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| ...Betty and Mac are ready for Halloween... |
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
ENROUTE TO PHARR
Walmart, near Little Rock, Arkansas was a pleasant
boondocking experience. The next
evening, as I was driving the less traveled Highway 59 south toward Houston, my
GPS revealed boondocking at a WalMart would require driving over 20 miles off
of highway 59 each way—since two reasons for boondocking is to save time and
mileage, I decided to find another boondocking option.
I came upon a well lit, flat, and spacious gas/truck station. I asked the owner (female), if I could spend the night on her property. She said yes and suggested I park between two trucks parked on the corner of her property that “won’t be going anywhere tonight.” I thanked her and backed into the space between the two trucks – no other trucks were in this location.
Needless to say, a good night’s sleep was not
possible; however, I did feel safe which is my primary goal when
boondocking. I found a lovely,
flat, quiet RV park in Corpus Christi my fourth night and caught up on the
sleep I missed the night before.
I came upon a well lit, flat, and spacious gas/truck station. I asked the owner (female), if I could spend the night on her property. She said yes and suggested I park between two trucks parked on the corner of her property that “won’t be going anywhere tonight.” I thanked her and backed into the space between the two trucks – no other trucks were in this location.
After I shut off my engine, I
realized both trucks had their motors running – one truck had a flat bed; the
other was transporting something—so I debated on staying. Shortly thereafter, one truck engine
motor turned off – so I decided to chance it and turned on my generator and
made myself dinner. It soon got
dark and I relaxed and had a glass of wine. Shortly thereafter I heard a
train’s repeated and loud whistle that would occur several times over the
evening. In addition, my row of
two trucks multiplied over the evening – so did the sound of running
motors.
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| Hatch RV Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
My drive from Corpus Christi
began with 3/4 full gas tank. (I try filling up when my tank is half full);
therefore, I passed several gas stations enroute before my tank reached half
full. Didn’t get too concerned when I wasn’t seeing any gas stations until a
sign read “no service for 60 miles.” Didn’t start to panic until I didn’t see
any gas station signs or gas stations (except for a gas station on the divided
four lane highway going the opposite direction). Did panic when the “low gas” signal lit on dashboard and
landscape was all I saw for miles and miles ahead. Should I pull off on the
shoulder? Should I take an exit? Will 888 just stop?
Decided to continue driving
as I looked frantically for any kind of gas station. After many more miles I
pulled off at a “Frontage Road” exit figuring there would be less traffic
(safer if 888 just stopped) and a better chance for stores, gas stations. I was
so, so relieved to see a truck stop up ahead and 888’s motor was still running.
This was the first time I’ve ever had the “low gas” signal go on – so I checked
the manual and found there are 2 gallons of reserve gas in tank – which with
the wind against 888 would be about 25 miles – a very close call.
Mac, I, and 888 arrived at
campsite #72 at Tip O’ Texas in Pharr, Texas…safe and sound at 3:30 p.m. Sue, a friend created and had posted the above sign at campsite #72 in honor of Mac's love for squirrels.
Couldn’t wait to get electricity,
running water, and just get settled.
But this day would provide another challenge – no electric.
It two hours for maintenance staff to
determine the electrical problem was underground and could not be resolved that
evening. Fortunately, I had a heavy-duty extension cord that reached to a
working electric box. I turned on the air conditioner, drank some wine,
took Mac for a walk, and settled in…
The next evening, Mac and I were invited to a "Welcome Back" dinner which included the jumbo steamed shrimp I LOVE from HEB stores plus wine and Ballatore champagne.
I worked three days and have this weekend off to stock up with groceries, go to bank, get Mac's food and squirrel food. It's so, so nice to know the area and find what I need quickly Life is Good...
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SUMMER
Summer highlights included:
A delightful visit from my Arizona niece,
Jennifer.
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| Marc Chagall’s America Windows - Art Institute, Chicago |
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| A memorial, on the east coast, to honor our friend Dottie. |
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| Birthday celebration at Indiana Dunes State Park with Sharon. Also enjoyed visits from my Indiana sister, Arlene, and my California niece, Chyna.
Spent a fun-filled culture and
wine/food/walnut/tomato tasting within Paso Robles, California with my sister, Phyllis, just before starting my 1400 mile drive to Pharr, Texas, on October 18.
After a "Kitchen Cooked" potato chip stop in Champaign,
Illinois, I stopped for the night at the Lakewood campground in Effington,
Illinois – my third enjoyable stop at this campsite. The autumn colors were
breathtaking.
--Details of my journey to Pharr to be continued--
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Lake Pepin is the lake that Laura and her family visit in the "Going to Town" chapter of Little House in the Big Woods, the first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series.
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| Julio getting his new motor boat ready for some fishing. |
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| My first two fish: small mouth bass and white bass |
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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| Capitol Reef - Fruita Campground - Utah |
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Over 130 Scottish Terriers from eleven states arrived in Baileys Harbor for Door County’s 12th Scottie Rally on May 19.
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| White Scottie joins parade |
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| Mac and his two friends await a promised treat |
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| Clan Donald Pipe and Drum Corps
The Clan
Donald Pipe and Drum Corps led the parade once again. Many locals and tourists
lined the streets and applauded our small dogs with a “big attitude!” This
gathering of Scottie devotees has raised over $65,000 to support Scottish
Terrier health-related research and Scottie Rescue efforts. Mac and I have
participated in eight Rallys.
Mac and I had time to check out Door County's Newport State Park area:
  
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Friday, May 11, 2012
Arches National Park features over 2000 arches -- the greatest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. My photos captured: Balanced Rock, The Gossips, the impressive 306’ span of Landscape Arch. Colossal sandstone fins, massive balanced rocks, soaring pinnacles and spires are seen everywhere you turn at Arches!
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| Balanced Rock |
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| The Gossips |
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| Deer was on same hike to Landscape Arch |
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| Landscape Arch has 306 foot span. Since 1991, three slabs of sandstone have fallen from the thinnest section. |
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| Day ended with campfire and sunset at HorseThief campground |
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Within Canyonlands National Park, the largest national park in
Utah, is Island in the
Sky that sits atop a massive 1500 foot mesa.
We camped at Willow Flat Campground -- a short walk to the Green River Overlook—offering
a beautiful sunset view.
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| Green River Overlook |
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| So, so lucky to be one of twelve campers at Willow Flat Campground at Island in the Sky |
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| Flowers growing along highway/walkway |
Flowers and pinyon-juniper forests survive on less than 10 inches of rain annually.
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| Pinyon tree (pine nuts) |
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| Colorado mountains/snow seen during drive back to Chicago ==
Spent Thursday night in Colorado; tonight, Friday, night in Nebraska; tomorrow night will camp in Iowa.
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The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls. – John Muir
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My two cents:We live in a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l country with o-u-t-s-t-a-n-d-i-n-g experiences awaiting us at each turn...
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