Author Archives: Kent

Duval days

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We checked out the small town festival, parade and all. The local Mexican Restaurant had a large contingent on horseback showing off some pretty fancy footwork (the horses that is).  There was some slightly unusual fun food, a spicy bratwurst and butterscotch pecan pie.  Games were unique too.  The Running of the Balls – for a donation you get a colored and numbered ping pong ball.  At the appointed hour the whole lot of them is dumped out at the top of a hilly street with a hay bale funnel at the bottom.  First one through the funnel wins.  Cow patty bingo – buy a square on the grid painted on a parking lot.  They let Bessie loose to wander the lot and it she plops on your square you win.  There was frog jumping too – they even published which retention ponds in town might yield competitors.  Nothing fancy but lots of fun.

Downtown

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A stroll through the aisles at Pike Place Market assails all the senses. There was no fish throwing this morning but still plenty to see.

There is construction everywhere at Waterfront Park.  They even had Pier 57 so torn up the carousel was closed.  Boo!  We strolled a bit, had some seafood, and people watched.

If you have any interest in wooden CenterforWoodenBoats_3606boats of any size, visit The Center for Wooden Boats on South Lake Union. They restore then display and even sell to fund their tradeschool and classes on boat building.  If you go on a Sunday you might just catch a ride one one of those craft, for free!

Experience Music Project (EMP) is one attraction we missed again this pass through. I’m going to get there one day, it sounds intriguing.

Motorhome Terminal Trouble

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Not that kind of terminal.  Turns out the issue with the Motorhome was related to a couple of overworked and poorly located wiring terminals.  When International built the chassis they ran independent circuits for both the Engine and Transmission Control modules all the way to the battery.  This gets them the “cleanest” power for the computers.  In this location it is subject to the corrosive gas emitted by the batteries and the dirt, road grime, road salt and water that splatters the underside of the motorhome for 6 years now.  The issue presented itself when the motorhome would unexpectedly quit as if you turned the key off.  Turns out it was exactly as if you interrupted power to the computer when the connector failed to transmit the power it needed.  Though some helpful and knowledgeable folks at the Escapees RV park we were directed to a very good mechanic.  Took him about 20 minutes to diagnose the problem and after a few wires splices sealed with heat shrink material we are again “on the road again”.

I thought we were in Texas (think flat)

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We turned onto route FM170 toward Big Bend State Park and passed a warning sign about a steep grade.  It was defined as 15% for 1 ½ mile.  As we approached “the Big Hill” as it is known locally, a gentleman was following us so I pulled over to let him pass.  Instead he stopped and inquired “Have you ever been on this road before?  Many folks won’t even take a motorhome pulling a car over that hill.  There is an asphalt truck down over the side from a while back and it is still down there.  They can’t get it out.  And the other side is just as steep going down.  There is a turnaround just ahead at the picnic area.”  I thanked him for his concern and we proceeded on.

The Big Hill-River Road

The Big Hill-River Road

I am sure he reported something about flatlanders to his waiting wife.  Well, on the pull up the hill we got as low as 10 mph then peeked over the top and started down.  It wasn’t all that bad.  No overheated engine or transmission parts and no hot brake smells or symptoms.  But for future reference, I think 15% is a real limit for the rig fully loaded.

Whooping Cranes – from the water side

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From the moment we launch our kayaks we hear the gargling-squawking call of a pair of cranes. They aren’t far…we paddle on, scanning the marshland as we go.  White heads shoot up above the grasses then disappear.  Again they appear.  A pair of cranes is working its way across the marsh chowing down on whatever it is they find there.  They feed for what seems like forever always keeping mostly out of sight.  They cackle and scold any roseate spoonbill who dares approach too close.  Just as we are about to move on, the pair of cranes moves out into the open.  Hooperskayak_7723We watch until they work their way back into the tall grass. What a beautiful sight.  We paddle on.

 

 

 

 

Look here, a flock of roseate RosetteComp_7745spoonbills relaxing along the shore.

 

A pair of whoopers glide by on broad graceful wings.

 

Huge flocks of red headed ducks are arriving.  Hunters are getting ready to take advantage of the numbers when season reopens next weekend.  They are sprucing up blinds and scouting where flocks are congregating.  I suspect it will be noisy around here.

No snow but still festive

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We joined the folks of Rockport, TX as they got a start to the Christmas Season.  The park was filled with booths with all manner of craft and gifty things.  Food trucks included shaved ice!  Pirates entertained the crowd from atop their mighty schooner.  Local businesses, churches and clubs went all out decorating lighted floats for the parade.  An air conditioner AC Comp_7560festooned with lights scurried and spun down the street with only a head visible and no obvious means of propulsion.

Santa Comp_7580 Santa appeared in clam diggers, a T-shirt and flip flops perched atop a huge yellow ladder truck.  StreetSailboats_7543Seahorses, dolphin, and sailboats join the more traditional Christmas trees and angles adorning the light poles along the parade route.

Like many southern winter events, we ended the evening with fireworks. The twist here at Rockport, the light show was accompanied by a live carillon concert.  Cast in Bronze;   is a portable brass bell carillon played by a flamboyant character that appears in a costume reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera and has only big moves as he hammers the levers that sound the bells.  It was a memorable evening.

Hey!

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What was that? I had forgotten the surprises that can come along with lake swimming. The little crappie seemed to really like nibbling on me.   They found a mole on my back and a nipple to apparently resemble food. No big deal just a little startling.

Lynn’s editorial

Really, you had to be there to get the full affect. When they first nibbled, Kent jumped and squeaked like he couldn’t believe what had happened. Then for the rest of the time in the water he held his arms tight around his chest and the pool noodle wrapped around his middle to hide the mole. Of course it wouldn’t have been nearly as funny if it had been me they were tasting!