Thursday, April 12, 2012
After 5 months in the US set out today for Canada.
Just reached my first campsite in Lewisville, Texas after transiting Dallas without incident or slowdowns. I am given to understand I made good time from Austin leaving at 6:30 and arriving around 10:30. I did not give state troopers reason to remark my speed. At $8.00 a night, seniors rate, Lewisville Lake Park Campground is a bargain in anyone's book providing key-locked washrooms [5-digit code], water and 30 AMP Electricity, free Wi-Fi, dump site, and peace and quiet. Oops, the place is on a direct flight-path to the Dallas Airport.
This is not to say that driving in Texas is without its annoyances. I particularly dislike people who enter the highway from behind one against a double line and then force one to brake in an entry lane that is already too short to allow them to pass. The price of gasoline varied from a high of $3.99 to a low of $3.71.
Four hours on the road was about right for my first day on the road to break both me and the RV into highway driving. It also allows me to get in before the heat of the day and rest up for an early start tomorrow which will be over 400 miles--twice the distance. This is about the journey, not covering the distance.
I regret the lack of entries in the last six months. Living across from Gethsemane Lutheran has kept me busy witness the last week or so.
On April Fool's Day choir sang at two services marching to the front of the church. There was a special service at 6:00 PM and a choir rehearsal between services in the morning. On Monday the second I joined the guys who have been working on the house in front of which I'm parked for BBQ at their home. It was particularly gracious of them to allow me use of their bathtub since I have been without such amenities for some time now.
Tuesday was quiet save for a resident's association meeting I got talked into attending. Developers looking for exemptions to exceed zoning bylaws for their property is something I understand all too well. Pitied the female pastor at noon service clad in a heavy floor-length black cassock. Attended evening service on Wednesday followed by choir.
Thursday last went on a Mystery Tour with a friend. An early spring and dry weather in the Hill Country South-West of Austin meant we saw some lavender but very few bluebonnets. A stop for morning coffee and muffins, afternoon chocolate cake and ice cream. Visit to a Polish Catholic Church complete with beautiful stained glass and murals. The Silver Spur 'Dude Ranch' near Bandera introduced us to roping and their herd of 12 pet longhorns. A hay ride towed by pick-up truck was a surprise as was the dinner of baked chicken--they did serve beans and salads with buttermilk pie and coffee.
Good Friday Service at 10 followed by the stations of the cross in a walk around the church block with a large heavy cross. Choir sang multiple numbers during Tenebrae service at 7:00 PM. Holy Saturday accompanied pastor for a community Passion Play in which actors mimed to a pre-recorded sound track. I marveled at the thieves, centurions, and Pilot coated in orange pancake makeup head to foot.
Easter Sunday began with rehearsals at 7:30 AM. Service at 8:00 and 10:30 with taco breakfast and flowering of the cross thrown in between. At least Choir Members had reserved seats. A friend from choir invited me to join his 20 other guests for an Easter Lamb Dinner. My contribution was the provision of background music on their piano.
Went shopping on Easter Monday for groceries and to use a Best Buy Rewards coupon before it expired. U-Haul was out of propane! The line-ups for gasoline were intolerable. Was thankful to make it safely home. Toward evening finally got to see Mount Bonnell a place I've heard about since I first arrived in Austin. Tuesday Morning Bible Study and a trip to see the Ladybird Wildflower Garden. In Austin Spring Flowers are a thing of the past. Saw the site of Austin's new Formula One Racing venue and had lunch at Tres Amigos.
Yesterday made my Brother-in-Law proud by washing my RV. Getting the gunk out from behind my awning was a chore. The vehicle sparkled briefly until the birds found it. Joined George for a last visit to Mann's BBQ for the season. At 4:30 walked over to help set up tables for dinner, ate hamburg dinner, attended Bible Study, Youth-oriented worship and choir in a hot balcony. Had a Woodchuck Cider from Vermont and went to bed early.
Do you understand the lack of entries? Have spent as little time as possible in Gethsemane's Nave since Easter to avoid the over-powering scent from 150 Easter Lilies. Hearing that a jet from the Oceana NAV in Virginia Beach crashed into an apartment complex brought back memories of the week I spent looking up at their underbellies 300 ft above my head at the KOA there.
After 5 months in the US set out today for Canada.
Just reached my first campsite in Lewisville, Texas after transiting Dallas without incident or slowdowns. I am given to understand I made good time from Austin leaving at 6:30 and arriving around 10:30. I did not give state troopers reason to remark my speed. At $8.00 a night, seniors rate, Lewisville Lake Park Campground is a bargain in anyone's book providing key-locked washrooms [5-digit code], water and 30 AMP Electricity, free Wi-Fi, dump site, and peace and quiet. Oops, the place is on a direct flight-path to the Dallas Airport.
This is not to say that driving in Texas is without its annoyances. I particularly dislike people who enter the highway from behind one against a double line and then force one to brake in an entry lane that is already too short to allow them to pass. The price of gasoline varied from a high of $3.99 to a low of $3.71.
Four hours on the road was about right for my first day on the road to break both me and the RV into highway driving. It also allows me to get in before the heat of the day and rest up for an early start tomorrow which will be over 400 miles--twice the distance. This is about the journey, not covering the distance.
I regret the lack of entries in the last six months. Living across from Gethsemane Lutheran has kept me busy witness the last week or so.
On April Fool's Day choir sang at two services marching to the front of the church. There was a special service at 6:00 PM and a choir rehearsal between services in the morning. On Monday the second I joined the guys who have been working on the house in front of which I'm parked for BBQ at their home. It was particularly gracious of them to allow me use of their bathtub since I have been without such amenities for some time now.
Tuesday was quiet save for a resident's association meeting I got talked into attending. Developers looking for exemptions to exceed zoning bylaws for their property is something I understand all too well. Pitied the female pastor at noon service clad in a heavy floor-length black cassock. Attended evening service on Wednesday followed by choir.
Thursday last went on a Mystery Tour with a friend. An early spring and dry weather in the Hill Country South-West of Austin meant we saw some lavender but very few bluebonnets. A stop for morning coffee and muffins, afternoon chocolate cake and ice cream. Visit to a Polish Catholic Church complete with beautiful stained glass and murals. The Silver Spur 'Dude Ranch' near Bandera introduced us to roping and their herd of 12 pet longhorns. A hay ride towed by pick-up truck was a surprise as was the dinner of baked chicken--they did serve beans and salads with buttermilk pie and coffee.
Good Friday Service at 10 followed by the stations of the cross in a walk around the church block with a large heavy cross. Choir sang multiple numbers during Tenebrae service at 7:00 PM. Holy Saturday accompanied pastor for a community Passion Play in which actors mimed to a pre-recorded sound track. I marveled at the thieves, centurions, and Pilot coated in orange pancake makeup head to foot.
Easter Sunday began with rehearsals at 7:30 AM. Service at 8:00 and 10:30 with taco breakfast and flowering of the cross thrown in between. At least Choir Members had reserved seats. A friend from choir invited me to join his 20 other guests for an Easter Lamb Dinner. My contribution was the provision of background music on their piano.
Went shopping on Easter Monday for groceries and to use a Best Buy Rewards coupon before it expired. U-Haul was out of propane! The line-ups for gasoline were intolerable. Was thankful to make it safely home. Toward evening finally got to see Mount Bonnell a place I've heard about since I first arrived in Austin. Tuesday Morning Bible Study and a trip to see the Ladybird Wildflower Garden. In Austin Spring Flowers are a thing of the past. Saw the site of Austin's new Formula One Racing venue and had lunch at Tres Amigos.
Yesterday made my Brother-in-Law proud by washing my RV. Getting the gunk out from behind my awning was a chore. The vehicle sparkled briefly until the birds found it. Joined George for a last visit to Mann's BBQ for the season. At 4:30 walked over to help set up tables for dinner, ate hamburg dinner, attended Bible Study, Youth-oriented worship and choir in a hot balcony. Had a Woodchuck Cider from Vermont and went to bed early.
Do you understand the lack of entries? Have spent as little time as possible in Gethsemane's Nave since Easter to avoid the over-powering scent from 150 Easter Lilies. Hearing that a jet from the Oceana NAV in Virginia Beach crashed into an apartment complex brought back memories of the week I spent looking up at their underbellies 300 ft above my head at the KOA there.
No comments:
Post a Comment