After leaving the Grand Design Rally in Hot Springs, we drove a longer day than we usually do to get to the TX GD rally.  We were going to split it up and stop for the night, but the drive was going well, the roads were good, and the sun was out, so we decided to drive the almost 7 hours to Montgomery, TX, just north of Houston.  We stopped midway to grab a late lunch and then we were on our way to our final destination  We arrived at the Lake Conroe KOA around 6pm, set up and called it a night.  The park was pretty empty except for a couple Grand Design RV's that came in early for the rally that was to start Thursday,  With this being a bigger rally than Arkansas, we were happy to get settled early so we could sit back and watch everyone else roll in.  With 125 rigs coming in for the rally, it was pretty busy the next two days.  

As with the other rally, the techs were on site to handle any recalls or safety issues that needed attention and were able to squeeze in a couple other items as time allowed.  Getting in a few days early benefited us to be able to address a couple of those little things and appreciate all the Grand Design techs do.  They even were able to go to the rescue of one rig that broke down half a mile from the rally in a store parking lot.  They certainly love their jobs and as their trucks and trailers say, they strive for nothing less than customers for life.  I know we've said this before, but there is no other RV manufacturer that does this level of service and we are forever grateful!

We were also able to take advantage of the RV rally special pricing and had our rig washed and hand waxed.  Windows were crystal clear, awning sparkling and the roof was even cleaned.  We are pretty religious on washing our rig but the last couple weeks were especially dusty and rainy, which made for a dirty, muddy rig.  The guys were meticulous and did an amazing job in the 90+ humid heat!  If your ever in the Houston area and need your RV washed, lookup Extreme RV Mobile Detail.  They do an amazing job!

We have come to realize that each rally is different and this rally held true to that.  There were several interesting seminars. a Dip-It competition that raised money for the local food bank, several Grand Design rigs to tour from the local dealership and food, lots of food!  The last night there were prize drawings and RIck won some Yeti koozies. We had a great couple of days, met alot of great folks and even got together again with the friends we made in AR to play hand and foot card games and they even taught us how to play Mexican Train.  Of course we were having soo much fun we forgot to take pictures!  Thanks Sharon, Joe, Roxie and Ed for a great afternoon! 

Unfortunately the rally ended on a very sad note as one of the Grand Design Ambassadors passed away in her sleep the last night of the rally.  It was her last rally in that role and she left doing what she loved.  Her passing just solidified for us, our decision to follow our dreams and explore this Full-time RV lifestyle while we can, because you just don't know how long you have!  Carpe Diem!!

Once the rally wrapped up, we stayed a couple extra days relaxing and exploring the area.  DId you know that Montgomery, TX is the birthplace of the TX flag?  They definitely make sure you know when you visit!

We visited Fernland Historical Park and Memory Garden in the heart of Montgomery.  It has several buildings that provide a glimpse into the early Texas life back in the mid 1800's.  Some of the homes are the oldest remaining structures in Texas.  It was free and very knowledgeable docents guide you through the homes.  The memory garden is tucked behind the historical park and pays tribute to the memory of many local individuals.  It has beautiful flowers and trees and a path on the shores of a little pond.  We took a quick walk through the garden in the sultry heat of the day.  With temperatures in the low 90's and feel like temps reaching 100, we were quick to observe and get back to AC!  Again, no pics, but that is partly because you are not allowed to take pics in the historical park, so I just took one from the parking lot.

We are now headed to a couple camping spots around Lake Livingston and the Piney Woods of east TX.  We are looking forward to the temps being in the high 70's, low 80's!  I know family and friends back in WI are rolling their eyes at that last comment!  LOL

​​​​SHOP AMAZON HERE
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After leaving MO we headed to Arkansas to our first regional Grand Design rally.  We had been to the national rally in IN last year and really wanted to attend some of the regional rallies.  We were excited that we would be able to work in two rallies on our way to our winter destination.  We headed south through MO into AR via Hwy 65 that proved to be a picturesque, narrow at times, drive through the countryside.  We have never been to this part of the country and it was really beautiful country.  We had some inclimate weather and a short stay, but would like to come back and explore more someday.

Our final destination in Arkansas was Catherine's Landing RV Park in Hot Springs.  This was where the inaugural Grand Design Rally for Arkansas was being held.  It was a great park, with the perfect venue for a rally.  The park was located along Lake Catherine in a quiet setting with full hook up sites, a pool and hot tub, golf carts to rent and a zip line adventure course.  Unfortunately, with the rally and some inclement weather, we weren't able to really check out the amenities.  

The weather was quite warm, in the mid 90's when we arrived so set up was a quick one.  Luckily our site was across from a wooded area with a babbling brook that provided some afternoon shade.  Once we got situated we checked in at the rally and the festivities were on!  Moix RV was hosting the rally and did a great job of keeping everyone informed, entertained and well fed!!!  It was great to see some of our Grand Design family again and add more to the group.  We were fortunate to make new friends and even had two over to play some hand and foot card games!  Alot of great food, fellowship and fun was had and the weekend went by too quickly.  ​

Most of the rally attendees pulled out on Sunday but we made plans to stay another day and take in some of the mineral baths that Hot Springs has to offer.  We booked time for a couples mineral springs soak and massage at Quapaw Baths & Spa and thoroughly enjoyed our time there!  Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to go to the national park service and tour the Bathhouse Row but we saw some of the bath houses on the row.

We make a point to try some of the local cuisine and got a good taste of some at a catered rally dinner, complete with some fried catfish and hushpuppies.  We then went out to sample some of the local Mexican cuisine and were not disappointed!!  Rick also managed to squeeze in a quick visit with an Army buddy who he roomed with in Germany.  

Our time in AR went by very quickly but we made every minute count and now are looking forward to our next rally in Texas!

​​SHOP AMAZON HERE
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We said goodbye to family and friends and hit the road west to Iowa on a cold and rainy Sunday morning.  The Amana Colonies would be our first stop on our meandering trip south to Texas where we will spend several months exploring all of what Texas has to offer.  7 1/2 months to be exact!  Hopefully we will get a really good feel for the state in that time.

Most of our travel to the Amana Colonies was in rain and once we arrived at the Amana RV Park, the rain had finally stopped but the humidity was in force.  We could tell they got a good bit of rain as there were big puddles everywhere and some soupy looking sites.  We were fortunate to get one that wasn't as soggy, but still had puddles and mud.  We were only staying two nights so we really didn't mind.  The rv park is quite large and hosts several rallies every year.  We had a FHU site that we booked for two nights, and with our PassportAmerica discount, it was only $39 total.  Really loving these 50% off discounts we get with Passport America.  We stayed in the first night and just chilled and planned for our next day of exploring the Amana Colonies.   

The next day was going to be a hot, humid day so we planned to do our walk thru of the main Amana colony shops and museum in the morning and save driving around to the 6 other villages for the hot afternoon.  The majority of the shops and restaurants are in the main Amana village that is close to the the RV Park.  There is something for everyone, especially those that enjoy wineries and antiques.  

We first visited the museum, that was an $8 admission but included a very well done 20 minute movie that detailed the history of the colonies and the people that lived there.  We also toured one of the original colony buildings that had alot of historical information and artifacts.  If you enjoy reading, this is the place for you!!!  It was a bit overwhelming with all of the documents that were available to read.  To sum it up for you, the Amana Colonies is a utopian-like community, made up of 7 villages.  The people of the colonies are of German descent and came over from Germany in the mid-1800's looking for a new home where they could practice their beliefs and avoid religious persecution.  All residents were supplied necessities, including clothing and housing in exchange for their work in the community.  Communal kitchens supplied meals to all village residents and church services occurred several times throughout the week.  Many think the people of the Amana colonies are Amish, however, they are very different in that they embrace technology and were very forward thinking in that respect.

After leaving the museum, we walked thru downtown, visiting several shops and wineries.  It is a good thing we no longer own a house because the Christmas shop would have made alot of money off of me that day!  We only purchased consumables, like wine, chocolates and several different meats from the Meat Shop.  Alot of the stores had samples, which contributed greatly to our purchases!  They know how to get you!

​All of that shopping and walking made us hungry so we stopped by the Millstream Brewery Brau Haus and Rick had a flight of their beers, I had a glass of yummy riesling and we munched on their german pretzel and beer cheese soup.  Everything was delicious and the restaurant resembled a bavarian beer hall.

After lunch we set out on our driving tour of the other villages.  It was still very humid and with temps in the low 90's, we were more than happy to just drive through the villages.  Most of the shops we saw were either antiques or art, and since we do not have room for either, we didn't stop.  We did however stop at the High Amana General Store and glad we did.  The store was a glimpse back into what a general store would have looked like back in the day, but it also had handmade items from local artisans.  One thing that caught my eye was a handmade miniature size nativity scene.  It was beautifully carved wood figures with differing stains and the artist listed on the bottom all of the beautiful woods he used to craft this beauty.  We had a large nativity scene in our old sticks and bricks, which was too big for the RV.  This one was the perfect size and will have a special place in our new home at Christmas!

Later that evening we had a german dinner at the Ronneburg Restaurant.  It is located in one of the original communal kitchens and each dining room has a unique german theme.  We are suckers for a good german dinner and this one did not disappoint.  We went home happy and full!

 The next day we packed up and headed south to Jefferson City, MO.  Our friends live there and we found a Harvest Host winery near town to spend the night, and bonus, it had a restaurant.  Dinner at Canterbury Hill Winery was delicious, the views were beautiful, the wine was wonderful and the company even better!   Even though we get to stay for free as part of the Harvest Host program, we try to spend some money there or utilize their establishment.  We certainly did this time, but hey, we would have been drinking wine and eating dinner somewhere, so why not there.  See, I can reason that one!  We were the only ones staying the night, so we had the place to ourselves.  It was a hot day again so we cooled the RV down with the generator running and then turned it off for the night.  We ended up turning it back on again for awhile during the night as the temps were still around 80 and humid.  By morning it was finally in the mid 70's and we were packed up and on our way by 8:30.

We are now headed to Hot Springs, Arkansas to our first of two rallies with fellow Grand Design owners.  We went to the national rally last year in Elkhart, IN and are looking forward to our first regional rally...and then another in TX.  Stay tuned for all the rally shenanigans and antics!

​​SHOP AMAZON HERE
Would you like to help support our blog and keep these updates coming?  It is easy to help, just do your Amazon shopping through the link above.  You still get all your Amazon Prime benefits and the prices are the same.  Since we are in the Amazon affiliate program,  any shopping you do through our link, provides a little kickback to support this blog.  
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