Off to Kingsbury, Texas

What do you think of Jon's new Softail? I had never ridden a Harley before, so when he sent me a picture and said I could come visit and ride his bike I immediately turned him down! I have never have riden anyone else's bike and especially since it was new and beautiful, I would never forgive myself if anything happened to it. Well, Jon reassured me, so I asked Norma to load the gear and bring it when she drove down to Austin. 

We mostly packed up the RV on Friday night and at 5am the alarm went off and we were on the road to Visit Jon and Lisa, off we went. We arrived at 7 am. On schedule. I had never ridden with my feet extended out to the forward pegs before. But really liked the body position and the nice seat that provided great lumbar support. The bike had tons of torque and was a blast to drive. Norma rode on back and we had a great time. 

Jon and Lisa had a wonderful farm and more exciting adventures for us to enjoy. 

                         

First a beautiful motorcycle ride through the hill country. 

A view of the running water at Sequin Power Plant. 

Oh, Jon saved a turtle crossing the road! Poor thing tried to run before Jon picked it up! Turtle is safe and sound!

At their farm we enjoyed cow's, their calfs and being away from the city. Real quiet at night. Nature at it best! 

The enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Cottonseed Cafe and Deli in Martingale, Texas. They have great homemade entrees and fabulous desert. 

Austin Bound

Last week, June 20th, Craig went to Austin  for a work conference and Norma joined him on Thursday evening. We had any adventures weekend meeting new friends. 

Craig arrived and began his Father's Day enjoying a bicycle ride through Barton Creek Greenbelt in downtown Austin. It is beautiful! 

Craig took a drip in the spring fed water! Looking good and happy! 

Craig parked the RV at Pecan Grove RV Park. The best way to get a feel for the laid-back, funky feel of Austin is to stay at Pecan Grove RV Park, located in town next to Barton Springs and Zilker Park. But don't expect luxury accommodations; this is a small, shady campground with ancient hookups, cramped campsites, old restrooms and mediocre laundry facilities. 

Most sites are filled with year-round tenants who landscape with yard art and homemade fences, and they make it tough to get in without a reservation. Management doesn't take credit cards, and if you're lucky, they'll write down your reservation on a post it and put it on the calendar, or maybe they'll just memorize it. Always call ahead to confirm your stay.

So why would anyone want to stay there? Because what Pecan Grove lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for with a funky ambiance and stylish hippie flair reminiscent of all that makes Austin such a great place to be. 

Residents are generally nice and talkative, and the park's location is within walking and biking distance of the Sixth Street entertainment district, breweries, coffee houses and restaurants, such as Chuy's Mexican Food, where President Bush's teenage daughters were cited for underage drinking.

Craig and I enjoyed the Shady Groves Restaurant. Great shrimp and live music. 

We enjoyed more bicycle riding on the river on Friday. We rode 15 miles! 

We are starting to agree with this sign! We loved Austin! 

The Three Amigos Ride Again at Red River Motorcycle Trails

Craig, Dustin, Graeme and I arrived in Red River Motorcycle trails on Friday. We were pleasantly surprised about the water and how much it changed the landscaping from our camping site view. The Three Amigos would be challenged with new trails, mud and water levels. Norma took care of their meals and reminded them to come back in one piece! She also caught up on her reading and relaxed with Mia, Goldie and Blackie!

This creek splits the property and flows into the Red River. The slit, sand and clay, made for areas of quicksand that trapped Craig and Dustin. A passing UTV used their winch and pulled them to safety. Craig was 2 ft under and sinking an inch per minute. 

This a picture of our camp. We setup in site A3 that is reserved for members. It provides a pavilion for shelter and 30 Amp power. During the summer the A/C runs continually. No water or sewer is provided, but a guest bath has showers if you run out of water.

Craig and Dustin woke up early on Saturday and changed tires on Craig's bike as the conditions called for a new nobbie. Dustin was trying to find out why the clutch was sticking on Craig's bike.

Our first adventure was with Mia, I noticed her weird behavior and Craig went to investigate and suddenly found a copperhead snake in our pavilion. Craig quickly used a broom and carried it back to the waters rocky edge. It turns out the copperhead snake is one of the few that will strike without warning. It conserves its venom during this first strike and for all but the smallest prey is usually not fatal, but could be painful and disfiguring. 

Craig and Dustin got stuck in quicksand (scary stuff - just like in the cowboy movies according to Graeme) and needed to be winched out. Graeme and Dustin escaped from a wild hog. While Craig and Norma were relaxing in their RV.  Graeme was blasted by thunder, lightning and torrential rain in his tent but stayed dry. Craig's bike broke away the edge of a ravine and would have dropped 10 feet into nothingness had Craig not been clinging on with one hand while he scrabbled at rocks with the other (Dustin and Graeme saved him!). Finally, going down a steep slippery ledge, Graeme did a somersault with the bike landing on top of him. When will they learn to behave like civilized human beings?

Sunsets were awesome as usual!

And yes the Three Amigo's are all save and sound at home! 

Flags were flying for Flag Day! 

Celebration of Melody for Gradulating Kundalini Yoga Teach Training

My daughter, Melody graduated from her Kundalini Yoga Teach Training on Sunday, June 8th in San Diego, CA! We are so proud of her accomplishment. 

You might be wondering what is Kundalini Yoga. 

Kundalini Yoga practice concentrates on awakening the energy at the base of the spine and drawing it upward. In addition to postures, a typical class will also include chanting, meditation, and breathing exercises.

The KRI Level One Aquarian Teacher Training Program is a 220-hour professional certification program in Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan ®. An interactive course in the theory, practice, and basic skills of a Kundalini Yoga instructor, it includes 180 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of independent study: service projects, a 40-day meditation, and White Tantric Yoga. Graduates of Level One earn the title of KRI Certified Instructor of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan® and fulfill the Yoga Alliance RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) 200-hour requirement.

Foundations introduces the student to the principles and practices of the self-sensory human, and explores how Kundalini Yoga and yogic lifestyle can harmonize and uplift the human experience and awaken your true potential.

Melody worked very hard over the last nine months and very proud of her and all the other sixteen graduates. 

Melody's Teachers

They described Melody as a joyful light!

Melody sang a song for the celebration.

Stephanie, The Graduate

After many years, we began our adventure to Georgia for a very proud moment, Stephanie graduation from the University of Georgia. Just a few facts about UGA.

The University of Georgia, founded in 1785, and commonly referred to as UGA or simply Georgia, is an American land-grant university and sea grant research university. Its primary campus is located on a 759-acre (3.07 km²) campus in Athens, Georgia, USA.

Founded in 1785 as the United States' first state-chartered university, it is the oldest and largest of Georgia's institutions of higher learning and along with the College of William and Mary and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill claims the title of the oldest public university in the United States.^[10] The university's historic North Campus is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as a designated historic district.^[11]

The Uga mascot line started in 1956 when Seiler brought a bulldog that was given to him as a wedding present to Georgia's first home game of the season. Afterwards, head coach Wally Butts asked his permission to use the dog as Georgia's mascot, and around the same time a college friend, Billy Young, suggested that he name it Uga, a play on the common abbreviation of the University of Georgia, UGA.^[2] Since then, every Uga has been owned by and lived with the Seiler family in Savannah, Georgia.
Our Graduate, Stephanie Williammee. She graduate with a BS in Science and Animal Science . 

Family Memories

GS Adventure to Natchitoches, LA

Craig and I rode the GS motorcycle to Natchitoches, LA. 

Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. 

After the United States' Louisiana Purchase of 1803, migration into the territory increased, and Natchitoches experienced a population boom. Several plantations were built along the Red River. In the 1820s and early 1830s, Natchitoches was a freight transfer point for cotton from parts of east Texas. Cotton shippers used a land route crossing the Sabine River to Natchitoches, where the freight was transferred to boats, and floated down the Red River toward New Orleans. However, the course of the river shifted, bypassing Natchitoches and cutting off its lucrative connection with the Mississippi River. A 33-mile (53 km) lake was left in the river's previous location.It became known as Cane River Lake. The lake runs through the city’s downtown historic district and Plantation Country.

We enjoyed our time eating Crawfish and touring the local town with our friends from BMW Lonestar Club.

We enjoyed our stay at the Best Western and loved riding the trolley the club set up for the group. 

Our trip home took us through Jefferson, Tx which was beautiful, sunny and 75!

Red River KTM Weekend

Craig and I sent Saturday and Sunday, April 11th -12th at Red River Motorcycle Trails,  located in Bulcher, Texas, is a premier 2,700 acre off-road recreational park. This unique off-road mecca not only offers riders a place to test their skills and abilities on miles of varied terrain, but also serves as a wonderful place for families because it provides leisure and relaxation for all in one of Texas’ most beautiful, undiscovered paradises.  People can ride their recreational vehicles while filling their days with other activities such as hiking, swimming, and lounging in the creek area. The park provides riders with challenging and rigorous trails that give people of all expertise levels enjoyment. 

A video of Craig Adventure