Hobbs Trip - Day 11

Slept very late and then drove over to meet Nicky at USM. Spent some time in the library for a few hours while she finished up her last class. Walked around a bit - football is in the air at Southern Miss.! Nicky had to work for a few hours, so I wandered around the mall for awhile. Had dinner with her after work. Rented a movie and stayed in tonight. I have to be back at work soon...

Hobbs Trip - Day 10

Kept driving and crossed Louisiana border just after midnight. On I-10 (gas in Crowley, LA, at 0145) until reaching I-59. Finally in Hattiesburg at 0500. Whew! Crashed on Nicky's couch and actually got a few hours of sleep before she and Melanie had to get up for class. Got even more sleep while they were gone. Around 1500, Nicky came back and we went out to dinner. Saw a late movie. Bed around midnight.

Hobbs Trip - Day 9

Up by 0830. Paid for campsite at Headquarters and then drove over to landing for boat to Mexico (1000). There was a teenage kid there who offered to "guard" my car for the day - and he wouldn't leave me alone until I gave him a little change. Took a boat across the Rio Grande to Boquillas del Carmen with some other Americans (one family from Dallas). Walked around in town for about an hour - bought some local crafts and souvenirs. Wish I had brought some hip waders, since the river was smooth and I could have walked in it. Oh well - went back across to Texas around 1145. Explored a little more of the park - Chisos Basin was interesting. Also found a fossil exhibit. Drove north out of park around 1345 (worth a return trip). Took US-385 and US-90 again - this time to the East (gas in Marathon, TX). Crossed Pecos river and saw lots of signs for Lake Amistad National Recreation Area - stopped for a bit at the Park Headquarters near Del Rio (1700). In Bracketville by 1730. Had wanted to take Farm-674 to the North, but it was closed. Instead, I got to wait in a line at a customs inspection station a few miles up on US-90. Decided to continue to San Antonio. Had dinner in Walde and called Nicky. Weather was great, so kept driving on US-90 until I found I-10 again (around 2000). Drove on I-10, through Houston, until midnight. Near TX-LA border...

Hobbs Trip - Day 8

Woke up at 1130 today and said goodbye to Bonnie. Drove over to see Uncle Charlie before I left town. On the road by 1215. Drove down US-180 to Carlsbad Caverns. Had planned to visit them, but sleeping late made it hard to stick around long enough to go inside. It looked a little crowded anyway... Explored back roads at Rattlesnake Springs (part of the National Park). On county roads for a little while (418/422/423). Found New Cave area - hiked there - and explored Slaughter Canyon (1530). Back on US-62/US-180 for a little while - then entered Guadalupe National Park. Checked out McKitrick Canyon and looked around the rest of the park for a little while - there were some great views! I didn't expect to see such big mountains around here, but it was worth the trip. Leaving the park, switched to TX-54. Saw a fox (or coyote?) near Van Horn. Probe GT hits high speed on back road - nothing for miles and really flat (and no billboards to hide behind...). Changed to I-10 for a short time and then got off on TX-118 at Kent. Saw a deer on Spur-78 near the McDonald Observatory (my planned stop). Unfortunately, they were closed. They apparently have tours on Tuesdays... Met a local man who told me what they do there. Drove over to Alpine (2030) and then took US-90 (it goes through Milton!) to US-385. Listened to Monday Night Football all the way to the gate of Big Bend National Park. Country was beautiful by a nearly full moon. Could see mountains all around. Inside the park around 2300, no one at Park HQ to give me a camp site, but there were plenty to choose from. Setting up tent, it broke. Ended up sleeping in the car (2330). Mexico tomorrow!

Hobbs Trip - Day 7

Didn't get up until 1100 this morning (wonder why?). Watched football games with Chuck almost all day. Helped one of Bonnie's friends with his truck. Had dinner with Bonnie, Uncle Charlie, Chuck - still watching football. Spent a little time this evening looking at the maps - had to figure out a plan for the rest of the trip! Called Nicky. Stayed up late watching TV and playing video games again... Bed around 0200.

Hobbs Trip - Day 6

Woke at 1015 again. The Notre Dame game was on - and I didn't think I'd get to see it. But, of course, Bonnie has Pay-Per-View, so Chuck and I were able to watch that game and a few others. Went to Mass with Uncle Charlie later and then had dinner with Bonnie. Called Dad. One of Bonnie's friends, Ellen, had a party tonight - we went for a little while. Chuck took me out again to The Brass, where we played darts again. Came back at 0200 and Chuck fired up the hot tub and opened the pool. It was great to hang out under the stars in the hot (but "dry-heat") New Mexico night... Went to sleep after 0300.

Hobbs Trip - Day 5

Slept until 1015 and then got my bags from Uncle Charlie's - Bonnie said I should move over to her place since the kids will be getting into town soon. Went to a nice Mexican restaurant with Mary and John. Watched some TV in the afternoon. Went to a "Circus Party" at one of Bonnie's friend's house. It was a pleasant evening - and I think Uncle Charlie liked it, too. He was sitting in a chair near the entrance to the pretty garden where the party was held, a smile on his face. Everyone who arrived walked over to greet him - he was the center of attention all night. Chuck showed up later in the evening and told me we needed to go out. He and some of his friends took me to Holidaze and The Brass (Country-Western Music) Bar. We stayed up late, playing Cricket (darts) and had a really good time. Got home around 0200 and read for a bit before sleeping (0300).

Hobbs Trip - Day 4

Slept until 1015. Went over to Bonnie's and looked through the paper. I worked for a bit on the Football Challenge (Bob and I have teams). Later, drove over to see Uncle Rob at his nursing home. Back at Bonnie's by dinner time - went to the Country Club with Uncle Charlie, Bill and Annie. Watched TV and played "Legend of Zelda" until very late - didn't even go back to Uncle Charlie's. Bed at 0200.

Hobbs Trip - Day 3

Woke up at 0915. Had lunch with Bonnie and her friends, Bill and Annie. Bonnie later took me on a tour of the Bravo Energy Office. Went back to Uncle Charlie's and picked him up - he wanted to show me around. We drove over to see the Soaring Society office and then over to the New Mexico Community College. Had dinner at Bonnie's - the Hillary Clinton health care plan was all over the news (and topic of dinner conversation). Kathy and Chuck called late - it was good to talk to them. Back at Uncle Charlies, called Nicky and then watched TV until 0200.

Hobbs Trip - Day 2

Left room at 1030 and got gas in Ranger, TX (1135). Saw paratroopers along the road near Abilene - I guess they were from the Air Force Base... Took I-20 (Business) and US-80 for a bit, but then got back on I-20. Got a chance to visit the Confederate Air Force Museum in Midland/Odessa. Also discovered a meteor crater just outside Odessa (1745). Used TX-338 (Loop), US-385 and TX-176 to Eunice, NM. Then on NM-18 to Hobbs (the scenic route...). Got to Bonnie's just before dark (1830). Visited for several hours with her and Uncle Charlie (96 years old!). Tim will be in town soon - and Chuck, too. Went over to Uncle Charlie's - I'm staying with him at his apartment. Bed around midnight.

Hobbs Trip - Day 1

Going to see my uncles in New Mexico! Left Marion around 1300. Took I-20 towards Dallas - in Dubberly, LA, at 1700. Crossed border into Texas at 1745 and hit a huge thunderstorm - almost had to pull over... Listened to the radio for most of the day - some good NFL shows. Making good time in the Probe GT - until I got pulled over near Mesquite. There was NO traffic and I was barely speeding (OK, 65 mph), but he gave me a ticket. Back on the road - made it to Weatherford at 2130. Found a room for $20 at a truck stop - kind of like a trailer. TV until around midnight.

Hattiesburg, MS (USA)

[(spent day with Nicky) - watched movies in evening - (drove back to Meridian)]

Hattiesburg, MS (USA)

[took dog to the vet - checked out on leave - (drove to Hattiesburg to see Nicky)]

South Weymouth, MA (USA)

Left around 1000 to drive back up to South Weymouth. Arrived around 1130 and had lunch. Met Mac back at the plane around 1300 and we left a few hours later. Dad watched us take off in the "mighty" Buckeye... I was in the front seat this time - and the weather wasn't good at all. No view of the Cape today! Flew to McGee-Tyson for fuel and delayed there for a short time to ensure we would get some night time before we landed. Last leg to Meridian went fine - home around 2100.

Dennis, MA (USA)

Dad arrived in South Weymouth around 1000 and drove me back to the Cape. He let me borrow his car and I was able to visit Grammy, Aunt Irene, Bryan and some of my other friends. Katie and Carolyn were around, too - that was nice. Had a good cookout at the house. Went to the late movie ("Man Without a Face"). Have to go back to Meridian tomorrow...

South Weymouth, MA (USA)

Got done with a flight early this afternoon and then met up with Mac for our flight to Boston. Our trip up to Cherry Point went pretty well - got to do the "hot-pits" there. Flew the last leg without the instrument hood (nice, since he made me take off this afternoon with the "bag" up...). Arrived at South Weymouth around 1900 and called Dad. Thought he would come up to get me, but found out that he had never planned to pick me up until tomorrow morning. It sucked, since I had to find a hotel without a car. Luckily, Mac dropped me off at a nearby Comfort Inn (Rockland, MA), where I learned that "econo" is a relative word. The room wasn't impressive, but I had a bed...

Vicksburg, MS (USA)

Nicky was home for an extended weekend, so we decided to head over to Jackson. Left Marion at noon and headed west on I-20. Gas in Brandon, MS. Wanted to see the airshow that was going on this weekend, but couldn't get anywhere near the airport :-(. Ended up taking US-80 into center of city just to get around the trouble. North on I-55 for a bit and then off at Ridgeland Mall. Shopped for a bit there and then got back on the road. Listened to the radio - trying to keep up with my Football Challenge statistics (not doing so well...). Used I-55, I-220 and I-20 to get to Vicksburg - arrived at 1600. Saw the park video and toured some of the interesting sites along the Mississippi River. Saw a lot of good things and didn't leave the park until 1830. Weather was nice, so we crossed the Mississippi on the old US-80 bridge into Louisiana. The road actually looked closed, but we made it over. Nicky didn't like the looks of the bridge, so we took I-20 back across and all the way back to Meridian. Home at 2015.