It's Catch-Up Time

It’s a cool, rainy Sunday afternoon here on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Central Texas. Leo is taking a nap and I’ve got The Pizza Tapes with David Grisman, Jerry Garcia and Tony Rice playing.  Such a mellow afternoon seems like a good time to do an update to our Wanderings. I see my last post was way back in September of last year, so I’ve got some catching up to do.

The end of our Long Run, which I reported on last. was my hometown, Du Quoin, Illinois. Here I met up with friends from my high school days for our 50 year class reunion. It was amazing how quickly the years pass and how quickly they seem to drop away when you are with old friends.

From Du Quoin we headed south to Rosine, Kentucky, the birthplace and final resting place of the Father of Bluegrass Music,  Bill Monroe. 

We caught the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration, a festival on the grounds of Bill Monroe’s grandfather’s farm. On Sunday we also attended a graveside service at the Rosine  Cemetery, with bluegrass gospel music by Bill grave.

Service at Bill Monroe's graveside

 As an avid bluegrass fan, this is a pilgrimage I have looked forward to for several years.

Pappy at the end of the Pilgrimage.

Our next stop was a National Recreation Area campground at the north end of Land Between the Lakes. As the Cumberland River and Tennessee River flow north toward the Ohio River they form Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake respectively.

The Leos' hangout at LBL

Over 170,000 acres of forest, wetlands and open land between these two bodies of water forms the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area, now managed by the National Forest service.  I really enjoyed the scenic drives and hikes around our camp site.



But, even in October the days in Kentucky and Tennessee were warm and humid. After about 10 days here we decided if we were going to be hot we would rather be so in Texas. So we pushed southwest to arrive at the Texas White House in Midlothian, Texas by mid-October, about a month ahead of schedule. But it was good to be back in the Lone Star and to have time to spend with Doug and his family. My...how those boys have grown!!!

The White Boys...Andy and Austin at Threadgill's in Austin for Gospel Brunch

We made a weekend trip to Austin for Maggie's 25th birthday on October 24. It was a cool surprise party complete with belly dancer.

At the beginning of November, we made the last leg of our 2014 travels to land at our winter base in New Braunfels, Texas on the banks of the Guadalupe River. We've (by "we" I mean the Trusty Companion and I) spent the holidays and several weekends in Austin. While I love our time in the mountains and forest land, it's nice to get back to civilization for awhile and to catch time with family and friends.

Christmas Girls

• I got to see my grandsons Austin and Cole play tennis and wrestle.

  

  Austin on the court

Cole Waters starts his career as a wrestler.

Signing Day! Austin White signs with Hardin Simmons University Tennis Team.

• Maggie and I took a Friday afternoon for lunch at the Texas Chili Parlor, complete with Mad Dog Margaritas and a Bowl of Red, then a tour of the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History

Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History

• Doug's family and I caught a Gospel Brunch at Threadgill's, with Maggie and Jonas.

Winter Texans' Potluck at Rio Raft and Resort RV Park

• Wednesday night is potluck at the campground on the Guadalupe.

• I've been hanging out in San Antonio more this season. I'm taking a class on painting with acrylics (which I'll talk about in another post) and catching concerts there and in New Braunfels.

Sarah McLaughlin in concert at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio.

 Whew.... I've crammed five month into one post. I know I've left some highlights out. But I'll try to do better next time. I confess that the months here in Texas seem to be flying by and soon we'll be on the road again, like a couple of Wandering Leos!