Karin Bartsch's Journals
Home is where we park our RV, our "house on wheels".......
Travel Blog
Travel Itinerary 2010.
| Posted at 02:03 PM on December 19, 2009 |
The following locations as well as the time frames will be confirmed as time passes. We can make reservations 3 months in advance.
April 1. - April 22., 2010 ( Confirmed )
WHR-Bayview
5451 Highway 35 N
Rockport, TX 78382
361-288-4723
miles to drive: 24
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April 22. - May 13., 2010
Castaways RV Resort
12922 Longstreet Rd
Willis, TX 77318
936-856-2949
miles to drive: 238
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May 13. - June 10., 2010
Rainbow's End
140 Escapees Drive
Livingston, TX 77351
936-327-1279
miles to drive: 75
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June 10. - July 1., 2010
Lake Conroe RV Resort
12225 League Line Rd.
Conroe, TX
936-856-6553
miles to drive: 75
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July 1. - July 15., 2010
Lake Whitney Golf & RV
FM 9331, S.W. Country Rd.
Whitney, TX 76692
254-694-4023
miles to drive: 195
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July 15. - July 22., 2010
Sunset RV Park Inc.
800 Spur 511
Sunset, TX 76270
940-845-2007
miles to drive: 134
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July 22. - Aug. 5., 2010
NACO- Bay Landing
P.O. Box 38
Bridgeport, TX 76426
940-683-3019
miles to drive: 29
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Aug. 5. - Aug. 6., 2010
Tye RV Park
441 Access Road I-20
Tye, TX 79563
325-691-0398
miles to drive: 177
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Aug. 6. - Aug. 8., 2010
Baron Mobile Estates & RV Park
3214 W. Country Rd.
Odessa, TX 79764
432-332-4976
miles to drive: 161
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Aug. 8. - Aug. 9., 2010
Mountain View RV Park
810 S.E. Frontage Rd.
Van Horn, TX 79855
432-283-0005
miles to drive: 162
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Aug. 9. - Oct. 4., 2010
Dream Catcher RV Park
4400 E. Pine Street
Deming, NM 88030
575-544-4004
miles to drive: 225
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Oct. 4. - Oct. 18., 2010
SSS-Valley Vista
1060 S. Highway 80
Benson, AZ 85602
520-720-0024
miles to drive: 176
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Oct. 18. - Nov. 1., 2010
WHR - Casa Grande
195 W. Rodeo Road
Casa Grande, AZ 95222
520-421-0401
miles to drive: 116
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Nov. 1., 2010 - April 30., 2011
Tierra del Sol RV Resort
Rt. 79 (Florence Gardens)
P.O. Box 1663
Florence, AZ 85232
520-868-1040
miles to drive: 32
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Merry Christmas and a very good New Year!
| Posted at 02:08 PM on November 28, 2009 |
Christmas is a special time of the year, no matter whether you are a Christian or not. In older Pagan times it was the celebration of Winter Solstice and later it was the birth of Christ which gave the winter festival its name.
Anyway - let's celebrate! In Germany there are 4 special Sundays before Christmas, called Advent. It is derived from the Latin advenare - coming nearer, arriving. The first Sunday is called 1.Advent Sunday, which is tomorrow, Nov. 29, 2009. The other 3 Advent Sundays get the numbers in front of them accordingly.
Tomorrow Dieter and I will light a big red candle as a centerpiece on our couch table sitting in a ring of artificial fir and red little apples. We will remember earlier times in our life.....As a child I remember the Adventskranz, a wreath made from fir branches with 4 candles on it and hung from the ceiling over the dinnertable with big red silky bands fastened by making bows. The 1. Advent is marked by one burning candle, the 2. by 2 and so on. The room darkened and the candles burning.....Does that paint a picture of comfort? When there is also a "Gluehwein" (hot sweetened and spiced Red Wine) or an Apple Cider or an Egg Nog on the table, everything will be fine.....
The time of Advent is also a time to bake cookies, to craft little gifts and to write cards.
Here is one Adventskranz sitting on the table.
2 candles are burning, that would be on the 2. Advent Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009.
This one looks very tasteful in its simplicity. But there are no limits to your creativity, as far as the colors of the candles and the trimmings go, even the wreath could be made from different material, like fabrics or wood or from artificial white fir branches - with golden candles and ribbons.....
We have to work on Christmas ( Dec. 24. - Dec. 26.) but we will participate when Christmas Dinner is served in the recreation room on Christmas Day at 1:00 PM.
November 21., 2009
| Posted at 09:12 PM on November 21, 2009 |
Yesterday was my birthday. 74 years..... is that middle-aged nowadays?? We had a guest for a cup of coffee, he brought a home-made cheese cake. He is a Chef in Port Aransas and has his own restaurant here - Marcel's. He comes from Bavaria and his wife is from Texas, I met her in the internet. We always enjoy his genuine Bavarian accent in German. All the telephone calls from Family in Germany were also a highlight of that day. Dieter offered me a visit at the Chinese Buffett in Rockport, we had to delay it because it rained "cats and dogs" yesterday, it came down in sheets - about 9 inches here within 24 hours and 12 inches in Rockport.
We have all winter hosts present now and we have 12 days off after 3 days work. Good!
Today Dieter and I remembered his mother Gertrud - her birthday would have been today and she would have been 100 years old. She was almost 93 years when she died. We said a toast to her spirit when we sipped our Red Wine.
When my mother Elfriede Herrmann would have been 100 years old, we had an office Potluck party here in Port Aransas on April 1., 2009 ( coincidence...) and I had my picture taken by a co-host to remember her special day. This picture ( my head) is the avatar in almost every forum I participate including Windows Live Messenger.
The surgeon in Corpus Christi released me for now. My belly will heal further in time. I will see him before we leave here in spring. Next month I am through with the Plavix Tablets I was prescribed after the stent implant in Dec. 2008. That leaves me with a water tablet against slight ankle swelling in the evening. That is my only prescription tab I take.
October 19., 2009
| Posted at 02:44 PM on October 19, 2009 |
I had an appointment with the surgeon in Corpus Christi today and on our way back we visited the spot in the dunes, were Dieter buried Susi 17 days ago. We had the feeling we had to be there once more.
Dieter still fights tears when he mentions Susi's name. .....
The beach was deserted because the recent "Red Tide" (red algae) left a lot of dead fish stranded. The stench is massive. Of course, the authorities will clean up the beach but it takes a while. Padre Island together with Mustang Island is very long!
What did my surgeon say? My belly looks good. It will take a long time to heal deep inside and I have to have patience......
October 2., 2009
| Posted at 01:57 PM on October 02, 2009 |
Today is a very sad day for Dieter and for me: Our cat Susi is dead. She had to be euthanized and we petted her while it was done. Our travel companion and family member of 11 years is gone......
The Island Animal Clinic, Dr. Debra Megonigle and her ever so friendly and helpful staff did the best they could to help her and us. They adviced us that Susi's body could be buried in the dunes of this island. They neatly packed her into a carton, taped it all up, ready to be sent to the Rainbow Bridge.
Not every cat traveled as far as Alaska and not every cat has the honor to have the gravesite at the beach. For a long time it will be lonely around here.
We donated all of Susi's belongings to the animal clinic.
Please, go also to the Animal Page in "Karin's Tea Room". The link to it is on the left hand site on this book, or click on the link in the former post. Thanks.
October 1., 2009
| Posted at 10:06 AM on October 01, 2009 |
You might have noticed that I established a page "Calendar". If you want to know when we have to work or when we are not at home, that is the place to look. Another host will leave shortly and that means that Dieter has to work more in between. I will add those events when they are scheduled.
In the meantime I had to take high doses Antibiotics because my surgical wound got infected which is almost healed right now. I had to start a second round of Clindamycin today. I know I will heal - but my and Dieter's main concern is our cat Susi.
She is sick - the diagnosis is either cancer of the mouth or a very heavy infection, could be from a bite of a critter or from parasites. Please, click on "Karin's Tea Room" and choose the page: "Animals leave prints on one's heart!" and look into the second half of that posting, where everything is explained. Or simply click on the following link:
http://friendsarecomingtogether.wetpaint.com/page/Animals+leave+prints+on+one%27s+heart%21%21
You can leave comments here by following the prompts. And if you like my wiki website "Karin's Tea Room" please, join and comment there and you are able to participate in all kinds of discussions as a member with editing rights.
Just had spent 250 Dollars overall in the vet's office and on Tuesday we had a new thermostat built in which was a bill of another 250 Dollars because for our kind of combined heating and cooling system in the trailer there was only an updated digital version available, incl. overnight delivery. The weekend was in beween - overall we were living in our trailer without Cooling for a week in record high temperatures( incl. high humidity) for this time of the year, it was around and over 90 degr.F. We had all the windows open and the ceiling fan and two other fans running. It was bearable but now we cannot really enjoy anything when we look at our cat.
September 10., 2010
| Posted at 10:00 PM on September 10, 2009 |
It finally rained in Port Aransas! We had thunder and lightning during last night and it started raining hard - all day till about 4 PM.
And my day in the office was good, I had even time to knit a little. A very welcome rest after a high-traffic summer..... .
August 26., 2009
| Posted at 11:35 AM on August 26, 2009 |
We have still heat advisories and it still never rained. We had only a few big drops during a distant thunder storm which made the car look like someone slammed mud onto it. The fine sand dust is always in the air. Dieter looks always out for rost, which sprouts in a pace we never experienced elsewhere, not even in Florida. He sprays it and puts grease onto parts which could rost.
One month ago I went to a physician in Port Aransas to get set up for a hernia surgery. Since beginning of June I had a bulge little above the navel and the small scar from the cholectomy in January 2009. The hospitals in Corpus Christi must have been pretty busy because I did not hear anything about it even after two reminders. Finally I got an appointment In Christus Spohn Hospital South in Corpus Christi to see the surgeon.
That was yesterday. It was high time because the bulge had gotten bigger over time and was starting to hurt. I had also a chest X-Ray, an EKG, blood drawn and Urine test. And I was adviced to stop Plavix which I take for one year after the stent implant into the artery on Dec. 19. 2008. Since I am overall pretty healthy they scheduled it to be a one-day affair only. Hurray! I can sleep in my own memory foam bed.....
Our manager of Island RV Resort and one of my host collegues will fill in for me during my scheduled work days on 29., 30. and 31. of August. They are so very nice and caring and always concerned. Dieter will work. Right now it is more quiet here, the schools have all started again and many pulled out with their RV's already. In this regard the timing for the surgery is just right. I will keep you updated!
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Today is the 28. of Aug. and I am home since early afternoon. I feel good! The sore throat is the annoying part right now. But Spirits are high. Vitals are excellent, the blood pressure was 125/70 before release!
We had to be in Corpus Christ at 6 AM, we left Port Aransas at 4:30 AM. An AM affair only. Thanks for your positive thoughts!
July 16., 2009
| Posted at 09:58 PM on July 16, 2009 |
To keep you updated about my computer:
We drove to Corpus Christi and visited a big Verizon Wireless Store. We left the notebook there for over 2 hours to get it diagnosed. Luckily Walmart was the neighboring store. We killed the last half hour being there by sitting in the McDonalds restaurant and having a coffee and a cookie - and observing people. Boy, had we fun with it.....
It turned out that the broadband modem was gone, they had to order a new one - at my expense - $ 50.00. It arrived 2 days ago. Yesterday I had to call in at Verizon and had it validated. It works now like a charm, with full signals and without any interruptions, no matter how long the idle time for the computer is. By now I have everything sorted out, all pictures etc. The document folder was a "Temporary Burn Folder" which drove me "nuts" by showing a bubble all the time telling me that there are folders sitting there to be burned onto a disk - everytime I saved something. I figured out by clicking on properties that I could hide the entire temporary burn status. Since then there is peace all over the screen and the renamed "Document" folder is silent.....
I was really proud of myself.....
I have to work hard on my resolution to shorten my time sitting on the computer because I really love it. But I love Dieter also and he does not deserve to be neglected.
It is very hot here and it does not rain. A few drops are in the forecast - will see.
Have a very good summer everyone!
July, 8., 2009
| Posted at 08:47 AM on July 08, 2009 |
A week ago I came to believe that my laptop was giving up. It had an instant shut-down and I was disconnect from the broadband modem all the time in intervals of about 2 minutes. Then I could not be connected any longer. I tried x times to reload my Verizon Wireless program to no avail. I worked offline to save all my documents and pictures onto a CD.
That was the time when Dieter and I went to Walmart to buy a new one. My Compaq is 5 years in use. Instead of buying a desk model we decided to buy again a small one, an hp notebook. It has a Vista Home Premium System instead of Windows XP and it has enough harddrive room and RAM for its lifetime. Then I worked 2 days at home to get it loaded with my stuff, internet connection was fine - for 2 days. Then it went haywire. I took my old one and went to our office and connected with WiFi. Here I am, working with it. Now I am able to check my email and look a little into answerbag.com
We couldn't find a Verizon Wireless shop in Port Aransas or in Aransas Pass. Today is my last working day in that 15 days-cycle, then we will try to find one in Corpus Christi, where I can get the Verizon Wireless program reloaded professionally. I needs to be updated also and that all is too much to handle for me.
I had bought a flash drive with 19 Gigabites to put all of my about 270 CD's on it. Now I can load them all into the computer, its harddrive has 300 GB, and go from there. I can make copies into the flash drive anytime to get rid of most of my CD's over time. They are a heavy load in the trailer.
The weather in Port Aransas is very hot, we have heat advisories. During the day it is best for the elderly to stay inside. Of course, Dieter is an exeption. He sits outside in the shade... Right now I sit in the recreation room of this resort since one hour - my work starts 8:45 AM to get the computer up to date, count the money for the cash registrar, listen to telephone messages and check business emails. This is done by 9:00 AM and the day starts into full working mode.
Dieter has to clean the pool every morning during our 3 days working. When he is done with that task he is drenched in sweat and he has to rest for awhile and put new clothing on until 9:00, then his workday goes on outside - with rest periods in the rec room.
Three days ago, on Sunday, we were guests at "Marcel's" restaurant in Port Aransas, invited by his wife. I know her since a short time, she met me in cyberspace when she googled a word and I came up.....The couple lives in this area and we met already twice. He is a Bavarian and a very good cook. We had a dinner of distinguished value, up to the way of serving - all European. I had a dark bock beer in the appropiate glass and Dieter a Pilsener, also in the right glass. Cheers! Prost!
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