HOT AIR BALLOONS, BEN & JERRY'S, WINE AND CHEESE!!!!

Skip and I were in Vermont last week with friends Donna and Mike, and Joanne and Jim. Stayed at Lake Champlain Campground in Randolph Center, Vermont. Beautiful area. We went to the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival. Unfortunately, they could not take off due to winds, but did a "Burn" Friday night, which lights up balloons!! Was awesome!

Skip and Thumper hanging out!

Tethered - giving Ride!

Lit up at night!!!!

 









 Skip, Donna and I went to local Farmer's Market. Small but cute. Donna and I managed to find items we needed.

Donna and I with local musicians

Later in the day, we went to Fast Tracks Winery for tasting and sat out and enjoyed wine and cheese along with wines. Joanne and Jim had to leave early due to commitments at home.

Donna and Mike

Skip taking it all in!!!

  Sunday - Father's Day - Mike, Donna, Skip and I went to Ben & Jerry's. Free ice cream for all fathers!!!!

   Needless to say, it was crowded. Walked up to their Flavor Graveyard of discontinued flavors!

  
Beautiful area; we had lots of laughs, lots of good food, lots of good wine, great campfires, and lots of fun!!!!!

We stopped off in Walkill/Plattekill, NY area for a few days. Pulled into the KOA Campground. Helped neighbors, Sky and Pete put up a tent. They are from California and Florida.
 

 

 

Went to a couple of wineries in the area and antique shops. Beautiful area and close by for us. We come up here a few times each year.

Catskill area of NY and Hyde Park

HI everyone.  It has been awhile. We have taken a few days to head to Accord, NY (Catskill area) to visit out friend Dot who is out from Utah at her family's home. We are staying at the Rondout Campground. Thumper is happy to be on the road!!!  Nothing like food on the grill!!!

 It has been very rainy the past few days, but Dot and I did go to the CIA at Hyde Park, NY. Skip was happy to stay put and watch the Yankees.

Loved the goggles and garbage bag attire!!!!

 We watched future chefs at work and had lunch at the Apple Pie Bakery. The grounds are beautiful and the food was great.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

  Skip and I go to Royal Oyster House for Christmas dinner. Dinner was great. Between the alligator, oysters, redfish with crab and etouffee, we did not leave hungry!!!!

                                                                                                          Afterwards, there were plenty of musicians to entertain everyone.

NEW ORLEANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
     As we were leaving Breaux Bridge, local STOP sign enlightened us that sign could be used as target practice.

Arrived at Lake Ponchatrain Campground in the afternoon. Lots of traffic on I-10. The campground has definitely been enlarged. More sites and enclosed in the bar/restaurant area.  Went into town of Friday amid rain showers. Lots of tourists and traffic. Walked around French market and did some shopping and eating.

   Thought about going to Saints game in Sunday, but only 27 seats left in Superdome. We passed on going. Went into town for early dinner at Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street. Great food!!

Afterwards, we walked to St. Louis Church in Jackson Square for caroling. It was there 68th year of doing this outdoor caroling. Everyone was given a candle and songbook. Skip figured there had to be close to 2,000 people singing. It was lots of fun!!! Would definitely come back to do this again.
  Christmas Eve we spent at campground. Had a few drinks at bar with everyone.

caroling at Jackson Square

More to come

Before leaving for New Orleans, we went to Pat's Restaurant for lunch with Mary and Ed. Lots of good food!!! Alligator, shrimp, crawfish!!!

   Afterwards went to Arnaudville (up and coming artist's colony). They have more artist's coming in the next year, and hope to grow year after year. They also have had a couple of art/food festivals.  Afterwards, we stopped at their local brewery named LA-31. Another fun day with great company.

Mary, Ed, Skip and our local guide

artist's barn in Arnaudville, LA
 



Skip in LA-31 brewery

Lots of back roads to wander and find things to do!!!!




Mary and Ed also had us over to their unit to play a board game called "Pegs and Jokers". Lots of fun.
 

LOUISIANA
We arrived in Breaux Bridge a week ago. We are staying at Poche's Fish and RV Camp.

We are in Cajun country about 2 hours west of New Orleans. Later this week we will be heading to New Orleans. We have stayed here before. On arrival, we were informed that the campground had been sold to a young couple. We hope they do not make many changes. There was a parade of golf carts in which beads and candy were thrown to us. It was like a mini Mardi Gras!!!

We headed to Point Breaux Restaurant for dinner. There is live music and good food. Skip had their catfish and I had the crawfish etouffee. Delicious!!!
  We took a ride down to Pierre Port, LA. It is about a 2 hour drive down to the bayou. This is where the reality show"Swamp People" reside. We did not see the Landry's but posters are around. Also someone made images of the Landry's out of cypress.

Cypess sculptures of Landry's (Swamp People)

 Another day, we went into Breaux Bridge to walk around and have lunch. After all, this is Louisiana and food rules!!!!  Went into Chez Jacqueline's for lunch. Had her alligator, shrimp, catfish and crawfish appetizer - lots of it - brought what I could not finish back to motorhome. While there, Jacqueline mentioned she was having an 8 course bouillabaisse meal on Saturday night. We signed up - I mentioned that our anniversary was Sunday.

Rule of dining at Chez Jacqueline

  Well, Saturday night there were about 10 couples for the dinner. Jacqueline seated Skip and I at our table. There were flowers and our own chocolate cake for us!!! What a nice surprise. There were at least 5 appetizer courses, salad, bread, the entrée containing lobster, claims, mussels and dessert. Also had live music. It was a great night; everyone was stuffed. Great way to spend an evening.
 As I said food rules in Louisiana!!!!

our table

Skip and Jacqueline

me and food!!!!

entertainment