MANSION

today we headed off to the melrose mansion...the early ones who owned it made their money on cotton and also had several other "HOMES" in the area...most interesting to see and the furnishings were 90% of the owners..we also found out what antibellium means regarding houses it means built before the civil war...so when you heard about an antibellium hose it just means that it was built before the civil war..and i thought it ment more than that ..

we toured the gardens and you can see spring is on it's way..beautiful flowers and grounds..alotf of southern homes have wonderful looking lawns and gardens..

we then walked around town and there isn't much to town just like alot of old towns most of the stores are in malls and on the outskirts of the city limits...

tomorrow heading out...

PICTURES

OK THE PICTURES DIDN'T GO WITH THE MESSAGE SO I AM TRYING AGAIN

TRACE NATCHEZ TRAIL

we are now in lousianna and right across from the mississippi is the trace natchez trail...we are camped along the mississippi river and in a couple of mintes we can be into mississippi...we spent yesterday doing part of the trace and going to indians mounds...today we are going to go to at least one of the antebellum houses that are all over the area...there are lots to go thru but we just figure if we do one that we have done about all of them...how much different can they be...

the weather sure has taken a turn..the night before last a strong t/storm came thru and dumped lots of rain in the area (texas needs it) and the temps hardly reached 60 not what we've been used to the last few weeks..today it is suppose to maybe hit 65...

friday we plan on traveling along the trace natchez trail and it goes all the way to nashville..we have a map that tells us all there is to stop and see along the trail and if we do it all it will take us a month or more..lots of things to do alongthe way...it is also arre understanding there is camping along the trail but it is primitive so guess what NO wi-fi-electric-etc but that wil not be a problem

RELAXING SUNDAY

we decided to sleep in this morning so we were up by 7 am...just because we culdn't sleep any morre...but we had a long breakfast then decided to go take a ride around town and to find a ghost town that i found to visit in the area...it sure was a ghost town alright..the only stuff there was an old cementry...so we walked around and i found some relatives...anyway they had the last name of my grandmother tracy...MITCHELL yep i also know we had a dog by that name...

then we looked more at texas a & m stopped at lar's favorite store a $store and he bought all kinds of treasures...

then lunch at sonic it was ok..

on to another $ store and back to the rig by 3pm...so it has been a relaxing sunday

SATURDAY

so her we are in byran, tx near college station where texas a& m is and also the george h w bush library and museum is...so off we went to the museum and to take a tour of the college...big football stadium now when we watch a game on tv we can say we've been there...there was a soft ball game gooing on but we did not attend..

spent 5 hrs or more at the museum and NO we did not see it all nor did lar have a chance to read it all...not enough time and way too much to read..interesting to read about the history and the happenings in our life time..some we remembered but other we did not...after reading we each said oh i didn't remember that...also in the museum there is a traveling exhibit of red dress...why red dresses you might ask well it is to make us aware of women's heart disease...the red dress is one of michelle obama...lots of red dresses of celebrities and first ladies...most interesting....

we toured around the campus and it is kinda like most college campuses...a clock tower--foot ball stadium--base ball--

not sure what we are doing tomorrow but checking out more of the area...weather is still over 80 and we are enjoying more of texas..we had thought of going to the blue bell ice cream factory but it is not opened up on the weekend so i guess that will have to wait for a return...don't have time to do it all

THURSDAY THE 24TH

OK SO SHERE WE ARE AT THE ROUND ROCK AGAIN BUT THIS TIMEWITH CATHY AND FRANK...READ MORE INFO oops about the trail that went thru here many moons ago...again a very interesting...

started off the day by cutting lar's hair...we got all set up and away i started after the first couple of cuts i looked at the hair clipper and guess what it was just on the blades...NO guard on it...i laughed and said i've got to keep going and lar said doing what...i told him i goofed but it will grow back...so lar how has a real buzz cut....and he says he likes it...but it is 80 most days here that might change by the time we get back ti ithaca and it is colder...

then last night over to matt and lindsey to help celebrate linds birthday...matt made a delicious meal of chicked marsala--roasted potatoes--and a spinach-squash-onion salad mmm good then the dessert was a ice cream cake that matt had made...out of mint cookies that were bought from a girl scout...great meal and then it was time to return to the rig and crash...

TWO DAYS

WE HAVE MET UP WITH FRIENDS BSACK HOME FRANK AND CATHY...WE SPENT 2 AND 1/2 DAYS WITH THEM AND OF COURSE WE HAD FUN...ON MONDAYEVENING AT DUSK WE WENT TO SEE THE BATE FLY OUT FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE AND THEY PUT ON A SPECTULAR SHOW...MILLIONS OF THEM AND I MEANT MILLIONS OF THEM....

THEN WE WENT OVER TO VISIT MATT AND LINDS FOR A WEE BIT oops...tues we got up and it was sightseeing day...went to the see the round drock and where the shisom trail coame thru r/rock...after that we had some oh of course we had to stop at the round rock donuts...cathy just had to have one..or she might have gotten depressed and lar sure didn't want that ...after we each hadsome errands to get done...

back to the campground wher e frank was going to cook dinner but first we all went geo-cacheing and matt joined us...we found 5 hidden treasure so it was asuccessful hunt...frank went on line to fdind out the park has around 30 or more hidden...dinner was delicious..

today we are in the laundry mat frqnk and cathy are heading east and tonight we will hel;p celebrate kinds birthday...more pictures to follow when we have good wi-fi