the hall first opened. There are over 6,000 square feet and a pitched tin roof. It has flaps that open on the sides for open air dancing and a bar in the front.

 

We ended the trip with a hat parade. Time for the girls to take a chill pill and get ready for the Motor Maids business meeting in the morning. Election of officers on the agenda for tomorrow. I wish each of them good luck.

 

 

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