tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86200671421695226752024-03-13T12:00:26.690-06:00"Denice and Dennis's Retirement""ELTORO1, Our Home on Wheels" and
the Ongoing Saga of the Life and
Times of Denice and Dennis's
Retirement - 2015 versionDenice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-27259451588293764472015-01-31T14:47:00.003-07:002015-02-12T06:29:18.553-07:00California / Arizona Times<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>Day 12, Saturday January 31, 2015</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 11, Friday January 30, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">On the road after breakfast by 9 this morning and on into Mesa to Denice's deceased Aunts and Uncle's beautiful double wide park model home at 2929 Palm Desert Resort on Main Street' We had been invited to just use the unit as our own by MaryAnn, their daughter. We did as she had advised and after settling in made a quick trip to Fry's Grocery store for a few supplies needed for the next few days. This just feel like home!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 10, Thursday January 29, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Left Larry's shortly after 9 AM and went down past the Salton Sea again until joining with I 80. Eastward on I 80 to Yuma. There we met with My cousin Jim Rodgers who I have not seen for at least 40 years. We met at an Arby's, had lunch, and caught up on our lives for the last 40 years for over 2 hours. We must not wait another 40 years again!! They now live in Milk River in the summer time, Have a diesel motorhome and pull a Ford 250 ecoboost pickup. After leaving them to drove down to Gila Bend to a Best Western there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 9, Wednesday January 28, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">After breakfast this morning Larry suggested that we take a drive. He recommended, and we agreed, that we go down to the Salton Sea and then turn west to Borrego Springs. This was a very interesting place with a multitude of metal sculptures. After leaving there we headed west up over another steep pass and worked northward until we headed back east to Palm Springs, arriving home before 6 PM</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OEO53e1SbA/VM1KkYL4SMI/AAAAAAAAHR0/JqUlHDh_45A/s1600/_DSC0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OEO53e1SbA/VM1KkYL4SMI/AAAAAAAAHR0/JqUlHDh_45A/s1600/_DSC0428.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the couple hundred sculptures at Borrego Springs -Amazing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO-9wQMZ5PU/VM1LdEMfcoI/AAAAAAAAHR8/hmARi9-qq8o/s1600/Barrenga%2BSprings%2Bby%2BLarry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO-9wQMZ5PU/VM1LdEMfcoI/AAAAAAAAHR8/hmARi9-qq8o/s1600/Barrenga%2BSprings%2Bby%2BLarry.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denice and I beside another</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 8, Tuesday January 27, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">After breakfast this morning Larry took us out to an Oasis not far from town. We walked 2.4 miles up to an oasis pond and back again. Then home . A good day. For dinner, we met Brother Leroy and wife Gayleen, and Larry went out to one of the club houses within the park for Dinner. Good meal !! Then back to Leroys for a drink before returning home</span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 7, Monday January 26, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Up this morning and headed into Joshua Tree Park. Spent most of the day just slowly cruising the roads taking in the sights. It was raining part time so we did little walking. Exited the park at about 3 PM and called Brother Larry that we were on our way to his house in Palm Desert Sun City. We had added his address to the Jeeps GPS, but forgot it was set for avoiding Freeways preference, where possible, so once in Palm Springs she took us in sort of a roundabout way to get there, but did arrive by 5PM. Larry Bar-B-Qued some great steak for Dinner and we caught up on things.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qRz4BDQTMDM/VM1J_Zdj7dI/AAAAAAAAHRY/WYN5o9HM9eI/s1600/_DSC0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qRz4BDQTMDM/VM1J_Zdj7dI/AAAAAAAAHRY/WYN5o9HM9eI/s1600/_DSC0317.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denice under the "Split Rock"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFkWE7FmVPU/VM1J_qA9OTI/AAAAAAAAHRc/wjNhMXYnTm4/s1600/_DSC0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gFkWE7FmVPU/VM1J_qA9OTI/AAAAAAAAHRc/wjNhMXYnTm4/s1600/_DSC0328.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skull Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cf8T8ihP6U/VM1KAMITH2I/AAAAAAAAHRo/gI9qyCO2U_Y/s1600/_DSC0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cf8T8ihP6U/VM1KAMITH2I/AAAAAAAAHRo/gI9qyCO2U_Y/s1600/_DSC0333.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice Joshua Tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZEijD-wBtE/VM1ML1nt7-I/AAAAAAAAHSI/f2YIEEjUSYw/s1600/_DSC0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZEijD-wBtE/VM1ML1nt7-I/AAAAAAAAHSI/f2YIEEjUSYw/s1600/_DSC0491.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry's Great Yard - "A Lot of Work"</td></tr>
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<span style="color: yellow;"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 6, Sunday January 25, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Left Death Valley this morning and headed west over a 5000 ft summit and down into another low elevation valley. Turned south and followed the valley road until it joined highway 395 at Ridgecrest. From there headed south toward Palm Springs, then east to Joshua Tree, then on to 29 Palms. Checked into a Best Western Motel and then toured the town to take pictures of all the murals on the walls there. Dinner at a rib steak house. Was good but we think the ones I do on the Bar-B-Que are better.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WpgS0kmlo/VM1JImvJLNI/AAAAAAAAHRM/lpH_tDZeq6I/s1600/_DSC0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WpgS0kmlo/VM1JImvJLNI/AAAAAAAAHRM/lpH_tDZeq6I/s1600/_DSC0296.JPG" height="258" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very Neat Mural - the 3D effect was amazing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Inih3aplO5A/VM1JIYPr-UI/AAAAAAAAHRI/Pk_ZxZP5uKY/s1600/_DSC0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Inih3aplO5A/VM1JIYPr-UI/AAAAAAAAHRI/Pk_ZxZP5uKY/s1600/_DSC0294.JPG" height="134" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in California they do move some big loads - (I think 128 tires)</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 5, Saturday January 24, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Toured Death Valley today. Down to Artists road again this morning, then down the west side dirt road for 40 miles of washboard then back to Bad Water, then 25 miles to Dante's Viewpoint, some 5500 ft above Bad Water, then returned to Stove Pipe Wells for the night. After Dinner and darkness we went down to the sand dunes where it was pitch black and we viewed the stars and the Milky Way</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Day 4, Friday January 23, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Away from Tonapah by about 8:30AM and headed down 93 highway to near Beatty, turned west to Scotty's Castle. Stopped there for a while - bought a years National Park pass for $80, then went to Ubehebe Crater. We wanted to to go on to Raceway but was 27 miles there and same on return on rough washboard dirt road so we decided to by-pass. Went south to Stove Pipe Wells and checked into motel there for 2 nights. As it was only a little after 1 by then went back to Titus Canyon. I walked up it for about a half mile before returning. Lots of pictures, then went south past Furnace Creek to Artists Palette Drive just before dark - more pictures before returning to Stove Pipe Wells. Dinner at the restaurant there, before turning in.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful Formations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Artists Palette</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Curious Visitor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Walkout at Bad Water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nu4PjIGF3nk/VM1HHYfhtfI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/ssOuk9qM-Ps/s1600/_DSC0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nu4PjIGF3nk/VM1HHYfhtfI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/ssOuk9qM-Ps/s1600/_DSC0243.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Bad Water from 5500 ft above<br />
(Notice the Walk out in the lower center)</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 3, Thursday January 22, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Left Tremonton by 8 this morning and went into Salt Lake during rush hour. Again decided on a new route so headed west to Wendover, about 120 miles, then south to Ely. Was still too early to stop for the night so then decide to go over to Tonapah, another 165 miles. Desolation, was the subject of the day! Cars on the highway were few and far in between. Often none in sight for places where we could see straight sections of the highway for 15 miles or more. In Tonapah we checked into a Best Western Inn. Today was another 500 mile day. We just had left overs for dinner from our newly purchased cooler</span>.<br />
<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 2, Wednesday January 21, 2015</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Left Great Falls by 8 this morning and drove to Helena, then decided to change route and proceed to Idaho Falls via West Yellowstone. Was a great day and a great trip! Weather was "clear and cold" highway was great and bare, although lots of snow south along the ditches of West Yellowstone. We saw lots of birds, Eagles, hawks and swans. Arrived in Idaho Falls by just after 3, so decided to continue on to Pocetello, but even then was too early to stop so went on to Tremonton and found a Hamptons Inn. Stayed there and had dinner at a Denny's again tonight.</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Day 1, Tuesday Jan. 20, 2015</span></strong><br />
Waited around morning until was able to get parcel from the post office - It was what I had hoped, my attachment between my new Nikon camera to me old Pentax lenses' As soon as I had opened that we were on the road by shortly after noon. <br />
Stopped at friends, Tom and Linda's in Warner for a quick cup of tea for only 15 to 25 minutes, then on the road again. Crossed border without incidence, and were in Great Falls by 5:30PM. Stayed at Crystal Hotel up by Flying J. Dinner at Denny's<br />
<strong><span style="color: yellow;"></span></strong><br />Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-16410276431018492102015-01-29T21:09:00.000-07:002015-01-29T21:09:08.525-07:00Well, we have to try this again!!!I know it's been a long time since I did an update. Just seems I was always too busy --- no, that is just an excuse. I am retired so have all the time in the world, but it is just too easy to procrastinate and not do it. So today I decided to try to get it going again. I may only do one post a week or so and will only download a few pictures. Seems, at least for me, that placing the pictures into the blog takes the most time. If I try to put the pictures from my camera in the are far too many megabytes to place "as is" so have to re-size them before uploading them. Other wise the blog gets far too big and slow for people to open it.<br />
Enough of that and enough excuses!<br />
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Now, what have we been doing since my last blog, I think it was when we were on our way home from Texas in the spring of 2014! Bad Bad Dennis!!<br />
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We spent the summer at home in High River, completing the rebuilding of our home there, after the devastation from the June 2013 flood. We had a very good local contraction doing the work, and he had been doing all the rebuild in our lower level during the months we were down south in Texas. When we arrived home only the final finishing touches were required like panting and completing the fireplace. We were very happy with all his work and we would sure recommend him to anyone in need of carpentry work. Also our Insurance Company, The Cooperators," were amazing! At first we were not sure how much coverage we actually had, but found we were 100% covered. Both contents and rebuild. The only thing not covered was anything outdoors, but the DRP, (Disaster Recovery Program) did help us some with that end. They still owe us a couple thousand dollars, and the latest we read, is that all payments will be made before spring. Hopefully!!<br />
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Then during the summer we headed to Alaska for a 2 month trip north. We had a great time up there travelling with friends Roy and Lynn Penniket from Granum. I guess that could be a whole installment in this blog, but I will condense that to something more manageable. We travelled all the way to 70 miles beyond the Arctic Circle, but left our motorhome in Fairbanks and did the bus tour up to Coldfoot, then flew back to Fairbanks. Then on down to Anchorage. and out to the coast at Seward. Started having motor home issues at Anchorage and need mechanics assistance there, But that is another story that would take a long time to fill in all the details. Suffice to say from there all the way home had many issues, (about $5000 worth), that rather put a cramp in our trip, but on the whole was a great experience. We arrive home mid September.<br />
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We had already decided not to go south this winter as we had most used up our 182 days out of Canada for 2014. We wanted to just stay home for the winter for a change, and then during the summer months head south-east to the north-eastern states that we had not visited previously. There are about 7 that we have never been in, and want to add them to our list of visited US states.<br />
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We had a good winter, with only a few cold spells, but by the time January rolled around, we had this itch that needed to be scratched, and the only way to get relief, seemed to be to get to a warmer climate for a few weeks. Costa Rica was our first choice, but by once more procrastinating, had left it too late to get good tours and connections. Second choice was Cuba, but we had already been there, so will hold that for another year or so. Third was just jump in the jeep and head south to California and Arizona. That is a no brainer, and no planning necessary. Two days later we were on the road!Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-61594954540840901342014-04-13T08:33:00.000-06:002014-04-13T08:33:27.419-06:00Our Trip Northward and Home<strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Tuesday April 8th</span></strong><br />
Packed up this morning and headed north after saying good bye to neighbors Pat (Jay) and Jinx. Also saying good bye to the Gulf of Mexico for this year. We have enjoyed our time down here, although it has not been the best weather. Everyone we talk to agrees that it has been a cold wet winter and spring.<br />
Drove northward through Beaumont on I 10 and then turned off and on northward to Carthage, TX to Carthage RV Campground, a distance of uneventful 207 miles.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>Wednesday April 9th</strong></span><br />
From Carthage, TX continued on northward through the Arkansas Ozarks and up to Alma, KOA, near Ft Smith Arkansas. The Ozarks are always enjoyable, maybe somewhat comparable to the Hill Country in Texas, but in a more primitive way. Distance today was 295 miles. Took a circle route round Ft Smith and found Alma just a few miles away, but still near the main highway. The KOA was easy to find and it was a fair Park<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>Thursday April 10th</strong></span><br />
On the road northward again. Left Alma, Arkansas and went north on highway 540. I thought this was going to be on a secondary state highway. Not So!! It is a new interstate highway with some amazingly high bridges. Seems like we crossed about 50 of them with heights I'm sure over 300 ft above the creeks below. An amazing piece of engineering!! After we arrived in Lafayette, Arkansas the I 540 ended but traffic was very heavy for about 50 miles through several cities almost touching each other, The last was Bentonville, home of Sam Walton, the originator of Walmart, and from then the highway changed to Highway 71, but was still a very good 4 lane divided route. Arrived in Carthage, Missouri about 1 PM and checked into "The Big Red Barn" RV Park. Had some lunch and the headed off the "Precious Moments"<br />
Did a tour of the grounds and chapel and viewed lots of magnificent stained glass work - away beyond my expertise, and then of course into the gift store. Dropped a couple hundred $$ there, but Denice got some neat things. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: yellow;">Fri</span><span style="color: yellow;">day April 11th</span></span></strong><br />
Away early this morning at 8:30AM and up Highway I 49 and US #71 to just outside Kansas City, then onto 435 around the city. Turned off into Smithville and then to Bass Country RV Park. I screwed up a little on the way in. These are narrow country roads to the park and our GPS was saying turn Right and I was thinking Left, so I turned left and then of course I could not back up and God knows how far I would have to go to get turned around, so I unhooked and Denice drove the jeep the last couple miles to the park. Got checked in and led to our site. 81. WIFI very poor, also TV poor but still OK here. They make Pizza and wings, so ordered for Dinner at 5:30PM.<br />
Checked out possible sites for stopping tomorrow and chose On-yur-wa RV Park at Onaway, a Good Sam one. Reserved for tomorrow night.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>Saturday April 12th</strong></span><br />
On the road early this morning by 7:30 AM as forecast was for wind. Traveled northward through Council Bluffs, Iowa. The same city as Omaho Nebraska, but on the east side of the Missouri River. We only had routed for 225 miles and arrived at On-Yur-Wa RV park by noon, and checked in. Got set up and found very good wifi here. Checked forecast for next couple days and does not appear good. Cold and wind, so we may just sit tight here until better weather.Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-39736909358651510002014-01-24T17:46:00.001-07:002014-04-13T20:19:24.245-06:00I've Gotta get this Blog going Again<strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Getting up to date in 2014</span></strong><br />
Well here it is January 24th and nothing reported to date on my blog. Shame, shame!!<br />
Ok what have we done so far? Arrived Dec 29th from Calgary vie air. Next door friend, Wayne Lively picked us up at the airport and drove us home to ELTORO.<br />
Thanks Wayne!! <br />
A few days to get settled in, but as we had left the power on and the frig running, every thing seemed OK. We did have to make a fast trip to the HEB grocery for some supplies so we had food in the house. One small glitch was that as we had drained the hot water tank, we of course had no hot water. We are used to having the tank full and one of Denice's jobs is to start the turn on the propane to it to initiate some hot water, Without the water there the thermostat over heated and burned out. Lesson Learned! Thankfully the tank has two heating systems so after filling the tank with water, turned the electric heater on and soon we had hot water. Left the tank that way for a week or so until able to get Premium RV repair to come by and replace the thermostat. Also when they came by, the furnace was acting up, so they did some testing and found nothing more serious than a corroded ignitor. Repaired and happy now.<br />
Weather has not been too great, especially for Texas, but warmer than High River. Watching the weather there daily and it definitely is winter back home! The first few days back here were highlighted by steady rain and cool. Then it started to warm up, and sometimes to near 80 Deg F. Today was remarkably cold with only a high of about 40. Understandably we spent most of the day inside with the furnace running. Cities like Houston and San Antonio were reporting icy bridges and recommending no travel. Yesterday morning we had frost on the top of our jeep, but seemed no damage to our flowering plants along our site. Forecast is for warming over the next few days back to seasonal temperatures. Sure hope so!<br />
What have we been doing with ourselves you ask. A lot of reading, eating, sleeping! Isn't that what we are supposed to do when retired? We have been doing some day trips to see the birding areas around here. Often we just walk over to Bentson State Park across the road from us. There are lots of trails and places to see and while we observe the birds we do get our daily walk in. Sometimes up to three miles, but that is a little much. We have also gone to The National Butterfly Center just down the road, Santa Anna National Wildlife refuge, Salineno (60 miles NW along the Rio Grande River) and yesterday to Edinburg to their Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center. Main reason to go there was to possibly see a Tropical Parula. Denice took lots of pictures, but we were unable to find the elusive parula. It was not until we were back home and she was reviewing her pictures that she noticed that the very first bird she took a picture was that parula! How about that, and didn't even know that was what she was looking at! Salineno is always one of our favouries. Hosts for that site have a couple of 5th wheel trailers that is there homes during the birding season. It is right on the Rio Grande River and rather secluded. So much so that last year they were not allowed there, as it was thought unsafe, with illegal Mexican activities so close, but this year they relaxed there requirements and are up and running again. they have about 20 chairs set up and bird feeding is always on. All you have to do is sit and take pictures, and there always seems to be a feeding frenzy. All the birds we enjoy are there. Orioles, Kiskidees, Green Jays, Warblers, Wrens, Thrushes, Cardinals, Doves, and a host of others.<br />
One day we went on a boat trip up the Rio Grande<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9ygAosIgPo/U0sGYza6JHI/AAAAAAAAGZk/KMuAZs9L8Bw/s1600/IMG_2241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9ygAosIgPo/U0sGYza6JHI/AAAAAAAAGZk/KMuAZs9L8Bw/s1600/IMG_2241.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNM8h9b6Uyw/U0sGhZa_rQI/AAAAAAAAGZs/VJifN809vlw/s1600/IMG_2246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNM8h9b6Uyw/U0sGhZa_rQI/AAAAAAAAGZs/VJifN809vlw/s1600/IMG_2246.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Mexican Mansion - Did Drugs pay for it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoH0KYXIts4/U0sGiMMn5wI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/schpt3jHhPo/s1600/IMG_2253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoH0KYXIts4/U0sGiMMn5wI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/schpt3jHhPo/s1600/IMG_2253.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Mexican Villa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yn3L2Uh6Qnc/U0sG931YghI/AAAAAAAAGaE/VhhCsHwGaDc/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yn3L2Uh6Qnc/U0sG931YghI/AAAAAAAAGaE/VhhCsHwGaDc/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Protectors - The Border Patrol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bNBIq8DyaU/U0sGoggzISI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/CHY4NZq6oJQ/s1600/IMG_2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bNBIq8DyaU/U0sGoggzISI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/CHY4NZq6oJQ/s1600/IMG_2283.jpg" height="484" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qcXo9Hi8BRI/U0sHAYm6s9I/AAAAAAAAGaM/avgMyo1xn-A/s1600/IMG_2297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qcXo9Hi8BRI/U0sHAYm6s9I/AAAAAAAAGaM/avgMyo1xn-A/s1600/IMG_2297.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the Rio</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3KuS-1kG6k/U0sHCUIShtI/AAAAAAAAGaU/oUgth7uwWCo/s1600/IMG_2322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3KuS-1kG6k/U0sHCUIShtI/AAAAAAAAGaU/oUgth7uwWCo/s1600/IMG_2322.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screech Owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFLrp38hK2A/U0sHOW7sGoI/AAAAAAAAGac/6I1N33ew5hA/s1600/IMG_2372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFLrp38hK2A/U0sHOW7sGoI/AAAAAAAAGac/6I1N33ew5hA/s1600/IMG_2372.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Headed Grosbeak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg43k_SvJ-E/U0sHOnxfiyI/AAAAAAAAGag/mLppPd7l-jA/s1600/IMG_2385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg43k_SvJ-E/U0sHOnxfiyI/AAAAAAAAGag/mLppPd7l-jA/s1600/IMG_2385.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cardinal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69HPdSDylIg/U0sHPAlzpLI/AAAAAAAAGao/TYFKmhLbXSU/s1600/IMG_2397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69HPdSDylIg/U0sHPAlzpLI/AAAAAAAAGao/TYFKmhLbXSU/s1600/IMG_2397.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titmouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb0Z46FAnts/U0sHxNAALmI/AAAAAAAAGbA/4XsAm58o4JM/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb0Z46FAnts/U0sHxNAALmI/AAAAAAAAGbA/4XsAm58o4JM/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indigo Bunting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQvRQPsTKIY/U0sHuFFufUI/AAAAAAAAGa4/yT0zFHZPRHg/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQvRQPsTKIY/U0sHuFFufUI/AAAAAAAAGa4/yT0zFHZPRHg/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Phoebe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbp3W9VRGCQ/U0sH2HG7p7I/AAAAAAAAGbI/0zOF9eE6UGw/s1600/IMG_2469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbp3W9VRGCQ/U0sH2HG7p7I/AAAAAAAAGbI/0zOF9eE6UGw/s1600/IMG_2469.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Fronted Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgYtRHG_zUA/U0sIpVKjfcI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/7OcIJ6_X0Rw/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgYtRHG_zUA/U0sIpVKjfcI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/7OcIJ6_X0Rw/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Kiskadee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9T7SOBRDFDI/U0sI18FYCNI/AAAAAAAAGbg/mfcElFweQiI/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9T7SOBRDFDI/U0sI18FYCNI/AAAAAAAAGbg/mfcElFweQiI/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Golden Fronted Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTChIcpm4yY/U0sI0mt-eAI/AAAAAAAAGbY/H56gf6fUu7A/s1600/IMG_2520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTChIcpm4yY/U0sI0mt-eAI/AAAAAAAAGbY/H56gf6fUu7A/s1600/IMG_2520.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monk Head Parakeets</td></tr>
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Behind ELTORO we have 7 or 8 bird feeders out offering a much varied buffet for the birds. We have daily visits of Kiskadee's, Green Jays, the odd Cardinal, Warblers, Woodpeckers ( both ladderback and golden fronted), Doves, occasionally an oriole, a million sparrows and a million blackbirds, and grackles. Also a few squirrels.<br />
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>Some more updates</strong></span><br />
Again been some more catching up to do. We have now left Mission, Texas on our somewhat indirect trip northward. We are trying to outlast the last remnants of winter back in the frozen north.<br />
It was a great winter in Mission, although not as warm as we might have wished, but still we did not have to shovel!! We spent a lot of time "birding" in and around the area. I will not add a lot of photos, as most of the birds are repeats of ones we have already seen and posted on this blog. <br />
We made a lot of new friends in the park, and will be keeping in contact with all of them.<br />
One day we made a trip down across the border to Progresso, Mexico and snapped these pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcoWDVLoabo/U0s8CBM9x3I/AAAAAAAAGcA/vAn4lmxNinM/s1600/IMG_2691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcoWDVLoabo/U0s8CBM9x3I/AAAAAAAAGcA/vAn4lmxNinM/s1600/IMG_2691.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A field of Broccoli</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnpSz9E-Nk/U0s7j6_3P4I/AAAAAAAAGbw/L3tvoeHtINM/s1600/IMG_2694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnpSz9E-Nk/U0s7j6_3P4I/AAAAAAAAGbw/L3tvoeHtINM/s1600/IMG_2694.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvesting the Broccoli</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QudRoaH9idc/U0s8GGlRStI/AAAAAAAAGcM/bzmD5MVrSjM/s1600/IMG_2797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QudRoaH9idc/U0s8GGlRStI/AAAAAAAAGcM/bzmD5MVrSjM/s1600/IMG_2797.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing into Progresso</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qV96SlUuD04/U0s8IK4ZKvI/AAAAAAAAGcY/iuCNeaDR6-s/s1600/IMG_2799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qV96SlUuD04/U0s8IK4ZKvI/AAAAAAAAGcY/iuCNeaDR6-s/s1600/IMG_2799.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTSeHT-5WZ0/U0s8r7S1xzI/AAAAAAAAGco/wkg663ixTrI/s1600/IMG_2801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTSeHT-5WZ0/U0s8r7S1xzI/AAAAAAAAGco/wkg663ixTrI/s1600/IMG_2801.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Canada Store in Progresso, Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wd5_87nWEcA/U0s9xteSQDI/AAAAAAAAGd4/bYcVAJNksE8/s1600/IMG_2942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wd5_87nWEcA/U0s9xteSQDI/AAAAAAAAGd4/bYcVAJNksE8/s1600/IMG_2942.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ELTORO gets a wash job</td></tr>
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At the park, there is a great wood shop with a lot of the guys, and ladies, doing great woodworking projects. There are about a dozen privately owned lathes and 3 park owned so a lot of "turning" takes place there. Now I am supposed to be the turning guy, so you would think that I would have a lot of projects on the go. Not so! Just did not seem to ever get the time or the urge, but at the end of the season they had a craft show, so here are a few of the projects that were completed. I even bought one myself!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OuA_swsRLRM/U0s87SQs1VI/AAAAAAAAGdM/wIENTSh-2_I/s1600/IMG_2927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OuA_swsRLRM/U0s87SQs1VI/AAAAAAAAGdM/wIENTSh-2_I/s1600/IMG_2927.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Down the Table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--aJH69669Sk/U0s8_CSS_GI/AAAAAAAAGdU/d-SzGZ1lxwM/s1600/IMG_2929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--aJH69669Sk/U0s8_CSS_GI/AAAAAAAAGdU/d-SzGZ1lxwM/s1600/IMG_2929.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Nifty Design</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmM0GiY8UwI/U0s9BQQ6vjI/AAAAAAAAGdc/xtp0DeT39hY/s1600/IMG_2930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmM0GiY8UwI/U0s9BQQ6vjI/AAAAAAAAGdc/xtp0DeT39hY/s1600/IMG_2930.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multiple Segments</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxuJ1PKPOU8/U0s9budTInI/AAAAAAAAGdk/a-YF0mOhdF4/s1600/IMG_2931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxuJ1PKPOU8/U0s9budTInI/AAAAAAAAGdk/a-YF0mOhdF4/s1600/IMG_2931.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A segmented Bowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBG66xRbnxk/U0s9l6F_DDI/AAAAAAAAGds/G13u78WtAZM/s1600/IMG_2932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBG66xRbnxk/U0s9l6F_DDI/AAAAAAAAGds/G13u78WtAZM/s1600/IMG_2932.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dyed wood inserts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LIVNDceaUk/U0s9m7ujr8I/AAAAAAAAGd0/lPj-FTODsWg/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LIVNDceaUk/U0s9m7ujr8I/AAAAAAAAGd0/lPj-FTODsWg/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the selections. I bought the one on the bottom left</td></tr>
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We even had a dog show one day!<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X13-MHfQiFU/U0s8w9REKAI/AAAAAAAAGdE/uK7iISrlB1o/s1600/IMG_2917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X13-MHfQiFU/U0s8w9REKAI/AAAAAAAAGdE/uK7iISrlB1o/s1600/IMG_2917.jpg" height="640" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And our neighbors Steve and Kim's dog won</td></tr>
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<br />
We had planned on returning every year for the winter, so had reserved our Super site #722 for the year from April 15th 2013 to April 15th 2014, and certainly planned on extending it for another year. The super sites included a 12 ft x 12 ft. Garden shack on our large cement pad. All the pads are bordered with flowering shrubs that the birds and butterfly's are attracted to. Ours was Great and I added new grass seed to the back yard to increase the appeal there. However, as time wore on, we had that wanderlust feeling that there was still a lot of things we wanted to see, before we got too old to enjoy them. <br />
A couple other shots around the area:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbVQf4Rj49g/U0s73dx-CwI/AAAAAAAAGb8/s5gLEpVBocQ/s1600/IMG_2613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbVQf4Rj49g/U0s73dx-CwI/AAAAAAAAGb8/s5gLEpVBocQ/s1600/IMG_2613.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horned Lizards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VIS8G6Y_-xQ/U0s8F3Ro4kI/AAAAAAAAGcQ/ckmFHrTQstA/s1600/IMG_2785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VIS8G6Y_-xQ/U0s8F3Ro4kI/AAAAAAAAGcQ/ckmFHrTQstA/s1600/IMG_2785.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Cardinal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xsRas5u2n7E/U0s8tCtTsdI/AAAAAAAAGc0/aDrQqrIXdas/s1600/IMG_2847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xsRas5u2n7E/U0s8tCtTsdI/AAAAAAAAGc0/aDrQqrIXdas/s1600/IMG_2847.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Munkhead Parakeet</td></tr>
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Decision time.<br />
With a bit of sadness, we made the decision that maybe it was time to move on, we will probably return to the Rio Grande Valley someday, sometime in the future! We are not the only ones seeking new adventures, our near neighbor/family/friends Wayne and Jan are also moving on....Arizona is their next stop (Wayne and Jan from Michigan are full timers). We are not sure where our travels will take us, but, we do know we will enjoy the fun and adventure wherever the 'new' road will take us.<br />
So, we pack up Eltoro AND Toadone, because we seem to have gathered up more 'stuff' while sitting in one spot.....a swing, a 12 x 12 shade canopy, more tools, more craft stuff, two tables etc and now Eltoro is packed, every last little nook and cranny is full....oh yes Dennis's wood takes up a compartment!!!! And then, as I never did get involved in the wood working shop, I had elected to do some stained glass work instead, so had purchased all the tools and equipment need for that endeavor. Like grinders, a glass saw, cutters, soldering equip, and a whole bunch of glass of various colors and textures. Another compartment!! <br />
But the Denice is not totally left out. We made a couple of trips to Harlingen to buy material, threads, and equipment for her the work on a quilt to replace the one she lost in the High River flood. She had purchased a new sewing machine, again a flood replacement, before we left home and brought it down with us in Toadone last fall. Now we need to find a home to store all that away as well. And then there were her books --------!!!<br />
On March 14th we headed north to Rockport, where we met up with the wonderful people we call friends from when we were there before. Two weeks did not give us a lot of time to visit and do everything we wanted to do. We visited our favorite birding sites.......Goose Island State Park, we saw lots of warblers, water fowl and most importantly nine whooping cranes. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, not to many birds but we did see nine alligators (hmmm, nine again). We also had quite few birds at our feeders (happy Denice)! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vJV-qvGmIE/U0sD2C5vmpI/AAAAAAAAGYw/a6ommAmPGto/s1600/IMG_1954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vJV-qvGmIE/U0sD2C5vmpI/AAAAAAAAGYw/a6ommAmPGto/s1600/IMG_1954.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Oriole</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8VmkaQEdx4/U0sD2vkG6QI/AAAAAAAAGY8/LyF9Z8hWIjU/s1600/IMG_2034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8VmkaQEdx4/U0sD2vkG6QI/AAAAAAAAGY8/LyF9Z8hWIjU/s1600/IMG_2034.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you seethe Owl?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VckWZ2GFuVY/U0sD3Vfs7JI/AAAAAAAAGZI/BeDyWg2uwHo/s1600/IMG_2064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VckWZ2GFuVY/U0sD3Vfs7JI/AAAAAAAAGZI/BeDyWg2uwHo/s1600/IMG_2064.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiskadee and Clay Colored Thrush</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZM2A5VhS-A/U0sD4vwBa-I/AAAAAAAAGZQ/QE9Uf8Wtd-w/s1600/IMG_2097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZM2A5VhS-A/U0sD4vwBa-I/AAAAAAAAGZQ/QE9Uf8Wtd-w/s1600/IMG_2097.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Waxwing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ry0zNPtmc/U0sD4-IHJfI/AAAAAAAAGZU/sDd5EzJgA84/s1600/IMG_2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ry0zNPtmc/U0sD4-IHJfI/AAAAAAAAGZU/sDd5EzJgA84/s1600/IMG_2205.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermillion Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<br />
We took two days and headed up to New Braunfels to see Denice's cousin Hettie and Hettie's family, Loren and Teresa, their children Kylie and Jake. Visited downtown, old town, New Braunfels, that was settled by mainly German people and has a great history! We also took in a few shops and spent a FEW dollars! Had dinner out with all the Partridge family at the Grist Mill in Gruene, good food, wonderful people. Gruene incidentally is pronounced green, so the German influence.<br />
Back in Rockport, we were invited to go with our "Jaxsen Heights" friends to China A's, our favorite Chinese food restaurant and then before we left Rockport on the 14th we again, with the same people and a few more went to JD's Seafood Restaurant. First we had gone to a place called Moon Doggies and after all 11 of us had sat down, we told that our bill could only be split 2 ways. Customarily when a group of this size gets together we usually have bills for each couple. We said "OK, we will just separate the tables and order individually." But they told us we had come in as a group and would have to order that way. We said "No," and got up and left. My parting words to the manager was, "I hope you realize you just lost about $400 income and 11 peoples business for ever!" However we went on down to JD's and were welcomed in. I had a chicken fried steak that the size of a platter, enough food for three people (and it did two more meals). We will miss our Jaxsen Heights friends and will look forward to seeing them in the future. Of course we do keep in touch with all our Winter Texan friends via e-mail and FB.<br />
On the 28th of March we headed north-east to Galveston, a trip of a couple hundred miles. We had reserved at Jamaica Beach RV resort. We found it to be a very nice, clean park with lots of amenities. Since were only there for four days we found them a busy four days. One of the guys I had hired while I was a Shell employee is stationed in Houston and as we do communicate occasionally had expressed an interest in meeting up for dinner, so that night he and his wife, Linda, came to Galveston and we had dinner with them at Gaido's Seafood Restaurant. It was great and we chatted for 3 hours, Rob bringing me up to date on a lot of the happenings in the Shell World and where a lot of the guys and gals I had worked with, but had lost contact with. Denice and Linda also chatted a whole lot, and found they had so many of the same interests, Stitching, quilting, scrap booking, and birds. We had never met Linda before, but were sure impressed! The next morning we again met them for breakfast at IHOP. Another 3 hours!! So glad we had done that!<br />
For the remainder of our time in Galveston we visited along the Seawall, went to the Strand ( Galveston's Business section) Ocean Star ( An Off Shore Drilling Rig Museum), The Alissa Museum (An old Tall Ship that is still sea worthy) and to the Moody Gardens (A ) Moody Gardens boasts 3 large glass pyramids featuring and aquarium in one, discovery center in one, and a tropical forest in the other. All were very interesting and time consuming. We visited some birding sites as well, but one of them that we wanted to see was closed down due to the old spill in the harbor the week before where a Liberian tanked rammed a barge carrying bunker crude. 160,000 gallons were lost in the harbor. We saw little of the oil on the beaches or along the port, but there sure was lots of Oil Spill activity happening. Ironically, this is the exact area where 30 years ago, as a new Shell employee, I was sent to take an oils spill course and how to clean up one!<br />
April 1st we loaded up again and crossed the Galveston Bay on the ferry onto the Boliver Peninsula. Crossing the bay on the ferry is about a half hour trip of a few miles, but very interesting to be so up close to the seagoing ships and freighters. At any time there are up to a dozen ships lined up waiting to enter the bay. <br />
Once across the Bay we continued on down the peninsula to High Island, about 25 miles. We had booked here for a week as this is rated as probably the #1 birding spot on the Southern States. High Island town has only about 300 people and one RV Park. <br />
A bit about High Island: <br />
It is called a dome. A lot of Texas has a thick salt layer some 30,000 ft down and with a tectonic movement millions of years ago a column of the salt was pushed up, raising the surface about 35 feet higher that the rest of the surrounding area. Trees were now supported here and flourish. Oil collected around the outside of the dome and back in the 30's a multitude of wells were drilled here, and the town flourished. A few are still producing, but most are just rusting pumper hulks. But new life for High Island! Birds migrating northward in the spring and southward in the fall, to and from the Uccatan Peninsula in Mexico, find this a haven to either rest from the crossing, or to fatten up for the 600 mile flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Apparently when the small birds, mostly a variety of warblers, strike out across the Gulf, they leave Mexico at dusk and fly non-stop for about 12 hours through the night until they reach Texas. By now they are totally tired and hungry and land as soon as they can. High Island with its lust growth is most appealing to them! And where there are birds, there are Birders!!Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-69636640785800952482013-09-09T20:56:00.003-06:002013-09-09T20:56:26.729-06:00The Final Leg of our 2013 Trip South<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>September 9th</strong></span><br />
Well, not a lot to report today. Left Albuquerque thismorning and headed east on I-40 for about 60 miles to Clines Corner, where we turned south onto 285, then nothing to see except cactus, sand and flatland all the way to Roswell. Even going through there, there were no aliens to be seen, so no pictures today. Another 100 miles and we were finally in Texas. When we went through here in the spring the wind was blowing, the sand was drifting, and we thought this to be a very poor area, but today was surprised to find quite a different story. The fields are growing lots of potatoes and other veggy crops undetermined by us what they might be. Irrigation sprinklers were everywhere, and all was very green. Not sure why we did not see the same thing in the spring. Maybe it because it was the end of the day and we were just looking for a place to rest our heads. Arrived at Big Springs, Texas at 5:00PM (now in Central Time Zone) and was going to check in at a La Quinta Hotel, but they wanted $199, so went one block back and checked into Advantage Inn for $78, tax included. And it sure is not a dump!! Dinner at a steak House adjacent, and again ate too much, but this was a celebration for us. 52 Years of marriage. How about that!!!Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-90615017313120595782013-09-01T19:03:00.000-06:002013-09-08T21:32:31.417-06:00Finally heading South Again<br />
Well here we are, after that disastrous summer final heading south for a couple of months to see if we can finally slow down a d relax a little. Last couple of days we spent trying to get everything under control and packing the jeep in preparation for the trip down.<br />
Now I am going to fill you in on the whole dastardly summer activity, but do not expect an immediate update as an awful lot happened during the summer, and is going to take me sometime to tell you all about it. I am going to show you from time to time when I have done an update with a link and you should be able to click on it an go directly to the new data - well I hope that is the way it works -----<br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">September 1st</span></strong><br />
So anyway today we left High River this morning and travelled down #22 to Lundbreck and to Pincher Creek<br />
Had Breakfast Porridge with Don, Shannon, Caitlin, Samantha, Mike and kids before we headed south. Went through Cardston, and Carway border crossing with out an issue, and then to St Mary's, Browning, Choteau, and on to Helena to the Hamptons Hotel for the night - Had supper at the Overland Express, and will retire early.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>September 2nd</strong></span><br />
Left Helena this morning after breakfast at the hotel and headed down the valley towards Yellowstone. Stopped in Wheat at the sandwich deli and bought some sandwiches for lunch. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgdwlFNcZl8/Uik8fgaIMdI/AAAAAAAAGTA/SjvExifJ-O8/s1600/IMG_0573+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EgdwlFNcZl8/Uik8fgaIMdI/AAAAAAAAGTA/SjvExifJ-O8/s640/IMG_0573+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke from Idaho Forest Fires</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrAL8zs1lRA/Uik81YiidNI/AAAAAAAAGTc/fMpCTq-7KiM/s1600/IMG_0581+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrAL8zs1lRA/Uik81YiidNI/AAAAAAAAGTc/fMpCTq-7KiM/s640/IMG_0581+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvest Time in Montana</td></tr>
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<br />
Arrived in West Yellowstone about 12:30 and decided to continue on into the park. It was raining so we just drove on with few stops until we reached Old Faithful. She had just erupted shortly before so Denice bought a few nick-nacks, and we decided not to wait until the next Old Faithful event as we have seen them many times in the past. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iseeMAbJfRU/Uik8yVZqsWI/AAAAAAAAGTM/-hCfnPr0unw/s1600/IMG_0584+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iseeMAbJfRU/Uik8yVZqsWI/AAAAAAAAGTM/-hCfnPr0unw/s640/IMG_0584+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South from Earthquake Dam</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NASc8pcW0A/Uik80CmM2hI/AAAAAAAAGTU/1l14nuhPdMM/s1600/IMG_0592+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NASc8pcW0A/Uik80CmM2hI/AAAAAAAAGTU/1l14nuhPdMM/s640/IMG_0592+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a Local!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWVk-QYIe-U/Uik81eqd9rI/AAAAAAAAGTg/LnE8xv_tE-o/s1600/IMG_0597+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWVk-QYIe-U/Uik81eqd9rI/AAAAAAAAGTg/LnE8xv_tE-o/s640/IMG_0597+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Faithful at a quiet moment</td></tr>
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<br />
Headed south to the South Entrance and through the Grand Tetons, then into Jackson Hole. The rain has let up, but still very overcast. Took a room at the Elk Refuge Inn for $140. We originally went to the Rustic Inn, but they wanted a mere $260! Sorry, not interested!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He49qDU6x2s/Uik830bTJ4I/AAAAAAAAGTs/bqQjiXmGebA/s1600/IMG_0620+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He49qDU6x2s/Uik830bTJ4I/AAAAAAAAGTs/bqQjiXmGebA/s640/IMG_0620+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson Downtown park</td></tr>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>September 3rd</strong></span><br />
Breakfast this morning at "The Bunnery" in Jackson Hole, then headed south on 191 through a lot of Wyoming sage brush country all the way to Rock Springs, Wyo. West on I-80 for 13 miles then south again on 530 toward Flaming Gorge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYKGCaWDgJg/Uik_9KAZ1mI/AAAAAAAAGUM/o0KqAXLNHrw/s1600/IMG_0626+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYKGCaWDgJg/Uik_9KAZ1mI/AAAAAAAAGUM/o0KqAXLNHrw/s640/IMG_0626+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall is coming!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkRdIiBZl64/Uik_61P3nII/AAAAAAAAGT8/exxdISofo8c/s1600/IMG_0628+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkRdIiBZl64/Uik_61P3nII/AAAAAAAAGT8/exxdISofo8c/s640/IMG_0628+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Oregon Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZS1-G7oqYE/Uik_4BkMHYI/AAAAAAAAGT0/DhIPBHaHIIk/s1600/IMG_0632+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZS1-G7oqYE/Uik_4BkMHYI/AAAAAAAAGT0/DhIPBHaHIIk/s640/IMG_0632+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice Buck</td></tr>
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Seemed we were just seeing a lot more sage brush until we finally did come to the Gorge. It was GREAT and well worth the drive. A long way down a steep grade to the bottom of the gorge, followed the bottom for a few miles and the climbed the long 8% grade out of the canyon. Many overlooks and great scenery. Stopped at Red Canyon overlook for another photo op and then headed south to Vernal, Utah where we checked into a Best Western for the night. KFC for dinner.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">September 4th</span></strong><br />
Slow day today - had breakfast then drove east a few miles to a Dinosaur Park. A great facility with lots of uncovered dinosaur bones - they call it a log jamb of bones left from some event that caused hundreds of the beasts to die, many by drowning and floating down a river to be buried in the sand.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very Large back bone ( could not spell vertebrae???)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFmEWdWc3Z0/Uiv44gKyO6I/AAAAAAAAGVI/g0V9qjNPYQQ/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFmEWdWc3Z0/Uiv44gKyO6I/AAAAAAAAGVI/g0V9qjNPYQQ/s640/IMG_0655.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The indoor excavation area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSZvHtqi5v8/Uiv49A8byCI/AAAAAAAAGVc/ICZDNVbznJM/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSZvHtqi5v8/Uiv49A8byCI/AAAAAAAAGVc/ICZDNVbznJM/s640/IMG_0656.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now there is a femur ( or is it a drum stick?)</td></tr>
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After a couple of hours there headed south on 191 to Moab. Arrived there early and checked into the Holiday Express. Jut rested to rest of the day.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>September 5th</strong></span><br />
Hot breakfast at the hotel before heading off to to Arches National Park. Been the a few times in the past, but it is always a great place to visit. So many photo ops!!! It is about a 40 or 50 mile round trip so we did not get back to the Visitor Center until noon. Of course could not pass there without stopping and giving them some business!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As You can see from the Captions, I borrowed these</td></tr>
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Then on the road again down 191 through Montechello, Blanding, and Bluff. A few miles out of Bluff turned east onto 160 to Colorado and 4 Corners. Here is the only place in the USA that 4 states meet at a common corner. Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico all join here. <br />
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Very nice facility with a lot of native art wares displayed for sale. And of course we supported them!! Then on to Cortez, Colorado for the night.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><strong>September 6th</strong></span><br />
9 miles out of Cortez is the entrance to Mesa Verde. Arrived there by about 8:00AM and stopped at the info center to find out all the details. Advised to drive on ahead 20 miles to the Palace Ruins. The road to there takes you up over a couple passes at more than 8000 feet and through a 1/2 mile tunnel. But all very picturesque. Takes about an hour and a half to reach the Anasazi cliff dwellings.There must have been a very large civilization of them in this area as there are recorded over 4000 individual sites. We spent most of the day here and visited (or at least took pictures from the road above the cliffs) many of them. Denice has been having trouble with her left hip, so cannot walk a long distance . We are not sure what the problem is, but will have to have it looked at once we return to Canada in November.Once we had seen all that we wanted, and a couple hundred pictures, we headed back to the info center and then to Durango, a short 40 miles east. Checked into a motel right next to the start of the Durango/Silverton narrow gage railroad. Once settled in I went over and purchased tickets for tomorrows train ride to Silverton and back by tomorrow evening. Denice says that is another of the things in her "Bucket List"<br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">September 7th</span></strong><br />
Caught the Durango / Silverton Narrow Gage Railway this morning at 7:00AM, exit Durango at 8:00AM. Was a great day! A little cool in the morning, had to wear jackets, but return trip was hot and sunny. Trip to Silverton took about 3 1/2 hours, just in time for lunch, and a little shopping at the neat stores there. Denice is starting to replace a lot of items lost in the High River flood!!<br />
Caught the return train at 1:30PM. Our seats were on the same side of the outdoor coach so we did see both sides of the track. Great scenery!!! Back to Durango by 5:30PM and to our reserved motel at the Best Western, who gave us 2 complimentary drinks each. Another GREAT Day!!<br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>September 8th</strong></span><br />
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From Durango toward Albuquerque for 80 miles, then a right turn onto a local road heading for Choco Canyon. First 8 miles were fair pavement, then road bed changed to Light gravel for about 5 miles, then to the worst dirt / sand / washboard that you can imagine for remaining 10 miles. Once into the National Choco Canyon Park all roads were well paved highways, but that 10 miles should be an embarrassment to the US Government. The ruins in the canyon are nothing less than fantastic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park entrance - after 20 miles of washboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of petroglyphs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many, many rooms (600 I believe)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very precise rockwork</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only a portion of the total of one site</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very large Kiva</td></tr>
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Rather than cliff dwellings like Mesa Verde, these are ancient Pueblo dwellings at the base of the canyon walls. These you can drive right to the edge of them and walk freely among the many individual rooms and Kivas. But, as in Mesa Verde, the sites indicate a huge population living there for several hundred years from about 800 to 1200 AD. A very advanced civilization with complex structures, dams, irrigation systems and roads. A very unique item are their road system leading to many other areas. These were clearly marked out and 30 feet wide. Seems strange as they had no horses, wagons or means of moving between the sites other than on foot. Archaeologists have no explanation of this phenomenon. After wandering around a few of the sites for a couple of hours elected to head back to the main highway over that embarrassment, the US Gov't calls an access road. Makes me feel like sending an email to Mr. Obama voicing my concerns. Once back on highway 550 headed to Albuquerque, arriving there at 4:00PM and checked into another Best Western Hotel. We had been to this one before, and found it very nice and about half the price of others we have been staying at this trip down. Sometimes I just do not understand the rational behind their rates. After settling in, called Denice's aunt and took her out for dinner to Landry's Seafood Restaurant. Very Good!!!<br />
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<br />Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-64753072427319487652013-09-01T18:42:00.000-06:002013-09-01T19:05:22.236-06:002013 Summerwill start to fill in as time goes on<br />
Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-25975748950487501762013-04-11T16:41:00.000-06:002013-04-11T16:41:21.561-06:00March 2013 In TexasWriting this section on March 24th. This has been quite a slow month here in Mission Texas. Really a relaxing time with not a lot of activity. And that is what retirement is all about isn't it?<br />
Normal days start at around 6:00AM, although the last few we have slept past 7, we get up and sit in our easy chairs (sure enjoying our new ones in ELTORO) and read a book or do our emails for an hour or two. Then maybe do a "Bird Walk" in one of the many Birder places in and around the RG Valley. Most of them we have been to a few times but always worthy of doing some more exploring. South Padre island is always a favourite, and although 80 miles away, makes a nice days outing.<br />
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And of course, March 11th was My Good Wife's Birthday, so I took her out to the "Olive Garden" for Dinner. We both ordered salad as well as full entre's knowing we would not be able to eat all at one sitting, but planned for left overs for tomorrow. But then left them sitting in a bag beside my chair. Ohh Well!! <br />
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Some of the days are getting a little unbearably hot with highs near 100 F. Denice does not handle them well so she spends a lot of time in ELTORO with the AC running, doing her computer stuff and stitching and reading, but I enjoy the heat so like to sit outside under the awning enjoying the heat while I read, and do my things. <br />
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On one of our birding days we went north 50 miles to Solinino. We had been there before, and there used to be some volunteers managing the bird feeding stations, and advising birders of all the birds visiting there. But since the site is immediately beside the Rio Grande, the border patrol advised it was unsafe to continue the operation. The Rio is narrow and shallow there so Illegals can enter very easily, and some are not too friendly. The bird center from Roma, down the road a few miles are still doing the feeding, and anyone who wants to go to the site are given food for the birds. We had brought our own bird food, so we set up camp there for a few hours. This is likely the best site we have been to for bird watching, with the most variety. While we were there another couple cam along, Bev and Bob Saxton, so we enjoyed an afternoon with them. One unigue bird showed up. It was a Red Wing Blackbird, but had an extra long bill. Denice got some good pictures of it, and later as we talked to real birders no one seemed to know what it might be other than a Red Wing Blackbird Syndrome.<br />
Of course there was the usual grocery shopping, laundry and stuff like that. One day while doing laundry Denice talked to a lady from Ontario, and as they chatted found we both were leaving our RV's in the park for the summer. She asked if we had contacted out insurance supplier to ensure the motor home was covered while we were away. I had not even considered it might not be so I phoned our Cooperators in High River and asked the question. They were not even sure so had to check and get back to me. They confirmed it was not covered over 6 months out of the country. Now the process to find another supplier. The lady at the laundry had recommended a broker called Galvan. I called them and they took a couple of days to get back to me, but their rate was away too high at over one thousand dollars. I called "Good Sam," and after passing along all the pertinent info they came up with less than five hundred for year. I accepted that, so now am confident we are covered. We did not need collision as we are not moving it, but if we decide to take a trip with it will have to up the insurance.Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-57622966388472073052013-02-10T20:00:00.000-07:002013-03-04T09:13:53.586-07:00February 2013 in Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
February in Rockport was a fairly quiet month. Weather was rather cool most of the time with day time temperature in 40's and days usually only about in the 60's with a few days up into the 70's. We call it cool here' but back home this would be absolutely balmy!! </div>
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We have made a couple to trips down to Aransas Wldlife Refuge to see the birds and alligators. But even they were not that numerous. Just too early in the spring yet I guess. They photo below actually show Denice 100 feet up in the observation tower. She is supposed to be looking out toward the horizon in search of Whooping Cranes. but she chose to look back toward me, scowling at me for enticing here so high in the air. Good thing the photo is far enough away that you cannot see that frightened look on her face! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is Denice!!</td></tr>
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Here is a group of nice friendly guys out sunning themselves.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is about 14 feet long!!</td></tr>
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But, I did not measure!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice Teeth</td></tr>
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This is the same observation platform showing above the live oaks.<br />
Another day we went down to Lamar along the coast. There is usually some Whoopers some where in the area, and this day was no exception. Here is a couple of shots out of the hundred we took.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spreading my wings ready for flight</td></tr>
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Then on another trip to Aransas National Refuge we were lucky enough to see some Wild Hogs. Now these are not the the havalinas that are native to here. These are ancestors of tame pigs that have escaped confinement, and over the ages have become wild. We saw 2 mothers, each with 2 young piglets.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oink, Oink</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of Sandhill Cranes - Lots of them here too.</td></tr>
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We have great group of neighbors in our area of Bayview RV Park. On another day after the oyster dinners,</div>
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Doris and Jack invited us over for pie and ice cream and coffee at 2:00PM. The whole group of our neighbors were there.</div>
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Doris and Jack are from Louisiana </div>
<br />
Theresa and Nick from Oklahoma <br />
Rebecca and Al from Minnesota <br />
Nancy and SJ from Northern Loiusiana<br />
Linda and Jim from Tennessee<br />
Tony and Richard from Texas<br />
Sheila and Dick from Edomton -- <br />
Nancie and Walt from Washington<br />
Don from Wisconson<br />
Cindy, Jason and Jaxsen from Alaska<br />
Cheryl and Larry.NowTexas He is crippled from a stroke<br />
For a change of scenery, on Feb 14th, for Valentine's Day, we left ELTORO in Rockport and made a run over to Galveston to see the sights there. We took local paved roads as close to the Gulf as we could get, and arrive early in the afternoon. It is about 200 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6GqphTkAMc/UTQK-T-7hPI/AAAAAAAAGOA/-eDB1DcwEvg/s1600/IMG_8576+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6GqphTkAMc/UTQK-T-7hPI/AAAAAAAAGOA/-eDB1DcwEvg/s640/IMG_8576+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the road - Just before we ordered a Texas Steak</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favourites - Roseate Spoonbill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stilt Village</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denice on the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tanker coming to Port</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Ferries to Bolivar Penninsula</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun Time at the Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He,s got the whole World in his hands!</td></tr>
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First item was to go to the local info station and find what there was for a tourist to see in their town. We were told to check the old town area where the hurricane Ike in 2008 had destroyed a lot of the old trees, and a chainsaw artist had made many of the stumps into wood carvings. Then we would have to do the harbor area, The Strand, and Moody Park. After getting all this info and a recommendation to stay at the Commador, a beach front hotel, we headed over there and checked in. We still had many hours of daylight, and as our time in Galveston was limited we decided to take a run across the Galveston Bay to Boliver Peninsula, on their free ferry and travel a little farther east toward Louisiana, but we did not get that far before turned around at headed back to our hotel. An interesting bit of trivia was that near the Ferry terminal on Bolivar Peninsula there is a lighthouse. Not a terribly impressive structure but obviously very sturdy, for in the 1900 hurricane that completely destroyed Galveston with the loss of over 8000 lives, All the people on the Boliver Peninsula for the length of over 20 miles were lost, except for 132 that huddled on the stairs inside the lighthouse until the hurricane had passed. Again with Hurricane Ike in 2008, every house on the penninsula, except for one was destroyed. There is little evidence of that destruction today as hundreds of new homes have been built, but now all on stilts, hopefully high enough to weather the next event.<br />
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After returning to Galveston we stopped at Joe's Crab Shack for a great seafood dinner of shrimp, oysters, mussels and other delights.</div>
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Morning of the 15th, after breakfast at IHOP we headed down town to the old section. The info bureau had given us a map of a route to veiw all the wood carvings. It was an area of about 6 blocks square, as we just went up and down each street and the map indicated where each carving was. All were in private yards, but he local residences were more than happy to have you stop in front of their houses and take photos. During Ike, there was about 5 feet of water over the whole area, and the salt water was the culprit that killed the old live oak trees.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of about 20 in the area</td></tr>
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Next stop was the waterfront. Lots to see there, so we took a harbor tour on a tourboat with an excellent guide. He took us slowly around all the points of interest and pointed out each in detail. From Shrimp Boats to Yachts, to drilling ships, to dry docks, to oilwell service boats, drilling rig museum, Disney Cruise Ship, and even some dolphins. An hour well spent!! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJOdz9dLLn4/UTQOALLxHpI/AAAAAAAAGPA/cTSc2zP1NWg/s1600/IMG_8667+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJOdz9dLLn4/UTQOALLxHpI/AAAAAAAAGPA/cTSc2zP1NWg/s640/IMG_8667+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Disney Cruise Ship</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Jack Up Rig in for repairs - On the left a Submirsable Dry Dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off Shore Rig Supply Boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HofvfyG82Lk/UTQOdm9XLCI/AAAAAAAAGPo/EF3TPHqeBok/s1600/IMG_8695+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HofvfyG82Lk/UTQOdm9XLCI/AAAAAAAAGPo/EF3TPHqeBok/s640/IMG_8695+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galveston Harbor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimpers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oilfield Service Boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Submirsable Dry Dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need one like this on your fishing Boat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxa_KjUK1pg/UTQOwy3pi8I/AAAAAAAAGQY/c5RpEeLbDuo/s1600/IMG_8774+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxa_KjUK1pg/UTQOwy3pi8I/AAAAAAAAGQY/c5RpEeLbDuo/s640/IMG_8774+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Drilling Platform Museum</td></tr>
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Then lunch at a local pub, and a short drive to the Strand. This is the touristy part of town with all the quaint shops to part the tourist and their money. And it works!!! To see the whole are we hired a buggy pulled by a tired old nag.. Clop, clop, around the town. Not maybe the best guide, but the horse responded well to spoken commands like "step left" for a left turn, or "stop" for a red light. "Go" on green and so forth. But you know, he has probably done that same route 500 times, and likely needs no commands. But it was a good way to see that part of town. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFuqMWcmgGs/UTQRFlSi5PI/AAAAAAAAGQg/w5x1e8UmnJE/s1600/IMG_8791+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFuqMWcmgGs/UTQRFlSi5PI/AAAAAAAAGQg/w5x1e8UmnJE/s640/IMG_8791+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Down Broadway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQnILmuhJ3I/UTQRHoac3AI/AAAAAAAAGQo/7WCob7FQyjA/s1600/IMG_8798+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQnILmuhJ3I/UTQRHoac3AI/AAAAAAAAGQo/7WCob7FQyjA/s640/IMG_8798+(640x360).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Taxi</td></tr>
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Now getting late in the day and time to go to Moody Park. A very well done upscale area, highlighted by 3 huge glass pyramids, housing an aquarium, a Rain Forest, and a nature center. We were too late to get to see all, as they close at 5:00PM, so we chose the Rain Forest. Lots to see here in their humid atmosphere, and took over an hour to wander through. Now getting dark, and time to head back to the hotel. AS IHOP was on the way, decided to try them for a nice ordinary seniors meal. Pot Roast and Pasta was the order of the day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lot of Birds to See</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Three Pyramids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tankers at Anchor at Sunrise pumping Off the Cargo onto an Off Shore Terminal</td></tr>
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16th, and time to head back to Rockport via a different route. We had been told that we should take in Brazos State Park, a little closer to Houston, so we headed on up there as it was not too far out of our way. It is a nice park with a lot of water. They call them lakes, We would call them sloughs. But prime habitat for alligators, They claim there are hundreds here and I would have to believe them, but since it was a rather cool day we were only able to see a few. I guess the rest were hibernating, or what ever gaters do during cold snaps. Lots of birds for Denice to photo. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Moss</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Everglades -Texas that is!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Whoopers and same Sandhills near home in Rockport</td></tr>
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Then home to Rockport by 5:00PM.</div>
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February 22nd we packed up and moved on down to Mission, Texas. A little sad to leave all those great friends and neighbors in Jaxsen Heights, but time moves on and since we had a reservation in Bentsen Palms RV Resort we knew it was to be our new home for the next year or so at least. We are sure that we will have new friends and neighbors there as well. Last spring when we were here for a couple of months we did meet some very nice friendly people. It is a great park, with lots of activities if you want to join in, or if you wish to "do your own thing", it is your choice. We had no more than got settled in, when we found that the next day was a park Bar-B-Que for $5 each. Was a very large gathering and enjoyable time. We sat at a table with 6 other Canadians ( Quebecers ) but very friendly, although a little short on the English Language, but not a problen communication with them. But we did not talk politics!!</div>
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Then another day we walked over into Bentson State park, and wandered along for 2 or 3 miles taking in the sight and photographing birds. Alway a nice enjoyable walk, and being righ adjacent to our park is so easily accessable.</div>
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Another day went down to the Butterfly Gardens that are less than a mile away. They have big gardens of plants that attract the butterflies, and Denice loves to take pictures of them. I am not nearly as excited about butterflies, so they have a bird feedin station with comfortable seats and tables to sit at, so I get comfortable there while Denice scours for the elusive rare bug --- Oh sorry, betterfly.</div>
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Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-49760395256139825612013-01-26T20:30:00.001-07:002013-02-10T19:38:53.165-07:00January 2013 in TexasAs stated in the last installment, we flew via Air Canada from Calgary to San Antonio through Houston where we changed planes, arriving at about 8:00PM. Denice's cousin Hettie and son Loren were there to pick us up, and take us back to New Braunfels and to Lorens acreage where ELTORO was set up. Thanks so much Loren. Its great to have a dedicated RV Pad, servised with water, power, and sewer,---and wifi, for our use whenever we need it. Sure nice to be "Back Home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZX2FH-LwZ8/URf6x4NohuI/AAAAAAAAGKE/r0tgadhoick/s1600/IMG_8063+(640x360)+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZX2FH-LwZ8/URf6x4NohuI/AAAAAAAAGKE/r0tgadhoick/s640/IMG_8063+(640x360)+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way down</td></tr>
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Our "Jello Plans" were to just stay only a few days in New Braunfels, before idling on down somewhere on a beach along the Gulf of Mexico, or possibly going out west to Arizona for a month. I think some time back I mentioned that we have reserved space in Bentson RV Resort for a full year, but were unable to take our preferred site until March 15th, so we need to put in time until then. Now that we are here, we went with Hettie to have a chest X-Ray. Results indicated a mass in the bottom of her right lung, and needed further tests to diagnose. We decided to sit tight until some results were available. She had multiple doctor appointments, a PET Scan, and finally a needle biopy was performed. Sounded at the outset to be a pretty simple procedure, but Denice and I went with her the morning of the op, and once the nurse started explaining the risks involved, it didn't sound so simple any more. there was a 30 to 50 percent chance of a lung collapse, and then a tube would have to be attached to the lung that a small compressor-like machine would behooked up to re-inflate the effected lung. That could be for a day, or a week, or longer. However the procedure went off without a hitch. Now a few more days to get the results of the biopsy. Tension was a little high for those days, and the most relaxed was Hettie! She was always a heavy smoker until about 7 years ago when she had throat cancer and had to have a laryngectomy. Anyway she has a hole in her throat to talk and breath through, so a cancer possibility is not new to her. This last Monday ( Jan 22nd) She, Son Loren, and Denice went to receive the results. News was not good, but could have been much worse. The mass is cancerious, but is small cell cancer that can, and will be treated with kemo and radiation, and was not the same kind that she had with her throat cancer. If it had been "non small cell" cancer, an operation may have been required to remove the bottom lobe of the effected lung. Until this time we had no idea about small cell and non small cell cancer, but it is worth your while to Google that. Explains a lot! Hettie will now undergo 4 weeks of kemo and radiation. Hopefully that will be a cure. We then decide we will move down to the Gulf rather than Arizona to be closer if she need support, as we will only be about 3 hours away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhNJmCFKuPM/URf7JjfqYtI/AAAAAAAAGKM/vKtfvinXLv8/s1600/IMG_8071+(640x360)+(2)+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhNJmCFKuPM/URf7JjfqYtI/AAAAAAAAGKM/vKtfvinXLv8/s640/IMG_8071+(640x360)+(2)+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a Cardinal at our feeders</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titmouse, also at our feeders</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the swimming pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An occasional visitor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ_9jLxjBMs/URf7dH84S_I/AAAAAAAAGKs/YqW65Zsl6iI/s1600/IMG_8133+(640x360)+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ_9jLxjBMs/URf7dH84S_I/AAAAAAAAGKs/YqW65Zsl6iI/s640/IMG_8133+(640x360)+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ladies at the feed booth</td></tr>
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We had been talking for some time about removing the chesterfield in ELTORO and relacing it with two easy chairs, and after visiting Camper World found that they had a pair of chair in their storage that someone had ordered, but then backed out on the deal, so they had then on a specila deal for $499 each rather than the $699 regular cost. They are a tan color, not quite as white as the ones in ELTORO, but still match OK, so we made the big step and purchased them. Now what to do with the chesterfield. Goodwill, dump, or Salvation Army were the choices. We want nothing for it, just some place to dispose of it. Checked out the dump, and that was an option, but seemed that the chesterfield was too good to just destroy. Some poor family shoud be able to make use of it. By the way, down here noboby knows what a chesterfield is. To them it is a sofa, or couch. Chesterfield to them is an English word. In fact Loren says he is going to get a Rosetta Stone to learn the Canadian language. Between Denice and I, we were able to get it out the door and under a tree. Then struggled to get the chairs back in, a very tight fit!! We ended up taking the "Couch" to Good Will, where they appreciated it very much and even asked if I would like a reciept for tax purposes. With the chairs in place, everything looked good, but now we needed some sort of table between the two. We did look in a variety of furniture stores, but could find nothing that suited us. We wanted something narrow, like less than one foot wide, so decided since cousin Loren had all the right tools, and I had the time, that I would just build what we had in mind. A trip to Home Depot for oak boards and hardware, and we were off to the races. A couple of days, and here are the results:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My completed table for between the chairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of same table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8PLBq4So0E/URhUphUxNGI/AAAAAAAAGLg/6JVAvNCkz7E/s1600/IMG_8548+(640x296).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8PLBq4So0E/URhUphUxNGI/AAAAAAAAGLg/6JVAvNCkz7E/s640/IMG_8548+(640x296).jpg" uea="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Place</td></tr>
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We reserved for a month at Bayview RV Park in Rockport/Fulton. Wednesday morning we wrapped everything. Put away bird feeders and every thing else that we had out. Every thing completed by about 10:30AM. Loren had come over at 7:00 in the morning to say his good byes, and the Hettie stopped by at 9:00 on her way to another doctor appointment. A lot of hugs this morning. We have had a great couple of weeks visiting, and were very glad to be there to support Hettie in her time of need while having the medical procedures required.<br />
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We hooked up TOAD and went through the checklist twice to make sure we had not missed anything, as it has been a couple months since we had moved, so needed a little thought about all the items that needed to be covered. On the raod by 11:00AM. Stopped for gas in New Braunfels at Buc-EE'S, a new huge service center with over 50 pumps, maybe more as we were at pump #50. The trip to Rockport is quite short, down secondary highways, so we arrived by 2:00PM. Checked in and went to find our spot. Backed in and settled in. We weren't there more than an hour until one of our neighbors was over and invited us to a "block Party" on our local road. There is about 10 units along our road now named Jaxsen Heights, in honor of a very cute little girl of 18 months old. She is the only child here., The rest of us are Old Timers. Anyway we gladly accepted the invitation, so at 5:00PM went down to unit 230 to Theresa and Dicks place for a seafood dinner. They had purchased a gunny sack of osters at the beach, and were bar-b-queing them, of course after shucking them. Then the added cheese and other toppings to them and we had a delicious meal. There were also shrimp, salads, slaw, fruit, cake, hush puppies, and more. We felt as if we should have taken something, but were unprepared as we had just got here. But every body was so friendly, and the said they were just happy that we attended. We only took our chairs and what we wanted to drink. We were all in the same boat as nobody really knew hot to do Oysters, so there was a little experimenting to figure the best way to cook them, and a learning experience to shuck them. Now in a gunny sack there is about 100 lbs and over 300 individual oysters, so we had a lot to learn on.Now, I am not a real oyster fan, other than smoked ones from a can, but I must admit these were very good. Bye the end of the evening everyone was full of oysters. Activity of the next day was to go to HEB for a few groceries. A few I mean is 100 dollars worth, seems never less that 100 dollars. Once home with them and a jug of ant killer, we have some of them, we stored the groceries. Wern't home more than an hour and our neighbor was back saying we had to have another block party as there still was a half bag of unshucked oysters to consume. So we were going to go over at 4:30, but about at that time I decided I should add another year and another 800 minutes. We had bought what I thought was to appropriate card for 1 year and 400 double your minutes card. I tried to add minutes on my tracphone, but it would not accept the pin number. Better call their 1-800 number. I did and the gal could not add the pin either. Referred to a supervisor. You guessed it: India!! He asks a bunch of questions, and then tells me i did not need this card that I paid 125 dollars for. When I originally bought the phone and first card it was for double your minutes for life. How was I to know?? Small writing, right!! Anyway after burning my minutes to India for 15 minutes he finally gave me a year and 900 minutes. By now the block party was in full swing, and by the time we got there we were just in time to be the help. Denice went to cooking fries and shrimp. I was oyster shucker. Never done that before ,but I persevered. So I learned a new experience. There were lots and lots of all the food and soon everybody was filled to the gills with all that delicious food. Some cooked oysters still remained at the close of the evening. There was some indication of having to have a 3rd block party the next night.Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-81270089760473180662013-01-26T18:04:00.000-07:002013-01-26T18:04:49.051-07:00Event while back in Canada for December and ChristmasWell here it is. I know its past history and I have been rather slow to get this done, but will try to give a little up date. It is going to tax my memory to remember what happened during that month. Being a senior, you know the memory is not as good as it once was.<br />
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Well, we arrived home from North Carolina on November 29th, I think. It was cool in North Carolina, so cold they had to deice the plane before we left Raleigh, but colder when we arrived home. Our friend from Okotoks, Ron Caputo, picked us at the airport and drove us home to High River. Thanks again Ron. Our neighbors who had been watching the house for us had the temperature turned up so at least the house was warm. Wasn't long until we were settled back in, but immediately had to go and restock to frig and pantry with groceries.<br />
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For the next several days we just sort of hibernated, waiting out the cold spell that was settled over us. The day time temperatures never got much above about -15 deg C. Both Denice and I had doctor appointments so we did that and also Eye appointments. Denice's was to check for any abnormalties from diabetes, she passed with flying colors, and mine was to check a "Floater" that has been a nuisance for the last couple of months. Nothing can be done about it, and should just go away on its own eventually. <br />
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Friends, Buck and Jean, stopped by on their way from Thorhild to Pincher Creek. Both were in Great shape and were impressed with a hand held laser machine that had benefited both of them so much. Jean has been nursing a bad knee for a couple of years now and after a few self treatments she is much improved, and is even able to negotiote stairs with little effort. Buck, has had a bad shoulder for a long time, and he swears it does not pain any more, but then he is a man, so who knows! They had planned on only having coffee, but we encouraged them to stay the night as weather was not good, and besides we had a lot of catching up to do.<br />
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One week end we spent in Pincher Creek ourselves as it was our Daughter Shannon's "Ladies Night" Denice tells me there were 23 ladies there, where they engaged in an exchange gift program. There is a process where the first person opens a gift of her choice, then the second person can choose another one,,, or take the first persons open gift, and so on down the line. Sounds like they had a lot of fun. Of course a little wine and coolers helped ease the tension. Meanwhile, Don and I went to Don's brother Lorne's place and watched TV.<br />
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On a sadder note, On Dec 17th we attended a "Celebration of Life" for our neighbor Lawrence Harriman who succumbed to pluera cancer a month earlier. Although we had only known the Harrimans for about 5 years that we have lived on Riverside Drive in High River, we valued him as a good friend and neighbor. We shared the same villa with the Harrimans, and now Marlene will live alone. We will always be there to help you Marlene. Do not hesitate to call for any difficulties you may have.<br />
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Now, the main reason for our returning from the warm south. Christmas. The whole family gathered at Shannon and Don's in Pincher Creek. This year we had resolved to draw names for gift exchange in an effort to get back to the real spirit of Christmas. It is the intention to try and give gifts we make our selves, but in some cases that was not possible. The only ones not included in the name drawing was Great- Grandsons, Joel and Leigh. Of course everyone gave them lots of neat stuff. We all had stockings stuffed with smaller useful everyday items. The two "Boys" played long and hard all day with their loot. Highlight of the day was the big turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings. It just doesn't get any better than that!!<br />
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Then a couple of more cold weeks over New Years until we were prepared to fly back south to warmer climes. We had booked a flight on Air Canada, the cheapest that we searched if you can believe, for January 5th, 2013. Over Christmas we had chatted with my brother Larry, in Edmonton, and we jokingly suggested he could come down to High River for a visit, and then take us to the airport for our return flight. He took the challenge and willingly agreed. We were very glad to see him at noon January 4th, and we visited the whole day through. So good to see him, but what a long way to come to take us to the airport. We had saved just enough food in the house for dinner and breakfast the morning we were leaving, as we had to have all perishable food gone when we left. Thanks Larry for coming down. Our special taxi the second year in a row!!<br />
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Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-37277488556322104572012-11-24T17:13:00.001-07:002013-01-25T04:42:20.433-07:00New Braunfels, Texas and Jacksonville, North Carolina<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>19th November (Monday)</strong></span><br />
Learned this morning of the passing of a good friend and neighbor, Lawrence Harriman. A sad day for us. Lawrence and his wife, Marlene, live under the same roof as us in our villa. Although we have only known them only for the 5 years we have lived here, we valued Lawrence as a very good friend. Our thoughts today are for you and your family, Marlene.<br />
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Second concerning message of the day, Denice's Uncle Gene passed away today in Mesa, AZ. He has been suffering from cancer for a while, and as it always seems to happen, the disease won out.<br />
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Third message of the day: Denices Aunt in Crawford, NE has been admitted to the Veterans Hospital in Hot Springs, ND. She is diabetic and has bad sores on her legs, and now they have migrated to her buttocks. One is very deep and is septic and may turn to Gangerine. Outlook is not good.<br />
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So as they say things happen in threes, and we have had our three for the day ----<br />
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Pack our suitcases and all the rest of the pariphanalia for the next 10 days, while we are in North Carolina, and then home <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>20th November (Tuesday)</strong></span> Up at 4:30AM to be able to get to San Antonio to check in to Delta by 6:30AM <br />
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Loren takes us to catch a flight to Atlanta. 757 Plane leaves at 8:00AM - Arrive 11:15AM (Eastern Time Zone) Quickly catch underground tram from Concourse "A" to "D". Catch smaller plane to Jacksonville, NC. Arrive at 2:00PM. Laurie pickes up and delivers us to her home. Chat the afternoon away, then Laurie has roast Beef for dinner, Delicious <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>21st November (Wednesday)</strong></span> Laurie went to work this morning so we, and Hettie are on our own for the day. Laurie is a realtor here in Jacksonville. We did talk about the house values here and after I told her an average house in Alberta near us is selling for about $350,000 to $400,000, she was astounded and said that here the same house would likely be about $160,000. We went down town Jacksonville to do a little pre-black Friday shopping. Hettie since she lived here for 5 years was our guide, but she said "turn left", when she should have said, "turn right", so we were lost for a while. We had her car and no GPS, but we were able to find a map of the city and after turning around, were finally able to find our way down town. Did a little shopping at Walmart, Sam's Club, and Best Buy. Found people already camped in tents out front of the store, so we decided then and there that we would not be going down to fight the crowds, just to save $100 bucks. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>22nd November (Thursday)</strong></span> Thanksgiving in North Carolina. We decided to go to Golden Corral for turkey dinner instead of cooking the turkey. But when we got there at 2:00PM, the lineup was away outside and around the corner, and it appeared it was going to be well over an hour before we got in, so we elected to go elsewhere. Very few restaurants were open, but we found one called _________ and had a delicious meal there, although not turkey. On way home stopped at Walmart for a few things, and I went to look at the electronics and ended up buying an Asus Tablet. Now a big learning curve as they are a lot different than a computer. <br />
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Needed to call both Mastercard and Visa to advise we were in North Carolina. Both had restricted since I had used them here without advising them were were here <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>23rd November ( Friday)</strong></span> Black Friday, but we stayed home as we were not interested in fighting the crowds. <br />
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Lari and Hettie drove to Wilmington Airport to pick up Lari's kids, Blake and Kyra, who had been in Houston at their Dad's wedding.<br />
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Were at home most of the day until Lari got home from picking up the kids, and then she took us to the ocean to ________ see the Christmas decorated flotilla after dark. It was very cold (45 degrees maybe) so we did not stay too long. We left as soon as the boats had passed. On way home stopped at a friend of Lari's for a cocktail. Then home for a turkey sandwich.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">24th November (Saturday)</span></strong> Lari took us uptown to Enterprise to rent a car for the next 5 days while we are here. Were given a Dodge mini Van, Very nice unit. We, Denice and I drove down South to Topsail Beach and then on tp Surf City. Very nice beaches, with minimal people. Returned home to Lari's by 4:00PM.Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-25639109258656517432012-11-24T16:50:00.001-07:002012-11-24T16:50:47.257-07:00And Yet Another Week at Bentson Palms - and the Move on<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>12th November (Monday)</strong></span><br />
Had planned on going to Laguna Atasocsa National Wildlife Refuge near South Padre Island but north- east along the Laguna Madre coast line, but on waking up this morning found we were in strong winds. A quick perusal of the weather web indicated that winds in the area would be in the 30MPH range for most of the day. Cancel those plans!! I guess another rest day here. Maybe tomorrow.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">13th November (Tuesday)</span></strong><br />
Nothing worth writing about today<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>14th November (Wednesday)</strong></span><br />
Went to Laguana Atasocsa today. It is 20 miles past Harlingen and on Laguana Madre. Saw lots of birds again. Thousands of Ducks. A duck is a duck is a duck is a duck!! Not sure what kind they were. Some Spoonbills, Hawkes, and little birds<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>15 November (Thursday)</strong></span><br />
Mostly rested today. Went to Butterfly Center but no butterflies. They don't flutter when the sun doesn't shine and today was overcast. Drizzle in evening turning to sprinkles<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">16th November (Friday)</span></strong><br />
Packing up today. Getting ready for the exodus tomorrow to New Braunfels<br />
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Out to the Riverside Club for Dinner tonight.nice rebels about cooking today<br />
After at home went to visit Vincent and Nita Dykeman from Bend Oregon at their motorhome<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>17th November (Saturday)</strong></span><br />
Left Mission by 8:00AM this morning - about 300 miles to New Braunfels - arrived just before 3:00PM<br />
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Driveway into Loren and Theresa's house has grown in the last year and was more difficult to negotiate than before. In fact backing into the RV pad I did hit a branch on a tree and bent a couple of supports for the railing on top of ELTORO . Will get new ones at Campers World tomorrow - also need a new hot water tank cover. Seems, somehow we lost it on the way up. Not sure how it could have come loose, but it was not here when we arrived<br />
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Just got all set up and then Loren, Hettie, and Theresa wanted to take us to Golden Corral for dinner - very good, but ate away too much. Then about 7:00PM headed to San Antonio to Theresa's University to witness the "Lighting the Way" show where they have a one hour program and then conclude with fireworks and turn on all the Xmas lights on thousands of decorated trees - We use coniferous trees at home, but here they decorate live oaks. It was a good show and the Christmas lights were very impressive. <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>18th November (Sunday)</strong></span> Over to Campers world for my parts today, but only the store was open and the parts I neededwere in the parts and service department so will have to return tomorrowDenice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-40615833241831815352012-11-24T16:36:00.000-07:002012-11-24T16:36:06.425-07:00And Another Week at Bentson Palms Resort<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>5th November (Monday)</strong></span><br />
Rest day today. Met a few of our neighbors. Ron and Darleen, over behind us. Ron has a larnyx <a href="mailto:$#@%^*(*&%$">$#@%^*(*&%$</a> or what ever that is called, from throat cancer, but has a voice digitizer that works very well. His voice is a little scratchy but quite clear, He and Darleen are retired Border patrol Guards. They have worked both the North and South US Borders. A new 5th wheel pulled in right behind us this afternoon and their names are( Have to find that out) Then another one has Wayne and Jane. John and Marsha are in a motorhome 2 sites from us. Then near the office is a couple, Greg and Gayle, from Ontario. They are volunteer Camp Hosts. Vince and Nita are a ways away from us but are birders, so there is lots to talk about there, Dave and Mary, from Ottawa are also birders.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>6th November (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Wandered over early this morning to the Park for a guided bird watching tour. Not a lot of birds though. Just mostly ones we have seen before, so no great surprises. Took a couple of hours, but by then the temperature had risen enough that our air conditioning was a welcome relief when we arrived back home.<br />
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US election over - Yeh OBAMA!!!
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>7th November (Wednesday)</strong></span>
Up this morning, had slice of toast for breakfast and then off birding to Estero Llano in Weslaco again. We were there just a week ago, but is always an interesting bird place to go. Lots of wetlands with waterfowl. Went on a bird watching tour with a guide who pointed out the many species that we saw. And we saw lots. About 72 according to him. Wouldn't even attempt to rename them as a lot of them, most of them, had little interest for me, but Denice enjoyed them all. A lot were water fowl and just looked like a "Bunch of Ducks" to me. Probably the one bird that interested me most was the Anhinga, or snake bird. When they swim, just their head and neck is above the water, looking very much like a snake swimming with its head out of the water.
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Surprisingly, nobody talking about the US election. I think thet are just happy it over and now can get down to moving forward
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>8th November (Thursday)</strong></span>
Rest day - Over to HEB for some groceries and to Home Depot for Bird food
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">9th November (Friday)</span></strong>
Yep, thats it. We read, we stitched, we ate, we computed - Download Family Tree on computers and got the new version working after calling their help line
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Thats all!!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">10th November (Saturday)</span></strong>
Windy and hot today so just spent the day at home again. I did make a couple of trips up town. Needed a couple of things so went looking for Campers World, but when arrived there found it had been discontinued
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">11th November (Sunday)</span></strong>
Another windy day, so just rested again. Thats what retirement is all about isn't it?? Did make a small trip down along the Rio Grande levee to see if there were any birds to see, but due to the wind, there were few. Watched for a while the border petrol helicopter circling a spaecific area of sugar cane that was being harvested. Obviously there was an illegal alien hiding within the jungle of sugar cane. One of there vehicles sped past us, likely to apprehend the fugitive, give him a slap on the wrist and deliver him back to the Mexican border. I guess some are dealt with more throughly wih finger prints and a short stay in detention, before being sent home. Most of these guys just want to get into the US for work, I believe. Likely very few are actually drug carriers. I'm not sure why they just do not cross the border with a passport, and then just fail to return home. Don't know how they keep track of them. We see hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexicans crossing over here to shop each day. and once here they look exactly like at least 75% of the other Texans in the area. Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-25510160361299958412012-11-03T16:27:00.002-06:002012-11-27T16:25:41.753-07:00Another Week at Bentson Palms Resort<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>29th October (Monday)</strong></span><br />
McAllen Glass called to let me know my glass saw was in. Went over and picked it up, back by noon for lunch. Another nice day so just rested, read, and watched the birds at our feeders.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>30th October (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Up this morning, had breakfast and the off birding to Estero Llano in Weslaco. We have been there several times before but is always an intersting bird place to go. Lots of wetlands with waterfowl, Shrubbery for hummers and butterflies, and a Alligator pond with a 14 footer. Also, a bird I have never seen before. I walked right by it, but bright eyes Denice spotted it in the bush debris scattered on the ground. It is a pauraque. It is a night jar, a bird that feed at night.<br />
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Wikipedia Description:<br />
This medium-sized nightjar is 8.7-11 in (22–28 cm) long and has two colour morphs, the plumage being variegated greyish-brown or rufous-brown. It is long-tailed and has broad rounded wings. The buff 'eyering' and 'facial stripe' contrast with the reddish sides of the face.<br />
The adult male Pauraque has a white band near the wing tips, and the outer tail feathers are mainly white. The female's wing band is narrower and the white in the outer tail is more restricted. There are seven subspecies of the Pauraque, differing in size and greyness.<br />
The male Pauraque's song is very variable, but includes a whistled weeeow wheeooo, ("who-r-you"), soft puk puk and a whip given in the courtship flight as he flutters around the female. Her call is a rapid succession of whip sounds.<br />
They blend into their surroundings and if you are not real observant, will never see them. I have to tell on Denice. She had been here before with a real "Birder" and had it pointed out to her, but that was 6 months ago. Way to go Denice!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>31st October (Bewitching Day)</strong></span><br />
Rest day -- Its hot!!<br />
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What did we do today - in a word "Nothing"<br />
Fed birds, watched birds, and ate - didn't lose any weight today!!<br />
No Witches or Gobblins tonight<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1st November (Thursday)</strong></span><br />
Early Morning (9:00AM) walk this morning over to Bentsen State park to see the birds. Caught a shuttle up to our preferred blind. The operator of the shuttle was a very knowledgeable park guide, Roy, who stopped along the way to point out interesting things and sites in the park. When we arrived at the blind there were no birds, but soon they started to appear. Roy had explained that the feeding of the birds had not started but would very soon. He says the bird feeding program has been cut back, but the feeding is actually only for the birders, not the birds themselves as they can look after themselves without a problem. <br />
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We spent an hour there before trudging back home to ELTORO. Along the way we stopped to take a few pictures of the little Screech Owl as he sits in his favourite perch in a big Mesquite tree. It is amazing how a bird can camoflage himself so well into his surroundings. At 10 ft away I was completely unable to make him out even though I knew ezactly where he was. I took a photo of the area in question, then zoomed in on it and lo and behold there he was staring back at me. I'll include the original picture and you see if you can see him.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">2nd November (Friday)</span></strong><br />
Took Denice over to McAllen this morning to Alure Nails to get her a manicure/pedicure at 10:AM. In two hours she came out stating, "I am beautiful again." I dutifully replied, " You always are beautiful!? Got to make a few Browny points once in a while.<br />
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Well, made a committment today as to what the next year is going to look like vacation wise. Reserved oursite here in Bentson Palms Resort for one year. They have a program called 6+6 that is you rent the site for 6 months at the regular rate and then the next 6 months is free. The site is prtetty well yours to do as you please. Trim trees, plant flowers or what ever. You can come and go as you please and they will not rent it out to anyone else. So you can leave for a week or a month, and it will be open for you when you return. All sites were prettywell taken so the site of our preference (Site 518) was not available until March 15th, so we reserved it for 1 year from that date. We will camp around the gulf area when we return in January until March 15th, then get ourselves set up here again for a month or so, then store ELTORO here in our spot for the summer and just drive the jeep home. Then we will return in October again. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>3rd November (Saturday)</strong></span> Sixty mile drive back to Salineno to one of last springs favourite bird watching places, only to find it had not opened for the season yet, even though the brochures stated it would be opening on the first of November. Must remember that everything runs on Mexican time down here, so it will likely open some time in the next couple of weeks. On the way back stopped at another site in Roma Bluffs. Seemed nobody around. I tried the door and it seemed locked, but then I saw a sign stating "Heavy Door, Pull Hard'" so I tried again and it did open. Inside was a lady who I guess was just lonley, and she talked, and talked, and talked. She showed us their butterfly and bird gardens, and even gave us some feed for the birds. Took us an hour to get away from there. Stopped in Roma for some Chesters Chicken as it was now dinner time. On down the road toward Mission, a car passed and threw a rock at us, a nice little star dimple. On the way up we had noticed a windshield repair guy along the road so we kept looking for him on the way home. Didn't find him, but did find his brother. Repaired the crack for $15 - Good job too.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>4th November (Sunday)</strong></span><br />
Forgot about time change this morning so were up and around by 5:00AM - went for a walk around the park, had breakfast, and were ready for the day by 7:30AM, So what are we going to day - Let's go to South Padre - settled, and we are on the way by 8:00AM. Its a 90 mile jaunt, so arrived about 10. Immediately went to the World Birding Center and did the board walk there. It was hot (85 °F) but some clouds, so not too bad. Finished up there and went to Schlitterbahn for all you can eat shrimp, As always, GREAT!! After lunch drove up the Island to beach access #5 and drove out on to the sandy beach. Being Sunday, there seemed like a million people and kids romping in the waves, but after negotiating through them for a mile or so they started to thin out. After a couple of miles we found what we were looking for, a lonely stretch of beach all to ourselves! Now it was our turn to enjoy the surf for an hour or so, but all good things must come to an end, and it was time to head back to our Texas winter home in Mission. Arrived there near dark. A GOOD DAY!!!Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-28046049680033727672012-10-31T20:44:00.000-06:002012-11-27T16:08:44.038-07:00Our First Week in Our Preferred RV Park<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>22nd October (Monday)</strong></span><br />
Laundry Day<br />
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Met a couple of our neighbors from Nova Scotia - Bessie and _ _ _ _ _ _ Nickerson. Chatted quite awhile. Seemed like a nice couple. Damn, I hate it when I can't remember a persons name that I just met!!!! (Oct 31st update - Now I see them almost every night at the hot tub and I just keep hoping that I will pick up on his name - I may just have to bite the bullet and confess I have forgot his name)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>23rd October (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Nothing new to report - R&R only <br />
Set up Denice's New Stitching Craft Stand, Water the lawn, Feed the birds.<br />
Hot tub in the evening - Usually by myself but tonight accompanied by a couple (Rose Mary and Don) that are wagon masters for the Discovery Rally happening here until Sunday.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>24th October (Wednesday)</strong></span><br />
Today ELTORO gets a bath. The "Next Step" crew comes at 8:00AM and washes and waxes the motorhome. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3oP45oEpnhQ/UJM0VFHGagI/AAAAAAAAGGc/Lc7I5nei4kk/s1600/2012-11-01+Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" qea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3oP45oEpnhQ/UJM0VFHGagI/AAAAAAAAGGc/Lc7I5nei4kk/s640/2012-11-01+Collage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Seems like a good job as he uses Reverse Osmoses Soft water that he has de-ionized. Supposed to leave no water marks. We'll see. Turned out very good. The two guys worked on the job from 8:00AM until nearly 1:00PM.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>25th October (Thursday)</strong></span><br />
Went over to McAllen today to McAllen Glass and ordered a glass saw so I can do better job of cutting and shaping my glass. Have to get back to that hobby soon!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>26th October (Friday)</strong></span><br />
Walked the Bentsen state park birding trail this morning. Not a lot of birds as they do not start feeding the birds until Nov - 4 days from now. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbLy5wyOE_U/ULVBskFH8XI/AAAAAAAAGH8/TOvLKt4Pu8E/s1600/IMG_7096+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbLy5wyOE_U/ULVBskFH8XI/AAAAAAAAGH8/TOvLKt4Pu8E/s640/IMG_7096+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" tea="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camouflaged Screech Owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GaMjnPY1-WI/ULVBgy0HtbI/AAAAAAAAGHs/7h9CTOhsVVM/s1600/IMG_7077+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GaMjnPY1-WI/ULVBgy0HtbI/AAAAAAAAGHs/7h9CTOhsVVM/s640/IMG_7077+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" tea="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 birds - a Scissortail Flycatcher, a Mockingbird, and a Kingbird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPtGJXipB6A/ULVBWduYTpI/AAAAAAAAGHc/pDcQ8kjcwm8/s1600/IMG_7068+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPtGJXipB6A/ULVBWduYTpI/AAAAAAAAGHc/pDcQ8kjcwm8/s640/IMG_7068+(640x360).jpg" tea="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingbird</td></tr>
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We still had a good walk and at the hawk observation tower met a very interesting man. He is a hawk counting volunteer, and he told us a lot of things about hawks that we sure never knew before. Namley, there are only 4 classifications of hawks. I'm not sure that I understand the classifications, but all varieties fall under these clasifications. You can tell some of the varieities by the way they fly. They all search for thermals and when they find them they continually circle following the thermal higher and higher. Vultures and broad winged hawks tend to make very broad circles, but the Swenson hawks make tighter circles. Hawkes nver fly over broad expanses of water. The reason being there are no thermals over water. Thermals are caused by dark patches of ground, so the tend to avoid water, and also hawkes can find no food over water. The counter guy had seen and recorded something like 150 hawks that day. He explained that all hawks migrate south . Some from as far north as Alaska, and travel all the way to Argentina. Many many volunteers take the time to count and record numbers of them flying by. As they won't fly over water, Central America (Panama) is a choke point like a funnel, so great numbers are counted there. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>27th October (Saturday)</strong></span></div>
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Away today to Harlingen to Denice's stitching store. I allowed her two hours in the store while I wandered around through some Thrift stores, but she said, "Oh, I won't need near that long" Well I was back in about an hour and 15 minutes, and still had to wait an additional 45 minutes. Do I know her or what!!! She still has not told me what she bought, or how much she spent. Probably will never know! On the way home stopped in McAllen at "the Olive Garden" for a late lunch. Was very good as it always is. Then home. Today was a much cooler day with the high only being about 65 °F. A cold front is moving through for a day or two.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">28th October (Sunday)</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a bird</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camouflaged Screech Owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon to be Texas Steak</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camouflaged Paraque</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of his head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is Watching!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizard on the Wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultamira Oriole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I see this I see Bowls</td></tr>
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SKYPE day -Kids all good - share Christmas draw names - Only one adult gift to MAKE this year. Of course the little ones do not participate in this game. They get gifts from everyone!! Thats what Christmas is all about for kids!<br />
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Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-72919147478543592012-10-17T20:45:00.001-06:002012-10-31T20:26:50.378-06:00And Now We Are South<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>15th October</strong></span><br />
Down the road again. We jogged off highway 83 yesterday for about 20 miles, over to the Olde Towne Cotton Gin RV Park at Goodlett, becaause we had been there before and liked it. So today we continued on east for another 19 miles and then followed highway 6 south to join back ontp 83, 20 miles prior to Abelene. Then on 83 the remainder of the trip to Junction. We are now in Texas Hill Country so it is much nicer than the flat country we have been travelling in for the last week or so. Arrived at the Rv park about 3:00PM and got hooked up. Must have been a dry summer here as the river that runs by the park is completely dry!! We have decided we are going to fly with Denice's cousin Hettie, to her daughters place in Jacksonville, North Carolina for the US Thanksgiving on the 22nd of November, then a week later fly home from there to Calgary about the 28th of the month. I spent at least an hour sorting out and paying for our flight from San Antonio to Jacksonville. What a smozzle!!! They just don't make it easy!!<br />
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Also reserved on line a site in Mission for a month at Bentson RV Village Resort. We have never satyed there before, but it is only a mile or so from Chimney RV Park that we stayed in last year. Just thought we would try a different park this year. Booked a "Super Site" for about $18.33 per night. Not too bad! It is within walking distance to one of Denice's favourite birding places, Bentsen State Park. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>16th October</strong></span><br />
Woke up to light rain this morning, but it is only slightly drizzling, and since we have reservations down in Mission for tomorrow night decided we should be on our way. This section is the most photogenic of the whole trip as it is through the Texas Hill Country. But since it is fall there is not a lot of color, few flowers, and the trees are still green, but it was still very nice. It was light rain almost the entire way, but only required the occasional swipe of the wipers, and the highway never did get wet. Once south of the hills around Carrizo Springs and Chrystal River there is an area of high oil activity. Last spring when we went through the area there were only a couple of RV Parks, and they were bare bones, but this time we must have past at least a dozen parks, almost all full of workers trailers and 5th wheels. They are still mostly bare bones as all have just sprung up in the scrub forests there, but would certainly suffice for an overnighter if required. We had planned to go to Vaquero RV Park nearer Loredo as we have done for the last several years that we have travelled this road. We wondered if they would have room for us, given the oil activity in the area, but when we arrived they were accomadating as always, and had a site. Not sure why we like to stop there as it is also bare bones and is not that cheap at $35, but it is in the right location. We have watched it grow over the years, and every time we do see some improvements. Still no WIFI. When I asked the lady owner said they want $8,000 per month to intall it for the entire park. Seems incredibly high!! Hard to believe it would cost that much. Maybe another supplier???<br />
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While wandering around the park, I talked to one of the girls (maybe daughter of the owner) there and she was doing stained glass pictures so she got my interest right away. We had a long conversation and she showed me some of her work and equipment. Very Nice. She does mostly large ones about 2 x 3 feet. Here is a sample of one she is presently working on. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>17th October</strong></span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Sunrise</td></tr>
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Short driving day today as it is only 180 miles to our Mission RV Park. The trip was mostly uneventful. Loredo is a little tricky at times to negotiate through, especially a new mega interchange that seems to be a little short of signage. <br />
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However we made it through with no difficulty other than Denice thought we were going to run over a little charger at one point. Then there was the 50 miles of construction along Falcon Lake with all traffic squeezed into two very narrow lanes while the other lanes are being built. Arrived at Bentson Palm Village RV Park at 12:15PM. Nobody home!! Message to call Juanita on her cell, which I did and left a message. Waited and waited. Finally a cleaning lady came by and we were able to contact Juanita. She was at a Chamber of Commerce meeting and would be back at 3:00. In the mean time she told me to just park anywhere of our choice until she returned. We needed to get plugged in as it is near 100 degrees and we need air conditioning!! She did arrive at 3, but before she returned we had a chance to drive around and get the lay of the land, so to speak. We tentatively chose number 518 as the site we would like to have. At this time of the year there is not many here, so there are lots of empty spaces.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice Layout - Not sure if you can pick out 518, but it is in the third circle from the left, and at the bottom of that circle.</td></tr>
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When I met at the office with Juanita and Guy, she checked to make sure 518 was open for the month and it was, so we were now happy and moved on down there and set up. It is now 9:30PM and still 85° F.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>18th October</strong></span><br />
Spent the day getting set up and orientated. Over to HEB and buy required groceries<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>19th October</strong></span><br />
Now that we are settled in, of course my little garmin wants to clean ELTORO, stem to stern. So that was the project for the day. Need I say more!! Did take time to set up an array of bird feeders though, but so far little interest from the birds even though lots are around, but we have noticed this before that it takes a day or so for them to find the food. The only ones that are around so far are the hummingbirds. And they are certainly here at our two feeders.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>20th October</strong></span><br />
So today the birds did come, but mostly green jays<br />
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Went down to the Butterfly Center - millions of them there!! All kinds and colors, but to me, "Just Butterflies!"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fron Denice's camera</td></tr>
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And birds too<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds at our Feeders</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Birds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> 21st October</strong></span><br />
Just R&R<br />
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A short drive along the levee by the Rio Grande and then through the Anzalduas Park.
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Then again to HEB for some groceries we forgot the other day, Then home. More R&R!!Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-36886553148897108582012-10-09T20:24:00.002-06:002012-10-17T19:37:43.183-06:00And Still Farther South<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>8th October</strong></span><br />
Drive - not much else to report - Just down the road across South Dakota and into Nebraska. Just across the borderis a nice RV park about 6 miles prior to Valentine Nebraska. We stayed at it last year. It is pretty well out in the country, but does have all the amenities, even good WIFI We did stop briefly in Fort Pierre, at the Casey Tibbs memorial, as we do have a sort of connection to him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey and the Bronc</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In His Memory</td></tr>
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Denice's cousins' husband, Disco, is Casey's great nephew. Also coming through Pierre we had a chance to check the heigth of ELTORO. There was a truck route around the city, but we wanted to see the sites, so we decided to drive through. On route there is a railroad underpass with a sign indicating 11 feet 3 inches clearance. There was a flashing light indicating over heigth and splash marks all over the bridge rail. Denice says, " Can we make it"? We went through last fall so I guess we must be able and we are already there ---- The antennaes make contact, but there is no load crashes, so I guess we are under 11 feet 3 inches, but I don't think I will try that again. Signs are not always exact!! Then on south on 83 to highway 90, west for 20 miles to Murdo, then south again on 83. Coming across South Dakota on Highway 83, we noticed that it is a dedicated heavy haul route. We saw lots of heavy oilfield trucks, mostly hauling 400 bbl oil tanks and we presume they are headed to Williston North Dakota and the oil boom going on there now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a backup of traffic behind it!!!</td></tr>
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We must have met 20 to 30 of them, each hauling two tanks. This would likely be the shortest distance between where ever the tanks are made, north across South Dakota to Highway 90, then west to Rapid City and on to Sturgis and then north on 85 to Williston. That was about all the excitement for the day. This was South Dakota!!!!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>9th October</strong></span><br />
Laid around this morning at the RV Park here in Valentine, as it was quite windy and cool, but after lunch took a drive out through the sand hills and the Ogalalla aquifer area where Enbridge wishes to build the pipeline to Texas. Not sure how close we were to the actual pipeline route, but in the general area. Easy to see the opposition to this area as it is home to a myriad of birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewHmwERgVSg/UHrdadI2-ZI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/etKK2jG0VZE/s1600/Ogallala+Acquifer+(640x332).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewHmwERgVSg/UHrdadI2-ZI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/etKK2jG0VZE/s1600/Ogallala+Acquifer+(640x332).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Map of area south of Valentine in the Sand Hills</td></tr>
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We were a little too early in the fall to see many of the migratory foul, and being a windy day, many of the smaller birds were hidden in the grass. But we were still able to see many different ones, and even quite a few wild turkeys. Also white pelicans, Canada geese, a few swans, and lots of kinds of ducks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pd_mS6CK0Nk/UHTd9rcGzvI/AAAAAAAAF3Y/KDZCrRjsfUU/s1600/IMG_6800+(640x353).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pd_mS6CK0Nk/UHTd9rcGzvI/AAAAAAAAF3Y/KDZCrRjsfUU/s1600/IMG_6800+(640x353).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wood Pecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MISrTuVUtqo/UHTeBsx84AI/AAAAAAAAF3g/2izdZ822OFI/s1600/IMG_6804+(640x353).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MISrTuVUtqo/UHTeBsx84AI/AAAAAAAAF3g/2izdZ822OFI/s1600/IMG_6804+(640x353).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Pelicans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epocozI1KS4/UHTeGJ-C_7I/AAAAAAAAF3o/07qhR3WvhG0/s1600/IMG_6806+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epocozI1KS4/UHTeGJ-C_7I/AAAAAAAAF3o/07qhR3WvhG0/s1600/IMG_6806+(640x360).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tornado Shelter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDhpm-NuxOs/UHTeLrHHLLI/AAAAAAAAF3w/PpoSJrGPgfI/s1600/IMG_6815+(640x348).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDhpm-NuxOs/UHTeLrHHLLI/AAAAAAAAF3w/PpoSJrGPgfI/s1600/IMG_6815+(640x348).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving Dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4DhJUuVsEM/UHTeSX75POI/AAAAAAAAF34/yJ4Y3kNA5rk/s1600/IMG_6822+(640x355).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4DhJUuVsEM/UHTeSX75POI/AAAAAAAAF34/yJ4Y3kNA5rk/s1600/IMG_6822+(640x355).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire Lookout built by the CCS a long time ago</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knWQYmZUlP4/UHTeaHRBx6I/AAAAAAAAF4I/-3Owjvj819I/s1600/IMG_6836+(640x346).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knWQYmZUlP4/UHTeaHRBx6I/AAAAAAAAF4I/-3Owjvj819I/s1600/IMG_6836+(640x346).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sparrow ------------- (I think)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSoJdkNfeCI/UHTeg1B2WEI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/b9wl1QysS6w/s1600/IMG_6852+(640x349).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSoJdkNfeCI/UHTeg1B2WEI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/b9wl1QysS6w/s1600/IMG_6852+(640x349).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brick work in Valentine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jaTusinmd4/UHTejutO_GI/AAAAAAAAF4g/Z2TJiiAwaKc/s1600/IMG_6853+(640x347).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jaTusinmd4/UHTejutO_GI/AAAAAAAAF4g/Z2TJiiAwaKc/s1600/IMG_6853+(640x347).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kX8rlqMQCbg/UHTelf5A_VI/AAAAAAAAF4o/uKQOANhkH5k/s1600/IMG_6854+(640x358).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kX8rlqMQCbg/UHTelf5A_VI/AAAAAAAAF4o/uKQOANhkH5k/s1600/IMG_6854+(640x358).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a sunset</td></tr>
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Returned to ELTORO for supper. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>10th October</strong></span><br />
Just a good day of driving again. Left the RV Park at Valentine at 8:30AM and headed south on 83 once more. Went through the Nebraska sand hill again and continued on to Kansas. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-983c-sQcnyQ/UHhOQlUnWdI/AAAAAAAAF8o/HOCKHVyiQpc/s1600/DSCN5231+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-983c-sQcnyQ/UHhOQlUnWdI/AAAAAAAAF8o/HOCKHVyiQpc/s1600/DSCN5231+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conveying harvested corn into a pile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX2ZS9lL8jA/UHhOyEQBQQI/AAAAAAAAF9A/xtdcGK53W8o/s1600/DSCN5228+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX2ZS9lL8jA/UHhOyEQBQQI/AAAAAAAAF9A/xtdcGK53W8o/s1600/DSCN5228+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now there is a pile of corn!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8LYgHNZSk0/UHhOY8NBRhI/AAAAAAAAF84/iyjmW2pz5Jg/s1600/DSCN5230+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8LYgHNZSk0/UHhOY8NBRhI/AAAAAAAAF84/iyjmW2pz5Jg/s1600/DSCN5230+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will make lots of corn flakes</td></tr>
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This area is definitely a farming area with lots of corn, sunflowers, and millett still to be harvested.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IoKeHqNCBsY/UHhKfSsxJ9I/AAAAAAAAF7g/okGlfwu2je4/s1600/DSCN5213+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IoKeHqNCBsY/UHhKfSsxJ9I/AAAAAAAAF7g/okGlfwu2je4/s1600/DSCN5213+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ECHrDuyqGc/UHhKiRIZpeI/AAAAAAAAF7o/0BymZLSdEvM/s1600/DSCN5215+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ECHrDuyqGc/UHhKiRIZpeI/AAAAAAAAF7o/0BymZLSdEvM/s1600/DSCN5215+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb3wPrwRk14/UHhKqaV3daI/AAAAAAAAF7w/KTBOCsu8T-c/s1600/DSCN5619+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb3wPrwRk14/UHhKqaV3daI/AAAAAAAAF7w/KTBOCsu8T-c/s1600/DSCN5619+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millett</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEZ-9alYk08/UHhKrz8tnKI/AAAAAAAAF74/xP8kmzfRmoU/s1600/DSCN5665+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEZ-9alYk08/UHhKrz8tnKI/AAAAAAAAF74/xP8kmzfRmoU/s1600/DSCN5665+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Millett</td></tr>
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Stopped for the night in Oakley, Kansas at High Plains RV Park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLMs7hQRdBs/UHhNbKjsHcI/AAAAAAAAF8Y/5NoRkDscYzA/s1600/DSCN5650+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLMs7hQRdBs/UHhNbKjsHcI/AAAAAAAAF8Y/5NoRkDscYzA/s1600/DSCN5650+(640x480).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the sign says</td></tr>
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It was quite windy so we were ready for rest. ELTORO is noticeably pushed during high winds, espacially if they are broadside, and this makes my co-pilot fairly nervious. And besides, we are retired and in now real hurry to get anywhere. Just as long as it is warm and there are no snow drifts!!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>11th October</strong></span><br />
Short Day today - only 150 miles from Oakley, Kansas to Liberal, Kansas. All flat land with little of real interest and worthy of blogging about. Checked into Western RV Park near noon and got settled in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BeXmDPjMGGg/UHjJhMM1DQI/AAAAAAAAF-E/t2dC_R7bKMk/s1600/IMG_6865+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BeXmDPjMGGg/UHjJhMM1DQI/AAAAAAAAF-E/t2dC_R7bKMk/s1600/IMG_6865+(640x360).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denice on her walkabout on the Parks exercise track</td></tr>
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Then went to Walmart for some groceries. The Lady that owns the RV park came over this evening to collect her $25 fee for the night, and since she is a Farmers wife who owns a large spread and indeed the land where the RV Park is situated, I asked her what the crop was that is growing along the Park. This is the same one that we have been seeing for the last few hundred miles, and we have been calling it millett, but she enlightened us and said it is milo, or sorgum. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-gg7ztmdhs/UHgfYZGEvUI/AAAAAAAAF6w/aGYFwtORDec/s1600/milo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-gg7ztmdhs/UHgfYZGEvUI/AAAAAAAAF6w/aGYFwtORDec/s1600/milo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a item off the Internet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nM1g6tNqZW0/UHgfaDnMPMI/AAAAAAAAF64/Mj8sboh7Gnc/s1600/Sorgum+Plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nM1g6tNqZW0/UHgfaDnMPMI/AAAAAAAAF64/Mj8sboh7Gnc/s640/Sorgum+Plant.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of Milo</td></tr>
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They apparantly grow lots of it, so she should know. She says it is primarly for pig feed, and the stocks for cattle feed. Cows cannot eat the grain as it causes them to bloat and may even cause death. An even greater use nowadays is for ethanol, as it is better than corn for that use. Now go back a day on my Blog and change those pictures I called Millett to Milo. Well, how was I supposed to know!! I was from a farm, but we never grew any of these crops, only wheat, barley, and oats.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>12th October</strong></span><br />
Just stopped and smelled the roses today. Had some plans to go 60 miles to Texhoma to where a Great-Aunt of Denice's is buried, but somehow that just fizzled and we just read and rested. The only real thing of interest was a million blackbirds performing aereal ballet. We believe this behavior is called murmuration Here is a desciption of that performance:<br />
A behavior is an amazing phenomenon of coordinated movements involving masses of birds that is breathtaking to see. It’s called murmuration and can involve thousands of birds. The purple martins put on a spectacular show in Richmond every year but the blackbirds dazzle us with their aerial ballets just about everywhere. The masses seem to collaborate as they dip and dive and rise and divide in unison. There is no leader. How do they do this? Are there any rules? No one really knows but it’s awe-inspiring to watch.<br />
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To get an idea of the beauty of murmuration, check out this video of two young people, Sophie Windsor Clive and Liberty Smith, who paddled their canoes in wet, winter weather and caught all the wonderful cloud action of starlings on film. Spectacular! (Double click on this link to view the video)<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31158841">http://vimeo.com/31158841</a><br />
The ones we saw were a mile away but with our high zoom cameras we were able to record some of those maneuvers.<br />
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We had heard before of them doing this, in fact watched a video from the UK of a lady recording an event, but this was a first for us. We first noticed them in what looked like a black cloud leaving the ground, but then it looped and twirled in various directions before returning to the ground. Since they were more than a mile away we decided to take a closer look.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92qAW4q_j_8/UHjJjUU9lKI/AAAAAAAAF-M/hqMthl7dxTo/s1600/IMG_6880+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92qAW4q_j_8/UHjJjUU9lKI/AAAAAAAAF-M/hqMthl7dxTo/s1600/IMG_6880+(640x360).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bunch of Blackbirds - Is that called a "Murder"? or is that only for crows??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoJloLfPaJ8/UHjJlmWuSaI/AAAAAAAAF-U/jk2M2XkfWWs/s1600/IMG_6882+(640x360).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoJloLfPaJ8/UHjJlmWuSaI/AAAAAAAAF-U/jk2M2XkfWWs/s1600/IMG_6882+(640x360).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out every available spot is occupied by a bird</td></tr>
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When we got near on a gravel road, we could see a big black line across the road. Closer inspection showed thousands of black birds sitting there. We drove closer and they would get up and fly, but soon returned to the road again. We weren't able to get any good shots of their ballet performance, but did get some of them flying about. As this was late in the day we headed to Applebee's for dinner, and then home to ELTORO.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>13th October</strong></span><br />
Son Ross's Birthday today. My goodness 45 years old!! How old does that make us??<br />
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We kind of procrastinated this morning. Hummed and hawed about moving on or just spending another day in Liberal. Checked forcast for on down the road and tomorrow appeared better than today. Less wind, today was up tp 25mph and that does buffet ELTORO quite a bit, so we kind of decided to wait it out for another day. But Lo and Behold after about 9:00AM it seemed very nice so on the spur of the moment decided to get going. On the road by 9:30. We did hit some wind and by the time we got to Childress on 83 it must have bee the 25mph, but there we turned east for 20 miles to an RV Park that we have been in before at Goodlett, called the Olde Town Cotton Gin. Checked in there by 2:00PM. They were quite fulll as a big power line is being build across the state near here, and most of the spots are taken by the workers and their families, but we were able to get one. It was now time for tea. When I checked in the clerk/owner advised a possibilty of strong winds and maybe even hail late this afternoon. Sure hope not!! Oh, by the evening it had never materialized. Just strong winds. Along the way today we saw lots of cotton growing in various stages, and of course this intrigued me so I had to google it once we were parked, and here is what I came up with if you are interested:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denice'<br />
Denice's picture of growing cotton </td></tr>
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<strong>How Cotton is Grown</strong><br />
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After cotton has been harvested, producers who use conventional tillage practices cut down and chop the cotton stalks. The next step is to turn the remaining residue underneath the soil surface. Producers who practice a style of farming called conservation tillage often choose to leave their stalks standing and leave the plant residue on the surface of the soil.<br />
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In the spring, farmers prepare for planting in several ways. Producers who plant using no-till or conservation tillage methods, use special equipment designed to plant the seed through the litter that covers the soil surface. Producers who employ conventional tillage practices, plow or “list” the land into rows forming firm seed-beds for planting. Producers in south Texas plant cotton as early as February. In Missouri and other northern parts of the Cotton Belt, they plant as late as June.<br />
Seeding is done with mechanical planters which cover as many as 10 to 24 rows at a time. The planter opens a small trench or furrow in each row, drops in the right amount of seed, covers them and packs the earth on top of them. The seed is planted at uniform intervals in either small clumps (“hill-dropped”) or singularly (“drilled”). Machines called cultivators are used to uproot weeds and grass, which compete with the cotton plant for soil nutrients, sunlight and water.<br />
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About two months after planting, flower buds called squares appear on the cotton plants. In another three weeks, the blossoms open. Their petals change from creamy white to yellow, then pink and finally, dark red. After three days, they wither and fall, leaving green pods which are called cotton bolls.<br />
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Inside the boll, which is shaped like a tiny football, moist fibers grow and push out from the newly formed seeds. As the boll ripens, it turns brown. The fibers continue to expand under the warm sun. Finally, they split the boll apart and the fluffy cotton bursts forth. It looks like white cotton candy.<br />
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Since hand labor is no longer used in the U.S. to harvest cotton, the crop is harvested by machines, either a picker or a stripper. Cotton picking machines have spindles that pick (twist) the seed cotton from the burrs that are attached to plants’ stems. Doffers then remove the seed cotton from the spindles and knock the seed cotton into the conveying system.<br />
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Conventional cotton stripping machines use rollers equipped with alternating bats and brushes to knock the open bolls from the plants into a conveyor.<br />
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A second kind of stripper harvester uses a broadcast attachment that looks similar to a grain header on a combine. All harvesting systems use air to convey and elevate the seed cotton into a storage bin referred to as a basket. Once the basket is full, the stored seed cotton is dumped into a boll buggy, trailer or module builder. <br />
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Now both you and I know how cotton is grown. Maybe I will later show how it is ginned as shown on Wikipedia.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>14th October</strong></span><br />
Sunday, a day of rest. Need to go to church anyway. Ours is the Mother Nature Church.<br />
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Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-25656096082573478752012-10-05T18:34:00.002-06:002012-10-09T20:20:41.852-06:00On the Road South again for Another Winter without the "S" Word<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>October 4th</strong></span><br />
Brought ELTORO out of storage today and parked in front of our Villa for the packing up job. This becomes almost like a moving day as it seems that so much "Stuff" must be moved from the house to the one on wheels. I had made multiple trips over the last week taking odds and ends ot to where ELTORO was stored, and I thought almost everything was packed away. WRONG. We spent the entire day, back and forth, filling boxes, packing them out and unpacking and putting away in the proper location, taking the boxes back in and refilling, and so on and so on. But by days end seems we were just about finished. At least we were!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>October 5th</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the road bright and early this morning at about 8:30 AM. Uneventful, but rather long day to Moose Jaw, Sask. We short cut across from Aldersyde to the Siksika Reservation near Bassano, then down HW #1 all the way to Moose Jaw. Hit a few snow flurries and rain showers, but generally the driving was good. Decided once we were in Saskatchewan we sould fill up with gas. I like to run on the top half rather than the bottom half. While we were driving down the road we were trying to think of the town about 40 miles across the Saskatchewan border, and be darned, if we could think of the name. We knew ther was a filling station right on the highway there. I assked Denice to check on her Streets and Trips map for the name. She said there is no town name there. The ones that showed were Irving, Walsh, Piapot, and Magpie Creek. I didn't recognize that last one, but oh well!! Anyway as we get closer there is a sign "40 km to Maple Creek" Uh Ha!! You know how your brain only sees the first and last letters in a word, Well Denices picked one in the middle too. Maple became Magpie. She is really a nice gal but sometimes ----------!!!!!</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">After filling with gas at Magpie Creek we were once again on the road. The only other stop was along the wet lands near Morse, Saskatchewan. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think even I could hit one of those with my shot gun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swans</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thousands of snow geese, Canadian Geese, Swans and even a few Pelicans were congregated there preparing for there exit southward.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived at Moose Jaw about 4 PM and checked into the RV Park. A quick supper of Bacon and Eggs and a little resting concluded the day</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span> <br /><br /><strong>October 6th</strong> <br /><span style="font-size: small;">Another longer day to Bismarck, ND. Again on the road by 8:30AM, after a couple of minor glitches. #1 - Large slide didn't want to come in - It has been giving a little trouble for the last few times we have used it. Then the compressor in the jeep for the brake buddy did not want to start, then Denice pulled the 12volt recepticle out of ELTORO's dash! All in all, took an additional 30 minutes to patch systems and do temp repairs to get on the road. Once we were going thinks went well. Arrived at North Portal US entry at near 12 noon. Pulled up to the border attendant and he asked the usual questions, from Denice's side, never had them ask her the questions before. One unusual question they did ask was do you have any knives or sharp weapons. When Denice answered she had some needles. "Needles??" Yes, but only for stitching. "Oh OK." Then asked if they could come in and would we step out. We of course agreed and one of the other guards chatted with us while two went through the inside of ELTORO. they came out with 3 big juice tomatoes we had just purchased in High River, and said they were not allowed across the border.. Go Figure!!! Tomatoes!! Really!! Oh well !!! I guess it could have been worse, although we had little else to confiscate that might have been sensitive. We did refrain from bringing any beef, since the ban on XL Foods beef into the US. Once down the road I commented that since it was lunch time and thee border guards probably said "a Nice Tomatoe Sandwich would be great for lunch today, Lets put that on the confiscate criteria until we get a couple." Maybe I'm being unfair, but it seems there is always something. No big deal though.</span> <span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">On southward, and into Minot, ND, again fill with gas ( $3.89/ Gallon) and head south once again on highway 83 to Bismarck, ND, arriving at 4 PM. Check into the KOA there at $38 per night. Nice park, nice site, good rate!!</span><br /><br /><strong>October 7th</strong><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Decided to just sit this day out. It is Thanksgiving Day back in Canada. We wanted to SKYPE the kids and let them know all is well, and we had good WIFI here and were unsure about down the road. So we went to Wally World and bought a Turkey Breast, and had our own little Thanksgiving Dinner, with all the trimmings. It sure was good!!! A little glitch though. remember yesterday when the compressor in the jeep that controls the brake buddy would not start. Well today the jeep would not start. Battery dead. I do have a set of jumper cables, but they were not long enough to reach the house batteries without pushing the jeep closer and along the side of ELTORO. I was unable to push it far enough so I enlisted some help from my little helper. Now a month or so ago she would have had the weight to lean into it and roll the jeep ahead, but with this healthy food diet, and the great loss of weight, she just didn't have the power to do the job. Luckily just about that time a couple of employees of the park came by on a quad, and with a set of jumpers, so I enlisted them to help. Shortly the jeep was running, and we proceeded off to WalMart for some groceries and to check out a new battery. We bought the groceries, and brought them home. While Denice was putting them away, I went back to the Walmart and asked them to put a new battery in. They said it would be acouple of hours before they could get around to it, so I told them I would just buy the battery and take it home, put it in myself. When I got back out to the Jeep, it dawned on me that I might just as well put it in right there, as I have all the tools required. Within 15 minutes the new battery was installed and the old turned back to WalMart for the $10 Core Return. Home again to the smell of cooking Turkey!! </span><br /><br /></span>Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-1670306861817882082012-10-05T18:20:00.001-06:002012-10-07T20:33:08.280-06:00The Langs Summer in ReviewWell, we really did get home, so I guess I should bring all you folks "Up to Speed" of our summers activities. As we have just left sunny Alberta, and once are again headed Texas way. I knew it was time to start the old Blog again. I will give a brief update of our summers activity, but don't expect it all today. This will be a project in progress, and may take some time to complete, so I recommend if you are interested to scroll back occasionally over the next few days or weeks to see the completed version. For now I am going to zoom on ahead to the present and present activities.Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-42619574483189129492012-04-20T20:35:00.000-06:002012-10-05T18:23:31.599-06:00I Think we are about through Tornado Alley<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 16th (Monday)</strong></span><br />
Much better today so on the road fairly early - headed for Pierre, Nebraska<br />
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Have some head wind, but not too bad. Making good time on the northward run, crossing those now famous Nebraska Sand Hills, made famous by all the news about the Canadian Pipeline proposal to cross them. Then we stopped at a large slough that is the water level of the Ogallala Water Acquifer to take some pictures of some Pelicans flying over head. While I was out, noticed that my power cable to Toad was pulled away from ELTORO and dragging on the pavement, and had worn about half the fixture away. I tried to "Jimmy Rig" it but with out much success. Plugged back in still had right signal light and right break light, but nothing on left side. Decided to just travel on till I could buy a new one. Only 30 miles or so to Valentine, Nebraska, and once there found a new one at the Napa Auto Store. I asked and he told me of a RV Park just 5 miles north of town, so we decided we would stop for the rest of the day and get our repairs completed there. Found the park easily along the highway and checked in at a self check in. Only two other units there, a motorhome and fifth wheel, but seemed no people around. A nice park with all the amenities except cable TV, but clean and neat. I made a full meal deal for breakfast as it was still only 11:30 AM. We enjoyed bacon, eggs, potatoes and fried tomatoes, juice and coffee. Then with my able assistant repaired the power cable. Need to make sure all the wires are attached in the proper spots, and my assistant made sure of that. No second guessing!! Hooked it up again and Holy Shit, everything worked as it is supposed to!! Rest of day --- more relaxing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice little "Fish Pond"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A curious "Killdeer"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Power of the Wind"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NrgXKJ8JQk/T5IlbtdUeyI/AAAAAAAAF1M/cWG19jgNQxs/s1600/IMG_4537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NrgXKJ8JQk/T5IlbtdUeyI/AAAAAAAAF1M/cWG19jgNQxs/s640/IMG_4537.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They looked meaner than they really were</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJKgIPd-3mQ/T5IlddpPacI/AAAAAAAAF1U/fTMVLGhuf58/s1600/IMG_4551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJKgIPd-3mQ/T5IlddpPacI/AAAAAAAAF1U/fTMVLGhuf58/s640/IMG_4551.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another nice sunset</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 17th (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Onward north today - weather good - no issues - left the highway 83 and went west 20 miles at Selby to find a RV Park on the Missouri River at Mobridge, South Dakota. A little basic but still OK for 1 night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbrtzaRycL8/T5Imtp7HfBI/AAAAAAAAF1c/W-KCsqb4Nr8/s1600/IMG_4560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AbrtzaRycL8/T5Imtp7HfBI/AAAAAAAAF1c/W-KCsqb4Nr8/s640/IMG_4560.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highway Bridge over Audubon Lake </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wy7HcPmxzIQ/T5ImwxEW4nI/AAAAAAAAF1k/I9Z-2UDsjZ0/s1600/IMG_4565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wy7HcPmxzIQ/T5ImwxEW4nI/AAAAAAAAF1k/I9Z-2UDsjZ0/s640/IMG_4565.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the Rails</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 18th (Wednesday)</strong></span><br />
Another day, another couple hundred miles closer to home. Weather good, roads just OK, 60 or so miles of no shoulder, but from Bismarck on to Minot was all 4 lane and good. Had reserved in Minot at the Roughrider RV park. They are in the process of rebuilding this year as a result of last years flooding. Everything is still in quite a mess, but they found a dry site for me for 2 nights. Last year on May 12th, I believe they said they were told to evacuate as a wall of water from Canada was headed their way, and with in 4 hours it did arrive and flooded the park to about 4 feet deep. They were not allowed to return till in July, and little rebuilding could be accomplished for the rest of the year. They only opened this year on April 10th, and they are now hard at work to get things in order. A new office has been built and construction is everywhere in the park, Sewer, water, electricity, etc. It is going to be some time before things are back to normal! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XHWZLWpZkE/T5InqMr1d6I/AAAAAAAAF1s/W_C3_iOyr5M/s1600/2009+Roughrider+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XHWZLWpZkE/T5InqMr1d6I/AAAAAAAAF1s/W_C3_iOyr5M/s640/2009+Roughrider+Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009 Satelite imagery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gqkdpEp6sr4/T5Inr-bQG0I/AAAAAAAAF10/-js5dI-NrD0/s1600/2011+Roughrider+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gqkdpEp6sr4/T5Inr-bQG0I/AAAAAAAAF10/-js5dI-NrD0/s640/2011+Roughrider+Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011Satelite imagery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-93imM4pxcjc/T5IpbBrS3oI/AAAAAAAAF18/VmL-Kb6h1fE/s1600/Souris+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-93imM4pxcjc/T5IpbBrS3oI/AAAAAAAAF18/VmL-Kb6h1fE/s640/Souris+River.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Souris River</td></tr>
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The Souris River flows out of Canada near Estevan, Saskatchewan, and as you can see is very slow moving with oxbow after oxbow, so when heavy rains hit the area the water does not drain very fast and just floods the whole river valley. Eventually the river returns to Canada in Manitoba and then back into the States to joins the Red River south of Winnpeg and adds the the flooding issues there. As one man we met commented, "When the Big Guy up there designed the earth he basically did a good job, but he sure made a mistake here by draining the water northward rather than to the South."<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 19th (Thursday)</strong></span><br />
Overcast and cool this morning ---- and a few of those white feathers falling. What are those things things anyway????<br />
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Completed Cross Border sales for last 4 months<br />
Calculate we owe about $65 GST - we are happy and willing to pay that amount - Denice's and my individual calculations were only about $6 apart. We completed those numbers by noon, so will rest the rest of the day -- <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 20th (Friday)</strong></span><br />
Woke up this morning to light rain, but after checking the weather decided it did not look too bad so hit the road by 8:00AM. 95 miles to the border at Portal, south of Estevan. Arrived there at 9:30, prepared to be asked to come inside and declare our purchases. Drove up to the entry window, and answered the usual questions:<br />
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"Where are you from"?<br />
"High River, Alberta"<br />
"Do you have your passports"?<br />
"Yes, here they are" <br />
"How long have you been out of the country?"<br />
"105 Days"?<br />
"How much were your purchases worth?"<br />
"$2845.41"<br />
"How much liquor do you have"?<br />
"1 1/5 liters of rum and 2 cans of beer"<br />
"Any fire arms"?<br />
"No"<br />
"Any cigaretts or tobacco products"?<br />
"No"<br />
"Do you have over $10,000 with you"?<br />
"No"<br />
The agent returns our passports and says, "Thank you and have a great trip home"<br />
------- Absolutely Amazing ---------<br />
On the road again within 3 minutes of arriving - had planned on being detained for an hour or so, and was not sure how our wood turning blanks from Texas might be viewed, although I had gone through their website and printed out the reasons that I felt justified approval of them into Canada. Guess its a non issue now. Two hours later we were in Moose Jaw and settled into the Prairie Oasis RV Park for the remainder of the day.<br />
April 21st (Saturday)<br />
Only drove as far as Medicine Hat today and stopped for an overnighter at Ross Creek RV Campground<br />
April 22nd (Sunday)<br />
Medicine Hat to home - Uneventful - Now the fun stuff of unpackingDenice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-21795752588284086952012-04-12T09:12:00.000-06:002012-04-20T20:22:15.193-06:00On the Way North, Up Tornado Alley<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 9th (Monday)</span></strong><br />
Heading north again this morning from Junction to Padukah, Texas. Not much in this town but I had found an RV park owned by a J D Brooks, just a good ole Texan boy, with a long drawl, so booked in there. Very Plain Jane, but what the heck! Not many spots but to get to the one I picked had to pass under some trees branches, Broke the stove/furnace vent and one bathroom vent. Damn!! Patched with McGiver tape. What would we do without Duck tape?? We will see how it holds uo in the wind travelling tomorrow. Weather forcast was for heavy thundershowers, Hail, and wind, with a possibility of tornado activity in the area!! Denice freaks out, so I call the owner and ask about shelter in the event. Advised to go to the court house with a ramp down underneath for protection, should the warning sirens sound. I unhook the jeep and we go and find the place, then return home and wait and watch TV updates. We only get heavy rain, light winds, no hail, and no tornado. Just a good nights sleep. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 10th (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Leisure day, up the road for a couple hundred miles from Padukah tp Liberal, Kansas, crossed the Oklahoma panhandle as it is only about 35 miles across. Arrived in Liberal early and found a RV Park east on Highway 54 about 5 miles out of town. It is very nice and well maintained but bare and flat. Reserved for 2 nights at $25/night<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 11th (Wednesday</span></strong>)<br />
Went down highway 54, back through Oklahoma and to Texhoma, that is right on the border of Oklahoma and Texas today. Denices Aunt is buried there since she passed away 6 years ago. We were at her funeral at that time, but have never had the chance to return so when we were this close decided we should place some flowers on the grave. We placed flowers on both Uncle Bob"s and Aunt Leona's graves.<br />
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Then returned to Liberal and went to The Wizard of Oz and Dorthy's house. One of Denices long time wishes!! Rather ironic that the Wizard of Oz is all about tornados and yet there has never been one in Liberal, Kansas. Go figure!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 12th (Thursday)</strong></span><br />
We had planned on moving north today, but the wind was howling and not a nice day so we just decided to sit another one here. Went to the Liberal Air Museum. Its the 5th largest in the USA.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 13th (Friday) Bad Luck Friday the 13th</strong></span><br />
Good weather this morning so on the road by about 8:30AM. Only travelled about 160 miles to a Good Sam park in Oakley, Kansas. Had thought of going farther, but as far as I can see the next couple of days may be at "Basic" RV Parks with few amenities, so we decided to stop here and make sure where the next stops might be. The next good park seems to be in Bismarck, North Dakota, with probably a couple of poor ones in between. Likely no WIFI for a couple of days!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 14th (Saturday)</strong></span><br />
We have been following the weather pretty slose and just sort of dodging all the possible tornado areas along the route by stopping early or travelling beyond their projected paths. Today seemed a pretty good day with little weather events forcast, so we headed north again, but only planned on going to North Platte and then hold up over Sunday when high winds were forcast. 40 Moles after leaving Oakley we encountered "Pea Soup" fog, and it just went on and on for a hundred miles. Sometimes thick, sometimes not so bad. Finally just before North Platte it finally lifted, so we were glad to check in to a "Good Sam" Park there. Spent a quite afternoon as weather was nice. Sun shinning and warm. 4:30 PM there was threatening thunderstorms, but we decided to just go around the corner to "Applebee's for a bite of dinner. Well --- all hell broke loose!! City tornado serens started blaring, the TV's switched to a local weather channel. Tornado sightings started being reported. Two touch downs just 5 miles south of the city at Malone Lake (they have an RV Park there and as we passed by we commented that maybe we should stop there) and one at the "Flying J", a half mile from us. Before leaving ELTORO we had put the slides back in, "Just in Case". Thank God we did. Rain and hail just pelted down for a hour or so. We were comfortable in the restaurant, enjoying our meal, but the manager and waitress kept coming around with updates about the tornadoes, and advised if the sirens indicated the need, that we would be moved to the restaurant coolers. We never had to, but it was close a couple of times. We stayed there much longer than we intended to, but seemed the safest spot. When we left we thanked the manager for his accomadation, but advised the entertainment was "Not So Hot" Finally we did return home, but were only there a short time until the sirens started to blow again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Threatening Clouds</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked in a Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TV's diagram of storm direction</td></tr>
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The "Fall Out Shelter" in the park are the bathrooms. They are in a sturdy separate cement block building. We did stay in ELTORO with the TV showing the storm cells, but ready to evacuate quickly if needed. Denice has her emergency kit packed with her pills and our passport inside. She says that is the most important things to protect. A rather violent rain and hail storm did pass by with quarter sized stones. I made a run for it and drove the jeep under a tree. It was struck several times but seemed to suffer no damage. ELTORO was also struck a lot with some dimples to the curved sections on the top roof edges and at least one small hole in the bathroom vent cap. It only lasted about 10 minutes and then cleared quickly, but large severe looking clouds continued to show through out the evneing. We hope that is all for today!!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 15th (Sunday)</strong></span><br />
In a word ----- boring ---- especially after yesterday<br />
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Strong winds so just sitting it out todayDenice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-9090082042764251882012-04-11T20:18:00.000-06:002012-04-12T08:45:10.735-06:00The last days in Mission & Heading North<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 2nd ( Monday)</strong></span> <br />
Little to report. Just relaxing and enjoying our last days here.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 3rd (Tuesday)</strong></span><br />
Little to report. Just relaxing and enjoying our last days here.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 4th (Wednesday)</strong></span><br />
Starting to Pack up for the move north later this week<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 5</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">th (Thursday)</span></strong><br />
Packing up. Didn't think we had a lot to do, but seemed it took the whole day to accomplish the task. Of course the weather had some impact on that, as it was 100 F and felt like 110 F, so there were several water breaks inside, in the air conditioned motorhome. We did stop for a brief period this morning before it got too hot, and went over to the Butterfly World. Now I did not take many butterfly photos, but I did take a few of other interesting subjects!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather today from my weather station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly little guy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and two more</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Thresher</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Baltimore Oreole nest - Only uses it once</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of same</td></tr>
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We are seeing lots of them around here so we knew there would be lots there, as they have planted all the flowers that attract the various species if them. After taking some pictures of the rather elusive little guys, and of course some pictures of the bird population, we returned home to the packing and, Alas, all was accomplished by 8:00PM. Then I even had time for a short time in the cool swimming pool to lower my elevated temperature.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 6th (Friday)</span></strong><br />
Well today was final Day in Mission. Hooked up TOADONE and on the road by 9:00AM. First travel day for 3 months, and so we started slowly with only 150 miles northward on Highway 83. We had routed in a stop for the night at Loredo in the State park there but when arrived they informed us being the long week-end that we would have to book for 3 days. "I don't think so!" so moved on north another 20 miles to Los Boitines RV Park. We have stayed here many times before. It is rather basic, but good people so checked in there by 1:00PM. Had some lunch and then wandered around the park for a bit. The prickly pear cactus are all in bloom and are especially beautiful. We took photos of yellow, red, pink, and orange blossoms on them. I mentioned that this RV park was very basic, but as we wandered around toward evening found a tremendous upgrading in progress, even since last fall when we stopped. Many new concrete pads have been built, and a pioneer village is in the works complete with a little church, bar, prison wagon, barber shop and store. A very large new building is also in the works. Looks as it might be a gift store and maybe a restaurant. We will have to see next trip down.<br />
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As a post script: yesterday we paid 10 bucks to go and see all the butterflies in Mission, today we had very close ups of them all, as they were plastered all over the front of ELTORO!!!!!<br />
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Saw a lot of Scissor Tail Flycatchers today, Apparantly they are just starting to return to this area for the summer. We have seen them before, but they are rather unique as they have a very long tail that they open up as they fly down to catch flys, then they usually return to the same spot on any high wires then wait for another fly to be within striking distance.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 7th (Saturday)</strong></span> <br />
Again on the road by 9:00AM on 83. Very good highway with little traffic. Followed 83 this time north rather than taking the highway along the Rio Grande and Mexicn border. This route took us into new territory for us and into Texas Hill Country. The road was perfect, the traffic very sparce and the scenery exceptional. Even though it has been hot here, spring is blooming in Texas and the wild flowers are out of this world. <br />
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As the traffic was so low and the two lane highway had quite wide shoulders we stopped several times just to photograph the blooming plants (no pun intended) Arrived in Junction, TX by about 1:00PM and checked into a Good Sam RV Park <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 8th (Sunday)</strong></span> <br />
Today we wanted to see another cavern that was fairly close by our route. Sonora Cavers are west of Junction on I 10 and about 60 miles up the road. We have been past it before, but never took the time to stop and go for a tour, As we are in no rush this year we decided to just take the time and do it. Drove up I 10 and then south 7 miles to the caverns. We were concerned being the long week end that there would be too many people there for us to enjoy the time there, but were pleasantly surprised at how few people were there. In fact our tour was only 4 persons ourselves and an other couple. It was great. The next series of pictures are just random ones that I took as we were guided through the caverns.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access Road to Caverns</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a lake that is 5 feet deep. Sooo Clear!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of the lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A popcorn formation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of same</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacon Formation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrystal Formation</td></tr>
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The Caverns of Sonora is recognized as the most beautiful cave in Texas and one of the most beautiful show caves in the world. The Caverns of Sonora is located on Interstate 10, about half-way between Big Bend National Park and San Antonio Texas. We are located 15 miles southwest of Sonora, Texas and the Caverns is a great place for people of all ages to experience the wonders of nature. Along with guided tours of this beautiful cave; there are many other activities to enjoy such as gemstone panning, exploring the nature trail, enjoying a Group Tour, Specialty Tour, or one of our many Workshops, camping out in an RV or tent, or just relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. <br />
The Visitor Center and gift shop, built in 1961, is a ranch barn design with vaulted ceilings and exposed oak beams. Come in and browse the wide variety of merchandise including sterling silver and gemstone jewelry, handcrafted stoneware, and unique rocks, minerals, and fossil specimens from around the world. Try a sample of fresh cream and butter fudge made right here at the Caverns of Sonora. <br />
In 1966 the cavern was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior, and is one of the most active caves in the world with over 95% of its formations still “growing”. <br />
National Speleological Society co-founder, Bill Stephenson said, after seeing Caverns of Sonora for the first time, “Its beauty cannot be exaggerated, even by Texans.”Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-47036275167540328622012-03-29T12:57:00.003-06:002012-04-01T12:12:48.273-06:00Mission, TX - 4th Week - 3rd MonthMar 26th (Monday)<br />
Went to Hidalgo pump house- we were on our way to Estaro Llano in Weslaco, but when we went through Hidalgo decided to stop and see the old pumphouse. It was on our want list of things to do, and this seemed to be a perfect chance. When we arrived we were just in time to join a bus tour of the old historic town, the new pumping facilities, and then a tour of the old restored pumphouse. It was well worth the $10 entry fee.<br />
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The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-World Birding Center was built on the banks of the Rio Grande River in 1909. Located in Hidalgo, Hidalgo Co., TX, this WBC site is fantastic for both birds and butterflies. The Pumphouse used Honey Mesquite to fuel huge steam-driven boilers that drove massive pumps, which pumped water from the Rio Grande River into agricultural irrigation canals. This maze of irrigation canals runs throughout Hidalgo Co., and they are still in use, today.<br />
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The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-WBC is easy to get to. From US-281 (Coma Ave.) in downtown Hidalgo, turn south on Bridge St. and go six blocks to Flora Ave., turn left (east) On Flora Ave. and go two short blocks to 2nd St., and turn right (south) into the Pumphouse park. It is easy to just follow the signs to the Pumphouse. <br />
On special occasions, the City uses its trams to bring tourists to the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse.<br />
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Before crossing the bridge that goes over the "Old Swimming Hole" and taking the path to the Pumphouse, go slowly and watch for birds and butterflies as you meander. This walk is excellent for Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Long-billed and Curve-billed Thrashers. During migration, you can find numerous Neotropical passerines. Watch for Tropical Kingbirds (that prefer a "golf-course" type habitat) in the Pumphouse Gardens inside the fence on your left<br />
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The view back towards the parking lot, after you have parked and crossed this bridge over the Old Swimming Hole. The parking lot is filled with flowers, shrubs, and trees. It is very easy to spend an hour wondering in the parking lot, looking for birds and butterflies. Several rare butterfly species have been found here. Be sure to stop in the middle of the bridge and search the banks for Green Kingfishers, Kiskadee Flycatchers and Green Jays and several species of waders. Look down into the butterfly plantings and search for butterflies.<br />
As you are walking down towards the Pumphouse museum, check out the numerous butterfly species you should see in the beds that border the Gardens. Again, go slow and watch for the many species of flycatchers that can be found in this area.<br />
The high smokestack at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse can be seen from almost anywhere in the City. The very tall smokestack helped, with winds that almost always prevail from the south, carry the dense, oily, black smoke away from the City and towards its northern neighbor, McAllen. In the winter, it dumped its smoke onto Reynosa to the south. <br />
The entrance into the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-World Birding Center is just below and to the left. Notice how even the old galvanized siding has been preserved and actually make for a pretty effect.<br />
The long walk from the Pumphouse entrance to the Museum gift shop/restooms/offices has loads of interpretive displays on both sides of the walk. Whether or not you are into old tools and heavy machinery, you will enjoy all the displays. <br />
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During the Christmas Season, the WBC is decorated with hundreds of Chrismas miniature scenes, and the entire Pumphouse grounds are filled with Christmas Lights. The City of Hidalgo's annual Festival of Lights celebration is the largest display of Christmas lights in South Texas, visited by tens of thousands of people. For more information, check out "Events" on the City of Hidalgo's webpage. <br />
Offices, a gift shop, meeting room, and restrooms are on the right. Downstairs are the enormous pumps and boilers that visitors can view. Just imagine what working conditions were like, below, in the poorly ventilated vast basement of boilers. Heat and fantastic noise had to make for miserable work hours<br />
The tiny City of Hidalgo has invested millions of dollars, developing the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-WBC. Unlike the other 8 WBC sites, the City utilizes the park differently, with numerous events for its citizens. The amphitheater is used for talks, performances and during the summer, free movies.<br />
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The Pavilion, located in the center of the fenced Gardens, is a great place to sit, cool off and up-date your checklists. Many weddings have been performed under its roof; the Pumphouse Gardens are especially pretty at night, when the trees are accented with lights.<br />
Several water features, fountains, and streams are found both outside and within the Pumphouse Gardens; and, wow, do the birds use them.<br />
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Birds, odonates, butterflies and frogs, many of which are unique to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, can always be found in this large pool. You crossed over the Old Swimming Hole when you took the bridge from the parking lot. You can access this large pond from the trail that leads under the bridge to the east end of the Old Swimming Hole.From the west end of the Old Swimming Hole pond as you look back towards the Pumphouse, watch for the many species of birds you can see here.<br />
One of the numerous streams that course throughout the Gardens. One of the truly unusual landscape architectural features of the Pumphouse Gardens is that all these streams that are found here (and there are many) simulate the Rio Grande River as it actually exists along the southern border of the City, separating the U.S. and Mexico.<br />
The average annual rainfall in Hidalgo is only 23"/year. Fortunately, the several water features at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse are of great benefit to the birds.<br />
The bubbling sound from these moving streams bring in the birds. Be sure to watch for odonates around these features, because there are numerous species of dragonflies and damselflies that can only be found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and many of them can be found at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-WBC.<br />
All of these water features have been planted to attract butterflies...and they do.<br />
This "bend in the River" stream is exactly as it occurs just south of the City. The huge, paved, circular patio is an exact representation of the City streets as they exist just north of the "bend".<br />
Map of the City as you face east.<br />
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On the west side of the Pumphouse building, the Observation Deck overlooks a large resaca (ox-bow lake). The resaca is the former intake channel that was at the Rio Grande River. Before flooding of the River caused the River to move and to change course and isolate this bend in the river as a resaca, the Old Pumphouse lifted the water out and pumped the water into the irrigation canals.<br />
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In the top-right corner of this photo (just above the interpretive sign), you can see the flags that mark the border between the U.S. and Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Be sure to check out the resaca for Ringed and Green Kingfishers, numerous waders and ducks and many flycatchers.<br />
The large, mowed lawn just to the left and below the Observation Deck is a great place to watch for Long-billed Curlews.<br />
The cool, shady Pavilion is an example of how all nine of the World Birding Center sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are appreciative of the fact that we all need to find some shade when running around chasing critters.<br />
Fishermen really like this covered deck. Catfish, bass, and perch are caught here. This is another spot that birders can use to search the resaca and its banks.<br />
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Directly behind the Pumphouse Gardens, the Border Patrol truck is parked at a break in the Border Wall. This gap is where the soon-to-be-completed Border Gate will be. Once the Border Wall is finished here, the Dept. of Homeland Security has promised that the Hidalgo Bend Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlfe Refuge and its 900 acres will be re-opened to hikers, bicyclists, and nature observers from the Pumphouse. A neat feature of the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-WBC is that they provide FREE use of their many bicycles to Pumphouse visitors (just have to leave your Driver's License at the Office).<br />
This is the north side of the Border Wall that is immediately behind the World Birding Center. The Border Patrol truck is almost 6 ft. tall. It is on top of a 16 foot levee road. On top of the levee road is an 18 foot fence. It is a straight drop down the other side of the fence, making the total Wall on the south side ~34 feet tall. The Wall separates the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR Hidalgo Bend Tract from the Old Hidalgo Pumphose-WBC, and cuts off the National Wildlife Refuge tract from the entire City. An ugly site to most Valley residents.<br />
Directly behind the Border Wall which is directly behind the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse-WBC is the start of the Nature Trail into the 900 acre Hidalgo Bend Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. This trail leads all the way to the Rio Grande River. We have found both Elf Owls and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls, here. This is absolutely the best location in the entire Lower Rio Grande Valley to see Groove-billed Anis. Hundreds of these birds nest here and are easily seen....as long as access is given back to the birders, as promised.<br />
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Mar 27th (Tuesday)<br />
Went for a short levee drive. Drove a couple of miles down along the levee so Denice could take some pictures of birds, specifically, a yellow fly catcher. Then when we came bck continued up the levee towhere I could see the sugar cane fields that had been harvested recently. Now this Sugar Cane growing is a whole new experience to us. I am including a bunch of photos in my blog to hep explain the rotation and gowing of it.<br />
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Mar 28th (Wednesday)<br />
Yup, thats what we did!!!!<br />
Mar 29th (Thursday)<br />
Waiting at home for my anchor seal to be delivered. We find the FedEx, or UPS process for that matter, quite amazing that either of them can keep track and deliver to you, so fast from anywhere in the USA in 5 to 7 business days. Here is the report that this product of mine has shown to the present time. It should be delivered here this afternoon some time so we are staying home waiting for it. Here is the report:<br />
(Read from bottom up) <em> It has been delivered</em><br />
Date Time Location Event Details <br />
March 29, 2012 03:42:24 PM Mission TX US Delivered <br />
March 29, 2012 07:54:00 AM Edinburg TX US Out for delivery <br />
March 29, 2012 05:51:00 AM Edinburg TX US Arrival Scan <br />
March 28, 2012 10:01:18 AM Fort Worth TX US Departure Scan <br />
March 28, 2012 01:16:00 AM Fort Worth TX US Arrival Scan <br />
March 27, 2012 04:16:47 AM Grove City OH US Departure Scan <br />
March 27, 2012 12:57:00 AM Grove City OH US Arrival Scan <br />
March 26, 2012 10:20:53 PM Cambridge OH US Departure Scan <br />
March 26, 2012 08:14:00 PM Cambridge OH US Arrival Scan <br />
March 26, 2012 12:00:00 AM Cambridge OH US Shipment received by carrier <br />
March 26, 2012 11:38:00 AM US Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit<br />
Amazing eh!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar 30th (Friday) </strong></span><br />
This is Denices interpretation of events ---<br />
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WELL!!!! What a night we had.....at about 6:00PM park management came to warn everyone about bad weather coming our way and if necessary, where to go in case of a tornado (club house basement). 6:30, power went off, neighbour Ruth comes over with an update......Tornado Watch......packed my purse (money and passports) pills and camera (of course) ready to head up to shelter if necessary. 7:00PM, Dennis decides to put the awning up..dead calm outside ( calm before the storm) and just in time...starts to rain. Neighbours are staying put..so I watch next door neighbor, Rosemary calmly knitting........torrential rain!!!! Sheet lightening, high winds...Rosemary still knitting....bang on the roof (debris?) that was our weather station blowing over...last recorded wind speed.....54mph...unbelievable lightening (now taking video). Rosemary still knitting. We still have lights, battery power . Storm continues for about 3 hours, Rosemary knitted the whole time...if she had left her Motorhome, I would have been right behind her!!!! No tornado!!!! thankyou God!<br />
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Damage, this beautiful morning, trees down, fences down, palm bark all over,neighbors window blew out of his golf cart, one 5th wheel had their large back window sucked out.....lots of devestation in McAllen. Power on at 11:30 this morning. But, we survived! NO HAIL!!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar 31st (Saturday)</strong></span> <br />
Went on a riverboat tour today on the Riverside Dreamer. We see it going past the RV Park all the time, but never joined them until today. It was a very enjoyable ride for an hour. It docks only a half mile from us. The boat is a cataraman pushed by twin 135 HB outboards.It will take about 25 people in great comfort with air conditioning and very comfortable seating. We went up the river for a few miles enjoying the scenery , both in the US and in Mexico. We had a chance to view a lot of the devastation from the 2010 flooding of the area. I am not sure that I had previously explained that flooding, but in July of 2010 huge rainfall was reported in the southern central part of Texas and Mexico. The huge Falcon Dam suddenly reached its capacity and someway commnication was lost between the Mexicans and and the Americans and Mexico opened the gates to the dam without American notification. The result was a huge flood all the way from the dam to the Gulf. Waters were reported up to 10 and 20 feet above normal. The RV Park we are in was flooded right out, with only a few sites on high land avoiding damage. This trip on the Riverside Dreamer allowed viewing a lot of those areas most effected. Soon we turned back and returned and went down the river the same distance before returning to dock and the restaurant. As it was now 1:00PM we decided on lunch there. It was very good. Denice had the shrimp basket, I, the pork sandwich that was huge!!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Apr 1st (Sunday)</strong></span><br />
It’s going to be an uplifting Sunday in Calgary.<br />
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An incredibly rare sequence of celestial events will see residents of Calgary and the immediate area briefly experience the wonders of weightlessness.<br />
The out-of-this-world phenomenon will allow Calgarians to briefly levitate in almost zero gravity.<br />
It’s an occurrence that hasn’t happened since 1925, with the epicentre in the small town of Shymkent, Kazakhstan. At the time, panicked citizens blamed the bizarre incident on witchcraft and mass hysteria.<br />
“This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Dr. Lyle Upshot, of the University of Santa Monica, who pointed out that scientists only confirmed the cause of the Kazakh event in the late 1960s.<br />
“And Calgary is so, so lucky to win Mother Nature’s lottery.”<br />
Upshot said the current solar flare acceleration, a full global aurora and the fact an asteroid, B3NHD1420, will pass directly between the moon and Earth will lead to the so-called Lunar Molecular Astro-solar Oscillation levitation event at exactly 10:15 a.m. Sunday.<br />
To take full advantage of the gravity deficiency, people are urged to lay on the floor at 10:14 a.m. in preparation.<br />
Standing during the slight window of opportunity, which may last as long as six seconds, displaces body mass and results in only slight tremors and flesh quivers.<br />
When all the celestial factors collide, people can expect to levitate 3 to 5 inches above the ground, depending on weight, bone density and housing/shelter factors.<br />
People are best able to enjoy the moment outside, where they may also witness a darkening of the sky and atmospheric ripples akin to heatwaves on a hot day.<br />
While being gravity-free for a few seconds could be thrilling, Upshot warns there can be slight dangers involved.<br />
“When this happened in 1925, hundreds of people suffered concussions, so we recommend you wear a helmet,” said Upshot.<br />
You can report your experience to the Calgary Solarium at 403-250-4308.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><u>April Fools !!!!!</u></em></strong></span>Denice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8620067142169522675.post-8641120497205500242012-03-29T12:21:00.002-06:002012-03-29T12:41:22.107-06:00Mission, TX - 3rd Week - 3rd MonthMar 19th (Monday)<br />
Strong winds today - at 9:00PM had to put the awning up - gusting to 30MPH from SSW<br />
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Worked on my stained glass most of the day - Using my grinder to fine tune all the pieces to make precision fits <br />
Mar 20th (Tuesday) <br />
Put out the awning again this morning<br />
Mar 21st (Wednesday)<br />
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Mar 22nd (Thursday)<br />
soldering latest Stained Glass creation together today<br />
Mar 23rd (Friday)<br />
Nice hot day today<br />
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Complete my latest stained glass piece today. Not completely satisfied with it. My Monutains are not as defined as I had hoped, but for a first try at designing, I guess its not too bad. I did put a zinc frame around it, and that worked out well. I think I will try to enhanse some of the areas in the picture with some glass painting. I'm not an artist either, but will give it a try.<br />
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Re-order Anchor Seal today - I thought I had it ordered, but failed to complete the order last weekMar 24th (Saturday) <br />
slightly foggy this AM, but that burns off by 10:00AM - Then hot at about 90 F<br />
Mar 25th (Sunday)<br />
Another nice warm day<br />
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Went down to McAllen and bought some things Denice wanted - scent chips and some books from Barnes & Noble - I stopped at Best Buy and bought some printer cartridges for my printerDenice & Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734768824757923698noreply@blogger.com0