Back in Florida, the Sunshine State

Back in Florida, the Sunshine State
We have to start out correcting a statement in our last blog. Heading east, we went from Arizona into Texas — not the other way around as we had written. So much for proofreading! And many thanks to exacting readers!
San Antonio is a lovely city, with the River Walk meandering through the city. We could see the new construction to extend the canal further and when finished, it will be even more enticing than it is now.
On a warm afternoon, we explored the San Jose` mission. This is part of the San Antonio Missions National Park. It was interesting to see how the Indians and missionaries lived. The mission has been renovated, and the stonework is intricate — the artisians had to have been extremely talented.
We saw a sign for Bill Miller’s Bar B Q with good prices advertised, so we stopped for dinner. This is a unique restuarant with an "open" kitchen and fast service. Joan got a kick out of the pictures on the wall near our table. They were of pigs, cattle, goats and horses that had won ribbons in a fair.
We usually see pictures of local scenery or classic cars, so this was definitely different. Bill Miller is a chain of 70 resturants in the Texas hill country, and judging by the local patronage, it’s a well known place for good food at reasonable prices.
Beautiful, warm weather turned cold overnight, so we headed east again. We stopped at a rest area on I-10 and were disgrunted to see that they only displayed a state of Texas flag. We have seen this frequently in Texas where either no U.S.A. flag is flying, or the Texan flag is larger than the U.S.A. flag. For all our travels, this is a unique observation to Texas and quite disheartening.
We are proud of Connecticut but reserve no higher pride than being Americans.
Louisiana is a pretty state, with bridges that travel through marshes and swamps. One of the Louisiana welcome centers had a display of Mardi Gras costumes. They were made beautifully with colorful sequins. The woman attendant told Joan that after they are worn, the owners donate the costumes. I’m sure they are extremely expensive and heavy, but their shine and beauty are well worth it. Who can ever think that America does not possess the magic of art in its citizens.
While we travel, Joan uses her iPhone to look for activities in the cities and communities ahead of us. We also use the iPhone for Mapquest, weather, email, news and so much more.
She found a Sunday night ballroom dance with a buffet in Mobile, Alabama. During the week, the ballroom is a dance studio and on Saturday and Sunday evenings, they have dances to "show off" what they learned. We called ahead to be sure we would be welcome, got the address, and arrived in our best dance clothes. We were greeted with southern hospitality at every turn.
As soon as the attendees heard that we were visiting from Connecticut, they came over to welcome us and make us feel at home. Southern hospitality is real and most charming. Sometimes, we wish New Englanders could take a hint from the charm and welcoming of this region of the country.
We arrived back in Florida and stopped back at Joan’s friend Barrie’s house. Here we had traveled across the country, without seeing a serious accident and on this day, we saw two! One was a van on its roof on the side of the road, and the other was a huge 5th wheeler RV on its side that took up three of the four lanes. Traffic was backed up for miles, and delayed our arrival at Barrie’s. James, as the driver, does not like standing traffic, especially on the highways .
This week James would like to discuss how we travel or more exactly drive the highways and byways of this great country.
First we try to avoid the interstates if at all possible. To digress a bit, the interstates are the road link system for the country. They are fast (some states permit 80 mph) and boring. Originally, we took I-40 across the country, but for the last two tours we have taken the more Southly I-10 we have discussed.
It is impossible to avoid cold but it is the snow we are attempting to avoid. One interesting note on Interstates: I am sure readers do not know that there is a requirement that for every five miles of Interstate, there will be a one mile straightaway. This feature allows for the Defense mandate in the act authorizing the construction of the Interstate network to allow for runways for aircraft if needed in an emergency situation. Hats off to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a great leader in peace and in war.
Cruise control is essential for long distance traveling. One thing James, as the designated driver, has to be careful of, though, is not to get his feet tangled so he can hit the brakes quickly. Also, he sets the cruise control a few miles per hour lower than the speed limit. This ensures that he does not have an expensive meeting with a state trooper and it offers better gas mileage. When it comes to better mileage, James checks the air pressure in the tires every day, and checks the oil levels and add synthtic oil as needed.
A long time ago, he learned to accelerate as if there was an egg under his gas foot. (Doesn’t every father tell his teenage son this as he teaches him to drive?) This accomplishes two things: 1. better gas mileage and 2. it is easier on the engine.
The down side is that drivers behind us have a tendency for "jack rabbit" starts and do not like our slow and gradual acceleration. These good driving practices have allowed us to enjoy from 23 to as high as 28 miles per gallon. More importantly, than money saved, is the enjoyment of seeing things that fast drivers will never see — too bad.
We are off to the gym and some lunch.
From lovely weather and blue skies in St. Petersburg, Florida,
Joan and James, the American Vagabonds