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Wednesday, November 15—A Surprise Visitor, and Arriving at our Winter Home

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Kay’s pain is worsening, and sleep eludes her, though she complains little.
The last trap in the “trap line” presented a dead pack rat. It’s likely this is the one who chewed on the wiring harness, and built the nest behind the engine. We’re hoping it is a single, but will keep the traps set just in case.
We arrived at Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort—our winter home for the last 5 years—about 2:00 PM, with temperatures in the high 80s.  It was good to be home! 

The motorhome basement was unloaded, and then we set up for semi-permanency. Happy hour at 4:00 PM in the Circle 3 palapa was fun, as usual, as we were greeted by old and new friends alike. We are truly blessed!

Tuesday, November 14—Colorado Landing RV and Mobile Home Park, La Grange, TX

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Kay is still in a lot of pain, and is not sleeping well; wished we knew what was causing this.
The mouse traps were engaged, but no luck on catching a critter(s). 

We pulled out of Rocky Point Campground about 8:00 AM, driving south. Our first stop was at a Walmart Superstore in Tyler, Texas, for gasoline and RAT traps, etc., arriving at Colorado landing in La Grange Texas about 3:00 PM.

Devastation brought about by Hurricane Harvey flooding was surreal, with debris everywhere. In late August, the Colorado River rose some 54 feet, flooding the entire campground and adjacent areas. However, the staff seemed to take it all in stride, working long hours to rectify the damage.

After settling in, the rat traps were set with peanut butter and cheese, with one in the coach  proper, and two in the basement. Time will tell.


Monday, November 13—Finally, Headed South

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We awoke Monday with few expectations, thinking that the motorhome would not be ready today. However, we received a call from the Hot Springs Ford dealership just before lunch advising that the technician worked Saturday disconnecting the old wiring harness, allowing him to expedite hooking everything back up this morning. We drove to Hot Springs, paid the bill, hooked up the Honda tow car, and were on our way south once again.  This time, no problems, as we pulled into Rocky Point Campground about 3:00 pm. A prime site with a lake view was open, and after setting up, a wave of relief overcame us.

Kay used the remainder of the afternoon to visit friends in Texarkana while I walked around the campground, enjoying the sights and sounds of fall. While out she bought mouse traps and bait traps. Based on the evidence we had seen, we were grossly underarmed for our varmint visitors.
And then while dozing and watching TV, she heard the pittypat of steps and then felt something walk across her head; it was a packrat! Enough already. This calls for serious action.


Saturday and Sunday, November 11-12—Waiting and the ER

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Kay slept very little Friday and Saturday nights, the pain in her left back and side intensifying. I played golf Saturday afternoon, while Kay attempted to manage the increasing pain as she decorated one of several trees for Christmas.

Sunday morning, she asked that I drive her to the ER in Hot Springs. After a myriad of tests taking most of the day, the ER doc could not venture a diagnosis. We played bridge with the Morrises Sunday evening, despite no subsidence in Kay’s pain and discomfort.
As an aside, living in an “empty” house is much like staying in a hotel room—all the conveniences except food, beverages, and some clothes.

Friday, November 10—A False Start

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Kay did not sleep well last night—a pain on her left back and side kept her awake.
Our plan was to drive south three days, arriving in the Valley on Sunday, November 12. The first night was to be at Rocky Point Campground, a Corps of Engineers park on Wright-Patman Lake, the second overnight was scheduled for Colorado Landing RV and Mobile Home Park in La Grange, Texas, and arriving the afternoon of the third day at Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort in Mission, Texas. 
With a short drive of only 145 miles, we took our time departing Hot Springs Village on Friday, finally pulling out of the driveway at about 10:00 AM. The tow car was hooked up in the shopping center parking lot near the east gate, and we were on our way. I noticed an orange engine symbol on the instrument panel, but wasn’t too alarmed as I thought it would go away—it did not! Thinking we could make it to the Ford dealership in Texarkana by mid-afternoon (I thought it might be the thermostat, because the temperature gage did not move off of cold) and they advised not driving the motorhome, and that if the light turned red to immediately stop. We continued driving towards Hot Springs, but became more and more concerned; Kay called the Ford dealership in Hot Springs and they indicated that IF it was indeed the thermostat, they could repair it.
We pulled into the Ford dealership, unhooked the tow car, and moved the motorhome to a place where they could work on it. After performing tests, they advised that the wiring harness had been chewed into, that they could repair it, but did not have the part in stock, could order it and have it installed Monday, all for about $1,400.  We agreed, fortunate/blessed that we could return the short distance home to await the repair. And, to make things more palatable, Kay called State Farm Insurance and the rep said the damage was covered as part of the comprehensive insurance, minus the deductible, of course.
Back at home, we explained to the neighbors why we were there, and tried to make the best of an unplanned situation.

Monday thru Thursday, November 6-9— Loading the RV for Another Winter in the RGV

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With a chill in the air, leaves falling like snowflakes, chipmunks scrounging for winter food, and packrats scurrying to find a dark warm place to hole up for the winter, it is nearing time for us to migrate south to the Rio Grande Valley. The motorhome was moved out of storage and onto the driveway at the house for packing. Having spent nine winters in the Valley, this has become routine for us, so there was no urgency in the task at hand. We continued with our daily routines, packing clothes, “toys”, and food stuffs as time allowed. By Thursday afternoon essentially everything had been packed and the motorhome was ready to go.



Monday, August 21—Al Johnson’s, Washington Island, and PC Junction

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Yes, the eclipse escaped us.
We have decided to leave earlier than originally planned, but still have a few remaining “leaving with no regrets” items to do/see in Door County; we used our “free” day Monday to accomplish three of those.
After reading email, the Democrat Gazette, and checking Facebook, we drove north to catch the ferry to Washington Island, stopping at Al Johnson’s on the way for breakfast. Simply said, Al Johnson’s is an authentic Swedish family owned restaurant in Sister Bay with goats grazing on the roof! Their breakfast specialty is Swedish pancakes; they were good, and reminded us of a large square crepe.
Kay in front of Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay

Goats are the attraction at Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay

Swedish pancakes, Al Johnson’s, Sister Bay
Leaving the restaurant, we continued north to catch the passenger ferry to Washington Island. Washington Island is Door County’s only year-round island community and the largest of Door County’s thirty islands with over 35 square miles and over 100 miles of roads; it lies 5 miles north of the Door County Peninsula. The highlights (for us) were the Stave Church, lavender farm, and Schoolhouse Beach. The Church of Staves (the Stavkirke) was custom built based on drawings of one built in Borgund, Norway, in 1150 AD. It was unique, and very few nails were used. The Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm was a small farm where lavender is grown, harvested, processed, and distilled for use in many lavender products. sound there and in other Door County locations. Schoolhouse Beach is made up of white, smooth stones, and is one of five beaches in the world like it; it is a part of the Niagara Escarpment.  We had originally planned to take the car and bicycles over, then decided to take just my bicycle, and finally decided to go and take the “train” tour—glad we did—it was good to see, but we wouldn’t do it again.
An old lighthouse along Death’s Door, Door County, Wisconsin

On the passenger ferry to Washington Island

Auto and passenger ferry to Washington Island

Stave Church, Washington Island

Stave Church, Washington Island

Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm, Washington Island

Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm, Washington Island

Kay on Schoolhouse Beach, Washington Island

Finally, on our way back to the coach,, we stopped at PC Junction for a late lunch. PC Junction is the No. 1 food place for kids visiting Door County. The small counter, which is made up of old doors, is where a model train delivers your food and drinks! We opted to sit upstairs away from all the noise; the food was just okay.

Sunday, August 20—Church, Recovery, and a Loud Concert

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Sunday was a day of rest and recovery. After church we hung around the coach watching the end of the Solheim Cup.  With a free afternoon, we enjoyed preparing and eating a great steak, potato, and salad dinner.
Steak, and potatoes with onions, bacon and cheese
Every Sunday evening from mid June to late August, the Peg Egan Sunset Concert Series presents a concert at the amphitheater in Egg Harbor. Tonight marks the last concert of the season, and our third, featuring Tab Benoit, a Louisiana Blues master. He is a great guitar player, singer, and song writer; however the music was extremely loud—ear piercing—in fact. We left after about two thirds of the concert was over, and upon returning to the coach could still hear the music some miles away.
Another large crowd to see Tab Benoit in Egg Harbor

Tab Benoit (left) in concert at Egg Harbor

Saturday, August 19—Ahnapee State Trail, and The Victory Farm

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One new item of the list of things to do in Door Country was to cycle the Ahnapee State Trail.  This 48-mile Rails-to-Trails trail winds south along the Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers to Algoma, Casco, Luxemburg and Kewaunee, passing by a mixture of evergreen glades, farmland, prairies and wooded areas teeming with wildlife and native wildflowers.  While the level grade makes this trail suitable for bicyclists, the part limestone, part grass, part soil trail presented challenges and the wider tires installed last week proved to be a necessity. The trail follows the former corridor of the Ahnapee and Western Railway, which once served as an industrial link between Door, Brown, and Kewaunee Counties. I cycled from south to north in an attempt to avoid a headwind, but to no avail as the 10 mph winds seemed to strike regardless of the direction of travel. The first (lower) part of the trail was the most scenic. The Joe Pye weed adjacent to the trail attracted numerous Tiger Swallowtails and Monarchs despite the wind. The trail was crossed by dozens of county roads and farm lanes, each with a “STOP” sign! The 41+ mile ride was good, but I wouldn’t do it again.

Mile “0”, Kewaunee Trailhead, Ahnapee State Trail

One of many farms along Ahnapee State Trail

Beautiful red barn, with horse in doorway, Ahnapee State Trail

Only tunnel along Ahnapee State Trail

Joe Pye weed, Ahnapee State Trail

Kewaunee River, Ahnapee State Trail

The most developed trailhead, Ahnapee StateTrail

Another beautiful farm, Ahnapee State Trail

Apples on and along the Ahnapee State Trail

Ahnapee State Trail


After returning to the coach, for a quick shower, we saw The Victory Farm at Northern Sky Theater in Peninsula SP. Written, produced, and performed by the Northern Sky Theater company, the play is about life and relationships one summer on a cherry orchard owned and operated by a war widow and her daughter during WW II, using German POWs to pick cherries. The play was quite good.

Thursday and Friday, August 17-18—Rain, Golf, and a Fish Fry

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Rain was forecast for Thursday, and though cloudy and overcast all day, the rain never materialized. We stayed in most of the day, nevertheless, but did venture out in the afternoon to hit a couple of buckets of balls at the driving range and play the 6-hole Peninsula SP Short Course. Once again, the Short Course was a hoot.
Friday was another recovery day from playing golf on Wednesday, and walking with a push cart.We hung around the coach all day, but ate fish at The Orchards grill; Kay had walleye and I had cod.  The meal was quite good. 
Sorry, no photos.