Good Friends Come To Visit In Their New RV

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I need to catch up on this blog post.  We've been getting things ready for our trip next week to Quartzite.  The rv is looking good and I fixed a few items.  One was replacing the dump valve.  It was an easy fix and it worked great.  I had never replaced the wall panel in the bath after we found and repaired a leak several years ago.  We got that done and it turned out well.  That was really easy and not sure why I put it off for so long.  We have an irritating toilet leak from the toilet's water supply.  I took out the toilet and replaced the famous Thetford valve but that didn't fix it.  Next was trying a Shark Bite shut-off valve, no go on finding the parts here in Mexico.  We'll not use water the first night in McAllen until we fix the problem.  

Last week Kevin and Ruth arrived from Canada along with their friends from Belgium, Freya and Bjorn. We had a great time catching up and showing them around our part of Mexico.  We had great dinners together along with other meals, thanks to all who invited us out.  We had a wonderful conversation with happy hour every night as well.  

It was good to have everyone here and Kevin and Bjorn helped put on the decals I bought a couple of months ago.   This reminds me of the time we were in Hacienda Contreras in Valle de Juarez.  Croft, Kevin, Jerry and Sal helped us install our solar.

I gave the trailer a good bath with a wax shampoo.  I was willing to pay big bucks for someone to wax and buff it out but the three people who gave estimates never seemed interested in coming out and doing the job.  Their loss.

We took everyone up to the waterfalls and then down to the lake as well.  It was a lazy week, could have done a lot more but it seemed like downtime for all of us.

We are looking forward to our trip.  The SUV is ready to go.  It was time to change a belt, a hose, and a pulley along with an oil change and a liquids check.  Wish us luck!

On The Way Home We Stopped To See Elvis

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It's a long time in between posts but we have had a lot going on.  We left Cincinnati and headed for Hudson, Oh to visit good friends of ours from Monterrey.  After, we started the journey back to Mexico.  It was a wonderful trip visiting family and friends.  Would we do it again?  Yes because it was so much fun and then no because of the Airbnb rates.  We used hotels as well and they were very nice.  We only had one that we would rate as sh---y.  That said, I'm just not a hotel person and it does vary differently from the Airbnb life.  Obviously, rving is still at the top of the list.

Off we went to Memphis not knowing what to expect.  The last time I remember being in Memphis was when I was about 12 years old.  We had taken a family trip (only four kids at home).  We were checking into a hotel and it was pouring rain.  Standing at the reception desk, a desperate man, soaking wet, came running in.  He had a rosary in his hand, tears running down his face and he needed help.   His mother was on her deathbed and he was lost.  My dad calmed him down and I assume prayed with him as he led him out to his car.  That was my first personal experience with desperation.  We'll never know the end of that story but I hope the man found peace.

I found a pretty cool hotel called Vitality.  It was previously a Hilton Suites.  It was a self-service hotel, our first ever.  Everything is done online similar to an Airbnb.  It's a huge hotel and the lobby is almost out a sci-fi film.  Not a soul in sight.  Before arrival you receive your key code via email or SMS message.  It's really that simple.  A luxurious room with all the amenities. 

 We drove over to Elvis' house but he wasn't home.  Kind of a sad sight to see.  It's a huge venue with several restaurants, a museum, gift shop, Elvis' two aircraft that are now 60 years old.  We wanted to see his house bur we didn't understand how it all worked.  The tour buses take you onto the grounds of his house and then you receive an indoor tour.  We weren't interested in that so we passed.  Not many people, may be less than 75 on both the grounds of the house and the venue.  Word is, they are going to shut it all down soon.  It's lost it's flavor and the neighborhood went downhill.

The graffitied wall in front of the mansion.

Tour bus leaving the mansion.  The grounds are very nice though and well-maintained.

After, we headed downtown to see the ducks at the Peabody Hotel.  A real thing that has gone on for more than 90 years.  The ducks live in a rooftop house made of glass and marble.  They come down the elevator in the morning and make their grand exit every evening at 5 p.m.  People come from all over just to see the event.  There is a ceremony with the duck master after which a red carpet is rolled out from the fountain in the lobby to the elevator.  The duck master has a staff that he sometimes uses to prod the ducks along. 

The Peabody Hotel built in 1869 

The fountain in the middle of the lounge and lobby.

Video of the duck walk to the elevator.

Day Three - Cincinnati and Some Family

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My dad's high school yearbook picture from 1927

It was quite a gathering at my oldest brother Bob's house.  Bob is a widower and has three very grown children, five grandchildren and now one great grandchild.  They all live close by and his only son lives two blocks up the street.  They are all very successful and of course he is very proud of them. 

We had a chance to spend a couple of days together but the dinner was true surprise.  We hadn't expected everyone to show up .  My oldest sister who was in Kansas City the week before also flew to Cincinnati to be with us.  Her oldest daughter lives there as well so it was a memorable time.

My nephew brought bratwurst along with saurkruat and all the fixings.  My nieces brought mac and cheese and oven roasted potatoes.  It was a real treat for us.  The kids were watching the Chiefs vs the Bengals and the oldsters were telling stories about growing up and putting together information about my dad's parents from when then came to the U.S. from Europe in 1907.  

My new great-great niece Charlie June!  My niece Ana is so proud to be a grandmother.

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Bob's daughter Ana, her daughter Kennedy and my niece in-law Jeanne!

Great nephew Marcus with his girlfriend.  He's in his third year at the university.

Yes, we're sitting down.  My nephew in-law Tyresse.  My sister wanted the picture to show her friends how short we are.  I'm actually the tallest in my family at 5'7".

We spent an afternoon with Ana and Tyresse.  Ana was babysitting for her daughter Savannah.  We all had a chance to hold the baby and play with her.  She's a real delight! 

With Bob's two girls; Lisa and Ana.  I can't believe I held them when they were born.  Time flies.

My oldest sister Dorothy with her daughter Christina and husband Ron.  They are a great couple and they want to visit us in San Miguel.   She said to me, "I don't know if you can handle all these visitors".  "Why is that?"  "Well, you've offered the key to everyone"  I said, "they'll never come".  😎

This evening, November 7, we are spending the night in Matehuala.  A great Airbnb for only 550 pesos.  This is our second time here.  We are on our way home from San Miguel.  We wanted to do some things to the house and go to the Dia de Muertos parade.  It was great!