Lake Red Rock - Pella, IA

We stayed at the campground south of the dam near Lake Red Rock at Pella, Iowa.  We had taken our boat, Tadpole, to the Suzuki Outboard repair shop just 2 miles up the road.  The motor was starting but would not keep running past a minute or two. Got the call on Friday from the repair man.  Motor needs to be rebuilt.  Ick!  So the best solution is a new motor.  Shopping this week for a 25hp boat motor. 
While camping at Lake Red Rock we saw "Sisters on the Fly" camping while they attended the annual Pella Tulip Festival.  These gals must have a blast. www.sistersonthefly.com


                                    

Yes, there was snow on the tulips.

Catching up...Padre Island at Corpus Christi, TX

The Gulf of Mexico

Our new pet.  He followed us down here from Galveston, TX.

LOL!

This was taken fall of 2012, but I was unable to post it, then I forgot about it.  So here it is.

I'm planning to post something new most days.

Bishop's Palace - Galveston, TX

This 20,000 sqft home was built for Walter and Josephine Gresham and their 9 children.

Walter and Josephine came to Galveston from Virginia following his service in the Civil War.

Mr. Gresham was an attorney and entrepreneur. He was a founder of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, eventually working to bring about the merger of the Santa Fe with the Atchison and Topeka Railroad. He also served in the Texas Legislature.

 

More interesting information about the magnificent grand homes and other buildings of Galveston can be found at http://www.galvestonhistory.org/1892_bishops_palace.asp

Fishing Success - Galveston Island, TX

We were up early fishing today. 

We wade out into the gulf to mid-thigh and cast out.

We both caught our first saltwater fish. 

Bob caught this 6 lb. red fish and I caught a 6 lb. Atlantic croaker.

We threw my Atlantic croaker back as this red fish will be plenty for us to eat.

No photo of me with my fish because no one was around to operate the camera.  But he did get a great photo of our feet.  LOL

Galveston Island - Galveston, TX

Galveston Texas

The Beach

Monday Morning

 

Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA

We are staying through Sat. Sept.29th at the Sam Houston Jones State Park.  It is located about 2 miles north of Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

This little guy was window peeping.

Critters of Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lizards, turtles and gators, oh my!

 

The Charpentier District

National Register of Historic Places

One of the more modest homes

More than 40 blocks of hundreds of turn-of-the-century buildings of mixed styles with turrets, towers, richly carved gables, shingling, sunbursts and fans, leaded glass, and extensive "gingerbread" dripping from the porches and railings.  A mix of grand houses, public buildings and smaller working-class homes, the Charpentier (French for "carpenter") District stands in homage to the carpenter-architects who freely designed as they built, creating a unique lake Charles-style. 

With direct access to the gulf, Lake Charles is rich in history

http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/

Raining here since 8:00 last night and not ending til tomorrow.  Looks like a trip to the mall today.

The Mississippi River at

Baton Rouge, LA

Deer in the Campground at

Sam Houston Jones State Park

near Lake Charles, LA