I will catch up later.....not able to post last night(Wed) as we were in storm shelter due to severe outbreaks of tornadoes in the Texas panhandle. We did not go to Ok City yesterday because of severe winds here in Amarillo and east with 35-40 mph winds ALL day long. Couldn't pull TheHowserHouse in those winds. TERRIBLE all day long.
ADDENDUM #1
It is now 2:30 in the afternoon.....Thurs......and we are in Amarillo with bright blue skies and full sun. Yep........after much discussion and consternation, we decided to remain one more day in the hope that the storms which are now affecting Oklahoma will not be as severe tomorrow as they are expected to be today.......so we are still in Amarillo.
Yesterday we shopped, looked around the town....and returned to TheHowserHouse with horrific winds blowing....upwards of 45 mph during the afternooon.....sustained winds, not gusts!!! Sure glad we didn't try to drive yesterday.
THEN....the storms began to roll upwards from the south and into this area. By 8pm we were in the clubhouse/restrooms in a concrete block building......not the more secure, but one HELL of a lot more secure than TheHowserHouse would have been in a tornado. The tornadoes began to drop all around Amarillo......and we became more concerned. Soooo.....
We gathered up our important paperwork, the camera, both computers, and a backpack of "goodies" and went to the restroom building. We joined others there who were as deeply concerned as we were.....and with weather radios blasting we listened as the storms began to take their toll with 15-30 miles of us. Then we received word that just 30 miles east of here a tornado had touched down at a trucker's rest area.....and many semi's were blown all over the highway, with one being completely crushed by flying steel beams. We heard this morning that the driver was killed. I-40 eastbound was shut down for some time during that....and during the night.
About10pm we returned to TheHowserHouse and then received the word from TV that another severe thunderstorm was moving into east Amarillo with golfball to baseball sized hail and winds up to 70 mph. Well......we decided to just wait and see......and the hard rains arrived, small pea sized hail....and then it was gone.....THANK GOODNESS!!!!
Around midnight we went upstairs to bed........and this morning after seeing the weather report we finally decided to not start east and drive into the storms there.....that we had suffered with last night.
Yep.....it was 1966 when I was last here in Amarillo, doing my Basic Training.....and now I am stuck here again....hahaha! I WILL never return to Amarillo for any reason!!!!
More later......
ADDENDUM #2
It continued to be an outstanding clear afternoon.........and the 1st Lady and I decided to take a swim, so we went over to the Clubhouse to the indoor pool and hot tub. It is a really large pool....much larger than most rv parks.......and so we really did enjoy out time there.
We have met some great people here.....and especially the couple next door to us. They, too, are heading east....to Massachusetts(sp?).....and so they have remained here for the same amount of time that we have these past two days. There are several other rv rigs who also have stayed here rather than face the horrific winds yesterday and the horrible storms in Oklahoma today.
Next door, Alan and Janet have been full-timing it since 1989........and really enjoy this lifestyle. They are a great couple and we have had such a good time getting to know them through many, many conversations over the past couple of days.
The weather is NOT looking good for tomorrow and for crossing Oklahoma. Storms are predicted....and severe ones at that......DAMN!!!!! We would like to get over to the east side of Tulsa and stay overnight at the Cherokee Casino where we can park for free in their parking lot. Hopefully......hopefully.....we will not have any problems in transit!!!!
On Saturday, the 31st we will go on to Osage Beach, MO......so that we can visit my mother who is slipping farther down with each passing week. I have not reserved a site.....could be a problem on a weekend in March at the Lake of the Ozarks........will call tomorrow when I know WHERE we will be spending tomorrow night.
We have now been gone for OVER 12 weeks.......WOW and WOW!!!!! The time has gone toooo damn fast, as I have said before......but don't all great things happen to quickly????
With everyday going by so rapidly.......each day must be enjoyed to the fullest.....and having said that.......I must repeat:
LIFE IS GREAT.....and, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
