HALFWAY BENCH

2/29/20

Hot Foot

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-29-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

The OFM has a bit of a trouble with one of his hooves and its not hoof in mouth disease. It is plain old gout.  Yesterday was a slow day at best and the OFM sat at the dining/do everything table piddling wasting paper all day staying close to the large supply of ibuprofen in the bathroom cabinet. 

Today it is a little better but still noticeable. In the following picture taken this afternoon, the pink circled area was highly inflamed, swollen and hot to the touch yesterday.  As you can see it is much better today.



As research for treatment progressed we found out that Gout is considered a form of arthritis. We consider it a form of misery. Treatment is basically NSAID dosing and an elevated resting position.

Late this morning The OFM just could not stand it anymore and we went for a VERY gentle short meander with the camera.  It seemed to help the OFM attitude a lot to get out some.

This is the second day of HOT weather but today is a lot of wind. We took the easy short trail down to the boat ramp area. Along the way the OFM noticed a critter trail we had walked past before. This time we explored a little bit and found this critter home hiding in a small water runoff ditch. The foot wide opening did not look like it had been used recently but we were extra careful considering the condition of OFM's escape mechanism (foot).



When we got to the boat ramp we noticed a nice view in the bright sunshine of the dam and most of the beach area for the State Park.  It is a pretty day even if it is hot.



With a little luck the OFM will be back in near normal action tomorrow. Actually the Teams had a secret meeting and could not decide if that was good or not. That FOOL can get into all sorts of trouble when out trying to have tooooo much fun after being restrained a day or two. 

2/27/20

Great Day

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-27-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

The wonderful electric heaters did the job last night and kept the Castle nice and warm. The OFM slept rather well for a change. In fact he felt good enough to head out on  a great morning walk in the chilly air. The skies were bright with nice clouds for scenery and the dry air made it a rare but great day. See for your self in the next picture.



There was not much in the way of pictures to be taken since we have been taking pictures here for a bit over a month. However we finally got a shot of a seed hull that has eluded the OFM Photo Team in all that time. All the other pictures came out fuzzy from missed focus or blurry from movement of the seed pod or the OFM. This one made the cut for a change. We do not know the name of the bush but the used pod is quite ornery looking we think.



Later at the camp site, the OFK (knucklehead) was messing with the zoom for close objects when this picture of a tree critter showed up.



After not knowing exactly where the critter was in the tree, the OFM finally found it again and went over for a pic from the side of the critter. We think his imagination got the best of him on the first critter picture. What do you think?


 And now it is time to relax a bit before hitting the warm, thanks to the heater, bed for the night.  You know the OFM needs good rest for a day of trying to have tooooo much fun.



2/26/20

Moved Again

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-26-2020
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The OFM wimped out and we moved back into the State Park so he could have 120 volt electricity for running the electric heaters at night. We are due for a 37 tonight and two more fairly cool nights after that. Then summer arrives.

Here is our site on the door side of Comfort Castle. It is a nice spot and just a few feet from the showers/restroom. Nice long hot showers are great, especially when they do not fill your holding tanks.



During a meander in the afternoon looking for pictures that needed taking, the OFM got in a good reasonable speed walk.  

At one location we could see across an arroyo to a large pile of buildings. Our guess is that it is a small settlement or a fishing village. Any way the Teams had not noticed it before. That could happen when you are looking down while out and about to keep from stepping on dangerous things or critters.  When the lake is full the closest buildings will likely be waterfront places.



The walk meandered down to the shore line where we found some tracks telling a story of ALMOST getting too close to the water in a vehicle. It definitely was not Sierra.  Sierra knows better than to do that silliness.



And on the way back to the camp we passed an old tree near the fish cleaning station that has been there forever or longer. We bet this old tree has lots of interesting stories from the experienced look of it.



Meanwhile everyone keep warm. We plan to sleep very well after this day of trying to have tooooo much fun.


2/25/20

Unexpected Adventure

Adventure Location: Hwy 83 Side Road, Zapata County, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-25-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

We were just heading south on Hwy 83 from a good lunch of chicken chalupas in Zapata, Texas.  Sierra was easing along the highway fast enough to not be a bother and slow enough for the rest of the Teams to enjoy the scenery. The outdoor temperature was a balmy temp and dry air. Check the dash temperature shown in this pic.



The scenery is really pretty good also isn’t it. Hard to believe that tomorrow night we are supposed to be at 37F Thursday morning.

We got to the intersection of the road from Randado to Hwy 83 and a nice green sign said “Falcon Lake” that a way with a nice arrow pointing the way. ERRrrrk and Sierra made the right turn without losing a tire. It was a gravel ranch road headed west to Mexico. These Ranch roads around here are sand with gravel added once every ten years or so. About every five years a road grader might make a bit of an effort at smoothing them. Other than that you are on your own. Well the sign said the lake was this a way so we trudged on along for about several minutes. It was typical South Texas ranching/hunting land. Here is a typical view of a late winter South Texas ranch road.



Along the way we were passing entry gates to different pastures or ranches. Here is one of the typical double gates for one road entrance we see a lot of around here.



We don’t know for sure these days but back in the 60‘s any ranch under about 500 acres was considered basically a city lot and worthless.

Finally we went far enough and the road was getting rougher than the OFM wanted to test Sierra on. So we turned around at a wide spot and headed back to Hwy 83. We would liked to have gotten to Falcon Lake but the OFM decided the risk of leaving pieces of the under part of Sierra lying in the road was too high.

So we headed back to the highway and called it a nice adventure for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/24/20

Climbing Rocks

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-24-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Grock wanted to come along on the Climbing Rocks trail the Teams had noticed a couple of days ago. We made him promise to be careful so he would not get his paint scratched. He said he would be extra careful. so he jumped into the OFM’s pocket and away we went.

Sierra got us to the correct parking spot in good time and we hopped out ready to walk. Grock wa already wriggling around a lot so the Teams figured that sooner or later we would have to rescue him from some silliness.

At the start of the trail, we pointed out all the rocks that had climbed up onto the sign and posts. Grock got all excited and we let him join in the trail entry excitement.



Then Grock wanted to be carried so that he could see what all was going on. The OFM carried Grock in his hand so Grock could pay attention better we hoped.

The next thing we came to was a tall post with some athletic rocks on top of it. Grock wanted to climb the post but he needed more practice. The OFM finally helped Grock up onto the top so could enjoy the view.



After a couple of minutes we headed on down the trail. Grock was getting a bit over excited and we tried to calm him down. It didn’t work. The next thing we knew Grock had hopped to the ground and climbed a tree. Good Grief!



There were rocks in all sorts of elevated places. It must have been a wild party of climbing rocks on the trail a few days ago. Grock was rolling all over the place like a nut case. He needed to pay more attention to what he was doing or he could get messed up. Grock did not pay attention but at least he spotted a bench to rest on and hopped up on it to meet the other rock resting there.



After a little while Grock announced he was rested and rolled right off the bench and down the trail faster than a javelina after a carrot. In a minute we heard a crash like falling into a bush. then Grock was hollering for help.

Oh rats what now? We made our way down the trail as fast as the OFM could move and finally spotted Grock down in a mess of spines. He looked fairly well stuck down there.


It took the Teams a few minutes to ge Grock out of that mess. Grock thanked us for helping him and requested that the OFM carry him back to Sierra in the safety of the OFM’s pocket. Grock was put into the pocket and behaved all the way back to Sierra.

It was a tired little Grock in that pocket. And by the time we got back to the Castle Grock was asleep from all the excitement of trying to have tooooo much fun.

FCP

Adventure Location: Falcon County Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-23-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Our two weeks were up so we had to roll before noon. The Teams were rolling in good time and made the long seven minute tow to the Falcon County Park in fine fashion. Contrary to a recent u-tube video, there are no designated campsites in this park.  You just chose a spot and set up.

 And then if  you are like the OFM, pictures are taken of your location. Here is the view from the south side of the Castle.


 Then the OFM walked up the hill and down the other side to take a picture from there. BUT there were a couple of Canadians there that were ready to talk. Naturally the OFM cannot waste a moment to flap his jaws. After the conversation the OFM walked over to take a picture of the north side of the spot the Castle chose for our stay.



Yep that close by tree provides afternoon shade for the Castle. And the Castle door faces west in order to take sunset pictures like this one from tonight.



The downside is that Internet is occasional, intermittent and sometimes. So this blog entry will publish at some unknown time in the near future we hope.

This is boondocking and it is great when the temperatures are good. The next few days will be great for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/22/20

Light Traveling Rig

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-22-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

There is a style of RV or camper ( your choice) on the road that the Teams had not had the chance to find out much about them in actual use.  They have been out and used for well over 15 years. We finally got to get honest worthwhile information on them from a couple we met about two weeks ago here at Falcon Lake State Park.

The best we can tell they are generally referred to as a “hardside folding camper”.  Here is a picture of this one all set up at their site here.



They are long term camping traveling in the rig and having a great time of it. If the OFM recalls correctly, they left Prince Edward Island, Canada a couple of months ago and have camped there way across the US to Falcon Lake and soon will start camping their way back to PEI.  Then do some more traveling in Canada when it is “warm” up there.

They pull it with a Dodge Caravan and the tow vehicle has handled everything just fine. The van is naturally a storage place for many items.

We asked what was the biggest accommodation that has to be made to the trailer design and that was easy. Not having a toilet built into the rig.  Sometimes they do not get a site very close to the campground restroom and that gets more important.

However it seems that in the world of light rigs this trailer has a good rating for general comfort and usability.  It definitely has gotten those nice folks into a lot of great places for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/21/20

Leaf Cutter Ants

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-21-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

It was a drizzzly nasty morning but the OFM went out as soon as the drizzle allowed and took a lot of pictures. They are still in the camera. Then he ended up visiting with several different folks during the rest of the day.

He felt as busy as these leaf cutter ants were on the trail near the Castle.




Tomorrow is get ready to move day. Sunday is get moved day because our allowed two weeks here will be over.  The tanks need dumping anyway. For the moment we plan on moving next door to the free camping if we can catch an Internet signal there.

It is time to rest for the night so there is energy available for trying to have tooooo much fun tomorrow.

2/20/20

Odd Holes in the Trails

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-20-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Between yesterday’s migraine and today’s light rain, slightly cold temperature, and brisk breeze, the OFM has done a great job of taking it easy trying to recuperate.  Seems like the migraine pains hang in there a little longer as the OFM ages.

We did find a picture of some holes in a trail. The trails around here are mostly VERY hard clay. Even with all this misty rain you barely leave a mark on the ground as you walk along.  Yet regularly there are these 1 inch diameter holes in the clay. Here is a picture with green arrows pointing to the holes.



Does anyone know what makes the holes? The OFM has asked the park folks and they would like to know also.

At least there is good Internet towers near and we are getting good Internet for the OFM to play on. When it is nasty cold weather and he hurts that is about all he can do for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/19/20

Prismacolor Pencils and Art Stix

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-19-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Since a miserable migraine hit before lunch and lasted until mid afternoon, tonight is a continuance to yesterday’s information about the OFM’s last few paintings. It still seems odd to call an art scene done in colored pencil a painting but that is the common term in the art articles on the Internet.

The colored pencils the Teams uses is Prismacolor brand. They are a wax based pencil lead with high pigmentation and obviously easy to use or the OFM would not be using them. Here is a picture of the box of them and then a picture of the pencils themselves.







The Teams have found that a set of colors in most art mediums with around 36 different colors is sufficient for the OFM’s abilities.

Prismacolor also markets a special shape of the colored lead in the pencils called Art Stix.  These are 1/4“ square by about 3 1/2“ long and are the exact same material and colors as the pencil leads.  These Stix allow the artist (or paper waster in the OFM case) to cover larger areas much faster and cheaper than with just the pencil point lead.
Here is the box for the Art Stix we have and then the Stix themselves.






This set up seems to be a good set up in general. The OFM has tried a couple of other colored pencils brands but always quickly came back to Prismacolor. These are not watercolor pencils. They are a different item altogether.

An important to the Teams is that the Prismacolor colored pencils do not seem to be as paper sensitive as some other brands. 

When it is all said and done, using colored pencils for art is a lot easier for the Teams glorious leader since they do not REQUIRE speedy application or other needs. He can color for a bit, stop at any time, come back at any time and continue with no ramifications no matter if you are outside or inside. A particular good thing is colored pencils do not make a mess if you drop them or knock your box over. A quick pickup and you are right back to trying to have tooooo much fun

2/18/20

Painting History

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-18-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Barb in FL had a suggestion in a comment about the painting the OFM had splattered on the paper.
“If you use a picture as your guide maybe you could show us.”

We will be glad to show you how the painting GRAB A CLOUD came to be. But it needs to be stated that pictures and scenes and word descriptions and many other things cause an inspiration for a scene for an artist.  If all they did was copy a scene then they are just being a terrible camera. 




Here is the original photo of the weed that inspired Grab A Cloud. The photo was taken in the Rockport Community Park a few months ago and languished for a while until finally a few weeks ago the OFM got the inspiration needed for the painting. By the way the painting is in colored pencil.

From start to finish the painting took about two months. Total time making the art was something around 30-40 hours. Several line sketches were made to decide on the final arrangement. Then a quick sketch was made and lightly colored in to decide on the color of pencils needed for what was wanted in the final product. And then the WORK started.

And finally the finished product was presented to the world to increase the laughter around the globe. 



But the OFM definitely came close to having tooooo much fun during the production process.

2/17/20

Grab a Cloud

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-17-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Good Grief it was hot today and supposed to be hotter tomorrow. The OFM thought the heat would hit after noon so he took the Walking Team out for a go around the loop that circles the inside of the park.

Out on the road in the campground the wind was doing a good job of helping keep folks less hot. But the minute the Teams entered the brush where the trails meander, that was the end of any breeze. The OFM soon was feeling the sun and hot air with no breeze. The trails are nice and decently wide. Here is a picture of the nice trail with the wonderful bright sunny day we had.



The halfway point on the trail from where we started is the park office. When we got there the OFM wisely got into the shade and sat for a bit. The bottle of water we expected to easily last for the whole trail with water left over like in the previous days was empty at the park office. The OFM went inside to refill the bottle and the ceiling fan and AC felt really good so he stayed inside for several minutes just cooling off.

When he came back outside to the rest of the Team he announced “We are taking the shortest way back we can.” And there was no discussion to be had.

He took it slower and stayed in the shade of the trees as much as possible and we followed the road back to the Castle. Yep it was too hot for the OFM Walking Team.  The thermometer in the Castle was showing this and it was 1130.



And that was the end of significant outdoor efforts until nearly dark this evening.

The OFM decided it was a good time to do some more work on the picture he was making. So the colored pencils were retrieved and put to work. Sometimes the pencil made errors and the OFM had to erase the error and correct the pencil’s error. Dumb Pencils.

Any way he finally gave up and called it finished or was it I quit. We don’t remember but here it is anyway. Be sure you are sitting down when you look at it so you will not get hurt when you fall down with laughter at the ineptitude displayed.



We have to make a choice by next Sunday what to do since we are required by state park policy to leave the park for at least one day. Do we head somewhere else or the county free park? It all depends on the weather  to decide where we will be trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/16/20

Wild Skies

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-16-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

The State Park was a lot more busy today. That means more folks to have conversations with and lots more people to watch. From at the boat ramp we could see lots of folks enjoying the very warm temperatures and the beach. Now and then the music could barely be heard and the laughter carried way up the hills to the top where we took this picture of the fun happening.



Late in the evening we had some really wild clouds swarming the heavens. We have no idea what was happening but it was exciting for sure.



A shopping trip to Rio Grande City (Rio for short) to Walmart resulted in the thirsty Sierra drinking a tank full of gas at $1.999 a gallon. $63 of groceries came home with us in four small plastic bags. But we plan to be eating well in the near future.

Walmart is about 31 miles one way from our campsite and the round trip took us almost two hours. We did get to see the end of some police action on highway 83. We got to see the last couple of seconds as a car trying to run away finally went into the shallow ditch and stopped. The four police folks swarmed the vehicle and it was over.

Then the city water supply for the state park was off for a few hours while the water district did some major changes to the water piping on the two tall tanks near here. That did not bother the Teams since we are running on our internal water supply tank anyway. They did a good job of minimizing the down time and all is running well now.

And finally tonight the skies decided to  make a lot of electrons get used taking pictures during sunset. 23 exposures were taken of the sunset and this one was chosen to be the one for tonight.



One thing for sure it was a very full day of trying to have tooooo much fun in many different ways.

2/15/20

X Marks the Spot

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-15-2020
Click the pic to enlarge it.

Walking was taken at a slower pace today. The distances were also less and the OFM knees said Thank You to the rest of the OFM Walking Team. It was a good day of repair for the joints of the OFM.

 It seems the allergies of the area are up in arms now. The OFM woke this morning all stuffy with balance trouble and ears that felt stuffy.  As the day wore on nothing got worse but when we were walking through the brush the OFM sniffles got a lot worse than they were when we were at the shore fishing.

The best we can identify them, these are mesquite blossoms as they are starting the allergy attack on humans. They are actually very pretty flowers in real life.  The little balls are about 1/2“ in diameter at the time of the photo. If the OFM recalls correctly they will hit about 3/4“ in diameter and get a bit  more sausage shaped in the very near future.



While walking among the screen shelters we found this elderly large X nailed to the ground. It probably marks the spot for the volcano to erupt in the near future. Or who knows what out here in the wasteland of South Texas.


Tomorrow is the start of our fourth week staying here in Falcon State Park. The original plan was a week to ten days but the weather has been way colder than in the recent past few years both here and in our next destination Del Rio, Tx.

For the time being it appears that it will be finally warming enough in the Del Rio area we should start that direction next Sunday. The Teams are ready for some canyons and cliffs to play in. In the past the canyons and cliffs have been a wonderful place for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/14/20

What Are They?

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-14-2020
Click on a pic to enlarge.

The OFM was still tired this morning but the Teams were raring to get going.  After the “oatmeal again” breakfast we hit the trails again. But the OFM was definitely on a slower pace today. Muscles were explaining the unhappiness that would occur if he tried to move along too fast.

The OFM reacted by telling the rest of the Team that new photos of close things were needed for this blog since we were nearly out of nice blog photos. So the Team agreed that they would allow a slower pace today and look for special pictures.

The first slow pace picture was of some “hairy moss” hanging on a live oak tree branch. We have no idea if it is moss or goat hair or ????? But if a reader knows what it is please tell us.




Along the trail we checked out lots of things but it took a good bit of walking before we spotted this “lettuce leaf lichen” growing on a blackbrush limb. We thought it was a nice lacy looking growth. If any one knows its real name please let us know the correct name.




We did find an unmarked trail to meander this afternoon.  It was a pleasant half mile of walking.




About halfway along this trail we met a nice fellow going the opposite direction. We talked about rv travel for about thirty minutes. He and his wife are on their first month of travels and very excited about the adventure so far. They are from Nova Scotia.

Naturally a nice bit of time was spent visiting with some other folks in the park. It is easy to spend the whole day just going from site to site visiting folks.

Along about sundown the OFM grabbed the camera and fast walked the short cut trail to the boat ramp “cliff” to catch a fantastic cloud and sun sunset. That did not happen it was mostly a clouds and sun rays finale but we think it was still nice.




The OFM needs to do a better job of pacing himself when he is out running around trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/13/20

Nice Moon

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-13-2020

Busy, busy, busy today. But first last night had a great moon with the light broken cloud cover. It took several tries with the camera but this one came out fair enough to give you an idea of how neat the night sky was.



That was almost worth staying up to see. “almost”

Most of the fun today was either visiting folks or walking around in the desert brush on the walking trails in the State Park. The first walk was around two miles and went down along the lake shore. We were searching for art possibles and ended up getting several along with a lot of great exercise on the uneven surfaces.

Some folks the Teams knew from crossing paths with them in the past pulled in last evening, spotted the Castle and Sierra and knew the OFM was meandering around somewhere. The OFM was near the boat ramp finishing the first walk when he heard someone call out his human name. He looked around and there was JT and Shirley. They are extremely pleasant folks. We got in a good 2 hour catching up before we split up for lunch.

Then in the afternoon the Teams decided the OFM needed some more exercise so they dragged him outside, stood him up and pointed to the loop trail around the park. Off we went to what turned out to be a nice long walk of about three miles.

About midway we came out of the brush at the office building and was looking for the outside drinking fountain.  Suddenly we realized it was gone. So the OFM went inside to get water for the water bottle.

While we were inside we noticed a new to us display cabinet. There were two pretty neat items at the cabinet. One was this large stuffed owl. That is a pretty good sized bird with long sharp claws.



Just below it and to the right was this skin for our enjoyment.

Yep there are rattle snakes in the desert. It amazes us how often folks want to know if the parks lets things like snakes and other wild critters live in the park.

One important item we did notice during this walk is that the Achoooooo trees are blooming really well.  That day and a half of rain/drizzle must have been just what the plants wanted. The new header picture shows growth that has come out since the rains quit a few hours ago.




Like we have said many times before, when the desert gets ready to bloom, it blooms with great vigor in a very short time so have the camera ready.  In the meantime we are going to rest up for another day of jawing and trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/12/20

Two High Spots

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-12-2020

Today we got all the laundry done. Then ate a great lunch at El Rincon in Zapata, Tx. That was the #2 high spot of the day.

Back at the Castle with the heater running, time was spent trying to find a warm place to move to next Sunday. Nope. Too much cold air  north of us here at FSPark.   

The #1 high spot of the day was the sun finally burst forth with great vigor right at 1800 this evening. Now all we need is something really exciting for trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/11/20

Nasty Slop

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-11-2020

The OFM came to wakefulness with a realization it was coolish inside the Castle.  So out came the electric heater and it was put to work. It worked all day since it was a cold wet heavy fog with a serious wet cold wind to help whisk the warmth right out of the Castle and the OFM.

It stayed that way mostly all day and it was NASTY.  But the OFM did have to get out and wobble around a little bit. we found a bird nest way out on a small little limb. That would have been very difficult for any predator critters to handle that weak whippy limb to get to the eggs or bird.



And we even found a few silly yellow flowers out blooming in this messy cold weather.



They were very bright and about the size of a dime. We did not stick around to look for more pictures and headed back into the warm dry of the Castle.

Probably the best thing that happened today is the OFM got started on another painting.  It is basically the same scene as the last one he did. The one he never showed anyone and threw away in little pieces.
This one will definitely correct many of the mistakes he made on the last one.  However we are very confident that he will easily make many new silly mistakes on this new one.

He seems to be having a good time doing the painting since he keeps on giggling like a happy fool trying to have tooooo much fun.

2/10/20

Grock Sees Mexico

Adventure Location: Falcon State Park, Texas
Adventure Date: 2-10-2020

We asked if he would like to go down to the lake to look around. You bet I would he said. So into Sierra we went and rolled down the rough road to the beach at the picnic area. Sierra parked us so it was facing Mexico.

Come see Mexico the OFM said to Grock.  Mexico is here?  Yep the OFM replied. About a mile out there in the water is the boundary. The tall pole in the lake marks the boundary between the USA and Mexico. Grock rolled up onto Sierra to get a better look and exclaimed WOW O WOW!



I have to check out the water exclaimed Grock.  He rolled off Sierra and rolled very fast down to the water. Splash he went into the shallow rivulet and got wet. Grock exclaimed the water is not salty like at Rockport.  That is correct Grock, this is a freshwater lake fed by the Rio Grande River that comes all the way from Colorado.  Good grief Grock said that is a long way. 



The OFM was looking around at something when he heard Grock holler out... Look how high I am!  Sure enough that dumb rock had climbed to the top of a left over stump. Grock was really proud of himself.



Grock suddenly leapt from the stump top to the sand beach and went running away.

Before the OFM could catch him he had climbed up on top of the life ring stand.  What is this, some kind of a kid ride?  No Grock' that is a life saving ring.  If someone gets in trouble in the water, the case is opened and the life saving ring inside is thrown to the person in trouble.



Oh really Grock said.  That sounds like a great idea.  But look over there. That looks like some sort of wonderful fun kind of a ride. And ZOOM he rolled off with the OFM in chase.

Grock went up the stand with ease and waited at the top for the OFM to catch up.  Grock hollers out How does it work?  Where do I get on it.



The OFM finally got there and paused to catch his breath. You silly pebble. You need to be more careful. That is a garbage barrel and if you fell into it, you might be gone forever to a dump site.

You mean it is not a ride. Nope it is not.  Ratzzz I sure wanted it to be a Disney type of ride. 

Grock was taken from the barrel frame work and put in the OFM shirt pocket while they moved on down the beach for a ways to see other things. Grock did not make it far before there was loud ZZZZZZZZZ coming from the OFM’s pocket. Grock was wore out from a day of trying to have tooooo much fun.