Further changes of plan - Off to the Cowboy Capital!

Unfortunately our plans to visit Palestine, Texas, have changed. Our friend Jim has his annual meet at the Speedway for the annual car parts flea market; otherwise known as PATE.

They camp out; swap stories and look at all things car and classic car related.  So the decision was, do we move onto our next planned destination of Burleson and Fort Worth or do we use the 2 days to visit somewhere else?

After a few chats we decided to head to Bandera, Texas. The Cowboy Capital of Texas.
Check out what it's all about at the link here. We have picked a quirky cabin. Very Texas; very Cowboy; very basic. However it looks fun and we love quirky. So this is where we will spend our two days, immersing ourselves in all things Cowboy.

More Sad news! A change of direction

We had an e-mail today to say that our Bed and Breakfast in Memphis had been cancelled but there was no explanation. I sent an e-mail asking why it was cancelled, then felt awful when the lady who runs it along with her Husband, replied saying her Husband had died that morning. What can you say, but send your condolences.

Now our Memphis accommodation was cancelled, we had to make another booking. Again we did not want a high rise city hotel. We looked for bed and breakfast hotels within a certain radius, constantly coming up with chain hotels. Then we struck lucky, we found some beautiful old towns, 20 minutes south of Memphis/Gracelands, which is about the same distance as before.

One we fell in love with was an old house in a town called Hernando, in Mississippi.

Another state to add to my list. I think I may have hit 20 now! The reviews were great and we have been in touch with people who have stayed there and also visited Graceland and Beale St Memphis, which are the only places we really want to see. Having read about these lovely old towns in Mississippi we are quite keen to have a look around those too. Lots to fit in!

Sad sad news

Fort Worth Stockyards - Lisa & Gaye

Today we lost our dear friend Gaye. Someone I always called Aunty Gaye; she felt like she was Family to me and I'm heartbroken. We knew she was getting older (she was 91), and she had not been well of late, but we were really hoping that she was going to be around when we got there. We always had lots to talk about, and had lots of laughs. It's going to be hard going to her house and she not being there. A sad day.

A change of heart

I had a bright idea. I know, it doesn't happen very often. I don't drink on plane journey's so it was nothing to do with having a drink, but I thought it would be better to stop overnight at the airport in Houston, rather than travelling on a long flight; waiting ages for bags; then picking up a car, driving to a strange city on strange roads in the dark. Ok, I'm nervous, I'll admit it.

Courtesy Texas Gulf Coast online

So we have changed our bookings and are now going to be staying overnight at the airport, and then picking up the car in the morning and driving to the Gulf coast. Then we'll be fresh and be able to see where we're going!

 

Musn't forget our Favourite Heathrow Hotel!

Whenever we go overseas and fly from Heathrow, we always stay at the same hotel. It's like a mini promenade inside with restaurants and bars. So we can't go on this trip without booking it. Will tell you all about it nearer the time.

It overlooks the runway and you can see Virgin Planes outside the window. I hope that we can see our plane!

Where shall we stay & How shall we get there?

Ok, so the itinerary is planned, mileages are worked out, now just to put it all together with accommodation. Oh and I suppose we need a car to get us from all the different points. Scary thought, as A) I've never really driven far in the US and B) I've never driven an automatic car. I would be doing most of the driving as I am a TERRIBLE passenger and prefer to drive, although I don't really like driving. So whats 2500 miles for someone who doesnt like driving. Eeek.

Accommodation (more details will follow when we're on the trip)



Firstly we can go to the space center but lets stay on the Gulf coast in Galveston. It's not far. Quite a bit of history (albeit not old old history like ours). We decided we didn't really want to stay in big high rise hotels if we could help it and B&B's were the way to go, but here we didn't find much choice.

Conroe - Lets go and stay in a shared house near our friends, so we can get to know the locals.

Fredericksburg - Well Linda talked about the peaches in Fredericksburg so we found a little b&b on a peach orchard. Looks fantastic. Linda is joining us too!



Palestine - Staying with our friends Jimmy and Sherry



Burleson/Fort Worth - Of course it will be with Marilyn and Linda/Gaye in their homes. Wouldn't stay anywhere else.



Arkansas - Hot springs it is, in a little B & B.

Courtesy of FlyingLure.com

Memphis - Nice B & B in a manor house



Nashville - B & B outside of town.





Little Rock - Little house all to ourselves.





Plano - With our good friend Chrinda.

Oh and of course we had to get a car to travel in. Lots of miles, two drivers, insurance. Not cheap but we did get one from a local well known car hire agency, which was over £100 cheaper than other quotes, but was fully inclusive and yes I checked all the fine print.

We can sit back and rest a bit now until after Christmas

OK Texas it is, but what route shall we take?

Ok we had settle on Texas but where were we going to go?

• Dave wanted to see the Space Centre near Houston, so that was one condition.
• It was wild flower season and our dear friend Linda from Texas had shared with us her trip to Fredericksburg and Luckenbach, and written about it on my book blog. So that had to be another part of our journey, to visit the Hill country.
• Conroe in the Woodlands area; we have friends Stacie and Don there and it was on our way up north, so that was another consideration.
• Palestine to see our dear friends Jimmy and Sherry who live in the Piney Woods. Had to go there (if they'd have us) as we never really get much time to spend with them.
• Then it would be onto Burleson and Fort Worth as that's where our dear friends Marilyn, Linda and Gaye would be found, and you can't go to Texas and not spend time with them. They are like family.

Ok so that was Texas, but now we had to plan how to get to Nashville! Looking at the map we had to travel through Arkansas to get to Tennessee so that was going to be interesting. Lets get the map book out!

Well everyone seems to stop off at Texarkana to take photos in front of the sign outside the post office so you have one foot in Texas and one in Arkansas. Trip Advisor was not recommending we stay there though! Ok, Trip Advisor is to be worshipped so that was fine. Next question though was where to stay on route to Nashville as it's a long drive. Maybe not for the Americans but for us Brits where nowhere is really very far it was miles and miles!

Guess what I spotted on route to Nashville though? We had to go through MEMPHIS! Elvis country! Guess who loves Elvis? Yes me! Daaaavvvve..... Can we stop in Memphis. Who was he to refuse eh? Well it's still a long way for us little Brits so where could we stop in between. Quick e-mail sent to the Arkansas Tourist Board, who replied almost immediately! One place they recommended was Hot Springs. Quick look on Trip Advisor, and the decision was made. Ok so next stop Memphis, and then onto Nashville.

Now, the next thought was, ok, where do we stay on our way back from Nashville to Texas? It's a long way. The only place I had ever heard of in Arkansas was Little Rock, home of Bill Clinton, so lets take a look at that. River festival, nice looking little city. Yes that would be it.

Lastly, what were we going to do when we got back to Texas? Just a few days to spare, so thought we'd contact our friend Chrinda Jones, Author of Angels sings to rest, and Mother to a talented young man who plays guitar in the Zane Williams Band. Would she like to put us up for a couple of days? Yes she said, she would. So Plano, Texas would be our last stop on our journey.

Now we better start booking accommodation!