I love my family with all of my heart and would do anything for them, but they have their own lives to live. My three children are scattered from north to south Louisiana with the youngest being 30 years of age. Sadly, none of them need their Daddy on a daily basis like it was when they were kids. It's a tough thing to accept when you realize your job as a parent goes from being 24 hours a day, every day, to being a few hours every so often. But that is the way life is, at least in my family and I have accepted it.
Before I retired, my job kept me very busy for about 50 hours a week. Since I retired, traveling has kept be busy and allowed me to see new things on a regular basis. I have been stationary for three months while celebrating and enjoying family Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is now time to move on down the road. I will be hitching Liberty up and her tires will feel pavement again next week.
There is an Engineering Conference I need/want to attend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the end of February. So, my plan is to see some parts of Louisiana between now and then. I will slowly make my way to Baton Rouge with a few sights to see along the way. Some of them I have seen before but hopefully will be seeing through refreshed eyes. Other parts will be be new to me and I will explore them as if I were a Yankee visiting the south. My accent may give me away though. :). One such place I plan to go, unless something changes, is Grand Isle, Louisiana which is about 40 miles south-southwest of New Orleans. I should be there in a couple of weeks and plan to stay maybe 7 days. Another new place to explore will be the areas either side of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
After leaving the conference I will slowly head towards Charleston, South Carolina. It is one of the places I wanted to see when I first hit the road after retirement but my plans changed and I went in another direction. We will see if I make it there this time.
Some family pictures:
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| My daughter, grand-daughter and son-in-law. |
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| My son and grand-son |
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| My son, sharpening his shooting skills on the shooting range. |
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| I like this picture a lot. It is of my daughter, grand-daughter and son as they walked around the neighborhood in which they grew up. The streets they walked this day saw them riding their first bike in the past and so much more. |
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| This is my grand-daughter. She was running by me and I would grab her now and then. The interesting thing I noticed after I downloaded the picture is the "guardian angel shadow" behind her. |
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| This is one of the times I grabbed her up and tickled her. |
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| This is my grand-son enjoying the freedom of riding his bike, without training wheels, around the same neighborhood his father rode his first bike. |
I'm sure my excitement and nervousness will build between now and pulling out, but that's part of the traveling life I've chosen.
Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.
Yep Feb. seems to be a good target date for rolling for a lot of us. I enjoyed the family pics in your blog. Thanks for publishing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barney. Have fun out there.
DeleteGreat to hear you are ready to get back on the road. That is one good looking family right there. We just crossed into Louisiana today. We are down by Lake Charles for a few days and then on to the NO area to enjoy some of the more sedate Mardi Gras parades. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHave fun in Louisiana but be careful if you go into New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
DeleteGlad to hear you are finally getting on the road again ---- wish I could do the same ---Looking forward to future posts -- You have a great looking family---there is nothing better that warms your heart thaan those sweet little grandkids---
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny,,,
DeleteDarrell, glad your back. I really enjoy your adventures and writings. I live in SC across the river from Savannah near Bluffon SC. The spouse and I have been to Charleston many times. Be sure to visit the Battery area and also City Market is you have and shopping desires what-so-ever. Charleston is rated the most friendly city in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteBE SAFE - Martin
Thanks for the suggestions Martin. SC is one of the few states that I've never been to before
DeleteLove the family pictures. We are in Sulphur, LA today & heading to Livingston in a couple days to enjoy some time between Baton Rogue & New Orleans. We will do New Orleans in the daytime only. Too bad our paths won't cross.
ReplyDeleteHello Barbara. I hope ya'll enjoy Louisiana. While in Sulphur, if you eat at Cane's say Hi to my oldest son, he is the manager there.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you back again Darrell,I missed your Wonderings and wasn't sure you were going to continue you're Wanderings.I'm in Quartzsite Arizona myself right now, but next winter I plan on going back to the south where all of my family is from and spending the winter there.I lived in Colorado for the last 30 years but I do miss the South.
ReplyDeletetheboondork
Thanks for the comment. I agree, there is something about the south that makes it special. I liked Colorado because I was lucky enough to the season change. It was great. Safe travels, cya down the road.
DeleteDarrell, you're right about the seasons in Colorado. Fall and summer are the best times to be there. In the mountains where I lived winter is too cold, too snowy, and lasts too long. But summer and fall can't be beat, and being a new full timer that's where I plan on spending my summers. I figure on getting there about May and staying until middle to late September, and going up and down in altitude depending on the temperature.
ReplyDeleteNow that I know you have come back to life I will put you BACK where you belong on my websites "favorite blogs". I'll be looking forward to you hitting the road.
theboondork
This is the first time I am commenting on your blog which I have enjoyed reading very much. The photos you take are splendid, I should be as talented, have to take bunches of shots to get a few good ones! My partner and I have been on the road for 3 years, currently in CA just outside of Yosemite National Park. Our trips are somewhat themed, or they begin that way anyhow, like doing Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, that was fun. This one is as many National Parks/Monuments as possible. Plus we come from PA, and it is nice to be able to avoid the winter temps.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to you are back in travel mode and blog mode.
A fan of your blog,
Suzette
Hello Suzette,
DeleteI missed Yosemite last year because it was snowed in. I hope yall enjoy it. I really liked your him state too, especially the Flight 93 memorial. Ya'll be safe.