Friday, March 23, 2012

Hunger Games

My 21 yr old son and I went to see the first movie today of the premiere of the Hunger Games. It started at midnight last night.
Too fun.
It was shown in four theaters at the theater we went too. Mostly, it was 18-25 yr olds there.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Hiking trail in Big Bend National Park

Hiked the six mile round trip from Big Bend National Park Rio Grande Campground to the hot springs.
It's right across the rio grande from Mexico.
This is me looking at some handmade items that some people from mexico left displayed for sale on a rock on the trail. They leave a jar for people to put money in. Then they sneak in later to get it.
It's illegal for us to buy the items.



Above is a view from the trail down to the rio grande and across Mexico.

Franklin's Barbque Austin

Stood in line for two hours to get into Franklin's Barbque in Austin last weekend.
It was EXCELLENT!

http://franklinbarbecue.com/

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Travel Trailers

My new awning has come in! It is going to be installed today. Then I am going to put my travel trailer up for sale, in about a week, when I get moved out of it. It's a 2004 Sunline Solaris. 25 foot pristine condition.

I purchased a little bit longer one yesterday-- a 1985 airstream that is 31 feet.

Had dinner in Kerrville, TX yesterday.
Rails A Cafe At the Depot - (830) 257-3877
615 E Schreiner St, Kerrville, TX

Excellent food.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Bastrop TX restaurant

I drove to Houston yesterday to look at a 1988 Airstream that was for sale.
It was too cool but unfortunately had a pending sale.
I gave them my name in case it fell through.

Then I went to Bastrop TX and had dinner at Cedar's Grill. It has Mediterranean and Italian food.
www.CedarsMedGrill.com
I had the penne rustica, which was excellent.
My waiter was Peter, who gave outstanding service. He is Lebanese, and had great knowledge and explanation of the different dishes.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Homeless Man Seeks Shelter under my Travel Trailer

Last night I was parked with my travel trailer and truck at a business, in Texas, near Austin, that allows RVers to park there free overnight.

All afternoon a homeless man sat on the curb two parking spots over from me, alternately, drinking beer and sleeping.

Then the wind started to blow and it started to rain a bit and get colder and he left.

After dark the man showed up at my door, knocking, with a bicycle and told me he was going to be camped behind my trailer. He asked if he could lean his bicycle up against mine, where I had my locked in back, so it would look like his was locked there too. I said it was ok. I asked if he would be camped on the grass or the pavement. He said the pavement and asked me if I had an extra blanket. I said I did not, but told him I had a tarp. He said he would take that. I asked this homeless man where he got the bicycle, that he didn't have it this afternoon. It looked brand new. He said someone had been watching it for him.

I was a little afraid but I kept asking myself--What would Jesus have me do?

I opened the door and gave him the tarp and asked him a few questions.

About an hour later I went outside to check on him and he was actually sleeping under the end part of my travel trailer on top of cardboard with my tarp on top of him.

I needed to move my trailer early this morning, so I was not sure that was a good thing.

But I left him there and thought I would just wait till he moved, in the morning.

Then about another hour later I heard lots of commotion. I opened the door and looked outside and there was a light and he was kneeling down with his jackets opened. I asked if he was alright, he said he was. This really worried me because I was running propane for heat and I didn't know if he was lighting something with matches or what.

I decided to call law enforcement and have them come check on him and relocate him somewhere safe.

In the meantime, I guess this business had also called law enforcement and asked for them to have this man leave because he was not camped in a safe place and they didn't want to be responsible if something happened to him.

The police came. They were very kind to him and took their time with him. They explained to him that this small town had no resources for homeless people. They told him he could find some other place out of the wind and rain and they would not bother him but not in a parking lot, where it was dangerous. They told him he could sleep at the sheltered area at the post office across the street till people started coming to work at 3am or wherever he could find a place that he wanted that was safe.

The police told him of an all night Whataburger where he could get coffee. The homeless man told the police he had a few dollars. They ran his out of state ID and there was no problem with it.

The homeless man took the tarp with him. I hope he was able to find some place to sleep last night. He told me and the police that he was riding this bike to san antonio tomorrow, which is today.
he was.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Books

Jim Rohn wrote: "Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book." -- Jim Rohn

My Kindle rocks--so easy now to take books along when living mobile. Love it!

I have this one:
http://astore.amazon.com/roadwowander-20/detail/B004HZYA6E

I didn't want to duplicate things that my computer already does.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Awning on my Travel Trailer

The awning blew off my little 25 foot travel trailer, while I was driving, last year. YES, I did have it rolled up and secured. But i guess the wind hit it just right and ripppppp.

Now that it is starting to warm up again, I decided I need to have it replaced. I called a business that does mobile rv repair etc. They measured and had me pick out my awning. I'm just going with a basic one in different colors of browns.
Carefree Simplicity-- Sierra Brown.
With instalation, shipping, the roller and awning, and hardware it comes to just over $1,000.

Here is a must have book that tells people, who have RVs, ways to do things themselves--saves money!
"
This book is a compilation of the best tips submitted by readers of the Trailer Life magazine column "10-Minute Tech." These RVers have discovered simple, quick ways to solve small onboard problems; get things to run smoother, quieter, and better; personalize an RV with changes and upgrades; and make life on the road easier."
 
 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Slab City Salvation Mountain, Southern CAlifornia

"

Salvation Mountain is missing its guiding spirit


Leonard Knight, who spent most of three decades painting the adobe-clad monument in the desert, is now 80 and in a convalescent home. The challenge of rescuing the landmark has fallen to his friends and supporters."

To read more click below.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-salvation-20120226,0,4744945.story

My experience going to: Mexico Ciudad Acuna, last week

My passport was getting ready to expire in April. I had a new passport picture taken, then I filled out the form and sent it in to have it renewed. I got a new passport in just two weeks. I was really surprised how quickly it got to me.

About a week ago I went across the border into the border town of Ciudad Acuna, Mexico from Del Rio TX.

It was a surreal experience. It's amazing how Mexico has changed since I used to go down all the time.
I saw only one other non hispanic in the 5 hours I spent there. The boy looked in his early 20s walking around by himself. I was with a friend. We first bought a shell necklace for $1.50. Then to a bakery to sit down and taste their treats.
We watched a high school girls drill team practice in the square.
Had an extraordinary dinner -- The bill was $18 for both of us which included 4 beers total. In the US this bill would have been at least twice that much.

I went to a grocery store and bought carmel candy, vanilla and Mexico Coke.

We had the fruit from the street vendor with chili and lime on it--delicious!

Bought two bottles of antibiotics at the pharmacy.

All the time we were followed and watched over by security. They were very discreet. But anytime we looked lost or were trying to find something or trying to get someone to understand us (rarely did anyone speak any English) a security officer would step in and give us directions or translate for us.
They were all very nice. We questioned one officer and he said that the people who owned the businesses have hired them to keep the tourists safe, so we will come back.

When we went to go back across the border that evening we were pulled over for secondary inspection--first time that has ever happened to me. They went through my truck under and over, went through everything---took an hour. There were four men and two women US border patrol that did the inspection. It was incredible.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Never Lost when Traveling

“Where you headed from here?”
”I don’t know”
”Cain’t get lost then…”
~ Blue Highways ~ [William Least Heat-Moon]

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Able to Take on the World

The Hunger Games

I just bought the Hunger Games Trilogy for my Kindle.

You can purchase it at my amazon store. if you would like:

http://astore.amazon.com/roadwowander-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2

Started reading it today. so far it is kind of reminding me of the old short story The Lottery
http://astore.amazon.com/roadwowander-20/detail/B0056IAXW6

Family

I LOVE my immediate and extended Family: We put the Fun in DysFUNctional! :-)

Platform bed in Truck Bed

Built a platform bed in my truck bed last month. Both sides can be flipped up for easier access to "stuff" underneath. I carpeted it also.
The middle piece underneath can be completely taken out or moved further to either side.

I decided against using an air mattress. Just makes my head too close to the top. I am going to buy a foam pad instead.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

MoonDance






Can't I just have one more dance with you my love

Back to posting

I had some upheaval in my personal life so ... did not post for a while.
But things seem to be back to a more even keel now.