Texas RV Travel blog

Monday, July 30, 2007
Blog Village Carnival
Recreation

Welcome to the July 30, 2007 edition of A Blog Village carnival. Blog carnivals are a great way to find new friends, discover new blogs and increase traffic to your site. Share this carnival with your friends and family.

A Blog Village Carnival!

Janey Loree presents Ghost Riders In The Sky… posted at The Fisher Family Singers

Granimore presents And So Begins My New Life: 14 Miles! What Was I Thinking? posted at And So Begins My New Life

CyberCelt shares Free Vacation for Active Duty Personnel posted at Advertising for Success blog.

Sharon Lynne presents Ghost Town Showdown posted at California Breeze

Janey Loree presents Recreation for a Rainy Day… posted at PJ’s Paper Doll Cut Outs

Joanne Tai presents Trip to Batu Caves posted at I’m Happy Fish

LJP presents Hobart - Part #1 posted at savesavesave

Dirty Butter presents YESTERDAY’S MEMORIES of a Bygone Time posted at Yesterday’s Memories, saying, “a wonderful childhood memory of a road trip to Chicago”

NAOMI presents Diary From England: HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME posted at Diary From England

Crystal Unrau presents Blessed Child posted at Two Moms In A Blog

Janey Loree presents Mustang ‘n’ Cowboys: Two Cowboys, Four Mustang Horses, And A Dog! posted at Mustang ‘n’ Cowboys

Linda Orlomoski presents Are We There Yet??: Down By The Sea posted at Are We There Yet??

Mike Harmon presents Article Syndication- The Sky is The Limit So Explore and Aim for the Sky posted at Basic Accounting, saying, “Article syndication is a very simple process wherein one gets to share their article among various online sites which helps to impart knowledge through the web.”

kailani presents A Proud Mommy Moment posted at Local Girl

Kilroy_60 presents Join Me At The Seashore posted at Fear And Loathing - The Gonzo Papers

Hakim Abdullah presents Why Facebook, Why Now? posted at Hakim Abdullah

Janey Loree presents Reading for Recreation… posted at “Twiglet” the Little Christmas Tree…a story of discovery, miracles and friendships…

Anthony presents Today I Was Given A Gift posted at The Lives and Times… of Anthony McCune

tedleecn presents 7 Reasons Why You Should Come to China! posted at TedLee’s Blog

Hueina Su presents Homecoming to You: Re-connecting with Your Authentic Self posted at Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul, saying, Whenever we say we should or must do something or feel/behave in a certain way, we are judging ourselves. We are saying that there is something wrong with whatever we are currently feeling/doing, and that’s why we need to change (for someone else’s sake). When you judge yourself this way, either consciously or unconsciously, on a regular basis, you are denying your Authentic Self, and damaging your self-esteem. Here are some steps you can take to re-connect with your Authentic Self.”

CyberCelt presents Kauai is a Dream Spot posted at CoolAdzine for Marketers blog.

JHSiess presents Sunday Scribblings #56: Rooted and Blog Your Blessings Sunday posted at ColloquiumTitle: “Rooted in Reality . . . and Blessings” JHS,Esq. discusses life milestones and explains why they are opportunities to assess where our lives have led us so far — and where we are going from there.”

Manos presents Blog Country - Submit Your Blog For Free! posted at BLOG COUNTRY, GUEST of Tips for New Bloggers

Janey Loree presents Family Recreation… posted at Notes That Touch The Heart…

CyberCelt presents Simple Sounds Cavern Concert Series posted at Texas RV Travel blog

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a blog village carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Tags: a blog village carnival, blog carnival

Posted by CyberCelt under Activities & Blog Events | 7 Comments »

Texas is the fifth largest wine-producing state in the nation with
210 commercial vineyards and 95 bonded wineries.
Wine grapes are planted on over 3,200 acres in Texas.
More than eight tons of wine grapes are harvested in Texas each year.

Wine Harvest Time in Texas

August 4, Kiepersol Grape Stomp, Kiepersol Estates Vineyards & Winery, Tyler

Make an old tradition a new family affair with grape stomping in the vineyard. Open from 11-7, free to stomp, only $2 for a vineyard tour in horse-drawn carriage, wine tastings $1 per one ounce. Bring a lawn chair and relax.

August 4-5 and 11-12, Crush for Fun, Pleasant Hill Winery, Brenham

Get cool purple feet, t-shirt and a picture to prove it, adults taste wine and children drink kool-aid ($25 for adults/$15 for children)

August 17, 19, 24-26, Harvest Wine Trail, Johnson City

Just flash your Printed Trail Registration at each of the 22 wineries on the Harvest Wine Trail. Bring a designated driver. Only $25 per person. Call us at 866-621-9463.

August 25-26, 11th Annual Grape Stomp at Becker Vineyards, Stonewall

Climb into a half barrel of grapes and stomp. Souvenir Grape Stomp T-shirts will be available for sale. The event is complimentary, no reservations required. Contact us at 830-644-2681.

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Tags: wine harvest, grape stomps, wine tastings, wine trail, Texas wine

Posted by CyberCelt under Food/Wine & Gardens/Tours | 4 Comments »

The Texas Clipper

Texas Parks and Wildlife will reef the USTS Texas Clipper in August 2007. She will lie seventeen miles east of the South Padre Island jetties in 134 feet of water. The wheel house and cabins will reach to the 50-70 feet depth.

Commissioned as the USS Queens in 1944, the ship served as a troop transport during World War II, and was decommissioned in 1946. From 1965 to 1996, the USTS Texas Clippper served students and sea cadets at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

This will be a fitting end to a fine ship. Scuba divers will be there when it goes down and back again within months to check on it. In time, barnacles, corals, sponges and clams will cover the ship surfaces. Then small fish and crabs will appear. Soon the larger fish will appear as the ship becomes a world class artificial reef.

Dive the Legend - The Texas Clipper - Dive the Legend

Tags: artificial reef, Texas Clipper reef, Gulf of New Mexico

Posted by CyberCelt under Did You Know & Misc. & Remember & Scuba/Snorkel | No Comments »

Well, we went to Houston last Sunday and we combed the streets and shelters, looking for my girlfriend’s son who left the drug treatment program. I had my family helping and we had strangers looking for us. The kindness of strangers is always a special blessing.

One nice woman from my sister’s church called the hospitals and morgues so that we would not have to do it. A friend of my brother liaised with the police departments in the area because Houston is surrounded by small towns and each has its own police department. He took a look at arrests made in the past two weeks. I made flyers and we distributed them door to door and left them in neighborhood stores, around where her ex-husband lives. He helped us search, so I guess he really did not know where the boy is.

We need help: We could use prayers. Lots of them. Just a quick “God, help the mothers and their sons in Texas” could help us work a miracle. That is what it is going to take. God provides them, we just need a little help.

Tags: mothers and sons in Texas, pray for moms and sons in Texas

Posted by CyberCelt under Personal | 3 Comments »

I have been asked to write about where I would go and what I would see in an RV in the UK. Where to start? Well, first, I need an RV. Travelworld RV is one of the largest Motor Homes Dealers in the UK, so I will start my journey at their facility in Telford, Shropshire, basically in the heart of England.

Travelworld RV currently holds the largest and most complete stock of new and pre-owned American RVs anywhere in the UK. They represent six large American made RVs: Coachmen, Safari, Monaco, Beaver, Holiday Rambler and Georgie Boy Motorhomes.

On the Travelworld RV website, I quickly decided on a previously owned Georgie Boy Pursuit. I feel this motorhome would be a good choice for driving in the UK. It is 26 feet long, the steering wheel is on the left and the huge windows allow a feeling of bringing the scenery inside. The Class A motorhome does not have a slide, so it will fit in most camping spaces with no problem!

Where would I go in the UK? I would go the magical places, to see mystical works of arts and to walk through the ancient spaces. My route? I would pick up the RV in Telford, east of Shrewsbury. I would make a lazy loop in Shropshire country, with side trips as time allows.

Tentative Loop Through Shropshire

• Wroxeter Roman City, Shropshire - old Roman city of Viroconium
• Shrewsbury Castle, Shropshire - ruins of the Norman castle
• Hodnet Hall, Shropshire - Magnolia walk, water gardens with resident black swans
• Biddulph Grange Gardens, Staffordshire - gardens linked by tunnels, banks and walls
• Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire - half-timbered manor (most photographed in UK)
• Arbor Low, Derbyshire - a grand henge monument and burial mounds
• Beeston Castle, Cheshire - view the Pennines and the Welsh mountains from the ruins
• Chester Cathedral, Cheshire - wood carvings depict Arthurian legends
• University of Liverpool, Cheshire - explore the city surrounding the university
• Speke Hall, Cheshire - Late 15th century Tudor manor. Gardens and woodland walks
• Peak District and Peak National Park - walk, explore, spend a few days exploring the sall towns and districts of this beautiful area
• National Forest - regrowing in parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire
• Donington Collection of Grand Prix Racing Cars, Derbyshire - collection of motorcycles and 130 grand prix race cars
• Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire - ruins of 15th century fortress where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned
• Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire - three towers and much restored church

Possible Side Trips

• Possible side trip: Ferry to Isle of Man and back
• Possible side trip: Day trip through Mid Wales and Brecon Beacons

Can you tell I am so ready for a road trip? In the UK? It is just so hard to get out of Texas!

Tags: UK, RVing in UK, Shropshire, Travelworld RV

Posted by CyberCelt under Other Countries & RV Travel | 8 Comments »

Plano Balloon FestivalOak Point Park
2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, Texas 75074
September 21-23, 2007

Check the schedule, parking and transportation and make plans to take a balloon ride.Link to Google map with RV Parks in the area surrounding Plano.

Tags: Plano, hot air balloon festival, Plano Balloon Festival

Posted by CyberCelt under Fairs/Festivals & RV Parks & Skywatching | No Comments »

Back in May, I shared the story about my friend’s son who was addicted to prescription painkillers. I have been talking with her every week to check on her. Today, she was frantic about her son.

Evidently, her son went through a detoxification program with a church-based program and almost died from the withdrawal symptoms. He was feeling better lately, exercising, eating better, starting to think about going back to school, and gaining weight. Then, suddenly last week, he checked himself out of drug treatment and disappeared. My friend is unable to find her son and has not seen him in over a week.

She contacted her ex-husband, but he assured her that the boy was not with him. She thinks her son is living with her ex, so that is good enough for me. I am driving down to Houston with her and see if we can find her boy. I grew up in Houston, and I have family there. If we can find the boy, we may be able to convince the boy’s father to let him go back with us or to take part in selecting a new program.

I hate getting involved, but feel that I must. Luckily, I have been researching different program options to get him help. I was not sure the church-based program was the best solution for him. Sometimes, one drug treatment program works for one person, but not for another.

1-800-NoDrugs.com is a website/information/referral portal run by a nonprofit organization. The entire purpose of this website is to find the drug rehabilitation program that is right for you and your family. There is no charge for a referral to any program. Call 1-800-NoDrugs.com, sponsor of this post, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and find the help you need.

On the website, there is information about financing a treatment program. There are articles on drug addiction, alcoholism, drug rehabilitation and alcohol rehabilitation. There are plenty of resources, even an assessment, so that you may learn about this problem that can tear your family apart.

All parents should read about the drugs that kids are using. I have heard of Cocaine, Crack, Heroin and Marijuana, but I have no idea what Club Drugs, Ecstasy or Ketamine are or do to you. Knowledge is always a good thing, but in this important area of mental and physical health of our children, we cannot learn fast enough, know enough.

Wish us luck on our treasure hunt in Houston. Pray God we find him and he is not back on drugs; or, if he is, that he will consent to treatment.

Tags: 1800nodrugs.com, drug treatment, free drug treatment referral, get help 24/7

Posted by CyberCelt under Personal & Trouble | No Comments »