"Texas!  Our beautiful Texas!  We love our wonderful state!  This trip taught us so much about you, and it has all been great.
    "We've heard your story retold;  your trials and tribulations are many.  Your endurance inspires us all; we give thanks for preserving our liberty.
    "Our tour could be called the eating tour; we dreamed about it night and day.  Wonderful steaks, bodacious desserts; everything edible headed our way!
    "The Big Texan is famous for their food, and we really wolfed it down!  A man tried to eat a 72-oz steak.  He didn't make it;  what a clown!
    "The Elkin's Ranch treated us to a Cowboy Breakfast;  what an adventurous jeep ride we had!  Tempting vittles, quick-witted comedians and lively music;  the whole experience was so rad!
    "We thought we knew Texas history, but there was more learning to be.  Frontier Texas enhanced our knowledge; it was thrilling to listen and see.
    "The whole tour packed so much into four days;  I thought it was just fine!  Everything made a memory to cherish for a very long time.
    "It was great to make new friends and to see familiar faces.  They remind us of the good times and all the marvelous places!
    "Our tour escort Linda was such a charmer; she always keeps us in a happy mood, while our driver Nick was making miles and trying to find us more food!
    "Travel is always an adventure, and Rockport Tours makes it fun.  We appreciate all your planning and work;  you'll always be Number One!"
                                                                                            Carlene Petty, June 2008
 

     "We made it to Houston and flew to Boston; everyone was a 'raring to go!   But once we landed in Bean Town, things began to get slower than slow.
     "We went to Connecticut's casinos; the architectural wonders of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.  Their decors were simply marvelous, all we could say is superb, well done!
     "The fall foliage was so fantastic; it had us all in a tizzy.  We'd look left, then right, there was so much color that all of our heads were dizzy.
     "Brilliant reds and vibrant oranges with all shades in between; on the mountains and in the valleys, it was the best we've ever seen.
     "Then came the long road home. We expected a few delays, but wound up in the midst of New York City!  After frittering away two whole hours, all we could say was 'what a pity'.
     "Bad hair days plague some people, but we suffered through a bad travel day.  Our driver, Nick, had plenty of maps and backseat help, but still couldn't find his way!
     "However, nothing could deter us; we were determined to find our next bed.  Many miles and hours later, we found our casino hotel to lay our head.
     "We had four glorious and sunny days before black clouds turned into rain.  We left the piloting to Nick, so we felt absolutely no pain.
     "A big 'thank you' goes to the Rockport Tours' office staff, plus Kay, John, Nick and Nell.  All the planning and preparations helped everything turn out well.
     "Rockport Tours attracts some really nice people. They certainly did on this trip!  Folks were kind, courteous and cooperative; Rockport Tours' guests are really hip!
     "The week together was really kind of special.  There were new memories and new friends, hopefully we'll all travel together again.  This doesn't have to be the end.    
                                                                                    Carlene Petty, October 2006

    "Look out, Colorado; This bus is headed your way! We're forty-eight folks looking for fun; Bet we'll find it every day!
     "We were glad to see lots of antelope; They seemed like such a treat.  It have us something else to do besides, eat! eat! eat!
     "We came looking for golden aspen; And, boy, did our dreams come true!  They sparkled in the valleys and mountain tops under a bright sky of blue.
     "Let's head for the Royal Gorge; What a magnificent landscape so grand!  Deep ravines and a swaying bridge; We live in such a beautiful land.
     "On to Pikes Peak for a great ride on the cog train.  Up we climbed above 14,000 feet; Man, we were feeling "no pain"!
    "The Garden of the Gods" is a must see; Red rocks rising up to the sky.  Their beauty is really breath taking; We were saying, "Oh, My! Oh, My! Oh, My!"
     "Everyone loves adventure. But with three flat tires and six inches of snow; It seemed a little too much to us.  Nick, our driver, soon had us on the go!
     "JoAnn and Suzy wee remarkable; They catered to our every whim.  Getting us water, collecting trash; Lets hear three cheers for them.
     "We all appreciate Nick's skills; His driving really passes the test.  He made us feel confident and comfortable; We rate Nick the very best.
     "So, thanks again Rockport Tours.  We had a marvelous trip!  Too soon good times must end; But believe me this trip was really hip!   Carlene Petty, September 2006

    "Everyone should go on a cruise; oh, what a lovely ship was the Rhapsody of the Seas! Lots of pampering and lots of food will bring back fond memories for you and me.
    "After two days of sailing and eating, we cruised into historic Key West.  But, alas, the weather was so frightful, we saw only the highlights of the best.
    "We're glad storm season is over; Florida couldn't take much more. Coping with floods and wind just broke their hearts to the core.
    "Next we cruised to tiny little Grand Cayman, but we had to tender ashore. Such a quaint little town; our guides told us countless tales of yore.
    "Dress-Up night was a real blast; everyone looked so elegant, so spiffy.  More good food and service that night; we'd come back in a jiffy.
    "Nothing seemed to go right on Cozumel Island; we faced an endless delay.
Finally the ship got clearance, and we could depart; we didn't let it ruin our day!
    "And, now for a personal verse; I won the tournament for 42. Several men seemed shocked; but they said "more power to you!
     "The legendary Platters were fantastic; they sang lots of their hit songs.  We thought their voices were terrific; they even asked us to sing along!
    "And, so the last day of the cruise arrives.  Thanks a lot to John and Kay!  It's time to say good-bye, but we'll be seeing each other another day!"
                                                                  Carlene Petty, December 2005

    "Hurricane Katrina tried to disrupt our plans, but she was no match for John and Kay. They re-routed, wheeled, dealed and worked their magic.  Then, WOW!  We were on our way!
    "I love our early morning starts; you can feel the excitement in the air.  We greeted our friends, had a cup of coffee, and soon began asking, 'Are we there?'
     "All of us enjoyed the Dixie Stampede!  Imagine!  A meal with no fork, spoon or knife. What a bunch of lucky people we are; we live a glorious life!
     "Everyone needs a little culture; we got ours at the Gardens of Brookgreen. Our guide filled us with information; their sculptures were the best we've seen!
     "I thought 'Opry' meant country, but we were in for a big surprise!  A heard a few familiar tunes, many loud and outrageous. Sometimes we couldn't believe our eyes!
     "Myrtle Beach was really a fun place!  Our room even had a wonderful ocean view.  Broadway on the Beach to Barefoot Landing, they all gave us plenty of things to do!
     "George Jones was a thrill to see and hear. 'The Possum' can still belt out a song!  That gravelly, twangy voice remains vibrant; he made us all want to sing along!
     "Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits; what a fitting finish to our stay!  We said a fond farewell to Myrtle Beach; it was a wonderful place to eat and play!
     "Our safety is his prime concern when Nick is at the wheel!  Skillfully, he maneuvered in and out of traffic!  It made us say, 'He's the real deal!'
     "It is always fun to have Linda escort; she guides us smoothly through our days.  I love her kindness and her smile.  She has such charming ways.
     "You've done it again, Rockport Tours!  Let's hear a 'Hip! Hip! Hooray!'  You've proved yourselves to be top notch!  Now, more cheers for John and Kay!
                                                                  Carlene Petty, September 2005
 

    "Beautiful Blue Hawaii! How we've longed to see your shores.  Gorgeous flowers, lush greenery and tales of historical lore!
     "Pearl Harbor is such a solemn tribute to those who gave their life. It was a useless waste of humanity; why must we have war and strife?
     "Honolulu was full of charm; white, yellow and red trees touched our hearts. Fragrant flowers were everywhere and even on push carts.
     "There were tours of every description; it was really hard to choose one. But, we made the right decisions and we all had lots of fun.
     "Hilo Hatties was everyone's favorite; we gave it a big fat check. They had everything we needed, so we bought it all . . . well, what the heck!
     "Some of our gang took a helicopter ride and said it was absolutely great! Two brave souls paddled a kayak; they said it was really first rate!
     "The password became "Hawaiian Shirt"; we saw them in all colors and styles.  Reds, blues, greens and purples, the shirts seemed to go for miles!
     "We always seem to eat too much; it must be part of a plan.  I'm not eating dessert for a month; that may be too difficult a task, man!
     "We enjoyed five days at sea; we relaxed, played cards and created crafts. And, we did lots of ship exploring and finally figured out forward and aft.
     "Thanks again, Kay and John, for another wonderful trip!  We literally sailed the Pacific blue, and the Spirit was a marvelous ship!
     "Thanks so much for the champagne; we loved the leis and candy!  You always come up with good surprises and this time it was a dandy!"
                                                                              Carlene Petty, May 2005

Bringing home a new baby!
A travel poem by Carlene Petty

    "Michelle started us on our adventure. It was wet, dark and dreary. By the time we cleared hurtles at the airport, we were all feeling a little bit weary.
     "But all those thoughts vanished and adrenalin started to flow. Our bunch of traveling faithful was ready to go! go! go!
     "Philadelphia was our focus as our new motorcoach was waiting there. We could hardly wait to see it; there was excitement in the air!
     "Suddenly the time was at hand; those hot-air balloons were a welcome sight!  That 'new' vehicle smell was present as we headed for Atlantic City's neon lights!
     "John was happy to propose a toast; may this new coach provide miles of fun . . . over hills, dales and freeways . . . in rain, fog, snow or sun!
     "Atlantic City was full of glitter, but not many found gold.  Strolling the boardwalk was nice, then we hurried to get out of the cold!
     "We soon settled down to our daily routine . . . ride and eat, ride and eat. We enjoyed seeing the countryside, but were always ready for a tasty treat.
     "The Mountaineer Casino was way up in West Virginia; it was really a beautiful place. The day's drive was in fog and drizzle, even in a new coach we didn't race!
     "Kentucky's roads filled our hearts with quaint houses and scenic streams. The fluttering snow was joyful and painted us a winter's dream.
     "It's time to say good-bye, adios, farewell. We hate to see the trip come to an end. We hope to see you all again real soon; we'll say 'hello there, my friend'.
     "Now, we give a big thanks to driver, Nick. And, a big thank you to John and Kay!  All of their planning and hard work paid off, because we were safe and happy at play!
     "We're sorry to end on a sad note; Lucy Myers was such a happy girl. She loved what she was doing . . . and now she's in a better world."
                                                                         Carlene Petty, February 2005

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