Crossing into the Lone Star State, Willis, Texas Next

Texas Fun Facts:

• Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word Tejas meaning friends or allies.
• The armadillo is the official state mammal.
• The bluebonnet is the state flower.
• The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was Houston.
• The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos on July 4, 1883.
• Texas is popularly know as The Lone Star State.
• The Alamo is located n San Antonio, and is considered the cradle of Texas liberty and the states most historic site.
• Texas is the only state to have 6 different flags fly over it (Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States and the United States) although there have been eight changes of government.  
• The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
• More wool comes from Texas than any other state in the US.
• Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885.

Entering Texas on Interstate I-10

Texas has the best rest stops, alligators and all

Had the nicest spot with a large concrete pad in new area of RV park by Lake Conroe in Willis.

Cabana's by the pool equipped with TV and refrigerator "show offs"

 Lake Livingston State Park 

Passed this Dam Liquor Store on our travels

Visited the Escapees Rainbow Park in Livingston 

Oh, are we back in Bushnell Fl?

We visited the Care Center and had a tour of the facility.

Coldspring Texas, population less tan 1000

Some cute shops and interesting stores

Pam has sewing machine envy

Guess we are in Texas

Tom is chilling

Went with our Texas friends to a Cowboy Church

They have a greeter on horseback by the road.

Made some really dear friends

Tom and Gary

Jana, Linda and Pam headed for the Train Shack to listen to some country singing

Enjoying an afternoon listing to Gary play and sing.

Lake Conroe RV Park, Thousand Trails
Lake Willis, Tx
**** Nice large park, located on beautiful Lake Conroe.  Close to good food stores, shopping etc.  Stayed in the new section with large concrete pads and paved roads.  Layout of this section is not RV friendly.  It is a challenge to get into your spot without running over the grass.  Older section of the park has gravel sites and and poor gravel roads.  Amenities are great,  by the pool there are cabana's with TV and fridge.  AT&T phone and satellite service are great.  Bathrooms are nice and updated,  but not cleaned daily.  Would recommend park.  

Moving on to Louisiana

Fun facts about Louisiana:

• Louisiana is the only state that does not have counties.  Instead they are broken into political subdivisions called parishes.  

New Orleans:        

1. Was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur se Bienville in 1718, believing tat the area would be safe from hurricanes.  
2. Was originally developed in a rectangle block now known as the French Quarter.  
3. Is the home of the first Mardi Gras Celebration in the United States.
4. The Superdome is the largest enclosed arena in the world.
5. Alcohol is available at any moment of the day.  
6. Lee Harvey Oswald, John F. Kennedy's assassin was born there.
7. Is the birthplace of jazz.

"Natcez"

Went to New Orleans and saw the mighty Mississippi River.

Streets of the French Quarter

Sights of New Orleans

Couldn't help myself

Check out the purple harness and hooves

Weird beverages, no voodoo for us

You never know what you see driving down the street, a party bus, music blaring, girls dancing and drinking, only in New Orleans.

On to Texas

Alabama Here We Are

Alabama Coastline Fun Facts:

• Alabama state bird is Northern Flicker
• State flower is Camellia
• The coastline offers four diverse ecosystems, all uniquely located within one area (live oak forest, wet longleaf pine savanna, fresh water marsh and small stream swamp forest).  
• Is home to a massive monarch  butterfly migration in  March, April, September and October.
• Has the  nations's first and largest organized artificial reef program.
• The Gulf Coast of Alabama has some of the purest, whitest sand. 

Made it; Our first time in Alabama, stopped at the Welcome Center to get the scoop

 Then on to Styx River Resort in Robertsdale, Al

The campground has a lot of cabins

Fun night of Karaoke

Sunday after Church there was a fish fry

Catfish caught by the Pastor, the fella in Blue and red fish caught by the park manager.  Great dinner !

There was a lot to do here, we went west to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile.

Tom checking out the gunner seat

USS Alabama

Lots of places to explore on the ship

There was also  planes on the grounds along with an aircraft pavilion.

Also tanks and Artillery

The USS Drum was also on the grounds which you could tour.

And a gift shop, couldn't help ourselves

Of course we had to get to the beach.

Gulf Shores Alabama

Try to dock your boat at the beach in Jersey

Serious boating

Embarked on the ferry from Fort Morgan to Dauphine Island, Al.

Exon/Mobil platform in the Mobile Bay

Enjoying the ride

By Fort Gains on Dauphin Island

The Estuarium Research Center at Dauphine Island is an educational public aquarium highlighting the four key habitats of coastal Alabama.

Remember red right return

Captain Pam

On the way home saw these cool Airstream food trucks.  

Blue Angel practice show in Pensacola, Fl.  

Impressive

The National Naval Aviation Museum is located at the same place. 

This speaks for itself  

This dog belonged  to soldiers in WW II

President Tom, this was Tricky Dick's copter.

Lunar doohickey

Plane used to train pilots during WWII in Lake Michigan.  It was fished out of the lake.

Blue Angels Planes

Pam checking out the afterburner

Shots from the museum

Stay tuned 

Styx River Resort-OCP
Robertsdale, Al
***We would not call this park a resort,  we read the reviews online and were disappointed upon arrival.  This is a campground with gravel sites, some concrete pads and some level sites, very hilly campground.  There was a large rec center with indoor and outdoor pool.  The staff was pleasant, nice activities, a very friendly park. The bathrooms and shower rooms were cleaned but very primitive.  AT&T phone and satellite were good.  Watch out for overhanging branches when towing.  Please note this is our personal opinion.