Fri Nov 14-Fri Nov 21, 2014- Enjoying Texas

Fri Nov 14-Fri Nov 21 - Enjoying Texas
We started off the week with Karaoke at the resort with friends and we had a ball. Lisa and Mike picked us up in their fancy golf cart (Janice wants one!!!). Derek stunned Janice by getting up to sing a few He rocked Blue Suede Shoes) and finally Janice braved the embarrassment and got up with him to sing a couple... note to self  - Tina Turners Proud Mary is probably not geared to new Karaoke inductees-. In this traveling lifestyle you just gotta try everything and take everything in stride. 
The week was very cold as a cold front struck most of North America. Poor Buffalo, New York was hit with close to 6 feet of snow, a forty year record. 

Nov 13th - Anniversary -- Play and Pizza

Nov 13th - Anniversary -- Play and Pizza
What a great day and quite the accomplishment. Married 43 years ago today in Merseyside UK and here we are in Texas still having the time of our lives. It really does not seem possible that we are old enough to have been married that long... we plan on staying in denial for years to come!!! Various homes, (Merseyside, North Wales, Toronto, Richmond Hill, and Burlington and now our RV) Careers, Kids, and retirement... we have survived it all despite the trials and tribulations along the way.
Anyway the day was spent relaxing. Lisa came over and dropped off a card and bottle of Champagne and some other goodies.. so sweet. We heard from all our kids which meant much to us both. 
We headed into Austin to a community theatre to see a farce (called 'Farce Of Nature'. Very small theatre but the show was entertaining and giggle producing. We topped off our day with a late night visit to Homeslice pizza for a slice of Pizza.... wow... tasted like pizza used to taste when we first arrived in Canada. What a great day... grateful and happy. 

Mon/Tue Nov 10 - 11 Golf / relaxing / remembering

Mon Nov 10 - GOLF
It was the last of what has been beautiful warm days (cold front coming in tomorrow), so with a 77-80 degree forecast we were very happy to join another couple from the resort (Kirk and Susan) for a game of golf at a municipal course in South Austin called Roy Kizer municipal course. 
We had a great day. Beautiful weather, fun golf partners and a lovely course.
Janice was more than a little rusty on the first nine and had to use much self control to restrain from tossing her clubs in the lake... however she recovered a little of her 'mojo' in the back nine and hope for the future was restored!!  Derek had the patience of Job.... and the bravery of Sampson when he tried to give her a few pointers!!!  LOL  We were all hungry after the game and treated ourselves to a delicious burger at the course cafe.
It really was fun being out on the course again and we never cease to be grateful for the opportunity to do what we are doing. We got back to the resort and chilled for a while. We watched a BBC documentary on PBS  about the young Queen Victoria and then one about her 'crippled' grandson - he grew up to be the dreaded Kaiser who was instrumental in instigating WW1. Fascinating stuff. 
Tues Nov 11
Cold front has arrived but it is still beautiful and sunny. We spent the day relaxing, blogging, researching destinations, and a couple of walks round the resort etc... all good stuff to do.
A day also to remember and be thankful.... in your own way for your own reasons. Peace!!

Sun Nov 9th - Duck adventure / Fun in the city

Sun Nov 9th - Duck adventure / Fun in the city

2014-from Safaris to  Duckboats!!! All FUN!!

Duck beaks - Ready to terrorize Asutin

Texas State Capital Austin

And IN WE GO!!

UHHH.... HELP!We're stuck out here!!!

On our way finally!

So the rich and famous live here!! But no privacy!!

Some are living the high life on Lake Austin!!

This paddle trimaran looks fun!!

Top of Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin

What a great day. We booked to go on a Duck adventure tour with Lisa and Mike.. but the day ended up to be so much more. We all packed into the truck and drove into the city, with plan A and plan B all set for a lunch spot before our tour at 2pm... but Plan A restaurant was closed and Plan B restaurant was lined up out of the door, so we opted for the non-existent plan C and ended up at 'Champion Sports bar". Great spot for a quick bite before boarding the 'duck boat', which is an amphibious bus (drives on roads and navigates the water). Upon boarding we were all issued a yellow duck-bill shaped duck-call whistle which we (well Janice anyway) blew with the great delight reserved for 5 year-olds, at all and sundry people on the streets.
The tour around the city before entering the water was interesting and informative, then we proceeded to the ramp and floated away into the lake, after about 5 Looooong minutes our driver / captain finally managed to engage the propeller. Up to that point we thought we were in for a real adventure… you know ……bus load of tourists rescued from lake by helicopter or something like that!!!! It was a great trip with some lovely lakeside properties.

Back on dry Land

Mini do-nut fans

Shipping container bar

After the tour Lisa and Mike guided us to Rainey St area of Austin which is the 'in' place for eclectic bars/restaurants etc all housed in tiny old houses / food trucks or in one case a bar made from shipping containers all welded together in various positions... very funky! We started our walk through by getting freshly made cinnamon mini-donuts from Lucy's tiny donut truck... addicitive!!! One bar had a fabulous 9 member Ska group called NightOwls... excellent. 

Inside container bar.. containers are lounges etc

NightOwl ska band - great

Good times, good friends!

Beautiful View from Mt Bonnell

On our way back 'home' we went up Mount Bonnell road to see a fabulous vista of the Colorado River and the gorgeous homes on the banks. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Bonnell). We were all getting a bit hungry so we got back to the RV resort, parked the truck, and hopped on Lisa and Mike's fun 'golf cart' to go to the local Mexican retsuarant by the resort (Los Pinos)... the complimentary tortilla chips and homemade Salsa are delicious (but spicy)... Chicken Nachos are a definite 'sharezee' plate. 
What a great day full of laughs, giggles, and good memories.  thx Lisa and Mike!!

Fri-Sat Nov 7/8 - Karaoke & hanging out

Fri-Sat  Nov 7/8 - Karaoke & hanging out

Well the weather improved dramatically…mid 70’s and sunny. Spent much of the day sorting, laundry and blogging. Back at Karaoke. Derek actually got up and did a couple of songs... Janice was pretty impressed with his bravery and his singing!!! After Karaoke we went late night cruisin’with Lisa and Mike on their funky, flashin multi colour under lit raised golf cart - great fun. 

The clinic finally got back to us with a lower price for Janice's back injection and while we have made an appointment for the injection for November 20^th, we have contacted our doctor in Canada to see if we can get the injection done in Burlington early December and save the cost. Will know more next Monday

Saturday, Janice got her nails done and we spent the evening watching HNIC on Grants TV via skype. Go Leafs go, they beat the Rangers 5 – 4 in a great game. Leivo (left winger) who we saw with the Marlies on Wednesday night was brought up go play for the Leafs in tonight’s game…we felt like real fans!! 

No Photos !! 

Thurs Nov 6th - Birthday boy

^{Thurs Nov 6th - Birthday Boy}

Derek's birthday started off with full English breakfast. We then went to Lakeline Mall to buy him a gift.. He got two great Jackets. He was also treated to two front row balcony seats to see  Heart perform at Austin City Limits Live (Moody Theatre) on Nov 16th. (Janice is hoping he will take her!!!!!) Back to the rig for a steak dinner (Fantastically well BBQ’d by D) and then Lisa and Mike came over and gave him a variety of beers (including Canadian). 
Numerous Facebook messages and calls added to making this a wonderful birthday. Forgot to take any photos ... BAD!!

Sat Nov 1 - Hanging out / Back Specialist / hockey game

^{Sat Nov 1 - Wed Nov 5th - Hanging out / Back Specialist / hockey game}

Well the weather turned colder and rainy. In fact we had 48 hours of continuous rain and drizzle. But not before Derek got a couple of 15km bike rides in.  Used the opportunity to update the blog. Also Janice went in to see a back specialist on Tuesday, they took Xrays and she had a better examination and the diagnosis is that the pain is emanating from her SI joint and they recommended an injection for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. We had some difficulty making arrangements with clinic for an appointment to get the injection, and are still waiting.

On Wednesday late afternoon we were looking at a coupon we had got from HEB grocery store and realized it was for a hockey game that evening, we checked it out and found that it was to see the Texas Stars…they were playing a Toronto team!!! Well it blew us away the Toronto Marlies were in town and playing in 3 hours! We got game tickets and sat 4 rows behind the Toronto bench! Unfortunately they lost but it was a very good game and we had a blast.