Oktoberfest

 





Last weekend we decided to refresh our German experience with  a bit of local October culinary action at the Messina Hof winery here in Bryan. They had an Oktoberfest cooking class and of course we couldn't resist ... hey, schnitzels r us.

As usual in these classes the above menu was explained by the chef as he prepared the dish along with some very neat cooking techniques and then once he had finished, the group of about 25 or so was served that dish ... with copious paired wines from the winery of course. With the really neat backdrop of the vineyard in the background he is chopping up cabbage.

Somewhere in here I need to apologize for the cell phone pics as we now have new "smart" phones ... I will work on them so they don't come out fuzzy ... I promise.

And as we progressed through the five courses, all nicely prepared and explained he got to the step on how the schnitzel is pounded out ...

Yeah that old frying pan is what Anthony Bourdain would use in the five star joint in New York to whack the pork to a thinner state. The point was that like Anthony this chef uses whatever it takes to make a great dinner ... the high end cookware doesn't make for better food ... only the chef does that.

Aggieland

 

OK, I know, the next picture is really dull but it's where we live, eh. As of the 6th of October we booked into Aggieland RV Park in Bryan for a month as we have done for several summers now.

 

The big difference is below. Aggieland is a relatively new park but continues to expand. Below was our lot as of April of this year ... no not where the truck is but the road to its left. You can actually see the remnants of our hose hookup just in front of the pickup tire.

 

This was a really neat, private, lot that we left in April and now the park has expanded, cutting a road through the woods to about 40 new lots beyond.

 



 

 
About 50 feet heading South from the last photo you have this view of the new expanded park. Nice wide road with ample parking and a new washateria and straight ahead is the exit to Highway 21 into Bryan.

And our lot on a sunnier day. It's been about 75-80 during the day and really quite pleasant. Here's our new screen porch addition in operation ... super addition and makes up for a poorly designed awning.

If you look close you can see Jo-Anne through the screen. The sun sets here directly to the left of the bus and is quite intense ... Texas style ... so the screen gives us a bit of help from the heat. The screen is in two pieces; a three foot piece at the top which retracts with the awning, and a six foot piece on the bottom which zips off quickly and has four tent stakes to hold it in place ... neat.

And lastly the park life pic of the day. This guy came in and was so desperate to grill something (couldn't find any of the 250 excellent eating places within 5 miles of here) that he fired up the grill in the back of the truck ... you can just see the flames erupting from near his tailgate.

You keep thinking that you have seen everything .... but nah ... there's always another individual intent on providing amazement and humor for my life!

More Bits

 

When we arrived in Texas and stopped at a rest area this locust attached to the window. After we got going again he/she was still attached at 65 ... then 70 ... and finally departed after about 15 minutes at 75 miles per hour ... good little feet!

 

 

And little Ev mouthing the words, "Oooo wow," over a breakfast taco of bacon egg and potato from Taco Cabana.

Lastly, some guys and or gals have a beer fridge in the garage (been there done that til I got an RV). OK here is the beer lovers BEER FRIDGE ... obviously Texas style.

The real story is that son-in-law Brooks has embarked upon a really successful craft beer review business and this is where he will store his potential subjects for review and posting on his website.

Texas!

 

After Memphis we motored down the interstate still in the light drizzle until we arrived at the KOA in Hot Springs. This is a super pick for us and here's why.

 

They have a variety of other lots but we chose the one by the pond that we have shown in previous from here. Here's the pilot in a needed break from driving and sewer duty.

 

And the navigator chatting on our patio. Really great park with super management and care for their facility ... all it takes.

 

 

Then we hit the road toward Texas and ended up here ... yuk. We opted out of our favorite place in Grapevine as the place in Carrollton was closer. Yeah, I think we said that we wouldn't ever stay here again ... oops.

Still a crappy park but they actually gave us one of their best lots as we would be here for several days seeing the kids and the grandson ... the view says it all.

I think we are almost caught up with the travel so far and will be in the Aggieland RV park in Bryan tomorrow as we make our medical and dental appointments there for the next 10 days or so.

And a last bit about our travelling companion, Bandit. He pokes around the house as a cat does until the room slides come in then pops into this portable house for the trip. When we stop at a rest stop or Walmart he joins the line at the restroom down the hall, does his thing, eats with us, then pops back into the thing until we reach the final destination. When the slides come back out he resumes normal cat life about the place ... a true RV buddy.

Into corn country

 

After departing South Haven Michigan we headed south around the southern tip of Lake Michigan toward Gary and the Indiana Dunes area. We were disappointed with what could be seen from the road but it was still a pretty drive along the lakeshore.

 

When we hit Gary we headed south and east toward Illinois and the Whittington Woods Campground in Benton/Whittington Illinois. Why Whittington? Our daughter married Brooks Whittington ... there ya go ... had to stop there.

The whole day was in a warm cloudy drizzle but arrived to a very nice park. The lots were large level gravel and even in the rain, very well drained and easy to access ... nice place.

Sunday the 28th we again headed south and hit the Ohio River at Cairo on US 51 preferring to stick to the 2-lane rather than the boring interstate. The trade off is a bridge like this ... just barely wide enough for us and an 18-wheeler ... inches between ... yeow.

And came to rest at the Memphis Navy Support Activity where we have stopped before. Still raining. Nice park though with great folks and really simple check-in ... although we didn't know that the base was having a local air show ... police everywhere ... and most of the normal gates were closed. Couple of times around searching and finally made it in the commercial gate for truck supplies to the base ... whew.

Off the next day for Hot Springs and the KOA there. Wonder if it will stop raining?

Animal Bits and Butts

 

Here's a last view of the lake at the park in South Haven Michigan. This was in the evening on a perfect day with Bandit eyeing the potential dinner waterfowl in front of him wondering, "wonder why Dad doesn't let me out and munch on those guys instead of that expensive stuff in the can?"

 

And the duck opinion of the whole situation ... maybe there is a theme here.

Then the metallic Bandit reflecting the fountain in the lake.

With more nonsense the final question, "Wonder if he paid the parking fee?"

I apologize now.

South Haven

 

 

After Manistee we headed further south to Sunny Brook RV Resort on a 65 degree day. The lot next to us has been landscaped by the owner and was really well done with fountains, outdoor grill, lighting, shed, paving and foliage. The sales price for these waterfront lots is $79,900 and he probably has at least 30K in the outdoors.

 

One of the reasons we came to South Haven, other than the above park and lots, was that this was where my mother worked as a young girl as she was attending college in the Grand Rapids area.

Below is a bad copy of the Coral Gables hotel and restaurant circa 1950's. She worked there around 1935 or so and the place was named the Columbia Hotel.

And today the Coral Gables place hasn't changed substantially so we decided to catch a lunch break there. We ate in the restaurant extension to the right of the picture below but you could eat anywhere on that same level, in or out, if you wanted.

The view to the water with today's wine toast to our new recreational vehicle which was parked just outside the window. Hah!

The wine was great and the sandwiches fresh, complemented with a nice salad, and the price was about $40 including tip ... reasonable.

Finally on the 27th here is the blogger enjoying a nice cool scotch on our unimproved rental lot. Oh yeah, the life preserver is just in case he walks the wrong way home ...