NASHVILLE, TN

GENERAL JACKSON STEAMBOAT

THE COUPLE ON THE RIGHT WERE FROM NORTH-EAST PA

HAM IT UP WITH ONE OF THE SINGERS

WHO'S DRIVING THE BOAT?

JIM WHERE IS YOUR OTHER HAND?

THURSDAY-JULY 7- Got up early and left for Nashville to ride the General Jackson Steamboat.  Rained some and this was the first day in a week and a half that the temperature did not go over a 100 degrees.  Stayed at the Nashville KOA, which was very nice.  Caught the shuttle to the steamboat, the large Mall is closed because of the flood.  Two weeks ago   water was 9 feet above the walkway to the boat.  The walkway is about 10 feet above the Cumberland River.  The dinner was good, naturally we had chicken.  The show, which was entitled Country Music U. S. A., was about the history of Country Music.  It was great, in fact Rich who does not like country music, was singing country by the end of the night.  No Casino, No news or TV tonight.

MEMPHIS

TUESDAY-JULY 5-Bid farewell to the people at the campground and we off to Tunica, MS where there are 9 Casinos.  This is located 20 miles south of Memphis, TN.  We went to Harrah's Casino that night and Audrey is on a hot streak.  Jim started to win again at blackjack, while Rich is still in a slump. Jackie is holding her own.  Another hot day in the 100,s again.

PORTRAID OF YOUNG ELVIS IN THE LIVINGROOM OF THE MANSION

FAMOUS LIGHTNING BOLT AND T C B (TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS)

ELVIS FANS IN FRONT OF THE MANSION

RICH AND JIM WONDERING WHERE THE PILOT OF THE PLANE WAS?

Wednesday-  July 6-Relaxed at the pool during the day, another nice canpgroung, then went to see Elvis at Graceland in Memphis, Tn.  It was well worth the trip, a lot of history great to see Elvis again.  Naturally we had to go to a Casino that night, but a new one-Fitzgaralds.  Audrey and Jim are still hot, Jackie cooled off and Rich is just cold.

NEW ORLEANS

FRIDAY JULY 1-Arrived at New Orleans, Pontchartrain Landing, what a nice campground.  If anyone is ever in New Orleans camping be sure to stay at this campgrouind, a little pricey, but well worth it.  Stay on the lake sites.  That night we decided to head into New Orleans, what a mistake.  The essence music festival was at the Superdome for three days.  Friday night BOYS TO MEN were playing.  We thought we were in a different country, the one that starts with an A.  It was jammed packed, police everywhere, the patty wagon went up Canal St. (main road) several times.  We could not get into the Casino, so we went home.

SATURDAY JULY 2-Off we went to New Orleans to get the famous Muffuletta Sandwiches from the Central Grocery Store.  They are not open on Sundays and Mondays.  Plus we needed to get some Beignet from the CAFE' DE MONDE, in the French Quarter.  What a treat, also great coffee.  Walked around saw the sights and then back to the campground to swin and relax.  It was hot,104 degrees.  That evening we found another Casino, Boomtown in Harvey, La.  Everyone lost except Audrey.

SUNDAY JULY3- Could not get up early, out to late at the Casino, so we had breakfast at Stanley's Resturant in Jackson square.  This is a French Quarter Resturant, Oysters and poched eggs, not your typical breakfast resturant.  Went to 11 AM mass at St. Louis King of France, what a beautiful old church-established in 1718.  After mass walked Burbon St., saw the sights, it smelled like piss and beer.  Stopped at Harrah's Casino, just to get our players cards, but played a few slots.  Back to the campground to relax.  Jackie and Rich didn,t want to go to the Casino, so the young ones Audrey and Jim went off to Boomtown.  They were told to be home by 1 am, but never made it until 5 am.  Audrey won again Jim lost. 

WHICH ONE IS THE HUMAN STATUE?

EACH LAKE FRONT SITE WILL HAVE A PATIO

ST. LOUIS KING OF FRANCE CATHOLIC CHURCH

NEW ATTIRE FOR BOURBON ST

MILD COWBOY

WILD COWBOY

HARRAH'S CASINO NEW ORLEANS

TOO MUCH CASINO

TEX AND CO-TEX
CARRIBAN COWBOYS

FRENCH QUARTER

MAD WAVERUNNERS

MONDAY-JULY 4TH- Got up late, but just went to the pool to relax.  Rich noticed we had TV and found his soap storie, he was delayed going to the pool. Rented waverunners at the campground and had a ball.  Lightweight Rich and Jackie got their waverunner up to 52 MPH, while heavyweight Jim and Audrey could only get up tp 49 MPH. They had a cook out at the pool, it was OK.  That evening we headed into New Orleans to watch the fireworks.  Ended up at the top of the parking garage.  We had a great view, but the fireworks only lasted 20 minutes.  Pittsburgh fireworks are a lot better, in fact Rich's fireworks are better.  This is the first year in over 10 years Rich has not had fireworks at his home.   Guess what after the fireworks we went to Harrah"s Casino.  Only Audrey and Jackie won.

El Paso-San Antonio-Houston

Wednesday-June 29-  Left El Paso and headed towards San Antonio-  It was hot, 104 degrees and nothing but desart.  Long drive could only make it to Junction, Tx, about 120 miles out of San Antonio.

Thursday-June 30- Ate breakfast in a local southern Cafe, cowboys and grits, good food.  Off to San Antonio-  Visited the Alamo, Davey Crocket and all.  Again very hot, 103 degrees.  Went to the famous river walk.  Very nice, lots of little resturants, mostly mexican food, and crowded.  Arrived in Houston, Rv resort, near the famous PPL Motor Homes. 

Friday-July 1-  June is over and we have been traveling for most of it. (about 4500 miles).  Saw a lot, did a lot, had some bad times, but lots of good times.  Off to New Orleans on the famous I-10 highway.  We have been on this highway since we left Phoenix, Az, that's a long way.  Arrived at Pontchartrian Landing, RV resort, what a nice campground.  We are here for 3 whole days.  We need a rest.



KOA JUNCTION, TX- JIM NEEDS TO GO ON A DIET

 


RICH NEEDS TO GAIN WHAT JIM LOSES.



OUR MORNING ENTERTAINMENT- THE FAMOUS DUCK WALK

THE ALAMO

TEXAS RANGER HARD AT WORK

FAMOUS SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK

Flagstaff-Tuson-El paso, tx

Friday-June 25th-Hung out with cousin Carol.  Had a special dinner for Carol, Fish stuffed with Crabment, cooked by Jim, then we went to Sadona-What a town-all redish pink, clean, most shops were closed about 9 pm'  The view of the mountains, rocks were great.   Then guess what we did?  Went to a Csasino.  Audrey and Jackie won.  Jim and Rich  lost. 

Saturday-June 26-  Waited for cousin Ken and his son, Kevin to arrive.  They arrived late in the afternoon with Kevin's dog Josie.  It took some time for them (the dogs) to get acqainted, but Eddy (the oldest of all the dogs-female naturally) had to straighten them out.  Carol cooked a great pot roast dinner. Afterwards we all just hung out and visited.  It was great to see Ken-we are all getting old.

Sunday-June 27-  We said goodby to my cousin Ken and son Kevin.  Off we went to Phoenix, had to drop some things off at Carol's winter home, just beautiful.  It was only 117 degrees.  Looked at a RV campground for seniors.  Rich and Jackie are looking to be snowbirds in the winter.  Back to Carol's No Casino, No TV, No news.  John thanks for the update on the NFL and the Pirates.  Tracie congrats in staying in the 6th grade, she is a teacher.

Monday-June 28-Said our goodbys to Cousin Carol and we started off to El Paso, Tx.  Headed into   Phoenix there was a bad accident, naturally two tractor trailers, and it was backed up for several miles.
We got into Tuson, Az, it was late , we were tired so we stayed at a nice senior-Sams club RV park.  Great pool it was hot, plus there were 3 Casinos nearby.  Guess what happened again?  We first went swimming then to the Casino. Audrey won, Jim, Rich and Jackie lost.  No TV, No news.

SEDONA RED ROCKS

COUSINS BS

WE ATE TO MUCH AT CAROL'S

EDDY(RIGHT) DIRECTING TRAFFIC

STEELER COUNTRY IN ARIZONA

STEELERS TAKE NO BULL IN AZ

COUSIN CAROL'S HOME IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ

CAREFREE, AZ HOMES BUILT INTO SIDE OF MOUNTAINS
OUR DREAM HOME

FABOULAS FOUR BID FAIRWELL TO COUSIN CAROL

TUSON, AZ DESART

RICH (RIGHT) WONDERS WHOSE STOMACH IS BIGGER

EL PASO, TX DESART

FAMILY REUNION

Tuesday-June 29- Left Tuson and we were headed to El Paso.  It was 101 degrees at 9 AM.  Things were going good, but when we were 200 miles from El Paso we had  a second flat tire.  Rich was driving again.  We had a tire this time, but we had to wait several hours for tripple A.  We made it into El Paso about 9:30PM.  The temp was done to 87 degree, but a little humid.   They had cable at this campground, but ours did not work. Go figure.  No Casino tonight, No TV , No news.

flagstaff, az

RICH'S TRAVELING POSITION
GREAT MIND AT WORK

Tuesday, June 21-  Left Castle  Rock, Co travel was good, little windy.  Arrived at a very nice KOA, went swimming and finally a Casino.  Also. we had TV, but we did not have time to watch it.  Audrey lost, Jim stayed even and Rich and Jackie won.

Wednesday, June 22-Headed towards Arizona from New Mexico good day  traveling, open highway very little wind.  Made it to Flagstaff safe and sound.  Cousin Carol was very happy to see us and we settled for the night. No Casino, No TV.  Is the NFL still in a lockout?

KOA IN NEW MEXICO

FIRST BAD COWBOY

SINGING COWBOY

GRAND CANYON UNBELIEVABLE

WE MADE IT TO THE CANYON

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT

ONE MILE DEEP

OUR NEXT RIDE

EACH INDIAN TRIBE HAD IT'S OWN DESIGN

OLD BAD BOYS NEXT TO A YOUNG RANGER

YOUNG TRAIN BANJO PLAYER

BAD MEN SCALPING INDIAN

OUR TRAIN CAR

WHO'S ROBBING WHO????

THE BAD GUYS

COUSIN CAROL AND HER 3 BABIES
BUDDY, ROCKEY AND EDDY

Thursday, June 23-Carol made breakfast, very good. Boarded Grand Canyon Railroad for the Grand Canyon.  Very nice trip, had a second breakfast on the train.  We were entertained by a singing cowboy.   Grand Canyon is unbelievable, so big, so deep and if you stare at it long enough it looks like a large picture.  Very hot, but not humid. Awsome sight. Return trip on the train was very relaxing and entertaining.  This time we had a Banjo playing cowboy and there was a train robbery.  Great fun.  When we arrived back at Cousin Carol she made us her special chicken and salad.  Great day.   No Casino, no TV just relaxed.