Our trip north

The Grand Teton mountain range in Wyoming

 

We arrived in Dallas October 2 and after a 2 day car trip to Houston where all went well, we started out on our trip north. After traveling thru Oklahoma, Colorado and most of Wyoming and after about 1300 miles and 5 days we arrived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming a very nice upscale western town in Grand Teton National Park. The weather was nice for most of the trip except for the last couple of days which were cold with some snow in the mountain passes. 

Entrance to park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming made from elk horns



Back to the Grind

We're now in France and back to taking care of the house and enjoying some time with friends.  We've had or been invited to several enjoyable parties or get togethers as well as an afternoon of croquet with a crowd mostly from the UK. Sad to say that I didn't make it past the second round but Gisele was carried to the championship by her partner Geoff (He was last year's winner as well). Gisele brought home the trophy and I refused all demands to polish it.

I've also been taking a course in French cooking since last October. I continued on our return in April and graduated w/ diploma Sat. June 19 at an evening dinner party. It was a very enjoyable experience and I hope to continue.

Bill receiving his diploma

Salade Nicoise

Bill with his Professor de Cuisine Jacques Nicolini

Birthday dinner at Table de Julian in May for Regina, Jacques and Gisele

Return to Dallas

The RV in storage in Texas

Gisele with our friend Margaret in new Mexico

The Big Texan Restaurant in Amarillo, TX

 After we left our group in Las Vegas, we left our camping at Circus Circus KOA and headed east. We made several stops along the way with the first being in Rio Rancho, New Mexico to visit with our friend Margarita in her new home. We had a very nice time and spent the night, a nice change from the RV. 

Heading east again we stopped Amarillo, Texas and went to dinner at a well known local restaurant called The Big Texan. This is the place where they will give you a 72 ounce (2 Kg) steak for free. These only condition is that you finish it within 60 minutes along with a salad, roll, shrimp cocktail and baked potato.  Perhaps in my 20s I would have considered it but those years have passed and a 4.5 lb. steak probably wouldn't so I declined the glory of being listed amongst the biggest gluttons in the USA. While we were there 2 gentlemen attempted the feat but were denied, with one running from the table in obvious distress. We tried their BBQ ribs, which were excellent, as well as a small order of Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Two hungry guys attempting a free steak

The rest of the trip was fortunately uneventful and we made it back to Dallas on April 1 to prepare the RV for storage and pack for the trip to France.

The next chapter of the trip

We held sad goodbyes this morning in Las Vegas as all the RVs in the "French Caravan" were returned to El Monte RV and we all went our separate ways. A group of six left by van for a trip thru California, a group of four is staying in town until Monday, another four will be leaving for France this afternoon. We head back with several stops along the way, expecting to be back in Dallas, Texas by April 1. After a final shopping we'll be in Uzes by April 6.

(It was very, very windy)

Days on the road

We've been through several National Parks and campgrounds without wifi access which accounts for the lack of blog updates. I've attached several photos of The Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley,  Lake Powell, Bryce & Zion National Parks under mostly sunny skies. We've been truly very fortunate with the weather.

Leaving Las Vegas

We left Las Vegas on Sunday March 14 traveling south through Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona. Due to the difficulty of the route we parked three RVs in Bullhead City and took a very small road into the town of Oatman, Arizona...a former ghost town but now very lively with 2 daily gun fights on the main street and interesting curio shops and saloons. We left early the next morning for a visit to the Route 66 museum in Kingman, Arizona and followed the 66 for about 60 miles then up to the Grand Canyon arriving in time for an unforgetable sunset. We camped there in the snow and mud, and walked along the rim for 3 miles with some amazing scenery leaving early afternoon and arrived in Holbrook, Arizona. The campground gave us a meeting room for the evening and after a very animated aperitif/dinner we returned to our RV homes.

The trip begins

We left Phoenix under sunny skies and 70 degrees on March 10 for the 300 mile trip northwest to Las Vegas. The sunny skies gave way to overcast and finally rain and snow. We arrived safely at 9pm and settled in to Sam's Town RV Park. The group from Uzes all arrived safely and settled in to their hotels jet lagged but eager to visit the sites of Las Vegas.

We picked up the RV's at El Monte RV Friday afternoon and after a brief video and explanation of the different systems and despite some(many) reservations, everyone managed to drive their vehicle to the campground late Friday afternoon. We leave Sunday morning for the first leg into Kingman, Arizona along Route 66.