Our next stop was Clearwater, we found the Sun Burst Inn at Indian Shores, the Inn was owned & run by Frank & Kim, a lovely couple from Birmingham (UK). They made us very welcome as you can see,take it easy Steve!!  

  Not only did they welcome us,they even moved the Hummer so we could get the bikes under cover..

 Could this be the Heron that’s eating all Steve’s fish, if he is he has had a long flight.

  Walking along the beach we tried to get photo’s of the Pelican’s flying overhead, this is the best we managed.

  Continuing South we were forced inland, after the beaches we continued to look for water,we found Steinhatchee, a small village on the river with a motel,marina,one resteraunt & a liquor store.. 

  Steve took this photo from the bridge as we were leaving the following morning, looking back at the boat marina..

  We continued South through Florida stopping at some of the lovely beaches which were endless & empty, on most the only sign of life was the Pelicans & other sea birds.

  Forget the two guys in the picture, look at that lovely view behind, white sand,flat calm sea & clear blue sky..

  Our hotel for the night in Mexico Beach was the Driftwood Inn, situated right on the beach.                                                                                                     The hotel had its own style of staff,here Phil is talking to the receptionist!!

 We headed through Mississippi into Alabama then straight into Florida in one day long ride but a must in our quest for warmer weather! We got to Pensacola & found this lovely B&B ( Pensacola Victorian ).

  As the sun went down it was time to sit on the porch & do some rocking!!

  Now this is a good start to the day, none of this motel breakfast, we were treated to a home cooked breakfast sat a proper breakfast table, simple things, but like the bedrooms here that feel homely, these are the things we miss.

  As it was Mardi Gras we had to head into New Orleans, the place was alive!, we headed to the French Quarter where street artists & traditional blues bands were performing.  

  As you can see there was no end to the type of entertainment!, we both agreed it was good to come & see but glad we were not staying in town.. 

  We continued on & headed into Mississippi State, got as far as Gulfport, had a walk along this lovely white sandy beach before settling down for the night.

 On our way to New Orleans we got as far as Morgan City & decided to stop at Macdonalds for a coffee, we got talking to Chip, a local guy who kindly invited us to join him & his family watching the Mardi Gras parade. He also invited us to stay in his B&B for the night.  

  This is one of the colourful parade floats, the parade lasted for almost one hour with numerous floats. We also got our first taste of ‘Gumbo’ made by Chips daughter Margaret, lovely it was to.

  One of the many music troops included in the parade.

  The bikes parked outside Chip’s B&B which was originally a houseboat.

  A view of the houseboat set beside the river in  lovely grounds. The night we stayed there Chip cooked us dinner & provided the wine, the following morning we went for breakfast with Dutch, one of Chip’s friends, thanks again to you both for your hospitality.  

  We left Texas & headed East, the weather improved even though it was freezing cold. Some of the buildings like this one were amazing.

  The countryside & scenery changed as we headed through Louisiana, still flat as Texas was, but water everywhere.

 After dropping Lucy of at Houston Airport we headed towards the Nasa Space Centre, we spent the full day there even venturing out on the 90 min shuttle bus ride around the centre, it poured with rain the whole day. The following day the weather was the same so we headed for the shopping mall’s, its amazing what you can buy out here!!

  This was where all the Apollo & early missions were controled from, Nasa Space Control Centre.

  One of the moon buggies use on one of the Appolo missions.

  A complete restored Appolo rocket, now in a hanger after the Texas humidity done extensive damage to it.

  This is the hanger where the astronauts do all the training, here is a full size mock up of the Space Shuttle. 

  We arrived at the Lazy F Ranch to a warm welcome & a lovely hot dinner, the next morning we were knocked out of bed at 05:30 to get the horses loaded onto the trailer & headed of to meet the Trail ride into San Antonio. This was a 12 mile horse trail along the roads into San Antonio for the annual Rodeo. 

  Every so often we would stop for a short break, it rained from start to finish which seemed to bother us more than the horses!

  The next day the weather was much better & we were taken out for a ride around the ranch, this we all enjoyed, Steve here is coming out of one of the streams we crossed, this one was saddle deep. 

  Phil is no cowboy so Clay & the boys made sure he was given a safe ride! this is Doller, he liked the water also!

  More water & Lucy leading the way, this part of Texas had had so much rain it was hard to avoid it out on the ranch, the locals didn’t mind as its the first rain they have had for months.

  Saturday night we were taken to the annual San Antonio Rodeo, this as you can see is good to watch but these bulls are mean!!

  The Rodeo stadium is fantastic, the event as well supported & there is a  live music concerts at the end of the events every night.

  Kenneth came to the ranch with a collection of gus for us to play with!!

 We went out to the South side of the ranch to a nice quiet spot, not for long!!

  Steve giving Lucy some support & technical advice! “hold the thing a bit higher Lucy”

  Steve was in his element, guns,guns & more guns! them poor rocks got it big time..

  Clay took us out to feed the cattle, not the rmal way we were expecting, this is ‘Pear Burning’, burning all the thorns of the Pear Cacti leaves. 

  And do the cattle love it, eating it while it was still smoldering.

  All the fun wasn’t on animals, Quad bikes & tractors to play with also..

  We left our motel & set of for San Antonio Airport in the pouring rain, this was the welcome Lucy got when she arrived, fully togged up ready for the 90 mile ride to the ranch where we were to stay..