tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57139737692569713322024-03-12T18:53:09.371-07:00Wandering Willy's TravelsWandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-76444980667070785172011-03-16T04:20:00.001-07:002011-03-16T04:20:32.555-07:00Finalizing Another Winter Trip<p>Call me lazy,call me disinterested in blogging.The truth of the matter is a little of both.I’m hot to trot when travelling and seeing new country,that's why the “wandering”in my title,but once I hunker down and spend most of my time in the horizontal position watching the inside of my eyelids……Well that’s a whole new world….So give me some slack please,I’m pushing 75,and its hard to keep any interest up.</p> <p>Since my last post I’ve travelled back home and gotten one heck of a lot of stuff done.My trip home started on Thursday the 24th of February,leaving the La Paz County park near Parker Arizona,taking the usual I-5 route north,travelling through just about every weather condition that you could imagine,from high winds across the Mojave,torrential downpours in central California,even some snow around Redding California, for starters.This was the time when San Francisco got snow and LA was predicting it.</p> <p>I did my weather research in advance as always,for going over the hump into Oregon,and my timing was right on as it was a dry day with clear pavement,until the downside into Medford Oregon where the red slushy slop on the highway from the recent snow clearing,changed the color of both truck and trailer.What a mess!….But alas,the upcoming weather will wash it off.</p> <p>I usually take 4 days from the Desert S.W. to Northern Washington State,then stop for the night just 2 and a half hours from home.Then the next day while rested up,I can deal with the border crossing and the unloading when I get home,plus getting my little Park Model trailer home up and running.</p> <p>Well this year it started out a little hairy as I was packing up on the final morning,an ice storm hit,then after that stopped I got on the interstate and after about 10 minutes,ran into a raging blizzard that had traffic down to a crawl,and the snow building up on the highway rapidly.Now I’m searching for a place to get off and regroup,(aka Rest Area),but I had just passed one.Carrying on slowly,I noticed a small clear hunk of blue sky to the northwest and said to myself……self….We is gonna get out of this yet,and 10 minutes later I was driving on dry pavement in full sunshine for the rest of the way to the border……Be still my heart!</p> <p>The border crossing was a pleasant surprise this time and when asked what I had to declare,I was prepared this time,holding up a clip full of receipts with the total listed,which was under my limit by a hundred dollars….He just said welcome back and have a nice day……Be still my heart again.Life is good.</p> <p>Well, the dry pavement and sun stayed with me until about 10 minutes from home,which is 45 minutes from the border.This part of my little world,even though at the same altitude,sometimes doesn’t get the warm-up after a snow fall.It can be raining 20 miles to the west and still snowing in my area.And this was the case a few days earlier during a snow storm,leaving my little home park with a foot of snow.Thanks to good buddy Ernie who lives nearby,my driveways were both shovelled clear.Be still my heart again.Life is good.</p> <p>So!….After 2 weeks at home,my income tax is done,house and driveways pressure washed of all the green slop from living under cedar trees ,Doctor appointment set up,….truck fixed……Yes,my baby got her face lift,…….going from this,my Tucson experience.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCbyMEVloI/AAAAAAAADu0/-pt-IhM23Kg/s1600-h/00512.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCb22CLFEI/AAAAAAAADu4/tkHgmPG4leI/005_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a>     <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcCLF7OeI/AAAAAAAADu8/c_kvvegLJ08/s1600-h/0015.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcGLMLJjI/AAAAAAAADvA/ZB8tdAq18Io/001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p> Back to this.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcMSL8yOI/AAAAAAAADvE/k4SVFJuhuH0/s1600-h/0035.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcQh9Zp9I/AAAAAAAADvI/15DxhhR1xaQ/003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="454" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcXaDPyqI/AAAAAAAADvM/SwijlpKugtw/s1600-h/00111.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcaSLFH3I/AAAAAAAADvQ/K-bVDW_sAL0/001_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="304" /></a></p> <p>I must say that the insurance from good old ICBC,Govt.insurance, for those who don't know our socialist system,just like our medical,covered over $5000. worth of repairs and because of my good driving record,<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCccGIz19I/AAAAAAAADvU/fkZlAqYiPMo/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" />will not raise my rate next year.So I was out of pocket for $300. deductible.Yay!…Be still my heart,.. again.</p> <p>Everything you see in the photo directly above,except fenders and RH side mirror,was replaced,including the skid plate under the motor where the truck came to rest on the tree stump..Thank you Toyota for putting a protective plate there.</p> <p>I must say that I was pleased with Wally’s Auto Body in Chilliwack BC as they were very thorough.Parts replacement instead of Bondo is sure ok by me. </p> <p>So,now… starting to have time on my hands,(sometimes not a good thing)and this past week I had to replace my Shaw/Direct Satellite TV “PVR” that has served me well for the past 3+ years,as it decided to crap out when I hooked it back up in the house after using it on the road this winter,….and with total reliability I might add.The hard drive locked up and would not boot up.</p> <p>I lost many hours of pre-recorded programs though,but because I was also travelling with a new model PVR as a test, and double recorded everything because I didn't trust the new one anyway.Now the new one has saved my bacon by being my only source of all the missed recordings that were on the old PVR.I love having backup.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCci8iyBWI/AAAAAAAADvY/blTsSpWPqRw/s1600-h/pvr-system5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="pvr system" border="0" alt="pvr system" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcl6_wJCI/AAAAAAAADvc/8zGr72593ec/pvr-system_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="314" /></a>   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCcxFHDDbI/AAAAAAAADvg/qvtXFUBUWDU/s1600-h/pvr-system-27.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="pvr system-2" border="0" alt="pvr system-2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCc0W9CUOI/AAAAAAAADvk/6fJYP190-fc/pvr-system-2_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="301" /></a></p> <p>So the old PVR is on its way back to S/D and replaced with a new model for $99. I now have 2 new model PVR’s,both working like a charm.They are so handy when travelling the winter season as I don't find time to watch anything other than the news and sports live,so all my favourite shows are recorded for when I do have time.Plus skipping through all those commercials is nice.</p> <p>Now falling into the “more money than brains department,”ever since spending that week this winter with Ivan at Corpus Christi Texas,camping on the beach,I was fascinated with his I-Phone and how many great uses that he put it to when we were travelling around the area.I spent many hours researching I-Phones and I-Pads,but kept coming back to the I-phone because of the portability of having in my POCKET,…a phone..a web surfer/e-mailer…a camera…..a video camera…an I-pod and photo library,and all those eye opening APPS that do so many great things…..Like the “Dishpointer AR Pro”designed for all you people who are wondering if you can see your satellite through the trees when setting up your TV or Internet dish.The camera view on the phone shows exactly where the satellite is……It was my first app purchase and all I can say is WOW!….Next time I enter a tree filled campground,I’ll just pull the phone out of my pocket,turn on the app and hold it up to the southern sky and actually see a red dot in my live camera picture, representing my selected satellite and just walk around until it clears all trees…I do have an align-a-sight,but this is so much better and faster……I do love my toys.</p> <p>So! After all the research,decided on an unlocked I-phone 4 from Apple (Canada) that allows me to select any carrier and not having to tie into a contract...So I will use a (pay and talk/data) Sim card for Canada and another Sim for in the US or Mexico…I’ve had it for 5 days now and am loving it and all the things it can do,in fact the last 5 photo’s here were taken with it.</p> <p>And I’m even using a 9 year old pay and talk account that costs $10. a month and has time built up that I’ll probably never use, because it was only used for an emergency travel phone that I kept in the truck.Around here for now I don't need the data part as I’m using my home wifi system to supply the phone.</p> <p>Rambling time now….As I was passing through the town of Selma California,(The Raison Capital of the world) on the trip home,I stopped for some groceries and came across some really nice locally (made in Selma),raison bread.Its Sun-ripe brand raison bread with a cinnamon swirl,so I picked some up to try, and liked it so much that I was on a steady diet of it until it was all gone a day later….Yes life is good!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCc6pw7flI/AAAAAAAADvo/mwSlt0fsk0Y/s1600-h/rb5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="rb" border="0" alt="rb" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TYCc-w9BucI/AAAAAAAADvs/oPz2PxGyvms/rb_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="611" /></a></p> <p>Now all you people reading this who are sharp in your observance, will notice some of the label is in French……Voila!……Its sold in Canada too.Much to my delight I found it in both the local Chilliwack BC Safeway and the new Super Wal-Mart…So as I said before,….Life is good,and many loaves now decorate my freezer…Its back up, you know.</p> <p>And finally for those of you who personally know me and my situation….my first visit to see my wife Marlene in the nursing home after 4 1/2 months, was a bit of a downer as she no longer recognizes me.She had taken another tumble from her wheel chair in January due to a little staff negligence and landed on her already fragile head, and this has caused a further decline in her brain tumor condition.</p> <p>I was all excited to tell her of my winter adventures,as she would always take it all in,smiling but not responding.So it was disappointing not to get the usual smile that I always got on my return………Just a blank stare…Several more visits since have produced the same disappointing result………So maybe life isn't always so great, as I said before.</p> <p>Stay tuned for my next wandering adventure.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-26666646658954671392011-02-18T04:35:00.001-08:002011-02-18T04:35:37.002-08:00Old Home Week At La Paz County Park-Parker Arizona<p>I was going to title this “All Of My Old Rowdy Friends”but they are Bigger than me so mum’s the word…From left to right,That's Ron my next door neighbour back home and Frank who lives 5 minutes away from us.There is also another couple from home,Bill and Wendy,but they were away on a side trip for a few days as I was setting up this blogs photos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5lnkYdZGI/AAAAAAAADsY/4bKdXoW1uBQ/s1600-h/0105.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5lq1YKHyI/AAAAAAAADsc/5azU9Q5K248/010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="518" /></a></p> <p>I had concerns about coming to this park after having a bad experience the only other time that I had come here several years ago, when my travelling companions and I were turned back at the entrance gate by the “Greeting Nazi's”.But that's a whole nuther story.</p> <p>This time I drove in unchallenged and found my friends from our park back home, and set up across the road from one of them,up on the grassy knoll…And look at all the nice dry camping spots that are empty.That's me in the centre of the 2nd photo.All those others are across the road on the waterfront row.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5lxjJth4I/AAAAAAAADsg/yth5-8NUitY/s1600-h/0255.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5l0uIoOWI/AAAAAAAADsk/hBvQCpHXZc8/025_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5l6bVvkOI/AAAAAAAADso/WjDJGhXso4Y/s1600-h/0426.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5l9_hvM2I/AAAAAAAADss/6Bq54vf4jJk/042_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>This park is situated along the Colorado river just a few miles from Parker Arizona.</p> <p>As the layout map below shows,its quite a large County Park,about 1 mile long and a quarter mile wide.There are no sewer hook-ups,just electric and water.There is a 4 hole dump station plus a couple of blue boy dump stations on each side.You can see the rows of Ramada sites that number about 114, plus unlimited dry camping area’s scattered around the open green spaces seen in this map.Actually I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got to see the inside of this place.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mAfDFFvI/AAAAAAAADsw/ptPqRQwDUN0/s1600-h/La-Paz-County-Park-25.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="La Paz County Park-2" border="0" alt="La Paz County Park-2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mEDC2gjI/AAAAAAAADs0/dCeFq2KDAu0/La-Paz-County-Park-2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1006" height="294" /></a></p> <p>So we will take a little photo tour around.Starting with a sunrise panorama shot of the lagoon area on the far left of the map.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mHaeZZ8I/AAAAAAAADs4/5V8HAGK6J8I/s1600-h/La-Paz-County-Park5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="La Paz County Park" border="0" alt="La Paz County Park" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mKtxHHHI/AAAAAAAADs8/Lp9X8kBgX-E/La-Paz-County-Park_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="906" height="355" /></a></p> <p>The lagoon area is really nice and has random camping around a fair amount of its edge,if you like parking lot style camping with your own Ramada.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mPc9QH5I/AAAAAAAADtA/MS9149D3tS4/s1600-h/0376.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mSQbo7CI/AAAAAAAADtE/DEFqv8zGqEs/037_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mWzVIl1I/AAAAAAAADtI/PhC5EndcUxE/s1600-h/038-15.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="038-1" border="0" alt="038-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mZvLY_7I/AAAAAAAADtM/Fter1CJJI4k/038-1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Of course this is a County Park,not just a campground,so when they have an event like a kids fishing derby……<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mbHRiwgI/AAAAAAAADtQ/B7kO4AWGSUw/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /> ………..It looks like this…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mgnyMVII/AAAAAAAADtU/0wAj6S_F2X0/s1600-h/0146.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mjkSgX4I/AAAAAAAADtc/XFRDKd4f4U8/014_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a>  </p> <p>Ramada row looks congested but not bad when you have a Ramada between each site,like Ron's on the left and Franks on the right…..Oh Oh!…There’s Franks better half Alison, looking for him.He’s in trouble again….</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5moX0vXFI/AAAAAAAADtg/AuRwIDhlC5Y/s1600-h/009-15.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009-1" border="0" alt="009-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mrL5QchI/AAAAAAAADto/oWi0wv6u1Hw/009-1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5mvajFB-I/AAAAAAAADts/Pn5OaOl5bSo/s1600-h/0241%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5myMpEKPI/AAAAAAAADtw/Y5Z9PwG2qFI/0241_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="457" height="343" /></a></p> <p>AH! Its a truce moment with the Bickersons.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5m2HTqSyI/AAAAAAAADt0/xpIySPfFRK8/s1600-h/02310.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5m5FxVAOI/AAAAAAAADt4/xkhy8RB30lM/023_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="508" /></a></p> <p>Back to the tour….They have a nice open walkway behind Ramada row as seen below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5m-RxUSsI/AAAAAAAADt8/sxB4r3KfenQ/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nAqTPeTI/AAAAAAAADuA/4newmZBrz3Y/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nFeK6NCI/AAAAAAAADuE/X7Ilyx-HBk4/s1600-h/0195.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nIWjnAHI/AAAAAAAADuI/3IiuqwxQrpY/019_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Some of the open dry camping areas of the park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nMsMlvKI/AAAAAAAADuM/IGkAYosMvOo/s1600-h/0305.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nOrhKjWI/AAAAAAAADuQ/cfwXkZtGGWs/030_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nU9Pb6yI/AAAAAAAADuU/Nifpo9WfSQk/s1600-h/0316.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nXvGJjbI/AAAAAAAADuY/nA0P2nijUCk/031_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nbg6yTBI/AAAAAAAADuc/3ZxMGc0YO2Q/s1600-h/0295.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5ndrBtEUI/AAAAAAAADug/KJUpD09W7aY/029_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nizm21GI/AAAAAAAADuk/oN-KiBtG1y8/s1600-h/0175.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TV5nlIjN7fI/AAAAAAAADuo/9rzzMLUfq6U/017_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>All photos were taken only on the left half of the map,so you can see just how large the park is. </p> <p>This will be my last stop before heading for home next week and may be the last blog also for this winter’s trip,only time and conditions will determine that.I hope to be back home in B.C. by the end of the month. So far, weather conditions don't look too great for this 4 and a half day run.</p> <p>I have a question that's been bothering me for awhile………In all those “Capital One”commercials on TV……How come all the Nordic Vikings all speak with an English accent?………..Love those commercials.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-13752289961809553612011-02-09T03:52:00.001-08:002011-02-09T03:52:48.618-08:00How “Not” To Hook Up To A Trailer.<p>Well old Willy wins the Darwin award again.I got away with this simple careless oversight before,but this time it came back to bite me big time.</p> <p>Monday morning as I was preparing to leave Tucson’s Gilbert Ray campground,I decided not to rush as it was a nice sunny morning and I only had just over a hundred miles to go that day.</p> <p>As I was backing up to align the hitch/ ball…I use a mirror but the glare was causing me to not see it properly and consequently I bumped against the hitch…..I moved the truck foreword a few inches and jumped out to see where I hit,forgetting that it still was in drive(a cold motor still on high idle)……..As I reached the rear of the truck I noticed it inching forward on its own……As I turned to scramble back to the open drivers door to stop it,I slipped on the loose gravel falling flat on my face……I got up again as it was gaining speed and made another attempt,falling again as the truck went over the embankment across the road…….And this was the result.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-l2M4SkI/AAAAAAAADq4/vIAM_uv7UhU/s1600-h/001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-pveUWpI/AAAAAAAADq8/4UJYdZDhjxI/001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="281" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-wJ36cvI/AAAAAAAADrA/Ympu1zLlujI/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-zidxcRI/AAAAAAAADrE/737B4RNIRCo/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="318" /></a></p> <p>As I lay in the road face down watching this dilemma taking place,a crowd of neighbours came racing from all directions to see if I was ok….But alas,all was ok outside of some scratches and reopening of some knee wounds that I acquired when I tripped over the hitch on the first night leaving Texas……Time to hang up the driving boots you say?</p> <p>As you can see it actually sheared off a sizable Palo Verdi tree and in the first shot note that the branches of this very thorny tree did considerable scratch damage all the way back to the front doors.I had actually removed most branches before taking these photos as the (picture taking) was an afterthought as I was waiting for help to arrive.</p> <p>It would not move when I tried to drive it back out….Just dug in until I realized that the front suspension was hung up on the broken stump of the tree I just flattened.And it was no small tree.</p> <p>The park host for our area went and got one of the maintenance men and a chain saw on a long pole,I guess used for trimming trees up high,but perfect for this job as access to the stump was surrounded with cactus….Well,he cut out one section and the truck dropped,jamming again,so he cut another section and this time it freed the front suspension and I was able to 4 wheel it back to the road.My heart sank as I backed into my campsite, the truck steered funny and was making strange noises,but it was the first time I had ever used 4 wheel low and wasn't familiar with the resulting experience.So after going back to 2 wheel it seemed fine.</p> <p>I did a once around in our camping circle then after thanking everyone for there help,took off to the commercial area just outside the park to a garage where I have had work done before on my Jimmy….They put it on the hoist and inspected the underside……It seems that the annoying heavy duty skid plate that has to be removed every oil change was my saviour this time as it took the brunt and all was well…..The mechanic wouldn't accept any money for his service but he got paid anyway.</p> <p>Outside of the many scratches and a broken grill trim,I’m amazed at the lack of damage considering how large the tree was.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-4aLmuPI/AAAAAAAADrM/_5q-zcjbrPQ/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-6oLhMhI/AAAAAAAADrQ/XClyhGkyVS8/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ-_Gyi72I/AAAAAAAADrU/ZbYjqc4-3EM/s1600-h/012%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_CIlJDPI/AAAAAAAADrY/UjjYUZ9m2_Y/012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Id say that is one tough old Texas built Yota.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_K-a-FzI/AAAAAAAADrc/yVKTjBgaKMw/s1600-h/003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_OulbtGI/AAAAAAAADrg/CrqV0un2CRs/003_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="366" /></a></p> <p>The remains of the stump centre right and the rest of the tree dragged back for access to extract the truck.</p> <p>So with wounded pride and truck, I Carefully”hooked up and departed for the 14 day BLM boondocking spot at Why Arizona.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_TG4SaZI/AAAAAAAADrk/7CHB2gWVQrA/s1600-h/017%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_VZbSCeI/AAAAAAAADro/ra1Wmg9o2jI/017_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="291" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_cNyFHvI/AAAAAAAADrs/ES4ED2MskDw/s1600-h/019%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_e3NmOaI/AAAAAAAADrw/a_UMXoKr3V8/019_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>This particular parking spot is an old favourite that I have used before.I was happy to see very few here this year as its normally more busy,although the new sign at the entrance may be a deterrent as it reads that we may encounter smuggling traffic in the area……Hey,that threat has always been here anyway.And this spot is special as its where I posted my very first blog entry two years ago.</p> <p>Yesterday morning,being a nice warm day I did a little wander around with camera in hand and noticed a few Palo Verdi trees nearby…..I thought the truck looked a little uneasy with its headlight eyeballs shifting around……But for those of you who haven't seen one close up……They are really thorny,so the trucks paint job didn't stand a chance.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_kK9OyXI/AAAAAAAADr0/nIXJPe_WMcI/s1600-h/021%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="021" border="0" alt="021" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_mVu36aI/AAAAAAAADr4/QC8rIX5klcQ/021_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="324" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_tgXXA0I/AAAAAAAADr8/yx39SkLqRPs/s1600-h/025%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_wZFvnLI/AAAAAAAADsA/kTg0NvvhhEU/025_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>At least my visiting friend the Phainopepla likes thorny trees.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_0h6oOaI/AAAAAAAADsE/a8_H1pbdIwk/s1600-h/024%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_4TjctPI/AAAAAAAADsI/pszT7ikdAws/024_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="575" /></a> </p> <p>And finally a shot of the many dry washes here.Very wooded, making this nice free boondocking spot a great place to just relax and bird watch or drink beer if you prefer<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ_6T_HahI/AAAAAAAADsM/dDZSJ7VS3os/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVJ__9GNjTI/AAAAAAAADsQ/RCpj_Alm3uc/s1600-h/023%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TVKADO6qGlI/AAAAAAAADsU/bt0FpIkY1pw/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>…..Oh! And by the way….The Pima County park officials in Tucson told me I didn't have to pay for the tree damage,so that was a relief. </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-8011412958466259342011-02-07T03:46:00.001-08:002011-02-07T03:46:58.049-08:00A Little Tucson Area Tour.<p> We have been coming to this area many times over the the past 13 years of snowbird travel,and I cannot even count the amount of times that we have stayed here at Gilbert Ray Campground,which is a Pima County Park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aEMKcUFI/AAAAAAAADpQ/OwXC9Wjimr4/s1600-h/001%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aHMd3_sI/AAAAAAAADpU/9MDLreaGZoI/001_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="256" /></a></p> <p>My site in C section.I seem to keep gravitating to this area of the park lately.</p> <p>Some scenes across the road and down the road.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aN0OT_qI/AAAAAAAADpY/eTyVcNUyMhI/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aQnmGpmI/AAAAAAAADpc/o4352LReKwI/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aWqDntxI/AAAAAAAADpg/gZoQPVGAsZE/s1600-h/004%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aZHOBp_I/AAAAAAAADpk/gnN62wzQkog/004_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>This park is very large and well spaced,costing $20. per night with electric and randomly spaced water taps.</p> <p>And not very far away is the Saguaro National Park,so we share the same beautiful landscape.</p> <p>Also just down the road is the well known “Old Tucson Studios”where many a movie and TV series was shot over the years,including the 2 John Wayne Rio Bravo movies and such well known TV series as Bonanza, Little House On The Prairie, and High Chaparral.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_ad60JTUI/AAAAAAAADpo/PThjsRn4gkU/s1600-h/021%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="021" border="0" alt="021" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_agidv7tI/AAAAAAAADps/kPzc_zv1LQs/021_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_amEkSTHI/AAAAAAAADpw/_hKYHmUT4aY/s1600-h/020%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_aoqFDApI/AAAAAAAADp0/fflEQD4jcPE/020_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Its been about 10 years or more since I last had a tour inside and sat in Diamond Lille’s saloon being serenaded by one of the dancing girls,and watching the shootout re-enactments around the town and down on the High Chaparral set.</p> <p>When I stopped in the parking lot yesterday just to take these pictures,I noticed that they still have the “piped in” movie, western sound, for effect.</p> <p>And that famous mountain below,with my truck parked in front, has been seen in so many movies and TV as a backdrop……Many is the time you would see Hoss and Little Joe throwing someone out of the saloon with that mountain showing in the background….I guess its the biggest dead giveaway as to where the movie or TV series you are watching has been filmed.Watch for it the next time you see an old western…By the way two of the more resent films done here were The 3 Amigo’s and Tombstone.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_atsFZnmI/AAAAAAAADp4/l6i4dZ87bms/s1600-h/022%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="022" border="0" alt="022" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_awBYfA3I/AAAAAAAADp8/ohF18QhusHY/022_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Since its Superbowl Sunday,I thought a little morning tour into the city was in order as I needed groceries anyway…I thought I would take the scenic route over Gates Pass…You can see the cut in the hillside where the road goes up and over in the centre right of the picture.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_a1czVm5I/AAAAAAAADqA/DgrNnnDXxw4/s1600-h/023%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_a4bSk20I/AAAAAAAADqE/KIyLYGqaOIw/023_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="341" /></a></p> <p>And a view from the top,looking down at Old Tucson Studios with a corner of our campground just to the right of it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_a-tPxxNI/AAAAAAAADqI/fTGSPNC--14/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bBq-_kdI/AAAAAAAADqM/3KCRvWRt7z8/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bIZ5hkhI/AAAAAAAADqQ/UsHzN0B_6gM/s1600-h/008%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bLZSoLqI/AAAAAAAADqU/OIc2rjYSaxQ/008_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Then a look the other way toward Tucson,down in the notch below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bQuzpfuI/AAAAAAAADqY/n-Vy54mhWEc/s1600-h/006%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bVWedIXI/AAAAAAAADqc/0vO0M5mvxMo/006_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>I spent a bit of time just driving around the downtown area as it was fairly quiet being a Sunday morning.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bZ8TJ8dI/AAAAAAAADqg/ci0K5iEgXOU/s1600-h/016%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bcWhGgfI/AAAAAAAADqk/2_Kgrv_lU6g/016_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="344" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bg7VZoJI/AAAAAAAADqo/Exd_1ZNEF0Y/s1600-h/018%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_bjm8cQYI/AAAAAAAADqs/G8ACEKRc5PE/018_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="344" /></a></p> <p>Then I decided to find where all the shopping was,so headed north on Stone Ave and came to Tucson’s biggest mall,called….wait for it…..Tucson Mall…2 levels and over 200 stores and almost empty because I always pick the wrong time to visit these things.Just a few stores were open being a Sunday morning,maybe I was too early.As I left at 11AM some others were opening but I wanted to get to a Bank and then find me a supermarket.</p> <p>I carried on out the other side of the mall on Oracle drive into one of the northwestern suburbs called Casas Adobe where I found a small shopping mall with a bank and a Safeway store that would suit my needs being that I’m a Safeway shopper……Well… maybe you guessed it but…….</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_boZ3sGbI/AAAAAAAADqw/uMo0LpShaNg/s1600-h/019%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU_brfQMOqI/AAAAAAAADq0/-SKWflW21RA/019_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="364" /></a></p> <p>Yes…This was the spot that caught the worlds attention last January the 8th when an Assassination attempt was made on Congresswomen Gabrielle Gifford,wounding her and killing 6 others including a little girl…..Gabrielle had her kiosk set up right in front of the area where the red car has its tail lights on in the pic above.That’s just to the left of the Safeway entrance….There are no signs of the tragedy in evidence now,just a few signs in the store windows advertising a gathering in a weeks time for a heeling process.</p> <p>I must say as a Safeway shopper,I was impressed with this store and its staff.Maybe they are still feeling the effects as they had to shut down for a week after the tragedy just to regain any composure.There was a quiet but friendly feeling among the staff members of the store.It seemed that every time I stopped and looked up at the aisle signs searching for an item,a staff member would be right there asking if they could help.</p> <p>This seems to be a close knit neighbourhood store. All in all I found it to be a strange experience to be here after watching so much footage on TV during my stay in Mission Texas….I found it to be a much smaller shopping area than the TV view gave. </p> <p>All in all an interesting final day here as I move on further to the west,positioning myself for the final run home in a few weeks…….Goodbye Tucson…I’ll be back.   </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-79330314386100379622011-02-05T04:27:00.001-08:002011-02-05T04:27:55.270-08:00Well!….That Was A Wild And Wacky Week!<p>Nothing like setting out for a 1000 mile trek and facing down one of the biggest storms to come along in awhile…..In all fairness to the citizens of the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada,I didn't have to face down the extremes that they had,but it was bad enough considering I’m down here expecting to be in shorts and flip flops,not my toque and heavy winter jacket.</p> <p>All was nice last Saturday as I left Ivan to “hold the fort” on the beaches of Padre Island,and set off northward toward San Antonio,bypassing “the city of my Toyota trucks birth”, this time in favour of highway 173 which skirts to the west of the city through the very interesting town of Bandera and the Texas “Hill Country.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AOM0XuDI/AAAAAAAADmw/8I1X-T9VwfE/s1600-h/002%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AQhlfdDI/AAAAAAAADm0/c9Fn_yyr7xo/002_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1ATkYrqGI/AAAAAAAADm4/UXHRc0Z8EaM/s1600-h/004%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AVgpvh0I/AAAAAAAADm8/vWqXx4Prba4/004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="227" /></a></p> <p>Connecting with Interstate 10 at Kerrville,all very pretty country that I must explore in detail some time.This day was cloudy and warm and getting warmer as I headed north west that day.</p> <p>My first nights stop was another interesting spot that I didn't have time to explore.It was called the Caverns of Sonora,off the highway about 8 miles in the wooded hills.The small camping area was only $15 a night pull-through’s with electric and water.They were just closing the Visitor center when I arrived so I didn't have a chance to ask about this place that had deer running around everywhere,and the strange rack of birdhouses seen below.Of course its main attraction is the Caverns…Another time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AaioYi7I/AAAAAAAADnA/jG_aHxtTb4Q/s1600-h/005%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AdP4LJII/AAAAAAAADnE/apSHpL3Qsm8/005_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AghTckYI/AAAAAAAADnI/zZydpsgveeY/s1600-h/006%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1Ai81w3PI/AAAAAAAADnM/tuquxXvnhMM/006_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="393" /></a></p> <p>The next day dawned sunny and mild for this area,which did reach the 60’s as the day went on. Later that morning I crossed the Pecos river,no bigger than a ditch at this point and saw the landscape almost immediately change to the desert south west look.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AmpimqOI/AAAAAAAADnQ/dNrx6X5M6Ag/s1600-h/007%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AoonoOCI/AAAAAAAADnU/5aCR7hqfoGc/007_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="174" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AspWJgzI/AAAAAAAADnY/5BuBojJcKjA/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AuUtEwdI/AAAAAAAADnc/9CmZ3VCOpwI/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="179" /></a></p> <p>Stopping at a rest area,I finally got a close up look at one of the many blades being transported for the big wind generators that are cropping up everywhere.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1AyB19XxI/AAAAAAAADng/xieoDxthM7I/s1600-h/009%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1A0TOr3PI/AAAAAAAADnk/6NDTm8Llg8M/009_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="262" /></a></p> <p>I’m still wondering where they are being manufactured.</p> <p>The second night saw me at a dusty park in Van Horn Texas.Nuff said…The third morning,a little nippy, around freezing but sunny as I headed for El Paso,arriving in the mid morning.Its a good size city,but smoggy.Probably because of Juarez Mexico next door.The 2 are like one big city, as from a distance you cant see where one ends and the other begins….I guess I better give them some slack,with a total population of over 2 million and a lot of industry,its bound to be smoky and dirty.At the north west end of town I made a Wal-mart stop to stock up,not knowing how long I would be at my next stop which is a little isolated.</p> <p>From the Wal-mart,it was just a mile more of I-10 and off I went onto highway 9 into New Mexico,following the Mexico/U.S.border on a nice desolate, but great 2 lane highway.The only activity I saw was the Border Patrol.My goal was to visit “Pancho Villa State Park,”a place that I’ve wanted to see for a long time.</p> <p>I arrived just after lunch and selected a spot in this (1/8th full) park,and within minutes a nice friendly Ranger,who liked to tell “Canadian Jokes”……You know jokes about Canadians.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1A1-HEX3I/AAAAAAAADno/u6Q3FT1gvio/wlEmoticon-smile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />That's different,…..Or is it?..Anyway he warned me to batten down the hatches because a big cold storm is coming…..Here’s one of the nice spacious semi-circle sites with Ramada,water/electric, that they have for $14. a night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1A7DXmkyI/AAAAAAAADns/pSiBl2Ut__Q/s1600-h/010%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1A9rTaT2I/AAAAAAAADnw/41dna8v4AI4/010_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BDr4WX5I/AAAAAAAADn0/gFV0135XsaU/s1600-h/011%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BF80pkEI/AAAAAAAADn4/7-PKsyo_s64/011_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>Then there was the next day…. After a night of high winds,blowing snow and the temperature plunging to 0 degrees f. or-17c…This is what we had.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BLYh2f0I/AAAAAAAADn8/5jI4-gmK8k8/s1600-h/031%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BNiMd1MI/AAAAAAAADoA/fMTdzVQRw_Y/031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BTv0ootI/AAAAAAAADoE/Ylo0fncbZMo/s1600-h/032%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BWbXC0GI/AAAAAAAADoI/aUG2E0MmBE0/032_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>This condition lasted for 2 days with the temperature struggling up to 15 f. during the day,nowhere near a thaw,finally taking its toll on half of my water system,(supposedly good to 0 with my enclosed heated underbelly) the first day and completing the freeze job on the second day.</p> <p>So on the 3rd morning with no water(Except a jerry can kept inside) and the furnace never stopping,I decided to make a run for it after going on-line and figuring where the nearest best temps were, within a days drive...And that was Tucson where they forecast a high of 35….I’ll take it I said to myself…..Throwing my frozen satellite dish cables,(all 6 of them) inside to thaw out while having some breakfast.There was no way you could coil them up. </p> <p>At sun up,(finally at least some sun)I headed out with square wheels thumping along until they warmed up,and the furnace still running in the trailer.(not knowing how much damage my water system has sustained)I didn't want to cause anymore..Was sort of nice and cosy for pee breaks though.</p> <p>I joined up with I-10 again at Deming New Mexico,30 miles to the north,watching my truck thermometer slowly rising as I headed west.As I neared Tucson dropping down from the generally 4 to 5000ft level of the past few days to a more conservative 2000ft,I gave a big cheer as the temp read-out hit 32 degrees and finally 35 as I reached Gilbert Ray Campground just west of the city.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BcpIZiUI/AAAAAAAADoM/-Ydd5f0ARk4/s1600-h/033%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="033" border="0" alt="033" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BfdRYfYI/AAAAAAAADoQ/lUCPHS1xdMg/033_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>And within a few hours my water system was unfrozen and thankfully undamaged,so having the enclosed underbelly must have saved it some after all……BUT WAIT!…….I didn't show my little tour of Pancho Villa park before the storm hit……I’ll be brief….I know some of you have been there.</p> <p>Here’s an explanation.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BkpqhCjI/AAAAAAAADoU/f3l_SsudLsA/s1600-h/028%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1Bne3IDlI/AAAAAAAADoY/UBgVe1bav6I/028_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> </p> <p>Now the park itself is part of the old military camp.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1Br3-1l-I/AAAAAAAADoc/aWUrR_b1CKQ/s1600-h/029%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1BuxEMt_I/AAAAAAAADog/-4zViN9mhBA/029_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>And below is a shot of Cootes Hill,a lookout point,then another shot taken from the hill looking down into the park,with Palomas Mexico in the distance.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1B08bFQrI/AAAAAAAADok/9QOz4AyPSGE/s1600-h/025%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1B3A805_I/AAAAAAAADoo/PutyRRuhN5g/025_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1B8MfGySI/AAAAAAAADos/LhOZGezjB1k/s1600-h/023%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1B-ilghLI/AAAAAAAADow/jf08BO2EC_I/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>And another view looking down at the visitor centre/museum with the town of Columbus NM in the background.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CE5dZwsI/AAAAAAAADo0/5rNFb9xuO9w/s1600-h/022%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="022" border="0" alt="022" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CIMNRPgI/AAAAAAAADo8/4pNHg-kEV44/022_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Due to the bad weather,I never got over to see the museum plus several other things,but will definitely be back during warmer weather…..It really is a nice, although a little dusty, park..See we even have our own garbage can at each site.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CJUNvd-I/AAAAAAAADpA/-p184utTLMk/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>And a nice wall.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CJUNvd-I/AAAAAAAADpA/-p184utTLMk/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CO9mOTSI/AAAAAAAADpE/PW7JovBxWis/s1600-h/030%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TU1CR5iiGhI/AAAAAAAADpI/ZqDrnpvBJvU/030_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-52594036019635073242011-01-31T02:08:00.001-08:002011-01-31T02:08:30.720-08:00A Day of Discovery In Coastal Bend Country<p>This past week Ivan and I decided to take a little round trip up island and see what there was to see, with no specific agenda.First,after crossing a small waterway,we found that we were now on Mustang Island headed for the resort town of Port Aransas,an area with several RV parks and one State Park,which we checked out for future reference.Then we took a small ferry ride back to the mainland over to Aransas Pass.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaH-Hr5WaI/AAAAAAAADkI/AjiWDYYn474/s1600-h/0015.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIAqkdb-I/AAAAAAAADkM/uje0gvrN9XA/001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIEhLBVlI/AAAAAAAADkQ/2xeae9eaMm8/s1600-h/0055.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIG8ngV4I/AAAAAAAADkU/pK9cL7ID0i8/005_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIMC8KliI/AAAAAAAADkY/XcpqnE_asG4/s1600-h/0075.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIOQdxaQI/AAAAAAAADkc/mNOPo3ZptW0/007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a></p> <p>And up through the towns of Rockport/Fulton,(no pic’s) but another pretty resort area, only a little larger,and a spot I would seriously consider for next winters hunker down time.The area has many nice looking RV parks,most with an abundance of shade trees.</p> <p>Then it was over the causeway and bridge across Capano Bay to Goose Island State Park for another future reference look-see.</p> <p>A thing of note,due to the local terrain,everywhere you travel in this coastal area,you travel over dozens of bridges and causeways like this,and there just seems to be no end to the spots where you can pull off along the shoreline of the many bays and waterways.Having a boat in this part of the world,I would say is a must.Even many of the newer homes just about everywhere you look have waterways and boat docks at their back door instead of a dusty laneways like most places. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIReY15HI/AAAAAAAADkg/RR83_ykDLQ8/s1600-h/0085.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaITdzp6iI/AAAAAAAADkk/HehyjyXiwls/008_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="141" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIW5UGSFI/AAAAAAAADko/F2h0X-duFT8/s1600-h/0095.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIZsbmmMI/AAAAAAAADks/GScTcqNu-Qg/009_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="116" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIdXzCO1I/AAAAAAAADkw/TrYol-wx3W0/s1600-h/0105.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIfe-lknI/AAAAAAAADk0/LF6MFhTmBeQ/010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="158" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIkBJUdPI/AAAAAAAADk4/dLf2vqdoGxc/s1600-h/0115.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIm5GFLRI/AAAAAAAADk8/HxPOvO-bR4A/011_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a></p> <p>The Goose Island State Park campground was almost full.It has two camping areas,one back in the woods,very private where you cant even see your neighbour,or like the photo above and on the right,out along the beach with a beautiful view.</p> <p>From there we moved on a little further north to the entrance to the-- </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIrGeFHMI/AAAAAAAADlA/BIsV999Oloc/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaItadtHrI/AAAAAAAADlE/JLaW1D1ivbg/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a>       <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaIzLoNCfI/AAAAAAAADlI/4E1CCFIQVbo/s1600-h/0165.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaI1hlp7-I/AAAAAAAADlM/o-hWyo7pdks/016_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a></p> <p>Where really you need more time to explore and enjoy what there is to see,but this part of the tour wasn’t really planned….It just happened….Actually my long range plan was to make a special all day trip here,…..So next time…Actually we did cover a lot of ground in the short time we had in the refuge.</p> <p>The main thing was to see the Whooping Cranes from the viewing stand(pic above) but they were not to be seen this day.Many other varieties were out on the bay but the distance was really disappointing and you really needed a spotting scope.There was a spotting scope but it was surrounded with folks who didn't seem to want to give it up.There were many Rosette Spoonbills,but as my photo shows,full 20X zoom really wasn't enough.Thank goodness we at least had some binoculars. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaI7OrDyDI/AAAAAAAADlQ/4y6Ope80WBU/s1600-h/0155.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaI9ZTtheI/AAAAAAAADlU/9_6d7mcFeDY/015_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a></p> <p>But we did visit a small lake nearby in the refuge, because Ivan wanted to go “Dancing with the crocks.”We found one over on the other side but he wasn't in a dancing mood.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJCUWzsiI/AAAAAAAADlY/qRk_IxLEJnI/s1600-h/0186.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJEs0rSyI/AAAAAAAADlc/54O0QW2CnF0/018_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>    <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJLb2UI_I/AAAAAAAADlg/jZtz4Uc5uxQ/s1600-h/0176.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJOTdDHrI/AAAAAAAADlk/WvhrkSBu15E/017_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="268" /></a></p> <p>So it was time to head back,this time through Corpus Christi,McDonalds,and home to the beach.I will again put my little area map up to show the lay of the land that we covered.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJTKXOlnI/AAAAAAAADlo/FgKrEkPyV0o/s1600-h/Capture-24.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Capture-2" border="0" alt="Capture-2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJX6h67lI/AAAAAAAADls/ZXPxCJgkOMA/Capture-2_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" width="506" height="556" /></a></p> <p>I want to finish this post off with some of my wanderings along our beach here,first off showing a beautiful Texas sunrise out of the Gulf of Mexico.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJbUYH23I/AAAAAAAADlw/E44MGFRcuL0/s1600-h/0247.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJdg3w39I/AAAAAAAADl0/a0DMBTlI1Hw/024_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJg5yDE3I/AAAAAAAADl4/UtkuYBy6oYo/s1600-h/0267.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="026" border="0" alt="026" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJi-Tz2vI/AAAAAAAADl8/fvSrW_saGwU/026_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJm7-xo0I/AAAAAAAADmA/_9FnJ4haxwI/s1600-h/0275.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJpG4MQkI/AAAAAAAADmE/EJmGYzUBOpI/027_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="231" /></a> </p> <p>And some of the shorebird scene.The one standing on one leg (left pic) actually, I believe has only one leg, because even though they were all at one time standing on one leg….This one hopped away on one leg when I approached…..The others walked away on two legs. The second photo is of (I believe) a Gull Billed Tern.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJuUdnTjI/AAAAAAAADmI/PJoemv6yMKM/s1600-h/0296.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJwqDtA5I/AAAAAAAADmQ/Tz_5lgyOq38/029_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJ0qj6MbI/AAAAAAAADmU/xfw77l9_oZU/s1600-h/0485.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="048" border="0" alt="048" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJ22daMcI/AAAAAAAADmY/iojgWtxrN7Y/048_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>There were many of them hanging around with an equally large flock of Royal Terns seen below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJ8A1t-CI/AAAAAAAADmc/z8okpi-vqak/s1600-h/0455.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="045" border="0" alt="045" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaJ-3PkKeI/AAAAAAAADmg/Wk8drkEgHFc/045_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> Quite a striking bird,and pardon the pun,but as far as getting up on those old pilings below…………..Wait for it………….</p> <p>We all want a tern.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaKDmGy5fI/AAAAAAAADmk/qFToXzZipK0/s1600-h/0435.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="043" border="0" alt="043" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUaKGqgExLI/AAAAAAAADmo/kXHWb1iJadk/043_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a> </p> <p>So!…..By the time that I post this entry,I will be a long way from the beach,as I said my goodbyes to Ivan and Hailey his guard cat on Saturday morning. My present location as I post this, is already 600 miles away,so I travel in stealth mode to……….?</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-33532056571921871102011-01-27T03:13:00.001-08:002011-01-27T03:13:20.194-08:00The “USS LEXINGTON”…The Blue Ghost<p>Our tour of this magnificent old aircraft carrier was 6 hours of pure joy for me, since its heyday was in a time period of my younger life.</p> <p>I’m not going to go into detail of its full history but have provided a link on Wikipedia that I think explains it well for those who are interested.. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lexington_%28CV-16%29">here</a></p> <p>I will concentrate on showing the tour through the eyes of Ivan and myself as we scrambled around her decks and compartments.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQaUiEgxI/AAAAAAAADgs/9SazV8YbPHU/s1600-h/0596.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="059" border="0" alt="059" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQdClf-yI/AAAAAAAADgw/aUpvBhmS8Zo/059_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQi07osQI/AAAAAAAADg0/r1wfhSv0Ado/s1600-h/0088.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQmVnsSDI/AAAAAAAADg8/C8dGHe3Yufk/008_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>It was nice to have an early morning start with no crowds, and as it turned out as the day went on, that crowds were not a factor, making it an enjoyable and relaxing tour.</p> <p>Early on, we entered the Joe Jessel mega theatre,at the forward end of the hanger deck to watch an I-Max movie called “Fighter Pilot”which being my first I-max movie,had me wide eyed and excited.(I don't get out much)<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQny5RxgI/AAAAAAAADhA/Z2SVpNL3cu4/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" />It was all about training exercises in the Nevada desert combining the fighter pilots of many countries,including our own,Canada.This had nothing to do with the Lex,but did set the stage for an interesting day……I must say we were both impressed as we felt like WE were sitting in the cockpit of the F16’s………I even thought that I had pulled a couple of G’s just sitting in my movie seat.</p> <p>When the movie ended,our next visit was to go up to the flight deck,where they have many different vintage planes on display.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQsBT_gxI/AAAAAAAADhE/QsYL-twPSyI/s1600-h/0165.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQuPAaSCI/AAAAAAAADhI/PYx8lAWGYdU/016_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQxwpvKsI/AAAAAAAADhM/vNNcfAIsvn0/s1600-h/0255.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQ0BolsqI/AAAAAAAADhQ/WmY2z8om-80/025_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Below is a shot taken inside one of the big gun turrets where Ivan is checking out the situation.Plus a little silly Willy photo op…Hey its my blog….I can do what I want.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQ1ujgmCI/AAAAAAAADhU/jGi7VgpoGm0/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQ6bH4KRI/AAAAAAAADhY/eqXYgev3OUI/s1600-h/0286.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFQ8RCuDxI/AAAAAAAADhc/nx8Fpa11ph8/028_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRAxfDoXI/AAAAAAAADhg/bIv4wspxGm0/s1600-h/0315.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRDA1zDrI/AAAAAAAADhk/EYeWbuEPspQ/031_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Here’s another…..so Nah!..Don't you just love these photo op displays that they put up just waiting for turkeys like me to come along and embarrass myself.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRIfCN02I/AAAAAAAADho/bb6R6t2iBhk/s1600-h/042%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRKu2D2OI/AAAAAAAADhs/MJ04DDpqzlc/042_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Up to the bridge for a look see,where I sit in the captains chair and Ivan is back behind me steering the ship…..Ivan! Your looking the wrong way…Remember what I said about kids in a candy store?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRO03LmFI/AAAAAAAADhw/Zw9c8K-7w2M/s1600-h/0535.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="053" border="0" alt="053" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRRBo7IqI/AAAAAAAADh0/R8yGnEk8Wxg/053_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRVzm9M4I/AAAAAAAADh4/5IUXU7iV2oY/s1600-h/0515.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="051" border="0" alt="051" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRYawLS-I/AAAAAAAADh8/pTRkesbJWY0/051_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Now a few views taken down on the hanger deck…A lot bigger than some of the hangers I worked in during my air force days.They had a nice little mess deck cafe at the rear of the hanger deck, so we grabbed some lunch to fortify for the coming afternoon.</p> <p>Nearby was also a nice souvenir store where I bought my (been-there…done-that).. tee shirt.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRdmq0IAI/AAAAAAAADiA/aMgBqse8un8/s1600-h/0306.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="030" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRgqu0nWI/AAAAAAAADiE/pke8fwFcgrY/030_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRmIuKttI/AAAAAAAADiI/9oj7RHOB8K8/s1600-h/0296.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="029" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRoSnq7vI/AAAAAAAADiM/ybT7vK_2gZg/029_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>All 5 self guided tours started and ended on this hanger deck,so you could choose any tour at any time and go at your own pace and see the exhibits and learn of the ships history,and because it is a former US Navy vessel,the ship does have steep ladders,low overhangs and some hazards to look out for,and BOY! They weren't kidding. </p> <p>Tour 1 covered the Flight Deck area</p> <p>Tour 2 covered the Foc’sle….Quarters, exhibits and anchor equipment.</p> <p>Tour 3 covered the Gallery Deck…Combat information centre,ready rooms,etc.</p> <p>Tour 4 covered the lower decks,engine room,sick bay,dental clinic,crews galley,mine exhibit and more.</p> <p>Tour 5 covered the hanger deck.</p> <p>There was so much to see that after awhile we realized that to do this ships 5 tours properly,you almost need to spend 2 days here…..That is if you like to read and really look at everything they had on display.We even stopped snapping pictures after awhile as it was becoming overwhelming……Below are some random shots that we did take……Captains Cabin.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRtKBriNI/AAAAAAAADiQ/QjHHtOWgnQI/s1600-h/037%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFRvXLtG1I/AAAAAAAADiU/7uMyhvWrAZM/037_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFR0V1EBWI/AAAAAAAADiY/B91FL335Ihc/s1600-h/038%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="038" border="0" alt="038" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFR2ysXqJI/AAAAAAAADic/2S0HzIXnv5E/038_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>Control Centre,and Junior Officer Quarters.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFR7914kTI/AAAAAAAADig/prXI6wpDLF8/s1600-h/039%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="039" border="0" alt="039" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFR-AR_yHI/AAAAAAAADik/gsCKTDm-U78/039_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSDanLxvI/AAAAAAAADio/gHE4gRQ8Wfk/s1600-h/040%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSFkaYnzI/AAAAAAAADis/mYKBDsSF3s8/040_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSK2F-SoI/AAAAAAAADiw/7VE6JxNtnog/s1600-h/041%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="041" border="0" alt="041" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSNQ5Z16I/AAAAAAAADi0/YEyVwlC8rAw/041_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSSFulwfI/AAAAAAAADi4/fr-F-xJcC6U/s1600-h/044%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="044" border="0" alt="044" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSUZi1Y8I/AAAAAAAADi8/A6CqtWg16bo/044_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>This Foc’sle section was also a movie set used in the movie “Pearl Harbor”for a scene taken on a Japanese ship. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSZ4AX-BI/AAAAAAAADjA/3pA5uOLR6g0/s1600-h/045%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="045" border="0" alt="045" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFScwisfKI/AAAAAAAADjE/Tdgw56rlnOM/045_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSh-uviNI/AAAAAAAADjI/cZ3fwF4I6j0/s1600-h/046%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="046" border="0" alt="046" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSkSvnC_I/AAAAAAAADjM/PZzjrxozVvs/046_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>We were amazed at the sick bay and dental clinic as to the large size of these areas,and so well equipped,but by this time we stopped taking pictures and just took it all in.There was just too much to absorb…..And thank goodness for all the signs directing you because it is really easy to get lost with all the compartments and passageways…Hell I get lost just coming out of a mall by a different door.</p> <p>The right hand photo below is a view of a very small portion of the engine room.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSpKSk0KI/AAAAAAAADjQ/6r2_O8aBhvM/s1600-h/057%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="057" border="0" alt="057" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSrgiu0vI/AAAAAAAADjU/hg6RxIPDzVU/057_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFSwzAo5WI/AAAAAAAADjY/1F7My9rlUCc/s1600-h/058%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="058" border="0" alt="058" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFS0EkMJkI/AAAAAAAADjg/PNcc4t5Gu8s/058_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> <p>Finally a little piece of her history below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFS6Kgm0kI/AAAAAAAADjk/8VysuMYzezw/s1600-h/056%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="056" border="0" alt="056" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFS-NLCf4I/AAAAAAAADjo/7p7NOXjLwyc/056_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="496" /></a></p> <p>With a little more explanation below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTCxS3NCI/AAAAAAAADjs/sxbCJBXJkx8/s1600-h/061%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="061" border="0" alt="061" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTGP1ZKHI/AAAAAAAADjw/1faunyWMuKI/061_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="706" height="531" /></a></p> <p>And there’s the spot up there with the Japanese flag.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTKuAWa4I/AAAAAAAADj4/btVY_JgbypY/s1600-h/060%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="060" border="0" alt="060" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTNa7QDDI/AAAAAAAADj8/b6rX1sRNGkM/060_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>So with that I say goodbye old Lex….It was a pleasure and an honour to visit you.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTQjH54lI/AAAAAAAADkA/Gr3e8wQHIsU/s1600-h/001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TUFTTFJZKaI/AAAAAAAADkE/iwr8dIuKA4I/001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="378" /></a></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-43268658174607434322011-01-26T02:28:00.001-08:002011-01-26T02:28:48.994-08:00Familiarizing With Our New Area…The Coastal Bend.<p>Just to carry on from the last blog post,I wanted to set the stage,(so to speak) for my upcoming blog entries and follow the daily sequence's since arriving in this area.</p> <p>First off,a map and scene of the general area,and I know that some readers have been in this area,but for those of you who haven't,we are located at the position of the green balloon.</p> <p>For anyone interested, the live Google map in my sidebar can be used for a more concise look at the area using a satellite view and zoom,but this gives a general overview of the areas that I describe. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2AJuPfjI/AAAAAAAADfU/n4sjgo1irsk/s1600-h/Capture-2%5B4%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Capture-2" border="0" alt="Capture-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2FCNbwjI/AAAAAAAADfY/to_vojxk9Zg/Capture-2_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="506" height="556" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2RZNpMOI/AAAAAAAADfc/VS3KCvDzyjQ/s1600-h/Capture-1%5B4%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Capture-1" border="0" alt="Capture-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2aWJYyMI/AAAAAAAADfg/OHQFDa_dnRY/Capture-1_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="806" height="386" /></a></p> <p>So!…Ivan and I are parked somewhere down there on 50 some odd miles of unspoiled beach that have beautiful sunrises coming out of the sea.</p> <p>Going back to last Sunday which dawned a little cloudy and cool,we decided to take a drive into Corpus Christi and take our first look around.Again like many times before we both agreed just how easy it seems to be,driving around some of these Texas cities with the expressway systems that all seem to be laid out the same,both here and down in the Rio Grand Valley,using one way frontage roads on each side with U turn lanes going under the overpasses.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2ecIZjKI/AAAAAAAADfk/7tjzk942KH4/s1600-h/003%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2gwVE5mI/AAAAAAAADfo/1UZEjTJlMjU/003_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2k3m_dtI/AAAAAAAADfs/BnFgpnSmvns/s1600-h/004%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2nco-7xI/AAAAAAAADfw/j5lrg2laXgg/004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Corpus Christi seems to us to be a very clean and modern city (pop 277000) with miles and miles of beautiful beachfront and parks, which would make this place a real treasure in the summertime.They say that swimming in these waters is good until late December.If you look at the map you can see the city sits on a large protected bay,protected by Padre Island, and from the city you can hardly even see the island.</p> <p>Below is some beach area where it meets the shipping area.Both of these photo’s were taken from the aircraft carrier Lexington,one from the fan tail and the other from the flight deck,showing this general area of the city’s north end.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2rrzclnI/AAAAAAAADf0/epAuwk123Rk/s1600-h/032%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2t4tNbAI/AAAAAAAADf4/2PajcnaXkQk/032_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_2zWzhF_I/AAAAAAAADf8/DVC6s_NO5s4/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_21w-sZFI/AAAAAAAADgA/VdWHZ3HKMRU/013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>Below is a ship coming out from under the bridge shown above.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_25YPqFlI/AAAAAAAADgE/lYGrKAwp1W8/s1600-h/019%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_27_fCqnI/AAAAAAAADgI/7f9lBH5-ghE/019_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3Aito2PI/AAAAAAAADgM/Vg5y-F2sWpQ/s1600-h/012%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3DE_uShI/AAAAAAAADgQ/oIDinzR20Ok/012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>And heading out into the bay.Padre Island can barely be seen in the background.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3GePJ-OI/AAAAAAAADgU/7TnqBWSkj9E/s1600-h/024%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3IoolpcI/AAAAAAAADgY/DjK_-q9bOMY/024_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>You will note that these photos were taken on two different days when you see both cloudy and clear skies.The reason for this is that yesterday Ivan and I took the tour of the aircraft carrier Lexington and that gave me some more photo opportunities to view the city from a different angle for this blog entry. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3M4SW5jI/AAAAAAAADgc/alGceywfV4k/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3PYO6q6I/AAAAAAAADgg/kQsUWBFYmFg/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3UePsu2I/AAAAAAAADgk/TA91wzRiDG0/s1600-h/005%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TT_3W9CsJbI/AAAAAAAADgo/1Pst-yiaXKQ/005_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>So on my next blog entry I will cover a wonderful and exhausting 6 hour, self guided tour of the “LEX”and its colourful history of battle in the south pacific during world war 2….Ivan and I were both like a couple of kids in a candy store with a look of wide eyed amazement as we climbed all over and down through the ship…. Next time.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-74005615160307118522011-01-23T01:36:00.001-08:002011-01-23T01:36:59.180-08:00Padre Island National Seashore…Corpus Christi Texas.<p>Yes I did…..Finally……After 60 days in one place,mostly in the horizontal position……Vegging…..I put the rubber to the road……Didn't go that far,just a 3 and a half hour drive to the north and a little to the east,but nevertheless,a movement.</p> <p>So here I am on the beach at the Padre Island National Seashore on a (free for camping) beach.A $10.00 entry fee,(good for 7 days) gets you into the Park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv0tTt7wiI/AAAAAAAADeE/jLHxxAxCVQ0/s1600-h/001%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv0wh04QQI/AAAAAAAADeI/6QTY-ZKdxOE/001_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>And yes,…..I have company……Actually he has company…….Me.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv01ymChsI/AAAAAAAADeM/43kuXGlAsrw/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv05dBi2JI/AAAAAAAADeQ/5rVkTz3hlAg/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="501" /></a></p> <p>That's fellow blogger Ivan of <a href="http://roadtrip-06.blogspot.com/">Road trip 2011</a>.He dropped in on me last week in Mission and we made tentative plans that I could hire him as my “Sacrificial Lamb”whereby he could scout ahead for some nice camping spots on the beach in the Corpus Christi area.</p> <p>And if anyone can sniff out boondocking places……This guy can……He sent e-mails with pictures of several local areas and I was hooked……rubber spinning on the road.</p> <p>Actually we missed one member of the group from our “Group Photo” above.And that's Hailey,Ivan's faithful travelling companion.So here goes Hailey,you get your own personal photo.So don't look so dejected.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1AbcTZ7I/AAAAAAAADeU/AoLiVTWq4WY/s1600-h/015%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1D8txSEI/AAAAAAAADeY/ifnqDVrwS2A/015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>Here’s a few local scenes of our new digs,starting with our camping spot here in the surprisingly hard packed sand.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1JObelsI/AAAAAAAADec/kAWCJCjzieg/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1McOnRTI/AAAAAAAADeg/xy9i48AVmF0/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>Actually when I came off the pavement and onto the beach yesterday,I wasn't so sure I wanted to venture out,but surprisingly even the soft looking stuff was hard packed and easy to drag a trailer over…………So Far<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1NkFB8WI/AAAAAAAADek/J18SYtRYOkA/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1S51m6gI/AAAAAAAADeo/WuSavcu6HlA/s1600-h/003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1WdJw9rI/AAAAAAAADew/eyf-d_7nvUo/003_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a></p> <p>I found out after this bumpy ride that it would have been better to come up the beach below the tide line as its smooth like a highway,although a little corrosive I guess.You can see our nearest neighbour in the blue van….I hate it when I have crowds like this.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1NkFB8WI/AAAAAAAADek/J18SYtRYOkA/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>Lots of shorebirds.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1aiDa-mI/AAAAAAAADe0/vPKlZg3g87w/s1600-h/012%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1dS3CIsI/AAAAAAAADe4/-yWQFXHpl_I/012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a> </p> <p>In fact as we were sitting having a happy hour,I noticed about 10 different varieties of shore bird scampering along the shore line just a few yards away.</p> <p>And off in the distance in this poor telephoto shot, is an oil rig,one of several in the area here on the gulf of Mexico….Not BP I hope…..Luckily last summers spill didn't come this way.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1hYRAK9I/AAAAAAAADe8/-ywTT4rmAHU/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1jg2xL8I/AAAAAAAADfA/V3xv_yE5M2E/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="606" height="456" /></a> </p> <p>Note the White Pelican that was captured in the telephoto shot.</p> <p>So!….We both have agreed that this spot will make a great operations base for exploring the area,as there is lots to see here.I’m looking forward to looking around Corpus Christi,a city of just under 300 thousand peeps.Coming through on the expressway,(Boy! I love these Texas highways)…It does look like a nice city.</p> <p>And of course all the surrounding area both out here on the island and off,like Port Aransas,Rockport,Fulton and of course the winter home of the Whooping Crane,”Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.”All of these, a nice easy day trip away.Actually here on the Island we are about 30 minutes away from the city,just far enough away to enjoy the night-time sky.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1qb9IzyI/AAAAAAAADfE/VtxSvXCYYp4/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1s14ENTI/AAAAAAAADfI/DhYg1tc-k1Q/013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1xV9jMfI/AAAAAAAADfM/vjoIjC-fZ-M/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTv1zU2dTqI/AAAAAAAADfQ/LcJ3CVyL7ws/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="306" /></a></p> <p>So,I’ve run out of fresh photo’s….I want to spend at least a week in this area and see and tour the “Lexington”(WW 2 Aircraft Carrier),it’s high on my to-do list along with the nature tours of the area.</p> <p>More on the history and layout of this beautiful island in another blog entry.Did you know its the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world. </p> <p>If interested,here is a link to my present location on Google maps. <a title="http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=9318" href="http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=9318">http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=9318</a></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-65082736573790249242011-01-14T02:35:00.001-08:002011-01-14T02:35:36.970-08:00Harlingen. And The Iwo Jima Memorial.<p>I have always had an interest in war memorials and battlefields ever since the 4 years that I was stationed in France in the early 60’s during my Air force years.</p> <p>We lived in a small town called St Mard in southern Belgium while based at 1 Wing (Fighter Squadron), Marville France, a 30 minute drive away,so we actually lived in a hotbed area of WW1 and WW2 history with many battlegrounds still closed off due to the live ammo still buried there.</p> <p>We used to take weekend drives to the various battle grounds and cemetery's.Bastogne Belgium wasn't very far with its famous “NUTS” museum depicting the Battle of the bulge in WW2 and the American tanks that (at that time) sat at the entrance to the town. And of course the Canadian monuments in Vimy and Ypres.</p> <p>I managed to dig up a few old photo’s of that visit,with our 2 girls standing in front of the Vimy Ridge monument, back at a time just before we got our Maple Leaf Flag.</p> <p>The second shot taken inside the Canadian front line trench.These slides were scanned painstakingly one winter recently by daughter Kimmie,the little blond in the photos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAlvUmYv-I/AAAAAAAADcg/W7FhA3aFIlY/s1600-h/I11-14.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="I11-1" border="0" alt="I11-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAlyGsgNbI/AAAAAAAADck/5dO3WzUYaas/I11-1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="373" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAl12H862I/AAAAAAAADco/5n-sGzCgZ0I/s1600-h/I15-19.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="I15-1" border="0" alt="I15-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAl4CJqkbI/AAAAAAAADcs/wpfyNfVJkR4/I15-1_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="357" /></a></p> <p>And another shot of the front line with the girls and I standing over at the German front line,which was actually closer than what the photo shows.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAl7wvojPI/AAAAAAAADcw/hQiQQ-UxPRA/s1600-h/I16-15.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="I16-1" border="0" alt="I16-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAl-T3TQ3I/AAAAAAAADc0/uBagWc3qzcc/I16-1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="411" /></a></p> <p>So now I’ve set the blog mood for another world war memorial visit, about an hour down the Rio-Grande valley from here.</p> <p>Harlingen,named after the Dutch city,is a beautiful modern city of just under 60,000 and the Iwo Jima Memorial is situated near the city airport,on the south campus parade deck of the Marine Military Academy….It is by no means small as you can see by my size next to it……Very impressive…….Not me!….It<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAl_zDWVsI/AAAAAAAADc4/tTv7NqTGC0s/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmEa_8BgI/AAAAAAAADc8/6kuWV3puleI/s1600-h/001-14.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001-1" border="0" alt="001-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmHf2n3bI/AAAAAAAADdA/NFzoZF5LOiw/001-1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmLu9pZaI/AAAAAAAADdE/-ymuCCm3ODI/s1600-h/0048.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmOHMEASI/AAAAAAAADdI/5tj1tHMVixE/004_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="310" /></a></p> <p>This full scale statue was the model for the casting of the Marine Corps War Memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia,donated by the creator “Felix De Weldon.”</p> <p>Buried next to the memorial is Harlon Block,one of the six flag raisers.</p> <p>The plaque can explain better than me,the story.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmUOUlXsI/AAAAAAAADdM/ntTsYDDnXC8/s1600-h/0096.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmY8ONCQI/AAAAAAAADdQ/ffHQi4A_Jtc/009_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="804" height="617" /></a>  </p> <p>Nice detail. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmdpwaBkI/AAAAAAAADdU/09WW8xJkEc4/s1600-h/0074.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmgiBaTtI/AAAAAAAADdY/CRnJoG59tEg/007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="454" /></a></p> <p>A more distant view through the trees of this beautiful park setting.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmmDVAIbI/AAAAAAAADdc/xus9asgCq2U/s1600-h/0104.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmpHFFjyI/AAAAAAAADdg/ggXORmubsQ0/010_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="454" /></a></p> <p>It was a beautiful warm day,so after a Burger King stop back in town,I headed south to Brownsville on the border.Drove through the historic,narrow, palm lined downtown streets,unable to stop and take a photo.(Isn't that always my excuse?)</p> <p>I forgot to bring my maps with me and had a hard time finding the start of the Military Highway that follows the border back to McAllen.My sense of direction finally won out, but I still win the Darwin award because I had my Garmin with me and never even thought to use it.(Insert face slap)</p> <p>The drive back was more of what I call “Mexico lite”with such a huge Hispanic population here,I saw so many similar business’s and lifestyles that you see on the other side,and of course the ever popular fence along the border. And even a couple of very slow transport trucks holding up a long line of traffic…..And as I finally got to pass them……You guessed it……They were Mexican plated trucks.</p> <p>And I even had a few jousting matches with a couple of Mexican plated cars over for a visit.Thank goodness my 8 years of extended travel in Mexico prepared me for this day.</p> <p>This is all true,but I wanted to have a little fun talking about the people and country that I really like,with hopes that soon I can take my 9th extended trip to old Mexico,instead of just looking across….Nuf said.</p> <p>Now to finish off……..Last time I showed off my (Winter Texan) tee shirt and hat,well I still needed to get something for the truck,so off to the flea market I went.</p> <p>I had a choice of 2 different decals,one like the RVer from Manitoba has on his car.You can have writing of your choice.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAms0J54JI/AAAAAAAADdk/iIktbTM5yOA/s1600-h/0013.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmuxmAlsI/AAAAAAAADdo/yBamrvKWnUA/001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="190" /></a> </p> <p>Or the one that I did select, that was a little less noticeable,but can be figured out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmx6NhxjI/AAAAAAAADds/FJ_klj4VGSo/s1600-h/0113.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAmz16WO3I/AAAAAAAADdw/6DLO7bA1cDQ/011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="226" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAm4BVBLAI/AAAAAAAADd0/k5CZd_gd_C8/s1600-h/0124.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAm6TkO78I/AAAAAAAADd4/tTmqS2_MEoY/012_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229" /></a></p> <p>Well all my bragging about our hot weather has come back to bite me as an arctic front has settled in for the past few days, but is expected to moderate in a couple more days…..In fact at present,4AM…It is 3 degrees f. warmer at home.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAm706Hl4I/AAAAAAAADd8/-_4h3w01p1E/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />Bummer.</p> <p>A 46f/8c degree high is unacceptable……..unacceptable……mumble mumble.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-baringteethsmile" alt="Baring teeth smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TTAm9BUKZ4I/AAAAAAAADeA/adDmObNIUHY/wlEmoticon-baringteethsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-48900935871887221262011-01-09T02:52:00.001-08:002011-01-09T02:52:03.884-08:00This One Is All About The Birds.<p>I cant be classed as a true blue birder,but I have had more than a passing interest in birding at a certain low level for many years.I enjoy trying to identify birds by the sounds I hear and I think I have a fairly good recognition ability in that regard.</p> <p>This past week I finally ventured down the road here 3 miles to one of the World Birding Centre Parks in this area….This one being the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.In fact my daily 7AM jogging sessions take me almost half way there every day.</p> <p>There are about 86 listed hot spot birding areas here in the lower Rio-Grande Valley,with 10 of them listed as World Birding Centre sites.More than I plan on visiting for awhile anyway.7 more on the Mexican side.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRIamYk_I/AAAAAAAADaY/VasQPocKKrY/s1600-h/0274.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRLAo9xKI/AAAAAAAADac/FXBhgSw-yFY/027_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="331" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRQ0b7BlI/AAAAAAAADag/jSfUlDR770I/s1600-h/0284.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRUEb1jLI/AAAAAAAADak/FEzXQGal-og/028_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="394" /></a></p> <p>I’m still unable to identify the above…Its the little ones that really give me trouble.</p> <p>The park sustained quite a bit of flood damage this past summer,so a good portion was still closed off,but its so large that my 3 hours of walking around in the available area, was quite enough.Especially at nearly 80 degrees,although overcast,….Thank goodness.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRaG-mtwI/AAAAAAAADao/WHhRsULGptc/s1600-h/0121%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="012" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRdui8_gI/AAAAAAAADas/yV9aplm2coc/0121_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="603" height="419" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRh36nw6I/AAAAAAAADaw/LRafDQxqyu4/s1600-h/0174.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRjx5z11I/AAAAAAAADa0/4KGG3FZ1u8I/017_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="345" /></a></p> <p>And of course I have to get my favourite Green Jay in early.I love their beautiful colors of (gold-green-black and blue) especially in flight.And yes I have learned to recognize their sounds and “key in” when one is near.</p> <p>Another of the Mexico birds is the Great Kiskadee,a noisy bird that I hear every morning over my trailer but they stay high and move too quickly,so catching them near a feeder was my answer for a photo.And even at that they never stayed in one place very long to key in a shot.I remember these guys well last year at Teacapan Mexico.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRpyIKTGI/AAAAAAAADa4/xUrTxZGGeSE/s1600-h/0394.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="039" border="0" alt="039" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRszVTynI/AAAAAAAADa8/aktLRVqLEFM/039_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="404" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmRy3OiGmI/AAAAAAAADbA/vcqqXxC6Q1k/s1600-h/0205.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmR16JW-5I/AAAAAAAADbE/cxbOHa97m80/020_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="381" /></a></p> <p>They place feeding areas and viewing blinds around the park making close-ups a real treat.I had one all to myself.In the open feeding areas its enjoyable just to sit on one of the many benches provided and just wait and watch…….You don't have a very long wait.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmR8EcwFeI/AAAAAAAADbI/BoEzgN3Bmgg/s1600-h/0134.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmR_UXINgI/AAAAAAAADbM/BLjisCokQg0/013_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSF9yBCKI/AAAAAAAADbQ/eLdk9IWLc9w/s1600-h/0144.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSJl-xxnI/AAAAAAAADbU/-fD9vvz6tQM/014_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="431" /></a></p> <p>These Chachalaca’s,about the size of a small chicken,are everywhere.They are another Mexican bird that you usually hear more than see when in Mexico.They sound like a bunch of crazy turkeys.I used to listen to them every morning at Celestino Sinaloa,but I never got a close up look at them until I came here.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSQVxzbGI/AAAAAAAADbY/48w22r10u0s/s1600-h/0184.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSUfiXntI/AAAAAAAADbc/2CSOM5HYxXA/018_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="406" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSbKZjcWI/AAAAAAAADbg/w7nXcCbtMvg/s1600-h/0375.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSeQqBKVI/AAAAAAAADbk/bC_wC7wopwk/037_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> <p>I don't know the variety of that squirrel,but he is huge,twice the size of the red squirrels at home.Half the size of a ground squirrel.</p> <p>Now,these Robins…I find it hard to distinguish if they are the “Clay-Coloured,”or the “Rufous-Backed” as both are in this area…See how well these in the 2nd and 3rd photo,blend in to the rocks.They are getting water from a spout sticking out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSj68oCpI/AAAAAAAADbo/bC1vjpwEWpw/s1600-h/0324.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSnEjoJYI/AAAAAAAADbs/bz3ngE7EflE/032_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="439" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSsfT_sOI/AAAAAAAADbw/NHxTdCO8D6E/s1600-h/0364.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmSvqaK33I/AAAAAAAADb0/MRTAVpb7Ye8/036_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="416" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmS1cB4xrI/AAAAAAAADb4/kdQVXQ_dEpk/s1600-h/0354.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="035" border="0" alt="035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmS4PXVBII/AAAAAAAADb8/0jEDiFHCVCw/035_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a></p> <p>And to round off we can compare the size of a Chachalaca with the size of a Red Winged Blackbird.And a Tufted Titmouse stayed still long enough for a shot through the opening of one of the viewing blinds.Cute little guys,similar call to the Chickadee. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTALsP39I/AAAAAAAADcA/22GuuGu2oJo/s1600-h/0404.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTDpjMm2I/AAAAAAAADcI/K_JXCr7Z4Dc/040_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTHmVkQkI/AAAAAAAADcM/dCPWTmpEYek/s1600-h/0344.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="034" border="0" alt="034" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTKw_-cWI/AAAAAAAADcQ/rA8O6nHAEC4/034_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="448" /></a></p> <p>All in all an enjoyable 3 hours for these tired old legs…..Most of the babble overheard from the birders that day was the sighting lately of a “Black Vented Oriole”which is usually not seen in this area…..Notice of it even made the local newspaper….The talk was that it has been seen in the RV Park across the road each morning….Much hand waving and describing of where and when was going on amongst the birders…….It made me smile….I just cant get that excited.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTMZBNjcI/AAAAAAAADcU/m0VoSoSJWdI/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>I did see several Altamira Oriole’s though,but not well enough to get a picture this day.So I’ll show one I took here in the valley last January.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTRcbG1CI/AAAAAAAADcY/Ovgm6CB_M_w/s1600-h/042%20%283%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="042 (3)" border="0" alt="042 (3)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSmTT4bJrcI/AAAAAAAADcc/U1IAcf5e_0c/042%20%283%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a>   </p> <p>Until next time.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-89997605611509359442011-01-06T04:36:00.001-08:002011-01-06T04:36:07.616-08:00Getting Texas-afied<p>Is that a new word?…Well I made it up anyway,and yes I’ve been there,done that, and bought the tee shirt……And hat…And am still here and loving it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW2td2vmJI/AAAAAAAADZo/S2K5bqhHG5Q/s1600-h/011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW2xRjDpcI/AAAAAAAADZs/jsvlDNgYZ8k/011_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="496" /></a></p> <p>And yes the beard is still history……For now anyway.</p> <p>I must say the weather has been way more than I expected here in the lower Rio Grande Valley.I’ve been here for over a month and a half vegetating and soaking up the heat and we haven't really had a bad day.The only rain has been overnight sprinkles and that's only been about twice as the drought conditions continue here.</p> <p>I’ve kept a daily temperature record and most days are in the 80’s with a few lately still touching the low 90’s…..We have had a few times when the daytime temps dipped into the 50’s as the arctic air pushed down from the north,but would modify quickly in a day or two and shoot right back up as the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico took over again……One example,when they were freezing over in Arizona on New Years eve,our stroke of midnight temperature was 70 degrees,dipping to a cool 65 by dawn……..burrrrrr!<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW2y5DX5YI/AAAAAAAADZw/Cp2Fvriqiwk/wlEmoticon-smile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />…….And on a final note its forecast to go to 79 today……..And yes in all fairness,I have seen frost on my windshield 2 mornings since arriving here….But I love rattling the chains of my friends over in not so Arid-Arctic-Zona.</p> <p>One of the reasons I picked this area this year was for the warm overnight temperatures and I have not been disappointed…….YA! I’m Texafied all right.</p> <p>My time will be up here in Mission at the AmeriCana on the 22 of this month and the plan is to head over to the Corpus Christi area for a couple of weeks while I wait for the Arizona weather to warm up before heading back that way…..<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW20fONkrI/AAAAAAAADZ0/dwRXXMtPr2w/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> The after Xmas hoard has started to descend in the southland now so I don't know what will be available,but I will wing it.I’ve got new neighbours here for the first time since arriving, as for the first 6 weeks I had no one in the next 4 sites beside me,and now its full. </p> <p>This past week I had a really nice visit with some blogger friends that I have known for 3 years now and usually see every year.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW259To3EI/AAAAAAAADZ4/1-o1VTieBKM/s1600-h/009%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW29gNm9BI/AAAAAAAADZ8/yHkkOBh-Ifg/009_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a>  </p> <p>Al, Suzette and Casey their dog are from Ontario,their blog is on my side bar next to Tioga George.</p> <p>They spent a week here,so we had several nice visits comparing notes as they are retracing my steps and I theirs over the next few weeks as they head west and me a bit more east and north.</p> <p>I first met them Christmas day at Celestino Mexico 3 years ago when I was interested in acquiring a satellite internet system.They had the system that includes the Starchoice/Shaw direct TV bird on a wire,and that really caught my interest.The idea of setting up only one dish for both internet and TV really caught my attention.</p> <p>Al and Suzette were very obliging,even thought I had invaded their space unannounced on Christmas morning,showing me all workings of the system……And I have never looked back,now having the same set up myself and very happy with it. </p> <p>I finally got off my duff yesterday and went birding down the road at the Bentsen Rio Grande World Birding Centre.My birding friends would be appalled that I could vegetate for 6 weeks only 3 miles down the same quiet road from the park,……..And not visit until now?…….For shame. </p> <p>I will cover yesterdays visit next time with little talk and more pic’s…..Here’s a couple more taken here in the RV Park.One right out my door.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW3De_alKI/AAAAAAAADaA/-BGzRP2nF3A/s1600-h/002%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW3GFTvnOI/AAAAAAAADaE/e04qZHd9CDY/002_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW3KNnWukI/AAAAAAAADaI/byzEyfN_mMk/s1600-h/004%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TSW3MV8IFlI/AAAAAAAADaQ/PEMXljl4PUk/004_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="324" /></a></p> <p>A female Cardinal and a Golden Fronted Woodpecker….I’m a little disappointed that the wild Parrots have not shown up yet this winter here in the park, as last year there were over 150 of them here at this time…..Oh well, another 2 weeks to go.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-77212650801965317252010-12-08T03:36:00.001-08:002010-12-08T03:36:33.605-08:00Just Checking In… With A Bit Of Rambling.<p>Its been two weeks since my last post as I’ve settled into a routine much like when I’m at home.And really that is my comfort zone.As I’ve said all along since starting to blog two years ago,that when I’m travelling and have something to blog about,then I’ll put in an entry.</p> <p>Now technically you could say that I am travelling….Well sort of, so when I get off my butt here and do something that I might think interesting,then I’ll make an entry.Many bloggers are happy telling of what they do all day including what they had for breakfast,every day…That's really not my style,although I am guilty of just that in the past,and will probably slip up and do it in the future.</p> <p>My daily routine for the past 2 weeks is just relaxing and catching up with all the DVR recordings from my satellite TV that have been building up over the past 2 months,besides some days have been so hot that sitting inside with the air conditioner on and watching TV has been the norm.</p> <p>The rest of the time has been spent driving around and getting used to the general area and finding the shopping/service spots that are close and easy to get to,for example the closest Super Wal-Mart is 9 minutes away and the closest H.E.B. Supermarket is 6 minutes,so things are (driving) close.(The H.E.B. has my favourite Mexican fruit yogurt,”Lala” peach with big chunks of fresh peaches.) And in between all of this are many Laundromat choices,big bright and almost empty,in fact the other day I was the last one leaving at 1030am,a far cry from my Yuma experiences where the Laundromats seemed to be a rat race by that hour.(Or do I need to check my armpits?)</p> <p> And another nice thing is that the park is located on the outskirts of the city,where it is quiet enough that I hear the coyotes and roosters,even heard a donkey bray one morning,made me miss old Mexico.So the point of my rambling is that getting on the 83 Expressway,which is down the road a few blocks,gets me across several of the valleys cities,really fast or just as quickly to local spots.</p> <p>Last January when I was here for 10 days,the local driving terrified me as I couldn't figure out all the one way frontage roads running beside an elevated expressway,then getting mixed up with the difference between U turn and left turn lanes as they passed under the expressway overpasses.This got me in big trouble back then when I found myself facing down on coming traffic going the wrong way after coming out of a gas station.So this time I was determined to figure it all out…And have… Now I love it.</p> <p>On the nicer days I get out and do a little birding in our little parks own preserve.Still enjoying the Green Jays and Cardinals.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9ssUUAoRI/AAAAAAAADYY/WmWSUYkp0DM/s1600-h/0015.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="001" alt="001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9svBUJbmI/AAAAAAAADYc/Ww-anCEe5pw/001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9s1ewR4ZI/AAAAAAAADYg/zJl1IlAa9vU/s1600-h/0056.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9s4YPiJjI/AAAAAAAADYk/PfydgUuGQMk/005_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="295" /></a></p> <p>And even some of the visitors come right into my site beside the trailer,like the Pyrrhuloxia  below.</p> <p>The Northern Mockingbird(on Right) acts like part of a street gang,chasing all the others away,but sure makes up for it with their beautiful singing.It seems every afternoon on nice days,one will be up above my trailer singing away for the longest time.I would like to record it but there’s too much traffic noise here.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9s9J7kiWI/AAAAAAAADYo/dkBzgjL-t5A/s1600-h/0035.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9s_j2jfpI/AAAAAAAADYs/xyXzj_WAB10/003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="328" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tELwRLiI/AAAAAAAADYw/HiDQ9s0-OdA/s1600-h/0045.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tGTyzogI/AAAAAAAADY0/jcpvsU85Pqw/004_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="313" /></a></p> <p>Last week I was treated to a 2 day visit from a fellow blogger who is on my side bar under the handle of (Croft’s Mexico).I’ve been following his blog for many years,so when he put a message in my comments section that he wanted to drop in and meet me,as they were passing through,I was thrilled as I had wanted to meet them.</p> <p>Norma and Croft from Vancouver Island.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tLacz7nI/AAAAAAAADY4/oPVk0ynP8us/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tOTjTQZI/AAAAAAAADY8/Nl3Tz_2GolQ/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="442" /></a></p> <p>They are great people….We couldn't even find anything to argue about and that’s one of my strong points….I love arguing,It seemed that we just agreed on every topic whether it be politics or Mexico travel.We had happy hours and morning coffee visits and I really enjoyed having someone to talk to for a change,since I tend to be a bit of a loner.Even though we do have a park full of friendly people,I do stick to myself,its the old boondocker in me.Having Norma and Croft visit was more like old friend's because after reading his blog over the years,I felt like I knew them well……..Its a blogger thing I guess.</p> <p>They had a bit of a sugar ant problem for the 2 days that they were here,as did I upon arriving, but after 2 weeks I had all my ants trained to leave me alone and go invade someone else…..That being said,I sent about 50 of them off to visit Norma and Croft and they hitched a ride with them to Brownsville,leaving me less to contend with.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tPyqrteI/AAAAAAAADZA/630cIhGzWrg/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" />Sorry about that Norma.</p> <p>Here they are heading out for Brownsville.Hope to meet up again soon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tUr_WPII/AAAAAAAADZE/elG0yGnuUBg/s1600-h/0135.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013" alt="013" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tXeUlSSI/AAAAAAAADZI/d9YJC6aiXeE/013_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="357" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tdXu2eCI/AAAAAAAADZM/KJe5SE02W1Y/s1600-h/0145.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="014" alt="014" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tgLQETNI/AAAAAAAADZQ/rOES2q-suK0/014_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="283" /></a></p> <p>So its back to my usual daily routine of my morning exercise jog/walks and 3 times weekly weight workouts with my fancy Ironmaster (quick change) dumbbells.I love these,so easy to travel with. They are shaped for travel with the square plates.My tail gate makes a good table for setting up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tla6Us_I/AAAAAAAADZU/0LT2M0Vxs-E/s1600-h/0155.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="015" alt="015" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tnzo9P3I/AAAAAAAADZY/iNfAHomWWaA/015_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="307" /></a> </p> <p>One last thing I wanted to mention was that I picked this area instead of Arizona because of it’s more tropical,less desert, climate, as its on an east/west line with Miami Florida with much the same climate,in fact just down a few sites from me, I found growing, a fairly healthy looking bunch of banana’s up against the side of a 5th wheel.I’ve never seen them growing this healthy this far north,usually in Mexico you would travel almost to Mazatlan to see them,much further south….Although is it really that much further south,I believe we are also on an east/west line with Los Mochis Mexico.And I’ve never been to Florida,so maybe they grow all over,in that State…….There I go rambling again.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9ts9sZK7I/AAAAAAAADZc/RA058VniFzs/s1600-h/0075.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TP9tvTtiNpI/AAAAAAAADZg/Lm5HXGPAkS8/007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="288" /></a></p> <p> They even call the highway 83 through the valley as the “Texas Tropical Trail”.</p> <p>I have 2 weather gadgets on my desktop,one for Yuma and one for Mission/McAllen and am able to compare temperatures every morning when I boot up,and so far this area has been much warmer,especially the overnights,some by more than 20 degrees f.(Coastal climate vs.desert.) I guess. </p> <p>This was one of the reasons for picking this spot along with getting away from trailer rocking desert winds and DUST!……..Just a nice change and a new experience for the old guy.</p> <p>On a final note I’m not knocking Yuma or Arizona as a whole…I love the place….just wanted to experience something different……And I also love comparative statistics as you have probably guessed by now.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-7788266490755888822010-11-25T03:39:00.001-08:002010-11-25T03:39:08.599-08:00AmeriCana RV Park…My New Home For The Next Month Or So.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5ElePd2DI/AAAAAAAADWE/Wl9d-R9j-uc/s1600-h/0015.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="001" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5En-WI84I/AAAAAAAADWI/mZCfvvBqcwQ/001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5EvJ2SEcI/AAAAAAAADWM/lZ4O_hSUWjw/s1600-h/0325.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="032" alt="032" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5ExunCMlI/AAAAAAAADWQ/fl-b6L7Fsd8/032_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a> </p> <p>Above are my new digs.All set up and ready to kick back after over 3500 miles of travel covering a 6 week period.</p> <p>I left Falcon Lake last Monday morning and an hour later arrived here and set up in my pre-selected site in uncomfortable heat.For the past week now the temperature has been hovering at the 90/33c degree mark with night time lows around 75/25c and a humidity of above 80%……..On top of all of this I’ve been suffering with what they call the “Texas Crud”for the past 5 days.Crud is crud whatever you call it and it pains me for I cannot remember the last time I was sick or even had a cold.But they say its hard to avoid as a first timer here.</p> <p>The moist air just keeps pumping off the Gulf of Mexico a few miles away,and the forecast is for a high around 60/17c by Friday when all the cold air from the north arrives.</p> <p>When I came down a week earlier to scout the parks,the only choices I had in this park for long term were spots in the back(below) The areas along the fence on the grass were ok,quite large, but not really defined,as were the gravel spots here in the foreground.When I went back to the office to asked,she suggested if I didn't care about traffic noise,there was a large site with a seldom used site next to it if I wanted some privacy, for $399. per month including electricity cost.So I took it,paid my deposit and headed back to Falcon Lake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5E3yDzpHI/AAAAAAAADWU/NH_Y3Ek519k/s1600-h/0255.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="025" alt="025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5E6pniWzI/AAAAAAAADWY/ioEO2WXD5wE/025_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p>Some other views taken along the 4 park roads.There are some park models.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FE8qGPiI/AAAAAAAADWc/UTkOTWT1NH0/s1600-h/0075.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FHjGY2dI/AAAAAAAADWg/-UVzT0deQ54/007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FM8y6O0I/AAAAAAAADWk/5xnpDm9WMg0/s1600-h/0245.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="024" alt="024" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FPaB6o9I/AAAAAAAADWo/a-p2PTVjifo/024_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FVDdhGyI/AAAAAAAADWs/wWfa8eDZtIs/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FXtnzEAI/AAAAAAAADWw/0rqBWj7W46I/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FdRZdl1I/AAAAAAAADW0/NYN3anFkIUQ/s1600-h/0135.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013" alt="013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FfxKHKoI/AAAAAAAADW4/n8wOopXBTgc/013_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>The sites are nicely spaced in this older park,and with plenty of length.Everything from shaded to semi-shaded to open sites in all budget ranges.And for the birder,the huge “World Birding Centre”park is just 5 minutes down this road.In fact they call this park “The Birding Centre RV Resort.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5Fmn9WEuI/AAAAAAAADW8/PSW42GuYhRk/s1600-h/02011.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="020" alt="020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5Fppz7mcI/AAAAAAAADXA/X3HxD51qgdU/020_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>A small salt water swimming pool and the washroom/mail/laundry room.Behind this shot is the clubhouse.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FvtTPo9I/AAAAAAAADXE/s4Iox4ohAPY/s1600-h/0159.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="015" alt="015" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5FyJYZzrI/AAAAAAAADXI/lBuj13z7hXM/015_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5F31CWzPI/AAAAAAAADXM/QhI7-TaMA7g/s1600-h/0195.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="019" alt="019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5F6MOwmtI/AAAAAAAADXQ/YKso0r3cOnc/019_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>And in the back corner of this 154 space park,for the birder, is a 2.5 acre wooded bird refuge with bird houses and feeding stations set up at intervals.They have a population of wild parrots that seem to grow every year.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GDnG8DBI/AAAAAAAADXU/evLHryKcqFI/s1600-h/0115.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="011" alt="011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GG23yJUI/AAAAAAAADXY/pPyIqYRnYS0/011_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GS8t4PqI/AAAAAAAADXc/VGYjGajXni0/s1600-h/0285.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="028" alt="028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GVhohJVI/AAAAAAAADXg/r77AyqMEeo8/028_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>I stopped and sat in one of the chairs for a few minutes and was able to get a poor shot of one of my favourites here…The Green Jay,with its distinctive blue and black head,and golden tail feathers,a delight to watch in flight also.To the right a better shot taken last January when I was here for 10 days.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GY-vtGiI/AAAAAAAADXk/O0aHH29VgK8/s1600-h/0291%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="029" alt="029" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GawzCurI/AAAAAAAADXo/m-lRqXlCrUU/0291_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="353" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GfsNAKtI/AAAAAAAADXs/5Els85wUqyE/s1600-h/039%20%283%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="039 (3)" alt="039 (3)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5GiNMY-UI/AAAAAAAADXw/Yhhwc9xeKok/039%20%283%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Unfortunately I mistakenly had my camera set on portrait for all of todays shots,so my scenes are hazy. </p> <p>Here is another site nearby that is open until mid January that I could have taken.</p> <p>But I didn't want to give up my orange tree.I hope they are worth it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5Gt5y90SI/AAAAAAAADX0/SM_K5GiUbhc/s1600-h/00811.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5Gw2qcxGI/AAAAAAAADX8/4ty_fYSUi_U/008_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5G4BUUJSI/AAAAAAAADYA/TDQmsE8TaeI/s1600-h/0035.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5G6zbVpDI/AAAAAAAADYE/jTXw2iEo-nQ/003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>So as you can see by the photos that there are many open sites at this time but they are spoken for and this quiet, older park will become a hive of activity very soon.There are many parks here on Benson Palm Drive on the outskirts of Mission Texas,some are luxurious,and some have seen better days and just like Goldilocks and the 3 bears,some are just right.</p> <p>Now I must go out and do battle with my sugar ants………Hey! It aint perfect but I’m getting to be an old hand at battling ants.About 50 to 75 got into the trailer Tuesday while I was out shopping, but I beat them back and sealed their entry point and am now feeding them the good stuff outside….You know the stuff that locks their jaw….Heh heh!</p> <p>Oh! And I don't have to go far for a propane refill.Funny thing,all the way down the valley I was searching for a propane refill place and found nothing until I arrived here.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5HAuiZZ5I/AAAAAAAADYI/4oOLqbDhPxw/s1600-h/0049.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5HDeKlYkI/AAAAAAAADYM/1vlrt4ObPuQ/004_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5HJco-aqI/AAAAAAAADYQ/DW_AujDAchk/s1600-h/0055.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TO5HLe_nJiI/AAAAAAAADYU/r9blaKB3oy0/005_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>I think I’m going to like being a “Winter Texan”….Its a nice change of scene.Have to see if the wind ever stops blowing though…..Its not as bad as the desert winds…..Yet…And makes the heat bearable. </p> <p>Happy Thanksgiving to all the American readers.</p> <p>And again,all bad grammar is intentional. </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-11587072841122563592010-11-21T04:28:00.001-08:002010-11-21T04:28:14.519-08:00Enjoying Some Down Time At Falcon State Park.<p>The weather’s great and the park is almost empty,and its a weekend…go figure.31 sites and only 6 of us…Cant even see my neighbour….50 amp electric and water…$16.00</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkK9VX6l5I/AAAAAAAADTM/_DekirMl0CM/s1600-h/012%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLB10gZdI/AAAAAAAADTQ/_CbWirTvUyc/012%5B1%5D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="501" height="375" /></a></p> <p>After one day over in the horrible full hook-up burr infested area,they made us all move over to the electric and water area,which is were I wanted to be in the first place.Nice paved semi-circles.This is because the construction crew had finished this area and wanted to start on the other.</p> <p>When I was setting up in this new spot,I was busy brushing a couple of hundred burrs out of the truck and I look over into my site about 30 feet away and low and behold I got to see my first Armadillo.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLUhSibYI/AAAAAAAADTU/1xuAAeA_zYc/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013" alt="013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLbdqOL-I/AAAAAAAADTY/c6s1YlaNkm8/013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="257" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLrJ0rwTI/AAAAAAAADTc/MWVAorWPVhE/s1600-h/015%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="015" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLv7qlvPI/AAAAAAAADTg/I8VA1lwYY24/015_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Unfortunately he didn't want to face me and just ambled off.I yelled at him not to walk away when I’m talking to him…..But he didn't care.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-flirtmale" alt="Flirt male" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkLxl0NZPI/AAAAAAAADTk/wbpFuNF6d7Q/wlEmoticon-flirtmale%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />I’ve been hoping to see one on my 2 previous visits to Texas and was told that probably the chances were slim, so I consider myself lucky.</p> <p>As I said before this is a birding paradise with all the thick foliage and lots of water with a 50 mile long and 5 mile wide lake out front.You have quite a nice selection like the Curved Billed Thrasher below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkMLdTOewI/AAAAAAAADTo/jYp5i-opUm4/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkMO6BU-NI/AAAAAAAADTs/va9AR5nJEdo/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkMd7-iOSI/AAAAAAAADTw/zpjiryRafXc/s1600-h/006%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkMh-4GItI/AAAAAAAADT0/EsagDpZK8_E/006_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="348" /></a></p> <p>And the place is crawling with Pyrrhuloxia like this sunrise shot yesterday,along with this second shot of one of a pair of them feeding in the grass a few feet from my trailer yesterday afternoon.I’m wondering if they are eating burrs…..Ouch!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkM2Vh1x6I/AAAAAAAADT4/GuSLAuHdhHI/s1600-h/003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkM8-BvlKI/AAAAAAAADUA/IiKkQV5qfRs/003_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="395" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNEjPwsRI/AAAAAAAADUE/RDyRvWSMMYs/s1600-h/031%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="031" alt="031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNI6LH_WI/AAAAAAAADUI/TnnQ6AbkLyc/031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="375" /></a></p> <p>And we cant forget one of the hundreds of Northern Mockingbirds here.They are so territorial,chasing all the others away…..But I could listen to them all day when they get warbling.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNRQRECJI/AAAAAAAADUM/N-xT8sYkOK0/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="009" alt="009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNWRPAX9I/AAAAAAAADUQ/V7wDQC-fFMw/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="459" /></a></p> <p>On my morning walks I see dozens of small rabbits and many deer like these two yesterday checking me out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNiBAAkqI/AAAAAAAADUU/149W0TFSPtg/s1600-h/006-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006-1" alt="006-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNmYnaiYI/AAAAAAAADUY/drxPoNV_rgU/006-1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Haven't seen any Javelina’s since the first evening at the other site when a family of 9 came by and did some feeding on my burr infested lawn…..The little ones are cute…I didn't take any pic’s……I’m all Javelina’d out since Fort Davis St.Pk.</p> <p>And here in the campsite I have a regular buddy who I named Rodger the Road Runner.He sticks around all the time so I guess this is his personal stomping ground.When I’m sitting outside he will walk to within about 5 feet of me.He got some wiener bits last night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNu6tf6mI/AAAAAAAADUc/rCE06Wu6SRI/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkNzGq5o6I/AAAAAAAADUg/FU1nIB9tESM/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="348" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOEgIfHKI/AAAAAAAADUk/L9gs0k9SBs8/s1600-h/022%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="022" alt="022" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOImG9rCI/AAAAAAAADUo/HiCtZcn3BS4/022_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Yesterday when I was doing my breakfast dishes I heard a lot of chatter coming from the bushes outside my door that sounded like chickadees,and when I looked I saw that they were Tufted titmice,which are only in this area and eastward I believe.No chance for a photo this time.Too fast for me.</p> <p>This lake is a very popular bass fishing lake and yesterday morning by 7 the big parking lot down by the boat launch already had 2 dozen trucks and boat trailers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOVwza3XI/AAAAAAAADUs/rO9YDxUuzwY/s1600-h/002%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="002" alt="002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOYZbSUwI/AAAAAAAADUw/lAM0ERyyvu8/002_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Its a huge parking lot so I’d assume it gets very busy.I also noticed that 6 of the truck/trailer combo were from Mexico,so either they don't have any good launching facilities on that side of the dam,or things are just too hot with the cartels roaming around,so they fish this half of the lake.</p> <p>I also discovered a nice Butterfly garden by the clubhouse here, with some interesting local plant life.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOnmMIu5I/AAAAAAAADU0/oR4ex1IZDi8/s1600-h/015-1%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="015-1" alt="015-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOqarSLBI/AAAAAAAADU4/O8bL5q4SpxQ/015-1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOu2dZ_ZI/AAAAAAAADU8/_IwSmhucFWI/s1600-h/016%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="016" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkOxR0UPCI/AAAAAAAADVA/d6XsIqVpsMs/016_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>The place was full of butterflies.Mostly Monarch but a few others too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkO5_wKLII/AAAAAAAADVE/CDtWamFUFVY/s1600-h/014%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="014" alt="014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkPb95JrBI/AAAAAAAADVI/4pbib6yPTKw/014_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Some of the plant life that I found interesting was this Mexican Olive,explained below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkPki5rgFI/AAAAAAAADVM/U5nJ5_z3a78/s1600-h/012-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012-1" alt="012-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkPnVfdibI/AAAAAAAADVQ/O86xFKgoIG4/012-1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkPsaDn-BI/AAAAAAAADVU/ShNnx07_-Ak/s1600-h/013-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013-1" alt="013-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkPuzMq73I/AAAAAAAADVY/WOasdkDQF2E/013-1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkP1QdmOMI/AAAAAAAADVc/9o515DXswpY/s1600-h/021%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="021" alt="021" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkP4ASKM4I/AAAAAAAADVg/HLZW5jKIuCQ/021_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="260" /></a></p> <p>And another plant which seems to grow in abundance here in this thorny thicket country, is the….</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkP-QsxIFI/AAAAAAAADVk/_uvwWV3Fap0/s1600-h/017%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="017" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkQBKwi8EI/AAAAAAAADVo/xzzsc3IWojQ/017_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkQI_WuXvI/AAAAAAAADVs/2xToOyR8T_A/s1600-h/018%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="018" alt="018" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkQMq_AawI/AAAAAAAADVw/t_E15NivCOE/018_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>With a few remaining flowers that look like this…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkQRt0a63I/AAAAAAAADV0/supTjRbMMdo/s1600-h/019%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="019" alt="019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOkQWmtr9GI/AAAAAAAADV4/hidtWoToTPk/019_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="694" /></a></p> <p>So!..Today is my last day here….On Thursday last, I drove into Mission about 50 miles down the valley and checked out a few RV parks that I could call home until after the holidays.It was a nice little daytrip with a Burger King stop included.And I took my first choice among my on line researches for a park.I had a choice of about 8 sites in this park that were still available into January and took a site close to the road but BIG with no close neighbours,and my own orange tree….full and ready for picking….And the owner says,enjoy them…They are yours to eat…Until next time. </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-17383543901090588002010-11-19T08:41:00.001-08:002010-11-19T08:41:25.572-08:00A little Too Close To The Cartel Action.<p>At noon on Wednesday I arrived at Falcon State Park after a nice easy hour and a half drive down from Laredo.Little did I know what was happening a couple of miles away on the Mexican side that afternoon until I read this mornings “Borderland Beat” website.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOanw5yl_nI/AAAAAAAADSY/bedByhsKLUk/s1600-h/heading%5B3%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="heading" border="0" alt="heading" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOan0paePAI/AAAAAAAADSc/-i6-XKt_510/heading_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="1004" height="162" /></a></p> <p>This is a remote area and I can see the Falcon dam from my window here.</p> <p>A little more of the story of what has been going on below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOan3YKIhOI/AAAAAAAADSg/-PTwYw2zs5U/s1600-h/text%201%5B4%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="text 1" border="0" alt="text 1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoAUgBhiI/AAAAAAAADSk/0lxgoJNel2E/text%201_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="904" height="596" /></a></p> <p>A map of the area….From the top to bottom covers about 15 miles as the crow flies.The green part is the State park I’m in.</p> <p>Mier is the small city that is almost empty of all its citizens because of the cartel takeover.Most of the people have fled to Miguel Aleman on the border.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoDdMSvsI/AAAAAAAADSo/CzUPPv8ABq8/s1600-h/falcon%5B3%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="falcon" border="0" alt="falcon" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoM2FORxI/AAAAAAAADSs/tY3I9PcLlcQ/falcon_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="804" height="769" /></a></p> <p>The Falcon Dam,near where the closest fighting was, is at the spot where the blue line is coming out of the lake. Of course that blue line is the Rio Grande river which is the US/Mexico boundary.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoPptVLBI/AAAAAAAADSw/0VRDzjN8P2E/s1600-h/Capturfile%202%5B3%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Capturfile 2" border="0" alt="Capturfile 2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoXCc70_I/AAAAAAAADS0/Pr8j703uaVc/Capturfile%202_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="904" height="683" /></a></p> <p>There is more on the website….Its amazing how bold and dangerous these cartel members are to be now threatening the US authorities.</p> <p>This is the Dam area as seen from the park.Taken from the picnic area which is under water,due to high levels this summer. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaobRbL27I/AAAAAAAADS4/BlciospL8lw/s1600-h/016%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="016" alt="016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaofEgtKpI/AAAAAAAADS8/5_kVkzg4hmg/016_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="800" height="453" /></a></p> <p>When I arrived Wednesday the elect/water sites were closed off with only the full hook-up area open, due to some road repairs in this almost empty park.</p> <p>As nice as it might look, its crappy.The hook-ups are poorly positioned and the BURRS! That's the worse I’ve ever encountered,they are everywhere in the grass and every time I entered the trailer,I brought a couple of dozen in with me and Boy! Do they hurt! And to top it off the temperature was 90 degrees inside the trailer and not much cooler outside…………But!…..What a birding paradise….One of the top 3 spots in the whole valley. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoms4SJ_I/AAAAAAAADTA/k2vMvgRXotU/s1600-h/003%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaoqTZj10I/AAAAAAAADTE/z4xuQVNhAtI/003_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>There's much more to tell as things are looking up and after 4 days of driving I’ve got the next three days of R and R here in another camping area that's burr less and maybe I’ll get to hear some gunfire from the assault rifles across the way.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sendakiss" alt="Send a kiss" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOaosb7hdmI/AAAAAAAADTI/_qdlLeySsxM/wlEmoticon-sendakiss%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />More next time. </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-85124500649396184232010-11-17T02:49:00.001-08:002010-11-17T02:49:43.728-08:00On The Move…..Just An Update.<p>After 2 days of quiet,relaxing travel,I’m in the border city of Laredo Texas,at a nice State Park called “Lake Casa Blanca,”and as I write this at almost 3 in the morning,I’m awake because some clown came roaring through here a little while ago and woke me up.</p> <p>I’m in a nice little semi-circle pull-through down by the lake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyFBdQEBI/AAAAAAAADRE/M7ZFOEc92MU/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyIcXyGtI/AAAAAAAADRI/MgLu4EoeZvU/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyONhxuDI/AAAAAAAADRM/o-2cwtkOScE/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyQzUQlRI/AAAAAAAADRQ/xeYNPf9yxww/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>The park is quite large and situated on the bypass ring road around the eastern side of the city,across from the airport,and at 2:30 a.m. a big jet took off breaking the nightly silence, and the sound of sirens seems to be regular through the night.So even as its a country setting,it is close to a city of almost 200 thousand with another city,Nuevo Laredo Mexico,even larger I believe, joining it at the border.</p> <p>As I entered the city yesterday afternoon,I was amazed by the amount of trucks on the roadways here.I don't think I’ve ever seen such a concentration of big rigs in one area.I figure it is because of the cross border trade here,with so many big factories on the other side in this general area of Mexico.</p> <p>And all along the highway this day all the way from Del Rio were hundreds of transmitter towers.I counted 6 in my line of sight at one point.Another unexplained thing that I would like to know the answer to.This is flat land…No mountains.Why so many?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyYb-NiMI/AAAAAAAADRU/KPLkqRqnAJw/s1600-h/006%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOybe_T0HI/AAAAAAAADRY/ersZi4LfA-o/006_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOygOcGpbI/AAAAAAAADRc/n80La-EJT3Y/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyiuBDc4I/AAAAAAAADRg/nmQPANxAQVY/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>As you can see my selection of photos is limited and I do like to record what a camping area looks like at each stop,which in the long term creates a lot of boring photos of my truck and trailer.But this is not the point,they are just fillers.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-eyerollingsmile" alt="Eye rolling smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOykVxAG2I/AAAAAAAADRk/Ph9ZozGeqd8/wlEmoticon-eyerollingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>Going back to Monday morning,I got a 9 a.m. start out of Big Bend one hour behind that big tandem rig I showed in the the last blog entry,but caught up to them after about half an hour,as an accident shut the highway down on a bridge over a dry wash…no pics but a pickup truck somehow jumped up onto the 2 foot high cement wall and wiped out about 50 ft of pipe railing,so there was a long wait until a wrecker came all the way from Marathon about 70 miles to the north…My wait was only about 10 minutes,just about enough time to listen to the life story of the guy in the truck stopped ahead of me,and tell him mine….So much for the early start for my cross the road camping neighbours.</p> <p>I must say that so far in Texas,I have experienced nice quiet 2 lane roads,(until just before Laredo) its really relaxing to bumble along without traffic chaos.Just set the cruise and enjoy the changing scenery.I remember travelling highway 90 about 10 years ago with the wife,and the memory of a quiet relaxing drive on this highway was etched in the old memory banks.</p> <p>Around the small burg of Sanderson a couple of hours into the days travel,the mountains disappeared and the flat desert landscape was the norm,doted with shallow canyons.</p> <p>Below is an example of the many picnic rest stops that dot the highway system here in Texas.This (below) is one of the smaller ones.Just a wide pull off along the highway with one or more table set-ups.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyqZy3OMI/AAAAAAAADRo/QBE4jO0wOzE/s1600-h/001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="001" alt="001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOytzMO7uI/AAAAAAAADRw/nuTBjAwc-xA/001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>My 1st overnight stop was a familiar one as we had stayed here 10 years ago after coming out of central Mexico….Its called Seminole Canyon State and Historic Park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOyzxb3K-I/AAAAAAAADR0/XtqUJ10hIgo/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="002" alt="002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOy3PsOg9I/AAAAAAAADR4/ejsuOdx6BnA/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>And it was a blustery hot afternoon about 80 degrees with a tail wind all day that gave me great mileage.Like many of the parks this time of the year….Nice and quiet,just a few neighbours further down the road.</p> <p>Pretty thick desert, but all paved and clean.And no flies…..Just wind……The reason for no flies.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-Inlove" alt="In love" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOy4zBfkLI/AAAAAAAADR8/lAYW7KBYSIg/wlEmoticon-Inlove%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> Ya think?…..No flies or wind here at Laredo I might add.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOy_InEgMI/AAAAAAAADSA/iISJ4kQS18I/s1600-h/003%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOzBjYqJWI/AAAAAAAADSE/I7ybWxdl8d4/003_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOzI-lV32I/AAAAAAAADSI/hgGanV3eiJw/s1600-h/004%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOzLRwNcyI/AAAAAAAADSM/ibP958qH3Q8/004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>So I’ve been on the road for just over a month now and covered over 3000 miles,saw many wonderful sights that will forever be etched in my mind,and I wouldn’t have missed this experience for anything…But its time for a slight change of pace,so my next stop will probably be my last State/National Park stop for awhile.</p> <p> Today I will travel another 75 miles southeast to Falcon Lake State Park,(This is the spot much in the news lately)where a young couple riding sea-do’s were intercepted by Mexican Narcos out on the lake, and the husband is still missing. </p> <p>If I like this spot I may stay a few days and take a day trip into the Mission/McAllen area and search out a nice park to hunker down in for a month at least.I just wish that I had foreseen this last January when I spent 10 days in a motel there.I could have been checking out some of the area’s 500 RV Parks then. I have a park picked out near a big birding area,but want to check it out personally and if Its not what I want,this will give me a chance to drive around and check out a few others without having to drag the trailer with me.</p> <p>Last but not least….I wanted to show you my little travelling companion who mysteriously appeared at my door one morning whilst in the Roswell area.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOzNwIgnKI/AAAAAAAADSQ/nh_vtqdi2ck/s1600-h/009%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="009" alt="009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TOOzQpUXT2I/AAAAAAAADSU/JLAfvkIX7hc/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="414" /></a></p> <p>And that's the truth…I opened the door and there he was…….How strange is that?</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-36331202121043927302010-11-14T04:50:00.001-08:002010-11-14T04:50:17.210-08:00Some Sunday Morning Ramblings.<p>I woke up this morning to an e-mail from fellow blogger Les who is in my sidebar under the title of “The journey of a lifetime begins…”where he hints but doesn't come right out with it in his blog,but during his second night stop at a Pemex station in Sinaloa Mexico,parked in the back,(like we all have done many times)he was robbed at gunpoint.I wont go into the details but he posted his story in the Open Roads forum of RV.Net. Mexico and South America.  <a title="http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24560233.cfm" href="http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24560233.cfm">http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24560233.cfm</a> </p> <p>I guess this can happen anywhere but I truly believe that the rule of law is really breaking down quickly in Mexico judging by the many hours of research that I have done this past summer,which sealed my final decision about not going this year.</p> <p> It just seems that as the rule of law breaks down,all the nickel and dime crooks are coming out of the woodwork looking for an easy mark.Les is a pretty open minded guy and he sponsors  girls in an orphanage in SMA so he goes to visit every year,and its very important to him. judging by his last blog post,he is handling it well.I probably would have high tailed it back to the border with much haste.</p> <p>On a lighter note,things here at Rio Grande Village campground are turning into a couple of nice days of doing nothing much….I had to put on my Mr. fix-it hat yesterday in a failed attempt to fix my ailing,well used, 2 year old “Buddy Heater.”Its back to using the furnace until I get a new one.Glad this didn't happen when it was really cold at night at those higher altitudes.</p> <p>My campsite turned into a lakeside property the other day when they irrigated this section of the park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_Z295hrWI/AAAAAAAADP4/nA0WGN7XnWo/s1600-h/011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="011" alt="011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_Z6haDI9I/AAAAAAAADP8/qmUIjF5hTv4/011_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>And did that ever bring the birds around…They were everywhere enjoying the water.The Vermillion Flycatcher seen below has been around since my arrival along with a male red Cardinal that I was unable to get a good photo of.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aBOBZWSI/AAAAAAAADQA/Knt5yLsuK4A/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="009" alt="009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aF-qO4WI/AAAAAAAADQE/0yAAtKd3UzI/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="558" /></a></p> <p>And I need help to identify these guys below….I’ve searched my 2 bird books and cant pin these guys down.These are small,4”,they hover just above the ground,they cling to trees like a creeper,they have a yellow patch just under the chin and back of tail, then grey stripes down the breast ……Am I missing something simple here?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aL9dzwjI/AAAAAAAADQI/29aZBoPtN1w/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013" alt="013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aPLA9G6I/AAAAAAAADQM/FT1IoQoqkZw/013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="323" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aUJFD4ZI/AAAAAAAADQQ/Ly3yCzXw13E/s1600-h/015%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="015" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aWfj9TkI/AAAAAAAADQU/WNZlcRiH0MU/015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Stretched out a bit here.Any help would be appreciated from you experts out there.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_adEV_vtI/AAAAAAAADQY/1ELPnwuKi60/s1600-h/014%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="014" alt="014" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_agzecs9I/AAAAAAAADQc/iHvfa-Hq0jg/014_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>The other afternoon I was relaxing outside with a brewsky watching a few new arrivals coming in for the night and along comes this monster set-up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_alccW5eI/AAAAAAAADQg/Cv5vyt6nGEk/s1600-h/004%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_aoTaeGKI/AAAAAAAADQk/vabrSnP_6W4/004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>My first thought was…boy! he’s going to have fun trying to park that in here where I barely have room.They stopped and walked around for quite awhile,even surveying across from me……OH NO! No jockeying next to me puleeese!…. Ya,you guessed it,they pulled straight in across from me and actually got everything into the site.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_au7CSZoI/AAAAAAAADQo/5W9ysCdp3KY/s1600-h/008%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_ayht5k_I/AAAAAAAADQw/QjPb5HLWfOI/008_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p>I guess the fun will be when they leave….Although I must realize that this couple probably have been doing this for a long time and know what they are doing….More power to them….I’m impressed………And also what caught my attention was when they opened up the back of the cargo trailer to reveal…….</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_a486uiZI/AAAAAAAADQ0/6ajwENvwxKw/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_a7jsr2VI/AAAAAAAADQ4/uNGySAeTOOA/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p>Yes a car and a boat above.The car came out for there daily tours.</p> <p>The weather has cooled a bit from 80’s to 70’s and I will spend today watching a couple of Canadian Football league playoff games,then head out Monday morning towards Laredo.Finally one more bird to identify.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_a-srwgiI/AAAAAAAADQ8/YUGIuZSk0nE/s1600-h/018%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="018" alt="018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN_bAyvq1MI/AAAAAAAADRA/ICHbMXHbdR8/018_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="434" /></a></p> <p>GO BC LIONS!</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-29442931737838500702010-11-12T04:54:00.001-08:002010-11-12T04:54:29.286-08:00A Couple Of Hike And Sightsee Days.<p>I’ll start with another panorama shot taken with 3 separate photo’s.This is looking down toward the Rio Grande river valley in the distance with the mountains of Mexico in the background.A little in the sun with the 3rd shot.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03HhQAZ8I/AAAAAAAADOA/6UsjtlrFdic/s1600-h/pano-25.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="pano-2" alt="pano-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03K_CBXCI/AAAAAAAADOE/E9RrtAIgjNs/pano-2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="900" height="308" /></a></p> <p>The first full day here I took a morning walk up the trail from the campground to a highpoint.First we must cross a backwater of the river,consisting of several bridges and anchored floats.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03QaI6v7I/AAAAAAAADOI/MwqysM3i78U/s1600-h/0105.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="010" alt="010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03TR315uI/AAAAAAAADOM/AxMb-eipHGE/010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Then up the trail where I first encountered evidence of where the Mexican people illegally come across the river and leave their crafts to be sold on the honour system.The $6.00 walking sticks are a bargain,nicely painted,but signs all over the place here tell us that its illegal to make these purchases. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03arTBniI/AAAAAAAADOQ/re7PG5pMsAk/s1600-h/0145.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="014" alt="014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03d3FoQpI/AAAAAAAADOU/46EbZdntFus/014_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Further up the hill we can now look back at the camping area and river,with a closer look on the right of the backwater and bridge system.All nice wood and aluminum.Recently replacing an old rotting wooden structure.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03kbZgElI/AAAAAAAADOY/K0l8svo61qk/s1600-h/0185.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="018" alt="018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03m67OOlI/AAAAAAAADOc/lY_VG5yNeZA/018_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03uAoQczI/AAAAAAAADOg/GCsYewpsHGM/s1600-h/0195.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="019" alt="019" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN03yg8tkmI/AAAAAAAADOk/lwLBoXrsjKs/019_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Now near the top we can look behind to the Mexican town of Boquillas del Carmen in the State of Coahuila.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN035kDLzpI/AAAAAAAADOo/WJRiCt_GBZY/s1600-h/0215.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="021" alt="021" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN038XgYoFI/AAAAAAAADOs/JsL0Ulk3kOc/021_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04CztdgGI/AAAAAAAADOw/5ZTf_nKsw2k/s1600-h/0225.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="022" alt="022" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04FVMsDhI/AAAAAAAADO0/rs86Erpm6a4/022_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a></p> <p>The river is just at the bottom of this first photo and winds around behind the town.The river takes one of its many sharp turns in this shot below.As you can see the Rio Grande at this point isn’t much of a barrier for anyone who wants to cross.There are many places that you could just walk over.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04MWiT6qI/AAAAAAAADO4/Z9-fp6TYt64/s1600-h/0245.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="024" alt="024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04PRUOsuI/AAAAAAAADO8/smuntYCuRS4/024_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04VZZ7xRI/AAAAAAAADPA/fw2-eX-5QUc/s1600-h/0266.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="026" alt="026" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04ZMB3ljI/AAAAAAAADPE/CQ6wb6vHxak/026_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Yesterday I drove out to visit a few other sights,first taking a very narrow dusty road that is so narrow that dually pickups are not allowed.It gave me some anxious moments because of the rock outcroppings on some of the narrow turns put your wheels awfully close to the edge if you don't want a scratched paint job. </p> <p>Finally after a few minutes, reached the parking lot,then set out for a 10 minute walk along the river to the “Hot Springs”.Not much of a sight to look at.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04fPxMZ9I/AAAAAAAADPI/PSerEfhyCWQ/s1600-h/0365.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="036" alt="036" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04h2R5GQI/AAAAAAAADPM/Z4_cZbv67RM/036_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>But oh so warm!….105 degree F.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04mRaHMUI/AAAAAAAADPQ/31PhEPazlzw/s1600-h/0375.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="037" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04o_pHhxI/AAAAAAAADPU/pvEc4HvMsF0/037_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Again a small display of goodies for sale and I could see the person on the other side watching his crafts.His 2 mules came down for a drink on the other side while I was soaking.Well the 10 minute soak was delightful but on an already hot day,a bit much,so its off to another location way over on the other side of Boquillas.My earlier shots of this town where taken from the hill behind and to the right of the tallest building.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04umosPzI/AAAAAAAADPY/82gMDv7s5pY/s1600-h/0485.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="048" alt="048" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04xtiaJ4I/AAAAAAAADPc/Fhrr0zZIBPk/048_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>And yes again we have our little display of crafts….This time they were across the river watching,so I called out a greeting in Spanish and they answered back with an reply in perfect English including a sales pitch.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04zCOxQ2I/AAAAAAAADPg/aNOT3_uMHUM/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800" />I guess I should have known better.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thinkingsmile" alt="Thinking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN040fR876I/AAAAAAAADPk/hU6kan03fF8/wlEmoticon-thinkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>So you see,here’s the sight line.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN047HivPMI/AAAAAAAADPo/S4ZkP6z3vY4/s1600-h/0495.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="049" alt="049" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN04-0uipzI/AAAAAAAADPw/TtcbsI2_g9k/049_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Their crafts in the foreground and they and their canoe in the background on the Mexican side. Sealed borders?……Say what!…….Of course if they wanted to cross for good,they would have a gruelling 80 miles to get to any civilization,plus passing through the Border Patrol check points.Although the Border Patrol was in the park the other day looking for someone that had been reported by campers,so I guess some are crossing for good.</p> <p>So goes another day along the river…The weather is so fine that I think I’ll sign up for a few more days here and just kick back…..Everybody has to be someplace…..So I is here……..All bad grammar intentional.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TN05AVt7c0I/AAAAAAAADP0/WJf0ZhPjdDI/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-83448908327246929162010-11-11T04:30:00.001-08:002010-11-11T04:30:02.367-08:00Just Chillin In Texas Big Bend Country<p>Below is another panorama shot taken as I left the Fort Davis area Tuesday morning…Truly beautiful sweeping vistas like this all the way down to the Big Bend country.</p> <p>I’m also kicking myself for not taking the time to unhook during my Fort Davis stop and go and explore this delightful and clean looking town with its refurbished fort,….So all I could do is enjoy the morning drive through,because on travelling day,that's all I concentrate on.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvg0E4NUHI/AAAAAAAADM8/_xUXPK7aZIQ/s1600-h/pano-2%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="pano-2" alt="pano-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvg3YUJc3I/AAAAAAAADNA/x9XH3WGr7YY/pano-2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="900" height="285" /></a></p> <p>A little while later I stopped in the town of Alpine to gas up, and by the way with all my earlier complaining about paying at the pump problems with my Bank of America card,……Well,I’ve since found that “Fina”stations are great,just insert the card,it reads it and I’m good to go.New Mexico and Texas so far are crawling with Fina stations.</p> <p>A quick grocery stop at one of the local Thriftway stores in Alpine was next,where I got short-changed a buck and didn't realize her mistake until too late…….I hate when I get careless like that…..Getting out of town was another screw-up as all the streets are one-way and with some road construction and a confused Miss Garmin,I went in circles for awhile,finally driving right past the same Thriftway on the way out of town.</p> <p>The day got hotter as I headed south toward Big Bend Park.I was finally going to get down to lower altitudes after several weeks.Below is the final drop down just before entering Rio Grande Village.1850 Ft.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvg9JlZncI/AAAAAAAADNE/aGx08afmrXo/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvg_4B4kgI/AAAAAAAADNI/UOPwrU6UqpA/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a>  </p> <p>Not much here but the store/gas station and two camping areas.I chose the non hook-up 100 site $14. a day campground which was about 1/3 full at best.I had googled and researched this spot beforehand and was pleasantly surprised as I entered and found it to be really much nicer than anticipated.It does have nice washrooms with flush toilets along with water taps scattered along the roadway…Much like our Provincial parks back home….And a dump station.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhGIrX2ZI/AAAAAAAADNM/aSCif04kQxI/s1600-h/006%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhJaDE68I/AAAAAAAADNQ/7P_VfTdGXHw/006_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Its full of big beautiful shade trees,which were welcome because of the mid 80 temps.The trees are full of Monarch Butterflies,probably on there way to their winter home in Mexico.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhOVIYClI/AAAAAAAADNU/kXCwPx-KCSc/s1600-h/034%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="034" alt="034" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhRP7uBxI/AAAAAAAADNY/jTyTedX_g0s/034_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p>They seem to love these Mesquite trees….Now I could be wrong as I’m no expert, but they could be the Viceroy (similar) variety that stay around,but getting a close look was difficult as they are skittish when you try to get close.This telephoto shot helped.</p> <p>Another view of the park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhXyKPFxI/AAAAAAAADNc/m-ojSQFLa4g/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvha_l758I/AAAAAAAADNg/IOowXfhmNp4/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a>  </p> <p>This is all behind my trailer,a good distance to the next park road over.The sites are well spaced.The river is just a short walk away and I will cover that next time.</p> <p>Due to the wild animals, they provide these steel boxes in each site for food storage if you are tenting.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhhcnxaJI/AAAAAAAADNk/P5e4Rk37Xzg/s1600-h/033%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="033" alt="033" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhkRloaLI/AAAAAAAADNo/owM4UxL2E3k/033_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> </p> <p>So again life is good,the weather perfect,with warm days and mild nights.The bugs are not a bother and for the first time in almost a month on the road………I got my deckchair out of the truck.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhsaeQubI/AAAAAAAADNw/arPQk76HeJc/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhv8SoxeI/AAAAAAAADN0/7XUmuQTCk00/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Aint life grand?</p> <p>One final note about some of my posting and e-mail times.My computer is on Pacific time,I’m not…..I’m on Central time…..So I’m not up that early.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-flirtmale" alt="Flirt male" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNvhxvAyk0I/AAAAAAAADN4/SOmjmi_U8Nk/wlEmoticon-flirtmale%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-77448310752228732622010-11-09T03:42:00.001-08:002010-11-09T03:42:46.117-08:00Hiking And Dodging Javelinas<p>By morning I realized,hey! I like this park…Its not just an overnight stop,so decided to stay another day and hike around.There was plenty of bird activity outside my door first thing so I though that I would have a look see but they seemed to move on before I got out with the camera,just one of my old desert favourites the Cactus Wren going somewhere with nesting material.And this guy below who I couldn't identify..Note white patch on tail…made a peep peep sound,Any help out there?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyIU7YpMI/AAAAAAAADLg/U1YxP2pSAHY/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="005" alt="005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyLMzZnXI/AAAAAAAADLk/eKTDZbLvjlg/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a> </p> <p>After breakfast I wandered around with the camera out behind the trailer.I kept hearing a crunching sound,so I followed it to the hillside a few yards away and discovered several Javelinas feeding on prickly pear cactus.I kept my distance because my knowledge of these creatures is limited as to their aggressiveness.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyUrmIEWI/AAAAAAAADLo/GvzC5sSlYpw/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="002" alt="002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyYDnlFkI/AAAAAAAADLs/CacpoP_SCr4/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Next I walked over to the quail viewing area to see the Montezuma quail.The park has a feeding station set up but I arrived close to the end of the good viewing times and only saw this ruby throated hummer.Again my identification is untrustworthy but it did flash red under the chin.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkycCJSrxI/AAAAAAAADLw/sEw8YaBvvaw/s1600-h/004%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyeTXKfmI/AAAAAAAADL0/V_Y_5u0wQWk/004_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="367" /></a>  </p> <p>Now its time to take a hike up the hill,a steep narrow rocky trail that switch-backed all the way up.Not a good time to be wearing shorts with all the cactus.Below is a view back down into the parks camping area.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkykheEIaI/AAAAAAAADL4/UJxv5vbpXaQ/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkynpG6VNI/AAAAAAAADMA/25Yds4BQ744/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Some of the hillside cactus growth.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyvdynLyI/AAAAAAAADME/z36kJFaRzLk/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="007" alt="007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkyyyVXpNI/AAAAAAAADMI/RswfswFn_Ts/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>I finally reached the top and had to celebrate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNky3ovsRKI/AAAAAAAADMM/e4BZdPEYECs/s1600-h/012%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNky6U4BgQI/AAAAAAAADMQ/Tbckxjlijjs/012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="457" /></a></p> <p>Looking across the valley I could see the U<u>niversity of Texas McDonald Observatory</u> on 8378ft. Baldy peak.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzBOL57zI/AAAAAAAADMU/S6MxwwHHBUs/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="010" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzD1EFleI/AAAAAAAADMY/QdfN5KZUjEU/010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>And to the left back down in the valley,The Indian Lodge hotel complex.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzK3Go1qI/AAAAAAAADMc/tmDRcpRs8KI/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="009" alt="009" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzN_WJeRI/AAAAAAAADMg/a1E-g3NqZsI/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Time to head back down as it was getting hot and I was crapping out…..glad it was all down hill.On the way back I stopped at the quail viewing area again to see what was there and as I quietly walked up to it,I spooked a couple of javelinas who were feeding in the tall grass.</p> <p>They started toward me…..Not knowing if they were tame or aggressive,I stood my ground and took these shots.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzVvYWz7I/AAAAAAAADMk/yoMFkJpjzPc/s1600-h/017%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="017" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzYBDOvTI/AAAAAAAADMo/jS6ZFMLKUGM/017_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" /></a>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzgh_SQqI/AAAAAAAADMs/9_Dj2ppL4j4/s1600-h/016%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="016" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzjXNgppI/AAAAAAAADMw/ACa4JCeUmzw/016_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="277" /></a></p> <p>When the one on the right got within 10 feet of me,I shuffled my feet and he snorted and headed the other way,much to my delight……That was close enough.</p> <p>There is much to see in this area like the old Fort Davis, where back in 1854 it was built and first manned by the 8th U.S.Infantry who,mounted on mules, first fought the Comanches….So next time I will add it to my bucket list.</p> <p> Last night my “just before dark, backyard visitors”, were these guys.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzpWCU4QI/AAAAAAAADM0/8zBE3HR43-w/s1600-h/019%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="019" alt="019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNkzsqQ7zZI/AAAAAAAADM4/x8zXS8xlGPI/019_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Scratching fleas.They look like white tails but seem so light grey in color.There where 4 of them surrounding my trailer.(Jeeze! I sound like Gaby Hayes….Lets us two surround them Roy!)    One stopped and licked the fire pit grill for several minutes.</p> <p>So this morning its down to the town of Alpine Texas where I will gas up and grocery up,then head down into the Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande.</p> <p>I hope to find it as quiet as all the other stops so far this trip.I’m sure that after the New year all these places would be much more busy.</p> <p>I hope in my last post that my negative comments about this place were not taken too seriously, about the layout…..It is really a nice park.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-80170994363827920632010-11-08T04:17:00.001-08:002010-11-08T04:17:41.793-08:00Fort Davis State Park Texas<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfp2RVFdMI/AAAAAAAADLA/HSQb11WZnKk/s1600-h/001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="001" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfp5slAixI/AAAAAAAADLE/PvRnprKy29U/001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Sunday morning,and time to move on after 6 days at Brantley Lakes.No need to rush out as my days journey south is only a 3 hour trip.I did my final morning exercise walk at sunup…Gotta burn the fat.</p> <p>Being a “turn the clocks back” morning it seemed that I had even more time to take it slow on departure,but in the first hour of travel south into Texas,I didn’t count on there being a time zone change which meant that I had to set them all back to where they were earlier this morning,and suddenly my arrival time was later than I figured.</p> <p>The drive south into Texas follows the Pecos valley,which really is just flat uninteresting brown grasslands dotted with nodding horses pumping out all that black gold…Texas tea.</p> <p>I arrived at the small city of Pecos Texas just at noon local time.Just under 10,000 people and nothing stirring downtown….No traffic…no people,just like a dusty ghost town.The only sign of life was at the local Sonic drive-in….I’m not used to seeing this kind of a dead scene in a town this size.The only rational I could come up with was that everyone was at home watching the Dallas Cowboys getting whipped.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqAIusSAI/AAAAAAAADLI/T40jncflOEA/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="002" alt="002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqE8wgpUI/AAAAAAAADLM/2KPtgwvdxi4/002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Soon to the southwest,out of the flat prairie,loomed a mountain range in the distance,which would be my destination.Crossing under Interstate 20 as I left Pecos and 30 minutes later taking a 5 minute drive west on Interstate 10 at Balmorhea,another sleepy town in the foothills of the mountain range.The drive up into the dry mountains was a welcome change,very similar looking to the mountains in southern Sonora Mexico.</p> <p>45 minutes later and I think mid afternoon…I’m confused now, I arrived at the entrance to Fort Davis State Park.Unlike the past State Parks,this had a live Ranger person on duty….No more pick your spot…Fill out the envelope…..This time she took my drivers licence and phone number and put it all in the computer……I thought I was crossing the border again.And the fee’s are a little more than New Mexico’s too because they add an entry fee on top of the camping fee,so for what I paid $14. for in NM,I paid $19. here,and if I stay longer you pay the entry fee every day.($4.00) This is an interesting park so since I have no agenda,I might stay a day or two.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqKbI_K0I/AAAAAAAADLQ/dhoU13htdx4/s1600-h/004%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="004" alt="004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqNR9xeOI/AAAAAAAADLU/wfH2zJ-D_CQ/004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>The warning on the brochure stated to be aware of Bears,Mountain lions and Javelinas,so I don't know what to expect other than just at dark last night I had 2 Javelina’s at the back of my trailer 30 ft. away playing and rubbing up against each other…..Aint love grand?…By the time I grabbed my camera they had slowly moved off into the tall grass.(for those who don't know,Javelinas are wild pigs and can be dangerous.I once saw a pack of them attack an RVer’s dog right in the RV Park in Sierra Vista Arizona.</p> <p>The campsites here are nice,some with plenty of shade and others open like I like, although they seem to be backward as the Ramada's are on the wrong side of the driveway.I guess its alright for motorhomes nosed in…Also the water and electric are so far back I hardly had enough cord to reach,even parked as far back as possible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqT4ElOcI/AAAAAAAADLY/Wfs04kTlCYU/s1600-h/003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="003" alt="003" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNfqYT_xRZI/AAAAAAAADLc/cSs3JvfOUXo/003_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>So there you have it….I’m looking forward today to doing some hiking and possibly seeing the local rare bird…..The Montezuma Quail. The altitude is 5000ft. and the daytime highs in the mid 70’s this week so life is grand.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-37565047835256510672010-11-06T04:10:00.001-07:002010-11-06T04:10:30.428-07:00Doing The Caveman Thing At Carlsbad Caverns.<p>Now caves really aren't my thing,although you might say I live in a mobile “MAN CAVE”but that's a whole nuther thing,so on Thursday after seeing my friends off, departing on there trip back towards Arizona,I decided to take a little jaunt some 50 miles to the south to visit the famous “Carlsbad Caverns.” Barb and Jake had given me a briefing on what to expect and what choices I had on how to spend the time there……So plain,simple and easy was my plan.</p> <p>First off the drive up to the visitor area and the caves from the main highway, is a gentle winding drive up about a thousand feet along a shallow canyon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2OGIapKI/AAAAAAAADJU/MHyKdX84lwA/s1600-h/0495.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="049" alt="049" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2RhYWH0I/AAAAAAAADJY/yjT2TssTFhA/049_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Photo above taken from switchback on this section of the road.Then after a few miles I topped out on a high plateau looking back down to the flat plain 1000ft. below.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2YSK7X-I/AAAAAAAADJc/AreHK71PIGY/s1600-h/0475.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="047" alt="047" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2bapYISI/AAAAAAAADJg/RY3Cia6IL7w/047_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>And a large parking area with an equally large visitor centre.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2fnYU9QI/AAAAAAAADJk/mgTbnFy9dLQ/s1600-h/0485.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="048" alt="048" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2h7nL3SI/AAAAAAAADJo/IRt5Mow5bM0/048_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>I decided to do the Big Room self-guided tour,which suited me fine,so after buying my entry ticket,I was given a short briefing and escorted to an elevator.</p> <p>This elevator ride is an ear popping 75 story, 754ft. drop down into the depths,that takes less than a minute. Then I entered a visitor area with washrooms,souvenir's and food sales.All in a cave like atmosphere.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2k2pTGCI/AAAAAAAADJs/ELeS1R1SQUo/s1600-h/0425.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="042" alt="042" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2m31urNI/AAAAAAAADJw/GFWlkrD8JG0/042_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>And get this!…..Dig the spotless washrooms built right into the cave.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2rAcKEDI/AAAAAAAADJ0/uzAyuXfNGAc/s1600-h/0435.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="043" alt="043" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2ugUG9XI/AAAAAAAADJ8/mXclUpN6wOY/043_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>So the Big Room self guided tour is one mile all the way around and takes about an hour and a half.There are over 30 miles of passages in the Carlsbad Caverns, but the public can only see a bit of it.</p> <p>The darkness and dampness took a little getting used to as I found the breathing a little heavy.Here is a map of the Big Room with the lines showing the path all the way around….Its one BIG cavern alright!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU2zbsOqVI/AAAAAAAADKA/W2beoki3jrY/s1600-h/0065.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU22mTgVYI/AAAAAAAADKE/S1hYMHi1Wtw/006_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="700" height="525" /></a></p> <p>The pathway was great but the darkness and my inner ear problem found me staggering a bit and conjuring up Canyon De Shelly, take a tumble thoughts.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU26sedeHI/AAAAAAAADKI/asf_RTF0wMQ/s1600-h/0015.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="001" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU29cRbjJI/AAAAAAAADKM/nL1Qd8DsmJ8/001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Many of these photos taken with the flash make it look brighter than it really was.</p> <p>You would occasionally meet someone but for the most part you had the feeling of being alone in the darkness,hearing the occasional distant whisper or seeing a camera flash. At one point I saw what looked like a figure sitting quietly in the darkness and as I passed him, spoke, but he didn't answer.Then later I could hear voices coming up behind me and it was him talking to himself and laughing at his own jokes….Sort of a weird hippy type that has probably been smoking good weed for a long time.He moved on ahead of me talking away to himself and laughing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3C8Wj0NI/AAAAAAAADKQ/GbI3ZAVoF6s/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3FgL9PmI/AAAAAAAADKU/M5_jycCMwGU/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Later I came across him sitting in the darkness humming like a Buddhist monk….And I thought I was weird.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3Kh4OsHI/AAAAAAAADKY/UK3gsoyzJho/s1600-h/0225.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="022" alt="022" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3NEBOAoI/AAAAAAAADKc/h2QOlEU6pzA/022_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>I got a few drips hitting me on the head but considering the amount of moisture,it wasn’t bad.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3Sv5hisI/AAAAAAAADKg/Urbf1YkMd3Y/s1600-h/0285.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="028" alt="028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3WGNviVI/AAAAAAAADKk/VxDlZgmv7DU/028_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Even the Red Rag got the tour with me as it was perfect for the almost constant mid 50’s temperature down there.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3aCvUr7I/AAAAAAAADKo/OS6CrKITfvk/s1600-h/0365.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="036" alt="036" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3dKk8sMI/AAAAAAAADKs/I-p9k-jfsDw/036_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="667" /></a></p> <p>The fellow who graciously accepted my request to take a photo of me,had a hard time finding me in the dark as his first try missed me altogether…..No,it wasn't the weird hippy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3iskD9VI/AAAAAAAADKw/-ZChjhDYu98/s1600-h/0385.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="038" alt="038" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3ldX2o7I/AAAAAAAADK0/zYzbrHcap6E/038_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>So after an hour and a half,I was finally back at the starting point.I bought the Tee Shirt and headed for the elevator.</p> <p>And speaking of the weird hippy….We had the pleasure of his company on the elevator ride back up.And in less than a minute during the ride,He told us all how he saved several peoples lives in Hawaii and saved others lives in other parts of the world.Had many heart bypasses and back fusions and still went out and saved most of the world……..What a guy!<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3m9P-BzI/AAAAAAAADK4/izeBO8Of_OQ/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>Then as I was taking a final photo in the parking lot,there he is again,he stops his car and says (take my picture,I’m famous you know),I just laughed and said lying,that I took one of him in the cave…….Then after he drove away I was kicking myself for not obliging him……It would have been a perfect ending for this blog entry, to be able to show him………..Who knows……Maybe he is famous. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-flirtmale" alt="Flirt male" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNU3oa8ueJI/AAAAAAAADK8/wxblji1T0-A/wlEmoticon-flirtmale%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-23408341676110591682010-11-04T03:16:00.001-07:002010-11-04T03:16:11.022-07:00My Roswell Incident Part 2<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKGiYYgRYI/AAAAAAAADH0/gTOQMydff4Y/s1600-h/0165.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="016" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKGk98ZEQI/AAAAAAAADH4/OqwYVzXHdn0/016_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>The museum looks like an old movie theatre….I’ve been waiting a long time to visit Roswell and see what collection of things they had, but was a bit disappointed.Most of it was several walls of old newspaper clippings,recordings of radio news from 1947.Copies of sworn affidavits from eye witnesses who actually saw the UFO and the bodies.The craft was the size of a Volkswagen beetle,and the 3 dead and one survivor were about 4 feet tall and looked like this movie prop that they had on display.There must have been 8 or 10 movies made about this incident over the years.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKGpiq8-eI/AAAAAAAADH8/PrKZeltzYqc/s1600-h/0135.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="013" alt="013" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKGsRN7StI/AAAAAAAADIA/Cl7rwFpX13c/013_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Actually there was quite a bit of interesting reading.I truly believe that all this did happen because the government cover-up was just too aggressive.If it had been a weather balloon like they tried to say,peoples lives wouldn't have been threatened like they were.All evidence sure disappeared fast.</p> <p>It is of course a UFO Museum in general,not just the Roswell incident…Actually the crash was about 50 miles north west near the little town of Corona,at the foot of the Cibola National Forest,but everything was brought to Roswell and the Army Air Force Base.</p> <p>There were many UFO photo’s from all over the world,including a few from Calgary back in 1967,at the same time I was stationed in Moose Jaw Sask.And It was in that time period that I also saw my first UFO sighting.The second one for me was just a few years ago over Lake Okanagan….So you see I’m a believer. </p> <p>Back to the Museum as I digress again.Below is a diagram of the writing found on an I- beam of the crashed UFO.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKGwlVQggI/AAAAAAAADIE/ID_qQXUUo2g/s1600-h/0066.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="006" alt="006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKG0E7MZdI/AAAAAAAADII/9mH8g9J4vIU/006_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="800" height="390" /></a></p> <p>And below, what looks like the original Mayan tomb door from Palenque Chiapas Mexico where I visited last January.This with a description of what the carvings mean.Linking to the Chariots of the Gods.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKG6Sdw9oI/AAAAAAAADIM/LT7KuqZf5xI/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="012" alt="012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKG9gtMpnI/AAAAAAAADIQ/LFCxyqSGhdE/012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHB5A0G8I/AAAAAAAADIU/2dtm8KZ6Wag/s1600-h/01111.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="011" alt="011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHHTisQzI/AAAAAAAADIY/DT-oRnxKOqk/011_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="852" /></a></p> <p>Original piece of metal from the crash site on the right…Alleged.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-eyerollingsmile" alt="Eye rolling smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHI0a-ReI/AAAAAAAADIc/kxaphJhf47o/wlEmoticon-eyerollingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHMgn5VnI/AAAAAAAADIg/xRGP2MFiaPg/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="008" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHPjhgshI/AAAAAAAADIk/aq73vsCHlEg/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="453" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHTWzzwsI/AAAAAAAADIo/xNzhDUykn0U/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="010" alt="010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHWXWHmzI/AAAAAAAADIs/O4gSC2_6MkQ/010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="392" /></a></p> <p>So after buying the usual Tee-Shirt,(with an alien on it of course…That glows in the dark…..really!) I headed back to camp and a nice quiet Halloween night.With no internet.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-steamingmad" alt="Steaming mad" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHXoJvgyI/AAAAAAAADIw/NE52Eui3fVA/wlEmoticon-steamingmad2.png?imgmax=800" />Too exhausted and stressed out anyway.</p> <p>Monday morning I packed up to head further south to Brantley Lakes State Park near Carlsbad, where my friends Barb and Jake are parked and saving a spot for me.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHc9fxOHI/AAAAAAAADI0/OiT8XFLGa-U/s1600-h/02111.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="021" alt="021" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHf9s87-I/AAAAAAAADI4/aIohYiZjOMA/0211_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a></p> <p>I have a nice spot right across the road from them.I had just finished my set up and was having lunch when there was a crashing thump at my front window,I look up to see a road runner peering in at me,I went out and said to him….Whatcha doing up there?…..He just stared at me then jumped over to my satellite dish,so I went to the truck to get the camera and he disappeared…I have noticed a pattern with roadrunners….They usually show up just after arrival to see if you are an easy mark for some food,and if they don't get any,its usually the last time you see them.</p> <p>Now its time to call in my markers with Barb and Jake and impose on them for help getting my internet up and running,by borrowing their equipment piece by piece in a trial and error fashion until I find the problem.This is the  system I helped them get set up with last year at this time,and it was finally going to benefit me.</p> <p>Photo from last year in Yuma.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHk8mVadI/AAAAAAAADI8/Mcy7ebw93m8/s1600-h/022-36.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="022 (3)" alt="022 (3)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHnyxgbbI/AAAAAAAADJA/N2fFZrLL6G4/022-3_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Jake had a nice strong signal and was on line,so since Galaxy kept telling me my signal was too weak,I hooked up my modem to his dish and called Galaxy again…..This time the guy says you cant do that…..What!… BS I cant, its just an antenna…After conferring with his higher ups he must of got the message.But to no avail even with a stronger signal and a cros-pol pass,I still couldn't get on line……..So we tried re-commissioning my regular modem that I’ve been using for the past year and guess what……It did work again…..So I don't know what happened, but for now I don't care as long as I'm back on line……Boy!…..My mailbox was full of e-mails asking what happened?…Are you Ok?.. Sheeesh! I was missed…..Cant let that go to my head.</p> <p>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHuRHtULI/AAAAAAAADJE/avwh1IQHBhs/s1600-h/022%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="022" alt="022" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKHxDzMeQI/AAAAAAAADJI/8FQTHuY3idI/022_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>     <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKH3qq6mmI/AAAAAAAADJM/NRn-jGIQf5A/s1600-h/023%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="023" alt="023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNKH5ykjEDI/AAAAAAAADJQ/HTFieaAppRo/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Just a final thought on this internet thing after sitting and thinking about it.If I hadn't switched modems to see if it would solve the problem originally,it probably would have been solved in the first hour of the 5+ hours spent on the phone,because it looks like that backup modem still has a Hughes lock on it,which is what they do when you cancel a subscription,which I did last year when I switched to the Canadian supplier for Hughes.</p> <p>The real test will be when I move to my next location and enter the new location co-ordinance into the modem to reconnect.I love this system….I use it when I’m home…Its quick and easy to set up….Normally…..And I can be in the middle of nowhere and still be connected. One thing that puzzles me is that Jakes dish is exactly the same as mine, but he gets a signal strength 15 higher than me and if we trade radio arms,it doesn't change anything,I’m still lower using his transmitter.Its a fibreglass dish and isn't warped…..Anyway,Jake talked to the ranger here and he said that others have had satellite problems at Bottomless Lakes State park…….so something weird is going on…..A Roswell thing I guess.</p> <p>Yesterday was warm and breezy here at Brantley Lakes State Park,and was my first day in shorts,so I spent it washing the truck and trailer of all the red dust and mud from the Monument Valley.I will stay here another day or so just relaxing or maybe drive over to the Carlsbad Caverns,just a few miles away…I really have no agenda,and as long as the weather stays nice I don't need to go further south or to lower altitudes yet.</p> <p>Big Bend National Park Texas, is only a days drive away,with 2 more State Parks on the way if I wish to shorten my days travel.My friends here are heading back toward Arizona today,but I will stay the course and still head south east, as I treat every winter travel season like its my last and try and see and experience something new.</p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713973769256971332.post-61976676223123922172010-11-03T03:48:00.001-07:002010-11-03T03:48:15.477-07:00My Roswell Incident…5 Days Of Frustration.<p>Because my blogs tend to be sort of a continuing self narrating story,I’ll start by going back and picking up where my last blog entry ended.</p> <p>The drive to Albuquerque on Friday last was just another enjoyable days drive with changing landscapes,from rolling grasslands to pine forests each time I climbed to higher altitudes.Sometimes I thought I was in southern Alberta/Sask.,then other times, the BC interior above Merritt.Then dropping down into Window Rock the capital of the Navajo Nation,then quickly passing into New Mexico and down to Gallop and the Interstate east to Albuquerque.</p> <p>I earlier did an on-line research using “RV PARK REVIEWS” and found a nice little $18.full hook-up park that's located just before reaching the city,so setting my GPS,this made a perfect overnight spot.It was called High Desert RV.Nothing special but nice people and a clean spot.(no Photo)</p> <p>The next morning I left around 8:30 AM hoping the morning rush was over in Albuquerque and as I headed down into the city, I found it to be one of the easiest larger cities,to navigate on the Interstate….Wow! I thought,things are going well.A pretty city,with the mountain backdrop,just like Salt Lake City from a distance,a little Bee Gee’s pumping out from the oldies station,life is good. </p> <p>East of the city got pretty boring with flat grassland and some distant mountains.I crossed the Great Divide at this point and it really was a non event.If it hadn’t been for the sign,I’d never have known.Then at a little place called Clines Corners,I headed south on highway 285 through some of the most desolate country I have ever seen.4 lanes divided and practically no traffic,so that was good but it sure can lull you to sleep.This was the area of the 1947 UFO crash,just west of here.(No I didn't say alleged.)</p> <p>Then as I approached Roswell it got a little greener and milder.Finally I was into some warm temperatures for the first time in over a week….As I entered Roswell I kept thinking it was sort of like Yuma but a bit smaller.I didn't know whether to go to the State Park or just grab an RV Park.I passed 2 RV parks that didn't look all that great,but decided even if it is the start of a weekend,I’ll try to get into the Bottomless Lakes State Park about 20 minutes east of the city.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE9gR6rPSI/AAAAAAAADHI/Vaoi-UkAnG0/s1600-h/0021%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="002" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE9kH9aoVI/AAAAAAAADHM/I1HJdeFvSkk/0021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a> </p> <p>Actually I found a nice spot near one of the lakes,and not crowded,not even 1/3 full.$14 with 30 amp electric and water plus a dump station…..And lots of flying insects,mossy's,house flies,and mud daubers.Every time I went inside I’d take a collection in with me,it was hot and sticky with no breeze.</p> <p>Another view from the hill above.I’m in the middle of the back row.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE9pS9RK4I/AAAAAAAADHQ/qozKXmIPNzE/s1600-h/0191%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="019" alt="019" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE9smLEvdI/AAAAAAAADHY/PD4pZQataGE/0191_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a> </p> <p>Like on every stop after setting up the trailer,I set up my satellite dish that gives me my internet and Shaw Direct TV,all in one package,and as usual the TV was there loud and clear but no internet…..I just couldn't get on-line…..Is it the Aliens?….I don't give up easily and fought it and the flies until way after dark before finally giving up in exhaustion.Time to put my little US Cell phone (Tracfone) to work in the morning,to get some help,I had over 126 minutes of paid time to play with.</p> <p>A wider view,but taken directly into the sun also.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE9y1lg3EI/AAAAAAAADHc/Aod5v_7sbE0/s1600-h/018%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="018" alt="018" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE92EaAHnI/AAAAAAAADHg/uwkLLSN0E7I/018_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="450" /></a></p> <p>Next morning on the phone to Galaxy Broadband in Toronto….100 minutes used and and still no success.I carry a spare modem,we commissioned it and that didn't solve the problem.They kept telling me that my signal strength was too weak and I told them its the same as it always is.Finally running out of time on the phone we ended it for the day.Now,I needed to get another phone card,so off to the Wal-Mart in Roswell,where to my disappointment, found that the State of New Mexico is going with only one cell carrier and they had fazed out the cards for the Tracfone.<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-annoyed" alt="Annoyed" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE93vNG2zI/AAAAAAAADHk/IuV-X3Js7Bw/wlEmoticon-annoyed2.png?imgmax=800" />Great! Now what?They suggested trying some other places for old stock.By now I was really stressed out in a strange city and the temperature just topped 90 degrees and I hadn’t eaten all day.But alas!To make a long story short,good old “Target” had remaining stock near their cash registers,I almost kissed the girl.2 hour cards,and I get double with my phone,so that should be enough for the next days attempt.</p> <p>Earlier in the day I had even driven over 100 miles round trip to my Nanaimo friend's campsite to the south near Carlsbad,just to borrow Jake’s radio arm off his dish to try.So you can see it was a long hot day of frustration……I hate it when I leave my comfort zone…..I’m a creature of habit and when that gets altered I don't function too well.Having that internet all the time anywhere is important to me…..I guess I’m spoiled….I did it to myself.</p> <p>On the phone to Toronto at first light as soon as they opened Sunday morning.This time I got a level 1 tech who talked like a cross between a drill Sargent and a gangster.Well after 2 hours of trying everything including him being on the phone with Hughes and Hughes trying to communicate with my modem to no avail..(This is a modem that Hughes locked on me for 6 weeks when I ended my subscription with them last year,causing me to have to buy another.)And I think its still locked.But try and contact Hughes to find out……Hah! That's a laugh….So its Sunday,mid morning and time to give up because we have just wasted another 2 hours on the phone ……I still need to do things including going to the UFO Museum in Roswell….Found a dingy Laundromat and got that chore done plus I went back to Target and got another card just in case…..On the way I noticed a “Whattaburger” outlet…….mmmm<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile" alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE95IPd8wI/AAAAAAAADHs/GB4rxLwiV_c/wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile2.png?imgmax=800" />Gonna eat today…..I still remember the one in McAllen Texas last January, with the huge burger between 2 pieces of Texas Toast…….But I didn’t see it on the menu here..<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6IDhfGXr_MQ/TNE964AyO3I/AAAAAAAADHw/kwZTzskU6xw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800" />So I had a regular……Now its off to the UFO Museum. </p> <p>Part 2 tomorrow.   </p> Wandering Willyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10146697309965392130noreply@blogger.com6