Ken was up and "at em" at 4AM in preparation for the anticipated arrival of his new fishing buddies at 445A. Since I was not going along, they offered to pick Ken up for the drive across the bay and the fishing boat. Mind you, I ignored the alarm, the preparation of breakfast (cereal) and the peck on the cheek? that heralded the departure of my ?royalty? at the appointed hour. At 8ish, I began the ritual of preparing to meet my day? and finally, succumbed to the ?mad rush? of solitude with vitamins, pills and coffee ? all in that order somewhere between eight and nine. What a life! Early morning it was overcast but the overcast burned off by noon and it was a beautiful day with temperatures in the mid-seventies. Couldn?t beat it with a stick.
In reading my last GAZETTE, I discovered (in addition to several typos) that I referred to the ?snowbirds? as Texas winter people. Wrong ? they are called ?Winter Texans?. Sorry about that. I continue to be surprised at the number of RV'rs who are full time. They sell their house, all of their belongings, buy a RV and take to the road. The men seem to love it but I think that most of the women are just doing the "Ruth? thing" "Your people shall become my people etc etc etc." I don't think they are really liberated females "just dutiful" but frankly, sometimes it is hard to identify the REAL "trail boss". Often it is the women who seem to be "in charge". This phenomena has been a revelation to me. Many years ago we were involved with a "motivation" group and one of the books on the recommended reading was a book, the title and author of which now escapes me, that made the point that it is the women who really rule the world. I believed it then (and that was before the women?s lib movement) and I still do. Men only think they control. As I watch these rv'e'rs, I have become even more convinced that they just drive the bus ? the real power is in the navigators seat!!!! (Mind you ? that isn?t true with this coach because if I claimed all that power, I would lose my "edge". So "if you don?t know me well, you might assume that I am a 'submissive'" wife? Now that is a question to ponder.)
Back to the resident fisherman. He left at 445A and returned at 730P. A long day to say the least but he came in happy as a lark though "fishy" smelling. His return was gleeful and "talkative" as he said "I just had the greatest fishing day of my life". The weather was nice, the fish were biting and although the boat was too crowded for great fishing, he thoroughly enjoyed his day on the high seas. He immediately undressed and took his shower and I put his dirty smelly old clothes in a trash bag outside. Sunday?s dinner was a baked potato, green beans, fresh tomatoes and steamed Pompino (I think that is what he called ?em) cooked on the barbie. He also caught two large king fish but they need a lot of "attention" in the preparation process so he gave those to the park for a fish supper that they are planning. Apparently the ?chief cooks? at the park have more experience with kingfish. The only Kingfish I know anything about is the one that I used to hear on "Lum and Abner" or was it "Amos n Andy".
Sunday night we had a Texas style storm with fireworks, rain, hale and thunder!!! It rained hard for 30 minutes or so and then tapered off. Tuesday, I learned first hand that this Texas clay is really "slick" I was walking on a "gravel" path perfectly upright until I inadvertently hit a patch of white clay that did not look wet but held a surprise of sort. Before I knew it my feet were moving as ?fast as sound? and my "obese ridden" body did not keep up. I gave up trying and sat down (gently) in the "mud". Not a pretty sight and certainly not a ?graceful? exit to my former horizontal position . My once clean jeans were no more and had to be ?shelved?! I rushed back to the coach to change my clothes and repair by ?wounded ego?. Fortunately, nothing but my ego was hurt! One just never knows what surprises may lie ahead when they start out on the most innocent of excursions.
Monday, we moved our coach to a very secluded and beautiful site next to the lake. During a walk on Sunday we passed by this location and Ken said to the resident, "you have the best spot in the park". During our conversation, we learned they were leaving the next day. Ken rushed down to the office and requested a move and as they drove by on Monday morning they ?"onked" to let us know that the space was available. Ken was ready and with the "honk"we were outa there and movede. It is truly a beautiful spot with squirrels playing in the trees, an alleged friendly alligator patrolling the lake front and lots of shade if the sun ever shines again.
After our move, we went out and about, had a barbecue beef sandwich from a little shack along the highway which was recommended as the best BBQ in the area. It was reminiscent of a shack called the "Poor Man's Bar" that we visited on our first trip to the Virgin Islands. This little business did not have a bar, but it did have good food with minimal overhead. After our lunch, we drove to Port Aransas, took the ferry over to Padre Island and did a ?walk through? the bird sanctuary. That was it for Monday.
Tuesday we drove back to Port Aransas to a restaurant called ?The Big Fishermen? for their Tuesday noon special ? all of the chicken gizzards, livers or country fried steak that you can eat for $1.75. We were shocked when we arrived to find a long line waiting for seating but the line went fast ? about 15 minutes. When we came out, an estimated 100 people were in line awaiting seating. We chatted with a fellow diner at the table next to us who told us they estimate that they serve 2,500 to 3,000 people on any given Tuesday noon. We believed the estimate, judging from the crowd on this particular day. We had eaten dinner at this restaurant one night last week and it was good. We would have gone back even without the ?come on? and it has become our favorite sea food place so far. Of course, we?ve only been there but needless to say, it is a good restaurant with ?evening? entertainment on weekends.
Wednesday, Ken was seeking a special connector to install his new ?antenna? so off to Corpus Christi we went. (About 30 miles). He quickly found one that he thought would work but now that we were in Corpus Christi ? it was necessary to do a little sight seeing. Of course, the port was a must see and the afternoon was spent roaming the docks and piers of Corpus Christi. There was little or no traffic, no one on the docks. It was strange. Rarely have I visited a major marina where there was as little ?action?.
We drove back the "ong way" or "scenic route" which was through Padre Island and we did a scenic drive through the National Park but it was getting late, the fog was coming in and it was time to get back to the home on wheels. We vowed to do a day at the beach later in the week.
Thursday morning, we packed an overnight bag, climbed into the ?towed? and drove the 180 miles to Brownsville, Port Isabel and South Padre Island. South Padre Island is a beautiful spot across the bay from Port Isabel with many high rise hotels and time share accommodations to ?lure? the happy tourist. We chose to spend our ?night out? at a new La Quinta motel on the beach. Ken went in to check on availability and check in while I waited outside in the car. He came out pleased as punch. Got the room at the special rate quoted, included a "happy hour", continental breakfast, i net availability and right on the beach. I said "What floor did we get?" He responded, happily, "first". I said, "Oh, no view huh? -- His enthusiasm waned and he said, "I didn't even think about that -- I just thought "how lucky, we won't have to fool with elevators! " We exchanged chuckles. Sometimes it just pays to accept what you have. No doubt the further up you go the more expensive it is likely to be.
Afer a walk on the beach and happy hour we came back to the room, freshened up and went to Port Isabel for dinner. I chuckled when we arrived at the restaurant (on the pier, of course) and I said, "Oh, yes dear, "where would you like to have dinner tonight?" Ken thought that was funny! When we are at the seashore, it is always his choice ? usually a pier where seafood is the speciality and the view is good. Of course, after dinner we had to walk the pier and check on the fishing catch of all the fishermen. It was quite pleasant -- actually warmer than a California pier during the summer (unless there is a heat wave). It was 74 here today and it was 63 tonight. I walked on the beach without a coat and was too hot with a light pullover. It is supposed to get down to almost freezing Saturday morning so it can get cool but it doesn't last -- weather is very much like Florida and a lot less people to distract from the beauty. There are retired and older people but they are not as "frail" as a lot of the residents in Sarasota.
It is a long drive down here but once here, it is beautiful. Texas can definitely get a little boring because it is sooooo flat. I love the open spaces but I have to admit, there are a lot of miles between the sights and scenery. When we are traveling in the RV, I usually read but I don't read in the car. The best thing about all of the open space is the absence of people. California is too crowded at least in our neck of the pavement.
I am pasteing this from South Padre Island where I am lucky enough to be on a "local area network". So there you have it for this week.
Ken loves the white pelicans
Views from our house in Rockport
