Gathering In Grapevine, Texas
The Vineyards RV Resort
Grapevine, Texas
September 10 - 13, 2009

Our TS friends all began arriving on Wednesday, Sept. 9 in Grapevine, Texas at The Vineyards Campground. Those attending were James and Gail Smith, Ida and Les Cook, Polk and Linda Brian, Jack and Linda Bruce (and grandson Drew), and Gene and Chris Fisher.  Not only were our RV sites beautiful, but right on the lake.  We enjoyed appetizers and a Wine Tasting after dinner, in order to get in the "Grapevine spirit".  We also enjoyed meeting 2 TS motor homers, John and Ruthie Shekell from Evansville, Indiana and invited them to our activities. They promised to read our website and maybe join us down the road somewhere.

On Thursday, we strolled on the Historic Downtown Main Street, with all its shops and wineries.  We also stopped to buy vegetables and tamales from the local Farmers Market. We ate "all you can eat" catfish at a local mom-and-pop place near the train station.  Later we went to Arlington and toured the new Cowboy Stadium that Jerry Jones built.  It was magnificent!  That night we dined on potluck.  As you know, it's always great!

On Friday, we had a marathon tour of Ft. Worth and the Stockyards area.  We toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and saw money being made by the millions!  Then we walked through the Amon Carter Museum, which holds the private art collection of one of Ft. Worth's most famous citizens.  After a lunch at famous "Kincaid's Hamburgers", we went to the Stockyards to pick up the Bruce’s and their grandson (as they had ridden the Tarantula train from Grapevine to Ft. Worth).  Although their grandson, Drew, enjoyed the ride, I believe it was truly for Jack's benefit!  It was quite an experience.  Later we watched the Longhorn steers being herded right down Exchange Street and visited an old 1800's hotel.  All of our men tried their hand at riding the mechanical bull, and believe it or not, some blood was spilled.  We won't say whose, but Polk still is wearing a bandaid. After a brief "look-see" at Billy Bob's, the largest honky-tonk in Texas, we went to Joe T. Garcia's to eat on their beautiful patio.  There we were joined by James R. Smith and his friend, Barbara, and we all scarfed down Mexican food and margaritas, until the rain ran us back to our campground.

On Saturday, the rain continued.  We decided it was a good day for indoor mall shopping and a movie.  We shopped Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall and got lots of bargains.  The ladies went to see a chick flick and the men split into two groups and saw bad movies.  Should have seen the chick flick!   We then had big bowls of "Texas Red"--the State Chili, at Tolbert's and went to the Grapevine Opry to hear "Duets and Love Songs".  Lots of talented folks were there!  We were joined at the Opry by Suzanne Smith and her friend, Joe, and they braved the rain with us (by now we had had about 6 inches in two days!)  There are still "high-water marks" on the trees near our campsites from the floods in the area in 2007, so we watched the lake level closely.  But there were no problems and we reluctantly left to head home on Sunday with a still steady downpour."

By, Gail Smith

This is of the crew waiting for the horsemen to drive the long horn cattle down the street in old town Fort Worth at the Stockyards.  We were tired from walking and touring.