Goose Island State Park, Rockport, TX (Nov 16 - 17th), 2011

Camp-site Sunset

Goose Island S.P. Camp-site

We ended up with the last available camp-site right on the Aransas Bay of Texas.  We were kind of on a peninsula between the St. Charles Bay and the Aransas Bay.  Everyone had their fishing poles mounted right in their front yards.  Very nice park and they were redoing more bay front sites for the future.  Bathrooms were very nice with showers and electric / water was available at the site.  They also had a Wooded area where you could camp within the trees.  Bird watching is very popular down here at many of the parks.  There was a very large fishing pier and they rented canoes/kayaks.  We were there only one night, but we would return someday.  We had to get to our destination of Portland, Texas so this was just a pass through.

Galveston Island State Park,, Texas (Nov. 13 - 16th), 2011

Houston Rocket Park

Beach Bum Buddy

We made it to Texas!!!!  Just barely.  We stopped for a bite to eat and sure enough our Motorhome would not start.  Mike checked, tested and played with a few things and our insurance company even sent out a truck to give us a jump. But after a couple of hours it just started and we decided to keep heading to Galveston Island S.P. our next overnight park.  We even had to get our vehicles on a ferry to get to Galveston Island.  Even though we were supposed to turn off the engine, we didn't dared to -- didn't know if it would start again and we didn't want to chance it.  Got to the park and when we turned the motorhome off, it would not start again.  The Galveston Island S.P. Ranger's office had a couple of business cards for mobile RV repair people and we called one of them who couldn't get out until Wednesday.  It was Monday. This park with it's many paddling and walking trails was right on the gulf and the weather was beautiful (80's) with a balmy breeze. Buddy was back in beach heaven. So we decided to make the best of it and we went to visit the Houston Space Center Rocket Park which was very interesting with a lot of Apollo space history.  We ate in Galveston at "The Gem of Mexican Restaurants" called El Gusto.  It was a very authentic looking restaurant and the food was great!!!  The Mobile RV man came out and found the ignition switch needing replacement and after about 2 hours, we were back on the road heading on down to Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas.

Tickfaw State Park, LA (Nov. 6th - 9th), 2011

Jackson Square

Tickfaw State Park

Enjoying Hurricanes at Pat O'Briens

Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis

Tickfaw State Park is 32 miles east of Baton Rouge and it contains four ecosystems on more than a mile of boardwalks through the park.  Walking along these boardwalks we experienced a cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood forest, a mixed pine/hardwood forest and the Tickfaw River which Mike decided to kayak on (without Buddy).  It did not look like a swimable river so that is why Buddy stayed at camp.  We experienced an antique/craft fair in the nearby town of Ponchatoula and another day we decided to visit New Orleans which was under an hour away.

New Orleans is still a busy town even on a Tuesday.  From the horse/carriage rides touring the city to good old Bourbon Street.  We had dinner at the historic Pat O'Brien's and we just had to try their famous Hurricane drink (originated in 1940) that contained four shots of liquor and comes in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp.  It was tasty and refreshing.  Pat O'Briens Bar was built in 1791 and became the first Spanish Theatre in the United States.  The theme there today is "Have Fun" and we did as we drank and savored their great food.  We walked along Bourbon Street and took pictures and took a peak inside the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis which was just beautiful overlooking Jackson Square.  We walked through the French Quarter and along the Riverfront (Missississip River) which was pretty nice.  That concludes our one day visit and we returned back to camp.

Shephard's State Park, MS (Nov 4th - 6th), 2011

Mike repairs/cleans out duckhouse

Gulfport Lighthouse

Shephard's State Park Campsite

Travelling along the Gulf Coast through Mississippi, we stopped and wanted to check-out our first Mississppi State Park. Shephard's State Park was along the way near Gautier, MS.  The sites were ok; however, the bathroom was very old and there were no park or trail maps available.  We were on the border of another swamp/lagoon but our sites were wooded and individual.  Water and electric were provided.  We only stayed over the weekend because many of the parks in these southern states are booked on weekends and so we had make an reservations on line just to get in somewhere.  We did notice as we traveled along the Gulf Coast how deserted it was and how many parcels of properties are For Sale.  Obviously, the hurricanes have taken there toll.

Cloudland Canyon State Park, Rising Fawn, GA (Oct 27 - Oct 29), 2011

Daniel Creek

Cloudland Canyon

90 ft. Falls

Break Area

Canyon Floor

1200 Steps for this photo!!

Stone fence photo taken under that boulder!!

After the motor home repairs were done in Chattanooga, Tennessee we changed our direction to westward and drove a short distance to the north-west corner in the State of Georgia. We ended up licking are wounds at Cloudland Canyon State Park one of the most scenic parks in the state and also recommended by a fellow camper we met in 2010. By the late afternoon we had time to walk along and enjoy the overlook trail and see the beautiful canyon views with the colorful fall colors on this western edge of Lookout Mountain range.  The next day was rainy off and on and cool.  However, we did luck out on our departure day for sunshine so we were able to take the 2 mile Waterfalls Trail with over 1200 steps, at 40-degree slope down the canyon to the waterfalls -- Their park map says they have 2 waterfalls, { Mike photographed more than 6 different size waterfalls}. The scenic trails were spendid!!!  The waterfalls magnificent!!!  We really enjoyed this park and the work-out for our short 2 day stay. Westward we go, over to Scotsboro, Alabama where we had to stop in at the "Unclaimed Luggage Center"       { Lost Treasures from Around the World }. Darlene looking for summer clothes only to find a big winter selection was out!! and Mike finding what he needed !     

General Burnside Island State Park, Burnside, KY (Oct. 18th - 27th) 2011

Choo Choo Gardens and Fountains

Up at "The Dome"

Mill Springs Grist Mill

Natural Arch Scenic Area

General Burnside Golf Course Campgrd. View

Dunlap Coke Ovens

Traveling  through Ohio we stopped at Van Buren State Park, north of Findlay, Ohio (not one of their best parks) still undeveloped  and more of a equestrian camp then anything.  Then we proceeded  onto the back roads into northern Kentucky. We stayed a couple of days at  Kincaid State Park near Falmouth, KY. Had no chance to play golf  at this State Park golf course because we encountered  off and on rain, cold dreary weather from Michigan. This small lake and pool campground was on top of a hill ridge line with some sites level and some not. So continuing our way down US 27, we arrived at the well laid out General Burnside Island State Park in southern Kentucky with an 18 hole golf course .  We were lucky to get in on a cancelled site due to the big planned Halloween weekend there.   We handed out more candy there than we did in our 20 years in Pinckney & Clarkston, Michigan homes all together.  We visited Mill Springs Grist Mill .[missed it operating again] in Mill Springs, KY and the U.S. Natural Arch Scenic Area  south of Burnside, KY.  We took the hike back to the  50 x 90 foot arch formed by the erosion of wind, water, and ice that cut away the soft sandstone and left a hard rock cap that arches across the sky.  We had a very pretty day to visit this arch and enjoyed many of the area's Fall colors.  While the motor home was in the recommended repair shop for a bad AC compressor on Monday, Mike and Jason really enjoyed playing on  the beautiful 18 hole golf course at the General Burnside Island State Park [ which was very very nice]. Heading towards our next destination in northern Georgia, we stopped in and had a picnic lunch at the Dunlap Coke Ovens of Tennessee {deep in history} park located on the western-side in the town of Dunlap, TN.  Our motor home started acting up on us again;  thankfully on a short part of the expressway and eventually dying against a guard rail and on hill at that. That was scary on this busy expressway with  the drivers nowadays especially the speedy Truckers!!  Had to call our road service and after about 3 or 4 hours of  what went wrong, removing the training wheels off the back, and the fact the drive shaft needed to be disconnected so they could tow the RV to the nearest service center our Nationwide Insurance company set up for us.. Here we come Lee Smith in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Thankfully, they had a place for us to plug in and we spent the next day and a half  waiting for them to service us.  So we did our chores and ate at the highly recommended Bea's Country Kitchen where the good is served in country style (reminded us of Frankenmuth, MI which served their famous chicken dinners in the same fashion).  We also had a change to visit the historical site of the Chattanooga Choo Choo (yes there is a real choo choo as the sound goes).  This was where the first railroad passengers trip originated out of Cincinnati, OH down to Chattanooga, TN back in 1880 in which started the railroad industry. So they say!!  It is now a restored structure for all to enjoy.  The cable/train cars  are in the center with gardens and fountains  throughout the area, surrounded by many hotels, little shops, bars and restaurants.  You can even rent the train cars to stay in or ride the trolley.  The architecture and history are tastefully displayed along with the Grand Dome which was the most attractive design feature of its time in 1909.  The Dome was the lobby for the Chattanooga Choo Choo station and where visitors can relive the golden era of the railroads.  When we returned our motor home was fixed and ready to go only to find out it was caused by a pinched wire when the AC compressor was incorrectly installed by the Truck Doctor of Science Hill, TN.  The headache's begin (being billed to correct the first problem) and it was time to head a short-way to our next destination, the Cloudland Canyon State Park in the northwest corner of Georgia.

Michigan Good-byes (Oct. 4th - 18th) 2011

The Kohut Boys & Mom

Edward Hines Parkway Comfort Station

My Birthday Gift to "Locks of Love"

Time to  say our good-byes to family and friends in Michigan before we journey to Texas for the winter.  Our first stop was Jackson, Mi. to address some routine maintenance issues with the motorhome and the car.  We were able to do this at Uncle Doug's house which also made us close to Darlene's dad to say good-bye.  We then ventured to Proud Lake S.P. near Milford, Mi. (after putting new tires on our MH) which happened to have a Halloween theme and was booked for the weekend.  Which then led us back to our favorite Haas Lake campground in New Hudson, Mi. where we stayed for the duration.  It was kind of nice because we were practically the only ones camping there during the week; with the weekenders coming in only for their short stay.  We were able to revisit the Slice of Spice restaurant in Spring Arbor, Mi. on M-60 owned by the Laughlins for Excellent Pizza and COLD Beer and the good company of the Lee's.  We then met all the Kohuts at the Parshallville Cider Mill to enjoy good cider and donuts and apples.  We were  even able to drive the Edward Hines Parkway  to visit Mike's dad's grave-site with a flag to represent that  he was a WWII veteran.  Our good-byes were shared with Kelsey (our daughter) and Shaun (our eldest son).  The real highlights of this trip was on Mike's birthday (Oct 12th), he finally had his haircut with his pony tails mailed to "Locks of Love".  I think he was glad to get the tresses removed after 1 1/2 years of letting it grow.  We also visited the Novi Camper Show because we were close and we still like to keep posted of what is out there for camping.  Thus as sad as it was to leave, the cooler weather said we better starting heading south now.