Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/31/2018
The rent and electric is due tomorrow but was paid today. From what others are crying about on the electric bill, the Castle with its better than normal insulation and the solar panels being used to help cover a nice chunk of the electric usage seems to be a savings leader. We do our heating with electric here in Rockport since the OFM’s spreadsheet says that the electric is within
fractions of a cent per BTU the same as LPG, except you still have to take your tanks to get them filled or exchanged.
That brings us to a question we could use a little help on. We are planning on putting our Jetpack back into service for our running around in nowhereville soon, we hope. However the OFM has managed to not keep any records about how much data we used when we last used it nearly a year ago. We do not stream anything, watch movies etc. We write and publish the blog and look around on the internet for neat places for adventures. Any information on RVers volume data per month would be appreciated so we can make a decent guess at how much gigs per month we need to purchase upon restart. We will be using verizon with a veterans discount.
It was a cool bright sunny day here today. A nice amount of walking and fishing was done but no exciting adventures came our way. With a bit of luck weather wise, tomorrow we will get the new bicycle out for a run as a great way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/31/18
1/30/18
Slow And Gentle
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/30/2018
The OFM did get out today and do some walking. He also found out he was not going to exceed yesterdays distance, but he came close. Remember, No pushing allowed is the rule for now.
Along the way he noticed some bright gleams from a few palm trees. It looked like little lights emanating from the trunk of the tree. What it turned out to be was sap reflecting the bright sunlight. Something had damaged the palm trees trucks in this area from ground level up to about 13 feet above ground. Here is what the trunk of the trees looked like.
It looks like something like small rocks hit the trunks at high speed. Maybe some of the parking lot rocks getting shoved by tornadic speed winds made the impacts. They were definitely leaking a lot of sap.
We even considered that maybe debris from the close by gazebo could have been the culprit. All the damage to the trees was on the side toward the bay.
Anyway it was nice break in the mornings events.
Fishing was done for about an hour of slow walking on a pier and the OFM did not lose a lure. Hooray for him.
We did not even come close to having tooooo much fun but we did achieve a lot of gentle and comfortable fun. So it was a great day.
Adventure Date: 1/30/2018
The OFM did get out today and do some walking. He also found out he was not going to exceed yesterdays distance, but he came close. Remember, No pushing allowed is the rule for now.
Along the way he noticed some bright gleams from a few palm trees. It looked like little lights emanating from the trunk of the tree. What it turned out to be was sap reflecting the bright sunlight. Something had damaged the palm trees trucks in this area from ground level up to about 13 feet above ground. Here is what the trunk of the trees looked like.
It looks like something like small rocks hit the trunks at high speed. Maybe some of the parking lot rocks getting shoved by tornadic speed winds made the impacts. They were definitely leaking a lot of sap.
We even considered that maybe debris from the close by gazebo could have been the culprit. All the damage to the trees was on the side toward the bay.
Anyway it was nice break in the mornings events.
Fishing was done for about an hour of slow walking on a pier and the OFM did not lose a lure. Hooray for him.
We did not even come close to having tooooo much fun but we did achieve a lot of gentle and comfortable fun. So it was a great day.
1/29/18
Mending
Adventure Location: Fulton, TX
Adventure Date: 1/29/2018
The last two days the OFM did a little walking around including casting lures and swinging golf clubs. It did not take long to hit his physical limit. Today he decided to walk gently until a part of his body hollered “uncle”. The first stop was the Rockport Beach which for now is the scene of the largest congregation of huge mosquitoes ever. That did not last long and off Sierra took us north.
Our next stop was the Fulton Harbor. The big difference is the Fulton Harbor doesn’t have marshland all around it. During our lengthy stop there only two mosquitoes came into play. The goal was walk to the point that a body part says stop and stop. There will not be any “pushing it” until full healing is evident.
Sierra parked near the breakwater and the weather was wonderful. Check out the 64F weather.
The OFM got strolling and away we went. This was not meandering but walking for exercise. There is a major difference. We walked along the breakwater and then along the street and then near the boats. In other words we walked all over the place but never really far from Sierra. The OFM kept on changing the scenery so he did not get bored with repetition. At one point we passed near the destroyed fishing pier and the water was beautiful clear green. In warm weather it would have been full of speckled trout.
After forever the OFM was starting to have conversations with his calves and thighs, so we cut over closer to Sierra on the next pass. Sure enough the conversation came to a halt as did the OFM. He hopped into Sierra and we headed for the Castle. It turned out it was not a long walk but it was all that the OFM could comfortably do.
Back at the Castle we used Google maps to measure the distance and it was only .95 miles. It seemed a good bit longer than it was but that shows you how degraded two weeks of viral infection can take you down.
So now we have an important task at hand of rebuilding the OFM’s ability to move around so we can get rolling. We bet he can turn that into a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/29/2018
The last two days the OFM did a little walking around including casting lures and swinging golf clubs. It did not take long to hit his physical limit. Today he decided to walk gently until a part of his body hollered “uncle”. The first stop was the Rockport Beach which for now is the scene of the largest congregation of huge mosquitoes ever. That did not last long and off Sierra took us north.
Our next stop was the Fulton Harbor. The big difference is the Fulton Harbor doesn’t have marshland all around it. During our lengthy stop there only two mosquitoes came into play. The goal was walk to the point that a body part says stop and stop. There will not be any “pushing it” until full healing is evident.
Sierra parked near the breakwater and the weather was wonderful. Check out the 64F weather.
The OFM got strolling and away we went. This was not meandering but walking for exercise. There is a major difference. We walked along the breakwater and then along the street and then near the boats. In other words we walked all over the place but never really far from Sierra. The OFM kept on changing the scenery so he did not get bored with repetition. At one point we passed near the destroyed fishing pier and the water was beautiful clear green. In warm weather it would have been full of speckled trout.
After forever the OFM was starting to have conversations with his calves and thighs, so we cut over closer to Sierra on the next pass. Sure enough the conversation came to a halt as did the OFM. He hopped into Sierra and we headed for the Castle. It turned out it was not a long walk but it was all that the OFM could comfortably do.
Back at the Castle we used Google maps to measure the distance and it was only .95 miles. It seemed a good bit longer than it was but that shows you how degraded two weeks of viral infection can take you down.
So now we have an important task at hand of rebuilding the OFM’s ability to move around so we can get rolling. We bet he can turn that into a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/28/18
Bottomed Out
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/28/2018
A bit of running around, a lot of people, that have no idea what they are talking about, forcefully telling the OFM to go get an antibiotic for his viral infection and a quick trip to visit the sinking boat.
During the running around the OFM Fishing Team had a grand time casting lures and getting no bites. However we did donate a lure to Davy Jones. Ratz, that means a trip to the fishing tackle store tomorrow. He really hates doing that. he he he. Sometimes we think he aims at the rocks on purpose.
The sinking boat is totally bottomed on the mud in the slip.
It sank another foot or so and now the entire keel is on the bottom. We are wondering what the Harbor Master is going to do with it before it starts leaking oil or other hydrocarbons. That would get the Federal EPA involved.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day so we will likely work on losing lures as a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/28/2018
A bit of running around, a lot of people, that have no idea what they are talking about, forcefully telling the OFM to go get an antibiotic for his viral infection and a quick trip to visit the sinking boat.
During the running around the OFM Fishing Team had a grand time casting lures and getting no bites. However we did donate a lure to Davy Jones. Ratz, that means a trip to the fishing tackle store tomorrow. He really hates doing that. he he he. Sometimes we think he aims at the rocks on purpose.
The sinking boat is totally bottomed on the mud in the slip.
It sank another foot or so and now the entire keel is on the bottom. We are wondering what the Harbor Master is going to do with it before it starts leaking oil or other hydrocarbons. That would get the Federal EPA involved.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day so we will likely work on losing lures as a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/27/18
Treasure Hunting
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/27/2018
Today it got all the way up to 63F with rain in the afternoon. So the Teams did a little meandering this morning before the rains hit. Our main item was to check on the sinking boat. We found that it is still sinking. The forward part of the boat is definitely lower in the water. It has also taken a more severe list to port.
That did not take long so we had Sierra carry us over to the Rockport Beach to do some more meandering. We are needing the practice. The fog was pretty thick and not much was happening so we started back to the entrance. A HA there is something.
Sierra got us lined up right for a picture. This fellow was a lot farther away and covered in fog until the camera was let loose to do its job. It came out pretty nice we think. Treasure hunting is great fun. We have been around a few versions of treasure hunting and had some wonderful adventures.
He dug up a spot about every five minutes. Screened the sand and refilled the hole. His treasure bag kept on getting something put into it. The OFM was going to visit him except for what happened next.
Suddenly Sierra started rocking back and forth like a bad wind had started. We glanced over at the water and it was still slick as glass. ??????????
Then we saw this mosquito on the windshield like a look out. It was on the outside and did not scare away.
The OFM rolled the window down to look outside. When he looked down there was a few million mosquitos pushing and pulling on Sierra trying to tump us over. They were getting pretty violent about it in a hurry. The look out was now cheering them on. Apparently they wanted to bust Sierra open to get at the fresh blood in the OFM container. Well Sierra quickly got its fill of that activity and sped us away to safety. We hate to think what would happen if those mosquitoes realized the Treasure Hunter was just a few hundred feet away.
For the next half hour or so until the drizzles started, the recovering but still sick OFM chose places for Sierra to take us for a nice look around. But soon the drizzle got to be rain and it was time to go back to the Castle. And that is where we stayed for the rest of the day, piddling around trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/27/2018
Today it got all the way up to 63F with rain in the afternoon. So the Teams did a little meandering this morning before the rains hit. Our main item was to check on the sinking boat. We found that it is still sinking. The forward part of the boat is definitely lower in the water. It has also taken a more severe list to port.
That did not take long so we had Sierra carry us over to the Rockport Beach to do some more meandering. We are needing the practice. The fog was pretty thick and not much was happening so we started back to the entrance. A HA there is something.
Sierra got us lined up right for a picture. This fellow was a lot farther away and covered in fog until the camera was let loose to do its job. It came out pretty nice we think. Treasure hunting is great fun. We have been around a few versions of treasure hunting and had some wonderful adventures.
He dug up a spot about every five minutes. Screened the sand and refilled the hole. His treasure bag kept on getting something put into it. The OFM was going to visit him except for what happened next.
Suddenly Sierra started rocking back and forth like a bad wind had started. We glanced over at the water and it was still slick as glass. ??????????
Then we saw this mosquito on the windshield like a look out. It was on the outside and did not scare away.
The OFM rolled the window down to look outside. When he looked down there was a few million mosquitos pushing and pulling on Sierra trying to tump us over. They were getting pretty violent about it in a hurry. The look out was now cheering them on. Apparently they wanted to bust Sierra open to get at the fresh blood in the OFM container. Well Sierra quickly got its fill of that activity and sped us away to safety. We hate to think what would happen if those mosquitoes realized the Treasure Hunter was just a few hundred feet away.
For the next half hour or so until the drizzles started, the recovering but still sick OFM chose places for Sierra to take us for a nice look around. But soon the drizzle got to be rain and it was time to go back to the Castle. And that is where we stayed for the rest of the day, piddling around trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/26/18
Bottomed Out
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/26/2018
Today it got all the way up to 75F with sunshine in the afternoon. The OFM was doing a little getting out and about when he decided a fishing lure needed to be washed of in the saltwater. So we got Sierra to take the Teams off to the harbor for some messing around.
The lure and popping cork went to work in the beautiful green water. Surely there is a fish in there. If there was it did not have any interest in our offering. The OFM started to shut the fishing effort down.
When he glanced on out to the end of the moorings, a sight that was not expected was waiting. Some thing did not look right about the scene down that way.
So the fishing gear was stowed away in Sierra and the camera came out. We had Meanderthal work to do. The Team headed out toward the end of the moorings. We threaded our way past the Yacht Club building that is getting a new roof. There must be twenty folks working on that building.
As we got closer we could see there was a serious trouble happening with the old wooden boat that is rotting apart. Then when we got to the boat we could see that the aft section was sitting on the bottom of its slip. This looks like a real trouble to us.
As you can see the boat is partially held together with straps and extra boards nailed on here and there. It might turn out to be a good story some day soon but for now somebody is having a bad day. We seriously doubt that having your boat sinking is a very good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/26/2018
Today it got all the way up to 75F with sunshine in the afternoon. The OFM was doing a little getting out and about when he decided a fishing lure needed to be washed of in the saltwater. So we got Sierra to take the Teams off to the harbor for some messing around.
The lure and popping cork went to work in the beautiful green water. Surely there is a fish in there. If there was it did not have any interest in our offering. The OFM started to shut the fishing effort down.
When he glanced on out to the end of the moorings, a sight that was not expected was waiting. Some thing did not look right about the scene down that way.
So the fishing gear was stowed away in Sierra and the camera came out. We had Meanderthal work to do. The Team headed out toward the end of the moorings. We threaded our way past the Yacht Club building that is getting a new roof. There must be twenty folks working on that building.
As we got closer we could see there was a serious trouble happening with the old wooden boat that is rotting apart. Then when we got to the boat we could see that the aft section was sitting on the bottom of its slip. This looks like a real trouble to us.
As you can see the boat is partially held together with straps and extra boards nailed on here and there. It might turn out to be a good story some day soon but for now somebody is having a bad day. We seriously doubt that having your boat sinking is a very good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/25/18
Buggy Afternoon
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/25/2018
The OFM managed to get almost six straight hours of sleep before the mucus clog jammed his air passage way closed. He rose from his bed in a great rage and panic. For some reason he thinks he needs to be able to breathe often. After the clog was moved on he breathed for a little while and headed back to bed. The rest of the sleep was uninterrupted.
By late afternoon he was ready for the Teams to head out into the chilly damp day and roam a bit. We had a new popping cork to try out and this might be a good day for a short bit of fishing.
There were almost no folks down at the rock pier so we went out on it to try the popping cork design for performance. It failed badly. So we headed back to Sierra.
BUT
Over on the animal play area next to the beach was a fellow with a remote controlled hotrod dune buggy. He was looking like a great big smile to us. The buggy was doing all sorts of wild turns, jumps off the small dunes and sometimes some flips and bounces across the grass and sand. At one point the buggy was running across the grass and a bark cannon decided it was interested. The owner of the bark cannon pulled mightily on the lease to control it. The buggy owner turned the buggy away and went on about his business of having fun.
Several times the buggy was sent into the air in a semi controlled manner. Sometimes it landed on it wheels and sometimes not on its wheels.
After probably about twenty minutes of fantastic displays of acrobaticism the buggy took a particularly bad ground impact like the OFM does when he falls. The buggy did not get back up. The owner took off a hatch and poked around for a short time. Nope it was not coming alive again. The cold wind had the OFM shivering, so when the buggy owner picked the buggy up in two pieces and headed to his vehicle, the OFM headed for Sierra.
It certainly looked like playing with that sort of buggy could be an excellent way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/25/2018
The OFM managed to get almost six straight hours of sleep before the mucus clog jammed his air passage way closed. He rose from his bed in a great rage and panic. For some reason he thinks he needs to be able to breathe often. After the clog was moved on he breathed for a little while and headed back to bed. The rest of the sleep was uninterrupted.
By late afternoon he was ready for the Teams to head out into the chilly damp day and roam a bit. We had a new popping cork to try out and this might be a good day for a short bit of fishing.
There were almost no folks down at the rock pier so we went out on it to try the popping cork design for performance. It failed badly. So we headed back to Sierra.
BUT
Over on the animal play area next to the beach was a fellow with a remote controlled hotrod dune buggy. He was looking like a great big smile to us. The buggy was doing all sorts of wild turns, jumps off the small dunes and sometimes some flips and bounces across the grass and sand. At one point the buggy was running across the grass and a bark cannon decided it was interested. The owner of the bark cannon pulled mightily on the lease to control it. The buggy owner turned the buggy away and went on about his business of having fun.
Several times the buggy was sent into the air in a semi controlled manner. Sometimes it landed on it wheels and sometimes not on its wheels.
After probably about twenty minutes of fantastic displays of acrobaticism the buggy took a particularly bad ground impact like the OFM does when he falls. The buggy did not get back up. The owner took off a hatch and poked around for a short time. Nope it was not coming alive again. The cold wind had the OFM shivering, so when the buggy owner picked the buggy up in two pieces and headed to his vehicle, the OFM headed for Sierra.
It certainly looked like playing with that sort of buggy could be an excellent way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/24/18
The Fun Of It
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/24/2018
Lets see how this fun works out. All air passages are partially clogged with hardened play dough. When the OTC dope hits them the clogs come out at the speed of sound propelled by your sore stomach muscles contracting hard enough to break an anvil. Some times a moderate body temperature comes in to rest a bit. Then it falls apart and you sweat about four gallons of sweat to make you feel like you are doing something worthwhile.
In the meantime you have a really hard time talking because every other word is hack or coff or sniff. Then the huge wad of paper towels you carry around with the plastic shopping bag for holding the used paper towels keeps getting in the way when in the stores. We guess the good part is the folks that are not sick definitely get out of the way in the aisles in self defense.
All in all we think we are doing well because every now and then nothing hurts. But then again it makes you wonder what is wrong. Having tooooo much fun is definitely not in the plans.
Adventure Date: 1/24/2018
Lets see how this fun works out. All air passages are partially clogged with hardened play dough. When the OTC dope hits them the clogs come out at the speed of sound propelled by your sore stomach muscles contracting hard enough to break an anvil. Some times a moderate body temperature comes in to rest a bit. Then it falls apart and you sweat about four gallons of sweat to make you feel like you are doing something worthwhile.
In the meantime you have a really hard time talking because every other word is hack or coff or sniff. Then the huge wad of paper towels you carry around with the plastic shopping bag for holding the used paper towels keeps getting in the way when in the stores. We guess the good part is the folks that are not sick definitely get out of the way in the aisles in self defense.
All in all we think we are doing well because every now and then nothing hurts. But then again it makes you wonder what is wrong. Having tooooo much fun is definitely not in the plans.
1/22/18
Harbor Fog Update
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/22/2018
The air was cool and the fish were not biting so the Teams wandered a little bit and found two pictures waiting to be claimed. The pictures hopped into the Team’s camera and came back to the Castle with us.
We think the morning fog made the pictures nice. Here is one of the harbor boats showing repairs from the hurricane in progress.
On out at the end of the harbor is the breakwater. There was another picture waiting for us to bring it home and show the world. This is looking from the harbor end outbound of the harbor into the bay waters.
The cool wet weather soon pushed us back into the warm dry Castle and comfort. Sometimes being comfortable is important. So the comfortable OFM picked up his art supplies and ruined another sheet of paper trying to have tooooo much fun.
Evening Edition
The virus is now bronchial and being treated. Expected recovery is around Mar.1 if the OFM is lucky. Getting out for a vigorous run around is not in the future as a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/22/2018
The air was cool and the fish were not biting so the Teams wandered a little bit and found two pictures waiting to be claimed. The pictures hopped into the Team’s camera and came back to the Castle with us.
We think the morning fog made the pictures nice. Here is one of the harbor boats showing repairs from the hurricane in progress.
On out at the end of the harbor is the breakwater. There was another picture waiting for us to bring it home and show the world. This is looking from the harbor end outbound of the harbor into the bay waters.
The cool wet weather soon pushed us back into the warm dry Castle and comfort. Sometimes being comfortable is important. So the comfortable OFM picked up his art supplies and ruined another sheet of paper trying to have tooooo much fun.
Evening Edition
The virus is now bronchial and being treated. Expected recovery is around Mar.1 if the OFM is lucky. Getting out for a vigorous run around is not in the future as a way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/20/18
Slithering Creature
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/20/2018
It was 1984 out in Pedernales Falls State Park. A sordid creature of suspicious background was slithering on and over the rocks in the river just to look around. That critter later became known as the Old Fat Man, a Meanderthall of ill repute. It came to a place where the large river rocks almost made a complete circle out in the river bed. It managed to make it down to the small pool in the 8 foot deep pothole in the river. A small waterfall was running over the upper ledge and splashing merrily on the small pond at the bottom. The water filtered through the cracks in the rocks and continued on down stream.
The creature noticed a natural bench near the pool and sat down to rest a bit. It was enjoying the peace and gentle water music when it suddenly noticed the object. It was a Thermos brand mug. It was a pretty red. Imprinted on the side was the logo for Shell Oil Co. Below that is printed WESTHOLLOW RESEARCH CENTER and below that is 1983 Safety Award.
It was basically brand new. The creature rested for about a half hour and it was time to meander some more. He picked up the cup in case someone was nearby that had forgotten it. There was no humans in sight. The cup, since that day, has been with the OFM.
It is now worn and a little ragged. The slick lining is now worn through a few places and is difficult to wash clean. It is a grand cup that has served well for lots of years and seen thousands of places in the USA.
For a few years the OFM has been considering retiring his old friend. But is has been difficult to part company. Finally yesterday, a new mug was found. It is a fisherman’s mug.
Notice it says Texas Trio on it. That is close enough but here on the coast the natives call it a Texas Slam. That is a stringer with a redfish, a speckled trout and a nice flounder. It has a nice heft to it and a very comfortable handle. Of course it had to be filled the first time with the OFM’s preferred winter drink, Hot Chocolate.
Now the old cup can snuggle into the back of the cabinet and rest. However we did make sure that it knows that it must be ready to be called into service at any time in the future should it’s services be needed while we are trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/20/2018
It was 1984 out in Pedernales Falls State Park. A sordid creature of suspicious background was slithering on and over the rocks in the river just to look around. That critter later became known as the Old Fat Man, a Meanderthall of ill repute. It came to a place where the large river rocks almost made a complete circle out in the river bed. It managed to make it down to the small pool in the 8 foot deep pothole in the river. A small waterfall was running over the upper ledge and splashing merrily on the small pond at the bottom. The water filtered through the cracks in the rocks and continued on down stream.
The creature noticed a natural bench near the pool and sat down to rest a bit. It was enjoying the peace and gentle water music when it suddenly noticed the object. It was a Thermos brand mug. It was a pretty red. Imprinted on the side was the logo for Shell Oil Co. Below that is printed WESTHOLLOW RESEARCH CENTER and below that is 1983 Safety Award.
It was basically brand new. The creature rested for about a half hour and it was time to meander some more. He picked up the cup in case someone was nearby that had forgotten it. There was no humans in sight. The cup, since that day, has been with the OFM.
It is now worn and a little ragged. The slick lining is now worn through a few places and is difficult to wash clean. It is a grand cup that has served well for lots of years and seen thousands of places in the USA.
For a few years the OFM has been considering retiring his old friend. But is has been difficult to part company. Finally yesterday, a new mug was found. It is a fisherman’s mug.
Notice it says Texas Trio on it. That is close enough but here on the coast the natives call it a Texas Slam. That is a stringer with a redfish, a speckled trout and a nice flounder. It has a nice heft to it and a very comfortable handle. Of course it had to be filled the first time with the OFM’s preferred winter drink, Hot Chocolate.
Now the old cup can snuggle into the back of the cabinet and rest. However we did make sure that it knows that it must be ready to be called into service at any time in the future should it’s services be needed while we are trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/18/18
Double Yuck
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX
Adventure Date: 1/18/2018
Well there he goes. The OFM is running low fever, headaches etc of an ordinary sinus virus. With the cold air and rain predicted for the next couple of days the Teams voted he shall take a few days off to beat back the attacker. With that in mind we will return when he recovers and can get out to have adventures again. Someone needs to take over the task of having tooooo much fun for a while. ZZZzzzzzzz
Adventure Date: 1/18/2018
Well there he goes. The OFM is running low fever, headaches etc of an ordinary sinus virus. With the cold air and rain predicted for the next couple of days the Teams voted he shall take a few days off to beat back the attacker. With that in mind we will return when he recovers and can get out to have adventures again. Someone needs to take over the task of having tooooo much fun for a while. ZZZzzzzzzz
1/17/18
Piles Everywhere
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/14/2018
Two days ago the OFM had on shorts and a tee shirt as we went to the Rockport Beach to find out what all the clanging and banging and roaring diesel engines was about. It was a very nice day and folks were out enjoying the winter weather.
The gulls, terns and pelicans were all having parties all up and down the beach area. We were able to get a neat shot of them swarming the area near the saltwater pool. They were doing a pretty good job of “decorating" the parked vehicles.
After riding around a bit we finally figured out what the noise was about. There was new piles of sand/dirt in strategic location all over the Park. It seems the Navigation District is in the process of putting back the dirt/sand that hurricane Harvey removed. From the looks of the loads of sand it will be even better than ever before.
For equipment operators that like playing in the sand it looks like this will be the place for trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/14/2018
Two days ago the OFM had on shorts and a tee shirt as we went to the Rockport Beach to find out what all the clanging and banging and roaring diesel engines was about. It was a very nice day and folks were out enjoying the winter weather.
The gulls, terns and pelicans were all having parties all up and down the beach area. We were able to get a neat shot of them swarming the area near the saltwater pool. They were doing a pretty good job of “decorating" the parked vehicles.
After riding around a bit we finally figured out what the noise was about. There was new piles of sand/dirt in strategic location all over the Park. It seems the Navigation District is in the process of putting back the dirt/sand that hurricane Harvey removed. From the looks of the loads of sand it will be even better than ever before.
For equipment operators that like playing in the sand it looks like this will be the place for trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/16/18
Taco Nap
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/16/2018
Here we are at 1915 in the evening enjoying the 29 degree drizzling rain outside of the Castle. WOW it is great fun. In reality it has been a busy day. Lunch was some great chicken tacos. The OFM came out of the restaurant to be greeted by ice on the side mirrors of Sierra. Yep the OFM agreed it was time to head back to the Castle and hibernate.
A bit of horizontal time was induced by the Mexican food we forced down the OFM’s throat. When he awakened he flew out of bed in a whirlwind of frantic activity that lasted close to 23 seconds. WOW that was “exciting”.
A friend stopped by and had a nice visit with a few subjects discussed and other problems solved. After that it has been just the Teams and the 29 degree drizzle to enjoy.
But then supper time finally got here and the pancakes slathered in peanut butter and syrup were wonderful. Now all that is left to do is survive the night with some hot tea because at noon tomorrow the warming trend is scheduled to start. The ice layer should melt pretty quickly and the good times will be landing soon after.
We have to figure out a way to stretch the remaining three hours of get ready we have left into two weeks of effort. Then we can roll on off into the sunset looking for more ways of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/16/2018
Here we are at 1915 in the evening enjoying the 29 degree drizzling rain outside of the Castle. WOW it is great fun. In reality it has been a busy day. Lunch was some great chicken tacos. The OFM came out of the restaurant to be greeted by ice on the side mirrors of Sierra. Yep the OFM agreed it was time to head back to the Castle and hibernate.
A bit of horizontal time was induced by the Mexican food we forced down the OFM’s throat. When he awakened he flew out of bed in a whirlwind of frantic activity that lasted close to 23 seconds. WOW that was “exciting”.
A friend stopped by and had a nice visit with a few subjects discussed and other problems solved. After that it has been just the Teams and the 29 degree drizzle to enjoy.
But then supper time finally got here and the pancakes slathered in peanut butter and syrup were wonderful. Now all that is left to do is survive the night with some hot tea because at noon tomorrow the warming trend is scheduled to start. The ice layer should melt pretty quickly and the good times will be landing soon after.
We have to figure out a way to stretch the remaining three hours of get ready we have left into two weeks of effort. Then we can roll on off into the sunset looking for more ways of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/15/18
PINS Grassland Nature Trail
Adventure Location: Padre Island NS, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/xx/2018
This adventure was a few days ago but there is no exact memory of which day it was.
After you pass through the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) entry point and move on down the road about a quarter mile, the Grasslands Nature Trail is on your right. For some reason the OFM really enjoys this very mild trail and has walked it many times in the past. He did it AGAIN on this day and still enjoyed it.
He takes his time and meanders like a real professional Meanderthal. The sign at the beginning gives you some idea of the things you may see along the trail.
Just the other side of the sign is this group of yucca to cheer you on your way. They are a very good specimen of the plant. If you get close and listen carefully they can tell you many wild happenings in the area.
The trail is very accommodating to most any mode of travel. The paving is well maintained all the way around the area. It winds in and out of the hills of sand and grasses with occasional views of Laguna Madre in the distance. In the winter it can be very cold and in the summer miserably hot. Substantial wind is a constant possibility.
You will see agave of many different sizes. Some are really healthy and others bear the scars of prairie fires in the past.
Since this is a natural area the large ants are a normal part of the landscape. They are easy to avoid but sometimes interesting to watch for a few minutes. If they happen to show interest in your feet, move on quickly.
An since this is real desert there are stickers of all sorts scattered around the trail. If you leave the trail for a photo or closer look please pay attention to the vegetation. It can be painful.
When you get back to your vehicle, the closest restroom is a few miles on into the park at the visitor center. The visitor center has neat things to see inside it too. The high stairs accessed from the visitor center deck is neat to go up for a panoramic view of the area.
Then when you return to the deck another set of stairs takes you down to the beach to frolic. But first please read the caution signs along the beach stairs. They can help you have a very pleasant adventure on the beach.
The OFM goes here often because he always comes very close to having tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/xx/2018
This adventure was a few days ago but there is no exact memory of which day it was.
After you pass through the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) entry point and move on down the road about a quarter mile, the Grasslands Nature Trail is on your right. For some reason the OFM really enjoys this very mild trail and has walked it many times in the past. He did it AGAIN on this day and still enjoyed it.
He takes his time and meanders like a real professional Meanderthal. The sign at the beginning gives you some idea of the things you may see along the trail.
Just the other side of the sign is this group of yucca to cheer you on your way. They are a very good specimen of the plant. If you get close and listen carefully they can tell you many wild happenings in the area.
The trail is very accommodating to most any mode of travel. The paving is well maintained all the way around the area. It winds in and out of the hills of sand and grasses with occasional views of Laguna Madre in the distance. In the winter it can be very cold and in the summer miserably hot. Substantial wind is a constant possibility.
You will see agave of many different sizes. Some are really healthy and others bear the scars of prairie fires in the past.
An since this is real desert there are stickers of all sorts scattered around the trail. If you leave the trail for a photo or closer look please pay attention to the vegetation. It can be painful.
When you get back to your vehicle, the closest restroom is a few miles on into the park at the visitor center. The visitor center has neat things to see inside it too. The high stairs accessed from the visitor center deck is neat to go up for a panoramic view of the area.
Then when you return to the deck another set of stairs takes you down to the beach to frolic. But first please read the caution signs along the beach stairs. They can help you have a very pleasant adventure on the beach.
The OFM goes here often because he always comes very close to having tooooo much fun.
1/12/18
What Is It?
Adventure Location: Rockport Harbor, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/12/2018
The OFM has walked and ridden his bicycles out on this breakwater at least a hundred times since we started coming here in late 2007. This is the first time he has noticed the OBJECT. Of course he never walked out on the breakwater when the water was as low as it is now. As he was in a good Meander mode, he was really paying attention to everything he could see.
Suddenly this object was visible under the water surface.
Now what is that he thought (yes he really does think once in a while). His eyes tried really hard to decipher the object. The water was just a bit too rough to make it out. After identifying the location so it could be found again, the Team went away to wait for a calmer day. That day was today and the pictures were take late this afternoon.
The Teams still could not be certain what we were seeing. When the water is back to normal there is about 3.5 feet more water over the object. We doubt it is visible then.
After taking several more pictures of the object we headed back to the Castle. Using our limited photographic skills the pictures were enhanced so the object was somewhat better.
Here is one end of the object.
What could that be?
Here is the other end of the object. They seem to be attached to each other but it is lightly covered with mud in the middle.
Several things come to mind in the fertile field of the OFM’s imagination. Not the least is some sort of sleeping SEA MONSTER.
One thing for certain it was fun to imagine about and photograph. It made for a great afternoon of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 1/12/2018
The OFM has walked and ridden his bicycles out on this breakwater at least a hundred times since we started coming here in late 2007. This is the first time he has noticed the OBJECT. Of course he never walked out on the breakwater when the water was as low as it is now. As he was in a good Meander mode, he was really paying attention to everything he could see.
Suddenly this object was visible under the water surface.
Now what is that he thought (yes he really does think once in a while). His eyes tried really hard to decipher the object. The water was just a bit too rough to make it out. After identifying the location so it could be found again, the Team went away to wait for a calmer day. That day was today and the pictures were take late this afternoon.
The Teams still could not be certain what we were seeing. When the water is back to normal there is about 3.5 feet more water over the object. We doubt it is visible then.
After taking several more pictures of the object we headed back to the Castle. Using our limited photographic skills the pictures were enhanced so the object was somewhat better.
Here is one end of the object.
What could that be?
Here is the other end of the object. They seem to be attached to each other but it is lightly covered with mud in the middle.
Several things come to mind in the fertile field of the OFM’s imagination. Not the least is some sort of sleeping SEA MONSTER.
One thing for certain it was fun to imagine about and photograph. It made for a great afternoon of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/11/18
Bad Winds
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/11/2018
We are having a real nasty wind storm tonight. The garage across the street is in the process of having its sheet metal roof removed by the winds. The remaining hurricane debris is now not in neat piles but scattered all over the place. We are hoping the Castle does not get any damage from the flying debris. The temps are dropping fairly quickly. All in all it is not a great night for trying to have tooooo much fun.
FRIDAY MORNING EDIT: We made it without any damage. Others were not so lucky. Glad that is over.
Adventure Date: 1/11/2018
We are having a real nasty wind storm tonight. The garage across the street is in the process of having its sheet metal roof removed by the winds. The remaining hurricane debris is now not in neat piles but scattered all over the place. We are hoping the Castle does not get any damage from the flying debris. The temps are dropping fairly quickly. All in all it is not a great night for trying to have tooooo much fun.
FRIDAY MORNING EDIT: We made it without any damage. Others were not so lucky. Glad that is over.
1/10/18
Crowbar Headache
Adventure Location: Rockport, TX.
Adventure Date: 1/10/2018
The revelation hit the OFM hard right between the eyes with great vigor. He was deep into planning our travel route and times for 2018. The concentration was mighty so the impact was a major surprise. KABLAM and you could hear the rocks in his head rattle around.
But first a bit of history. A few blogs ago the Teams announced that 2018 was to be a year of few if any long term plans and a year of plain old roaming as adventures presented themselves. The OFM is finding that hard to handle. He has mentioned that he is worried that his blogging might suffer with irregularity. The rest of the Team members insisted that that might be a good thing. Hmmmmm he said.
So after the crowbar of the Meanderthal Society was removed from the OFM’s forehead he started to listen. He even agreed he had fallen into the old pattern of the last couple of years already. He said that at least we know he will have to WORK (he really hates that word) at this minimal planning thing.
Please keep in mind that the Teams will be erratic on posts starting tonight but we will not be giving up the blog effort. Blogging is a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun. Now the OFM wants to go lie down and nurse his headache.
Adventure Date: 1/10/2018
The revelation hit the OFM hard right between the eyes with great vigor. He was deep into planning our travel route and times for 2018. The concentration was mighty so the impact was a major surprise. KABLAM and you could hear the rocks in his head rattle around.
But first a bit of history. A few blogs ago the Teams announced that 2018 was to be a year of few if any long term plans and a year of plain old roaming as adventures presented themselves. The OFM is finding that hard to handle. He has mentioned that he is worried that his blogging might suffer with irregularity. The rest of the Team members insisted that that might be a good thing. Hmmmmm he said.
So after the crowbar of the Meanderthal Society was removed from the OFM’s forehead he started to listen. He even agreed he had fallen into the old pattern of the last couple of years already. He said that at least we know he will have to WORK (he really hates that word) at this minimal planning thing.
Please keep in mind that the Teams will be erratic on posts starting tonight but we will not be giving up the blog effort. Blogging is a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun. Now the OFM wants to go lie down and nurse his headache.
1/8/18
No More Bear Hugs
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/08/2018
The day had arrived. Today was the day chosen that the Teams begin their get ready to roll work.The LPG Tanks on the Castle were 30# tanks. One tank lasted us about 11 months. The re-certification date arrived April 1, 2017 for them so on March 31 they were topped off so we would have nearly two years until it was required to re-certify or replace them.
However a bit of a trouble had developed. A single full tank weighed 59# on the bathroom scale. The OFM has gotten so decrepit that he had to bear hug a full one if he had to move it. And even then it was awkward enough that twice he had hurt himself handling the tank. So the OFM decided we would replace the 30# tanks with 20# tanks. That means we will have to refill a tank about every 7 months. That is still not a big deal.
The 20# tank weighs about 38# when full. That is light enough that the OFM can handle and lift it with one hand. MUCH BETTER was his comment. The change also lightened our towing weight another 40 #. Nothing wrong with that.
Here is the before and after. Notice the tank in reference to the rock guard top line to see the difference.
The new tanks certainly were a lot easier to wrestle into place and get the clamp and hoses attached. This is going to be a very good deal for the Teams. One of the old tanks had a little propane still in it and the other was full. The OFM was able to trade them for the propane value to a fellow for some fun stuff. We are very confidant that the new stuff and lighter tanks will help greatly in our efforts of trying to have tooooo much fun in the near future.
Adventure Date: 01/08/2018
The day had arrived. Today was the day chosen that the Teams begin their get ready to roll work.The LPG Tanks on the Castle were 30# tanks. One tank lasted us about 11 months. The re-certification date arrived April 1, 2017 for them so on March 31 they were topped off so we would have nearly two years until it was required to re-certify or replace them.
However a bit of a trouble had developed. A single full tank weighed 59# on the bathroom scale. The OFM has gotten so decrepit that he had to bear hug a full one if he had to move it. And even then it was awkward enough that twice he had hurt himself handling the tank. So the OFM decided we would replace the 30# tanks with 20# tanks. That means we will have to refill a tank about every 7 months. That is still not a big deal.
The 20# tank weighs about 38# when full. That is light enough that the OFM can handle and lift it with one hand. MUCH BETTER was his comment. The change also lightened our towing weight another 40 #. Nothing wrong with that.
Here is the before and after. Notice the tank in reference to the rock guard top line to see the difference.
 |
| 30# Tanks |
 |
| 20# Tanks |
The new tanks certainly were a lot easier to wrestle into place and get the clamp and hoses attached. This is going to be a very good deal for the Teams. One of the old tanks had a little propane still in it and the other was full. The OFM was able to trade them for the propane value to a fellow for some fun stuff. We are very confidant that the new stuff and lighter tanks will help greatly in our efforts of trying to have tooooo much fun in the near future.
1/7/18
Hug A Heater
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/07/2018
A Meanderthal never know what they will find as they meander an area. Check out this cave that has been dug into a large sand embankment.
We wonder what that cave houses. Maybe a special person who wants to live down near the seashore. It was a surprise to the OFM when we ran across it.
Now the full story. The small cave picture was taken while the OFM was messing around on the Rockport Beach the other day. He was trying for a different picture that you can see here.
The big picture did not work out but we noticed the little cave. The first picture is an enlargement of the portion in the blue box. The OFM figured the picture was worthless but as he sat there looking at it for a while he decided to show his readers how just plain cropping of a photo can make a world of difference. We hope you enjoyed the little teaser tonight.
A few days ago it was a foggy morning around here so the OFM went out to find some foggy pictures. They were in great abundance but the available light was a bit dark for photography.
These next two pictures have been cropped but that is all. We like to take the extraneous stuff out of our pictures before we show them to our readers.
This picture was taken from just as you enter the pier. It was a cool morning with little wind. It took holding the camera against a post to get the camera still enough to be not too fuzzy. The OFM can shake a granite boulder when he gets cold.
The tide was way out this day so several of the sandbars out from the beach were exposed. Some of the bird life were standing around being lazy on the sandbars and this bird was actually sleeping. If you enlarge the picture you can see it has it’s head under a wing. Seems like a cold place for a nap to us.
There were plenty of other pictures available but the OFM decided he wanted to hug a heater as a better way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 01/07/2018
A Meanderthal never know what they will find as they meander an area. Check out this cave that has been dug into a large sand embankment.
We wonder what that cave houses. Maybe a special person who wants to live down near the seashore. It was a surprise to the OFM when we ran across it.
Now the full story. The small cave picture was taken while the OFM was messing around on the Rockport Beach the other day. He was trying for a different picture that you can see here.
The big picture did not work out but we noticed the little cave. The first picture is an enlargement of the portion in the blue box. The OFM figured the picture was worthless but as he sat there looking at it for a while he decided to show his readers how just plain cropping of a photo can make a world of difference. We hope you enjoyed the little teaser tonight.
A few days ago it was a foggy morning around here so the OFM went out to find some foggy pictures. They were in great abundance but the available light was a bit dark for photography.
These next two pictures have been cropped but that is all. We like to take the extraneous stuff out of our pictures before we show them to our readers.
This picture was taken from just as you enter the pier. It was a cool morning with little wind. It took holding the camera against a post to get the camera still enough to be not too fuzzy. The OFM can shake a granite boulder when he gets cold.
The tide was way out this day so several of the sandbars out from the beach were exposed. Some of the bird life were standing around being lazy on the sandbars and this bird was actually sleeping. If you enlarge the picture you can see it has it’s head under a wing. Seems like a cold place for a nap to us.
There were plenty of other pictures available but the OFM decided he wanted to hug a heater as a better way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/6/18
Unpacking Day
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/06/2018
It was cool with broken clouds when the Teams stepped out the door of the Castle. We had a volunteer effort in front of us to help a nice couple to unload their truck and trailer of their household goods. They are moving here from NE Texas.
The first pass by their home did not show any activity yet so the Teams went hunting photographs for the blog. The photo hunting was slim this morning but the treasure hunting was pretty good.
The Castle has been needing some replacement leveling boards for its tires. Today during all the walking and searching two already cut the right length boards were found washed up on a beach to join the Teams. They jumped right up into Sierra’s bed and snuggled down in the storage box. They seemed to like having a home to rest in.
Another trip by the work zone was taken and still no sign of movement yet so the Teams headed out for the Market Street Pier to examine it for photo graphs just waiting to be taken. There were a few but it was still pretty early lighting wise. However we like them.
The sun was barely wiping its eyes clean when the seagull came swooping into the area begging for a picture to send home to its family in the south Carribean. So the OFM grabbed a few shots and this one worked out pretty good.
On down the pier we meandered. The dredging crew was just getting started and this pelican was working hard at waking up to search for breakfast. The chill got to the OFM and had him shaking a bit. You know, just enough to make blurry pictures. So he got over to the rail on the pier and applied his body very diligently to the the rails to steady himself. You realize it is beneficial to be fat at this point so you can wrap the belly fat around the rails to keep yourself really steady.
Any way we god one decent picture of the slowly coming to life pelican.
The pelican stayed right there during all this mess fat wrapping and unwrapping from the had rail. We finally got the pictures and moved on back to Sierra to check out more of the area for the hidden photos that had to be there. However this was all we found today and the moving job was ready to get going.
For the next hour we toted boxes and shop furniture from the truck/trailer to the working area. It was not a bad job but when it was finished the OFM did not volunteer for helping build a fence that is needed. He is lazy you know. Some walking time at the Rockport Beach was done but no more pictures were wandering around.
For supper tonight four of us movers went to a mexican food place and made serious hogs of ourselves and enjoyed the socializing. Now that was a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 01/06/2018
It was cool with broken clouds when the Teams stepped out the door of the Castle. We had a volunteer effort in front of us to help a nice couple to unload their truck and trailer of their household goods. They are moving here from NE Texas.
The first pass by their home did not show any activity yet so the Teams went hunting photographs for the blog. The photo hunting was slim this morning but the treasure hunting was pretty good.
The Castle has been needing some replacement leveling boards for its tires. Today during all the walking and searching two already cut the right length boards were found washed up on a beach to join the Teams. They jumped right up into Sierra’s bed and snuggled down in the storage box. They seemed to like having a home to rest in.
Another trip by the work zone was taken and still no sign of movement yet so the Teams headed out for the Market Street Pier to examine it for photo graphs just waiting to be taken. There were a few but it was still pretty early lighting wise. However we like them.
The sun was barely wiping its eyes clean when the seagull came swooping into the area begging for a picture to send home to its family in the south Carribean. So the OFM grabbed a few shots and this one worked out pretty good.
On down the pier we meandered. The dredging crew was just getting started and this pelican was working hard at waking up to search for breakfast. The chill got to the OFM and had him shaking a bit. You know, just enough to make blurry pictures. So he got over to the rail on the pier and applied his body very diligently to the the rails to steady himself. You realize it is beneficial to be fat at this point so you can wrap the belly fat around the rails to keep yourself really steady.
Any way we god one decent picture of the slowly coming to life pelican.
The pelican stayed right there during all this mess fat wrapping and unwrapping from the had rail. We finally got the pictures and moved on back to Sierra to check out more of the area for the hidden photos that had to be there. However this was all we found today and the moving job was ready to get going.
For the next hour we toted boxes and shop furniture from the truck/trailer to the working area. It was not a bad job but when it was finished the OFM did not volunteer for helping build a fence that is needed. He is lazy you know. Some walking time at the Rockport Beach was done but no more pictures were wandering around.
For supper tonight four of us movers went to a mexican food place and made serious hogs of ourselves and enjoyed the socializing. Now that was a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/4/18
Mystery Critter
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/04/2018
We awoke this morning to a light frost all over everything outside. The temperature was showing 35F so we have no idea how the frost could exist, but it was there. Before long the temp was in the high 40s and by the time the Teams go out to make trouble it was mid-50s and fantastic bright sunshine.
Sierra took the Teams over to the Beach Park to get the OFM to do some walking outdoors instead of inside Walmart. The OFM surprised us by deciding that it was a great idea since he might find a photograph waiting to be taken. The water in the area is about 2 feet low so we got to see lots of gulf bottom from the wooden fishing pier. Seems to be a good bit of storm debris out there getting covered with algae. Certainly some fishing lures will end up attached to the junk.
At least it was a beautiful day. The OFM did find one nice photograph out on the wooden pier.
Those are some pretty neat clouds we think. After about 3/4 of a mile of walking the OFM started to get a hitch in his getalong so we climbed back in Sierra and headed to the Castle for some ibuprofen. In an hour or so the OFM was noticeably better.
The rest of the day was playing with his new toys (watercolor pencils). He sure has fun with that art stuff. He makes big messes and has fun. At least he realizes not to call himself an artist.
During the cold spell of the last couple of days we managed a few pictures down near the rock pier. The tide was way out and lots of beach was exposed. When we got the pictures out of the camera there was a surprise waiting for us. Next to a piling that normally has about 3 feet of water around it was a sea monster of some sort crawling on the sand. What is it? We have no idea but the OFM was not about to go back down there to confront the critter for proper identification.
Maybe it is an Arctic critter that came down here on the cold wave. If somebody recognizes it tell us what it is, please. We do not think trying to pet it is a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 01/04/2018
We awoke this morning to a light frost all over everything outside. The temperature was showing 35F so we have no idea how the frost could exist, but it was there. Before long the temp was in the high 40s and by the time the Teams go out to make trouble it was mid-50s and fantastic bright sunshine.
Sierra took the Teams over to the Beach Park to get the OFM to do some walking outdoors instead of inside Walmart. The OFM surprised us by deciding that it was a great idea since he might find a photograph waiting to be taken. The water in the area is about 2 feet low so we got to see lots of gulf bottom from the wooden fishing pier. Seems to be a good bit of storm debris out there getting covered with algae. Certainly some fishing lures will end up attached to the junk.
At least it was a beautiful day. The OFM did find one nice photograph out on the wooden pier.
Those are some pretty neat clouds we think. After about 3/4 of a mile of walking the OFM started to get a hitch in his getalong so we climbed back in Sierra and headed to the Castle for some ibuprofen. In an hour or so the OFM was noticeably better.
The rest of the day was playing with his new toys (watercolor pencils). He sure has fun with that art stuff. He makes big messes and has fun. At least he realizes not to call himself an artist.
During the cold spell of the last couple of days we managed a few pictures down near the rock pier. The tide was way out and lots of beach was exposed. When we got the pictures out of the camera there was a surprise waiting for us. Next to a piling that normally has about 3 feet of water around it was a sea monster of some sort crawling on the sand. What is it? We have no idea but the OFM was not about to go back down there to confront the critter for proper identification.
Maybe it is an Arctic critter that came down here on the cold wave. If somebody recognizes it tell us what it is, please. We do not think trying to pet it is a good way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/3/18
Steep Roads
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/03/2018
It was 0715 when the OFM climbed into Sierra. Sierra was started and the television screens in the dash started spitting out data. It was 27 F as we pulled out of the parking spot. That is way cold enough for the Teams.
After a Whataburger breakfast, Sierra took the OFM across the street to Walmart. Into the store he dashed. Then he started walking. It is too cold outside for him to walk so inside Walmart is the next choice. He walked and walked and walked and it was nice in the warmer air inside Walmart. Finally he was ready to go home. Sierra gladly took us home after stopping a couple of places to take pictures.
Later the OFM went to the utility hookup side of the Castle and notice two large icicles hanging from the Castle under the water inlet. After the icicles were knocked off you could see where the old sun hardened hose was leaking around the brass fitting. So it was off to Walmart for a new hose.
The new hose went on without a hitch. Here is a picture of the new hose with the icicles on the ground under the hose.
In the mail came our new Mountain Passes Directory we heard about from The Bayfield Bunch.
This gives the per cent grade and other important things about the higher and steeper passes a road traveler can encounter in the USA . After looking at several of the passes the OFM personally knows about, he decided that the writer really knew his stuff and the book is worth more than the cost.
Last year Sierra had a really tough time with the steepest part of Guadalupe Pass in West Texas. It turns out that part is an 8% grade. Now we know to dodge any grade of 8% or more as it is too much for safe trailering for the Teams. The book was a bit under $20 and can be ordered from http://www.mountaindirectory.com/ . It took less than a week to get here.
It already showed us a pass or three that we now know we have no business trying to cross towing the Castle. We will have to tour that part of the country without towing the Castle. That will be a lot better than frying a transmission or engine. Trying to back down a mountain pass road with a fried engine is not our idea of a great way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 01/03/2018
It was 0715 when the OFM climbed into Sierra. Sierra was started and the television screens in the dash started spitting out data. It was 27 F as we pulled out of the parking spot. That is way cold enough for the Teams.
After a Whataburger breakfast, Sierra took the OFM across the street to Walmart. Into the store he dashed. Then he started walking. It is too cold outside for him to walk so inside Walmart is the next choice. He walked and walked and walked and it was nice in the warmer air inside Walmart. Finally he was ready to go home. Sierra gladly took us home after stopping a couple of places to take pictures.
Later the OFM went to the utility hookup side of the Castle and notice two large icicles hanging from the Castle under the water inlet. After the icicles were knocked off you could see where the old sun hardened hose was leaking around the brass fitting. So it was off to Walmart for a new hose.
The new hose went on without a hitch. Here is a picture of the new hose with the icicles on the ground under the hose.
In the mail came our new Mountain Passes Directory we heard about from The Bayfield Bunch.
This gives the per cent grade and other important things about the higher and steeper passes a road traveler can encounter in the USA . After looking at several of the passes the OFM personally knows about, he decided that the writer really knew his stuff and the book is worth more than the cost.
Last year Sierra had a really tough time with the steepest part of Guadalupe Pass in West Texas. It turns out that part is an 8% grade. Now we know to dodge any grade of 8% or more as it is too much for safe trailering for the Teams. The book was a bit under $20 and can be ordered from http://www.mountaindirectory.com/ . It took less than a week to get here.
It already showed us a pass or three that we now know we have no business trying to cross towing the Castle. We will have to tour that part of the country without towing the Castle. That will be a lot better than frying a transmission or engine. Trying to back down a mountain pass road with a fried engine is not our idea of a great way of trying to have tooooo much fun.
1/2/18
Couch Potatoes
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/02/2018
After an unreal bad night of apparent food induced misery the OFM was not up to much activity today. In fact after finally getting to sleep mid morning he slept most of the day.
However the day was not wasted. We received a few family Christmas pictures from North Alabama. So we will leave it at a picture of Gavin and Piper in a picture taken in Mid-Alabama at his other grandparents home.
They certainly look like a good avenue to way tooooo much fun to the Teams.
Adventure Date: 01/02/2018
After an unreal bad night of apparent food induced misery the OFM was not up to much activity today. In fact after finally getting to sleep mid morning he slept most of the day.
However the day was not wasted. We received a few family Christmas pictures from North Alabama. So we will leave it at a picture of Gavin and Piper in a picture taken in Mid-Alabama at his other grandparents home.
They certainly look like a good avenue to way tooooo much fun to the Teams.
1/1/18
Nothing To Do
Adventure Location: Rockport, Texas
Adventure Date: 01/01/2018
Thank you to everyone for the good wishes left in the comments today. The Teams really appreciate it.
Your regularly scheduled blog starts now.
2018 has started with an incredible BANG. The OFM thought (yes he actually had a thought for a change) that it would be a slow day considering the nasty weather and the special football games on TV. Not to mention all the big meals planned.
WRONG AGAIN AS USUAL.
The OFM still is flabbergasted when someone tells him they are bored with their retirement. There is nothing to do. Yeah right.
The OFM says he needs to double the day as a minimum to let him even attempt to keep up with everything he tries to do. By the time 1930 rolled around and it was time to start this blog entry, the Castle’s table was a huge wreck with art attempts littering the area. The computer was bogged down with photos being considered for blogs, art attempts and emails from folks. Jeesh. OK enough of that.
During a drive around to just get outside for a bit, Sierra took us to the Rockport Beach Park to check out the cold playground. There was very few people out and only two brave or foolish folks out of their vehicle. It was cold 36F with a light drizzle and some wind. When we stopped at the fish cleaning station we got the idea it might be really miserable out there.
No seagulls or pelicans were in the area. If fact we did not see one during our whole outing. We have never seen that before in this park. In our nine years of coming here there has always been at least one bird of some sort on guard.
When Sierra was bringing us back to the Castle after the Whataburger visit tonight, a strange phenomena was happening in the dark night sky. You have probably seen an instance of a cloud cover starting to break up and the sun breaking through in patches and streaks of light.
Well, that was happening tonight with the moonlight. The OFM did his best to get a picture of it but it did not work out very well. However this is what we did manage to get.
The camera was held against the Castle and the shutter very gently pushed. It was so dark out that the OFM could not see the camera controls to operate the camera properly. But as usual he pushed some buttons anyway in hopes of something showing up. It did. Yea!
And there you have some of the high points of this boring day with nothing to do for trying to have tooooo much fun.
Adventure Date: 01/01/2018
Thank you to everyone for the good wishes left in the comments today. The Teams really appreciate it.
Your regularly scheduled blog starts now.
2018 has started with an incredible BANG. The OFM thought (yes he actually had a thought for a change) that it would be a slow day considering the nasty weather and the special football games on TV. Not to mention all the big meals planned.
WRONG AGAIN AS USUAL.
The OFM still is flabbergasted when someone tells him they are bored with their retirement. There is nothing to do. Yeah right.
The OFM says he needs to double the day as a minimum to let him even attempt to keep up with everything he tries to do. By the time 1930 rolled around and it was time to start this blog entry, the Castle’s table was a huge wreck with art attempts littering the area. The computer was bogged down with photos being considered for blogs, art attempts and emails from folks. Jeesh. OK enough of that.
During a drive around to just get outside for a bit, Sierra took us to the Rockport Beach Park to check out the cold playground. There was very few people out and only two brave or foolish folks out of their vehicle. It was cold 36F with a light drizzle and some wind. When we stopped at the fish cleaning station we got the idea it might be really miserable out there.
No seagulls or pelicans were in the area. If fact we did not see one during our whole outing. We have never seen that before in this park. In our nine years of coming here there has always been at least one bird of some sort on guard.
When Sierra was bringing us back to the Castle after the Whataburger visit tonight, a strange phenomena was happening in the dark night sky. You have probably seen an instance of a cloud cover starting to break up and the sun breaking through in patches and streaks of light.
Well, that was happening tonight with the moonlight. The OFM did his best to get a picture of it but it did not work out very well. However this is what we did manage to get.
The camera was held against the Castle and the shutter very gently pushed. It was so dark out that the OFM could not see the camera controls to operate the camera properly. But as usual he pushed some buttons anyway in hopes of something showing up. It did. Yea!
And there you have some of the high points of this boring day with nothing to do for trying to have tooooo much fun.
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