tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87301124675684820582024-03-12T22:42:07.744-05:00Robert's Road RamblingsA series of posts about coin collecting, movie reviews, and the trials and tribulations of traveling in Texas and elsewhere.Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-9533831835879378302023-08-04T14:49:00.003-05:002023-08-05T17:58:33.601-05:00Boy, it is hot<p> As I write this in July, it is 101 F here in Richmond.</p><p>Sweetie and I had a great time in Ireland on our barge trip along the River Shannon. We met six very interesting folks: a married couple consisting of one 30-year Canadian army veteran and one 30-year Canadian air force veteran and a couple consisting of one 32-year US Marine Corps 3-star general (retired), and his fairly new wife, and finally one couple from Cleveland who were retiring from their textiles company. We all got along very well.</p><p>We did the same trip as the last time we were on the Shannon Princess and it was just a good as that time.</p><p>We are preparing for our next trip coming up this October when we travel for a 15-day land tour/cruise in Japan. I hope to have an extensive write up for that trip.</p><p>In the planning stages are our 2024 trip from Lisbon to Bacelona with stops in the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands, and Morocco. Should be fun.</p><p>Finally, we are tentatively planning an England barge trip on the Thames River in 2025.</p><p><br /></p>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-82973835094962082312023-03-08T18:43:00.002-06:002023-03-08T18:43:55.109-06:00Traveling again - finally<p> Sweetie and I did some camping in Goliad but then we went on a hiatus for a while.</p><p>As recently as last May (2022), we enjoyed a 6 night cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on the American Queen steamship. We both had a great time seeing the mighty Mississippi run its course and we visited many small towns and cities along the route.</p><p>In October, Sweetie and I took a European Waterways trip in the Loire Valley in France. Unfortunately, on Day 5, a passenger notified the captain that he tested positive for the COVID. Following their guidelines from the company, the crew tested themselves and all of the passengers. Of the 8 passengers, five of us tested positive. That left only one couple (who, by the way, did a self-test and tested themselves as negative) who could remain on board. The other six (one of which did not test positive) had to pay for our taxi back to Paris and arrange for our hotels until our scheduled flights departed. The taxi costs about €500 for the trip - split 3 ways.</p><p>After that, we booked a Viking cruise over the Christmas holidays. We traveled from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to several different Caribbean islands before returning to San Juan for our flight back to Houston.</p><p>This year, we flew to St. Lucia and stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian resort for a much needed break and relaxation week.</p><p>Next up is our trip to Ireland. We are returning to European Waterways and our second barge trip on the River Shannon riding a great barge, Shannon Princess.</p><p>Later this year, we visit Japan for the first time. We will have a three day pre-cruise land tour visiting Tokyo and surrounding areas before getting on our ship and visiting 8 ports in Japan and South Korea. Can't wait for that!</p><p>More later if I remember how to log onto this blog.</p>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-25008981379788658062020-09-07T13:23:00.001-05:002020-09-07T13:23:19.854-05:00Camping in a National Forest<p> After our recent move to Richmond, Texas, Sweetie and I took a short weekend camping trip to Double Lake Recreation Area in the San Houston National Forest outside of Coldspring, Texas.</p><p>Much different than the west Texas camping we've been accustomed to over the past 10 years. It should go without saying that the humidity level here in east Texas is much higher than in the west but that is offset somewhat by the much larger number and size of the trees!</p><p>Yes, Dorothy, there are trees bigger than a shrub oak around here and those trees helped us survive the heat index and lack of breeze (humm, come to think of it, maybe the reason there was no breeze was because the trees may have been blocking it.). And for the first time since we camped in Rita, we were able to use the awning without worrying about it being blown off the side of the trailer!</p><p>I must say the campground itself was very quiet and the sites aren't stacked close to each other (like at the KOAs. Nothing against the KOA campgrounds, they're just a place to pull in and sleep for the night. Well, unless you like their pools or their playgrounds or their dining facilities.)</p><p>Overall, I highly recommend Double Lake Recreation Area even if we didn't get a chance to hike any of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. This 129-mile National Recreation Trail runs from through the Sam Houston National Forest and run near Cleveland on the east and Richards on the west. The trail crosses both private property and public roads so do be careful about taking care of the areas you are traveling. Also, please note there are no public toilet facilities on the trail (although it does come close to several towns and at least one state park with public facilities). There are few designated camping areas (except during hunting seasons) so you can camp where ever you might find a dry, flat spot. </p><p>Next up, we head to Gonzales, Texas, to camp at the Palmeto State Park.</p>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-5935289030645150562015-05-12T08:36:00.001-05:002015-05-12T08:36:42.080-05:00Lack of photographic evidence<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past several posts, you may have noticed a severe lack of beautiful, Sweetie-taken photographs to accompany the rather lame prose. That will continue in the future unless I figure out how to change the size of the photos I have already posted here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I assumed it would be an easy task to find the place where all of the photos are magically stored, download them back to my computer (for those which I can't find on my local drives anyway), and shrink their footprint. Then, I should be able to upload them to the magic server in the sky and my available space would increase dramatically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not happening. Can't for the life of me figure out how to change the photos without opening each and every post. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyone have any ideas for me?</span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-25570695433393802852015-04-17T09:50:00.001-05:002015-04-17T09:50:03.113-05:00Back to Cozumel!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been a long, cold winter here in west Texas and My Sweetie and I needed a break from the ice storms that seemed to perpetually pop up every week or so. Therefore, we searched and searched (ok, I looked for a hour) until we found a short cruise that would get us into warm weather quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We left home on Thursday morning last week (9th of April) and flew into New Orleans. The two of us met our ground transfer person and she put us on a very large passenger bus to take us to the Port of New Orleans. After waiting an almost impossible 4 to 6 minutes, she came back and apologized for the wait and told the driver to go ahead and take us to the Port. Wow. Only the two of us being personally chauffeured on a huge bus!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In about 35 minutes, we pulled into the Port where we decided to take our luggage on with us. Seeing as how we only packed a few clothes, this seemed like it would be fairly easy to do. The check-in process went so quickly that I didn't even have enough time to munch on the little sandwiches and pastries they had laid out for the Priority Boarding guests. (I noticed that as soon as we left the Priority Boarding area and went to sit down in the Priority Boarding chairs. Bummer. I was a bit hungry since I only had a Luna bar for breakfast.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a fairly short wait (after two wedding parties boarded), we started boarding the Carnival Elation, a rather small cruise ship compared to some of the monsters we had been on previously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After everyone embarked, we began our slow journey down the Mississippi River. I know we left the pier about 4:40 but I have no idea when we cleared the delta. I suspect it took the ship until midnight or later. But we had a grand time anyway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day we spent sailing in the Gulf of Mexico. Sweetie and I had separate massages early in the morning and then a late brunch. Just a chillin' sort of day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saturday we arrived in Cozumel. I had reserved an excursion online to go deep sea fishing. After making our way through the Mexican checkpoint, we got to our meeting point and discovered we were the only two from the Elation to take this excursion. When our fishing boat showed up, we were happy to see only two other passengers onboard the 28 foot boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After 40 minutes at high speed, the crew finally tossed the baited hooks over the side and we started 'fishin' in earnest. No more than 10 minutes later, the first hit and hook was made! Our blind companion fisherman took the seat and, about 10 minutes later, landed a 4' 6" mahi-mahi!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After an exhausting and exhilarating day on the water, Sweetie and I returned to the ship for some rest time. Oh, no! We both put on suntan lotion but both got a bit red!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday was another relaxing day at sea and, this time, we had a couple's hot stone massage. Wonderful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coming back up the Mississippi was a bit tougher since there was some fog and the ship was delayed getting to the Port. I didn't care so much since we had later afternoon flights booked back home. The really bad thing is that both Sweetie and I came down with a sore throat Sunday night. Bummer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, the trip got us out of the ice and into some icy drinks! Mai Tai, Dark & Stormy, Miami Vice, and Mango Mamas. We did come back relaxed albeit a bit sick from the sore throat.</span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-45524695431288704542015-03-14T13:46:00.001-05:002015-03-14T13:47:56.556-05:00Vegas, Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We made another trip to Las Vegas in February. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But we didn't go for the shows, or the restaurants, or the gambling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were there to attend the USA 7's Rugby Tournament!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was our second time to the 7's Rugby in Las Vegas. This time, we were prepared!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Staying at the Excalibur was the plan since the bus to the event left from there. Plus, the restaurant Sweetie and I wanted to try was located at Mandalay Bay and that is just a short tram ride away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rugby was excellent even though the USA only finished 4th. </span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-33717823205649357062015-03-14T13:43:00.001-05:002015-03-14T13:48:10.198-05:00Trip to Las Vegas for my Birthday<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Simply because I bowed to my wife's demands and took my sick prostate to MD Anderson <strike>Cancer</strike> Clinic, I was making a remarkable (to me) recovery and my outlook is good. Therefore, to celebrate, my Sweetie took me to Las Vegas for a LONG weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We fly directly to McCarran where we were picked up by the Nobu Ranger to deliver us directly to Cesar's Palace. We checked into our room before deciding to head on out for a supper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me start by saying this was a great trip and I didn't know what was going to happen next. We had a meal at Nobu Restaurant where we let our Advisor select the courses for us. The 3-hour meal was filled with new and exciting dishes, champagne and a sampling of sake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day, my Sweetie went to get her hair done so I was planning on hitting the $5 Blackjack table to learn how to play the game. Color me surprises because the lowest table I saw was $20! Not a fair way to learn in my opinion. So, I slunk away, defeated, and threw a $20 in a penny slot machine. About 30 minutes later, I was up to $240 and decided to stop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran up to the salon to find my Sweetie and let her know of my grand success. She was impressed that I got that much from the penny slots. I left her secure in the knowledge that I was pretty much done gambling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, "One more time won't hurt," I said to myself. I dropped a $10 in another penny slot and with only two rolls of the wheels, I was sitting on $115. I cashed out again and decided to not push my luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day, we took a great helicopter ride with a couple of South African visitors. We landed in the Grand Canyon and had a quick champagne lunch before flying back to the city. The views were fantastic but I really wished we could have stayed a bit longer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Sweetie also surprised me with a special viewing of "Evil Dead, the Musical, in 4D". And, we were sitting in the semi-circle around the stage, wearing our complimentary Evil Dead T-shirts, getting splashing with blood from each and every gory knife slash on stage! It was GREAT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, we had to leave eventually. (insert frowny face here)</span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-25083677140472567762014-12-03T11:59:00.003-06:002014-12-09T08:56:35.297-06:00Busy Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the year 2014 comes to a close, I noticed that I have really written much about traveling or anything else in quite a while. Therefore, in a nutshell, here is how our adventures have gone since the last trip to Big Bend National Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I underwent a successful brachetherapy seed implant where 72 individual seeds of radioactive iodine were inserted into my prostate. The doctors, PAs, and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center have been, to a person, professional, friendly, and competent. With their care, my </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) went from 7.0 to 2.9 to 0.5 in a matter of only six months! I have high hopes that this cancer has been destroyed but I won't know for sure for another year or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, we took a camping adventure to Van Horn, Texas, where we visited the Red Rock Ranch. Here, we stood on the oldest rocks in the world - well, actually, they are among the oldest in the world. These pre-Cambrian rocks were formed over 4 billion years ago before any known life existed on earth. This is one of the few places in the world where these rocks are on the surface and can be touched by us. A great tour where we saw Desert Mountain Sheep and heard history of the oldest Anglo settlers to this region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also visited the great city of Fredericksburg, Texas, a few weeks later. Our camp ground was a few miles southeast of the city and it was very quiet. We enjoyed an amazing meal at a local restaurant and toured the Museum of the Pacific where I found a plaque honoring my uncle, Claudus Evans, a Navy veteran of WWII who also happened to have been one of the few survivors of the <i>USS Indianapolis</i>' sinking in 1945. Everyone who has seen the movie Jaws! will remember the story of how the Sailors left the sinking cruiser and floated in the water for 4 days while sharks decimated their number.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Along with our two grown children and our son-in-law, Sweetie and I took another cruise. This time, our family group boarded the Carnival Breeze in Miami, Florida, for an extended trip to the southern Caribbean! Our ship took us to the Grand Turks where we enjoyed a helicopter ride around the island, seeing a whole lot of rays (but no sharks), and getting a personalized briefing from the pilot. My Sweetie got the prime seat of sitting in the front with the pilot. Big smiles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later on the cruise, we hit the beaches (figuratively) in the Dominican Republic. We had an outstanding tour when we boarded a river party boat and cruised up and down one of the rivers in the area. Our crew cut the tops off of fresh coconuts, gave each person their own coconut, and the coconut juice flowed! This was the first time that My Sweetie every tasted fresh coconut juice. Once the liquid was down a bit, they came around with rum! What a nice way to have rum. They didn't let me down either as they kept the rum flowing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">We made our way to Curacoa and then to Aruba before sailing back to Miami! Aruba reminded me a lot of home in that there were lots of cactus and it was fairly arid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later in the year, Sweetie and I took a camping trip to Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah, Texas. This park is underutilized. And the park was great. We got a dose of rain but, being in Rita, we merely slept right through it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that, as they say, is that. Sweetie has plans for a trip to Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park in a couple of weeks as well as my birthday trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, coming up after Christmas. So, we are still traveling!</span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-74142258345162789592014-12-03T06:19:00.000-06:002014-12-03T06:21:22.987-06:00Traveling to the states<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, a big thing on Facebook seems to be finding out where all of your friends have visited. I decided to do one for me.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://m.maploco.com/visited-states/mine.php?states=AK-AL-AR-AZ-CA-CO-CT-DC-DE-FL-GA-HI-IA-IL-IN-KS-KY-LA-MA-MD-ME-MO-MS-NC-NH-NJ-NM-NV-NY-OH-OK-PA-RI-SC-TN-TX-UT-VA-WA-WI-WV-WY"><img border="0" src="http://map1.maploco.com/visited-states/ml/AK-AL-AR-AZ-CA-CO-CT-DC-DE-FL-GA-HI-IA-IL-IN-KS-KY-LA-MA-MD-ME-MO-MS-NC-NH-NJ-NM-NV-NY-OH-OK-PA-RI-SC-TN-TX-UT-VA-WA-WI-WV-WY.png" height="433" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I guess I need to work on the last few states! How did I miss Vermont?</span></span><br />
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<br />Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-60512157593697411742014-03-27T13:39:00.005-05:002014-03-27T13:39:46.117-05:00Big Bend National Park in March<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Sweetie and I took our one-year-old Winnebago Minnie travel trailer to arguably the best National Park in Texas. We both needed some relaxation time and space away from the recent news* I received so Big Bend seemed to have everything we needed - warmth, quiet, and solitude.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hooked up the camper and had everything loaded so when My Sweetie got home from work around 1140, we jumped in the truck and started our journey southward. I planned on taking I-20 to Pecos and then make a sharp left turn south on TX 18.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were sailing along, running about my normal 55 mph, when just about 25 miles north of Fort Stockton, we noticed that our awning was showing a bit of blue between the arms and the camper. Normally, we didn't even notice the awning when driving but within a few miles, the high West Texas Winds pushed my awning arms out and unfurled the awning!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Geez. Now what do I do?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a small rope (about 20 foot) and tried securing the awning arm to the camper. Evidently, I needed to secure both arms as this makeshift repair job barely lasted another mile down the road. Try as I might, I could not bet the awning to stay put while I drove.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, by stopping and re-adjusting the rope every few minutes, we made it to the northern part of Fort Stockton. My Sweetie suggested that the gas station might have a rope available so I went in to see what I could buy to help secure the awning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I bought the rope, secured the awning, and we continued on the way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We got to the park and, after another 49 miles inside the park, to our reserved camping spot. Fortunately, I still had about .5 gallons of gas left in the truck (forgot to fill up in Fort Stockton and Marathon - stupid, I know). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next day, I fill up the truck ($130) and then buy another rope.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The park was beautiful. On Saturday, we hiked a few short trails and ate our lunch at the bottom of Burro Mesa runoff. Peaceful and really beautiful. The only downside was that it was a bit cloudy. A really great thing was that it was a bit cloudy! Pictures weren't as good but boy, cutting that sun down to a manageable level was pretty nice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We got back to the camper just in time to start cooking what turned out to be one of the finest steaks I've ever had (thanks Sweetie!) and tie down the camper with three ropes. As it turned out, the next morning on the way out, the awning slipped a bit and we had to retie everything again at the Panther Junction Ranger Station.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Driving along US 385 to TX 18 to I-20, we eventually arrived home and parked the camper in our storage unit. Tired but rested. Can't wait for our next trip. We're heading to Fredericksburg, Texas. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* The news I received was that I was told that my biopsy came back positive for cancer. Bummer time.</span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0Big Bend National Park, 1 Panther Drive, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834, USA29.1274869 -103.242537928.2415744 -104.5334314 30.0133994 -101.9516444tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-30425855729766199632014-03-27T10:22:00.003-05:002014-03-27T10:23:54.023-05:00Been a while, hasn't it?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seems like it has been months since I last sat down and started writing about our travel adventures. So, when I actually got a chance to sit down, I realize it HAS been months. Of course, no one seemed to have missed my travel journal, either.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Sweetie and I took a much-needed vacation the last day of January through the 10<sup>th</sup> of February.Starting off in this small airport, we made the short flight to Dallas where we picked up our First Class seats onboard American Airlines for our 4+ hour flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We arrived sometime around 1900, picked up our luggage, and took a harrowing cab ride to our hotel in Old San Juan, <a href="http://www.elconvento.com/?donotdisplayagain=1">Hotel El Covento</a>. A definite pick for location, history, and comfort, Hotel El Convento previously housed nuns (since the 1500's, I believe) and is located across the street from the Cathedral de San Juan. That's where we attended Mass on two consecutive Sundays!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While in San Juan, we played the typical tourist and visited the fortresses, walked along the Paseo del la Princesa, lunched at famous Puerto Rican restaurants (the mofongo was excellent as were all of the mojitos!), and at night watched bats flying in the courtyard of our hotel. Seemed like a great place to spend a week of our time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But wait! We only came to San Juan to spend a couple of days before we embarked on the Carnival Valor for our 8 day cruise to the eastern Caribbean. We didn't leave too early because of the STUPID SUPER BOWL! Who cares? Well, obviously, the management of Carnival Cruises thought that the game would prevent drunk fans from attending the mandatory lifeboat and vests training. So, they delayed this mandatory event until the game was over. Remember that Puerto Rico is one hour AHEAD of Eastern time. That is pretty late for this old guy to stay up. Finally, around 2330, we were manditorily trained in case of emergency and got to go to sleep.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I won't bore you with the totally great time we had on this ship and on our excursions. </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We visited St. Thomas and took a catamaran to St. John where we snorkeled at a US National Park. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We visited the Harrison Caves in Barbados! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We visited St. Lucia and took a deep sea fishing boat out during a rain storm. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We visited St. Kitts to hop on board a sugar cane train for a trip around the island and a catamaran trip back to our port.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We visited Sint Maarten/St. Martin to see both the Dutch and French cultures including a leisurely boat ride.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Plus, two wonderfully suppers at the Steakhouse and a once in a lifetime opportunity to dine exclusively with the Chef de le cuisine of the Carnival Valor where he and his top sous chefs prepared a nine-course meal for our pleasure.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back in San Juan, we were properly relaxed and spent one more night in San Juan before flying back (first class again :) home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Totally good time. Our cell phones were turned off the entire time. We didn't watch a single minute on the TV (well, we did turn on the TV to watch the course of our ship but we don't consider that as 'watching' TV). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got home but our bags didn't. Seems that the tag "Special Expedited Handling" doesn't mean crap when you are in Dallas, even when you connecting flight was delayed getting in and delayed in leaving once it got it. The only good news is that we weren't flying any further north as the rest of the country was being hit by snow and ice!</span></span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0San Juan, Puerto Rico18.4663338 -66.105721718.2252428 -66.4284452 18.707424800000002 -65.782998200000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-47555667363966614932013-11-21T07:05:00.001-06:002013-11-21T07:05:42.229-06:00Cruising for A Cause: US Veterans<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Early this November, My Sweetie and I joined 1,800 other veterans, active duty, and family members onboard the <i>Caribbean Princess</i> for a short cruise to Progreso, Mexico, in support of US Veterans!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Princess Cruise lines teamed up with Operation Homefront and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to create this very special cruise. Princess Cruise donated a portion of each passenger's payment to the two charities.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a short flight to Houston's Bush Intercontinental, we were met by a Princess Cruise representative who got us on a shuttle to the port. As we entered the new facility, we delighted in the red, white, and blue balloons, welcome signs, flags, and a band from Texas A&M at Galveston, the Aggie Sea Band! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check-in was painless and the wait didn't seem to be very long. Ball caps with "World War 2 Veteran" and "Vietnam Veteran" abounded as did those with specific ships or units. Everyone was extremely patient and polite. And I doubt there were 15 kids under 18 on the entire cruise. I suspect the average age of the cruisers was 55. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the cruise, we attended presentations about today's Cyberwarfare and about how to get a veteran to record their story for the National Archives. We continued to meet veterans who served in the Phillipines, France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Panama, Grenada, Irag, Afghanistan, Somolia, Kosovo, and plenty others.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We did not run across any other cryptologists but the former general in charge of the Air Force Cyberwarfare wing (who just retired 1 Oct 2013) was onboard. But when we stated we were naval cryptologists, most everyone knew something about us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The trip to Progreso was filled with real heroes spending time with their friends, brothers & sisters, and family. Once ashore in Mexico, we visited one of the Mayan ruins and enjoyed a great Mexican buffet at a local ranch. The show by the charros (cowboys) began with a presentation of flags (U.S., Mexico, Texas, Yucatan) and continued with singing, dancing, and really cool rope tricks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, the cruise was way too short! We slept well and enjoyed the time we experienced with the other veterans. I think I will go on this cruise again if Princess Cruise Lines decides to repeat it. </span></span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-23939268495440632792013-09-05T09:04:00.000-05:002013-09-05T09:08:59.130-05:00Catching Up on All That's Worth Knowing!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK. So, maybe it isn't worth knowing. But we continued our camping times throughout this very hot summer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, Sweetie and I headed to Davis Mountains State Park to actually camp there. We have visited twice before but both times decided to stay at Indian Lodge instead of camping (<whine> it was cold those two times </whine>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since we have this great new camper (Rita. Remember?), we decided to go whole hog and pick out a campsite with water, electric, and sewer hookup available. [NOTE: The next thing we might do is to actually put up the TV antenna one time. I know it works because the guy at the dealer turned the telly on and showed up some local channels. Heck, I don't even know if the DVD player works. We did turn the radio on one time and actually hooked Sweetie's iPhone thru bluetooth to listen to Sirius/XM once.]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, we spent a great couple of nights with the windows open. Oh, did I tell you it was about 99 during the day? Good thing we had a 13,500 BTU air conditioner in her! {Just an FYI: these types of A/C units can only cool down about 21 degrees from the ambient temperature. That is, if it is 90 outside, it can cool down to 69. If it's 105, then it only cools to about 84. And so on.}</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Besides driving to Alpine, we visited a local desert botanical garden. That was truly a great time and I decided I want a Texas pistachio tree in my back yard.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few weeks later, we headed into the heart of southeast New Mexico and Carlsbad. This time, we stayed at Brantley Lake State Park, just north of Carlsbad. Again, we splurged and rented a full hookup site. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now this is the first state park in New Mexico that we stayed the night. Let me start out by saying the electrical system was unstable and caused two outages during our time there. Both were easily fixed (just simple blown breakers) but that should not have happened.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, we visited White Sands National Monument, drove through the lovely mountain pass and Cloudcroft, visited the Living Desert Museum State Park, and basically relaxed in the 102 degree weather!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, we plan on one more camping trip to Caprock Canyons State Park before My Sweetie has to do some traveling. </span></span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-76576301459487389222013-04-27T08:33:00.000-05:002013-05-02T09:12:31.796-05:00What? Palo Duro Canyon Again?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yep. My Sweetie and I headed north one more time to camp in the great Palo Duro Canyon SP. But this time, we had another motivation for the trip. You see, we decided to trade Rocky in and get us a real-life, honest-to-goodness, travel trailer with <b>air conditioning</b>! </div>
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We took off around noon on Friday to haul Rocky up to Amarillo. We elected to spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express in south Amarillo, just off I-27. I know. We were hauling a camper so why didn't we camp? Honestly, camping in Rocky one last night would have been nice but we had it all cleaned out so we could turn it in without having to go through it. We wanted to be at the dealer as soon as they opened.</div>
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Arriving at Jack Sizemore's RV Traveland in Amarillo only minutes after opening, our salesman, Leon, met us at the door with a big grin on his face. He took us out to the lot and showed us the travel trailer we had asked about - a 2013 Winnebago Minnie travel trailer model 2201DS. This monster (at least to us being used to a popup, you know) is about 27 foot long! Regardless of the size, the employees here were cheerful and very helpful. Bruce took us through all of the operation of the RV and showed us the new hitch system we had. Lori walked us through the paperwork in no time at all and Jack, the owner, came to congratulate us on our new purchase.</div>
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As it turns out, Jack is the father of one of our neighbors here in Midland - just about 4 house down from ours!</div>
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After writing our check and saying our goodbyes, Sweetie and I headed down to Palo Duro Canyon SP for just one more night camping. Although it took us a bit of time (and help from a neighbor), we finally got our new RV into the spot for the evening.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qbEHn9Ymhs/UYJwZXho1mI/AAAAAAAAA8s/ltQV9sEvN4c/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qbEHn9Ymhs/UYJwZXho1mI/AAAAAAAAA8s/ltQV9sEvN4c/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new camper with awning!</td></tr>
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One of the things we had to do was come up with a name for this one. Right off the bat, the lime green exterior brought names to mind. Limey. The Green Hornet. Cagney and Lacy (well, actually not that one). But we really liked Margarita so, of course, we shortened it to Lovey Rita (Meter Maid), may I inquire discreetly.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diu9_MxMoXE/UYJwalgw5bI/AAAAAAAAA9E/47o0QhMFtgA/s1600/Rita1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diu9_MxMoXE/UYJwalgw5bI/AAAAAAAAA9E/47o0QhMFtgA/s320/Rita1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First cigar with Rita!</td></tr>
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So, I have added some pictures below. Just to let you know, since I neglected to add photos from our last trip, I have included them here!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwwpyTaqXY0/UYJwLz03W-I/AAAAAAAAA70/wOwM11_ys9s/s1600/BigCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwwpyTaqXY0/UYJwLz03W-I/AAAAAAAAA70/wOwM11_ys9s/s320/BigCross.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large cross near Groom, TX</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpwKXZfmFMc/UYJwNQiZVvI/AAAAAAAAA78/9StOmUskXV8/s1600/BoBear_coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpwKXZfmFMc/UYJwNQiZVvI/AAAAAAAAA78/9StOmUskXV8/s320/BoBear_coffee.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby O'Bear in new RV</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dc1baV_A49g/UYJwOqC11lI/AAAAAAAAA8E/GTSW7GfypKU/s1600/Both_TXGeoladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dc1baV_A49g/UYJwOqC11lI/AAAAAAAAA8E/GTSW7GfypKU/s320/Both_TXGeoladies.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TXGeolady and Sweetie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xVLA-L82pbI/UYJwO7ZdW6I/AAAAAAAAA8M/kqEbz1Iruk0/s1600/Camper_Rocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xVLA-L82pbI/UYJwO7ZdW6I/AAAAAAAAA8M/kqEbz1Iruk0/s320/Camper_Rocky.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky on its last camping trip :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZMCO5HKHx0/UYJwPnLhs5I/AAAAAAAAA8U/-x6yMNKZAug/s1600/ClimbingAgain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZMCO5HKHx0/UYJwPnLhs5I/AAAAAAAAA8U/-x6yMNKZAug/s320/ClimbingAgain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing for rocks - again</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esiPRf0ENlE/UYJwQJTjr2I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/-Q-hQOHA_UE/s1600/CoolerThisTimeinPaloDuro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esiPRf0ENlE/UYJwQJTjr2I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/-Q-hQOHA_UE/s320/CoolerThisTimeinPaloDuro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots colder than last time we hiked here</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qbEHn9Ymhs/UYJwZXho1mI/AAAAAAAAA8s/ltQV9sEvN4c/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-USLtoMslwJY/UYJwYn04sKI/AAAAAAAAA8k/5g0rjjMu_a0/s1600/IWantThatRock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-USLtoMslwJY/UYJwYn04sKI/AAAAAAAAA8k/5g0rjjMu_a0/s320/IWantThatRock.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No! That's too big for the backpack!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qxrbzz97dM/UYJwZtkIgnI/AAAAAAAAA8w/Ywl8TJTQm5g/s1600/R_Relaxin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qxrbzz97dM/UYJwZtkIgnI/AAAAAAAAA8w/Ywl8TJTQm5g/s320/R_Relaxin.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonder where my cider is?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiYD226smaI/UYJwcVdOWmI/AAAAAAAAA9M/c33kBvl_JOA/s1600/RobertAsScale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiYD226smaI/UYJwcVdOWmI/AAAAAAAAA9M/c33kBvl_JOA/s320/RobertAsScale.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't you use a quarter to compare the sizes?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFiAV7A_m_8/UYJwdb84peI/AAAAAAAAA9U/wfU-PfcchTQ/s1600/RobertAsScale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFiAV7A_m_8/UYJwdb84peI/AAAAAAAAA9U/wfU-PfcchTQ/s320/RobertAsScale2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry. Can't reach the rock from here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfpOlHihmL4/UYJwdhMc02I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/zSYlzW_iFJ4/s1600/RobertScale3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfpOlHihmL4/UYJwdhMc02I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/zSYlzW_iFJ4/s320/RobertScale3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now how do I get up there?</td></tr>
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<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/-3Ho2WEdZ5Eg/UYJweIdMUII/AAAAAAAAA9k/jVkfrQ0jTnw/s1600/RockClimbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ho2WEdZ5Eg/UYJweIdMUII/AAAAAAAAA9k/jVkfrQ0jTnw/s320/RockClimbing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TXGeolady hammering away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfGtJ7tRkWE/UYJwe7WR8fI/AAAAAAAAA9s/ZwUfcRfB12I/s1600/TXGeoladiesAtLunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfGtJ7tRkWE/UYJwe7WR8fI/AAAAAAAAA9s/ZwUfcRfB12I/s320/TXGeoladiesAtLunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch!</td></tr>
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<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzFt1zfKcqI/UYJwgPQJh_I/AAAAAAAAA90/NFJ_m5uCpek/s1600/TXGeolady_wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzFt1zfKcqI/UYJwgPQJh_I/AAAAAAAAA90/NFJ_m5uCpek/s320/TXGeolady_wine.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't bogart the wine!</td></tr>
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<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ua2_T1SbSzA/UYJwgnlM7wI/AAAAAAAAA98/MVFprQ80-g8/s1600/ToadSuckBogPaloDuro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ua2_T1SbSzA/UYJwgnlM7wI/AAAAAAAAA98/MVFprQ80-g8/s320/ToadSuckBogPaloDuro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self explanatory.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NACgS4PPEhY/UYJwhF90M7I/AAAAAAAAA-E/WlOp4A3HsH4/s1600/Trailhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NACgS4PPEhY/UYJwhF90M7I/AAAAAAAAA-E/WlOp4A3HsH4/s320/Trailhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK. We'll hike this one.</td></tr>
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<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/-chyMMJdfMtY/UYJwhpQq3xI/AAAAAAAAA-I/h7Dt1JXOQFE/s1600/Trailhead_PaloDuro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chyMMJdfMtY/UYJwhpQq3xI/AAAAAAAAA-I/h7Dt1JXOQFE/s320/Trailhead_PaloDuro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were no sunflowers on the hike, BTW.</td></tr>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-78530901587004243452013-04-20T20:00:00.000-05:002013-04-21T08:49:41.470-05:00Bill Engvall in concertWe had a great time at the Midland College Chaparral Center this Saturday night! My Sweetie and I were fortunate to be able to buy some tickets to see Bill Engvall's Here's Your Sign Comedy Concert.<br />
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The Golf Classic and Comedy Concert is Bill and his wife, Gail, doing what they want to do, help out a small charity here in Midland, TX. The charity is the <a href="http://www.midlandchildrens.org/">Midland Children's Rehabilitation Center (MCRC)</a> and Bill and Gail have been helping for more than 11 years. Gail worked there during her college years, helping children, so when they were looking for a way to give back to others, this was a natural fit for them.<br />
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The concert itself was just the second part of an eventful day as the golf tournament started the busy day. Of course, if you know west Texas and Midland, you might be playing in 115 degree weather, 30 degree weather, 40 mph winds, or sand storms! For the celebrities here, they got sand storms, 30 mph wind gusts, and lots of bright sun.<br />
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Starting off the series of comics was Gary Brightwell. He's opened for Julio Iglesias, Jay Leno, and, of course, Bill. As a starter, he really got me in the mood for laughing.<br />
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Next, John C. McDonnell jumped up on stage to tell us that, although he was born and raised in Chicago, he got to Texas as soon as he could. When asked what he thinks about Texas from non-Texans, he says, "I hate it. You would not like it here. You should move to Oklahoma!"<br />
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The third comedian for the night, Nate Bargatze, differed from the others with his slow, low key delivery. Whereas John was a ball of energy, Nate seemed to be on valium! Still, he was delightfully funny.<br />
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All three of these comics had me crying - in a good way! But then Bill appeared on stage and I thought, "Wow. He's really good live!"<br />
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Sweetie and I laughed almost non-stop. After two hours of unbelievably diverse comedy routines, we found out that the day resulted in over $327,000 collected for the MCRC! What a great day for them!Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-4833558692301840072013-04-13T09:27:00.000-05:002013-04-21T09:28:22.061-05:00Palo Duro Canyon SP - Again!<div style="text-align: justify;">
My Sweetie and I have been unable, for one reason or another, to use our camper in 2013 until this April. And, due to the possibility that we might be moving to Houston in the summer, we decided that another trip to one of our favorite parks (ever!) should take priority.</div>
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I decided to take a look at the weather. Historically, the middle part of April should have very mild weather - and to me that means the temps are not over 95! So, mid-April seemed perfect as Sweetie could get a couple of days off and we could make a 3-night, 4-day trip up there.</div>
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We packed up Rocky and our new bear, TXGeolady, and headed north towards the high plains of the Texas Panhandle. Getting to the SP was easy as was the check-in. Deciding to try a campground as far into the park as possible, we pulled into our spot, set up Rocky, and relaxed immediately!</div>
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I won't take about the Palo Duro Canyon SP as I have rated it previously (<a href="http://robertsramblingsinrichmond.blogspot.com/2011/07/rating-palo-duro-canyon-state-park.html">my rating post</a>) and haven't really changed my mind about it. I will, however, go on a rant about how bloody cold it got and how windy it was! All three nights started out really great with a mild temperature, great stars, and a comfortable breeze blowing across us as we gently moved from wide awake to relaxing slumber.<br />
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Give me a break. The wind started gusting as the cold front moved in and we were experiencing gusts upwards of 30 or 35 mph. Poor Rocky was being rocked and rolled. Sweetie and I decided that three blankets would be the going rate on all three nights as temperatures dipped to 31 with the wind chill. (Note to self: maybe I ought to zip up the sides of the camper BEFORE going to bed.)<br />
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Regardless of the chilly nights, the days were beautiful and the hikes were amazing. On the next to last day, we decided to drive into Amarillo and visit the <a href="http://www.rvmuseum.net/">Jack Sizemore Traveland RV Museum</a>. Turns out, this is a great little bit of RV history and well worth the visit! After that, we headed over to the Big Texan restaurant to have lunch. No, I did not try the 72 oz. steak challenge - even if I wanted to see how big that dang thing would be.<br />
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Once again, My Sweetie and I had a blast camping. On Tuesday, we were starting to pack up when we noticed that we had a visitor sometime during the night. Yep. A four-footed mammal had entered our camper, found and ate a pistachio we had dropped on the floor, and made serious do-do in our sink. I figure it was the endangered Palo Duro Canyon mouse, known to exist in only three counties in Texas. Still, we didn't want to have a permanent resident in our camper. After getting back home, we opened up the camper and decided our visitor just wanted to get a free meal, a bit of water, and an evening out of the wind as we found no signs of him/her here.</div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-66980838628158259542013-03-02T12:43:00.000-06:002013-03-07T15:03:43.295-06:00Long Weekend in Las Vegas<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last Friday afternoon, My Sweetie and I grabbed a non-stop Southwest flight to Las Vegas so we could spend some more time together before she goes off to North Dakota for a couple of weeks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, we get to McCarran Airport a few minutes early and rush down to grab our bag before hopping into a cab. During our cab ride to <a href="http://www.treasureisland.com/">Treasure Island Hotel and Resort</a>, we learned that some cab companies would be going on strike after midnight Saturday. Fortunately, we didn't plan on using any cabs this trip but that information did prep us for the traffic jams to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Checking into T.I. began our long weekend of running from one place to another because we had scheduled everything! That means, we were arriving at T.I. in time to put our bags into our room and grab a cab to <a href="http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/">Planet Hollywood</a>! We needed to pick up our show tickets and then grab a quick supper at Planet Hollywood's buffet, <a href="http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/restaurants/spice-market-buffet.html">The Spice Market Buffet</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK. It wasn't the best meal in the world but it quietened our growling tummies. We had a few minutes to spare so we walked through the casino and around the shopping area until showtime (at 2200 or midnight our time!). Finally, we <span style="font-size: small;">arrived at the theat<span style="font-size: small;">er and check<span style="font-size: small;">ed in at the VIP line. Here, I <span style="font-size: small;">noticed that our tickets read "Isle B <span style="font-size: small;">Seat 101" and "Isl<span style="font-size: small;">e B Seat 1." <span style="font-size: small;">Somewhat confused, I asked one of the actors (who happened to also be an usher) if thes<span style="font-size: small;">e <span style="font-size: small;">seats were actually together. He took the tickets and said <span style="font-size: small;">"I'll f@#king take care of it. <span style="font-size: small;">I'm a<span style="font-size: small;">c<span style="font-size: small;">tually an actor and <span style="font-size: small;">don<span style="font-size: small;">'t work at the theat<span style="font-size: small;">er. Th<span style="font-size: small;">ose f@#kheads will fix this for you." In a few minutes<span style="font-size: small;">, he came back o<span style="font-size: small;">ver and handed us two more <span style="font-size: small;">tickets<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We entered with the other VIPs and found our seats in the theater to watch the most over-the-top, audience-involved, campy show in Las Vegas - "<a href="http://www.evildeadthemusical.com/">Evil Dead, The Musical in 4D</a>." We purpos<span style="font-size: small;">ely did NOT get seats in the <span style="font-size: small;">"Splatter Zone" but afterwards, I wish we had! Those folks got their own "Evil Dead, The Mus<span style="font-size: small;">ical" <span style="font-size: small;">tee-shirts <span style="font-size: small;">which was payback for being soaked with "blood" during <span style="font-size: small;">the show (and intermission)! Really awesome! <a href="http://www.evildeadthemusical.com/">http://www.evildeadthemusical.com/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next day, we started early with Eggs Benedict at <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://kahunaville.com/">Kahunaville</a> at T.<span style="font-size: small;">I<span style="font-size: small;">. We played slots for a bit before we rented our car<span style="font-size: small;"> and headed out to visit the #1 recommended dining spot in Henderson. After 40 minutes, we found the restaurant - and found it to be closed. :( Bummer. So, we turned around and ate lunch at a really nice Mexican place. <span style="font-size: small;">However, our main reason for <span style="font-size: small;">renting a car today was to visit <a href="http://www.ethelm.com/">Ethyl M's</a> chocolate shop! Here, we toured their ch<span style="font-size: small;">ocolate factory (closed on the weekends), had a samp<span style="font-size: small;">le chocolate, bought some chocolates<span style="font-size: small;"> and a chocolate drink, and walked their <a href="http://www.ethelm.com/about_us/cactus_garden.aspx">cactus garden path</a>. Then, back to T.I.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our evening was busy again as we <span style="font-size: small;">had reservations to dine at <a href="http://www.mirage.com/restaurants/japonais.aspx">Jap<span style="font-size: small;">o</span>naise</a>, a<span style="font-size: small;">n up<span style="font-size: small;">scale place at the Mirage. A fine bottle of chianti and several sashimi and rob<span style="font-size: small;">at<span style="font-size: small;">a</span> cour<span style="font-size: small;">se<span style="font-size: small;">s later, we headed over to the theater to watch our evening enter<span style="font-size: small;">tainment of <a href="http://www.mirage.com/entertainment/ron-white.aspx">Ron White</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ron White was a member of the Blue Collar Comedy team and we had wanted to see him live for <span style="font-size: small;">some time. I will admit that I was pretty tired but when his warm-up entered, I perked right up. For the second night in a row, I was laughing so hard I thought I'd lose it right there.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday dawned way too early for us. However, we finally drug ourselves out of bed arou<span style="font-size: small;">nd the butt crack of dawn (or 0800 Las Vegas time). We could barely drag our lazy butts down to have breakfast before we left Las Vegas for the hills. Well, <span style="font-size: small;">technically, it is<span style="font-size: small;"> a canyon</span></span>. Yep, we had to go see some <span style="font-size: small;">rocks at <a href="http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html">Red Rock Canyon NCA</a>. We paid our $7.00 and stopped by the <span style="font-size: small;">vis<span style="font-size: small;">itor center. We walked in the 35 mph winds<span style="font-size: small;">, holding onto our hats, cameras, and hair<span style="font-size: small;"> to the center so we could <span style="font-size: small;">see what tr<span style="font-size: small;">ails were moder<span style="font-size: small;">ately easy to hike. We took the auto tour around the area and found most of the trailhead<span style="font-size: small;"> parking <span style="font-size: small;">spaces completely full. We did make one hike where Sweetie picked up two <span style="font-size: small;">souvenirs. These "souvenirs" weighed about 6 to 8 pounds each! <span style="font-size: small;">More later.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the tour, we headed over to <span style="font-size: small;">a state park nearby, <a href="http://parks.nv.gov/parks/spring-mountain-ranch-state-park/">Spring Mountain Ra<span style="font-size: small;">nch State Park</span></a>. <span style="font-size: small;">This <span style="font-size: small;">ranch </span></span>once<span style="font-size: small;"> belonged to Vera Krupp (who owned a 33.19<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>carat diamond</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">which eventually became the Elizabeth Taylor diamond) and to Howard Hughes. Pretty cool place that is the #1 picnic spot in the Nevada sta<span style="font-size: small;">te park system. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing very strongly and<span style="font-size: small;">, as we were preparing <span style="font-size: small;">to hike one of their paths, the wind blew a large gate into both My Sweetie and I. She ha<span style="font-size: small;">s a bruise on her arm and I have one on my thigh. Put us in a right pissy mood, it did.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading <span style="font-size: small;">back to the city, we took the southern rou<span style="font-size: small;">te and de<span style="font-size: small;">cided to stop for a quick bite. The first red light we came to, we turned into a <span style="font-size: small;">shop<span style="font-size: small;">ping center and found Jacky Chan Chinese Restaurant. We had the lunch special that consisted of egg drop soup, sweet & sour chicken, fried <span style="font-size: small;">rice, and one other entree (I had the Kung Pao Chicken and Sweetie had something else - OK. I'm <span style="font-size: small;">getting old and <span style="font-size: small;">have CRS [Can't Remember Shit]</span></span>). Quite good for $5.95 each! And a lot of food.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived back at T.I., turned in our rental, and got ready for another busy night. <span style="font-size: small;">Heading over to the <a href="http://www.bellagio.com/">Ballagio</a><span style="font-size: small;">, we had a few minutes to spare before our supper at the <a href="http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/prime-steakhouse.aspx">Prime Steakhouse</a>. </span></span>The steaks were dry-aged for at least 30 days and were delightful. We shared<span style="font-size: small;"> a nice bottle of wine and a small des<span style="font-size: small;">sert before we had to run.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Across the street from the Ballagio is <a href="http://www.ballyslasvegas.com/">Bally's</a>. This was the first hotel in Las Vegas I stayed.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> But, we had come to see the ultimate showgirl extravaganza on the Strip. We were going to watch <a href="http://www.ballyslasvegas.com/shows/jubilee.html">Jubilee</a>. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about watching a topless review but the show was so fantastic that a few dozen topless women didn't necessarily make the show any better than it was. I was stunned at the magnificence of the entire production. Plus, way too many times I didn't know in what direction I should be looking! Definitely worth the time to see!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, Monday rolled around and we headed over to <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.caesarspalace.com/">Caesars Palace</a> so we could break our fast at <a href="http://www.caesarspalace.com/restaurants/serendipity-3.html">Serendipity 3</a>.</span> Soon thereafter, Sweet<span style="font-size: small;">ie went to<span style="font-size: small;"> the salon for a haircut and some coloring. W<span style="font-size: small;">hen she finished (looki<span style="font-size: small;">ng abs<span style="font-size: small;">olutely gorgeous, I might add), we had a quick lunch at one of my favori<span style="font-size: small;">te places, <a href="http://www.caesarspalace.com/restaurants/beijing-noodle-number-9.html">Beijing Noodle <span style="font-size: small;">No. </span>9</a>. After a run back to T.I. to change, we headed back to Caesar<span style="font-size: small;">s Palace</span> for our supper at a place I've been want<span style="font-size: small;">ing to dine at for a very <span style="font-size: small;">long time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.caesarspalace.com/restaurants/nobu.html">Nobu </a>is a recent addition to the Las Vegas dining sc<span style="font-size: small;">ene.</span> We started off with a Japanese beer and a bottle of champagne <span style="font-size: small;">s</span>o I decided to allow<span style="font-size: small;"> our waiter<span style="font-size: small;">, Chris, make our dining decisions for us. We started with sliced sea scallops<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">with cilantro <span style="font-size: small;">and a bit of spice and a spoon filled with uni. <span style="font-size: small;">The uni was probably one of the absolutely best single bites of food I've ever had. We continued with sashimi for<span style="font-size: small;"> two more course<span style="font-size: small;">s then we had some black cod in miso and then snow crab tempura. <span style="font-size: small;">We fin<span style="font-size: small;">ish<span style="font-size: small;">ed up with the absolute best spi<span style="font-size: small;">cey tuna roll I've ever had. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK. Nobu was an absolute treat for us. I don't recommend it to ever<span style="font-size: small;">yone, however, because it does have a whole bunch of raw fish and the prices are a bit high. But i<span style="font-size: small;">f you like Japanese cuisine and wish to be treated to the <span style="font-size: small;">pinnacle of Japanese fusion by<span style="font-size: small;">, in my min<span style="font-size: small;">d, the most famous Japanese ch<span style="font-size: small;">ef in the worl<span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;"> (</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nobu Matsuhisa<span style="font-size: small;">), then this is the place for you<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Tu<span style="font-size: small;">esday, we were still tired but ve<span style="font-size: small;">ry happy (and broke) as we headed to th<span style="font-size: small;">e air<span style="font-size: small;">port. As we checked our bag, the lady said, "<span style="font-size: small;">Your bag is about 6 pounds too heavy." Rats<span style="font-size: small;">! Those damn "souvenirs" we picked up off of the ground at Red Rock Canyon were hav<span style="font-size: small;">ing their reven<span style="font-size: small;">ge. We <span style="font-size: small;">went through the bag and took ou<span style="font-size: small;">t a c<span style="font-size: small;">ouple of knee braces, <span style="font-size: small;">two sweatshirts, and a cane<span style="font-size: small;"> before we finally hit 50 po<span style="font-size: small;">unds e<span style="font-size: small;">x<span style="font-size: small;">actly. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.1728160000000135.704873 -115.81826300000002 36.524419 -114.52736900000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-22158208850686775682013-02-03T09:07:00.000-06:002013-02-25T15:22:48.020-06:00First Time Cruise - Jamaica, Grand Caymans, Cozumel<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After many years of begging, hinting, and cajoling, I finally convinced My Sweetie that she should take a cruise. She agreed, reluctantly, and told me to make the arrangements. Within minutes of that conversation, I was on the telephone with a representative of <a href="http://www.carnival.com/">Carnival Cruise</a> who helped me book my first cruise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since I wanted My Sweetie to completely relax on her vacation, I picked the biggest suite I could find which, it turns out, also had the biggest balcony available. Our stateroom was on the Empress Deck of the Carnival Magic and we were sailing away in February out of Galveston, TX!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fast forward to February. I had already planned two different shore excursions for us. The first, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, consisted of an hour-long bus trip to a private fruit plantation. The second, in Cozumel, was a limited number of tourists who learn how to make a 3-course Mexican lunch at <a href="http://www.playamiacozumel.com/">Playa Mia</a>. And since this was My Sweetie's first cruise and she was a little 'stressed' about it, some additional stress relievers became part of our itinerary. Now, we were ready to go since we had new luggage for our trip.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sweetie, on the other hand, got permission to attend a 3 day Seismic Something Or Other Conference in a special resort somewhere in Napa, California. And, of course, the conference runs Tuesday through Thursday of the week right before we leave Galveston!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Planning: First, Sweetie will fly to Napa on Tuesday after packing for her cruise and for her Napa trip. Next, I have to follow her detailed, written instructions to make sure I have everything available for the trip. Then, I have to drive to San Antonio (5.5 hours, at least) to pick her up at the airport (see, she couldn't get a flight back to our hometown on Thursday, sigh) so we could spend a night in San Antonio at the historic <a href="http://www.mengerhotel.com/">Menger Hotel</a>! After that, we would drive to Galveston where we would stay at <a href="http://www.gracemanor-galveston.com/">Grace Manor B&B</a> before, finally, getting on the Carnival Magic Sunday morning. Whew.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everything went (mostly) according to plans. [The side vacations at San Antonio, Galveston, and (on the way back after the cruise) Fredericksburg (at the <a href="http://www.cottagesatlimestone.com/">Cottages at Limestone on Main B&B</a>)are other stories that may or may not find their way into this blog at some future time.] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUmBcKa2U2A/USt7bIp4iZI/AAAAAAAAA6o/SYPHlzeswqU/s1600/CarnivalMagic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUmBcKa2U2A/USt7bIp4iZI/AAAAAAAAA6o/SYPHlzeswqU/s320/CarnivalMagic.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sunday morning began bright, sunny, and chilly. After attending Mass, we went to the pier to find this MASSIVE ship! We dropped off our luggage and headed over to the security area. Oh, my. What a huge line waiting to go through the security screening! But, wait! The genius that I am shown through as I took My Sweetie and we by-passed the huddled masses and walked directly to our VIP screening area! Once past the scanners, we proceeded up the escalators to the VIP waiting lounge. After a short wait, and the loading of two separate wedding parties, we quickly boarded the ship and began our exploration.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Naturally, the first thing I did was stop by a bar and get a drink. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We explored part of the ship as we went to the Lido deck to have a buffet lunch. Unhurried, uncrowded, and basically to ourselves, I thought this was ideal. Of course, the huddled masses were still being herded on-board. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqQyLVpXcIk/USt7EO15zqI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Kv6BSGJn6gU/s1600/RedFrogPub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqQyLVpXcIk/USt7EO15zqI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Kv6BSGJn6gU/s1600/RedFrogPub.jpg" /></a>Eventually, we found the Red Frog Pub and had one of their amazingly red lagers. Sitting outside, we consumed our beverages before deciding to check out our stateroom. So, heading up the elevators to the 7th deck, we found our room (port side midships), unlocked the door, and walked into a room filled with shiny and glittering ribbons celebrating Our Anniversary! Yep, I had it decorated since this was our 33rd anniversary vacation. (And, yep, that got me a big ol' hug and a big smile.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, wait! There was more! She then discovered her welcome aboard package containing not one, but two, shirts, hats, towels, & champagne glasses! Oh, and one bottle of sparkling wine!</span><span style="font-size: small;"> More hugs, more smiles!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, the trip was starting off extremely well. And it only got better! Sweetie was rocked to sleep every night by the gentle back and forth of the waves. We watched flying fish jump out of the water and attempt to 'fly' away from the ship. We walked the streets of Georgetown, Grand Caymans until we found the perfect restaurant to have lion fish for lunch. We laughed and cooked our ways to chef status. We walked the plantation, sampling Jamaican <span style="font-size: small;">specialties</span> such as pineapple juice (from the skin of the pineapple), ginger beer, and several types of fruit I had never heard of before. We attended shows, ate at the on-board steak house</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and Italian restaurants, and generally spent lots of quality time together. And, of course, we had to finish our cruise by having a couples massage in the on-board spa!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, our trip relaxed us to the point that neither of us had any muscle pain or difficulty sleeping!</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, it had to end. But we left thinking about when we might be able to go on our next cruise!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One part of the trip became a bit worrisome to some on the ship. When we arrived in Cozumel, Mexico, for our port call, the ship hit the pier a bit hard and gashed a bit of a hole into the side of the ship. I didn't worry at all and Sweetie was hoping it would be big enough to delay our departure from Cozumel! Alas, the damage was repaired and we made our scheduled arrival in Galveston on Sunday. </span></span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-70502328588973314572012-12-02T07:29:00.000-06:002012-12-04T13:33:59.887-06:00Big Bend National Park - December 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaNJ5TPJhsA/UL5FTKlWQGI/AAAAAAAAA3M/HbkWJ0pQVo4/s1600/BigBendEntrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaNJ5TPJhsA/UL5FTKlWQGI/AAAAAAAAA3M/HbkWJ0pQVo4/s320/BigBendEntrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My Sweetie and I grabbed our sweatshirts, SuperGeo, and some
extra clothes and ran away to spend the weekend at the Chisos Mountain Lodge at
Big Bend National Park. We started out early in the morning expecting to take
our time to enjoy the approximately 4.5 hour drive to the park. Heading west
along I-20 to Monahans, we made great time at 75 mph! Turning south to head
towards Fort Stockton, we didn’t need to slow down much.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Continuing south on US 385, we decided to take a brief break
at the metropolis of <a href="http://www.marathontexas.com/index.php">Marathon, TX</a> (the city government advertises the city as
the place “where there's nothing 'to do'”) to sample some of the local cuisine. We wanted to try the super fancy deluxe once-in-a-lifetime meal at the 12 Gage restaurant and the White Buffalo Bar but, alas, the doors were locked at 1100. So, we sauntered a few hundred feet down the not-so-busy main street (better known as US 90) to find <span class="bizlink">Johnny B's Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. Stopped in to have a quick burger, some nice iced tea, and a much needed pit stop.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> After lunch, I made a giant "U" turn to get back onto US 385 south in order to get back on track. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> The landscape had changed dramatically after we left Fort Stockton. The flat area disappeared to be replaced by buttes, arroyos, washes, mountains, and other interesting visual effects. A few miles south of Marathon, we traveled through a road cut and found some interesting rocks. [Note: I would have gone into much more detail about this 'rock' but apparently I don't have sufficient knowledge to adequately describe the characteristics. Just think "pretty rock" according to a geologist.]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> Arriving at the Chisos Mountains Lodge area around 1330'ish, we completed our registration and then took off to make the Window Trail hike. This trail is about 5.6 miles round-trip from the lodge area and goes down about 800 feet. So, let's work the math - we arrive, </span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink">and watching for mountain lions and bears (who are active about this time of day).</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> The math works out! We head out on the trail hoping to be finished in about 3 and a half hours. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> Let me say that the hike is beautiful. If you go, be sure to take a camera.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> About 150 yards from the very end of the trail, an event occurred that just about put an end to our entire weekend. Heading down some primitive steps, I was following Sweetie when my knee gave out and I tumbled face-first into the rocky trail in front of me. Fortunately, I broke nothing but did have a nasty bump on my forehead, a bruised and scraped shoulder, a partially sprained wrist, and a massively bruised ego with a dented straw Stetson.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> After several minutes, I convinced My Sweetie to continue on to see the Window. Once she returned, she noticed that since I was clearly a "wounded prey critter," a tarantula was moving in for the kill!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> After resting for a few minutes, we decided to head back up to the Lodge area. It took us quite a bit longer to ascend the trail but we successfully arrived back to civilization before it was too dark. Remember, this area has some of the least light pollution in the continental United States so when the moon isn't out, it is DARK. Getting back before the sun goes all the way day is very important. (Note to self: next time, bring a flashlight with you.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> We then took turns showering and getting ready for supper. Although neither of us were particularly hungry, we headed over to the only restaurant within 50 miles. When we finished, we discovered that there were very few lights in the area to guide us back to our rooms. Dang. Really need that flashlight.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9SK5NeoJC4/UL5KGPOGofI/AAAAAAAAA4E/jkCt-lzOtKg/s1600/IMG_2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9SK5NeoJC4/UL5KGPOGofI/AAAAAAAAA4E/jkCt-lzOtKg/s200/IMG_2037.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> The next morning, we ate around 0730 so we could get hiking before it got too hot. We skipped the Lost Mine Trail and went directly to Dugout Wells. Here, we took the very short nature trail in the Chihuahuan Desert and viewed the different types of plants found here. Also, there is a sort of oasis here from a well dug by one of the earliest Anglo settlers.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aL1QZu3PlTA/UL5KQhiIcnI/AAAAAAAAA4M/yGrYdMpsRRg/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aL1QZu3PlTA/UL5KQhiIcnI/AAAAAAAAA4M/yGrYdMpsRRg/s200/IMG_2044.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5bswtO8koE/UL5LiDEJyCI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/NnKObQKLPSM/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5bswtO8koE/UL5LiDEJyCI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/NnKObQKLPSM/s200/IMG_2045.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="bizlink"> Our next stop was the Ranger station near the Rio Grande Village so we could find out if the Old Ore Road was open. The ranger filled us with lots of dire warnings about really, really needing a four wheel drive vehicle. Since we had KR (our 4x4 off-road F150), we had all we needed to make the trip. After a quick stop to buy some lunch for later, we started our road trip around 1000 or so. This unmaintained road is wide enough for only one vehicle at a time and runs for 26 miles from near the Rio Grande Village in the south to the Dagger Flat Auto Trail about 15 miles north of Panther Junction.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8HiCJHTkTM/UL5Lp3NEtKI/AAAAAAAAA4o/e3NQdsYT79A/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8HiCJHTkTM/UL5Lp3NEtKI/AAAAAAAAA4o/e3NQdsYT79A/s200/IMG_2083.JPG" width="133" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHW0LU1NE2c/UL5LpMxP_qI/AAAAAAAAA4g/jF_DazOaa08/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHW0LU1NE2c/UL5LpMxP_qI/AAAAAAAAA4g/jF_DazOaa08/s200/IMG_2076.JPG" width="133" /></a><span class="bizlink"> Along the road, we took a side trip to Ernst Tinaja. This canyon hike was only about 600 yards or so and was a beautiful hike. The canyon really shows a lot of geologic activity and the floor of the river bed was littered with oyster and ammonite fossils embedded in the rocks.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UCHQRI2HkU/UL5NjfL1RaI/AAAAAAAAA4w/RbFMEOvnpKg/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UCHQRI2HkU/UL5NjfL1RaI/AAAAAAAAA4w/RbFMEOvnpKg/s200/IMG_2121.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="bizlink"> Further up the road, we saw the geology change several times and even the vegetation being different. We found it funny to realize that this road was the main road from Marathon, TX, to Boquillas, Mexico, for many years. It even became US 385 for a period of time. Now, however, the road runs up and down many washes and the action of flash floods have removed most vestiges of the previous super highway!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ0fxaBy0dI/UL5N3Q80kLI/AAAAAAAAA5I/2xA3nJxRrcs/s1600/IMG_2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ0fxaBy0dI/UL5N3Q80kLI/AAAAAAAAA5I/2xA3nJxRrcs/s200/IMG_2091.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> We thoroughly enjoyed taking our time along this drive and stopping just to take a moment to look at different canyons and protrusions of granite.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fnc65N4nmg/UL5NrC7AExI/AAAAAAAAA44/fLMDi2TwI0Q/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fnc65N4nmg/UL5NrC7AExI/AAAAAAAAA44/fLMDi2TwI0Q/s400/IMG_0262.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> Eventually, we reached Roys Peak Vista where we actually had room to pull over, get out of the truck, and stretch our legs for a moment before being overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of this very brutal, yet beautiful, landscape.</span></span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdG32WPp9b0/UL5PctRPrBI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/4walRPsWvqY/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdG32WPp9b0/UL5PctRPrBI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/4walRPsWvqY/s200/IMG_2129.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Attempting to lift 1,000 lbs.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> Once we were finally back on a surfaced road, we drove towards Castolon and the Tuff Canyon. Here, we stopped so that My Sweetie, the geologist, could climb down and actually touch some of the volcanic ash that gives this canyon its name. I think she would have actually broken the Federales law and taken a specimen of basalt if she could have lifted it up and got it into our pickup!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> The next day, we headed out the west entrance of the park but stopped at one last place to view the Rough Run area. I believe this is appropriately named the Badlands as I can imagine nothing can live in this area.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Z2a3kXwRpI/UL5PcL2VBsI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/P66Rr1Dkm1Y/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Z2a3kXwRpI/UL5PcL2VBsI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/P66Rr1Dkm1Y/s400/IMG_0265.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> After a quick trip to the Terlingua Ghost Town (quite disappointing), we drove back north on TX 118 to Alpine. Then, back home.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="bizlink"> This trip became one of our favorites because of the hiking and exploration we did. Amazing trip with my best friend! </span></span></span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0Chisos Mountain Lodge Rd, Big Bend, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834, USA29.2704811 -103.299128429.2687496 -103.3015959 29.272212600000003 -103.2966609tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-88636282345451500342012-11-17T08:20:00.000-06:002012-11-25T08:23:16.488-06:00Grand Fishing Trip to Blue River, OK<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I traveled to the Blue River to join in a day of trout fishing with my cousin, Gary. He lives in Duncan, OK, but recently took a job out here in Midland, TX. Seeing that he grew up in west Texas and spent many years working various jobs out here, he seems to be pretty darned happy to be back out here. However, his wife remained in Duncan until his job works out where he'll be permanently living. Seeing as he oversees fiber installation from almost El Paso to Eldorado to Amarillo, he is probably going to settle near San Angelo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, enough about him. Now, about me and the trip!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gary stopped over on a Friday about noon and we loaded up my pickup with lots of his fishing gear. We headed out and immediately stopped for a big, sloppy Burger King burger! Since we were going to be on the road for around seven hours, we turned the radio off and talked a whole bunch about current affairs, things that happened to us since we were kids, and just things in general.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stopped for ice cream at Dairy Queen and a much needed pit stop at Braum's grocery in Wichita Falls before pulling into his abode in Duncan. His darling wife (who was recovering from a stomach ailment) greeted us and, seeing as I'd only met her once before, we got to know each other a bit more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gary laid down some ground rules about fishing with him. Nice. He put these rules down after we got to Duncan so I couldn't negotiate any changes. :) His rules were simple: we were going FISHING and nothing else. There will be no stopping for lunch, no beer drinking until after we finished, and no wimps need go. OK. So those aren't bad rules as I totally agreed with all of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 0700, Doug (Gary's friend) arrived and we started off on the adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me say that I didn't realize that going FISHING involved a lot of rules really unrelated to fish. First, we had to stop at Carl's Jr. for breakfast. Not McDonalds or Joe's Taco Stop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, we had to stop at Wal Mart about an hour away to buy their super secret guaranteed to catch fish bait (I swore I would not tell anyone that their secret bait was frozen, cooked shrimp. Apparently, it stays on the hook better than raw shrimp.) and it gave me an opportunity to buy my non-resident fishing license. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, we had to stop at a small Phillips 66 convenience store to purchase one, and only one, oatmeal cookie thing. Evidently, Doug must eat one of these and we will be guaranteed to have a great day of actually catching fish. If he doesn't have one (from this particular store), the fish will know and not jump onto the hooks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We finally pulled into a small parking area where we got all of our stuff and started a walk of about one mile or so to the Blue River. Gary and I headed up to a small water fall and started casting into the really beautiful river. In less than 30 minutes, I caught one small mouthed bass and one trout as Gary pulled in two nice trout. Since this was the "catch and throw it back so it could be caught again and again" place, we hitched up our waders and headed over to the "guaranteed to catch a catfish" spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I threw my bait into the river, reached over to light my cigar, and put the cigar down because I was already getting a bite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make a long story short, I was getting bites left and right. I finally hooked a nice sized large mouthed bass! No catfish, though, since the only one I hooked spit out the bait just as I was pulling it out of the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then headed down to "the pond" where I was guaranteed to catch a lot of trout. To get there, however, I had to climb through some of the worst brush and briars I've seen in some time. Once we did get there, we were disappointed in seeing seven other fishermen already there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a couple of hours, we decided to head back and find Doug. We moved upstream for a few hundred yards to try a crossing at the cable. About halfway across the river at the big water falls, we saw trout hitting the top of the water so we just had to fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An hour later, we had tried every type of bait, lure, plug, etc., we had in our inventory and those stupid trout ignored all of them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the sun was getting low (like almost setting), we ripped through the brush, tearing down small trees, and making enough noise to raise the dead. Finally, we got to the western bank and found the path. Starting to head back to where Doug was last seen, we decided he was a big boy and could find his way back to the truck. About 3/4 of the way back, he caught up with us, regaling us with stories of the dozens of trout he'd caught (and tossed back).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got back late and watched Baylor soundly defeat then #1 Kansas State. I was so tired, I excused myself and slept the sleep of the dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next day, after a great lunch with Gary, Doug, and their families, we drove back to Midland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I had a great time and truly enjoyed every minute of it (except for the thorn I jabbed into my thumb). Gary and Doug are outstanding companions and a delight to be with. Maybe next time My Sweetie will be able to go with us. </span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0Unnamed Rd, Atoka, OK 74525, USA34.410591914459438 -96.34666442871093834.397491914459437 -96.366405428710934 34.42369191445944 -96.326923428710941tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-90225199878303597112012-11-14T11:32:00.003-06:002012-11-24T10:12:17.940-06:00My Lastest Numismatic Interest<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I decided a few weeks ago to collect coins based on a very specific criteria. This criteria turned out to be <span style="font-size: small;">foreign coins minted in 1953.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Going through my entire foreign coin collection of about 300 coins, I found I had only two that met my new criteria. The<span style="font-size: small;">y were:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td>Country</td><td>Year</td><td>Value</td></tr>
<tr><td>UK</td><td>1953</td><td>1 Shilling</td></tr>
<tr><td>UK</td><td>1953</td><td>1 Shilling</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yep. Both of them were 1 Shilling coins. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">W<span style="font-size: small;">ith this in mind, I su<span style="font-size: small;">rfed my favorite coin site to see what they had available.</span></span> I felt lucky in that Miller's Mint had just received a bunch of foreig<span style="font-size: small;">n coins and I w<span style="font-size: small;">as <span style="font-size: small;">trying to get as many of the 1953s that I could find.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I placed an order for a number of coins. Al<span style="font-size: small;">as, some were out of stock by the time my order w<span style="font-size: small;">as filled but I cam<span style="font-size: small;">e up with a good number of coins.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td>Uruguay</td> <td>1953</td> <td>1 Cent</td></tr>
<tr><td>Panama</td> <td>1953</td> <td>1 Centisimo</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cuba </td><td>1953</td> <td>25 Centavos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sweden</td> <td>1953</td> <td>1 Ore</td></tr>
<tr><td>Netherlands</td> <td>1953</td> <td>1 Cent</td></tr>
<tr><td>Spain</td> <td>1953</td> <td>1 Pesata</td></tr>
<tr><td>Portugal</td> <td>1953</td> <td>20 Centamos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Belgium</td> <td>1953</td> <td>20 Centimes</td></tr>
<tr><td>France</td> <td>1953</td> <td>50 Francs</td></tr>
<tr><td>Finland</td> <td>1953</td> <td>50 Markkaa</td></tr>
<tr><td>South Vietnam</td> <td>1953</td> <td>50 Xu</td></tr>
<tr><td>Iran</td> <td>1953</td> <td>50 Dinars</td></tr>
<tr><td>Seychelles</td> <td>1953</td> <td>10 Cents</td></tr>
<tr><td>Canada</td> <td>1953</td> <td>5 Cent</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mexico</td> <td>1953</td> <td>25 Centavos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mexico</td> <td>1953</td> <td>5 Centavos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Morocco</td> <td>1953</td> <td>100 Francs</td></tr>
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<br />Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-57466752057831559192012-11-11T10:07:00.000-06:002012-11-14T10:39:11.862-06:00Southwinds Marina, Lake Amistad<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/-beguXqPe0wo/UKJYY28BzuI/AAAAAAAAAyk/x5SJg8q5q3I/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beguXqPe0wo/UKJYY28BzuI/AAAAAAAAAyk/x5SJg8q5q3I/s200/IMG_1911.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky set up at Southwinds Marina</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Sweetie and I decided to try out one of the many <span style="font-size: small;">military campgrounds available to us as retired Navy. We picked one down near Del Rio,TX, <span style="font-size: small;">which is part of Laughlin AFB's facilit<span style="font-size: small;">ies. The air base <span style="font-size: small;">itself is located on the <span style="font-size: small;">northeastern side of Del Rio while the Southwinds Marina is <span style="font-size: small;">west of Del Rio and situated direct<span style="font-size: small;">ly</span> north of the Lake Amistad Dam International Crossing<span style="font-size: small;"> and directly south of the Southern Pacific Lake Amistad Bridge (ra<span style="font-size: small;">ilroad bridge). For those of you who normally use<span style="font-size: small;"> highways to <span style="font-size: small;">locate places <span style="font-size: small;">[</span>:)<span style="font-size: small;">]<span style="font-size: small;">, it is located on Spur 249 sou<span style="font-size: small;">th of US Highway 90.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5PCa4dg_WM/UKJYt51eMwI/AAAAAAAAAys/Ts1HKAUCkQU/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5PCa4dg_WM/UKJYt51eMwI/AAAAAAAAAys/Ts1HKAUCkQU/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Pacific Lake Amistad Bridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enough of that useless information. By the way, did you know that the rail<span style="font-size: small;">road bridge<span style="font-size: small;"> is a Warren through truss bridge on <span style="font-size: small;">trackage of Union Pacific<span style="font-size: small;"> Railroad? No?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We picked up Rocky and Biker Bear Chick <span style="font-size: small;">then drove the 250 miles<span style="font-size: small;">, plus or minus, through the bustling metrop<span style="font-size: small;">olis<span style="font-size: small;">es of Stiles, Big Lake, O<span style="font-size: small;">zona, Sonora, and Alta Loma before skirting Del Rio <span style="font-size: small;">to arrive at Southwinds Marina. Setting up Rocky didn't take very lon<span style="font-size: small;">g and My Sweetie had enough time to get a bit of exploration in before supper. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took KR on the first off-road experience, driving down several rough bits of what could be described as former<span style="font-size: small;"> dir<span style="font-size: small;">t </span>roads. Ha<span style="font-size: small;">ving scoped out the area, My Sweetie kn<span style="font-size: small;">ew where she would be fishing tomorrow but for tonight, we headed down to the boat laun<span style="font-size: small;">ch to try her luck at drow<span style="font-size: small;">ning some <span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;">orms.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> [<span style="font-size: small;">Note: no actual live worms were hurt in the act of fishing this weekend.</span>]</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wMDwjexOY0/UKJZiF5ZdSI/AAAAAAAAAzU/M5CyeZuy7tQ/s1600/Pink+Fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wMDwjexOY0/UKJZiF5ZdSI/AAAAAAAAAzU/M5CyeZuy7tQ/s200/Pink+Fishing.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 'pinked' out</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, the equipment. My Sweetie received some advice from my cousin, Gary, about what was needed to haul in large quantities of large fish-type critters. She listened inten<span style="font-size: small;">tly<span style="font-size: small;">, read extensively, and bought prodigious amounts of fishing tackle. As you can see, though, for some reason she felt that pink should be the way to go with pink tackle box, pink lures, pink fake worms, pink rod and re<span style="font-size: small;">el, pink hat, and (not pictured) her pink dinosaur shirt!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVubKUgzemY/UKJZKzz4iqI/AAAAAAAAAy0/cYQI-F4Orvg/s1600/IMG_1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVubKUgzemY/UKJZKzz4iqI/AAAAAAAAAy0/cYQI-F4Orvg/s200/IMG_1917.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First cast of the day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Th<span style="font-size: small;">en, she <span style="font-size: small;">knew that she only had about an hour to fish before we had to be back making sup<span style="font-size: small;">per. Of course, it took her the entire hour before<span style="font-size: small;">, on the "absolutely last cast of the day, honest, this is the last one<span style="font-size: small;">," she called out, "I got one!" which<span style="font-size: small;"> brought me out of my semi<span style="font-size: small;">-consci<span style="font-size: small;">ous state. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viNOsLGHHTw/UKJZTfDOx7I/AAAAAAAAAy8/0oLhFz5XTmY/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viNOsLGHHTw/UKJZTfDOx7I/AAAAAAAAAy8/0oLhFz5XTmY/s200/IMG_1922.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice 4 pound bass!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ye<span style="font-size: small;">p. Real nice one, too!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fin<span style="font-size: small;">al<span style="font-size: small;">ly, our adventure of the <span style="font-size: small;">day ended u<span style="font-size: small;">p with Sweetie cleaning this really nice bass.<span style="font-size: small;"> (Actually, the real end came after getting<span style="font-size: small;"> back <span style="font-size: small;">home and enjoying this delightfully<span style="font-size: small;"> tasting fish perfectly bake<span style="font-size: small;">d!)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EY7lGoy5fhI/UKJZd7uk0aI/AAAAAAAAAzE/C5BydNfKGVo/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EY7lGoy5fhI/UKJZd7uk0aI/AAAAAAAAAzE/C5BydNfKGVo/s200/IMG_1969.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you know it's deer season?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We enjoyed out time at the campground where we were visited by several deer. Seems they were looking for handouts that we had no intention of providing!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The evenings got chilly and the nights<span style="font-size: small;"> were down into the 50's. For us, this was a very big change from the 100+ days that are, apparently, the norm for <span style="font-size: small;">our camping trips. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Sunday, we headed to Sacred Heart for the 1100 Mass. The padre mentioned early on that the AC unit was out and that the service would be short - even the <span style="font-size: small;">homily! But during th<span style="font-size: small;">e service, he called for all of the veterans to join him <span style="font-size: small;">up front so Sweetie and I both walked up to receive his blessing. And the thunderous applause from the rest of the <span style="font-size: small;">congregation<span style="font-size: small;">! And Sweetie was the only woman who came up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the Mass, we decided to have lunch and drove along US 277/US 377 (Veterans Blvd,I believe) and <span style="font-size: small;">saw a bunch of folks at the Del Rio Civic Center. Afterwards, I <span style="font-size: small;">found out they had a Veterans Day presentation and then a Day of Feasting presented by the H-E-B <span style="font-size: small;">grocery store. On the other hand, we had a great lunch (Sweetie ha<span style="font-size: small;">d a brisket sandwich while I chowed down on brisket, sausage, potato<span style="font-size: small;"> salad, cole slaw and iced tea!) at Rudy's BBQ.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtTT_Pwkidg/UKJZhPekkbI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Y4MY8XlVJM4/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtTT_Pwkidg/UKJZhPekkbI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Y4MY8XlVJM4/s200/IMG_1985.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazy BBC just chillin'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Biker Bear Chick missed most of the action as she apparently slept most of the time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The campground was very clean and quiet. Of course, the winds were up on Saturday <span style="font-size: small;">and it is November. <span style="font-size: small;">The marina boat trailer parking area was pretty much filled on Sunday even though<span style="font-size: small;"> the day use area was empty (except for two cute little gir<span style="font-size: small;">ls<span style="font-size: small;">). I suspect this area is completely full during the long weekends during the spring and summer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We both came back rel<span style="font-size: small;">axed and recharged. Can't wait for our next trip! [Note: we are scheduled<span style="font-size: small;"> to spend a few nights at the <span style="font-size: small;">Chisos Mountains Lodge at Big Bend in early December.</span></span>]</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_LSR616yfaw/UKJvQJl09fI/AAAAAAAAAz8/MvLrbz3yQwk/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_LSR616yfaw/UKJvQJl09fI/AAAAAAAAAz8/MvLrbz3yQwk/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset First Night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVA6HdOQM0I/UKJvdqPI6-I/AAAAAAAAA0M/ZFwapTJujjw/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVA6HdOQM0I/UKJvdqPI6-I/AAAAAAAAA0M/ZFwapTJujjw/s320/IMG_1952.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Second Night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDDpWGTKSyE/UKJvk4bgKsI/AAAAAAAAA0U/_aZh6FC4H0Y/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDDpWGTKSyE/UKJvk4bgKsI/AAAAAAAAA0U/_aZh6FC4H0Y/s320/IMG_1981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Second Morning</td></tr>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com1S Winds Marina, Amistad National Recreation Area, Del Rio, TX 78840, USA29.4704785 -101.032534129.4670225 -101.03746960000001 29.4739345 -101.0275986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-34781766209235322032012-10-24T16:05:00.002-05:002012-10-24T16:07:39.282-05:00Making Changes to Rocky, our Pop Up Tent Camper<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/-JySDkjLnQjY/UIhX4tDyWxI/AAAAAAAAAx8/OoskUFvGk3s/s1600/Rocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JySDkjLnQjY/UIhX4tDyWxI/AAAAAAAAAx8/OoskUFvGk3s/s400/Rocky.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desperately needing upgrades :)</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After our trip to Lost Maples SNA where we had to zip up Rocky after having been rained on, we had to open the PuP up to dry out. Since we have it stored in a secure facility, I've been able to leave it all opened up for several days. And, since it's opened up, I decided I had the opportunity to do some of the minor fixes that have been needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To wit, my first repair job simply had to be hinge replacement. Let me begin by saying that the benches around the dinette table are pieces of plywood that have the "backs" attached with hinges. The backs need to lay flat when we drop the ceiling. But, since this is not the most expensive RV on the market nor is it the best made PuP on the market, the hinges were attached with 4 screws instead of the 10 the hinge was designed to handle. Within the first trip or two, I had leaned back one too many times and the screws pulled out and the hinges bent. This caused the sharp edges to cut into our cushion (bad!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, I simple removed the two 6" hinges and replaced with one 30" piano hinge and one 6" hinge with 8 screws attaching it. Now, the seat back lifts easily and feels much more stable than previously.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8TFK3Z6yAc/UIhWkgYMtlI/AAAAAAAAAxc/RUf6HzZ0zqE/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8TFK3Z6yAc/UIhWkgYMtlI/AAAAAAAAAxc/RUf6HzZ0zqE/s400/IMG_1904.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piano hinge with original hinge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was on a ro<span style="font-size: small;">ll so I <span style="font-size: small;">made these changes to all three of the seat back<span style="font-size: small;">s and one of the <span style="font-size: small;">storage bin doors. So far, so good.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then, I went on to rep<span style="font-size: small;">air the toilet/shower lid. Apparently, the small block of wood they used <span style="font-size: small;">was quite insufficient for me to sit on the li<span style="font-size: small;">d. The wood piece broke off the very first trip we took.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I bought <span style="font-size: small;">two 2" corner braces and <span style="font-size: small;">used them to <span style="font-size: small;">provide support for the lid. Even though I doubt the li<span style="font-size: small;">d will hold <span style="font-size: small;">my w<span style="font-size: small;">eight if I were to sit on it, at least it won't bend <span style="font-size: small;">down when I put our <span style="font-size: small;">clothes bag on it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpgT5kPnCnM/UIhWtQFMdwI/AAAAAAAAAxk/LhPB4y7CI2Q/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpgT5kPnCnM/UIhWtQFMdwI/AAAAAAAAAxk/LhPB4y7CI2Q/s400/IMG_1906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mods on the left. The original block on the right.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next, I<span style="font-size: small;"> decided to a<span style="font-size: small;">dd a place to hang up wet tow<span style="font-size: small;">els<span style="font-size: small;"> after showering. I simpl<span style="font-size: small;">y bought a coat rac<span style="font-size: small;">k about 18" long and used a bit of chain to suspend it from our ceiling. When we get <span style="font-size: small;">ready to close up, I just unhook the chain and we can store everything in one of our many, many (not) drawers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yi5odOUDkc/UIhW1FMDdBI/AAAAAAAAAxs/v_1kUBEj4Ig/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yi5odOUDkc/UIhW1FMDdBI/AAAAAAAAAxs/v_1kUBEj4Ig/s400/IMG_1907.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mpSTuYM3jk/UIhXAtkDk7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/zgyKxNgsrK4/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mpSTuYM3jk/UIhXAtkDk7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/zgyKxNgsrK4/s400/IMG_1908.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excess chain will be removed before using.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the future, I plan on getting<span style="font-size: small;"> a replacement mattress, installing a the<span style="font-size: small;">rmometer<span style="font-size: small;">, <span style="font-size: small;">buying or building solar covers for the canvas sections, installing a <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">digital batter<span style="font-size: small;">y meter, installing mud flaps <span style="font-size: small;">to cover our stabilizers, and a whole bun<span style="font-size: small;">ch of other things!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-50398592529123881142012-10-14T10:02:00.000-05:002012-10-25T10:41:11.438-05:00Lost Maples State Natural Area<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJswxdF77uE/UIVisI3tG9I/AAAAAAAAAso/PU3Iqf1Sm-8/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJswxdF77uE/UIVisI3tG9I/AAAAAAAAAso/PU3Iqf1Sm-8/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last March, I finally got a reservation for Lost Maples SNA for the month of October. I had been searching for one since December and considered myself lucky to be able to get a reservation for three nights.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZT1VANYGdk/UIVgrWdzAfI/AAAAAAAAAsY/vZtiJQLq4dY/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZT1VANYGdk/UIVgrWdzAfI/AAAAAAAAAsY/vZtiJQLq4dY/s200/IMG_1666.JPG" width="200" /></a>My Sweetie, Rocky, KR, Bobby O'Bear and I packed up and headed down on a Saturday to this beautiful area south of Junction near the metropolis of Vanderpool, TX. We arrived sometime around 1400 or so and lucked out with a really sweet, semi-secluded campsite. I was glad we got there when we did because it was overcast and it could start raining any minute!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, I had failed in my battery maintenance duties and our 12 volt battery used to lifting the top of Rocky as dead as the proverbial door nail (I always wondered what that meant). So, My Sweetie and I had to hand crank the top while we were experiencing a slight misting which turned into a small shower. Really good thing it was not 110 outside.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hq8kFmgXosM/UIVibm_B-rI/AAAAAAAAAsg/DHS29UrSmhk/s1600/IMG_1668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hq8kFmgXosM/UIVibm_B-rI/AAAAAAAAAsg/DHS29UrSmhk/s200/IMG_1668.JPG" width="200" /></a>Even with this stumble, we were both in great spirits. Deciding to explore the park before firing up the grill, we headed over to the bird watching blind near the trailhead of the Eastern Trail. There, we were waiting for the hordes of birds that should have been there feeding on the many tasty morsels left by the rangers. Alas, we saw a cardinal and a couple of different types of sparrows. Not much else, sigh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4ym1IyZ2hY/UIVkSgAmWQI/AAAAAAAAAs4/OFRzaT7FgQw/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4ym1IyZ2hY/UIVkSgAmWQI/AAAAAAAAAs4/OFRzaT7FgQw/s200/IMG_1675.JPG" width="200" /></a>Once back at our campsite, we did manage to see this bird for just a few minutes. This is a <i>Pyrocephalus rubinus</i> or the Vermilion Flycatcher. This was truly a surprise for us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1lwzrwLwGC8/UIVluR--UNI/AAAAAAAAAtA/qvmT3C35_js/s1600/IMG_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1lwzrwLwGC8/UIVluR--UNI/AAAAAAAAAtA/qvmT3C35_js/s200/IMG_1694.JPG" width="200" /></a>As we finished up having a fine cigar and downing a nice bottle of red wine after finishing our steak supper, we noticed quite a bit of lightening in the sky. Too far away for us to hear any thunder but we hoped we weren't going to be drenched.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday morning and we woke to a beautiful clear sky! As I was sitting outside waiting for the waffles to be ready, I noticed something approaching Rocky with a seeming purpose in life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yep, it was a tarantula. When I moved to get up, she froze completely and allowed me to get very, very close to her. Don't worry. Her bite is not as bad as a bee sting. In fact, when I was growing up in Big Lake, TX, I would sometimes find these beautiful spiders in the wild and actually play with them, letting them crawl on my hand and shoulders. As long as I never actually hurt them, these gentle creatures would leave me alone. We actually saw another one on the Eastern Trail, one at the Ranger Station, and finally, an immature female tried to hitch a ride back home with us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTug4s8UfDQ/UIVpac6jkVI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/1l9apHOiUps/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTug4s8UfDQ/UIVpac6jkVI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/1l9apHOiUps/s200/IMG_0246.JPG" width="150" /></a>After a nice breakfast of waffles, we got into KR and drove to Bandera to attend mass at St. Stanislaus Church, the second oldest Polish church in the U.S. I was very impressed with the inside of this church and in the number of folks leaving the Spanish mass when we arrived. Since Bandera has about 950 residents, I thought having two English and one Spanish mass on Sunday was a bit much. But the second English mass was just as crowded as the Spanish mass. Anyway, I enjoyed taking the time to listen to the highly-accented priest (who, by the way, is from Poland).</span></span></div>
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After getting back to the park, we decided to take Bobby O'Bear on a small hike through the Maple Trail. As you can see in these photos, Bobby wasn't too happy when he saw the Eastern Trail length but he was a trooper on the Maple trail. He also was very interested in the fun facts about the Guadalupe bass (<i>Micropterus treculii</i>, a rare species of fish endemic to Texas).<br />
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We called it a day and returned to Rocky so we could get a good rest before tomorrow's hike of the Eastern Trail. With just a few shattered clouds to the west, we figured the night would be cool and we'd be sleeping like a babe in the barbed wired woods.<br />
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After a hardy breakfast Monday morning, My Sweetie and I started out on the Eastern Trail. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and we had overcast skies and temperatures in the 70's. Perfect for hiking. The trail was less than 5 miles long but took you to the top of the mountain (about 2,200 foot elevation) and we had to climb up about 400 feet of elevation is about 1/2 mile.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I'm ready</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vultures circling for us<br />halfway up the mountain</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">OK. Which way do I do?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Looking down at the Ponds</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">At the Ponds looking up<br />to where we were</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">You are here -<br />middle of nowhere</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ponds</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Once on top, we had great views of the surrounding valleys and of the river. We also saw how far up we had actually traveled! We headed down towards the Ponds before finally getting near the river bank again and, mostly, a flat path. We were pretty tired!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Although we weren't here during the peak of the color season, we did get to see a lot of maples and some color changes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Overall, we both adored this park. Very peaceful, quiet, clean, fresh, and a long way from everywhere. The Rangers were friendly and our fellow campers were very nice. Definitely is on our list to visit again and I'll give this one a healthy three-campers up!</span><br />
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com032378 Fm 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885, USA29.7441742 -99.554553929.7166007 -99.594035900000009 29.7717477 -99.5150719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8730112467568482058.post-26265877294247844182012-09-22T09:27:00.000-05:002012-11-14T11:14:11.788-06:00Possum Kingdom SP<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember the days back when I was a teenager when our family would travel to Possum Kingdom Lake to have a nice get-together with the grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. That was the first place I ever water-skied and the first time I ever rode an inner tube being pulled by a boat! So, I always wanted to take My Sweetie there for a couple of nights of camping.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, we got the chance to take Rocky and drive to the Possum Kingdom SP which is located at the southern end of the lake. We pulled up on a Friday afternoon and spent a few minutes setting up Rocky before we decided to try our hands at fishing! Pretty rocky area, actually.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fishing reports said that stripers were good on live bait as were catfish. The sunfish were hitting anything in the water so I thought we'd do OK. We stopped in the local store and bought some shrimp. However, we came up empty :(</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We decided to take a trip around the area and wound up in Jacksboro, TX, where we bought some take out BBQ. Since we were there, we went into Fort Richardson SP to enjoy our lunch in the trees.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After lunch, we toured Fort Richardson again before we headed back south towards Caddo. On the way, we noticed we were traveling along the Texas Forts Trail and remembered we saw a sign for Fort Griffin. Off we went to visit yet another of the many historic forts in the state of Texas!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNkLlBP03e8/UIVb-Bu4QRI/AAAAAAAAAro/-1FcnSb3zao/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNkLlBP03e8/UIVb-Bu4QRI/AAAAAAAAAro/-1FcnSb3zao/s200/IMG_1596.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we arrived, it was a bright, sunny, hot day and I wasn't looking forward to walking the fort in the sun. Fortunately, we didn't have to do that! There were a couple of electric golf carts that we took advantage of and rode around the fort!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhDo3u24_R4/UIVc9K3KsjI/AAAAAAAAAr4/iZoZ99EHdKY/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhDo3u24_R4/UIVc9K3KsjI/AAAAAAAAAr4/iZoZ99EHdKY/s200/IMG_1603.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two points of interest here: first, the enlisted barracks were Small(!) and, second, the fort was in such poor condition, even the Army I.G. said it wasn't fit for human habitation!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For four soldiers!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ1Je8arM3E/UIVek-lZ71I/AAAAAAAAAsA/3xzDYTAF7Bc/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ1Je8arM3E/UIVek-lZ71I/AAAAAAAAAsA/3xzDYTAF7Bc/s200/IMG_1605.JPG" width="200" /></a>After our tour of the fort's ruins, we decided to explore the rest of this State Historic Site. I found out that this site also has camping sites, both primitive and with electric/water hookups. We drove over to check out the area to see if we might want to camp here sometime and ran across part of the official Texas State Longhorn Herd!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This guy was all by himself, fenced off from the cows. He was very proud of himself, too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, I enjoyed myself on this trip as it was the first one with our new King Ranch 4x4 Off-road F150. Towing was a pleasure with this one as we barely noticed Rocky was behind us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will give this park a full three campers. It was clean, quiet, close to the water, and gave us a very relaxing weekend.</span></span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05315015490015014552noreply@blogger.com0Possum Kingdom State Park, 3901 Park Road 33, Caddo, TX 76429, USA32.8695704 -98.566607732.8428974 -98.606089700000012 32.8962434 -98.5271257