Terlingua and Alpine

Pressed on from Kerrville to Fort Stockton , my friends stayed to grab some rest and not spying any rv parks that looked interesting , I wandered on down to Alpine , the highway from Fort Stockton to Alpine is a beautiful ride of just sixty miles or so . If I had my bike with me I could ride it over and over again , lots of wild life and many of the desert flowers are still in bloom from the recent rains . I found a nifty little rv park just outside of Alpine called Danny Boy with a small convenience store in front , $18 a night with full hookup , quiet and right at the foot of the mountains , very quiet place , mostly working folks and close to the downtown area . Had a quiet Saturday night and just fixed something to eat from my stores in the camper , Sunday my friends showed up and after a little exploration we decided on lunch at the Riata restaurant . If you are ever in this part of the world DO NOT MISS THIS RESTAURANT ! I have to tell you it was one of the top five meals I've ever had any where , those of you who know me will testify that rating doesn't come easy with me . The service was superb , the food was beyond excellent and the price ? You would spend twice as much at one of the local eateries in Fl. or some big city , and they really put it on you too ! I am known as a very healthy eater and it just about stopped me , Fresh greens salad Iced herbal tea and a Chili Relleno with beans and rice and coffee after wards less than $15
I was astounded at the portions and this is lunch mind you , the small salad complete with seasoned pecans and Texas Goat cheese was served in what I would call a pasta bowl topped with julienne apples and their house dressing was $6 , Gary and Linda's meal was equally impressive , a simple lunch turned into a pleasant two hour event that I won't soon forget .
My friends drove to Terlingua Sunday afternoon and I did the only honorable thing , I took a nap . After regrouping later in the day , about 7:00 or so I wandered across the street to the Buffalo Rose Saloon and restaurant , It didn't appear like much, but inside I had a great steak, met some out of sight people and even wandered out back to shoot the breeze with , yes , Real Cowboys they had ridden up to the back where there is shade and the bartender opens the back door and they hang out back and down a few while their cow dogs and horses relax at the hitching rail . Talk about culture shock !
Monday was up early and tried to connect with the real estate people but they were busy or hunting or something so drifted on towards Terlingua on Texas 118 . If my buddy JB in Tallahassee sees this road he will move here ,
It is a motorcycle road straight from the gods of speed , so incredibly beautiful driving through the hills and mountains with long sweeping turns , I drifted along at 45 or so and the 80 mile trip just slid away .
Arriving in Study Butte I had missed G&L so drove the couple of mile to Terlingua and met them at Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe , settled in with a glass of ice tea and a brisket sandwich [really good ] I almost felt like I was home , you don't stay a stranger here very long . Sitting in the shade with a breeze blowing about 74 degrees kind of like it used to be in the Keys a long time ago , we did a little exploring in the afternoon and I got a spot at the Big Bend Motor Lodge and RV park for a week $20 a night and water and electric included . Dinner and sunset was celebrated on the roof of the Sierra Vista restaurant with Lone Stars and great food , again more really nice people , I could get used to this !
Here are a couple of pics with more to follow ,

Hill Country

Finally arrive in Kerrville , meet with Gary and Linda and relax for an evening . 
Leaving Corpus so late , almost three in the afternoon  , really puts a push on it to get through San Antonio and headed west . Arrived in Kerrville about 7:30 and hung out for a bit , treated myself to a night at the motel and a chance for a good cleanup and rest .On towards Fort Stockton and maybe Alpine tis morning

Ready to move on

Getting ready to load up tomorrow , as nice as it's been to hang out and soak up this great Corpus Christi weather and visit , the feet are itching again and time to roll towards Fredericksburg . Expect to meet Gary & Linda thursday evening and go to the alternate energy show. Plans from there are not solid but Terlingua is getting closer . 
I really like the Flour Bluff area and the people are as laid back as can be so it's a possibility of coming back to spend more time here . The RV parks look clean and neat and have great locations , would like to give it a try later on in the trip. 
I've been several places with friends to go shopping and the prices here are comparable to Florida [except for Moody's ] and no one can compare to them . Real estate isn't my thing but a casual look shows it to be about the same also , seems as if their sales are in the tank also . It''s just tough to get loans wherever you are , some economic tell tales show the job markets are slack but not non existent . Folks in the oil industry are doing well and many of them tell me it's hard to get good help ,Gee ! where have I heard that before ? I said that for the last ten years while I was cooking , it doesn't matter what the industry , you hear that same song . 
At any rate I'll try and get back online when I get to the Hill \Country .

A few pics / slow day at the ranch

Today is going to be a slow day at the ranch , the big "A" is over at Dwayne's getting a little maintainence and seems everyone is just moving slow . Had plans to go play with an old timer from "Louisiana Hayride " over to the Blackhawk but that may be put on hold till tomorrow . The guy that wants to jam is in his 80's and is a walking encyclopedia of music and entertainers , it will be a lot of fun to get on stage with him ! 
I did take a few pictures and I'm posting them , the inside picture is of the interior after the trip across Louisiana

the others are of Moody's and my buddy W.A. 

Trip planning / shopping for tools & Moody's meats

A quick update on the trip plan , if all goes well should have enough time to visit Lajitas for the Shelby BullRun and car show , I keep looking at various maps and of course Google Earth to see whats up as far as road conditions after the storm . Sure ain't going east for awhile ! Nor will a northern track work too well Houston and surrounding areas are FUBAR for a while , so a slow trip up the western border is probably in order . I don't have a preference other than to be in Kerrville around the 26th of Sept. 
  My friends are taking me shopping today to get whatever , seems like I need less and less although it's kind of fun to see what the stores here have to offer
  Speaking of stores a word about Moody's Meat Market , I can go in this place and just stand there and soak up the aroma , spotlessly clean , beautifully displayed prime cuts of every kind of meat you could imagine. The staff and Mr. Moody are some of the coolest people on the planet , just great folks . Prior to the big party last saturday we had placed an order for supplies , with the advent of the storm everyone was scurrying about to take care of their homes and get needed supplies . Mr Moody took the time to open the store and meet us so we could get  our order even though he had five or six properties to take care of and make sure his family was taken care of . That's Service ! If you happen to be in South Corpus Christi around the area of Airline and Alameda stop in and give yourself a treat at one of the finest meat markets anywhere.

Trip planning / shopping for tools & Moody's meats

Recovery and Luck of the Draw

The party was a roaring success ! Lots of food [and some left over for football today] lots of good friends and a good time was had by all . 
 The birthday folks got a lot of good natured ribbing and some cards that weren't quite X-rated , we watched the TV as the reports rolled in about the storm damage and various folks thought of friends and acquaintenences in the path of that big bastard and quite a few phone calls were made to check on their condition . Fortunately returning reports were all positive , the damage is/was extensive to property , I'm sure everyone has seen the news by now and I can assure you the worst is yet to come as areas open up and folks can get back to homes and businesses . . Last we heard it may take quite some time to get into all the areas , the guys who were working at the refinery at Texas City have talked to their bosses and the refinery is going to be up and running before too long if they can get the workers back in . Problem is all the surrounding housing is pretty much destroyed and the area is inaccessable and no power to the town . The refinery itself has emregency generators but you still need people to operate everything and not likely anyone is going back in there very soon . A portable housing situation is in the works but right now the guys here are sittting tight . 
I read about all the gas prices going thriugh the roof and WHAT A CROCK ! There is no shortage , there is no big problem other than a bunch of greedy bastards with unpronouncable last names who see a way to make a fast buck . After talking to a lot of these oil field workers the problem seems to lay between the top of the heap and mister middle man who sells the end product , that leaves a lot of room for that old demon, greed to work it's way in.
Enough of the rant , by the luck of the draw we have escaped injury and/or damage from the storm or the party  , but the trip is still young and I'm sure there will be many opportunities to get stupid down the highway .

And thats , that

The storm has passed and given the folks up north of Corpus a whipping . We have experienced little or no effects here and are getting ready to start cooking for my good friends birthday party . We did take the precaution of moving the location back away from the shore to my friends house just to be on the safe side , 
still expect a big crowd and have plenty of food to celebrate . 
A partial menu 2 smoked shoulder clods , 1 crown roast of pork , twice bake potato , cole slaw , various dips and chips , baked beans [from scratch ] , homemade biscuts and corn bread ,4 kinds of fresh sausage on the
grill , frozen limeade pie , fresh peel and eat shrimp , fresh seafood ceviche' , needless to say we ain't going hungry ! 
After the party and recovery period I have told my other friend from Kentucky [AF1] that I'll meet him in Kerrville on the 26th of Sept . We want to attend the big alternative enegy fiesta up there and see all the new technology available , then will head over to Big Bend and Terlingua . 
I'll post an update on the big party later as soon as I recover ! 

looking better all the time

It appears from the local TV that the area I'm in is going to be less affected by the storm. Expecting some flooding and high winds but after riding around earlier today it looks like the folks here are well prepared . 
Doesn't look like Galveston will be so lucky , predictions run to bad to real bad , hope they make out all right . One of my friends here works in Texas city and came home today because of the refinery shutting down ansd was real glad to be out of there .
I'll keeep giving updates as long as the net holds out  but we are expectingat best loss of power for aa while  
 Till the next time.

Ready and Waiting

A quick update from Corpus Christi , we decided not to leave . Obviously there were a number of factors involved . Mostly it was just being stubborn about watching the Weather Guessers and finding it hard to believe all the drama they spouted , another factor was the local media being calm and collected . I watched some of the voluntary evacs leaving [boats , trailers , rv's etc ] doing 60 mph plus and decided "A" wouldn't fare too well in that lash up , he just doesn't like running at high speeds .
Now it looks as though "IKE" is going to turn in above Corpus and give us a little relief . We expect rain / wind and some high tides but we all have been through that before and know how to deal with it >
I'll give an update if things change .

Decisions Decisions

Here we go again ! Just get settled in and ready to have a party and here comes a Hurricane . Looks like we have to make a decision this afternoon where to go , sure ain't gonna be towards Louisiana ! I expect Terlingua will see me sooner than later but haven't made up my mind yet . The other thing is we have quite a few folks flying in for this big party and we need to get on the phone to restructure their plans also , my friends here are reluctant to bugout for a number of reasons . One is the difficulty in returning and another is because of the over dramatization of the severity of these pesky storms . A little less drama in the reporting would probably make people take these things a bit more seriously . Speaking of which , the Corpus Christi TV stations are doing a great job , no running in circles and shouting just good solid information and everyone thus far appears to have their heads on straight and telling folks what needs to be done and reporting the evac routes and shelter locations  . The old saying "never let them see you sweat " means a lot when you are in a tight situation , staying calm and organised will save more lives than some weather guesser leaning into the wind trying to get a better rating or sell more advertising will ever do .
Other than this niggling hurricane , life is good and right now the sun is shining . Time to get busy and make our plans , expect I'll give an update later today and see how everything shakes out

Gone to Texas \ Reality sets in

At last  I hit the bricks , left Lake City for Talla hassee on the 5th of Sept. A stop to see my friend Jon for a great meal and restow some stuff in "A" , a great evening with good friends and lots of conversation about airplanes , motorcycles , and politics . After we solved the problems of the world and a good nights rest , I managed a late start about the crack of noon !
  On the highway to Quincy and the first Flying J , fuel and pit stop and it's off to see the wizard , down route 90 till the log trucks made me crazy and then up on I-10 . Nice ride all the way Pensacola and as it turned out an unnecassary fuel stop [ I found fuel all the way across / no shortages from the storms ] onward to Gulfport MS.
I made a rest / food stop at another Flying J and checked in to the home front to let everyone know I was OK and the trip was going well . Seems there was a little apprehension about a crippled up old chef and a thrty year old motorhome blasting across the southern U.S.with little or no plan at all. Needless to say all involved were relieved I hadn't met with disaster.
  I left Gulfport at sundown after thinking about driving in the heat of the day and the all too real nightmare of hittin Houston on a Monday morning with all the craziness tha implies , I drove onward to Orange Texas and stopped for a power nap and a bite to eat , left at dawn thrty and had a magnificent ride all the way down to Corpus Christi . Between Gulfport and Orange is the unpleasnt experience of driving across Louisiana , if at all possible AVOID IT !! Dirt roads on the backwoods of ANY state in the union are superior to the interstate across Louisiana , it has been that way for a long time and shows no sign of improvement . AVOID IT ! nuff said .
  Arrival in Corpus was made after a drive through some of the prettiest country in Texas , route 59 out of Houston down through Victoria and points south is just an easy drive and is a pleasure to look at the south Texas countryside .
My friends were at the local water hole called the "Blackwawk"  and I was able to surprise them with my early arrival , after the obligatory round of "good to see you " and an ice cold Lone Star , it was time to retire and  find a spot for "A" and a good nights rest . Monday was a sort of preparation day for the upcoming party on Sat. and a ride around to say howdy to some more friends . Things are starting to come together for the upcoming big event , and of course the possible approach of "IKE" , onward to a new adventure , stay tuned