Fredericksburg, Texas

Yes, I DO drive the big rig diesel pusher! It's fun and easy (well, at least on the Interstates..)


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Gregg still does the hard part of driving but he has found he really likes my new front passenger recliner seat...

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OK, now what could be better than a cute little town of 10,000 or so that has German Biergartens and breweries and friendly people???

We've been through Fredericksburg twice before but this is the first time we've been able to stay long enough to see a lot of it. We are loving it.

Newly re-opened 12-7-2009 by George H.W. Bush is the National Museum of the Pacific War and it is world class ... absolutely fascinating. Admiral Chester Nimitz was born here in Fredericksburg.

See some of my pictures here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sschin999/MuseumOfThePacificWar#5444545874020926082

I loved this pennant, the personal motto of a ship man that means "What the Hell." It confused the Japanese, stopped a bombardment, and allowed evacuation of some missionaries in China.

There is so much interesting information in this museum. I learned that the Japanese did not surrender right after the dropping of the 2 big bombs. Almost a week later 800 bombers and 200 fighters dropped another 6,000 tons of ordnance on 8 more Japanese cities before they surrendered.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

May we all learn from a museum like this...the best we have seen since the incredible museums in France remembering the horrors of the European World War II.

Deming, New Mexico

We've had a great time here with sister Betty for 2 days. She & I worked at things like hanging these pictures on her living room wall, organizing her quilting studio, shredding bags full of old files from her office. Gregg had fun running around town getting a screen repaired and new tires on her car for her. So we rewarded ourselves with a pizza feast and watching Mel Brooks' Spaceballs last night.
Thanks for fun times, Betty! Now we need to hit the road again - still looking for warmer weather...

On the road again ....

Wow - we finally dragged ourselves out of Prescott. Been trying to leave for weeks and just couldn't break away from good friends, things to do, needed a new roof on the house, needed tax documents, Dr and dentist and eye check ups, just life...

We have had a great time at home in Prescott but have this ITCH to be traveling. It's NOT just that we are WW's as our friends from Wyoming say - Weather Weenies. (Though it has snowed and rained a lot this winter...good for the vegetation. The roots must be partying underground this winter.)

Tonight we are in the Benson, AZ Walmart parking lot. Had dinner with son Andy in Mesa last night. Stopped in Tucson today to see former clients Bonnie & Russ and RV friends we met in Duluth, MN last summer - Ellen & Mike. Great to see all of them. We'll be off tomorrow for a couple of days with sister Betty in Deming, NM.

McDowell Mountain Park

Gorgeous out here in Fountain Hills. One of our favorite parks, where we were married on Jan. 13, 2003. Snow on Four Peaks this year.

Sunset reflected on Superstition Mountains.

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But the storms last week left some damage. Ranger tells me the are 11 saguaros confirmed down in the park. Doesn't happen often but 7 inches of rain here followed by high winds did the old guys in. Some are hundreds of years old. Good thing they are plentiful here, not endangered species. They can't be saved due to breaking when they fall.

Maps - 2009 and 2010 plans

Here's the tentative plan for Feb-Sept 2010: 18 states. Are we going to cross your paths anywhere?? Let us know!
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Here's what we did in 2009 - 6 1/2 months, April-Nov, 16 states.

January in Arizona

Andy & I attempted Picacho Peak near Tucson - see the peak in the distance. Didn't quite make it...but it was beautiful out in the desert.

Our first dinner guests in the new RV - Jack & Connie, friends from Iowa.

We are camped at McDowell Mountain Park near Fountain Hills (where we were married in 2003). So beautiful here.
Hiked Pinnacle Peak with Gary & Judy one day.

Saguaro over 175 yers old...

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Took a Metro Light Rail Tour, full route from Mesa to NW Phoenix round trip, with Gary, Judy, Patti, John, Sylvia and Don. Stopped at the Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch (where Gregg & I both used to go for Happy Hours 30 years ago...) and visited the Phoenix Art Museum.

Patti, Gary & Judy & some guy I don't think we know!
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The Art Museum was fascinating...

My only December post

Oh my gosh, the whole month of December almost got away from me! We get so busy with all there is to do at home with family and friends and volunteer activity...we'll need to get ourselves back on the road again to rest up!
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Gregg & I did take our feet on vacation for Christmas - to Ambergris Caye in Belize. Our pictures are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sschin999/BelizeDec2009##





We had our annual holiday get-together with high school friends Betsy and Shirley and their families, with lots of kids joining us this year.

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See how well my kids behaved!


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We had a gift exchange with Sarah, Andy, Jeramie, and Michael at Andy's house, then went out for a good dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Chevy's.








Got to do my favorite volunteer things - selling at a bazaar to benefit International Street Angels of the World. Sarah, Judy and I cleared over $600 for the kids in need - and had fun doing it!

P.E.O. friends Bette and Martha and I got to go to the annual holiday decorating for Sterling Ranch, home for 18 developmentally disabled women, in Skull Valley.

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2009 was a VERY good year!!