... to keep the economy going. We spent much of the past two days "gearing up"... getting what we need for supplies, clothing, shoes, and necessities for our summer stay in the mountains. There is a nice Cabela's and a Scheel's Sporting Goods here; Wal-Mart takes care of most of the rest. Space is limited in our rig, so we have to do our best to plan our needs.
Mothers Day was absolutely gorgeous here for the weather - sunny, light breeze, and temps in the low 70s. That took a turn today, with overcast sky, temps in the 50s, and a cold wind. It wasn't conducive for the cleaning that everything needs, but we'll get a good day sometime in the next 10 days.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Back in the land of the one-finger wave...
No, not that finger. Out here on the prairie, folks are friendly. Really. And traffic isn't so thick that it's a constant stream of vehicles... if you're in a pick-up and you come across another pick-up, the local greeting is "the index finger lifted up off the steering wheel." I got that first greeting while driving north today in western Nebraska... and it just felt like coming home. After the crazy-ass drivers in most of Texas, this felt nice. No one cut me off or passed like a maniac, then cut in too close... yep, just friendly.
We rolled into our all-time favorite RV park today: Hart Ranch. We're in an expanded site, with plenty of space for the 5th wheel, the cargo trailer, the truck, and paved patio area. Nice! Out on the perimeter where it's close for Izzy to take walks in the grass... she is a happy little furry girl.
We have a few things to take care of while in the area, but we're hoping to get in some R 'n R before we head west to the Tetons and back to a schedule.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Second verse, same as the first...
We started the day with a good tailwind, resulting in over 12 mpg (quite good with this rig). We turned west, resulting in a 40+ mph crosswind... which, of course, clocked around to a headwind... and sent our mileage plummeting to 7.5 mpg. To make up for it, diesel prices have climbed as we go north and west. Double whammy.
We stopped along the way to pick up another kayak that we bought from a boat dealer friend of ours. It fits fine in the cargo trailer, but that's starting to feel pretty full. ;-) We're looking forward to trying the kayaks out in the Tetons. Assuming the snow melts. Yes, there is still a LOT of snow there. The reports we are getting are putting the snowpack way above normal. Here's a recent photo of the marina store...
Umm, we don't own a snow shovel.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Three state day...
We left Texas this morning, rolled through Oklahoma, and into Kansas. We had a nice tailwind for most of the morning, it switched to a crosswind in Oklahoma, and clocked around to a headwind north of Oklahoma City. We're down for the night at an off-the-road park we found in the Good Sam book - nothing fancy, but only $20 for the night, including 50 amp power. We did about 400 miles today; just looking to make some miles.
Diesel prices ranged from $3.98 to $4.19 along the way. I saw that oil is down below $100 per barrel today, but I'm sure we won't see the price at the pump drop as fast as it went up. CNN reported that the average family is spending $368 per month for gas right now... we'll run through that in the next couple days. Still, not bad... for a house. ;-)
Diesel prices ranged from $3.98 to $4.19 along the way. I saw that oil is down below $100 per barrel today, but I'm sure we won't see the price at the pump drop as fast as it went up. CNN reported that the average family is spending $368 per month for gas right now... we'll run through that in the next couple days. Still, not bad... for a house. ;-)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Visiting...
A good visit with Joan's Mom, the reason we're in the Dallas area. Mother Nature finally cut us some slack on the weather, making it easy to get Joan's Mom out.
One of my C-Dory friends posted this link on our cruising thread, and I just have to share it - it takes in two of the things that always make me smile...
http://www.wimp.com/catdolphins/
One of my C-Dory friends posted this link on our cruising thread, and I just have to share it - it takes in two of the things that always make me smile...
http://www.wimp.com/catdolphins/
Monday, May 2, 2011
Nothing in between...
Yesterday, before the front blew in, it was 92º with a hot, humid wind from the south. During the time we went out for supper, the temp dropped 30º, and the wind changed from the south to the north... and blew like stink all night long. Yesterday we were in shorts and t-shirts, today it will be jeans and jackets. Rainy, windy, and a high around 50º. Oh, and that tail wind that helped our mileage yesterday has turned to a headwind.
Yep, nothing in between.
-----------------------------
On edit:
The rain started as a light mist and built to a pounding downpour. As you might expect, it didn't change the driving style of most of the folks on the Interstates and highways - they still switched from the far left lane, across 4 lanes to the far right lane and onto the exit ramps. At one point, we saw one of the "Amber Alert" signs that said there was a stalled car in the left lane ahead; then another sign saying the same thing, and stating what exit it was near. There were 4 traffic lanes plus an HOV lane at that point, and I stayed in the 3rd lane. A car came speeding by us on the left, saw the flashing lights of the stalled car, and slammed on the brakes - all the water on the road sent him hydroplaning, right next to us!! I couldn't swerve to the right because of traffic, so told Joan to brace... the car ran across the plastic barricades separating the HOV lane and caught traction again just inches from the cement wall! The guy did a fine job of pulling out of the skid, but I have no doubt there will be skid marks in his pants as well as on the pavement.
We are down for the night; got to set up in a light rain. Well, I started setting up in a light rain... it quickly turned heavier. That's my fault: I did say, "Well, it looks like Mother Nature is going to give us a break," as we pulled into the site. The rain didn't matter that much - the site is full of low spots that are holding inches of pooled water... I got wet from above and below.
With the pounding rain, you'd think it would wash off some of the dirt and grit we have accumulated over the past few days... you'd be wrong; now everything we own is muddy instead of gritty. Again, my fault; I did say, "Maybe the rain will wash us off..."
I really have to keep some of these thoughts to myself.
Yep, nothing in between.
-----------------------------
On edit:
The rain started as a light mist and built to a pounding downpour. As you might expect, it didn't change the driving style of most of the folks on the Interstates and highways - they still switched from the far left lane, across 4 lanes to the far right lane and onto the exit ramps. At one point, we saw one of the "Amber Alert" signs that said there was a stalled car in the left lane ahead; then another sign saying the same thing, and stating what exit it was near. There were 4 traffic lanes plus an HOV lane at that point, and I stayed in the 3rd lane. A car came speeding by us on the left, saw the flashing lights of the stalled car, and slammed on the brakes - all the water on the road sent him hydroplaning, right next to us!! I couldn't swerve to the right because of traffic, so told Joan to brace... the car ran across the plastic barricades separating the HOV lane and caught traction again just inches from the cement wall! The guy did a fine job of pulling out of the skid, but I have no doubt there will be skid marks in his pants as well as on the pavement.
We are down for the night; got to set up in a light rain. Well, I started setting up in a light rain... it quickly turned heavier. That's my fault: I did say, "Well, it looks like Mother Nature is going to give us a break," as we pulled into the site. The rain didn't matter that much - the site is full of low spots that are holding inches of pooled water... I got wet from above and below.
With the pounding rain, you'd think it would wash off some of the dirt and grit we have accumulated over the past few days... you'd be wrong; now everything we own is muddy instead of gritty. Again, my fault; I did say, "Maybe the rain will wash us off..."
I really have to keep some of these thoughts to myself.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
We're off...
Well, the "gentle breezes" blew like stink out of the south, giving us double digit miles per gallon as we drove north. 
When we woke up this morning, we had no electricity... a quick check out the door showed that it wasn't just us, the whole island was without power. We went after it early, stopped at What-a-Burger to get Joan some coffee and me a Breakfast On A Bun (another Texas thing, much like Blue Belle Ice Cream). For some reason, when we were backing the 5th wheel on our street to get lined up to attach the cargo trailer, everyone on the island decided to take a drive past our place... at 6:30 on a Sunday morning... for no good reason. I swear, there wasn't a car in sight when I started backing up; within 30 seconds, it looked like a concert had just let out. I believe these people sit in their cars, waiting to clog up a street, and are all in contact with each other by 2-way radio...
"Red Rover, this is Checkpoint Danger - it looks like the Love Shack is ready to roll. Get the cars in their way - NOW!"
"Roger that, Checkpoint Danger; we have 50 cars that should clog up their street within seconds. Just to make sure, we can send 14 people walking dogs, 22 kids on bikes, 18 golf carts, and one old lady in curlers with cold cream on her face."
"Um, what's the old lady in curlers for?"
"Just to scare 'em."
"Roger."
Really. If we weren't moving, there would be no traffic on that street for another hour or two. I don't get it; I'm nice to my neighbors, I live by the Golden Rule, and even my cat thinks I'm a good guy. I don't know why these people take such delight in being a pain in the ass.
Other than the usual Texas driving once we were on the Expressway (pass on the left, pass on the right, pass on the shoulder, criss-cross in front of us like a bunch of Shriners in little parade cars), today's drive was pretty uneventful. Little Izzy sat on Joan's lap most of the way, ate when we ate, and pottied when we pottied. It's 92 degrees in San Marcos (just north of San Antonio), and still humid and windy. That's supposed to change as the hot, humid weather from the south meets up with the cold front from the north... we altered our travel plans for the day to try to slide behind the predicted severe weather that will be across mid to north Texas tonight and tomorrow. Instead of hot, humid, and windy, tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, rainy, and windy. Variety is nice. Maybe the rain will wash off some of the sand and grit that is stuck to every surface on the vehicles?
You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. Do you know what Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims.
I love kid jokes!
We did have some entertainment while in line to go through the Border Patrol checkpoint: one of the drug dogs was on high alert on a car just over from us. The PB officer opened the trunk to remove the bags, the dog jumped in, then started tearing at one of the bags. I think the guy driving that car is going to have a very bad day.
When we woke up this morning, we had no electricity... a quick check out the door showed that it wasn't just us, the whole island was without power. We went after it early, stopped at What-a-Burger to get Joan some coffee and me a Breakfast On A Bun (another Texas thing, much like Blue Belle Ice Cream). For some reason, when we were backing the 5th wheel on our street to get lined up to attach the cargo trailer, everyone on the island decided to take a drive past our place... at 6:30 on a Sunday morning... for no good reason. I swear, there wasn't a car in sight when I started backing up; within 30 seconds, it looked like a concert had just let out. I believe these people sit in their cars, waiting to clog up a street, and are all in contact with each other by 2-way radio..."Red Rover, this is Checkpoint Danger - it looks like the Love Shack is ready to roll. Get the cars in their way - NOW!"
"Roger that, Checkpoint Danger; we have 50 cars that should clog up their street within seconds. Just to make sure, we can send 14 people walking dogs, 22 kids on bikes, 18 golf carts, and one old lady in curlers with cold cream on her face."
"Um, what's the old lady in curlers for?"
"Just to scare 'em."
"Roger."
Really. If we weren't moving, there would be no traffic on that street for another hour or two. I don't get it; I'm nice to my neighbors, I live by the Golden Rule, and even my cat thinks I'm a good guy. I don't know why these people take such delight in being a pain in the ass.
Other than the usual Texas driving once we were on the Expressway (pass on the left, pass on the right, pass on the shoulder, criss-cross in front of us like a bunch of Shriners in little parade cars), today's drive was pretty uneventful. Little Izzy sat on Joan's lap most of the way, ate when we ate, and pottied when we pottied. It's 92 degrees in San Marcos (just north of San Antonio), and still humid and windy. That's supposed to change as the hot, humid weather from the south meets up with the cold front from the north... we altered our travel plans for the day to try to slide behind the predicted severe weather that will be across mid to north Texas tonight and tomorrow. Instead of hot, humid, and windy, tomorrow is supposed to be cooler, rainy, and windy. Variety is nice. Maybe the rain will wash off some of the sand and grit that is stuck to every surface on the vehicles?
You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. Do you know what Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims.
I love kid jokes!We did have some entertainment while in line to go through the Border Patrol checkpoint: one of the drug dogs was on high alert on a car just over from us. The PB officer opened the trunk to remove the bags, the dog jumped in, then started tearing at one of the bags. I think the guy driving that car is going to have a very bad day.
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