November in Indy/Missouri & a Quick Trip to Texas

 

Nov 2024 - Here are some of my favorite Indy Fall pics.

I've been cutting down my zinnias before the cold gets them

love them

pretty tree on the Monon

the leaves are falling

it's getting chilly

Our first snow

Blue suede tea (from the Empress in Victoria) after our walk

Grand opening of the Indy LLBean store

Kev and the Bootmobile

Nov 22-29, 2024 - We headed to Deb's for the week before Thanksgiving and will then head to Aunt Gerry's and Uncle Gene's for a few days after Thanksgiving.  Then we're off to Texas to visit my oldest and dearest friend Cathy and her husband Rene at their new home in Marble Falls.

I found this happy little face on the ground...a cracked acorn!

Tiny in front of the shabin, with a pretty sunset

Chuck and Kevin shooting skeet

I forgot my puff and had to buy a new one to get me through these cold next few weeks!

Another pretty sunset

The Thanksgiving gang, and a few pies

Kev and Aunt Carol are having a good time

Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2024 - It's only a 2.5 hour drive from Deb's to AG/UG's house in Springfield, MO.  We left in a snowstorm, but by the time we got to springfield it was clear and warmer.  After catching up Saturday night, we packed up and headed to their lake house at Table Rock.  Silver Dollar City has one of the best light shows in the country, so we decided to check it out Sunday night.

sleepy Mirabelle

My favorite selfie buddy

We're always happy to be reunited with our favorite travel partners

lots of lights

have you been naughty or nice???

I had to get a pic of Elaine's grape arbor!

We haven't ever been to Table Rock in the winter, it's a different view from the deck than I'm used to.

pretty, but foggy views

We had to wait a half an hour to get into Billy Gail's for brunch, but it was worth it.  Kev had to get the 14 inch pancake!

I was happy with my French toast, yum!

Sadly, Kev was defeated by the 14 inch pancake, and I couldn't pass up taking his pick in front of the  "Leftovers are for Quitters" sign

Dec 3 - 6, 2024 - We left AG/UGs on Monday afternoon, drove 10 hours to a Cracker Barrel in Allen, TX (just north of Texas) for the night then drove 5.5 hours to Cathy's.  Cathy and Rene have been playing poker in Burnet at the Trailblazer Grill.  We got there in time, that Kevin could join them.

Burnet was all decorated for Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Cute downtown Burnet and a nice bench in front of the Barber shop

After dinner we did the light show in downtown Marble Falls

A true Texas light show!

Cathy and Leila

Wednesday afternoon we drove to Inks Lake State Park for a walk

Thursday Rene smoked ribs in his new Franklin smoker

the infamous Franklin smoker

The ribs...yum!

Sunset overlooking Marble Falls, from the balcony

Thanks for a great time Cathy and Rene!

Connecticut/NJ and the End of Our Trip

 

                                

Sep 26, 2024 - We had another quick drive day today, from Brattleboro, VT to a Harvest Host site at Norbrook Farm Brewery in Colebrook, CT.  It was another rainy day, but we didn't mind since it was just a travel day.  

Pretty, but rainy drive

more color

We checked in at the brewery around 2:00 and grabbed a few beers for the van while we had "movie afternoon."  Love the artwork on the Norbrook labels.

who doesn't love a cow bench?

brick oven pizza for dinner

and we're here for the Thursday night jam session

Sep 27, 2024 - We have a 2.5 hour drive to Lake Walkilll where we'll spend the afternoon visiting with Janet & Bob.  Janet had a wonderful lunch for us, and dessert by the lake.  Then we have 2 nights booked at Stokes State Forest, so we can drive down to Westfield on Saturday to visit with Meg & Maddy.

pretty view to wake up to, in the lower parking lot of Norbrook Brewery

Uncle Gene and Mirabelle are out for a walk

We also got a quick morning walk in

and we caught up with these two

Kev loves to chat with (bother) Aunt Gerry through the kitchen window each morning.

the road from our camping spot up to the brewery

the Norbrook windmills

The Alaska Crew is reunited!

The view at the Lake Walkill clubhouse doesn't ever get old.

dessert by the lake

Love the lure box, but not the shadow

Site 131 at Stokes.  And Kev and UG found some firewood that needs processed.  We got a lot of use out of AG's portable chainsaw.

Looks like we're going to have a fire tonight

Queen Mirabelle

Last campfire of the trip

Really nice grassy sites at Stokes

Sep 28, 2024 - Today we're meeting Meg & Maddy in Westfield.  It's an hour and 15 minute drive there.  We're looking forward to walking around town, seeing our old house and having a picnic in Tamaques Park.

Westfield is decorated for Fall

We love the Hershey's Trinidad sub, yum!

It was rainy but the Tamaques Park pavilion kept us dry for our picnic lunch and a quick game

little red riding hood

Lion's Roar Brewery in the Westfield circle had a cozy covered area out back.

I didn't get a good pic of the pallet bench, but isn't it clever?

We loved the "Maddy Bo" beer!

It's still raining out there.  The brewery is located on the Westfield circle.

Bye Meg!

Sep 29, 2024 - It's another day of rain.  Thank goodness we didn't have all this rain while we were in Nova Scotia!   It's a 6 hour drive to Mom's where we'll hang out for a week before heading home.

Shotwell Pond across from our campsite

Tiny looks lonely without Lep (UG & AG left early this morning for their sprint home)

One last morning walk before heading home

Sep 30 - Oct 5, 2024 - Mom's is right on the way home, so we stopped for a visit with her, before our last 5 hour drive home.

It's sunny!  We went for a walk on the Berlin Lake Trail

There are a few leaves on the trail

Before heading back to Indy we stopped at Heggy's, (Alliance's local chocolate store) and they have a new bench (sadly they didn't have any milk chocolate caramels...my favorite!)

Our sticker wall is looking good after our trip!   We drove 5,650 miles, spent 42 nights on the road, averaging $34/night (we didn't stay in many Walmarts/Cracker Barrels on this trip and the majority of our campsites had electric and water, so it was a bit more expensive compared to our previous trips).  What a great trip!