And now it is raining A LOT
The body shop has now stretched Focus repairs to over two weeks and no word yet on when they will even start on the Motorhome. Obviously, the International Truck repair shop isn’t looking for any referrals from us for motorhome work or even a passing grade review. Stay tuned for how this all works out
This is taking a lot of adjustment. The motorhome is in the shop for engine repairs so we are “tent” camping for a week, maybe two. The high incidence of biting ants, another fine Texas attribute, has led us to actually sleep in the boat to stay up off the ground. The cover supported by lathe stays creates a Conestoga wagon-like space. We have our backpacking air mattresses and with lows at night in the 70s we definitely don’t need sleeping bags. We are back to a cooler and ice, no frig. Cooking on charcoal and the Coleman backpacker stove. Middle of the night potty stops are down the road…they do have running water and showers. When it rains, we hide out in the car, actually the rental SUV. Remember, the Focus is in the shop. This will certainly be a couple weeks to remember.
Close to home here in Livingston, a water snake of some sort patrols the lake shore. Guess they like the bathwater-like temperature!
A bit east and north, alligators. We have heard through the years that there are some in the backwaters of Lake Livingston but have never seen them here. They are certainly in nearby B. A. Steinhagen Lake! The Corp of Engineers has that lake drawn down for repairs to the dam. The low water has brought the gators out into the open. Martin Dies Jr State Park lies along it’s shore and in the few hours we spend exploring the park we see at least half a dozen of them. None are huge but this is one more lake I won’t be sticking my toes or anything else in.
Late summer at Lake Livingston. The water is very warm so the fishing is not impressive. Catfish are the only thing biting and then only the little ones that aren’t hook savy yet. It is a little action and better than nothing but we have thrown them all back. Watching the big waders has been fun, Great Blue Heron, Night Heron, and egrets all mill along the shore of the bay here in camp. We have seen eagles and osprey soaring overhead and have heard screech and barred owls in the night. Several does and their fawns call the park home and wander among the campgrounds during the evening and early morning. Overall it is plenty warm here; make that miserable, sticky hot. We have had a streak with “feels like” temperatures well into the 100s so enjoyable outdoor time is limited to early morning and evening. Our air conditioning is getting a workout!
One good thing about all this moisture in the air, sunsets are lovely nearly every night.
Wildlife at Big Thicket. Up before sunrise we get in a hike at the Big Sandy Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve. The trail winds through thickly forested bottomland along Big sandy Creek. We catch glimpses of deer as they move through open glades. We come upon a huge group of feral hogs that includes lots of babies, many a cute spotted black and white, that alternately scurry and freeze as they sense us near them. Before long we hear the mommy huffing and sending out staccato grunts to call them her way. Off they run. They are awfully cute but we know they cause tons of damage as they root up everything in these wild areas. The numbers of deer and pigs pale in comparison to those of the most prevalent beasties here, spiders. Oh my gosh they are everywhere and they are really big. Their webs are spectacular to look at but sticky, creepy and annoying when we get caught up in them. Throw in a handful of little bitty snakes and it adds up to an interesting but not real relaxing walk. We meet a local trail crew as we were finishing up. Their advice, “If you are going to hike more in the area be on the lookout for rattlesnakes. There are big ones around here.” Hmm…
That is how many dents the poor Focus suffered in the Nebraska hail storm. Kent dropped it off and they will have it a week to replace the windshield and repair dents ranging from dime to half dollar sized. Mostly it is the magic paint-less dent removal thing they do with suction cups or something but the hood is bad enough that they are replacing it entirely. We have a rental so it isn’t too big a deal but it doesn’t have a hitch so no boating ‘til we get our car back.
Wow, they are huge! The heat index is 110+. Of course we have to have ice cream. Our stop, Braume’s and we go for special fancy sundaes. Mine – oatmeal cookie with lots of caramel, cinnamon, pecans and oatmeal/brown sugar crumble all over oatmeal cookie piece ice cream. Kent goes classic – brownie fudge. It is super chocolatey. Oh yeah, they both get whipped cream and Kent’s a cherry. Delicious.
Ginger and Gary meet us at the door…retired racing greyhounds. Then they mosey back to their huge, cushy beds! This feels much like a walk through any sports hall of fame built to recognize the greatest contributors to their sport. They celebrate what they see as a loving respectful relationship between owners and racing dogs and claim the breed possesses a natural drive to run. Dogs are inducted into the hall of fame based on their own speed or on their role as sire or dame (maybe this part is not quite like say a football hall of fame) contributing winning DNA to the pool of racing dogs. They unabashedly explore and explain, with no small measure of pride, the entanglement of dog racing and wagering. I have a bit of heartburn with the whole idea and was flabbergasted when their film says they adopt out 18,000 retired dogs a year. It was interesting to see the perspective of the business/sport.
C. W. Parker built all manner of carnival and amusement Devices. Manufacturing took place in Abilene KS from the 1890s to 1911 and the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene houses a refurbished machine (thought to be built in 1901). It is different than any I have ridden on so far. It is an older design and a portable one, these were for traveling carnivals after all. The horses are not mounted on poles and they don’t go up and down. Each hand carved horse is attached to a cam mechanism that rides on a track on the ground. The horses rock back and forth. They have rebuilt an old band organ too..that makes the ride all the more authentic and fun. I loved it!
The Heritage Center also houses a huge collection of early telephones, switchboards and even phone booths. There is farm equipment, prairie log homes, tractors, fire trucks and lots more. Eisenhower memorabilia loom large at this museum and at the huge complex next door. Dwight D Eisenhower was born and raised here. They celebrate their famous home town hero in a big way.
There is a great old merry-go-round too. I have seen very few of these on our travels.
Riverside Park campground served well as our base to explore the area. Most notable characteristic, it is right beside their zoo. We heard tiger roars most every evening and morning….meal time?
500,000 sandhill cranes make a refueling stop along the Platte River around Kearney Nebraska every Spring. They aren’t here right now but we are checking it out anyway just in case we make it back some year to see the big show. While we are here, we check out the local Firefighters Museum open house and Smokey the Bear’s 75th Birthday celebration, the Great River Road Archway, the Hastings Museum-Kool Aid was invented here, and we cruise through Central City and past Grandma and Grandpa’s old place.
Between touristy stuff Kent takes care of a bunch of the motorhome hail damage.