Tuesday, November 8th, to Friday, November 11th, 2016

Finally! I drove down Seawall Boulevard and experienced that familiar rush that always accompanies the sight of the ocean and the palm trees and oleander bushes! Lots of construction going on - the back part is nowhere near up and running - apparently they had more town issues and hoops to jump through!  It was awesome to see Dora again - still can't believe she got me into a site (#45, right in front of the clubhouse) from now until Nov. 26th, when I'll move into my old spot in 29!! I parked, set up, chatted with some new neighbours, then went to the spa for a relaxing soak!  The later part of the evening I spent texting with an increasingly anxious Luanne about the election results, with Trump leading.  Wednesday morning confirmed the worst - Trump has indeed been elected as the next POTUS.  Unbelievable.  I'm not actually that surprised, though - I was afraid that this might happen.  Spent about an hour on the phone with Luanne, commiserating.  The afternoon I spent, for the most part, in my RV - don't really want to have to talk with anybody who might be cheering the election results.  I drove my rig to choir practice, partly dreading encountering people there - but it was all good - lots of hugs from Tay, Tracy, Jenny, Mary-Sue, etc.  Good to be here to sing.  Tracey managed to get in a prayer at the end which was a hymn written by Ruth Duck, stressing the importance of helping each other, providing compassionate leadership, etc.  Very, very appropriate, but not obvious.  Great choice!
Thursday I spent getting laundry done and chatting with new people again.  Potluck was okay - at the beginning, as we waited for the meal to start, a number of people "teased" me about the Canadian border being open to receive a number of celebrities who had stated they would move to Canada if Trump won - and these people wanted to get rid of them.  I didn't laugh, but also didn't indicate my own feelings on the subject - and nobody actually asked how I felt about it all, so I guess I weathered that one!  It's really difficult, trying to decide what to say.  I know that a lot of the people here are Trump supporters - and I certainly don't want to get embroiled in any discussion of politics - so I'm aiming to keep a low profile without actually lying.  Tricky, to say the least!  Part of me just wants to leave - but the weather keeps me here - and also, I do actually really like the people.

The Clubhouse, pre-potluck dinner.  Notice the Canadian flag, which I donated!

The kitchen area.

Buffalo wings . . .

Texas flag!

The oleanders are particularly beautiful this year - this is the earliest I've been here, so they're in full blossom.

The bell which Ron rings to get everyone's attention at the start of dinner.

Towards the new area in the back - see the new clubhouse going up and the lazy river meandering around.

Monday, November 7th, 201

I drove three and a half hours to Shreveport, Louisiana - really just a stop to break up the eight hours to Galveston.  The Walmart here was happy to have me stay in their parking lot overnight - but it was a very commercial area, so virtually nothing to do here but shop and read - no wifi (even my phone refuses to let me access data and therefore wifi).  Very boring evening - went to bed super early - glad to be on the last leg of this journey tomorrow.

November 5 - 6, 2016

Saturday morning I drove the six and a half hours to North Little Rock, Arkansas to stay at the Riverside RV Park.  Unfortunately, they required me to pay cash in order to get the Passport America rate - and I had run out of american money - and I can't access my american bank account, since my new debit card is on the way to Galveston!  I tried to get cash from two different ATMs in gas stations on the way, but even my Canadian debit card was not accepted! Don't know what the problem is there - but since I really don't need to use that card, I should be okay, as long as the debit card reaches Jamaica Beach and works!!   I've been using my american dollar visa for gas all the way here, but had to pay cash at Singing Hills, too - thus using up all my american money. I got a 15% discount for Escapees' members, but it's not the same as the 50% for PA!  I must say, this park is certainly not wonderful!  Manager is just not particularly friendly - no chitchat at all, which is unusual for the rving community. I noticed this last year, too  Got up Sunday and attended church at the Friendly Chapel, which was a great experience, as usual.  Unfortunately, Donna and her husband were away at a wedding, but she had alerted Brother Paul (who took the service) of my presence, and he welcomed me during the service ("Is there someone here from Canada?") Donna and I had facebooked the day before.

The Friendly Chapel, Church of the Nazarene, North Little Rock, Arkansas

From the Riverside RV Park

Clinton Memorial Bridge, leading to the Clinton Presidential Library

November 4 - 5, 2016

Arrived at the Singing Hills RV Park around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. This is one of my favourite spots - I've come here three times before and just love the owners and the ambience!  I was planning to get here earlier and leave tomorrow, but I'm going to stay here for two nights, thus giving myself a day to just hang out and enjoy the area!
Friday I spent walking around the park, sitting by the pond, watching the fish, soaking up the sun - awesome!

The wagon wheels are wrapped in rope lights - so if you arrive after dark (as I did) they guide you to the park!!

Always with the festive touches

There she is - my rv.

From a picnic table beside the pond.

Just love this pond!

You can just see one of the big fish.

And a school of little ones.

November 3, 2016

As I sat in the Walmart parking lot in Mansfield, looking over my route to Kentucky tomorrow, I suddenly remembered Helen and Rob talking about the Ark somewhere in Kentucky - looked it up and it's actually on my way, in Williamsburg.  Changed my plans and left early enough Wednesday morning to stop and explore.  A small portion of The Ark Encounter parking lot is set aside for rvs, so I parked there and walked across the lot to the main building, where I bought a ticket and boarded the shuttle bus.  The Ark is cleverly situated behind a hill and trees, so the shuttle drives a few miles of winding dirt track before one catches sight of the ark itself.  One walks past the requisite souvenir shops and restaurants and enters the Ark - there are lots of guides to direct one around the boat, past a number of exhibits.  Very interesting construction - an obvious attempt has been made to stick to biblical measurements and to accurately represent animals and materials which are faithful to the time period.  Theologically speaking, the entire thing is questionable, but very, very impressive!  I was quite happy to experience this mammoth production as an interpretation of the bible story, rather than an historically accurate representation.  "Willing suspension of disbelief", perhaps, as Tolkien said of Middle Earth.
Since time was getting on - about 3:00 p.m. - I thought I'd just go to the nearest Walmart, in Dry Ridge, and stay there overnight before going on to Cave City;  however, when I got there, I discovered a big sign saying "No trucks or trailers - violaters will be towed at owner's cost"!  Ouch - and absolutely no rvs in the lot - so I turned around and headed back down the highway towards Cave City - should get there around 5:00 p.m.

First view of The Ark

Period pieces

Lots of interesting, sweeping ribs like this.

Cages for chickens, birds, etc. with clay feeding/watering pots attached to the sides - and complete with audio bird sounds

Moses and his family - and a workman making a minor adjustment to the lighting.

The lights were all clay pots and lampshades.

The Door - entrance for the animals to parade through.

Artistic representations of biblical stories.

Animal cages with painstakingly created animals - complete with a video explaining their manufacture.

Children's area with interactive stuff.

Yes, even dinosaurs, with an explanation of why they would have existed in Noah's time.

A pen with baby animals.

A real live turtle to touch!

Souvenir store inside the Ark.

You can even buy Noah's measuring stick!

I'm seeing Aslan here . . . 

Restaurant

Glass displays surround the eating area.

Buffet style eatery - lots of cool designs used for the wooden chairs and tables,

Last view of The Ark Encounter!