tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36127821364873693622024-03-18T18:08:05.456-05:00Phannie and MaeTravels of part-time RVers in their Motorhome, “Phannie.”Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.comBlogger645125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-80639485257787263302024-03-18T00:34:00.000-05:002024-03-18T00:34:23.492-05:00Our First Trip Of The Year and I May Be In Trouble With You-Know-Who<p><i> At KOA Campground, Branson, Missouri...</i></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's a little embarrassing that I have allowed this blog to remain unattended for so long, but it has always been a travel blog and, well, we're not traveling that much any longer. Besides, getting resettled into a real part-timing situation has been a bit more time-consuming than I thought. Now I remember why we went full-timing: Keeping up a stick-and-brick house along with an RV requires some work! It's all coming back to me now. Besides that, we've had to write some very big checks--first to buy the house and then to refurbish and furnish it. The older I get, the more debt-averse I am, so we are curtailing our travels to allow our reserves to recover. We want our only bounced check to be the one to the undertaker.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That doesn't mean staying housebound forever, though, so we decided to meet friends Larry and Carolyn here in Branson--always a favorite place to go. Our plan was to be here a week, then head back home, but it didn't quite work out that way, as you'll see later. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Getting Phannie's contents ready for travel after she had been idle for several months was not without its missteps. When we were beginning to inhabit the new house, we had agreed to avoid, as much as possible, stealing items from Phannie in the process, because that makes loading the coach for departure so much more difficult--especially when the old memory is not firing on all cylinders these days.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While we were partially successful in keeping the old girl ready for travel, it was inevitable at times that we would just walk out in the garage and purloin something we needed in the house. We didn't make a record of the thievery, of course, so it was no surprise that we found some missing essentials when we began departure prep and after we departed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sandy's biggest headache was clothing. Anyone who knows her is aware she thinks that, unlike a man, a woman can never have too many clothes because of all the different styles required for different occasions and the inevitable variables of weather. In all the years of our RVing, bless her heart, she was never really able to simplify her wardrobe adequately. I am being charitable here; she probably holds the record for carrying the most clothes while fulltiming. (If this blog suddenly goes dark, you'll know she read this.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Her massive clothes collection was the reason the closet rod in Phannie collapsed soon after we began fulltiming. The clothing on my side of the closet took up about ten percent of the total space, while her wardrobe took up the rest, along with a substantial stash in the storage area under the bed. Realizing she probably wouldn't get the hang of simplifying her clothing, I replaced the rather flimsy closet rod with a steel one and added bracing that would probably support a small car. There would be no more collapsed closet rods after that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we bought our house recently, it contained, thankfully, a huge walk-in closet, so she decided that--to shut up my "suggestions" toward simplifying her wardrobe--she would remove all her clothing from Phannie and bring everything inside the house, so she could sort it out. This was no small task, as there were enough items to dress most of the women in the nearby town. Naturally, I was involved in transporting the clothes inside, and I couldn't help but notice that a number of them still had the price tag attached. Once everything was hung up in the house closet, there was room enough in there for her to assess fully her wardrobe, and the winnowing process only got under way after she shooed me away. She found clothes she had forgotten about or were tightly obscured in Phannie's closet, and I was careful not to mention those items that still had the price tags attached. (She knows where the guns are kept.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since both of us have lost a great deal of weight over the past couple of years, she began trying on clothes to see which items no longer fit. This was an exhausting project, but she delighted in assembling an impressive pile of too-large clothes that were destined for a charity donation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thought this might bring about an epiphany for her in terms of the number of garments required for part-time RV travel and, to my amazement, it did! As a result of her bravery, she had whittled them down from 121 items (yes, you read that right) carried aboard Phannie while fulltiming to 29 now! To be fair, I counted my own garments now in Phannie's closet and came up with 14. I'm not sure what the average number of clothing items are for RV travel, but this reduction of hers was stunning. I praised her profusely, and I have an idea that even she was relieved at her monumental effort at downsizing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You will recall that I mentioned her large walk-in closet in the house, right? I don't think there's a woman alive who is comfortable with extra unused closet space. We'll see how that goes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another thing we didn't do very well involved food. When we parked Phannie in her attached RV garage after we bought the house, we cleaned out her refrigerator and turned it off. That will, of course, have to be standard procedure from now on between trips, for obvious reasons involving perishable food. (We also discovered some rather basic food items missing; remember the thievery I mentioned earlier?) Two days before our departure to Branson, I turned the refrigerator on again so it would cool down and the icemaker would begin operating. Besides having occasionally "borrowed" from Phannie's pantry, we didn't bring back enough food from the house and the house refrigerator, and we found that we had to go immediately to the grocery store upon our arrival in Branson. This seems like one of those things we will just never get right.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I may have written before about our increasing intolerance for overnights between our travel legs. Over the years, we have tried to limit our daily travel to 300 miles or less but, for some reason, the hassle of making and breaking camp for one night has become an anathema, so we decided to drive the entire 500 miles to Branson in one day. This required, of course, the hilly, curvy part of the drive through the Ozark mountains to be done after nightfall. While it was do-able, it was totally exhausting to manage all the twists, climbs and descents, downshifting and upshifting incessantly to control the speed and save the brakes. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We had contacted the park in Branson earlier in the day, and they had no problem with a late arrival, but I'm not sure the other RVers there appreciated Phannie's noisy diesel as we snaked our way to our parking site at 9:30 p.m. Would I do such a long leg again? Probably not in mountainous driving in the dark. However, if the road had been an interstate or a level one? Definitely. Was it safe? Probably not so much on this trip, but I think it would have been, had it not been for the mountain roads. Because Phannie's front seats are so comfortable with lots of legroom, normal driving is pretty easy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A few days after our arrival in Branson, we noticed the electrical part of our water heater had stopped working. After performing what little troubleshooting I could do, we called a mobile repairman, whose ability to communicate reliably was rather severely compromised because he didn't answer his cell phone most of the time, and he didn't use voice mail. He came out to our coach, though, and discovered the problem right away; then he announced that he would have to go get some parts and that he would be back, leaving the electrical part of the water heater disassembled. This was late on a Friday afternoon, so I wasn't expecting him back during the weekend, which turned out to be the case. That meant we had to extend our stay and hope we'll see him again on Monday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you've had to use mobile RV techs, you're probably aware that you never really know what you're going to get. A few are really great, but most of them are very busy and may not be able to get to you for days. Besides that, more than a few obviously have not attended a Dale Carnegie course on how to win friends and influence people. Sizing up this guy, it was obvious that he would not handle well my pressuring him, so I decided to give him plenty of rein and see what happens on Monday. We could have buttoned up and left, relying on the propane part of the heater, but we already owed him for the service call, and I would hate to start over again after returning home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That gave us a free weekend, which we used to see a show and do some sightseeing. Branson is different in many ways from our first visit some 20 years ago. The entertainers popular then and whom we enjoyed have now either retired or passed away. There used to be nostalgic shows about music of the '50s, but these have been replaced by the '60s, 70s, and 80s. We don't remember getting older; what happened? There are still good shows, though, and plenty of entertainment to be had.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Driving around, it was obvious that it was early spring in lower Missouri; tiny green leaves were just beginning to appear on the trees, and the redbuds were in full bloom:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fsa8D2FcQRcYj7R4R04lZhxR9IBxwJ245RydIBQx7qQSuaIHq2YgVODT5mpCM__71v8AiAizCbXExveMBeHDvIigagSc4FW6JpGVKi_NAubvRmtWBRyoMG2t9vT6mS3TAehkZasGOgJ51ijlaMw79Mg5SFGf1742_vpwkKVA8c34XzgBtelhvpKj5_Y/s3837/Redbud%20Tree%20and%20Cabin%20at%20Branson.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2254" data-original-width="3837" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fsa8D2FcQRcYj7R4R04lZhxR9IBxwJ245RydIBQx7qQSuaIHq2YgVODT5mpCM__71v8AiAizCbXExveMBeHDvIigagSc4FW6JpGVKi_NAubvRmtWBRyoMG2t9vT6mS3TAehkZasGOgJ51ijlaMw79Mg5SFGf1742_vpwkKVA8c34XzgBtelhvpKj5_Y/w640-h376/Redbud%20Tree%20and%20Cabin%20at%20Branson.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We also enjoyed a sunset in the Ozarks; that's Branson's Lake Taneycomo in the photo below:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9fTJOK_WWu4bO1BFJIfUwf6Vjsky5xpfmOHvdXd5seB2dw7WlNsgHRaJk2RBPsb6J0fFnEQOdotNtjn1DfYKyVYX5DHS79EbgqH3jBtwBr5qDhjtjDmUVT2LUwr45hCTGFSTLGnlJG8CzxoSaTc9v8RGU1SwuBoGnypx9-8YoBDa6P5CaOizOamWiFo/s4032/Sunset%20at%20Lake%20Taneycomo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9fTJOK_WWu4bO1BFJIfUwf6Vjsky5xpfmOHvdXd5seB2dw7WlNsgHRaJk2RBPsb6J0fFnEQOdotNtjn1DfYKyVYX5DHS79EbgqH3jBtwBr5qDhjtjDmUVT2LUwr45hCTGFSTLGnlJG8CzxoSaTc9v8RGU1SwuBoGnypx9-8YoBDa6P5CaOizOamWiFo/w640-h480/Sunset%20at%20Lake%20Taneycomo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We also did some shopping--well, Sandy did the shopping; I did the driving. We couldn't leave without getting some stuff for the grands. There was also a shopping bag that had a Chico's emblem; I'm not sure that one was for the grands.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I'm going to close this for now; that'll give me an opportunity for another post to disclose how all this turned out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-64952902886781103822024-01-15T16:24:00.001-06:002024-01-15T22:21:13.782-06:00Part-Timers Now, For Sure, But It Hasn't Been Easy<p> <i>At Bass Lake Christian Retirement Community, Lindale, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I've been reading back over<i> </i>several posts. (I have to do that to make sure I don't repeat myself--a sure sign the buzzards are circling overhead.) By now, you know that we have moved diagonally across Texas to a true part-timers' setup. The official transition was not complete until a few days ago, as we had been living in Phannie under the RV cover until the house was ready for occupancy. (You can see a photo of the place a couple of posts back.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>After eight years of fulltiming, there were some things about making the transition for which we weren't mentally or physically prepared. Another way of putting it is that we had no clue what it would be like to prepare for living in a house again. Yes, I guess our memory had faded that much.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>We were also slowed by our two-week holiday visit with the kids--which we couldn't miss, of course. Thankfully, we are a couple of hours closer to them now. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Almost immediately after returning from the Houston area, Sandy and I became ill. I was the first to fall, with fever and all the lovely side effects of the flu. My immediate visit to the doctor confirmed influenza (even though we had both had flu shots), but instead of prescribing the usual Tamiflu medication, the doctor gave me a prescription for a single tablet (I can't remember the name of it, but I have no trouble remembering that the one pill cost $75.) However, it must be the new best thing, as I began to feel better fairly quickly, as the fever subsided. Sandy's symptoms were not as severe, but the coughing and sniffling have persisted to this day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The problem with going to part time RVing and moving into a house is that we didn't have much of anything to take from Phannie to the house. Since we'll still be traveling in Phannie, we must leave almost everything inside intact! That left us with the necessity of furnishing the house from scratch! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Well, we must admit to some luck here, in that the former owners of the house were moving into an apartment and were unable to take with them any of the kitchen or laundry appliances. They asked if we wanted them for free, and we, of course, said, "Yes!" We also had a sofa and two chairs from the Hondo cabin and a second sofa that we had kept from our previous house so, thankfully, we had a good head start. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>We still had a good bit of furniture to buy, and it certainly had not gotten cheaper in eight years! I had to buy a new computer, of course, and it is amazing how these things have improved in the last eight years! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The big surprises came in the form of the little things. We had no cooking utensils, dinnerware, silverware, plus dozens of other gadgets that are required. Simple things, like clocks, wastebaskets, bathroom and cleaning supplies--even tiny things like envelopes and stamps--a</span><span style="font-size: large;">ll these had to be purchased. Every day, it seemed, we discovered we didn't have some essential thing, and we were faced with the need to borrow it from Phannie, hoping to remember to replace it later. When we start our next trip, we will almost certainly be in the same situation; we'll travel somewhere and discover items missing from Phannie that we stole for the house.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Then there was the dilemma of making the house feel like our own instead of someone else's. The decor had to reflect our taste, and that was a bit of a challenge, since the buyer of our previous house eight years ago had also bought almost all our furnishings that we had picked out after a lot of thought. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Now, in the new house, i</span>t took a while to choose just the right things, but one idea that I had turned out superbly: I chose several photographs I had taken at various landmarks on our travels and had them made into large canvas wall-hangings. They turned out spectacularly well, serving a dual purpose as a reminder every day of the places we've been and the sights we've seen on our marvelous eight-year odyssey. We found there were more photos than we could reasonably hang in the small house, but we plan to switch them out from time to time. Here is a sampling of the ones hanging now:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZr-hnvGN1dk3zy_qIoA0eRItqZZ3KxaYS8YT4Pn6ZOugW_2047sSag6Tw13cqM4h4KuwJwXl6li0_-Q-ZcAhioleYCuHEbHRPFkePpl-TXgHBypRNGuZ71qqocJH9tL66qxE16WKuQWnmKxnJeycHzj44zgg9QqO0SRQpkJfJ0204H19PcmdfGj31VU/s4032/IMG_0662.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZr-hnvGN1dk3zy_qIoA0eRItqZZ3KxaYS8YT4Pn6ZOugW_2047sSag6Tw13cqM4h4KuwJwXl6li0_-Q-ZcAhioleYCuHEbHRPFkePpl-TXgHBypRNGuZ71qqocJH9tL66qxE16WKuQWnmKxnJeycHzj44zgg9QqO0SRQpkJfJ0204H19PcmdfGj31VU/w480-h640/IMG_0662.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mine Near Marble, Colorado</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYF2JBde9PEOOOoRcF1_-RRb5etNA1k7jYTbWqiEo9Q9SOfIMpBdVvkG5JGJDrslC3lac6Si91pccVigQBv8SGb7CLhpX8v3E8qeFU1RsXAEpzRGYNeQ2rSJBOQDNthaOMKOD0xInQ0hgpVMvJ6iDjsGdlrQ_FYmtT54AvJBKyPLbZHunQe9h0Nsxl4o/s4032/IMG_0663.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYF2JBde9PEOOOoRcF1_-RRb5etNA1k7jYTbWqiEo9Q9SOfIMpBdVvkG5JGJDrslC3lac6Si91pccVigQBv8SGb7CLhpX8v3E8qeFU1RsXAEpzRGYNeQ2rSJBOQDNthaOMKOD0xInQ0hgpVMvJ6iDjsGdlrQ_FYmtT54AvJBKyPLbZHunQe9h0Nsxl4o/w640-h480/IMG_0663.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: Old Barn With The Grand Tetons in the Background; Bottom: The Grand Canyon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamtdTkPkDUF_IdjzsGE3EI1C96sPe5AqqAjYCeVGszMgOsJfG3-H6CGRkRsLHIYqOJEdC9IKAM4IJNxBU2duw019BVaBjAntsvdHmTJcizQS1XybCwuBw5MNCv1-gZdjsncP5ZtEABG9_5XDBWTiu9dxC1ToYnTXBTlg9UApA1kle2sFYdYyzW6PtuVM/s4032/IMG_0664.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamtdTkPkDUF_IdjzsGE3EI1C96sPe5AqqAjYCeVGszMgOsJfG3-H6CGRkRsLHIYqOJEdC9IKAM4IJNxBU2duw019BVaBjAntsvdHmTJcizQS1XybCwuBw5MNCv1-gZdjsncP5ZtEABG9_5XDBWTiu9dxC1ToYnTXBTlg9UApA1kle2sFYdYyzW6PtuVM/w480-h640/IMG_0664.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Near Yuma, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Finally, upon completing this post today, we are in the deep freeze here in northeast Texas. We are so glad to have Phannie tucked away from the elements and not sucking down the propane and electricity to keep us warm. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8d8qc0lkfqlEV2dZrckUmJGi7FX3k2Z7UbxUIfVXT0JuUBCuCwcvCv0TzowRC7t8irc-GQU0BSdqv6s7Lh1l-Ehd8DZUZNcDk9JYVbarhlHFlQPg_MUTLJoJjdvKpKtWdOA_GnScRwlX-9ToTs77WjFqbsqos8W4JI-5Ft2mvw1nqiwY_fV_vEMavc8/s4032/IMG_0666.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8d8qc0lkfqlEV2dZrckUmJGi7FX3k2Z7UbxUIfVXT0JuUBCuCwcvCv0TzowRC7t8irc-GQU0BSdqv6s7Lh1l-Ehd8DZUZNcDk9JYVbarhlHFlQPg_MUTLJoJjdvKpKtWdOA_GnScRwlX-9ToTs77WjFqbsqos8W4JI-5Ft2mvw1nqiwY_fV_vEMavc8/w640-h480/IMG_0666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">(I should have pulled Mae under cover, too, but I didn't know it was going to snow. Lesson learned.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-3863734909335544652023-11-29T02:26:00.002-06:002023-11-29T13:52:03.161-06:00Southwestern Texas to Northeastern Texas--Another World and Another Lifestyle<p><i> At Bass Lake Christian Retirement RV Community, Lindale, Texas</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have been a bit busy since the last post, having finally made the move from Ranchito Hondo to Bass Lake. Believe me when I tell you that it is like traveling to another world. Whereas the Hondo area is mostly barren, treeless and less than a visual delight, northeast Texas is, well...see for yourself:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvPgqI4DeslWb9nFDLNb7c86cFde6Bbu4RTYNcNziyGXFN0QxlKKsN_x-hNUFuxXy_lhStK77bc15dTYspFjMeAMCbPMWFHvicU_7curr_2bRaDvzvDDHdoYZ-1Jgw2zLnP2v8Nf8Vq7Ld1_N08wOdatYuVl5MHqz0gfyr31YHor9w7oZml4bh9i00BE/s2678/LookoutMountain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="2678" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvPgqI4DeslWb9nFDLNb7c86cFde6Bbu4RTYNcNziyGXFN0QxlKKsN_x-hNUFuxXy_lhStK77bc15dTYspFjMeAMCbPMWFHvicU_7curr_2bRaDvzvDDHdoYZ-1Jgw2zLnP2v8Nf8Vq7Ld1_N08wOdatYuVl5MHqz0gfyr31YHor9w7oZml4bh9i00BE/w640-h496/LookoutMountain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Sandy is standing at an overlook at Lookout Mountain and a beautiful view of heavily wooded east Texas. This area near Jacksonville is sort of like the east Texas version of the famed Texas Hill Country west of Austin. We are only a short distance from Tyler and nearby Lindale, our new residence. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> I am already thrilled to be back in the land of my ancestors. I remember fondly my days as a young pilot when I would jump in a little two-seater Cessna 140 and fly very low over this hilly and forested landscape; I was in heaven.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> As I take the photo, Phannie is parked behind me, waiting patiently while I go down memory lane and look over both the familiar landscape and through time--my ancestors included soldiers and officers of the Confederate Army, preachers, farmers, tradesmen, and one of them was even mayor of my home town. I feel I can almost see them in the clouds. I'm doing my best to encourage Sandy to feel at home. She grew up in central Texas--more of a flatland farming area without the gorgeous trees--but we all feel at home where home was when we were young, don't we? She claims to be "all-in" for the area, but it is so like her to resort to obeisance if she knows it makes me happy. I try to be the same for her but, raised an only child, I have the misfortune of being accustomed to getting my way. I think she would say that I try hard to match her selflessness, but that's a tall order for me. However, I must have done enough to hold on to her for nearly 47 years, thank God.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span> This last trip from Hondo to Lindale was an expensive one and, at least momentarily, hair-raising. As we were driving on a very crowded Loop 410 in San Antonio, a semi truck got a little too close to our lane and our mirrors struck, knocking Phannie's right mirror completely off its arm. Startled as we were, I failed to identify the truck, whose mirror appeared not to be damaged. After perhaps a few miles, I was able to pull off the freeway but, by that time, the truck was long gone. This was the result:</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0P5xWbJYSTVKMdUbGYuMbxA0F_-PGsIjpi3nqu02YqVRrnQDIKbbNJ11fyztzoSVXa1NdxRBQ1K_ykMaqwlpCl8lgY-I1QBkzpIjSIkuEy-F2zXSIi5M6hwukwMYfyRJfmHWmAt6qbn_pMv7Pl10mmRkFfe9nq3rclOqv3-6LAWBZAz54d1aGwuAGRQ/s4032/MissingMirror.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0P5xWbJYSTVKMdUbGYuMbxA0F_-PGsIjpi3nqu02YqVRrnQDIKbbNJ11fyztzoSVXa1NdxRBQ1K_ykMaqwlpCl8lgY-I1QBkzpIjSIkuEy-F2zXSIi5M6hwukwMYfyRJfmHWmAt6qbn_pMv7Pl10mmRkFfe9nq3rclOqv3-6LAWBZAz54d1aGwuAGRQ/w480-h640/MissingMirror.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <span> If you look closely, you can see the loose wires that control from the cockpit the mirror movement and heat. You can also see that Phannie had reached her beautiful RV cover in Lindale in this condition, something I didn't know if I could accomplish from San Antonio because the driver's view of the right side of the bus was nil without that mirror. The potential for an accident was exponentially greater in this situation.</span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span> I was debating what to do when I happened to take a look at the rear video screen on Phannie's dashboard. I noticed that the view of Mae was but a small part of the panorama of the rear camera. I could actually see vehicles in the right lane until they disappeared alongside Phannie, so I figured that if I watched the rear video closely and took less-traveled roads, I would probably be okay, and that's exactly what happened. To make double sure, I always kept Phannie in the far right lane whenever we were on a four-lane stretch of highway. The six-hour drive was a little nerve-wracking, but it worked better than I thought.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span> Arriving at our Bass Lake abode, I called Tiffin immediately, with my fingers crossed in hopes they would have one of these older mirrors in stock. Much to my surprise, they did! When they quoted the price ($1,250 plus shipping), I gulped but ordered it anyway, not knowing where else I would find one. I also located a mobile RV technician after trying to install the mirror myself. I couldn't make sense of which of the five wires went where, and this guy got it on the first try. So, there was another $150 that flew out of my wallet. Figuring in the diesel fuel consumed, I probably could have chartered a jet more cheaply for this particular trip. That would hardly have worked, though, because Phannie was piled high with the last vestiges of our belongings and Sandy's clothes that she seems to collect as though someday they would cease to be made. I see I'm on thin ice here, so let's get back to the mirror. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">This is how Phannie looked with her new $1,400 mirror--yep, exactly the same:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxzTdkQ76MihmwUFdokHKNToaaOKWwmCQvj1I5eipTYucjUFd3hTL68BPWrttIiu4bswqXTN_g_2hHTv-8d_EF9IEQ8IrpilMU-GLQh9tOdx5aG6TxPod9M31KXfx37rQtFcbmbZy7AdX5Nie-ShrhJr0M7QIBVkGZ7iDqdLypQ7AcjWmQ52WLus00mo/s4032/Phannie%20New%20Mirror.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxzTdkQ76MihmwUFdokHKNToaaOKWwmCQvj1I5eipTYucjUFd3hTL68BPWrttIiu4bswqXTN_g_2hHTv-8d_EF9IEQ8IrpilMU-GLQh9tOdx5aG6TxPod9M31KXfx37rQtFcbmbZy7AdX5Nie-ShrhJr0M7QIBVkGZ7iDqdLypQ7AcjWmQ52WLus00mo/w480-h640/Phannie%20New%20Mirror.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The one obvious difference here at Bass Lake from Hondo is that the old girl is comfortably tucked into her roomy garage, where she suffers neither rain, hail, snow nor blazing sun. It's so nice to walk from Phannie into the house during a downpour without worrying about getting drowned ourselves. If we're here in the summer, we will definitely have no need to run all three air conditioners as we did on hot days in the scorching Hondo sun. Oh, wait! We'll be in the house, where the air conditioning is almost overdone itself. I don't suppose Phannie will need any air conditioning at all, unless we use her for a guest house.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> I looked back a few posts, and I don't think I showed you my very cool pole mount for our Starlink antenna when we're away on a trip for a while:</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLksibGQv_qBVCowNqzDVQoE8QSg5ffUub-PvQ6qX-GVE9QlZ2vzXXfbBhJeJSx_Wd2KksFs-fZaTAAt-0XJeyAfkrQUZhVz5HNLhPUnS9tHeHG9Zw7N5bjpSOO446ZMQN5xzKCOdDWJdUo8l1hPrKcAU7mrckcQhQfwt2m_vFX_9ooilmWJlWEl_sAQ/s4032/StarlinkonPhannie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLksibGQv_qBVCowNqzDVQoE8QSg5ffUub-PvQ6qX-GVE9QlZ2vzXXfbBhJeJSx_Wd2KksFs-fZaTAAt-0XJeyAfkrQUZhVz5HNLhPUnS9tHeHG9Zw7N5bjpSOO446ZMQN5xzKCOdDWJdUo8l1hPrKcAU7mrckcQhQfwt2m_vFX_9ooilmWJlWEl_sAQ/w480-h640/StarlinkonPhannie.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span> <span style="font-size: large;">Carrying Starlink along is neat anyway, but being able to get the antenna extended beyond obstructions adds to how I attempt to justify the cost of the subscription. (Maybe that's a reach, but 24/7 lightning-fast Internet with no limits is not too shabby.) It's very easy to place the pole in its mounts, which Walt installed for me. Thanks, Walt.</span></span><br /><p></p><p><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the worst thing about moving is leaving the friends we've come to know in Hondo. However, we have RV friends scattered all over the country, and we stay in touch via social media and, when we're lucky, meet them on the road now and then.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The painters finished repainting the interior of the Bass Lake house today, so we will finally be able to start unboxing things. We won't be sleeping in the house for a while, however; our bedroom furniture doesn't arrive for a few days yet.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> Thusly, we enter yet another phase of the RV life--eventually required, I suppose, by every one of us. I'm very satisfied with the way we've done it--slowly transitioning from the long trips requiring the stamina of younger years, then to semi-part time, where we had a cabin but still lived in the bus, and finally back to true part-timers, where we live in a small house--just what we wanted--and take a relatively modest trip now and then.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span> The Lord has been good to us--more than 100,000 miles in Phannie (plus the previous tens of thousands of miles pulling our fifth wheels). We've seen just about all of the country we ever wanted to see, filling our bucket list along the way. Amazingly, Phannie still seems ready to go, having carried us safely all those miles over a dozen years, without a single hiccup from</span></span></span></span></span><span> her dependable drive train. I think I love the Caterpillar diesel engine; I'm certain this one has another 400,000 miles in it, because of its meticulous maintenance. (And, </span><span>I take no small amount of pride in the fact that we've never bought a drop of DEF.)</span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> As we mentioned in the last post, Phannie will take us to Conroe for Christmas through New Year's and to Branson in the spring. We'll figure out the rest later.</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span> You might notice that the pageview counter is getting close to a million. It actually should show quite a bit more than that, however, as the counter only began counting in 2010; by that time, we had been posting for five years. Nevertheless, it will be exciting to see it turn over a million, and we cannot thank you readers enough for traveling along with us. We love that and, hopefully, our adventures have been entertaining, inspiring or at least helpful in some way. I can tell you we feel incredibly blessed to have had this experience. Not everyone can truly say they've had no regrets in the travels we've had, the wonderful friends we've made and the lives we've lived. </span></span></span></span></span><span>I'm not sure what we'll do when <i>Phannie and Mae</i> passes the million pageview number, but it'll have to be something significant. We'll have to think about that.</span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-44024728020216703992023-10-20T00:47:00.001-05:002023-10-20T00:48:27.575-05:00A Roundabout Journey to Hondo--and Something Unexpected<p><i>At Lone Star Corral Escapees Park, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Coming back to Ranchito Hondo certainly had some enjoyable detours and something entirely unexpected that will turn out to be the surprise I mentioned in the previous post.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we left the last of the mountains into New Mexico, I couldn't help but take a photo of this rock that reminded me a bit of the Sphinx in Egypt. It was a little sad that the beauty surrounding us all summer was coming to an end.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLALvY9XK8dwVE96EvVcSf196tBRpoAGWoq4HBILbdMpTcsqZjvbHkuRHugxlYIrecmKTVTYZZzqhU2cH5xIX9EVD51BsbEEIRMRJg6hj3GtL9Ej9W7uGCsWt7oK26IcEm_oRubuxXqfvU6N9ayAw4DtZnini7K9KEsGy0JQCEy92l5zuS3V2CVM8lOdg/s3742/Sphinx%20in%20New%20Mexico.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3742" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLALvY9XK8dwVE96EvVcSf196tBRpoAGWoq4HBILbdMpTcsqZjvbHkuRHugxlYIrecmKTVTYZZzqhU2cH5xIX9EVD51BsbEEIRMRJg6hj3GtL9Ej9W7uGCsWt7oK26IcEm_oRubuxXqfvU6N9ayAw4DtZnini7K9KEsGy0JQCEy92l5zuS3V2CVM8lOdg/w640-h394/Sphinx%20in%20New%20Mexico.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span><div style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Our first overnight after leaving Colorado was the RV park at Cline's Corners, a well-known travel center on I-40, southeast of Santa Fe. They have opened a new RV park, and it is quite nice and reasonably priced for an overnight. They don't take reservations, but there's usually plenty of sites available.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From there, we overnighted at Bubba and LouAnn's home in Lockney, Texas (near Plainview). We moochdocked in their driveway, but not without a minor mishap when Bubba, who was directing my backing into his driveway, became distracted and failed to stop me before Phannie backed into his roof overhang. This bent Phannie's ladder and damaged some shingles on his roof. Naturally, he felt bad about it, and so did I, but stuff happens. The ladder has been replaced, and all is okay now. As usual, we enjoyed getting to spend a little more time with them and their family and the generosity of offering us overnight accommodations.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop was The Vineyards RV Park in Grapevine, Texas, where we took some time for an annual medical checkup and a visit with a close high school friend whom I hadn't seen in 50 years or so:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1mUsiSAdSBV8azpRbvN6PDE3z_jRX5vvow7xteaRtTGWz19af52aESaISm3IHuFrm7gRglV3GCwewENk4snjYWWA9VGz4Dw6ql5-_87d0YWQspe44L-7nTW7O78S0nZGz7MZxwy8vncrJP1J5JGIyKGH49B5FNeehG-1poEYe6qjkPmHDM4qhyoJfEs/s4032/Danny%20and%20Livonna%202023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1mUsiSAdSBV8azpRbvN6PDE3z_jRX5vvow7xteaRtTGWz19af52aESaISm3IHuFrm7gRglV3GCwewENk4snjYWWA9VGz4Dw6ql5-_87d0YWQspe44L-7nTW7O78S0nZGz7MZxwy8vncrJP1J5JGIyKGH49B5FNeehG-1poEYe6qjkPmHDM4qhyoJfEs/w480-h640/Danny%20and%20Livonna%202023.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Danny, also a musician, roamed around with me a great deal in our high school years, and it was such a treat finally to see him and his lovely wife again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the doctor visits, which went fine, we motored down to my hometown, Nacogdoches, Texas, where we spent a few days visiting friends John and Pat and the publisher of my newspaper column, high school chum David. (You can see the nonsense I write monthly in http://aroundthetown.us, but you'll have to wade through a bunch of advertising to get to it. My column is usually between pages 18 and 32. There are quite a few columns, as I have been writing for the paper for over a year now.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We hadn't been in Nacogdoches long until I received a call from the president of the Board of Directors at Bass Lake Christian RV Community near Tyler, Texas--a larger town not far from Nacogdoches. She told me a resident was selling, and that I might be interested in his place. We had been looking at this park for a number of years, but didn't find exactly what we wanted, so we jumped in the car and drove to Tyler, where we bought the new place on the spot!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cxh4TWCU9txhyJaEk46M5uK4n94kLEeHXUIeiGypOHGQnPjXL5y785Ch5Euzs0rrtaG_8cSyHyIomw-MtoRjwNT0pV4v8HS15B0MdYWD_SMG3Zm_cvmgWzZeKlSI7hwhKKjoIfTckqEypOS4oe1zoXkJjHbW5rMMBQ3v0ihygT5A68CH6fvxJ_xMK1s/s2777/BLCRC%20House.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="2777" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cxh4TWCU9txhyJaEk46M5uK4n94kLEeHXUIeiGypOHGQnPjXL5y785Ch5Euzs0rrtaG_8cSyHyIomw-MtoRjwNT0pV4v8HS15B0MdYWD_SMG3Zm_cvmgWzZeKlSI7hwhKKjoIfTckqEypOS4oe1zoXkJjHbW5rMMBQ3v0ihygT5A68CH6fvxJ_xMK1s/w640-h562/BLCRC%20House.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The previous owners were very nice and left for us all the appliances and a substantial amount of other indoor and outdoor things at no additional cost! So, for the moment, we find ourselves owning sites at Hondo and at Lindale--near Tyler, Texas. We will eventually sell Ranchito Hondo, of course, but this is the natural progression for us, we think, as we wind down the long trips in Phannie. The main attractions of this place in Lindale involve the large RV/Vehicle cover and the small house--about 1000 sq. ft.--that accompanies it. And so, the fulltiming to part timing cycle takes another turn. With this purchase, we will no longer be living fulltime in Phannie, but in the house. The great news is that Phannie will finally be under a cover again when unused--something we desperately missed because of the effects of the elements which, thankfully, appear to have been minimal. I've often written about what a marvelous motorhome that Tiffin built in the early 2000s, and I am more convinced of it than ever. To think she has come through eight years of fulltiming virtually unscathed, looking good and running perfectly--she is a wonderful lady. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Even so, I think the long trips are over, as we are getting on up there in years. Besides, we have seen just about everything on our bucket list, all of which--thank God--we have recorded in this rag for the last 18 years. Of all the things we did, my beginning this blog on our first day of RV ownership was perhaps that for which we're most grateful. Our memories will fade, but there are about two million words and countless photos in this blog that will remind us of the adventures of a lifetime. We have also met some of our most cherished friends along the road--and they will remain so for the rest of our lifetimes. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So, the new (to us) place in Lindale is the little surprise we teased you about in the last post; we will probably be moving in in November. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This doesn't mean that RV travel is over for us, however. Our next RV trip will be to the Houston area, where we will spend Thanksgiving with our family. Phannie is perfect for trips like that now that we're older.</span><p><span style="font-size: large;">After purchasing our new digs at Bass Lake, we drove to visit RV friends Steve and Jackie, who have just finished building a magnificent RV barndominium northwest of Austin, Texas. The contrast between our modest little place and this palace couldn't be more stark. Take a look:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6dx-Ip7FeChyphenhyphenKx2rvXHOtAlfJZM3L5RWTyzrRCL9USdM-ZXUrfi3zmRncxnk_uRhOjPK6tWES4hbU2IR6_k_0YtMyqZkLVyPwLU_wusXpQKzTGjBJ47giCFKM-1EuPjCaVhFAqJjgDnseMrNUgMlB8O8EcsJf0AoAq5Dfu-p9fiVZIJ6d4honEkTISI/s4032/Steve%20and%20Jackies%20Barndo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2030" data-original-width="4032" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6dx-Ip7FeChyphenhyphenKx2rvXHOtAlfJZM3L5RWTyzrRCL9USdM-ZXUrfi3zmRncxnk_uRhOjPK6tWES4hbU2IR6_k_0YtMyqZkLVyPwLU_wusXpQKzTGjBJ47giCFKM-1EuPjCaVhFAqJjgDnseMrNUgMlB8O8EcsJf0AoAq5Dfu-p9fiVZIJ6d4honEkTISI/w640-h322/Steve%20and%20Jackies%20Barndo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Built on two acres of land near the Texas Hill Country, the 2,000 sq. ft. beauty has everything. Notice the two large garage doors--one for their motorhome and the other for their two vehicles. Also notice they have added an RV pad with hookups for visiting RV friends. We were so honored to be the first! I wish I had taken photos inside, but we'll do that next time. With accommodations like this, who wouldn't want to visit? Here is a peek inside the garage, where you can see their motorhome, Jackie's car and Steve's pickup:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx4aaIo27RIM_IRQddwbleIPiEq1-5KCTDawYf3oHptpl1TQmB9nawQaCNwljYGS-EWrHB-XcLrLyy87NVEVBTAFlxm_tj3k5FuyOOHrqKR_Rb9PqEu2ZE_emBHaVvYg65Y4b0WmC5GaV196yG8QSdY2PrMPqGRnWqc1n70l-kWf51LtGtvom4Oz0Joo/s4032/Inside%20Barndo%20Garage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx4aaIo27RIM_IRQddwbleIPiEq1-5KCTDawYf3oHptpl1TQmB9nawQaCNwljYGS-EWrHB-XcLrLyy87NVEVBTAFlxm_tj3k5FuyOOHrqKR_Rb9PqEu2ZE_emBHaVvYg65Y4b0WmC5GaV196yG8QSdY2PrMPqGRnWqc1n70l-kWf51LtGtvom4Oz0Joo/w640-h480/Inside%20Barndo%20Garage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We loved this place and the quiet surroundings, and the weather was perfect for us to sit out on the porch and visit:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDs_JaHxJXShpHD30r6c-J9r7_NX-1ONvrSYsuu0hH6TlEhJp40X7cBT0Rfnfi7VsGOhUNnGwbrRlB6U7cBAKxENwIBTGkTMHrwZ5jMd2wjBSu79Bt0FoNgm1YkxPdPBkUUpRXFj0ttxNyFjLG-gyBcBZoLlMiBk9RDoyY5G4-u5n4BHZ8OmUrUbduO0/s4032/Jackie%20Sandy%20Steve%20Jill.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDs_JaHxJXShpHD30r6c-J9r7_NX-1ONvrSYsuu0hH6TlEhJp40X7cBT0Rfnfi7VsGOhUNnGwbrRlB6U7cBAKxENwIBTGkTMHrwZ5jMd2wjBSu79Bt0FoNgm1YkxPdPBkUUpRXFj0ttxNyFjLG-gyBcBZoLlMiBk9RDoyY5G4-u5n4BHZ8OmUrUbduO0/w640-h480/Jackie%20Sandy%20Steve%20Jill.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Look at the beautiful landscaping. There's a bubbling fountain in the center of the photo:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRIbobF-MDLHns9HuC7Yu2EEdwFXqJWySUXR5Y4cpN4cke3x6HeBkRs0QRKNjDLF-DZB6xm7eWztzqXug3OmFYpoXH3xNQlLp86xiAvtnkD9xdQ7-48fz3hDXDTXBq9XtXIIBfYOJuKKBblJZY7z44IivEkRCegtkqUFnjvLHHrZea3-etTRYNbDrXDc/s4032/IMG_0489.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRIbobF-MDLHns9HuC7Yu2EEdwFXqJWySUXR5Y4cpN4cke3x6HeBkRs0QRKNjDLF-DZB6xm7eWztzqXug3OmFYpoXH3xNQlLp86xiAvtnkD9xdQ7-48fz3hDXDTXBq9XtXIIBfYOJuKKBblJZY7z44IivEkRCegtkqUFnjvLHHrZea3-etTRYNbDrXDc/w480-h640/IMG_0489.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p><span>Not only did we enjoy a visit with Steve and Jackie (and pup Jill, of course), we finally got to meet and have dinner in San Antonio with Alan and Mary. I got hooked on Mary's blog, Reflections Around the Campfire (</span><a href="http://reflectionsaroundthecampfire.blogspot.com">reflectionsaroundthecampfire.blogspot.com</a><span>) years ago because it was so interesting and well written. As somewhat of a stickler for what I hope is good storytelling and especially accuracy in the mechanics of writing, I was impressed. I began to joke with Mary in my comments when I would find a very rare error in grammar, punctuation and the like. This was something I could never do with most bloggers or anyone else, for that matter, as they would be offended at my pointing out what is usually a plethora of errors. (Yes, it is an OCD thing of mine, but I try to control it in order to retain friends.) Mary was a good sport, however, and gave back as good as she got. However, such a dry revelry has a relatively short lifespan, so we now just enjoy each other's blogs without the good-natured harassment--well, most of the time</span><span>. </span></p><p><span>We met at the Fish City Grill, where we enjoyed a wonderful seafood dinner and much conversation and laughing. It's funny how it's really not so surprising to meet a longtime cyber friend; we felt as though we already knew each other!</span></p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOY9C8vX1znbNPl21AZ8jRuqDVesETYC_Hu3Fjm1i9CqzXfeUBrDQLQuNLO-2cmhOOHBZpboq3QNi33Yb48vd95iHR4L02C-zeM3PnkiIPhYJcurf3dcD89aJcK_z0Z1HRzMsIfr9Cn34qpKwGJLHZVdiWh20lrA8AOlov4mAzAHjMn0znwefi0TonnY/s4032/IMG_0494.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOY9C8vX1znbNPl21AZ8jRuqDVesETYC_Hu3Fjm1i9CqzXfeUBrDQLQuNLO-2cmhOOHBZpboq3QNi33Yb48vd95iHR4L02C-zeM3PnkiIPhYJcurf3dcD89aJcK_z0Z1HRzMsIfr9Cn34qpKwGJLHZVdiWh20lrA8AOlov4mAzAHjMn0znwefi0TonnY/w640-h480/IMG_0494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Well, that's quite a lot to chew for one blog post, so I'll run along and admit that we will be quite busy for a while with the move from Hondo to Lindale. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What do we have in the planning stage? Well, there will be Thanksgiving and Christmas with the kids, of course, then Branson in the spring, where we will be meeting up with more RVing friends. We're not sure about next summer but, in the fall, we will probably be doing the leaf-peeping thing in New England and up to Maine. That's the one place in the country we haven't really spent much time, but we'll fly there instead of driving Phannie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it. As our friend Ed always says, "Life is Good." </span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-61057905576030472882023-09-03T01:14:00.000-05:002023-09-03T01:14:16.059-05:00Time to Head Towards Texas<p> <i>At The Views RV Park, Dolores, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>After all the unexpected delays getting Phannie's annual service in Red Bay, our stay in Colorado this year was much shorter than we wished. We had actually planned to stay through September, but some exciting things await us in Texas. We are not looking forward to our departure to Texas next week, as the temperature there is still in triple digits after the worst heat wave on record.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> We have had a wonderful time here, especially with dear friends who have joined us from time to time. We feel for those who have suffered the heat back home but thankful we missed most of it. </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> While longtime friends Bubba and LouAnn were already here when we arrived, we were soon joined by Arkansas friends Carolyn and Larry, who rode the Durango-Silverton train and had time for us to give them a whirlwind tour of nearby Mesa Verde National Park and Durango, where we had lunch in the old saloon of the historic 19th-century Strater Hotel:</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDbnwW22lhEQpifkpE6mRmkMjuQrSTKUxM1zRejzHZ52Q0V4eIS62rS-ZXaRsZmsxwAbQusS7YS2WMsm_8APBRiYSlheFtYDZnX-lOqtaGdwJr2iyKon2HqccvF8ZHb-terpkBdPr7wxD0Rj1HheGqgw_ZLkAXz2T0OH6DN_DY8wcjpBr-1jZVZyCx9o/s4032/Carolyn%20and%20Larry%20at%20Strater.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDbnwW22lhEQpifkpE6mRmkMjuQrSTKUxM1zRejzHZ52Q0V4eIS62rS-ZXaRsZmsxwAbQusS7YS2WMsm_8APBRiYSlheFtYDZnX-lOqtaGdwJr2iyKon2HqccvF8ZHb-terpkBdPr7wxD0Rj1HheGqgw_ZLkAXz2T0OH6DN_DY8wcjpBr-1jZVZyCx9o/w640-h480/Carolyn%20and%20Larry%20at%20Strater.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><span> </span>No, Larry is not tipsy in the photo. Remember, I told you he's from Arkansas. </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span> The old saloon as been restored, and they kept the original bar and even a piano player, whom you can see in the background. I wanted to play a duet with him, but the place was just too crowded.</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span> Our next entertainment venue was the Bar D Chuckwagon in Durango, where we were served barbeque and treated to a live western band. (They were quite good.)</span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxC980PQQZYjDEiTxImlOnzXKbNHzjjrQLpF7NR2wYVH2MwcpUJdbJ1sTZl_E6x0TfY1DFlazytaPFANeCX8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><span> Our next visitors were BreAnn, daughter of Bubba and LouAnn, and longtime friends Mary Lou and Harvey. We all had a great time, and we have some photos, of course. Here's a lovely scene with BreAnn standing in front of Trout Lake, near Telluride, Colorado:</span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphBSO2vZaHzVtGO9HTRIwk8h1lb2a-PRHTpfYCetanlcUNyPZiP194YmkqrpTT_xTyxxFfAeTWktkfYGttSFbJ9HyVGlrbxFbs5tRbvelncZdqvm-DEMV39aItIKGSb7LS0Pv_4oVfDQGrToPXRY5XfBzooCvFnHxtCE3KRE8JkqPkZPlQIWoeCTVAtk/s4032/BreAnn%20at%20Trout%20Lake%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="4032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphBSO2vZaHzVtGO9HTRIwk8h1lb2a-PRHTpfYCetanlcUNyPZiP194YmkqrpTT_xTyxxFfAeTWktkfYGttSFbJ9HyVGlrbxFbs5tRbvelncZdqvm-DEMV39aItIKGSb7LS0Pv_4oVfDQGrToPXRY5XfBzooCvFnHxtCE3KRE8JkqPkZPlQIWoeCTVAtk/w640-h400/BreAnn%20at%20Trout%20Lake%20Edited.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><span> </span>Here's a photo of our last gathering around the campfire on the Animas river. In this photo are Jerry and Lori, some of LouAnn's relatives. BreAnn is standing next to Sandy. Notice we all have on our jackets (sorry, Texas friends):<br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7KE4wTgZHyw6LaDIMW8O45VAw2p6Wvwf0t43K8GJPEN1CR94vQhLpFrU9U0d0ppKrhivG-9ngpcLlkpAV2_3AOGUi7f4cDYuKly6o7VpvMIPUxESsXdpbK9nbKoiReHmMUcaZ36nBijmQlIx-zbSt5JdcYyhLdVCQH48COt0PA5-QL6-Ek7qh7aCAnc/s4032/Final%20Durango%20Campfire%20.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7KE4wTgZHyw6LaDIMW8O45VAw2p6Wvwf0t43K8GJPEN1CR94vQhLpFrU9U0d0ppKrhivG-9ngpcLlkpAV2_3AOGUi7f4cDYuKly6o7VpvMIPUxESsXdpbK9nbKoiReHmMUcaZ36nBijmQlIx-zbSt5JdcYyhLdVCQH48COt0PA5-QL6-Ek7qh7aCAnc/w480-h640/Final%20Durango%20Campfire%20.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><span> </span>We had one final lunch at Serious Texas Barbeque (really good), as a goodbye gesture to Harvey and Mary Lou (far left):</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmifngutZIlwjMvX9DBXVZZnljPpLrHKHYSrjzsvYyGt0fSp4blGEEA08WMDGI8ykfrfCFOJ4UNKgqlhKnx4d03wxWT-w_r06i7x4nO9h1webSLh-cAGYoqd1q9a9l5mIxJud39J7cmvuYde3biJFJlLoddfuzyhjNmlyW4Jclt3Da1MPVhwBKxOzYr5k/s4032/Final%20BBQ%20at%20Durango.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmifngutZIlwjMvX9DBXVZZnljPpLrHKHYSrjzsvYyGt0fSp4blGEEA08WMDGI8ykfrfCFOJ4UNKgqlhKnx4d03wxWT-w_r06i7x4nO9h1webSLh-cAGYoqd1q9a9l5mIxJud39J7cmvuYde3biJFJlLoddfuzyhjNmlyW4Jclt3Da1MPVhwBKxOzYr5k/w640-h480/Final%20BBQ%20at%20Durango.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><span> </span>If you notice Harvey's impish grin, there's a reason. He is a cutup without equal, but Bubba and I pretty well hold our own. Much fun and laughter was had with all our visitors, and it was sad to see them go.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> And so, here we are, counting down the last few days before we head southward, knowing that September in Texas is not much different from August. It has been a fun time, but more excitement awaits us, and we will fill you in as we go.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><span><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-3321773506418881042023-08-08T18:33:00.000-05:002023-08-08T18:33:20.515-05:00Cool Colorado--Finally!<p> <i>At The Views RV Resort, Dolores, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This has certainly been a circuitous and expensive journey, compared to our usual fairly direct escape northward from the Texas heat for the summer. Our trip to Red Bay, then Branson, then back to Red Bay and finally to Colorado required the better part of 3,000 miles but, luckily, we had our friends, the Turleys and their family, who helped us pass the time. This was Phannie's lengthiest maintenance experience, but her long and faithful travels with us had reached a point where multiple preventive services needed to be done, in order to ensure she stays in top condition. When we reached Colorado, she got a terrific wash and wax job, so Sandy declared that Phannie has had her well-woman check and a spa day! She should feel pretty good about herself! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ain't she purty, all shined up in the photo below? For those of you who worry about buying an aging motorhome, you need to have a good knowledge of the care it has received. Properly maintained, they will run dependably for a very long time. We have every single record of any maintenance or service ever done. When the day comes that Phannie will have to find a new family--and who knows when that will be?--we may have to do interviews with potential buyers. She will not be able to cope--nor will we--with a new owner who doesn't treat her as family.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPL3ZxVCUKL1T8ZVqbroAfXJqRmJ_35uiuc4CWCScq3X2b8sCY0lOrKzoI1QzPENyK_8gDX_D8StozHkbCSsq2XdyonENNIW80LsiKtuQDHpdKZD0ZAV9CKxSGDx7shWj1efWUwXbc_3v4S44y_Gsi_pmb7CCXJqtbrbx42e-1UAAT_2R9oWABLz299D0/s4032/Phannie%20at%20The%20Views.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPL3ZxVCUKL1T8ZVqbroAfXJqRmJ_35uiuc4CWCScq3X2b8sCY0lOrKzoI1QzPENyK_8gDX_D8StozHkbCSsq2XdyonENNIW80LsiKtuQDHpdKZD0ZAV9CKxSGDx7shWj1efWUwXbc_3v4S44y_Gsi_pmb7CCXJqtbrbx42e-1UAAT_2R9oWABLz299D0/w640-h480/Phannie%20at%20The%20Views.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span><p style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">She now has new shocks, belts, coolant hoses, sway bar bushings, A/C drier, touched-up paint, and a new rubber slide gasket, not to mention her usual annual service on the engine and generator. No, it wasn't cheap, but mere pennies compared to the more than $400,000 for a new one that could join a host of other new ones that are already accumulating lots of problems and complaints. Properly maintained, Phannie should serve us faithfully as long as we are on the road. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since we were past the point in the dreadful summer heat where we would take our time and check out places along our daunting 1400-mile trip from Red Bay to Colorado, I tried to figure out how to make the trip as quickly as possible, especially since we would be crossing Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, parts of Texas, and New Mexico--all of which were cauldrons of the hellish July heat. Most legs were about 300 miles, with a 600-mile trek on one day from Oklahoma City to Albuquerque. That was the longest leg we've ever done in Phannie, but it was worth it to make good time across the superheated plains and desert.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We also found out something else: the roads in New Mexico are a mess! We will definitely avoid that state at all costs when we leave here. Added to all the cost of the service performed, diesel fuel ran us about $1500, but it was still worth it finally to reach the mountains and a climate manageable for humans. Here at The Views, it has been a little warm this week, with high temps in the 80s and nights in the 50s. We can't help but look at the 100-plus degrees daily back in Texas and be thankful we can escape.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of The Views, here is our view from the pavilion here in the park:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvNtqjvurwkXeUepphld4tMRoJQ7DZEz1vhGBYNbq-cpgs6z7tQPvG6ptYY1tLkII8rHKGmUelwk1FpPIQ0c54xlhupUU2slUAwXfY3iTq2RoGCN00yxmokSgR0w1VnsVnF0YjF0u2VQJqwj096NNHEQQsUUJPGYs5GBz7ms9sDTj5kOMJ2IawdNiAQ0/s1961/IMG_0379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1961" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvNtqjvurwkXeUepphld4tMRoJQ7DZEz1vhGBYNbq-cpgs6z7tQPvG6ptYY1tLkII8rHKGmUelwk1FpPIQ0c54xlhupUU2slUAwXfY3iTq2RoGCN00yxmokSgR0w1VnsVnF0YjF0u2VQJqwj096NNHEQQsUUJPGYs5GBz7ms9sDTj5kOMJ2IawdNiAQ0/w640-h316/IMG_0379.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>And here's a view of McPhee Reservoir, across the highway:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVruraBWHsfhHY25ylNWsCJiAtXpqWPeGOKNv5a1cu4wq2yFipVKoI2rol5vSpeCYnZ04bYqAcjrtZbdJ8V8zQ46sA0G7Vq2XQC8mSGygmmEOLq1dA8J5jUDt-5Cc8ENzL7pzKrC2Nw-PGqTMsA6JNCnj6aPth22-TDIcZEamQ_BkrU83VEimvYInVs6w/s4032/McPhee-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVruraBWHsfhHY25ylNWsCJiAtXpqWPeGOKNv5a1cu4wq2yFipVKoI2rol5vSpeCYnZ04bYqAcjrtZbdJ8V8zQ46sA0G7Vq2XQC8mSGygmmEOLq1dA8J5jUDt-5Cc8ENzL7pzKrC2Nw-PGqTMsA6JNCnj6aPth22-TDIcZEamQ_BkrU83VEimvYInVs6w/w640-h480/McPhee-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An evening walk or just sitting outside are so pleasant, and before long, you need to put on a jacket.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had the great good fortune of meeting up with </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Dean and Ronda Dutton,</span><span> fellow Lone Star Corral neighbors, so we enjoyed spending time with them in these terrific surroundings. Here we are at a local Dolores, Colorado restaurant, where it's actually very pleasant--almost coolish--to eat out on the patio:</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H1nnzWkg7eYNYEJmkYkFnPsxm-ZzDuuzkr35su7IyxFiwKYfEeAP4wIxuCj_ezm7uVILNSYVlqjr3Cah1tL6MyWGypqDEWgdcurh6RI8sppdk3ECZCKvlE8X8mHDHdooxbwXH-2_o-FmmnZ_GjGg7HICUSSNXX9rGwcOAvyhpdDPD5QpSkFoyB-6Lno/s4032/IMG_0375.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H1nnzWkg7eYNYEJmkYkFnPsxm-ZzDuuzkr35su7IyxFiwKYfEeAP4wIxuCj_ezm7uVILNSYVlqjr3Cah1tL6MyWGypqDEWgdcurh6RI8sppdk3ECZCKvlE8X8mHDHdooxbwXH-2_o-FmmnZ_GjGg7HICUSSNXX9rGwcOAvyhpdDPD5QpSkFoyB-6Lno/w640-h480/IMG_0375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We also had dinner with longtime friends, Bubba and LouAnn, who are camped at a park about 25 miles east of Dolores. Notice everyone is wearing a jacket:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqELO3tK8DAnp3pg4fGAeGmLVJW_5uU9WEriLzOxfNnvJTRxlaSAoV3DVYqjWtGYflJV8ER_-BTu0khYK465QCjeWbpl7fsBM2QbkeVZU5cco72RM3ob1t7VWr1xi3wEL-ZLWVuSEtyaVRI03WChFsTQxRL8cTeEOM9UDyFwVxz2dGLKz7xzprpjZoA8w/s4032/IMG_0381.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqELO3tK8DAnp3pg4fGAeGmLVJW_5uU9WEriLzOxfNnvJTRxlaSAoV3DVYqjWtGYflJV8ER_-BTu0khYK465QCjeWbpl7fsBM2QbkeVZU5cco72RM3ob1t7VWr1xi3wEL-ZLWVuSEtyaVRI03WChFsTQxRL8cTeEOM9UDyFwVxz2dGLKz7xzprpjZoA8w/w480-h640/IMG_0381.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the Dolores farmer's market, we scored some ridiculously fresh veggies, including Olathe sweet corn (famous in these parts). So good!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysUjcObQPhWHjDoZztB14DWW3QDzfRMPUfLNp7_dxXhns-Tp0V4ZpJAx3mO_LHSeSEsdhRPCwkAfqdlN-xtKAoCIttb_sPVdEG7fOqtOSXzUPD16T5JIuhiPFO6HAWzPUF_SzHbyG6Mquye2Z7naQ5KQHRH-OqA75gFpA30hXXBMcxwTT2yValVctTO4/s3947/Farmers%20Market%20in%20Dolores.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3947" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysUjcObQPhWHjDoZztB14DWW3QDzfRMPUfLNp7_dxXhns-Tp0V4ZpJAx3mO_LHSeSEsdhRPCwkAfqdlN-xtKAoCIttb_sPVdEG7fOqtOSXzUPD16T5JIuhiPFO6HAWzPUF_SzHbyG6Mquye2Z7naQ5KQHRH-OqA75gFpA30hXXBMcxwTT2yValVctTO4/w640-h410/Farmers%20Market%20in%20Dolores.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Naturally, we had to do some sightseeing, so we took a drive to nearby Telluride, where we toured this interesting residential neighborhood up at the 10,000-foot elevation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuUSs6EaqAV2Q_p9nanFEEu7Q_77fg0nZW3knqtKVmAJdFuxbWNvF4HRw_5XM47FuSmDWLr0G738v1jPxnZ0xLU1L_z09PsJpiaru2mtjPBHMYWWlSR-mUMDe4QzAojIcwy4KT0M4Z_iO0iuubbKfSiafXjMXXhZ_A1x8i0DjRvHiemS9e9CthW0H-20/s4032/Expensive%20Real%20Estate%20Near%20Telluride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="4032" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuUSs6EaqAV2Q_p9nanFEEu7Q_77fg0nZW3knqtKVmAJdFuxbWNvF4HRw_5XM47FuSmDWLr0G738v1jPxnZ0xLU1L_z09PsJpiaru2mtjPBHMYWWlSR-mUMDe4QzAojIcwy4KT0M4Z_iO0iuubbKfSiafXjMXXhZ_A1x8i0DjRvHiemS9e9CthW0H-20/w640-h350/Expensive%20Real%20Estate%20Near%20Telluride.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The scenery was spectacular, but there were few homes yet built, probably for a couple of reasons: There was nothing for sale up there under $5,000,000 and, at this elevation, the houses are probably a bit difficult to locate in the snowpack, so we're guessing these are the owners' summer homes. The area also had a view of the beautiful Dolores River to cross as you began your journey up the mountain:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOAR8eHMCjNJRvMls2AvgarRyN7oje8T6yHtGH4Zn_uKCl0_RGnwf4eaTrXPupDjw3FHmK3WOY1qKyh9FbEj3b1sslAKr7WiTmKXFcg60hBC-J7HMQNzg6sx08T51gMa5BASB7C862EPeEV76MklONZusulj72MqZXkbXDIx50JCIfuSpnf9Ixt3J_kU/s4032/Dolores%20River%20near%20Telluride.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOAR8eHMCjNJRvMls2AvgarRyN7oje8T6yHtGH4Zn_uKCl0_RGnwf4eaTrXPupDjw3FHmK3WOY1qKyh9FbEj3b1sslAKr7WiTmKXFcg60hBC-J7HMQNzg6sx08T51gMa5BASB7C862EPeEV76MklONZusulj72MqZXkbXDIx50JCIfuSpnf9Ixt3J_kU/w480-h640/Dolores%20River%20near%20Telluride.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, if any of you are looking for a gorgeous summer home in the Colorado mountains, be sure and let me know; I know where to find it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of the good places to eat we've found up here is Bubba's, a cafe about four miles from our RV park. My friend Bubba especially likes it, because it bears his nickname:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3roOmC9v4JiK-Tm8paYeOF-wcGT3_G0LM4DxjngBiA3SUUPHoHrW7q-kpi21zmT2P0fEHYPTXwmnWhl_ccSvGn0aOCsau-tZ6tzlAAkBw5Ccx7-0xUzFo_XOn44nm47QGe34-Gn-O370fmyiesZVrm2wLwUGxBqR1NrKvUE6fD9bpx1BEt832PZH60I/s3546/Bubba%20and%20Bubba%20Sign.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3546" data-original-width="2369" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3roOmC9v4JiK-Tm8paYeOF-wcGT3_G0LM4DxjngBiA3SUUPHoHrW7q-kpi21zmT2P0fEHYPTXwmnWhl_ccSvGn0aOCsau-tZ6tzlAAkBw5Ccx7-0xUzFo_XOn44nm47QGe34-Gn-O370fmyiesZVrm2wLwUGxBqR1NrKvUE6fD9bpx1BEt832PZH60I/w428-h640/Bubba%20and%20Bubba%20Sign.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We are so delighted that we are going to be joined by more friends in the weeks to come, and we will, of course, be posting about their visits. It is a wonderful summer in a delightful place, and we wish all our friends could enjoy it with us.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-39853965951561829972023-07-12T23:07:00.003-05:002023-08-08T18:26:57.848-05:00Waiting for Phannie's Makeover; Some Notes on Branson and Small Town Living<p><i> At Downtown RV Park, Red Bay, Alabama...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned in the previous post, we completed our side trip to Branson, visited with the Turley family and had a great time. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EfyKj63QA85h3zpxeoEbVJQio-tnBSqh-6jJFxTK2BMfQ8RVwcCTVjUaUQzlJw6NQjndNG5mwvC-1zLd8NysDlATAo6twFFV-S5afknI88K-Zp0aSKsd4F6BruxziSfTYoG5z_TEk_a4soGo-KEF-I4ZFHiVqcUX5b_jYNOaV7ZnkqdpkVb7fiYoHK0/s4032/IMG_0331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EfyKj63QA85h3zpxeoEbVJQio-tnBSqh-6jJFxTK2BMfQ8RVwcCTVjUaUQzlJw6NQjndNG5mwvC-1zLd8NysDlATAo6twFFV-S5afknI88K-Zp0aSKsd4F6BruxziSfTYoG5z_TEk_a4soGo-KEF-I4ZFHiVqcUX5b_jYNOaV7ZnkqdpkVb7fiYoHK0/w640-h480/IMG_0331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Since we have already posted in this blog about our many trips to Branson, I have elected to refrain from including photographs from this trip. The blog is replete with photos from other trips; if you don't believe me, just enter "Branson" in the search box.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Branson has changed over the 20 years or so we've been visiting here. The change has been both good and bad, influenced mainly by the passing of time. The inexorable passage of the years meant the entertainers of our generation whom we loved to see slowly passed from the scene. Most have either passed away or are too old to perform. Andy Williams passed away, Bobby Vinton (from whom Sandy got a kiss) is 88, Mickey Gilley died in 2022, The Osmonds have retired, Roy Clark died in 2018, and Charley Pride, Boxcar Willie and the Sons of the Pioneers have crossed to the other side. Sandy and I were probably some of the last folks who saw the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. All of these were in Branson, as were many more, and now they're gone. To us, these were the greats; they were singing and playing our songs and now, the Branson scene is not as we knew it, and I suppose it was inevitable. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We feel suddenly out of place, as we don't understand or even like what now passes for music. What we have now is noise, lights and people jumping around. It is impossible to find anything resembling a melody, unless some group tosses in an old ballad for the sake of the old folks. The new country music is nothing more than a saga of some kind backed up by indecipherable guitar chords and drums. The old stars of the Grand Ole Opry must be spinning in their graves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, the town still has a lot going for it. The "new" music shows don't draw nearly the crowds that the great old stars enjoyed, so there are no new theaters being built. The vacuum has been replaced by a huge development for kids. Besides the major theme park, Silver Dollar City, there are innumerable go-karts, coasters, zip lines, a giant ferris wheel, and even a replica of the Titanic. There are spooky houses and an aquarium--all designed for kids. If their parents are lucky, they might even find an entertainer they themselves like--for reasons we don't fully understand.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We saw four shows in Branson, two of which we left early (not the oldies, of course), and the fourth was "Esther," in the Sight and Sound Theater, an enormous edifice featuring plays with unbelievably high-tech sets and costumes based on Biblical characters. The experience is like nothing we've ever seen, and the house is always packed, even though a single show may play for years. For us, this theater alone is worth the trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, there are still a couple of shows featuring songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s, so we always catch one of those, for nostalgia's sake. Unsettlingly, the audiences for these oldies are slowly dwindling, as the boomers meet their inevitable fate. I'm not sure how long these will remain.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The good that you can always count upon is that the entertainment is clean, family-friendly and always honor our country and our veterans.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I see that I have taken up a good deal of space with Branson, but why not? We have time to kill like never before, given the backup at Bay Diesel, but there are few other diesel service shops that we trust like this one. Fortunately, they are also an air conditioner repair shop, and it appears our dash air is going to need a little work, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I knew the day would come when Phannie would have a need for major investment in the mechanical things that, over time, wear out for all coaches. It has been well-proven, I think that my fanatical attention to Phannie's recommended service needs has not been in vain; I think that is what has allowed her 17 years of almost perfect operation, never having stranded us anywhere or presented any problem that needed immediate attention. I even figured up the monthly average expense of maintaining Phannie over all the years we've owned her. That figure, including two new sets of six tires (between three and four grand per set) has been $298 per month, quite remarkable for such a complex heavy diesel motorhome. That also includes $5,000 for replacement hydraulic leveling jacks and $3,500 trying to fix the old electric jacks that was a regrettable manufacturing mistake for Tiffin to make in the mid-2000s.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">During our visits to Bay Diesel this time, we will have replaced the shocks, the air bags, the engine belts and hoses and several other smaller items besides the regular annual oil change and generator service. I think she's going to be ready for another 125,000 miles!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We've already talked about our quick trip to Corinth in a previous post, so I'll give you a little more local flavor of the area, even though there's no shortage within these pages because of our many trips here to Red Bay. This little town of 3,500 souls has little to entertain a visitor during the day and none at night. Fortunately, Tupelo is less than an hour away, with much more to do, see and eat. But Red Bay lies just east of the Mississippi/Alabama state line, and as soon as you leave the Red Bay city limit heading westbound, you're in Mississippi. A few miles down the road is Belmont, Mississippi, where Tiffin Motorhomes, Phannie's manufacturer, has big paint facility. Belmont is also a tiny little town, filled with characters that, well, you just don't see any more except in small towns in the South. Both Red Bay and Belmont are places to which you can time-travel backward about 50 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are cotton fields everywhere, green and plush now because of a generous rainy season:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWdtkCYcVCedUz_syiaCF7MLCjFH61MFSRQlbUMAqY-ktq5_1eGb4AsFEOtpq7zc0ZxEuXZkejuJczbHF-nrNsTsoAT_btZABSlhrdyaMC1UUBcNuslsm_oVdtJivpRuKnYZn3Nte7jTAD7KxFydlRy3k5-ugzo1x02lFsHbY3ev6XnCPBiPLTpElY0U/s4032/Cotton%20in%20Belmont.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWdtkCYcVCedUz_syiaCF7MLCjFH61MFSRQlbUMAqY-ktq5_1eGb4AsFEOtpq7zc0ZxEuXZkejuJczbHF-nrNsTsoAT_btZABSlhrdyaMC1UUBcNuslsm_oVdtJivpRuKnYZn3Nte7jTAD7KxFydlRy3k5-ugzo1x02lFsHbY3ev6XnCPBiPLTpElY0U/w640-h480/Cotton%20in%20Belmont.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">There are a good many farmers, therefore, and other citizens around, all of whom seem to know each other. And then there is Sparks Cafe, at which they often congregate, including a special group that meets every morning for coffee or breakfast:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGHmMsytLGrA7879bJMTK4Gl70MEmi5ar0bRR_-iJEGPspWERVZxcPzd1BGphhyJx0xEyH4VUzKwWUawrH_vEV_pqZSxl6ETD2ot_B5sBg1tH_XUp9JNyfjq8We-ZIOJAigOqR354LDmdpo4KViAPhAZEB7HebjEbZIzWCdRA0DG-Hoeq8-U3rcTj5Pc/s2795/Sparks%20Restaurant.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="2795" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGHmMsytLGrA7879bJMTK4Gl70MEmi5ar0bRR_-iJEGPspWERVZxcPzd1BGphhyJx0xEyH4VUzKwWUawrH_vEV_pqZSxl6ETD2ot_B5sBg1tH_XUp9JNyfjq8We-ZIOJAigOqR354LDmdpo4KViAPhAZEB7HebjEbZIzWCdRA0DG-Hoeq8-U3rcTj5Pc/w640-h580/Sparks%20Restaurant.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Notice the American flag out front; these people are no-nonsense lovers of their country.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Attending these breakfast confabs are menfolk from the town representing all kinds of professions, but most appear to identify as farmers. Nothing about their profession or status seems to matter; They sit at a special table in front that seats about a dozen. In fact, the table is reserved for them with a sign that reads as follows:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5CvLjFCMmFDQTug0ssrdhC8wdAlW5a2YVqaGqdzMtVRGK4Y9GnOwQ-fSci6N_GHAS2T3_VGFDQySqK5JfX46lpL_YFSn4j5r5JGyiVTeOs25KridCQ47oWH5VGw27jLE7PMZX9_6QqDJn8c4uPhhsd7jfiJ1F3mrXdJ739P9AaB6s9JoXEdm2q86Hn0/s4032/Smart%20Table.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5CvLjFCMmFDQTug0ssrdhC8wdAlW5a2YVqaGqdzMtVRGK4Y9GnOwQ-fSci6N_GHAS2T3_VGFDQySqK5JfX46lpL_YFSn4j5r5JGyiVTeOs25KridCQ47oWH5VGw27jLE7PMZX9_6QqDJn8c4uPhhsd7jfiJ1F3mrXdJ739P9AaB6s9JoXEdm2q86Hn0/w480-h640/Smart%20Table.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it is undoubtedly due to the sometimes raucous dissemination of wisdom among the participants that purportedly would solve problems all the way from international crises to potholes in the streets. Notice the huge bottle of ketchup that graces every table. Apparently, Belmont folks are fond of ketchup--as they are grits. The breakfast buffet always serves grits here; their omission would probably cause a riot.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the "smart" group--as it was named on the sign--was a lawman with a large firearm on his hip. The rest weren't uniformed peace officers, but there's a good chance his wasn't the only pistol at the table. I couldn't help but think to myself, could this be any more removed from the mayhem that we see on TV every day? I tried to imagine a couple of Antifa members entering the cafe, and there's a good chance the conversation at the smart table would take a different tone. Also, I'm not sure there is an ambulance in town, but it's highly likely that one would be needed, in such a case.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sparks is a place where it is very common to hear grace being said at a table before eating. This is, after all, the Bible belt, and there are Bible verses displayed on the walls.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of walls, let's not miss the John Deere Memorial Wall, where proudly is displayed photos of all sorts of John Deere farming equipment:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC5Sy6nfkd09x9Oa5Ud2CGakD9zO7444qxfTBWlc-XW2LpzAzdEXhf6jE3B8S3u8w0oOBe1cGL920bh2AWOS0C8wJq1pUqrF0rF3YRJugtvGUyyVI4dVBUTWys5fBLMkjS_n_6TPDAtxrxyEDxDRRtGS8vLRsGNE7J5Qix4RT_RpETMXd3TOJEtdMqN4/s4032/JOhn%20Deere%20Wall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC5Sy6nfkd09x9Oa5Ud2CGakD9zO7444qxfTBWlc-XW2LpzAzdEXhf6jE3B8S3u8w0oOBe1cGL920bh2AWOS0C8wJq1pUqrF0rF3YRJugtvGUyyVI4dVBUTWys5fBLMkjS_n_6TPDAtxrxyEDxDRRtGS8vLRsGNE7J5Qix4RT_RpETMXd3TOJEtdMqN4/w640-h480/JOhn%20Deere%20Wall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't help but notice the photo of a couple of combines in the center, the frame lovingly surrounded by an incomplete wreath of cotton bolls. I don't know why I'm intrigued by this...perhaps because I've never seen anything like it before.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Getting back to my chicken and dumplings, which I had almost finished, I decided to see what was being offered on the dessert menu. I picked something called Elvis cake. I don't know what was in it, but it was so delicious, it made me want to sing:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSluMLx0WwbS6NUKD8AkXysqaiasVJJBrQgnGVxA84LVG1FGp-AUBCyeiY3j76DG7ZGS7alUtOk7Po8onCUeHhdq8H_qRs_3cYgnRPsgM0XZTsjiqSRFZYTST9yzoH-vnCVV6PMS6bqxKHephtdh9UmetAB_pfw6xUN294QNPJBUBxKFMNDe6Ur0jl4Uc/s3004/Elvis%20Cake.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="3004" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSluMLx0WwbS6NUKD8AkXysqaiasVJJBrQgnGVxA84LVG1FGp-AUBCyeiY3j76DG7ZGS7alUtOk7Po8onCUeHhdq8H_qRs_3cYgnRPsgM0XZTsjiqSRFZYTST9yzoH-vnCVV6PMS6bqxKHephtdh9UmetAB_pfw6xUN294QNPJBUBxKFMNDe6Ur0jl4Uc/w640-h432/Elvis%20Cake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Everything is served in Styrofoam dishes, of course, which would be a no-no for environmental crusaders who, for some reason, you don't ever see here. I suppose they don't to want to pick this hill to die on.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love the Sparks Cafe because, every time I'm here, it is 1955 again, when the world was a sane, peaceful place where children received a real education and were taught right from wrong, daring not to refer to a grownup as "sir" or "ma'am" and had no confusion about which bathroom to use.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in Red Bay at our RV park downtown, we are close to the police station where two patrol cars sit unmoved for a week. Being a policeman here would probably be the cushiest job anywhere if one could stand the boredom. The RV park had a planting of huge sunflowers and, on a late-afternoon walk, I couldn't help but get a photo of one being plundered by a very busy bee:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqZbeIniynHoWE0PigtFkdmN31rfWRkKSww8Yooo-jr8ZqGInQjuakF5TB2dF7z6IcLn8WMSrwAyknpVi5wrKtlXGsHWit1SynZH_UH4kB5vQaumTqEN7K-qLYkWca598j_7Ffd-cuLRl2WLgdnGqEox_Q5KfdLquWcddp-q9ehu76iSQL4tIxRAxLSU/s4032/Sunflower.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqZbeIniynHoWE0PigtFkdmN31rfWRkKSww8Yooo-jr8ZqGInQjuakF5TB2dF7z6IcLn8WMSrwAyknpVi5wrKtlXGsHWit1SynZH_UH4kB5vQaumTqEN7K-qLYkWca598j_7Ffd-cuLRl2WLgdnGqEox_Q5KfdLquWcddp-q9ehu76iSQL4tIxRAxLSU/w480-h640/Sunflower.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As is common among RVers, we are privileged by our common status to meet new friends and gather to chat, solving many of the world's problems in the process:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdOCaaQtgEe32C-iAAOPbyy0gBj66R4c1nPwln0mZ23n0uUuQdyVEpQ4xqaNxQ8Yi1sHrkumKWQaiv4HC2dRdh4Hxnp23cSpQHSXCK3MvfNV6nr3q-rM_qcDG-zgYbsY62gZLoWLAV5eA0a3iwF9upF50c2k_PcWRQlvLakaichuRQ1xA3oCQTN2nD7I/s4032/IMG_0359.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdOCaaQtgEe32C-iAAOPbyy0gBj66R4c1nPwln0mZ23n0uUuQdyVEpQ4xqaNxQ8Yi1sHrkumKWQaiv4HC2dRdh4Hxnp23cSpQHSXCK3MvfNV6nr3q-rM_qcDG-zgYbsY62gZLoWLAV5eA0a3iwF9upF50c2k_PcWRQlvLakaichuRQ1xA3oCQTN2nD7I/w640-h480/IMG_0359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, what's next? Well, almost two weeks of not doing much until our appointment at Bay Diesel for the balance of the work. After that, we'll be beginning our journey west along I-40, as we make our way, finally, to Colorado. Phannie will clearly be ready for the challenge after her makeover.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-49146733425508622192023-06-21T16:42:00.000-05:002023-06-21T16:42:42.929-05:00Phannie Needs a Little Extra Attention, So Plans Change<p> <i>At Tom Sawyer RV Park, West Memphis, Arkansas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You may recall from a previous post that I had made a miscalculation </span><span style="font-size: large;">about the need to make an appointment at Bay Diesel for Phannie's annual checkup. We spent quite a few, um, less-than-productive days awaiting our turn, and then the day came. The servicing took only a couple of hours, but we learned from the tech that some more work would be needed, and that would involve the ordering of parts.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ordering parts for a "classic" coach like Phannie is not always easy, and it certainly doesn't happen quickly. It seems the old girl needs attention mostly to the suspension system, something that is completely understandable after 16 years and 125,000 miles. The need, it appears, is for new airbags, repair to a leak in the air line, new shocks and, oh, by the way, new engine hoses. The old gal is still quite drivable, and I don't notice any difference in her handling, but I really had some misgivings about a long trip to Colorado this summer without updating things that could cause a breakdown in the middle of nowhere. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, I had quite a bit of back-and-forth with Teresa at Bay Diesel regarding when Phannie may return to have all this done. "Well," she said, "We're gonna have to order some parts, and we don't know how long it will take to get them here for a coach like yours."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thought her choice of words was nicely done--typical of ladies of the South. If we had been somewhere in Yankee territory, I would probably have heard something like, "It's gonna take us a while to comb through junkyards to find what you need for this derelict coach of yours."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, some may think she is a derelict, but she has been lovingly cared for and has had many new upgrades over the years. Her hulky Caterpillar diesel engine, the same monster that runs hundreds of thousands of pieces of construction equipment all over the world, has never had a hiccup, and it has not needed a drop of DEF. Studies have shown that it should easily reach 500,000 miles before any major repair is needed; that will certainly outlast us! Phannie is solidly built from when almost every Tiffin owner will admit were the "good" years. Trade her off? Unthinkable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Teresa and I settled on July 24 as the day of the work. "July 24?" I was aghast that we would have to hang around for a month in a town that was too small even for a WalMart. Red Bay doesn't even have a Dairy Queen, for goodness' sake! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">During our downtime awaiting her service visit, I had Phannie's exterior lighting upgraded to something a little brighter when we need it. I'm pretty happy with the result:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7JVAfkveUOLNnWcJukZaUyVgRT4k1FRC5SBA9ube83iggAmCt-Uyupy_k0iVstSSxwrGI_cUfVLmABG2eBb5tXHzM5YmIZ7IsbzTjuKDFG7nh4XC0ZDHk7ts62PrkgCO5omCpNpoBnTnLrebMFdVlpYbtVrAAXisD4AGmC7nw6UaUUNhXK6nrpOEG9s/s4032/Phannie%20Lights.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7JVAfkveUOLNnWcJukZaUyVgRT4k1FRC5SBA9ube83iggAmCt-Uyupy_k0iVstSSxwrGI_cUfVLmABG2eBb5tXHzM5YmIZ7IsbzTjuKDFG7nh4XC0ZDHk7ts62PrkgCO5omCpNpoBnTnLrebMFdVlpYbtVrAAXisD4AGmC7nw6UaUUNhXK6nrpOEG9s/w640-h480/Phannie%20Lights.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Since we had more than a month to kill before July 24, we decided to drive over to Memphis and attend the annual gospel quartet show. Having been a gospel pianist all my life, I really enjoy these. We always park at the Tom Sawyer campground by the Mississippi River. It's always fun to watch the river traffic go by:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oWoM92XxRhTEOnsqXJxDYGD-foJDZfEsHu5imdiQG_zpb033_R1yHYn0qYGf_zaYFtEOQsUw22t4_JDU5co9JxRTeAk-IaOp26NBwej-sE8oSOY38y4-Wcw7YHbKG-YSlyodQfxYXrLyAJjoHJhHfdKbmhNibMy_u7LrJbSnI0LbNJWHMeMYKkmPq8k/s4032/Barge%20on%20Miss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2429" data-original-width="4032" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oWoM92XxRhTEOnsqXJxDYGD-foJDZfEsHu5imdiQG_zpb033_R1yHYn0qYGf_zaYFtEOQsUw22t4_JDU5co9JxRTeAk-IaOp26NBwej-sE8oSOY38y4-Wcw7YHbKG-YSlyodQfxYXrLyAJjoHJhHfdKbmhNibMy_u7LrJbSnI0LbNJWHMeMYKkmPq8k/w640-h386/Barge%20on%20Miss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The river is very low right now, as you can tell from the narrowness at this point. This places the navigable channel very close to our campground, which is even better for viewing the river traffic.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Walking near the water, I spotted these old logs that had been washed downriver perhaps decades ago, undoubtedly uprooted by a flood from who-knows-where:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqU9fMSZMX0IYm8pboP5dcZDOotKnnRsVpcgHU_owgETiZqYcAD58sNOHagq0_uJZ0SrFm--mxaXJapRpk9PXnC77mNGQsmmmsDWdjMNknsVUNf4fF305F4KrRO37l_H5WPlJ76nZWH7mX7ZpIm7a6i0UWBXQzwLJ0xvtuuVDlCdjPdyB1egTFIdjnbE/s4032/Logs%20on%20Miss%20River.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqU9fMSZMX0IYm8pboP5dcZDOotKnnRsVpcgHU_owgETiZqYcAD58sNOHagq0_uJZ0SrFm--mxaXJapRpk9PXnC77mNGQsmmmsDWdjMNknsVUNf4fF305F4KrRO37l_H5WPlJ76nZWH7mX7ZpIm7a6i0UWBXQzwLJ0xvtuuVDlCdjPdyB1egTFIdjnbE/w640-h480/Logs%20on%20Miss%20River.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There is so much history associated with this mighty river, it is easy to get lost in thought about its past and, indeed, its present. I could almost hear the wonderful old song, "Old Man River" that I play often when I do show tunes on the piano:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-efi-AWntAxQ1sUW_IT23Gbu1qep8q-oXvT8U4V6b0QgJTCJzDfFnHgHl-DpSpllyfjZYWSUq-dQYaSYCmK_CDEAym58l_RgBriB5_YWPKSLrUQEJVPsvN6DpZH3Swrrfa8xZ5ohV9gx9hSWFdUuL3GovM7uhjqR_t7XTne5woAMbhr6bmnXYRddtjiQ/s3754/Miss%20River%20and%20Cloud%202023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2077" data-original-width="3754" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-efi-AWntAxQ1sUW_IT23Gbu1qep8q-oXvT8U4V6b0QgJTCJzDfFnHgHl-DpSpllyfjZYWSUq-dQYaSYCmK_CDEAym58l_RgBriB5_YWPKSLrUQEJVPsvN6DpZH3Swrrfa8xZ5ohV9gx9hSWFdUuL3GovM7uhjqR_t7XTne5woAMbhr6bmnXYRddtjiQ/w640-h354/Miss%20River%20and%20Cloud%202023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After attending the quartet show, we'll leave Memphis and spend a couple of weeks in Branson with old friends Larry and Carolyn and their family. That will be a fun experience and a pleasant way to pass the time until our return to Red Bay. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After that, we will finally make our way to Colorado and the cool mountain air. Fortunately, the temperature has been unusually comfortable in this area since we left Texas. I hope it stays that way for another month. I looked at the temperature in Hondo today, and it was 104 with a heat index of 117; that's why most of the park empties out in the summertime. We think of our friends who have to stay there in the summer and thank Mr. Carrier for inventing air conditioning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to all for hanging on as we take the curves in our trip plans, but that's the nice thing about being retired--who cares?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-4614992975587741352023-06-12T01:54:00.001-05:002023-06-12T11:51:31.131-05:00A "War" Story From Long Ago<p><i> At Downtown RV Park, Red Bay, Alabama...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since we are in a bit of a waiting period here in Red Bay, I thought it would be a good time to re-publish the monthly column I write for my hometown (Nacogdoches, Texas) advertising paper, <u>Around The Town</u>. Recent columns I've written have described the operation of flights in smaller airplanes carrying U. S. Mail across the U. S. at night. This was about a five-year experiment by the U.S.P.S. some 50 years ago and, in the area of east Texas where I grew up, I became the lone pilot performing those flights for most of the program's duration. It doesn't seem like that long ago, of course, but few of the citizens knew about them back then--and especially now that a half-century has passed. There will be one more column on the subject after this one, and I hope you find these little lagniappes interesting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">Flying
the Mail—It Wasn’t all Roses<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">It was a winter night, and a
thick cloud cover lay over most of eastern Texas. I couldn’t reach the top of
the clouds to find clear sky, and the cloud bases were only a few hundred feet
from the ground. So, it was one of those nights--flying by instruments for the
entire trip after leaving Dallas. I was barely able to make a successful NDB (a
now-primitive Non-Directional Beacon) approach into Palestine and, after
unloading, I was off again, back into the clouds seconds after raising the
landing gear after takeoff. After leveling at a low cruising altitude, and the
big Pratt and Whitney radial engines were humming smoothly, I noticed a wisp of
smoke seeping out from behind the instrument panel in front of me. After a few
minutes, the smoke became thicker, and the attitude deviation indicator (a
pilot’s primary flight situation instrument because it mimics the position of
the airplane if there were no clouds) in front of me slowly began to skew,
indicating the airplane was beginning to bank when I had not moved the controls.
I glanced over to the right side of the panel to compare this with the
copilot’s ADI, which showed the airplane to be in normal, straight-and-level
flight. I knew I had a problem, but I didn’t know if it was limited to the ADI.
Now, an on-board fire is the last thing a pilot wants in an airplane, so I
began tripping circuit breakers to any electrical instrument on the left side
of the panel, and the smoke soon stopped. (I can’t remember what was found to
be the problem—probably the ADI itself.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Fortunately, almost everything
critical on an airplane is duplicated in case of failure. Had there not been a
duplicate set of operative instruments on the right side of the panel, I would
have been a goner. Why? Because without some kind of visual reference to an airplane’s
attitude (position in the air), there is nothing to counteract the brain’s false
sensations of what the airplane is doing. There are several sensory elements,
located mostly in the ear canal, that always sense false cues about the
position of the airplane if a pilot’s outside vision is lost. Almost every
change in the airplane’s position—even its acceleration or deceleration—sends
false signals that eventually and inevitably end in loss of control of the
airplane if there is no countering visual reference. The technical name for
this is spatial disorientation. It is for that reason that special training and
a special certificate is required for pilots to fly solely by reference to
instruments. I can still hear the
instructors’ admonitions when I was obtaining an instrument rating: “Trust the
instruments, trust the instruments, no matter what your brain is telling you.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">There have been a number of fatal
airplane accidents attributed to spatial disorientation, some involving the
loss of famous people, such as Buddy Holly in 1959, Patsy Cline in 1963 and
John F. Kennedy, Jr. in 1999, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Since my side of the instrument panel
was disabled, I was left with the copilot’s instruments to fly the airplane,
except I was in the wrong seat. (By the way, there is no requirement for a
copilot on the Beech 18 and there was none on board that night.) I quickly
unbuckled and moved over to the right seat, where I could fly more effectively what
I knew would be another instrument approach with low clouds at the Lufkin
airport. The only problem was a little feeling of awkwardness in operating the
aircraft from the right seat. I had never flown the Beech 18 from the copilot’s
seat and, while I wasn’t concerned about it, things certainly felt different.
All the controls were now operated by opposite hands from usual. The airplane
had no autopilot, so I just had to ignore the different perspective and keep
flying. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Since you’re reading this, I
obviously arrived safely after the approach into Lufkin, awkward as it was, but
it was a bit tense that night—just so you won’t get the idea that everything
always went smoothly for a mail pilot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Today’s pilots are probably
shaking their heads at the primitive nature of the aircraft instrumentation we
were using 50 years ago. Today’s avionics are, by comparison, stunning in their
technology, capability and redundancy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I have one more mail-flying “war
story” to tell you next month, then we’ll move on to something else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The photo below is that of a
Beech 18 instrument panel. The ADI is the round blue instrument just above the
yoke (steering wheel for non-pilots). See how it mimics the airplane relative
to the ground and sky?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAVrFvYWBTtiMnoOn3n0lpjf9fr_-akeabeQS00jUWsrTrDndSppzUyuRqH3wAxwGwF--Cucs5cDd4D0gPiu6jLeCUydOkZeEtZvzT8js-OrD8YH_qWZ7AOnXajB9tNj_D-H11sNcfUaM47dsACuzBJybfW_1s1Wuy-Y2Pt2QMbjITzDsxrEtdgqf/s624/Beech%2018%20Instrument%20Panel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="624" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAVrFvYWBTtiMnoOn3n0lpjf9fr_-akeabeQS00jUWsrTrDndSppzUyuRqH3wAxwGwF--Cucs5cDd4D0gPiu6jLeCUydOkZeEtZvzT8js-OrD8YH_qWZ7AOnXajB9tNj_D-H11sNcfUaM47dsACuzBJybfW_1s1Wuy-Y2Pt2QMbjITzDsxrEtdgqf/w640-h424/Beech%2018%20Instrument%20Panel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-30303532158292652192023-06-02T18:44:00.007-05:002023-06-05T02:01:44.973-05:00Red Bay Again and an Interesting Side Trip<p><i> At Downtown RV Park, Red Bay, Alabama</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has been quite a while since we've been to Red Bay for Phannie's annual service--especially since Colorado is sort of the other direction from Texas. In the previous post, I explained about our paint touch-up combined with a visit with friends in Searcy, Arkansas that placed us within a few hours of Red Bay, and we don't know of any better place for diesel service than Bay Diesel there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Red Bay hasn't changed much. It's still a sleepy little town, lost in the last century--a real plus, in my mind. Nothing is "woke" here; I doubt if they even know what that is. Restaurants come and go. One has changed to a barbeque joint, and another has changed from Chinese to Mexican food; both are mediocre, unfortunately.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Because of the vast migration of Tiffin motorhomes through their birthplace here, repairs often take a while, even though there is a myriad of non-Tiffin shops to do the work the factory turns down once a coach attains five years of age. We've learned to make appointments and just wait our turn. This is the first time, however, that we weren't able to get an appointment with Bay Diesel within a few days of our arrival. "Two weeks," they said! Alas, they have been discovered. It's okay, though. We had a couple of other things to be done and we really prefer now to go places and say awhile. But we've already written about that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, we caught up with Walt and Lanie from our home park in Hondo. They were finishing up some factory work and some paint touch-up, so we were able to visit with them for a while. Walt was kind enough to help me install the new pole that will lift our Starlink antenna up above Phannie's roof:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J37AgRN70ilbUNKJPVvsUuHpJY-ZcUPUmpXejOJmHtc9xJCSWgMkFf7SsiFsVyBLPiK-MsL6c91g3kgBqGUGp-FQkt_rcExP-g73gTVOePrCxZYNprJirlF29qqvaVmDPpCqHqzbA8bWpLx7Y6SyyQqCh2tcVXIfRTeqNZJbskMxd8xAuJJwSvkk/s4032/Phannie%20With%20Starlink.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J37AgRN70ilbUNKJPVvsUuHpJY-ZcUPUmpXejOJmHtc9xJCSWgMkFf7SsiFsVyBLPiK-MsL6c91g3kgBqGUGp-FQkt_rcExP-g73gTVOePrCxZYNprJirlF29qqvaVmDPpCqHqzbA8bWpLx7Y6SyyQqCh2tcVXIfRTeqNZJbskMxd8xAuJJwSvkk/w480-h640/Phannie%20With%20Starlink.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It was great to toss our backup hotspot in the drawer and get back to Starlink's blazing internet. Thank you, Walt, for your help.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In a couple of days, we bade them goodbye and decided to take a day trip to Corinth, Mississippi--about an hour away and a place we had never visited. Corinth is a good-sized town, nestled in rolling hills and, not known to us, the site of a crucial battle in the Civil War. Back in that time, Corinth was a strategic railroad crossroads between north and south and east and west. The crossing point is still there:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6nV_0jWxmBxigLW5_7EcYXJOoJKnwah9kw3a8IMA0zdNQSYbj_MsDdjOqwzCin82_Y4cESYVsepkpRalgBQZ1_JyM87Iav_uLtZxZ72h2uJfuiR1p4UTz_Oeb2V0cJCcE1zXz6Bq7vMgooA6FnxKtbW1hG-OrcD_RUw_mzk3Hpg5eMxKyV2D2q9v/s4032/RR%20Crossing%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6nV_0jWxmBxigLW5_7EcYXJOoJKnwah9kw3a8IMA0zdNQSYbj_MsDdjOqwzCin82_Y4cESYVsepkpRalgBQZ1_JyM87Iav_uLtZxZ72h2uJfuiR1p4UTz_Oeb2V0cJCcE1zXz6Bq7vMgooA6FnxKtbW1hG-OrcD_RUw_mzk3Hpg5eMxKyV2D2q9v/w480-h640/RR%20Crossing%20Corinth.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Corinth was originally held by 25,000 Confederate troops under the command of General P.T.T. Beauregard. The Union wanted badly this strategic rail center and lay siege to it for a month in the spring of 1862. Commanding the much larger Union army was Major General Henry Halleck, who said that Corinth was of equal importance as Richmond, the Confederate capital, and he successfully took the city on May 30, 1862. The result was that the Confederate army no longer had access to the rail line into western Tennessee, thusly limiting any successful occupation in that direction. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the Union victory, no fewer than six Union generals visited or headquartered at Corinth, including Ulysses S. Grant, whose control of the lower Mississippi River basin was thusly assured for the rest of the war.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the Mask House, near downtown Corinth, which served as the headquarters of several Union generals. It has been lovingly restored and donated to the city of Corinth:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsah6spjbRbs8jHJytaD435b7a8zUMoyxlr78-FllTWmyFbdK3LKI3faqlu84Toly9cxMm7SlhKHh4ZPlyw2slNwb4qRIl9RskZ_zHDmfwa3oUIqOZjFDWr1-i2DksxoZnKeWE2FqemJDDu6Kh8eNyAPRIfuIES3tZGZuBpMAQAP_Nf0-nGBlx81fW/s4002/Russell%20House%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="4002" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsah6spjbRbs8jHJytaD435b7a8zUMoyxlr78-FllTWmyFbdK3LKI3faqlu84Toly9cxMm7SlhKHh4ZPlyw2slNwb4qRIl9RskZ_zHDmfwa3oUIqOZjFDWr1-i2DksxoZnKeWE2FqemJDDu6Kh8eNyAPRIfuIES3tZGZuBpMAQAP_Nf0-nGBlx81fW/w640-h442/Russell%20House%20Corinth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The site of General U. S. Grant's headquarters was just south of the Mask house; it is now occupied by the Corinth City Hall:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMw-F5ydNLBhCIt7jBSxrZQockTn4hyQCcK8PFl7VqGCcx8tNazR4k_rVgvsCkG9W8HEiTiz5X-E3J_jklKf1Ztvfg29j6x75_rV8g0l7dfwaOBInjjVmmydLF5TifeY0G5a2LJ871tdEe93EjxT3NVDL2oGY5D5G0s2U1TdGhRwztLZrfK64oPrq/s4032/Corinth%20City%20Hall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMw-F5ydNLBhCIt7jBSxrZQockTn4hyQCcK8PFl7VqGCcx8tNazR4k_rVgvsCkG9W8HEiTiz5X-E3J_jklKf1Ztvfg29j6x75_rV8g0l7dfwaOBInjjVmmydLF5TifeY0G5a2LJ871tdEe93EjxT3NVDL2oGY5D5G0s2U1TdGhRwztLZrfK64oPrq/w480-h640/Corinth%20City%20Hall.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On our way into town, we stopped at Abe's Diner, a near-junkyard of memorabilia of the last half-century or longer:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4qzzRvDjVVBa0xwFpQslXLNsWBxVNP2Dt9GCsYw-2e4SvzQzVYHA4FK3qrMrmElUSUOInFlz5uQpV7WuvvDTBDJlGtRwDfjFJmIpFkoP2y0O7oW7CG5lFjXnBt-Xw357FXW2PSPyCOx3uNARNKi5BJYMeRm3YK8Vy2U4Cdi-mxPghQScYzie5UJX/s4007/Abes%20Diner%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="4007" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4qzzRvDjVVBa0xwFpQslXLNsWBxVNP2Dt9GCsYw-2e4SvzQzVYHA4FK3qrMrmElUSUOInFlz5uQpV7WuvvDTBDJlGtRwDfjFJmIpFkoP2y0O7oW7CG5lFjXnBt-Xw357FXW2PSPyCOx3uNARNKi5BJYMeRm3YK8Vy2U4Cdi-mxPghQScYzie5UJX/w640-h370/Abes%20Diner%20Corinth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We parked in front of a non-functioning parking meter and a hundred-year old gasoline pump. The vastness of the memorabilia, inside and outside, was mind-boggling.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We were seated by Pat, the current owner, on a couple of barstools at the counter; there were no chairs, tables or booths in the tiny place. Pat, a rotund and delightfully pleasant older man, was stationed at the takeout window with an open cash drawer crammed with money that could easily have been purloined by anyone within reach. But such things apparently don't happen in this place. I can guarantee that at least one of the stools was occupied by a patron with a firearm.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cooking at the griddle was Lynn, Abe's grandson, and his mother, who was dishing up freshly-cut and fried French fries:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI1CUWy2PWrprsUq5j6uP4HwwqooUMbO0hQJ8gcH79eCfPGLyaTdh5c4c24MGRFhRe2BZrLEKSbod_uUmDaIBwR9OLxROHsa7E8oApF3EcVmNt_jiKVX79CNAtvgu7Rt2Gnw7m0c-idiAfM5Eq8kUb8ij2jm7TQrIB1v1YuD8EiyM1KnJ1Amc45Nb/s3140/Abes%20Diner%20Inside%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3140" data-original-width="2970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI1CUWy2PWrprsUq5j6uP4HwwqooUMbO0hQJ8gcH79eCfPGLyaTdh5c4c24MGRFhRe2BZrLEKSbod_uUmDaIBwR9OLxROHsa7E8oApF3EcVmNt_jiKVX79CNAtvgu7Rt2Gnw7m0c-idiAfM5Eq8kUb8ij2jm7TQrIB1v1YuD8EiyM1KnJ1Amc45Nb/w606-h640/Abes%20Diner%20Inside%20Corinth.JPG" width="606" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Hanging from the ceiling were dozens of license plates, and surrounding the menu were all kinds of currency, and even a Fedex truck hanging by a string.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pat, wearing a blue apron like that of his wife and son, walked over to us, noticing that Sandy and I had ordered only a hamburger each and no French fries. He seemed distressed by this, pointing to a potato slicer in the corner and telling us the fries being loaded onto most of the other customers' plates were cut "right there this very morning." The temptation was great, but we politely declined, trying to stay as much as we could within the diet regimen Sandy and I have been painfully enduring for more than a year. Pat's face dropped, but he said he understood. Now, I actually regret that we didn't at least split an order of the fries.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Afterward, we drove around town for a while. The museum was closed, but we saw some charming and well-kept homes like this one:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP4tAQNNcPvVjbPnivgx88YfJFH3s0EGF11Mew_O-qjRJHm3Qsec5lp8USiR3jQZS2bRU7GRW87Yy-beUEQeMrotGOC8cRackYzHvhHYOMYSM5p2TCfQntG5BAzLwlvSMCeEHhS0GgB-kziLM7KGPwWx2xw86kGUDw7irThOhdKQrFZgJO6GgpMqg/s3845/Charming%20House%20in%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2968" data-original-width="3845" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP4tAQNNcPvVjbPnivgx88YfJFH3s0EGF11Mew_O-qjRJHm3Qsec5lp8USiR3jQZS2bRU7GRW87Yy-beUEQeMrotGOC8cRackYzHvhHYOMYSM5p2TCfQntG5BAzLwlvSMCeEHhS0GgB-kziLM7KGPwWx2xw86kGUDw7irThOhdKQrFZgJO6GgpMqg/w640-h494/Charming%20House%20in%20Corinth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We were out of most everything, it seemed, so we made a Wal-Mart stop that took a couple of hours and over four hundred bucks of stuff--almost none of which was food. This would be a good place to rant about politics, but I have learned that it is fruitless to do so in this blog. There are just some things I will never understand.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Corinth is the county seat of Alcorn county, and I snapped a photo of the courthouse, along with a statue of a Confederate soldier, Col. W. P. Rogers of Texas, a close friend of Sam Houston, whose importance in Texas history is legendary, and whose name is borne by the largest city in Texas. Col. Rogers was killed in the second battle of Corinth, a failed attempt by Confederate soldiers to retake the city from the Union occupiers. I was glad the statue was still there and not defaced, a fate that has befallen many of the historical monuments of the South, as if the history could thereby somehow be vindicated if not erased altogether--another thing I guess I will never understand:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauwgP1EuLT_gVbHUIgKgxd_FvDxZZRMfhDJtHb0pWcxTkt9tdtdC_tDyUQ77Ah9JpBbPvB7yJHRZ4Yw4WfAulnkBCHGix26JrbBkVCtDCL2zJaHp0J5UseNNoQug3Eprjra1rL2Yd65qXOVkhAsyqkkmXIoVdandfMCyu2OGxR6ky-dCCHfL_1xQH/s3181/Col%20Rogers%20Corinth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3181" data-original-width="3004" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauwgP1EuLT_gVbHUIgKgxd_FvDxZZRMfhDJtHb0pWcxTkt9tdtdC_tDyUQ77Ah9JpBbPvB7yJHRZ4Yw4WfAulnkBCHGix26JrbBkVCtDCL2zJaHp0J5UseNNoQug3Eprjra1rL2Yd65qXOVkhAsyqkkmXIoVdandfMCyu2OGxR6ky-dCCHfL_1xQH/w604-h640/Col%20Rogers%20Corinth.JPG" width="604" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As I was taking the photo, I noticed a gathering in front of the courthouse, including the setting up of some musical instruments. I learned that on Thursday evenings, a local group of musicians would play and sing for the townfolks, who would gather around, chat and listen to the music. I thought to myself, how delightful and ironic at the same time, that the very site of such horrific divisiveness in the past is now a place of peace, good will and friendliness to all who gather there, even in the shadow of Col. Rogers. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/02ay0ey7r9ompue/Corith%20Music.MOV?dl=0" target="_blank">Here's a link to the show</a>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-11381437224642239812023-05-26T23:55:00.000-05:002023-05-26T23:55:18.990-05:00We’re On Our Way!<p><i>At Searcy, Arkansas…</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We left Ranchito Hondo a few days ago and, after a short stay at the kids’ for grandson Mason’s birthday celebration, we made our way toward Searcy, Arkansas. Why? Well, I’ll get to that. We made a stop in hometown Nacogdoches, Texas for fuel and a brief visit with lifetime friends John and Pat. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After an overnight in Texarkana, we arrived at the RV Fog Dr. In Searcy. They formerly repaired only foggy windows, but now have expanded to include collision repair and painting. We were having them work on some paint deterioration on the top rails of the bus. However, the main reason for this choice was that Searcy is the hometown of dear friends Larry and Carolyn, with whom we always have a great time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The RV Fog Dr has a good reputation, but we found they had obviously overbooked, as we had to wait two days before any significant work began.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have decided to experiment with including some videos in the blog, since that seems to be the new wave, so I’m going to experiment with this one linked <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/5gqpd21y52ejzkz/Searcy.mp4?dl=0">here</a>, made at the RV Fog Dr shop, that could’ve probably been done much more professionally by a nine-year-old. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a great time with Larry and Carolyn and, when Phannie was all finished, we drove on to Red Bay, Alabama, Phannie's birthplace, to have a few things done, but more on that later.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-36155319946311133962023-05-02T18:09:00.002-05:002023-05-26T23:52:49.005-05:00Flying the Mail and All the Rest – The Beginning <p> <i>At Ranchito Hondo, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I have been doing lately--since we haven't hit the road yet--is to republish a monthly column I write for my hometown advertising newspaper. I hope you enjoy it, even though some of the information here appeared in previous posts of <i>Phannie and Mae</i>. My guess is that few readers will comb back through 18 years of posts and perhaps a half-million words or even use the search feature to find it. That's one of the nice things about having a very old blog...I can write about something that's mentioned before and get away with it! Anyway, here goes--a lot of reminiscing here, for sure:</span></p></blockquote><p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I have no
way of knowing if readers have been following with any interest this series of
columns on my flying the mail here in east Texas some 50-odd years ago when the
U. S. Postal Service reprised for a while an effort like the one in the
earliest days of aviation. It hasn’t really occurred to me before now that the
few hundred of us flyboys who formed this second cadre are likely retired or
have “flown west,” as we pilots say about a fellow aviator whose earthly life
has ended. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps some
are curious about how I became infatuated with airplanes and where it led
besides flying the mail. I can’t squeeze it into one post, but let’s visit
the earliest days with this one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">One never
knows the experiences parents give their children that may create within them an
epiphany—irrespective of how young they may be—that could have a profound
effect on the rest of their lives. Sandy and I have tried to follow the example
of my parents and expose our daughter, Mindy, to as many experiences as
possible—including sharing with her some travels in Europe. Noting her
fascination with medicine, we made sure she had access to all kinds of medical
journals, which she read voraciously. She is now a senior nurse at one of two
level 1 trauma centers in Houston. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And so it
was when my parents—perhaps through fate or Divine inspiration—stopped their
1950 Chevrolet one day at the airport in tiny Center, Texas, of all places,
when I was about eight years old. On that day, local airplane owners were
giving short rides to the public for a donation to charity. I begged my parents
to allow me to go flying, to which, surprisingly, they agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It was only
a short flight in an ancient fabric-covered 1946 Aeronca Champion, but I was instantly
hooked. I knew from that moment my career would be that of a pilot. As I grew
up after that magical experience, I would drag my parents (reluctantly, I’m
sure) during our travels around the country, to countless airport detours so I
could watch airplanes. Then, as soon as I was old enough, at age 16, I began
taking flying lessons and flew my first solo flight at the Nacogdoches airport
after about eight hours of instruction. Ironically, that momentous flight was made
in the same type of aircraft—an Aeronca Champion—in which I had taken my first
flight eight years earlier. I will never forget that first solo flight—realizing
that only I, with the help of the Almighty, could cause this machine to return
safely to earth. It was pretty much a non-event—a smooth landing on runway 6—a
grass runway that is doubtlessly no longer in use. But oh, the exhilaration!
I never tired of the thousands of subsequent flights and safe landings, either.
I always felt that I had intruded, by way of these machines, built through
human ingenuity, into a part of the planet reserved for winged creatures, for
which the experience was not magical but merely ordinary, I’m sure. What
ingrates they must be!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">After my
first solo flight, I spent more time at the airport than at home—fueling and
washing airplanes, mowing the grass runways with a tractor—anything to make
money for more flying lessons. With this laser-like focus and with help from my
parents, I obtained a commercial pilot’s license and a multi-engine rating
before I graduated from high school. I can’t find any statistics on the number
of such advanced flying credentials obtained by high school students, but it
certainly must have been a rarity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It never
occurred to me then, of course, that today would come--a day when I would be
retired from flying and writing about how it was in the beginning. In my teens
and twenties, I had not thought of what it would be like now, six decades later,
as I remember those days of unbridled excitement at what lay ahead. For me, time
was almost standing still, creeping by so slowly that it appeared my journeys among
the clouds could not possibly end. But end they did, quite unwillingly; the increasing
physical limitations of aging are, alas, inexorable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A photo of
my first kind of airplane to conquer the skies—an Aeronca Champion. This one is
in an aviation museum in Oregon:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8kkZUS4SJLSw1iVzE_U3rxEuOgJk33A3mCqYehzjOOpJv-a1_yKyUXlcWzsj9PYWf5WkRnxyPn6EZx4tnYJnmNGR9suNawc8R-mJh1Gb6ZC40XmrrHOH4O8ZsLT9tV_Wddo70j-jJf6gVli8j1UozeIHzubxHcOqbP10rcar_FiWvNL-modq_F67/s4018/Aeronca%207AC%20at%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="4018" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8kkZUS4SJLSw1iVzE_U3rxEuOgJk33A3mCqYehzjOOpJv-a1_yKyUXlcWzsj9PYWf5WkRnxyPn6EZx4tnYJnmNGR9suNawc8R-mJh1Gb6ZC40XmrrHOH4O8ZsLT9tV_Wddo70j-jJf6gVli8j1UozeIHzubxHcOqbP10rcar_FiWvNL-modq_F67/w640-h402/Aeronca%207AC%20at%20Museum.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><p style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div></span><p></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-38004275054487698962023-04-23T17:07:00.002-05:002023-05-26T23:52:23.791-05:00A Night Mail Pilot Stumbles Upon...Ray Price?<p> <i>At Ranchito Hondo, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the last post, I promised a story about Ray Price. Here it is, as I wrote it in my column current in my hometown newspaper:</span></p><p> * * *</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I’m going to use another column
or two to tell a few stories about flying the mail at night between East Texas
and Dallas while most of you were asleep; this was between the years 1968 and
1973. In last month’s column, I shared about the existence of the flights that
were reminiscent of the early days of mail flying but resurrected for the
second time fifty years later. I also mentioned that the terminus of the
outbound evening flight was in Dallas. The airport then was Dallas Love Field,
where all the other mail planes (and airliners carrying mail) converged. The
new DFW International Airport hadn’t opened at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The mail planes all parked near
an executive terminal, where they were unloaded, fueled and loaded for the
outbound flights in the early morning. On one memorable arrival (I can’t
remember the date), I was walking toward the executive lounge after unloading
the airplane, and I noticed a sleek Learjet parked near the terminal door with
the airplane’s door open and the interior lights on. As I walked past the jet,
I saw that the flight crew was not aboard (they were inside the terminal) and
that there was a sole occupant sitting on the rear bench seat with his reading
light on. As I passed the open door, I recognized him immediately as none other
than the county music legend, Ray Price. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Mr. Price had obviously just
finished a concert in the Dallas area and was awaiting his crew to complete
their preparations and fly him to his next stop. I assumed this because he was
dressed in his sequined stage attire, but with his coat and tie removed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I couldn’t help myself; poking my
head in the door, I gulped and said, “Hello, Mr. Price; I just wanted to tell
you I’m a big fan of yours! He looked up immediately at the intrusion and
flashed a grin. “Come on up here; what are you doing out there, young man?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I had not expected this, but I
sheepishly climbed the stairs, and he motioned for me to sit down in one of the
mid-cabin seats, which I did and turned toward him. Before I could even think
of what to say in such a private environment, he began to ask ME questions
about what I was doing out there in the middle of the night. I explained that I
was a mail pilot, and he seemed genuinely interested in the nightly gathering
of mail planes. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t, but he obviously wanted to put me at
ease. We chatted a bit—I was too star-struck to remember the details, and I
even forgot to ask for his autograph! I could see that his eyes were tired, and
I suspect his having to make small talk with a nobody like me was not helping
him get some needed rest. Soon, his pilots boarded, and I scurried off the jet,
thanking him for being so generous with his time. He waved and smiled, as if we
were old friends; the copilot closed the door, and Ray Price was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">My friend, David Stallings, the
publisher of <i>Around the Town, </i>and I<i> </i>have had conversations about
the days of his business relationship with Ray Price, and David was not at all
surprised about the down-home friendliness the star had shown me. “That’s just
the way he was,” said David. “He loved people and loved his fans.” I believe
it, David.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5azu0xrPeCq_6Ojht1SbAq2Hp4MiQ_9sl6isuLLDsRuk8qS6qyJS22Qw4-sygecIiuVHdeAiBpmogjkkt_FLnY-exyrZDoL27saI4BXLNQsyOaMMGSjeXrZhmU6cFF1Xo4xhGZtwzDbH9zYLzfftuElU_2nIDY4GnDul7poDMCbGrrIBGEB2do1I/s755/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="640" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5azu0xrPeCq_6Ojht1SbAq2Hp4MiQ_9sl6isuLLDsRuk8qS6qyJS22Qw4-sygecIiuVHdeAiBpmogjkkt_FLnY-exyrZDoL27saI4BXLNQsyOaMMGSjeXrZhmU6cFF1Xo4xhGZtwzDbH9zYLzfftuElU_2nIDY4GnDul7poDMCbGrrIBGEB2do1I/w542-h616/Picture1.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ray Price, Country Music Legend</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsTylfqHrb5xt9xFfpbRAqm6mLPeKp1JdNxO2ph7jxPAyXmvxDM9fW2CHbVQljOOh0R6pwAtrk_YFnp7pl4UGIvnWctV53U1XppE6zKwgGDUqeF8WEUVz3PCbe6j9WBnFGum9k03EhmL7Mv5SY-ccqn-f6y-Elr_ovchY8htLIHpifzo6LDbiORGu/s471/Lear%20Jet%20Edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="471" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsTylfqHrb5xt9xFfpbRAqm6mLPeKp1JdNxO2ph7jxPAyXmvxDM9fW2CHbVQljOOh0R6pwAtrk_YFnp7pl4UGIvnWctV53U1XppE6zKwgGDUqeF8WEUVz3PCbe6j9WBnFGum9k03EhmL7Mv5SY-ccqn-f6y-Elr_ovchY8htLIHpifzo6LDbiORGu/w640-h296/Lear%20Jet%20Edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lear Jet</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-47520786652087405022023-04-12T02:34:00.003-05:002023-04-12T14:59:39.121-05:00The Cast is Off; Rehab Begins<p> <i>At Ranchito Hondo, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the last post, I showed a photo of my hand just after surgery. A couple of days ago, they removed the more permanent hard cast that had been annoying me for weeks. Having never worn a cast before, I couldn't imagine how they would saw it off without also dismembering my hand, which would leave me in worse shape than before surgery! Oddly, the technician demonstrated beforehand that even if the saw were touched directly to the arm, it would not leave a cut of any kind. I still haven't figured that out! I thought I would include a little video here of the process. Here is the link:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrnw85gs5cmsowe/Mike%27s%20Cast%20Removal.mp4?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrnw85gs5cmsowe/Mike%27s%20Cast%20Removal.mp4?dl=0</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is a good chance that a number of readers will have this surgery when they get older, and there are lots of YouTube videos that describe it in detail. It's called a CMC Arthroplasty, and I can already tell you that it is a welcome relief from the arthritis pain I was suffering. I am typing this post quite easily and painlessly only six weeks after surgery. My left hand and wrist are a bit weak after having been immobilized for that time, but I can already tell that progress in that area will be rapid. I haven't tried playing the piano yet, but that will come in a day or two. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Besides the surgery, we haven't been doing much here at the park. I have been elected to the board of directors, so that has taken up a good bit of my spare time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lot owners are already starting to thin out from here as they begin their spring and summer travels, and we will be joining them in mid-May. Our first stop will be in Conroe, Texas to see the kids and then to Arkansas to visit friends and get a little paint touch-up on Phannie. After that, we'll drift over to Red Bay for a couple of items, then to Colorado again for the summer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since I don't have much to chat about until we begin our travels in May, I'll simply leave you with a photo of Crater Lake, one of the many wonderful sights that we've enjoyed all over the country:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel6-9pwTIED-d6RG_tMdwaNo1dfOKz8sgBfBWlwHaJ2xjfK9sFD-EegAnlXf5AHrjputY_drCRIclUxhv90uD52Lk8HC4j1TJgHj4HSXLSUgCIOFUuCIoKbKMqVhUHyVJ2GKH2NrmqRn0XPgEy0oXT8wbZf_E6um0ZigFC28wZ5ZOZq_WH-SwONsh/s2808/Crater%20Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="2808" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel6-9pwTIED-d6RG_tMdwaNo1dfOKz8sgBfBWlwHaJ2xjfK9sFD-EegAnlXf5AHrjputY_drCRIclUxhv90uD52Lk8HC4j1TJgHj4HSXLSUgCIOFUuCIoKbKMqVhUHyVJ2GKH2NrmqRn0XPgEy0oXT8wbZf_E6um0ZigFC28wZ5ZOZq_WH-SwONsh/w640-h406/Crater%20Lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For those who are wondering about what our "escape plan" will be from fulltiming, the answer is that we don't really have one. I've already written about our status now after 18 years of RVing and seven years of fulltiming. Well, Sandy and I talk occasionally about that and, while we could be said really to be part-timing right now, neither of us has any desire to have the confinement, upkeep and expense of a stick-and-brick house. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The little cabin on our property is just right to hold our personal items, the piano and a small workshop. It is air conditioned and has a nice seating arrangement for guests, but we don't live in it. It is just sort of an extension of Phannie. It's also pretty neat to be able to rent out our RV pad during our extended absences.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We'll have some more updates when we begin rolling again before long, but that's what's going on right now.</span></p><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-24889055940438963832023-03-07T00:29:00.000-06:002023-03-07T00:29:36.545-06:00Well, That Wasn't Much of a Winter (Here in South Texas)<p> <i>At Ranchito Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know, I know. It has been more than two months since I've posted. I can only take so much fussin' now, so give me a little slack. We've already talked about this...if we're not traveling, we're just not going to bore you with mundane details about which no one is interested. With this in mind, I'll give you a few of the more unusual goings-on and then include my latest column that I write for my hometown advertising/local interest newspaper; I enjoy that quite a lot.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've had fun here at our local old folks' RV park. Most of the time, we're in short sleeves except for about a week when it dipped below freezing a few times. Now, the trees are almost fully leafed out, and we're running the A/Cs. I've been doing some keyboard playing over the last few months which everyone seems to enjoy. You can catch that and other silliness on my YouTube channel. Just go to YouTube and input "Mike Mills P515" or "Mike Mills Battle of the Keyboards" and you can wander around in there. I've got to learn to dress a little better when I'm doing these videos. I'm still new at it. Some of the videos are OLD! If you see the quartet singing at the old sanctuary at First Baptist Dallas, the pianist is yours truly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm really enjoying my new digital piano, which is a top-of-the-line Yamaha P-515. Its keyboard is the same as a grand piano's, and so is the sound, in my opinion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The piano playing has come to a screeching halt for a couple of months, however, as I have just had surgery on my left wrist/thumb to relieve some increasing arthritis pain. I put up with it for a long time, but it eventually restricted my left hand reach to an octave rather than its usual tenth, so I knew it was time to get help. I had the surgery a few days ago, and this is what my left hand looks like right now:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYKs4Cz6s3ndoGYYKFokRl8mHCCX6FhxwK49jvlJoNk-_BL-fzkpvKbbzf5ZSqw2gJwJt1rW7g5EdagjCbYRSoFEdoTvOpS847ERnxfrdDXNOEwi-YhNCwpt2RJogQRk_0fJWjGNMGe7PEb7hTFgA8RSMQ0pG1Q_y-4zNVTXCiougj5B-X-2bZ-WW/s2997/Thumb%20Bandage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="2997" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYKs4Cz6s3ndoGYYKFokRl8mHCCX6FhxwK49jvlJoNk-_BL-fzkpvKbbzf5ZSqw2gJwJt1rW7g5EdagjCbYRSoFEdoTvOpS847ERnxfrdDXNOEwi-YhNCwpt2RJogQRk_0fJWjGNMGe7PEb7hTFgA8RSMQ0pG1Q_y-4zNVTXCiougj5B-X-2bZ-WW/w400-h379/Thumb%20Bandage.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Six weeks, they say, to get the cast off and 2-3 months after that for back to normal. This is a well-proven surgery that's been around a long time, so I'm hopeful to reach the tenth again. Gonna take a lot of practice to get back to normal after being away from the piano so long.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We got some good news the other day: Mary, a wonderful blogger from <i>Reflections Around the Campfire</i>, whose postings I eagerly read and who is almost as OCD as I in the propriety of prose used, is headed to Texas in the fall with her family. We've never met, but we will this time, and meetups with virtual blogger friends is such a rush; we can't wait.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we get older, we keep the medical and dental professions awash in cash, but one can't do much about the frequency of visits when things wear out as they do. That makes for a lot of trips into San Antonio, something we always enjoy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So now, I'll leave you with the aforementioned column. I hope you find it interesting. I'll get back to y'all when I get around to it. Thank you for your patience!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">Air Mail:
The Early Days <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">And a
Second Time Around--<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"> Right Here in East Texas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Some folks are vaguely aware through their studies in history
of the beginnings of air mail flights in the United States during the earliest
days of aviation. The experiment began in 1911 by the U. S. Army Signal Corps,
which developed into the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1926 and, ultimately, into the
U. S. Air Force in 1947. Because of the primitive nature of the earliest “production”
aircraft—open-cockpit biplanes whose fabric-covered wings were held in position
largely by wires—and the inexperience of the pilots, who largely had to learn
to fly on their own, air crashes were numerous and deadly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Signal Corps decided that assisting in the longtime goal
of the U. S. Post Office for faster mail delivery might be accomplished by
flying mail via its airplanes—initially from New York to Philadelphia and
Washington, D.C. The Corps had their own motive, however; they thought the
straight routes between large cities with plenty of landmarks could help the
pilots gain more experience, both in flying and navigating, thereby helping
reduce the horrendous accident rate. It was not uncommon then for pilots
frequently to find themselves lost, as there were few, if any, radio navigation
aids at the time and no radios in the cockpits to receive signals. The pilots
had only rather primitive maps that pointed out cities and significant objects
on the ground, and the airplanes had compasses that were notoriously unstable
and difficult to read.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This mail-flying experiment had some success, finally
stretching coast-to-coast, but accidents, while lessened in number, were many,
and the air mail was eventually tendered in 1926 to the nascent airlines that
had begun to develop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Few people know that the U. S. Postal Service tried flying the
mail a second time nationwide some fifty years later. Even fewer know that east
Texas—the same area reached by the very publication you’re reading right now—was
involved. And you might be surprised to learn that the pilot who flew those
nightly mail runs from Lufkin to Dallas was none other than yours truly, the
humble author of this piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I was 21 years old, and it was my first real flying job. My
first flight began on May 8, 1968, almost exactly fifty years after the first of
those primitive mail flights began on May 15, 1918. While, like most young men,
I felt indestructible at the time, so I had little hesitation about a checkout
in an ancient Beech 18, a type derived from an old military C-45 and
considerably more challenging than is normally allowed for a relatively novice
pilot like me. It had Pratt and Whitney R-985 radial engines and was considered
by most pilots as a bit squirrelly, especially upon landing, due to its
tailwheel configuration, requiring the initial touchdown on the main landing
gear then lowering the tail to the runway. This could be tricky with the then-reduced
forward visibility, especially in a crosswind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I loved flying the old airplane, and, after a while, it felt a
part of me. I must admit, however, that the many flights I made in it were not
without a few tense moments. Like the pioneer mail pilots of 1918, I learned
more about flying during the five years of flying east Texas’ nightly mail than
in most of the rest of my aviation career. I’m including a photo of one of the Beech
18s I flew at the time, taken at what was then called Del Rentzel field in
Nacogdoches:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qxgmyc41sVONrxurNCydzjkEwTQYzw2unwmWVHGaMIkRpZUrA-SOYSMAAFrnmAGDuWr_AahbuX7JvZCsiZlHeoNUHi_8Ld_Te6qTbHkd-xxPFQrJjO-OvCUpr-YTQ5-cXx630FYh2bMNvqzQgKJIHLXOL4Ei1zzLTEGOBcpZsRJ1Ivl8HCA2JyKq/s624/Beech%2018%20at%20Nac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="624" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qxgmyc41sVONrxurNCydzjkEwTQYzw2unwmWVHGaMIkRpZUrA-SOYSMAAFrnmAGDuWr_AahbuX7JvZCsiZlHeoNUHi_8Ld_Te6qTbHkd-xxPFQrJjO-OvCUpr-YTQ5-cXx630FYh2bMNvqzQgKJIHLXOL4Ei1zzLTEGOBcpZsRJ1Ivl8HCA2JyKq/w640-h426/Beech%2018%20at%20Nac.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">The postal carriers would gather mail in trucks from all over
east Texas during the day and bring it to the Lufkin post office, where it
would be sorted and sent out to the Angelina Country Airport, where it would be
loaded onto my airplane for its flight to Dallas Love Field. Takeoff time was about 9 p.m., and I made a
stop in Palestine to pick up another load that had been gathered from that area.
I arrived in Dallas at about 10:30 p.m., along with as many as a dozen other
mail planes that had arrived from other cities around Texas. Postal workers
would take the mail from the airplanes in trucks to a sorting facility and, at
about 2:00 a.m., the armada of mail planes would depart for their return trips,
loaded with the next day’s mail that would be flown out to their airports of
origin and distributed among the dozens of small towns from which the previous
day’s loads had originated. I would touch down in Lufkin at about 3:30 a.m.,
after which the mail was taken to the Lufkin post office and sorted again for
delivery around east Texas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">During this era, first-class mail was carried along with the
air mail in order to have a sufficient load; first-class was placed in green
sacks, and air mail in gold ones. Eventually, air mail would cease to exist; it
would become “Priority Mail.” This same scenario was carried out in a
hub-and-spoke system across the U. S. five or six nights per week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This second mail-by-airplane experiment lasted about as long
as it did the first time in 1918. By 1976, it was largely over. I’m not sure
why it ceased, for I had moved on to airline flying by then. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Flying the mail was a heady
time for this east Texas-bred boy from Nacogdoches, and I have a few stories to
tell about it, including how a mail pilot (me) got to visit with Ray Price
under these unusual circumstances. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><p style="font-size: medium;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-60595773017353972452023-01-01T14:15:00.001-06:002023-01-01T21:45:53.254-06:00So Whatever Happened to Pig Stands?<p> <i>At Forest Retreat RV Park, New Caney, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are in the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> last </span>few days of the Christmas/New Year's/Grandson Pryce's birthday celebrations before returning to Ranchito Hondo. We have had a grand time visiting family and friends, and we cherish each moment with them. So as not to overdo the photos of such festivities in this blog that's supposed to be about travels, we will skip the family/friends photos this time and perhaps bore you with them on another occasion, when the changes in all our appearances may be more evident--some for the better and some, unfortunately--well, age does take its toll, doesn't it?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since a family visit doesn't really count as a new travel experience, I'm going to post another of my columns from <i>Around the Town</i>, my hometown advertising newspaper. These seem to have met with a good deal of interest in the paper so, sharing them with you seems like a good idea when we're not really on the road to new territories.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here we go:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So Whatever Happened to Pig Stands?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you have read a few of my columns, you know by now that I tend to harken back to the days of my youth, when things seemed, well, normal. I often think of my teen years in Nacogdoches and some now long-gone eating joints like the Top Burger where, in high school, I could get a burger, fries and a Coke for 50 cents…I kid you not! There were also the late-night hangouts, like John’s Restaurant on South Street, a favorite chicken fried steak emporium and, also on South Street--how many iced mugs of root beer did I drink from the old A&W stand? Who knows? And let’s not forget the Caraban, way out north on U. S. 59; I think they had an especially good charburger.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But this story is not about the restaurant ghosts of Nacogdoches’ past; I’m writing about Pig Stands. Now you probably won’t remember Pig Stands unless you have quite a few decades under (over?) your belt, but there were more of them than you probably realize—more than 120, in fact, throughout the U. S. They started in Dallas in 1921, just when the automobile began to achieve some real popularity. Being quite a visionary, George Kirby took note of the increasing number of cars on the road and decided to offer them curb service food, complete with carhops, resulting in the first restaurant drive-in in the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Pig Stand’s signature sandwich, as you might expect, was the Pig Sandwich. This was a big hit before the world’s insatiable craving for beef burgers took off. The Pig Stand also has the distinction of inventing fried onion rings! As the legend goes, one of the cooks wondered what it would be like to put some breading on onions and toss them into the fryer; the rest is history.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, let’s fast forward 102 years. During the meantime, changes in ownership, bad business decisions and non-payment of taxes began a gradual winnowing of the restaurants over the years. Guess how many Pig Stands are left from the original 120 or so? If you said “none,” you would have matched my guess. But imagine my surprise when Sandy and I, quite by accident, ran across the very last one in operation. It has been there since 1967, near downtown San Antonio, buried underneath an I-10 interchange. It is rather shopworn, and the drive-in part is shut down, home now to a few junky vehicles. As you can tell from the photo, the sign has faded, and the pink art-deco design was out-of-date when the place was built more than 50 years ago. Also gone are the Friday night hot rod gatherings that were all the rage back then.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66ZzqXAYXx7R18TpIcQ-2OjfpHGruJZH5Tjbcd5lxSO36NZdSm9VgF-MtRDlVnqoveArVkV-u1BLAMqzgZIBWHOY8SbrZS5HGCinUKX3rWhBEr93YPVB6x7NjlnFKhHUkLlJCOdfS_Z3kvKy1BdidDMBf5_NbVijt4qYNahpHoaaMASrfuAJT22nJ/s3628/Pig%20Stand%20Outside%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="3628" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66ZzqXAYXx7R18TpIcQ-2OjfpHGruJZH5Tjbcd5lxSO36NZdSm9VgF-MtRDlVnqoveArVkV-u1BLAMqzgZIBWHOY8SbrZS5HGCinUKX3rWhBEr93YPVB6x7NjlnFKhHUkLlJCOdfS_Z3kvKy1BdidDMBf5_NbVijt4qYNahpHoaaMASrfuAJT22nJ/w640-h338/Pig%20Stand%20Outside%20Edited.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had to stop there, of course. Luckily, we hadn’t had lunch, and judging from the rundown look of the place, it had a potential for a death knell itself. We knew this could be our only opportunity ever to patronize a Pig Stand.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To our utter delight, the inside had the same corny décor of many restaurants of the ‘50s and ‘60s. We even gasped when we saw the juke box play selectors at the booths. Could this have gotten any better? And we hadn’t even been seated yet! We were led to a booth by an ancient server in a waitress’ uniform, of all things! I didn’t get her name, as I usually do; my senses were overloaded as it was. Looking over at the juke box selector (I can’t remember if there was a different term for them back when they were popular), I could see that the Beach Boys were still going strong, as were Elvis, Marvin Gaye and Buddy Holly. My nostalgic rush was so strong, I almost didn’t notice when the menus were dropped on our table.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA-Umz0vrLIay9KE1-Pqc5PdP401EzwoY8BMNwO257katgYu6e54R6E6cVD0dL6uzRC8CpxxZSubyJynXDiYfntDDoQ2KHMHqgbK4FlgUvKcpLuZJILtNLpgObk5nccPay3sZTv1tGrR1VvzOfGsedtsX5kKK1AjK0j2iyvTHWE_MvobCfBT5tEVF/s4032/Inside%20Pig%20Stand%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA-Umz0vrLIay9KE1-Pqc5PdP401EzwoY8BMNwO257katgYu6e54R6E6cVD0dL6uzRC8CpxxZSubyJynXDiYfntDDoQ2KHMHqgbK4FlgUvKcpLuZJILtNLpgObk5nccPay3sZTv1tGrR1VvzOfGsedtsX5kKK1AjK0j2iyvTHWE_MvobCfBT5tEVF/w480-h640/Inside%20Pig%20Stand%20Edited.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you think I would leave there without eating one of their famous pig sandwiches, you would be wrong. That’s what I ordered, and Sandy ordered a hamburger. Having no idea what their classic pig sandwich was like, I was a bit surprised when it arrived. It consisted of thick slices of pork loin and dill pickles between two hamburger buns lathered with barbeque sauce. While it was a decent sandwich, the pork loin was sliced too thick to be tender and, if it had been smoked, it was not really evident. I’m thinking it was just roasted in an oven.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z6Pa7a8Tx7qUq_GeW52RqhgFt1xTdO18UyZag5b6f4q4LQVZR_bvaRFcjcDQ-AghTLzVxAvd4KVifkjifjrY8XlDlYWGT-VOpsE5ZuTLnBv7U0ULcsmJbNF9zdn2eQn1t7Jv2kdmWZXRecWgEGiidhIHnLlIrBWZ7F9W_HOtbulfeHmkNAwmsBlh/s4032/Pig%20Sandwich.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z6Pa7a8Tx7qUq_GeW52RqhgFt1xTdO18UyZag5b6f4q4LQVZR_bvaRFcjcDQ-AghTLzVxAvd4KVifkjifjrY8XlDlYWGT-VOpsE5ZuTLnBv7U0ULcsmJbNF9zdn2eQn1t7Jv2kdmWZXRecWgEGiidhIHnLlIrBWZ7F9W_HOtbulfeHmkNAwmsBlh/w480-h640/Pig%20Sandwich.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sandy’s hamburger was declared to be “okay.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so the meal wasn’t spectacular. It did not diminish, however, from the feeling I was young again and that Sandy and I were on a date, listening to Bobby Vinton crooning away from the jukebox. I was in heaven.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Looking around, we couldn’t help but notice a vast collection of ceramic pigs in every pose and caricature you could imagine. You can see part of the collection in the photo. I especially liked the pig in a chef’s uniform and the pig on a motorcycle. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3gtzQgDEfu8Qu5WSChCIBTf5ldVn5mliXygcv_CMyGsy4QAEGYHWjn4BPQeAgFdOjhigUeO8QuVcflioGe7TxdTunD90LMY_VLrL4Col0XCGS7SRoPaN2G6U_b3WtYJBgKPnn78wmvlvEYno_UtxxQmUh7-vLm785quRFtNSONzBeQ9Pe1Bn6eMk/s3764/Inside%20Pig%20Stand%20Pigs%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="3764" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3gtzQgDEfu8Qu5WSChCIBTf5ldVn5mliXygcv_CMyGsy4QAEGYHWjn4BPQeAgFdOjhigUeO8QuVcflioGe7TxdTunD90LMY_VLrL4Col0XCGS7SRoPaN2G6U_b3WtYJBgKPnn78wmvlvEYno_UtxxQmUh7-vLm785quRFtNSONzBeQ9Pe1Bn6eMk/w640-h332/Inside%20Pig%20Stand%20Pigs%20Edited.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I’m pretty sure all the pigs were for sale because an older couple were standing at the cash register in front, peering into a glass case at a selection of ceramic pigs inside. Our server was there, pointing to the various pigs, most of which appeared to be piggy banks. I overheard her say to the couple while pointing to one of the larger piggy banks, “Now, this one is two hundred dollars.” I was a bit taken aback by this, but I didn’t know if it was a rare artifact or if that was the going price. That’s probably because I have not shopped for any ceramic piggy banks lately.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess I’ll recover before long from this blast from the past. I even told Sandy I might try to get a ducktail haircut next time. Always a bastion of support, she said, “Well, you better hurry; that’s about all you’ve got left.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, the places we go and the places we’ve been. I hope sharing our travels brings back some good memories for you, too.</span></p><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><br /></i></p><p><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</i></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</i></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-11331092626950392602022-12-06T01:39:00.002-06:002022-12-07T01:28:03.955-06:00Ardmore Millionaires and the "Mexicat Restaurant"<p><i> At Ranchito Hondo, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our Branson trip was fun, as always. It happens to be one of our favorite places because it is one of the few towns left that remind us of our early years when life was simpler and entertainment was just clean fun. It's a place where "going woke" means nothing more than waking up in the morning. It's near beautiful Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks, and we have given serious thought on numerous occasions to actually moving there. But not for now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since we're back at Ranchito Hondo, and there hasn't been much to post about lately, I thought I would just post the latest monthly column that I write for a mostly-advertising newspaper in my home town of Nacogdoches, Texas. So here goes:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">Growing up in Nacogdoches, I was never far from a source of
fried catfish, either from family kitchens or catfish joints around east Texas.
It is a favorite, of course, and a craving for this delicacy cannot be
satisfied in many of the places we roam. It was when we were approaching
Ardmore, Oklahoma, while traveling from Branson back to Texas, that a catfish
craving hit me, so I asked Sandy to check on her phone for a catfish joint and,
lo and behold, a highly-rated one was listed—Catfish Corner. I made a quick
check on Google Earth to see if our huge car-towing bus could be parked nearby
and, once again, the gods were smiling; there was a vacant lot next door! (If
you ever acquire a large motorhome, this pre-visit visual check will become
second nature to you.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">We asked Siri for directions and maneuvered our rig to the
restaurant at the corner of Commerce and McCullough in Ardmore:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">We couldn’t help but notice that beneath the “Catfish Corner”
sign was another one that read “El Palacio of Fine Mexican Food.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured there were two separate restaurants
in the building, but no—upon entering, it was clear that it was a
catfish/Mexican restaurant—a first in all our travels over seven decades of
living.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">We were met at the door by the owner, John Burkhart, dressed
in jeans and a green-checkered shirt, tail out, that appeared to be freshly
acquired from Goodwill. He greeted us warmly, as though we were long-lost
cousins. I was immediately reminded of the late Sam Shepherd, who was similarly
accommodating at his legendary restaurant that was once a Nacogdoches icon. As John
showed us to our table, I took note of the food adorning the tables at the packed
restaurant and, to my surprise, noticed that most of the patrons were eating
Mexican food, which was advertised <i>underneath</i> the catfish signage
outside. This piqued my curiosity, of course, but we were all set for catfish,
which was every bit as good as it appeared on the platter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym6KSviHtSrBetGLAx07nDqUa-xLYndBGkhdkzijzDI95e4gwBOML9B_-op6fNCn9imFsoRh8eM86MJCGpRQE59eFuObKzBBlHUpdO-y7kiTHXSinyZ1tQC-BAc7gVHluDbyxD-wOqIi8bZ19HUnP-k03bfBhu1kIPuPp1LYddu-VdtfeNBsOiu1o/s4032/Catfish%20at%20Catfish%20Corner%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym6KSviHtSrBetGLAx07nDqUa-xLYndBGkhdkzijzDI95e4gwBOML9B_-op6fNCn9imFsoRh8eM86MJCGpRQE59eFuObKzBBlHUpdO-y7kiTHXSinyZ1tQC-BAc7gVHluDbyxD-wOqIi8bZ19HUnP-k03bfBhu1kIPuPp1LYddu-VdtfeNBsOiu1o/w480-h640/Catfish%20at%20Catfish%20Corner%20Edited.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p>
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</w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">It wasn’t long until John began
making his rounds of every table to ask the customers if everything was okay.
(Again, I thought of Sam Shepherd.) When he stopped at our table, I had to
engage him about the strange two-restaurants-in-one concept. He said the place
opened in 1967 as a Mexican restaurant, but he felt there was a need for a good
catfish place in Ardmore, so he just made it “twofer.” He said it is now one of
the ten best catfish places in Oklahoma, and “there are a lot of ‘em.” Based on
the delicious fresh filets we had, I’m pretty sure he was correct. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">Then I asked about my observation that most of the diners
appeared to be having Mexican food. He said, “Oh, we’re famous for that, too,
especially the chile rellenos; I think they’re the best anywhere.” I was
tempted to order one for dessert, but there was just no way after gorging on
the catfish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">John and I talked again at the front of the restaurant when I
was paying the tab. I noticed a photo of a trailer laden with more chile
peppers than I had ever seen and asked him about it:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufpNtMoQH3ZhCfPBjZCU_Jq2xmmjsY3-BKdl2z_zmRpQ3PgqDahuD6-x56H6DnRT0lnro994Pl-XOux2MgvkBhpOuk7iNiJrMJcNSKZEn8yHTjqidcb_G9XetB0kmhwkLAKubESDoL2l-bMANu4xqeRN74xzIEsOBgdTulH0xqzw_y-o1L60pa-hx/s4002/Peppers%20at%20Hatch%20Edited.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2705" data-original-width="4002" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufpNtMoQH3ZhCfPBjZCU_Jq2xmmjsY3-BKdl2z_zmRpQ3PgqDahuD6-x56H6DnRT0lnro994Pl-XOux2MgvkBhpOuk7iNiJrMJcNSKZEn8yHTjqidcb_G9XetB0kmhwkLAKubESDoL2l-bMANu4xqeRN74xzIEsOBgdTulH0xqzw_y-o1L60pa-hx/w640-h432/Peppers%20at%20Hatch%20Edited.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">“We go to Hatch, New Mexico every season and load up on these
chiles for our rellenos,” said John. “That’s me on the left; this trailer load
won’t last us a full year nowadays; looks like we’re going to need a bigger
trailer.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">Suitably impressed at the enormity of the haul, I wished even
more that I had tried one, but there was just no room. I vowed to come back,
however. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">As we were about to leave, I asked him a little about
Ardmore’s history. He rubbed his chin for a moment and then said, “Did you know
that Ardmore once had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the
country?” I blinked, wishing to know more, but John was swept away,
glad-handing another couple who had just walked in the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">I looked up John’s millionaire claim, by the way, and he was
right. After a nearby oil discovery in 1912, a boom quickly developed and, for
a while way back then, Ardmore indeed sported more millionaires per capita than anywhere
else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">We never know what interesting things we will find on our
journeys, but a “Mexicat” restaurant and an Ardmore full of millionaires are a
couple of surprises we never expected. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span>Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div></span><p></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-24455327095587032082022-10-30T02:09:00.000-05:002022-10-30T02:09:13.346-05:00On the Road Again<p><i> At America's Best Campground, Branson, Missouri..</i>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After spending a few weeks at Ranchito Hondo, it was time for yet another adventure. Unfortunately, the nature of this trip was sufficiently time-consuming that I haven't had much opportunity for writing a post. Well, maybe I have, but time with family and friends has just been more important, as you can imagine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the main reasons for this fall trip was to celebrate daughter Mindy's birthday and to spend a week with her and Tyler and the grandsons. Mindy seemed to enjoy her birthday dinner out at El Palenque, our favorite Houston-area Mexican restaurant:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKnCHizqeSO2h5bX7AcRexw0d2-SJ3hzlZ8dev3vPYeY--tcBeXSYEr7reigGV0eQPCVwqXtk0ztSMqegM1T2SnfHM86wnkX_y8qrNSduf4CQJbOV0zD78O6RS5jbTyMR2oJoU15YKcTge2jWOdMy_xAa1GjG57zXD_D8p79gjM3Hh_tllMiwANgl/s2546/Mindy%20in%20Sombrero.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2546" data-original-width="2173" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKnCHizqeSO2h5bX7AcRexw0d2-SJ3hzlZ8dev3vPYeY--tcBeXSYEr7reigGV0eQPCVwqXtk0ztSMqegM1T2SnfHM86wnkX_y8qrNSduf4CQJbOV0zD78O6RS5jbTyMR2oJoU15YKcTge2jWOdMy_xAa1GjG57zXD_D8p79gjM3Hh_tllMiwANgl/w546-h640/Mindy%20in%20Sombrero.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrdTGU_WeWNU6mmgeyYn-1PUonFygjoi5LwSQRVA_TXUiLnjAAcGer9JGeCiJLy4MyFyQay3FRNa_NVOBz6jGQXZ7eJEmDESCHDgeEG9Fbf_GmM-7g1hBgAd45fpQbuA7AqTCpf3qMs_OpMDEzA5HX8ujh3RmYttCPyZsosWsAXlAEu9xpaipD_oY/s4032/FullSizeRender.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrdTGU_WeWNU6mmgeyYn-1PUonFygjoi5LwSQRVA_TXUiLnjAAcGer9JGeCiJLy4MyFyQay3FRNa_NVOBz6jGQXZ7eJEmDESCHDgeEG9Fbf_GmM-7g1hBgAd45fpQbuA7AqTCpf3qMs_OpMDEzA5HX8ujh3RmYttCPyZsosWsAXlAEu9xpaipD_oY/w480-h640/FullSizeRender.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, it is not unlike her dad to do some monkeyshines at such an event, and I'm sure I embarrassed her adequately.</span></p><p>Son-In-Law Tyler did me a great favor in doing a temporary repair to Phannie's instrument panel (the right side where the rearview camera screen, radio and a/c controls are). It appears the lightweight plastic panel was all that was holding these items in place and, after 16 years, an ill-placed screw at the factory finally caused the plastic panel to break in a critical spot, causing these items to fall inward with no support. We had just arrived in the Houston area, and we were in a mess. Tyler, whose business is construction (he builds things like airport terminals and football stadiums), dropped everything and perfectly designed a metal backing for the plastic panel, into which he repositioned the abovementioned displaced components. We are so proud of Tyler; we think of him as our very own son. </p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After Mindy's birthday celebration and spoiling the grandsons, we headed to Branson to meet up with friends and attend a three-day gospel concert. Here are some of them:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzR903MOVpAClM76XvGX0yElp5obQiTblsZU3PQKye-1DP1a-PFv8HqX76QjB_n6mbEDejevQhI9BMJMn7VLr9GiEf3i3l6KmXd5CQFEiSirPmmwtIQebMH27MnOOe9EChk1sedEMCmU_U_z_MfKbJ3ho0jjXuVC7IIcEzS_qo-KgouYYo8DbVkSB/s4032/IMG_2017.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzR903MOVpAClM76XvGX0yElp5obQiTblsZU3PQKye-1DP1a-PFv8HqX76QjB_n6mbEDejevQhI9BMJMn7VLr9GiEf3i3l6KmXd5CQFEiSirPmmwtIQebMH27MnOOe9EChk1sedEMCmU_U_z_MfKbJ3ho0jjXuVC7IIcEzS_qo-KgouYYo8DbVkSB/w640-h480/IMG_2017.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Beyond Sandy and me in the photo above are LouAnn and Bubba, Mary Lou and Harvey. Missing are Carolyn and Larry, who had family obligations and couldn't make this get together. They are all wonderful people who are more like family than friends.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a great time at the concerts, seeing shows, shopping and dining out as old friends do. Much laughter was had by all--definitely good for the soul.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of our meals was out at the Big Cedar Lodge complex south of Branson, and the autumn foliage was so beautiful that we just had to get some photos. These don't quite equal fall color in New England, but for the Ozarks, they aren't too shabby:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yIhU9VEauIv_QaUa7NNTCvjpn2S_k3nv1EQiH5XvW7Flo07SBYYaRrzklBddZYNtWtVgqX2bmdHkG8weDFGB3MKUq4GHnF7vYTgfdeH-xjlPZ-OZl9IKCYVEf2B4tu6XPMAqi2Lq2P4obNEVM-fVX1LA_Qa9FEiLXcb_SdKcB2VjLfocBuTGn2Eu/s3150/Fall%20Foliage%20Above%20Rocks%20at%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="3150" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yIhU9VEauIv_QaUa7NNTCvjpn2S_k3nv1EQiH5XvW7Flo07SBYYaRrzklBddZYNtWtVgqX2bmdHkG8weDFGB3MKUq4GHnF7vYTgfdeH-xjlPZ-OZl9IKCYVEf2B4tu6XPMAqi2Lq2P4obNEVM-fVX1LA_Qa9FEiLXcb_SdKcB2VjLfocBuTGn2Eu/w640-h490/Fall%20Foliage%20Above%20Rocks%20at%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEJHLv2cUAxqCbRm5GXjPcrOT5m0sWK-LGiWCcekXYmpiWkRqM0uRcaSVazOgsStcNIdSyu4fYH27ptkTvDVskmE82GJTP3boBmeTIMDPBvvJXyPnzzAr0CsG6848fyi-RAaQGrvYVNCinlzATyPUWC2qeiWZTx5xuYoJhUokr61Gh-1755U1c-vb/s2649/Fiery%20Orange%20Tree%20at%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2094" data-original-width="2649" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEJHLv2cUAxqCbRm5GXjPcrOT5m0sWK-LGiWCcekXYmpiWkRqM0uRcaSVazOgsStcNIdSyu4fYH27ptkTvDVskmE82GJTP3boBmeTIMDPBvvJXyPnzzAr0CsG6848fyi-RAaQGrvYVNCinlzATyPUWC2qeiWZTx5xuYoJhUokr61Gh-1755U1c-vb/w640-h506/Fiery%20Orange%20Tree%20at%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn2LvUhp6w2J8uFOAAhXmtm5iczUbDggL3qDs8XZsFiQPR5D9W8K9OcRDgffMXqcxkchgOiS9OQtRV-S3kiTJlXTWhzArKjitp1v8i1uLfuCtpHI1Z0M74ddQlvX5AXFPCu-L6dNMCcPdyUjxDiapcVAaQMq_bQSEv18xxmwPQ3y8YX2XIfIxcWJc/s3248/Table%20Rock%20Lake%20Through%20Fall%20Foliage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn2LvUhp6w2J8uFOAAhXmtm5iczUbDggL3qDs8XZsFiQPR5D9W8K9OcRDgffMXqcxkchgOiS9OQtRV-S3kiTJlXTWhzArKjitp1v8i1uLfuCtpHI1Z0M74ddQlvX5AXFPCu-L6dNMCcPdyUjxDiapcVAaQMq_bQSEv18xxmwPQ3y8YX2XIfIxcWJc/w640-h480/Table%20Rock%20Lake%20Through%20Fall%20Foliage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg0lb3p-sZSZzNeQtZBAsBrZxjvVw3ccK4DwT2BfwtwqE9mW-0VH3wvmbc10FTriFbY2Rj_8HYOd5uPBIAm_zWmk2YFetqIBurWKTh2a6TJFfUiHdmZqewfCHmFzvFsuj-TlOOa0FCpMhae2CVV1fokjTP6JkT6BCZ7IohpB046kxAKfbU7dIucEo/s3248/View%20of%20TRL%20From%20Entrance%20to%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg0lb3p-sZSZzNeQtZBAsBrZxjvVw3ccK4DwT2BfwtwqE9mW-0VH3wvmbc10FTriFbY2Rj_8HYOd5uPBIAm_zWmk2YFetqIBurWKTh2a6TJFfUiHdmZqewfCHmFzvFsuj-TlOOa0FCpMhae2CVV1fokjTP6JkT6BCZ7IohpB046kxAKfbU7dIucEo/w640-h480/View%20of%20TRL%20From%20Entrance%20to%20Big%20Cedar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We are at the end of this fall trip, and how blessed we are to have the ability to travel and enjoy our relationships as we do. We hear so many stories about people who are unable to enjoy their golden years for one reason or another. Perhaps the most heartbreaking are those who didn't retire when they could and had little or no enjoyment of times like these. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are headed back to Texas, and we'll catch you up again, well, when I feel like it! (Ha!)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div><div><i><span><br /></span></i></div></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-74014297039934513402022-09-12T14:36:00.002-05:002022-09-28T01:31:20.451-05:00Goodbye, Colorado...For a While<p><i> At Lone Star Corral Escapees Co-Op, Hondo, Texas...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our last few days in the Gunnison area were a blast. Besides our usual roadies Jackie and Steve, we were joined by Bubba and LouAnn as well as Hank and Shirleen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After my playing a couple of hours' dinner music for the end-of-season party at Palisades RV Park, we had the idea that we would go off-roading in Bubba's new Jeep. But more about that later. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The first requirement was a rousing game of 42 (an old domino game that actually takes some skill, for you youngsters who don't know about it). Hank and I beat Sandy and Shirleen, but they hurried to declare that it was just by a hair. Nevertheless, a victory is a victory, and we'll take it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next adventure before Hank and Shirleen arrived was a trip to Tin Cup, Colorado--a tiny place with a single restaurant, Frenchy's, where there is a jumping-off point for an off-road trek that was my first serious one. Here are photos of the restaurant and our group. Jackie and Steve were with us this time; Hank and Shirleen had not yet arrived.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VqRYjzVoEzli3EeZ-FhYn621sDMJv_rfxigmkM1lpiw7tPessTE6rorLQ4BfiJMVC6JBgajPOJ8gQpcKdtiL8A2Gk3Z83UUP8xY3jPAkxUpVzDczn7DhLa8oL8ob09uL9r2nCVuA3OWeHSaorAGjceDIEBew2Yn5zuuXqGngYCI6d7bkxDs29wou/s3248/Frenchys%20Cafe%20in%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VqRYjzVoEzli3EeZ-FhYn621sDMJv_rfxigmkM1lpiw7tPessTE6rorLQ4BfiJMVC6JBgajPOJ8gQpcKdtiL8A2Gk3Z83UUP8xY3jPAkxUpVzDczn7DhLa8oL8ob09uL9r2nCVuA3OWeHSaorAGjceDIEBew2Yn5zuuXqGngYCI6d7bkxDs29wou/w640-h480/Frenchys%20Cafe%20in%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFAC3rwQgkpcB1EbcuxY7WQ07YsQbZsdUW35nUM-Q2k0PMTmq0ad13iqlOZEx8LJOIYLVK2w0Vz4brkoY23KVPv3qD1IjeuVLboFYUSCPCGSaHDYBhIrnzRRJINOg6pbTzdeZD6V597KrJEXW8zAkeMTNtSLsowB-JK3hQShJ-uoHCFBZ5ubJIi1/s2198/Group%20at%20Frenchys%20in%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="2198" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFAC3rwQgkpcB1EbcuxY7WQ07YsQbZsdUW35nUM-Q2k0PMTmq0ad13iqlOZEx8LJOIYLVK2w0Vz4brkoY23KVPv3qD1IjeuVLboFYUSCPCGSaHDYBhIrnzRRJINOg6pbTzdeZD6V597KrJEXW8zAkeMTNtSLsowB-JK3hQShJ-uoHCFBZ5ubJIi1/w640-h576/Group%20at%20Frenchys%20in%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">The object for the guys after lunch was to reach Tin Cup Pass, which was the continental divide in the area. The girls said, "No way; we're headed back to Crested Butte to do some shopping." And poof! They were gone. The guys settled into the Jeep for the 13-mile rocky, wandering drive that required three hours to navigate another four thousand feet up the mountain! The road, while not necessarily cliff-hanging in nature, was so rough that I was sure we would lose some essential part off the Jeep and be stranded until our bodies were discovered in the spring. I'm also pretty sure that our incredible bounce house inside the Jeep rearranged some of my internal body parts. I wouldn't be at all surprised if an x-ray showed that my spleen and appendix have exchanged locations. Here are photos of the trail and proof of our arrival at Tin Cup Pass, elevation 12,154 feet:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTrgu4vmC3GFKpCVEqSWtS78eEy1N_Ej275Wprl_xz-FavWiqihO8L3zY4d4rGKAiqhDOen6opdWoXb8opna1YZb3dXYQuocfeO-IqFkGhOQQxc-kgEk7UlK4K_DTPEOgMpyY0UYwx261JemyfqRGJhRhJDKnPYIsbbraF6iZ-CFkHrcOx8r5Fw88/s3228/Offroading%20View%20From%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="3228" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTrgu4vmC3GFKpCVEqSWtS78eEy1N_Ej275Wprl_xz-FavWiqihO8L3zY4d4rGKAiqhDOen6opdWoXb8opna1YZb3dXYQuocfeO-IqFkGhOQQxc-kgEk7UlK4K_DTPEOgMpyY0UYwx261JemyfqRGJhRhJDKnPYIsbbraF6iZ-CFkHrcOx8r5Fw88/w640-h342/Offroading%20View%20From%20Tin%20Cup.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhE6ojjSjKx8WdDT696ATzYjETlNY671TLm0TcnpfL0nL3B-F7BHkRE929AumSvAN2ZtoUB3dJcBejU9Cg7DWFGfLs4TIydntDafoqcfeFnjWQyVBAbhhtdjbCnY1VzaXsLjZ-CjKq6bV-uGG6tQayFiX29M5snYZ-5jQDkID7PVXHvsBZzLaJIAw/s3248/Tin%20Cup%20Pass.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhE6ojjSjKx8WdDT696ATzYjETlNY671TLm0TcnpfL0nL3B-F7BHkRE929AumSvAN2ZtoUB3dJcBejU9Cg7DWFGfLs4TIydntDafoqcfeFnjWQyVBAbhhtdjbCnY1VzaXsLjZ-CjKq6bV-uGG6tQayFiX29M5snYZ-5jQDkID7PVXHvsBZzLaJIAw/w640-h480/Tin%20Cup%20Pass.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Much to my amazement, the Jeep seemed to operate normally when it returned to a paved road, so I have a good deal more respect for the vehicle now. Perhaps my concerns were overblown, but I still checked afterward to see if all the fillings were still in my teeth. Here is a photo of the Jeep when new as LouAnn and Bubba were taking delivery at the dealership. Little did it know the torture that was awaiting it in Colorado:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxighCzru09IGdnIO5uacH_CBMDLCnGlITh9Hl_uHuv6m-iiiZNTM87wVrVrarLXIDQN12jxMoAC9YiJAhS_bYavDqhxU7MrovqpjGsSo9rUl5V7ynFybQ7nyatR5iUHpBGv73z8Z9OBeFjwNCpsa0QhHkaQbZ-vwD3M-_twEIYefxHThaXWlqEB-6/s4032/IMG_1842.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxighCzru09IGdnIO5uacH_CBMDLCnGlITh9Hl_uHuv6m-iiiZNTM87wVrVrarLXIDQN12jxMoAC9YiJAhS_bYavDqhxU7MrovqpjGsSo9rUl5V7ynFybQ7nyatR5iUHpBGv73z8Z9OBeFjwNCpsa0QhHkaQbZ-vwD3M-_twEIYefxHThaXWlqEB-6/w640-h480/IMG_1842.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our adventures were not over with the torture of off-roading at Tin Cup. A</span><span style="font-size: large;"> guest lecturer at our park--a professor from the local university--revealed a number of interesting details about the mining industry in northern Gunnison county, especially about the marble quarry located at Marble, Colorado--not far from Crested Butte. He told us that the Yule Quarry at Marble was a stunningly large deposit of marble and that all the marble inside the Colorado state capitol building had come from there, as had the tomb of the unknown soldier, a vastly complex and difficult undertaking that required an entire year, beginning in 1930, to lift it from the mine and transport it to Washington, DC. With such history in mind, I declared we would be going there, even though it would require another off-road bounce fest afterward; fortunately, that one was not nearly as challenging as Tin Cup. </span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Before we got to that part, however, we stopped in the town of Marble (population 162) to have lunch at the only restaurant in town, Slow Groovin' BBQ. Now, listen here: It is worth the trip to eat the fare at this place. The cook had to be a Texan, as it was easily the best BBQ we had eaten in Colorado:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1e7mixEhzivfjGpJbDQK1iIk1s6-FkddbpMyW3zmJdGoYhy70B53TI4AnWh4zFQEDhwSe3foWcz37GqanRBi4ZZw9Di4yKXptUP-mPzTgLNSRT7sCSsW_IX3qM3bW_6Q3U51Yro8P5LlzWspeY6Z_zyuw1iwXgSmxRzsVV6Iq3rqdAitbPiOd8rp/s5117/Excellent%20Slow%20Groovin%20BBQ%20in%20Marble,%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2518" data-original-width="5117" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1e7mixEhzivfjGpJbDQK1iIk1s6-FkddbpMyW3zmJdGoYhy70B53TI4AnWh4zFQEDhwSe3foWcz37GqanRBi4ZZw9Di4yKXptUP-mPzTgLNSRT7sCSsW_IX3qM3bW_6Q3U51Yro8P5LlzWspeY6Z_zyuw1iwXgSmxRzsVV6Iq3rqdAitbPiOd8rp/w640-h314/Excellent%20Slow%20Groovin%20BBQ%20in%20Marble,%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We also walked around some outdoor inventory of a shop that deals in artist-finished marble pieces that had originated in the Yule quarry. Take a gander at this gorgeous group of marble horses that can be yours for $125,000. Yes, you read that right:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ChByv7Q7EV54u7Y4qc7y_3Gv98goZzk_p9r4UxFerGaiMjij-T6I6IoPKrsPnvYwYKuS0zNqnR62k2jlVVLOLnmP0Fjg7DfuAebDyVPf86V0wpRSQqaRdikbkDL7UGb0zLdv6Y9A4zQZEOVPj88SQEFDSEkubRzmIvHQZQNBvCBeX7Sy-TDwlOFK/s3988/Take%20Home%20these%20Horses%20from%20Marble%20Colorado%20Quarry%20for%20only%20125K.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3025" data-original-width="3988" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ChByv7Q7EV54u7Y4qc7y_3Gv98goZzk_p9r4UxFerGaiMjij-T6I6IoPKrsPnvYwYKuS0zNqnR62k2jlVVLOLnmP0Fjg7DfuAebDyVPf86V0wpRSQqaRdikbkDL7UGb0zLdv6Y9A4zQZEOVPj88SQEFDSEkubRzmIvHQZQNBvCBeX7Sy-TDwlOFK/w640-h486/Take%20Home%20these%20Horses%20from%20Marble%20Colorado%20Quarry%20for%20only%20125K.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Then it came time for the guys to begin their off-road trek to see one of the most photographed places in Colorado: The Crystal Hill Mine. As before, the girls, showing far better sense than their husbands, begged off and headed back to Crested Butte to see if they had inadvertently left something on the stores' shelves from the day before.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, I would like to have seen the quarry itself, but this was not allowed. The Yule Quarry is owned by Carrera Marble of Italy; I highly recommend that you look it up on the web and in Google Images. There is vastly too much</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">information and photos available there than I could possibly include here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since we had no place to carry the horse sculpture in the Jeep, we opted to head up to Crystal City, the off-road part I mentioned earlier. The goal here was to take our own photos of the Crystal Hill Mine, a professional photographer's dream shot. I'll show you my photo below. On the way, however, we enjoyed some gorgeous scenery and some of the clearest mountain streams we had ever seen--many like this one that was nearby:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLhGdaNxRN-WYWpgvl7SLfYJdbSkWix9JigiADGMmu9TUrbjwf26slFIDKHdjuOiTv6kYdTv5q4KntNGt6-zn69F75HaQe4aEIQv-iHdlg9r2bq67Pfwk7fh46qr79-vouwG1zBax8UD0cAuHiu8COcUCK56iTNvzCtWTSckAp05Ni3FdlyOMnfOR/s4032/2022-08-24%2014.57.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLhGdaNxRN-WYWpgvl7SLfYJdbSkWix9JigiADGMmu9TUrbjwf26slFIDKHdjuOiTv6kYdTv5q4KntNGt6-zn69F75HaQe4aEIQv-iHdlg9r2bq67Pfwk7fh46qr79-vouwG1zBax8UD0cAuHiu8COcUCK56iTNvzCtWTSckAp05Ni3FdlyOMnfOR/w480-h640/2022-08-24%2014.57.51.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Okay, drum roll! Here is the payoff for our bouncy ride to the Crystal Hill Mine. Perhaps you have seen a photo of this in Colorado visitors' guides. It will definitely be made into a print for our wall.</span></div></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1eppBFJBW4pZ5uGPvRF96VQ4v9re3k2j6MF_lB8Iv9sVBYA__-u6ZX4cTk18WJsQTK3ZqvCZiF-sNh9TV8907AtsPT3oM1i4pULBj_mfxDuKAlVcwAb5-P7b7deNedhvQHuaoiCjeJYtsVDhcG3mDgtnPGTsrpePgUgVuJir0LnAF8U_wvGEniXM/s3003/One%20of%20the%20Most%20Photographed%20Places%20in%20Colorado%20Crystal%20Mill%20Gunnison%20Country%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2082" data-original-width="3003" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1eppBFJBW4pZ5uGPvRF96VQ4v9re3k2j6MF_lB8Iv9sVBYA__-u6ZX4cTk18WJsQTK3ZqvCZiF-sNh9TV8907AtsPT3oM1i4pULBj_mfxDuKAlVcwAb5-P7b7deNedhvQHuaoiCjeJYtsVDhcG3mDgtnPGTsrpePgUgVuJir0LnAF8U_wvGEniXM/w640-h444/One%20of%20the%20Most%20Photographed%20Places%20in%20Colorado%20Crystal%20Mill%20Gunnison%20Country%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">We only wished it had been a bit later in September, so the Aspens would have turned yellow in the background. That would be stunning, for sure.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was no shortage of things to see on our way back, such as this unusual red rock formation:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqw12S3h7zRML1e70PSnS4HRC_ASB0c5k5MLzjvLOOuxFKCuCEm1kNpU1kH6gcwGjXVLWJ0JUelHkbKGh5bwv2EfchjBTXi4TjogKtJcIN8NYmHDsUAEH-Z_ftd-blrefbaElvtWi5QjUggaOqKQC0j7lsWNdQdMxc6qrCCRfAQsnGBmchF89E5NY/s3248/Red%20Rocks%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqw12S3h7zRML1e70PSnS4HRC_ASB0c5k5MLzjvLOOuxFKCuCEm1kNpU1kH6gcwGjXVLWJ0JUelHkbKGh5bwv2EfchjBTXi4TjogKtJcIN8NYmHDsUAEH-Z_ftd-blrefbaElvtWi5QjUggaOqKQC0j7lsWNdQdMxc6qrCCRfAQsnGBmchF89E5NY/w640-h480/Red%20Rocks%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We really must include something whimsical here, as any group of guys--no matter how old--never really grow up. Seeing the sign below hanging from a porch on someone's house, we pulled in their driveway and shot a photo. I can't imagine what the homeowners thought about our bold trespassing, but I have even less idea what the sign means:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORhGmFm5pwy3WrTNP313LQLow5sQcvua_ew3gbYLO6Twrg5d13a95DylN6yc98ZsZDD8-THgvrfCFnurQWcOvjIIHki0aQGmoM-R8Jk--khERURLSL-5vz3A2Ue_JfARyrdZ86MCE4RBdxmHkA2KGoQhgAsPY3VUjd719VEwYXrYtG90-WCdO2bjc/s2303/Sign%20on%20Residence%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="2303" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORhGmFm5pwy3WrTNP313LQLow5sQcvua_ew3gbYLO6Twrg5d13a95DylN6yc98ZsZDD8-THgvrfCFnurQWcOvjIIHki0aQGmoM-R8Jk--khERURLSL-5vz3A2Ue_JfARyrdZ86MCE4RBdxmHkA2KGoQhgAsPY3VUjd719VEwYXrYtG90-WCdO2bjc/w640-h580/Sign%20on%20Residence%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As we bade goodbye to our last touring day in Colorado, we couldn't help but take one more photo of the grandeur of the mountain scenery:</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJ8w7pI-TvKXZLtmXlLOz3P7WXhGahD3QweMOJWICDwCFci3EVAsKYtABP9h0gKEt47vAv6iULGfnJmYTZjW8Jm_TY4zADepRtQ1Q7ZhTTBvvDTU7wUYlFCY7TC5awCJtPC5ASmmjR3NtJaYHO2y2HJoGgiGIdo5zqPPQOs7RJ9fbgFCecDd2PUfb/s3187/Mountain%20Majesty%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2055" data-original-width="3187" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJ8w7pI-TvKXZLtmXlLOz3P7WXhGahD3QweMOJWICDwCFci3EVAsKYtABP9h0gKEt47vAv6iULGfnJmYTZjW8Jm_TY4zADepRtQ1Q7ZhTTBvvDTU7wUYlFCY7TC5awCJtPC5ASmmjR3NtJaYHO2y2HJoGgiGIdo5zqPPQOs7RJ9fbgFCecDd2PUfb/w640-h412/Mountain%20Majesty%20Near%20Marble%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The final photo shows three of the four couples together at a dinner at Mike's Garlic Restaurant located by the Gunnison River. From left to right are Sandy, Mike, Shirleen, Hank, LouAnn and Bubba. A great time was had by all, and we hated to leave our incredible surroundings.</span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpPH5anfUp4KzqUUlGpXvbaFmlShTvOuoPi5xF2OZeqkuSATJyUBYeBMGhWbd0T9sCX7xemLElIGB2Uz6geDFilISI8ZwvKf2NJBX--YOKiL23r7igHqi_ioMc6qNpXjscqp3BGGGe-dsVs6_No4F3GufyEzuOwQMfzgm5RlcCiA-rroz4fJOD7FF/s4032/IMG_3727.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpPH5anfUp4KzqUUlGpXvbaFmlShTvOuoPi5xF2OZeqkuSATJyUBYeBMGhWbd0T9sCX7xemLElIGB2Uz6geDFilISI8ZwvKf2NJBX--YOKiL23r7igHqi_ioMc6qNpXjscqp3BGGGe-dsVs6_No4F3GufyEzuOwQMfzgm5RlcCiA-rroz4fJOD7FF/w640-h480/IMG_3727.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Our trip back to Hondo was uneventful, but Texas was calling, and we felt very blessed to have made our escape during the summer when our glorious state is not so hospitable.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our next adventure? To see the kids, of course, then off to Branson, where we will spend about a month, then back to Hondo.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i style="font-size: medium;"><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span>"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-18844974450875881242022-09-02T01:43:00.000-05:002022-09-02T01:43:54.966-05:00Sharing the Cool Mountains With Friends<p> <i>At Palisades RV Park, Gunnison, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has seemed like another world here as we occasionally check the temperature back in Texas and find it sometimes 40 degrees warmer than at our 8,000-ft. elevation. Now that we're into late August/early September, it is getting even cooler, and we run the heater almost every night. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been fulfilling my very enjoyable "gig" playing the piano for park events, including Sunday Bible study and popular old standard tunes as well. I had been wanting a portable keyboard so, in anticipation of this summer's music activity, I purchased a Yamaha P-515, an amazing instrument that has the same keyboard as a Yamaha grand piano. (If you're a pianist, you know the importance of a weighted keyboard complete with wooden keys.) I'll include a short sample video: </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/povgFsL-iRk" width="320" youtube-src-id="povgFsL-iRk"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">(Sorry for the gross-looking arm boo-boo. Getting clumsy in my old age.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">We occasionally have the honor of meeting some of our blog readers--on this occasion, a couple who, by chance, were staying here in Palisades for a few days. Fellow Texans, we have determined to meet up when we get back home and become better acquainted. Meet Mike and Lynn. Great folks, these are:</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhepP6n_cUXP7FuLhtl7ybNSefbzs_IPojZU8p8Jpyjyz_bI4OLBwx3RZNJq-lP8dPWMegqV4Ubnbl8f4b99d6w6ATVWQKj4WPN7XLpCfIcT2ziTtmSX_1mORLWBspJ42f24q6cYGhIt10LAg3cGAeR8J9v2q9dfozCpcLZjGklwmVzNaEPe9Cx51d/s1817/Mike%20and%20Anne%20Clayton.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="1482" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhepP6n_cUXP7FuLhtl7ybNSefbzs_IPojZU8p8Jpyjyz_bI4OLBwx3RZNJq-lP8dPWMegqV4Ubnbl8f4b99d6w6ATVWQKj4WPN7XLpCfIcT2ziTtmSX_1mORLWBspJ42f24q6cYGhIt10LAg3cGAeR8J9v2q9dfozCpcLZjGklwmVzNaEPe9Cx51d/w522-h640/Mike%20and%20Anne%20Clayton.JPG" width="522" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Along with friends Jackie and Steve, who have joined us here--but at another park--we have enjoyed a number of side trips with beautiful scenery. I'm afraid there are many photos included here, but I have many more for which I didn't have room. If only everyone could spend summer in a place like this! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyt6aprXmtIZ8mGfj5UUOFSmyylei2ijR-57a15DNdsrhR_Vm8hebxAE72wFuoR4THoB1QHD2lciNoZhVpfJSiahbaPVJl9kmqMQLf__HwvkfdOEkrfb83_Iv2TDPgb3q4BT_2y4AVYR74WTzdgi2ZwoU880iNYukDK3nfpDVundZ2nJtnHPVxGu2/s3224/Looking%20Eastward%20From%20Monarch%20Pass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="3224" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyt6aprXmtIZ8mGfj5UUOFSmyylei2ijR-57a15DNdsrhR_Vm8hebxAE72wFuoR4THoB1QHD2lciNoZhVpfJSiahbaPVJl9kmqMQLf__HwvkfdOEkrfb83_Iv2TDPgb3q4BT_2y4AVYR74WTzdgi2ZwoU880iNYukDK3nfpDVundZ2nJtnHPVxGu2/w640-h382/Looking%20Eastward%20From%20Monarch%20Pass.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking eastward toward Salida from the summit of Monarch Pass.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX8MZ0KVAOcXjrZkAi52EZgw_DjAsPFBLkcinw-QY-CVqxB6w5cpaNLBV7itLmHx1Usyr5Kg_gKLW6xIwHSxoAKEPIKkdV2f_32PfsnqOjFDW0zPKmw_GUFYU_fVqlSqoDJeCmxYVwTt8WAWFywWWg5rhRcubGhNLvzy6mQYGLl5mSOx-wvcJa9tM/s4032/2022-08-24%2014.57.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX8MZ0KVAOcXjrZkAi52EZgw_DjAsPFBLkcinw-QY-CVqxB6w5cpaNLBV7itLmHx1Usyr5Kg_gKLW6xIwHSxoAKEPIKkdV2f_32PfsnqOjFDW0zPKmw_GUFYU_fVqlSqoDJeCmxYVwTt8WAWFywWWg5rhRcubGhNLvzy6mQYGLl5mSOx-wvcJa9tM/w480-h640/2022-08-24%2014.57.51.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Waterfall into a crystal clear pool near Crested Butte. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Thornton)</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzsho0svPiopio6etPpPCA-eOvPkSoHaH8quVKlDh4JcpJniSjShHGeX2irkxD7mobaAGklBvIhMjmOY3t8p2tyq7HZeEhlw1CVpmNK5O3nO8AYthCLf98ey7lluL8aMtOpIN5ZX69K-fmrxAhk7NtqqyiRp-8xY0NWFtP6xyTId9JQ8XYMhcjfXB/s3113/2022-08-24%2015.18.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3113" data-original-width="2335" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzsho0svPiopio6etPpPCA-eOvPkSoHaH8quVKlDh4JcpJniSjShHGeX2irkxD7mobaAGklBvIhMjmOY3t8p2tyq7HZeEhlw1CVpmNK5O3nO8AYthCLf98ey7lluL8aMtOpIN5ZX69K-fmrxAhk7NtqqyiRp-8xY0NWFtP6xyTId9JQ8XYMhcjfXB/w480-h640/2022-08-24%2015.18.20.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Yellow flowers abound in a field. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Thornton)</i></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqgjqn2GdcgmCT6XuVeWkmLj8tB52d8oMto2Il9c_ofAm1YgQMNGfAmQgpqTatiirpuRu26UgYyOy8tGkeh2hbWEnqYuYhuI7lxpaMj0f652DvYzv5JweAC_hd6WeHN9azeC_hKOs5N6tatT3A7rA8XMEJirfKIm_kvU2KUTEZr1TVLnkLw-QcUMY/s2676/Valley%20North%20of%20Crested%20Butte.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="2353" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqgjqn2GdcgmCT6XuVeWkmLj8tB52d8oMto2Il9c_ofAm1YgQMNGfAmQgpqTatiirpuRu26UgYyOy8tGkeh2hbWEnqYuYhuI7lxpaMj0f652DvYzv5JweAC_hd6WeHN9azeC_hKOs5N6tatT3A7rA8XMEJirfKIm_kvU2KUTEZr1TVLnkLw-QcUMY/w562-h640/Valley%20North%20of%20Crested%20Butte.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Valley north of Crested Butte (photo courtesy of Jackie Thornton)</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeddhzeHUpig3lfWGsKh-XQnPGEM6infwk7-x3yVMIRThm6yLsjQYOTgwswmm7o7cE7K4m_jaaFC0H56o4tAtxCk1LnQvoWHXb2AcKWQYKCFxlUk3zmwAGPUkdUDy99GsXz0v5mMGXhkEzAiWVhCmmZ_Wye56qkA5qxX4RJFew_cw77oUzyfkLfL6/s3248/Larkspurs%20in%20Bloom.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeddhzeHUpig3lfWGsKh-XQnPGEM6infwk7-x3yVMIRThm6yLsjQYOTgwswmm7o7cE7K4m_jaaFC0H56o4tAtxCk1LnQvoWHXb2AcKWQYKCFxlUk3zmwAGPUkdUDy99GsXz0v5mMGXhkEzAiWVhCmmZ_Wye56qkA5qxX4RJFew_cw77oUzyfkLfL6/w640-h480/Larkspurs%20in%20Bloom.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful flowers everywhere. These blue ones are larkspur, I think.</i></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2yG4s7L5b0xPzexiOWG2Wo3JpqkpdtyyL1zW_JlYs3JwYXZrRDZV7rJLuvY6YyA78b-D5WtJZNq1HJjr-iSVPVJPq5q0fbisQPsuTNT5WT6aUkWp_l2iX4ufIhfl8aCfm94ciucJ7zMs-N4wk8TnPc5ujFsRLrWKhedZex4LjSzNdwntUeY7UTiQ/s2142/Bees%20Gotta%20Eat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="1489" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2yG4s7L5b0xPzexiOWG2Wo3JpqkpdtyyL1zW_JlYs3JwYXZrRDZV7rJLuvY6YyA78b-D5WtJZNq1HJjr-iSVPVJPq5q0fbisQPsuTNT5WT6aUkWp_l2iX4ufIhfl8aCfm94ciucJ7zMs-N4wk8TnPc5ujFsRLrWKhedZex4LjSzNdwntUeY7UTiQ/w444-h640/Bees%20Gotta%20Eat.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Loved this photo of a bee on one of the larkspur flowers.</i></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1_Oa9ISeY_FXvNYepS91muLrXYFSDn_pC_CzGJavsGUF8MNV3Di8WOklHs6Edkt-zj9dkyG4EOvNudop1ascRjnjrMgAxb32wp0ig4TrlbvG4UTtltVFxj3LECA7Fe6RItqS3oSPdBYyVadDYboMjMvaGVJZ7b7VVzCmMQZPKPFub103-3rhunpI/s3236/Beautiful%20Drive%20to%20Lake%20City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="3236" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1_Oa9ISeY_FXvNYepS91muLrXYFSDn_pC_CzGJavsGUF8MNV3Di8WOklHs6Edkt-zj9dkyG4EOvNudop1ascRjnjrMgAxb32wp0ig4TrlbvG4UTtltVFxj3LECA7Fe6RItqS3oSPdBYyVadDYboMjMvaGVJZ7b7VVzCmMQZPKPFub103-3rhunpI/w640-h342/Beautiful%20Drive%20to%20Lake%20City.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A beautiful drive to Lake City, not far from Gunnison.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P7GDqSYmFgRJA_mnb3cTA2eBka8YFrmdGfh51fvAC2DkgDi2ETDh4__z90rxoPhC07chp6Hc3k0y0Ucksg7daUU8bP13wd5IFBBI-aUNkGp8VQdw6Wd_hze98cUjyBkelWQA7v9e3iKBj4lWCG-OjNJf3zdFMgxc-X341fXE43oW76uUl_BuM0w_/s3228/Near%20Lake%20City%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="3228" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6P7GDqSYmFgRJA_mnb3cTA2eBka8YFrmdGfh51fvAC2DkgDi2ETDh4__z90rxoPhC07chp6Hc3k0y0Ucksg7daUU8bP13wd5IFBBI-aUNkGp8VQdw6Wd_hze98cUjyBkelWQA7v9e3iKBj4lWCG-OjNJf3zdFMgxc-X341fXE43oW76uUl_BuM0w_/w640-h356/Near%20Lake%20City%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>A view southwest toward Lake City</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAQtqZi2LTACI9R1ij4jYWwKDX-JbqYj5WKrt4zPtAgVVF9Q8YTFs2G9KB--IfrDhgE1EhHR6bMsyAat-WVjqmNaM5sucWKM-3CVPSJ3fvf7cMZ_oF0kZvqdegViP4Wy7SrzK24L7jY3aYrYOhMNhlwXIJAjGzjqLUksUMY6X4pxLsfkLM6qJJlHl/s2792/Cebolla%20Creek%20Near%20Lake%20City%20CO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="2792" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAQtqZi2LTACI9R1ij4jYWwKDX-JbqYj5WKrt4zPtAgVVF9Q8YTFs2G9KB--IfrDhgE1EhHR6bMsyAat-WVjqmNaM5sucWKM-3CVPSJ3fvf7cMZ_oF0kZvqdegViP4Wy7SrzK24L7jY3aYrYOhMNhlwXIJAjGzjqLUksUMY6X4pxLsfkLM6qJJlHl/w640-h470/Cebolla%20Creek%20Near%20Lake%20City%20CO.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>Cool, crystal clear Cebolla Creek near Lake City.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ28nDbSBPmF-cruGd7AnLopYYeWRGLf6XEMi9EkcKj1QkRVB7e7icpyU6V4PbDQgyPcBZaWfq6_JjQbqbCPNWUopBDXUinSry0ZAoZN_DvQDt7s6TjFj-PeBwIWRQzUCFV4qa2LpF0MA5rDdykaq5iXIoD6pczbJZymB0PNuA-vxYNyx7J7Hf2QWL/s3232/Downtown%20Lake%20City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1691" data-original-width="3232" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ28nDbSBPmF-cruGd7AnLopYYeWRGLf6XEMi9EkcKj1QkRVB7e7icpyU6V4PbDQgyPcBZaWfq6_JjQbqbCPNWUopBDXUinSry0ZAoZN_DvQDt7s6TjFj-PeBwIWRQzUCFV4qa2LpF0MA5rDdykaq5iXIoD6pczbJZymB0PNuA-vxYNyx7J7Hf2QWL/w640-h334/Downtown%20Lake%20City.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Downtown Lake City, Colorado</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMauCYcMHnrTwkhmfgoFWlezwCDQ_5Z0dOwEkrm51bDtftQvnmMb7CW9E1TDAe-pmAwqTljHgWgCnZZgtGD7vlYVoGLTLw2II4xHxjY3CsGYO1FBylPyKDeFz9IKl3xZ7cGx-1Y15KotXxazyCTqqW35AD2G2MnCK8cSLucvj2d47sd3UoXOlDWw9/s3248/Flowers%20at%20Lake%20City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3248" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMauCYcMHnrTwkhmfgoFWlezwCDQ_5Z0dOwEkrm51bDtftQvnmMb7CW9E1TDAe-pmAwqTljHgWgCnZZgtGD7vlYVoGLTLw2II4xHxjY3CsGYO1FBylPyKDeFz9IKl3xZ7cGx-1Y15KotXxazyCTqqW35AD2G2MnCK8cSLucvj2d47sd3UoXOlDWw9/w640-h480/Flowers%20at%20Lake%20City.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>California Poppy planting at Lake City</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW09oEgw4PWSvtpbdbc43KRWziji_P2o3c4cLq4TnRHJIZJnWE8B5mg-K5oA23eO5T3xysJO2D_u_RO3b6kBVyiwjcTYsBJyOm1MgoXyfKcHzAlymke0VOlHTcGC7AB6yAMkzLJTbyx5aXwVWs0gDQ3kmGk5F8VqehZaYqldaenG3JLYAvPcZFeSW/s3654/IMG_2019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3654" data-original-width="2997" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW09oEgw4PWSvtpbdbc43KRWziji_P2o3c4cLq4TnRHJIZJnWE8B5mg-K5oA23eO5T3xysJO2D_u_RO3b6kBVyiwjcTYsBJyOm1MgoXyfKcHzAlymke0VOlHTcGC7AB6yAMkzLJTbyx5aXwVWs0gDQ3kmGk5F8VqehZaYqldaenG3JLYAvPcZFeSW/w524-h640/IMG_2019.JPG" width="524" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dining on the bank of the Gunnison River in Gunnison at Mike's Italian Restaurant.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i8rk172vQp_5hckWaPoXZmGK-MZlCd9T245HNEX4yFD0OMQWawQro7OXuI9Wq68HHPZXZR2OHWMABbmjNlzw7H6gHaq5Gm_Imob84YHVUlrXt0GyLGGPHOOVVb_he2x-TCLg_WQF-HyAe8eDz2NRNzrGU3bhmdM5rVkMQfbfRplY8-AIBvbuwayb/s1984/Crested%20Butte%20Downtown%20Flowers%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1984" data-original-width="1795" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i8rk172vQp_5hckWaPoXZmGK-MZlCd9T245HNEX4yFD0OMQWawQro7OXuI9Wq68HHPZXZR2OHWMABbmjNlzw7H6gHaq5Gm_Imob84YHVUlrXt0GyLGGPHOOVVb_he2x-TCLg_WQF-HyAe8eDz2NRNzrGU3bhmdM5rVkMQfbfRplY8-AIBvbuwayb/w580-h640/Crested%20Butte%20Downtown%20Flowers%202.JPG" width="580" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Flowers in Crested Butte</i></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSSHqL6BQ3mTedgxWKH4-SzYuHd3kjkxsSjezu844GgTWF6SCHyhxidxNSnFDzpxhAvBGBeZolo_MaXKQs6K4XvtrTRhFkrFCLQlhkqo9XTcNfVrEdfr1lX-WVl9uKPOXq4i7HMJyvHeoyef1d47mPHZtktKtEdqZCSMaKZHJG8fqnhtO5n6WABoV/s2743/Crested%20Butte%20Downtown%20Flowers.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="2743" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSSHqL6BQ3mTedgxWKH4-SzYuHd3kjkxsSjezu844GgTWF6SCHyhxidxNSnFDzpxhAvBGBeZolo_MaXKQs6K4XvtrTRhFkrFCLQlhkqo9XTcNfVrEdfr1lX-WVl9uKPOXq4i7HMJyvHeoyef1d47mPHZtktKtEdqZCSMaKZHJG8fqnhtO5n6WABoV/w640-h564/Crested%20Butte%20Downtown%20Flowers.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More flowers in Crested Butte</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRF89Q4g1QaIcXdPIJPBVlhtijw-qc_Zo1FYZB3Dv7Bqcx8sWxVXCXsUVDx4T5fk9OaJP1eLB8w0N5jd0rrQwSEwazYZI41-w38vtmFYcRVfUJJFXGVjNKtFrVsKasmRvg5tKunbXlDeAhPKKsJWAMdjTGeW8WYqYaN87U5rXkUeDQM9pKdfpePA/s2759/Downtown%20Crested%20Butte.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="2759" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRF89Q4g1QaIcXdPIJPBVlhtijw-qc_Zo1FYZB3Dv7Bqcx8sWxVXCXsUVDx4T5fk9OaJP1eLB8w0N5jd0rrQwSEwazYZI41-w38vtmFYcRVfUJJFXGVjNKtFrVsKasmRvg5tKunbXlDeAhPKKsJWAMdjTGeW8WYqYaN87U5rXkUeDQM9pKdfpePA/w640-h484/Downtown%20Crested%20Butte.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Downtown Crested Butte with Crested Butte Mountain in the background.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBgNjG44kYrlSzjVToVLRriNhzC1qmLilAyf_QP2jf8y97a0Xu6QFip1yObcN51c7s1bJLlktOrMKM_aboS2ob6FY2aYqA0xeSggMjI2PUV9RhZ4qatiatUS4pSvRhOO5CGlBOAKuaOB0N5SVTYWERawZ7dZ7nX7AbU8Lh0obdhnstINZ0Ykev3xU/s2048/IMG_2084%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1706" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBgNjG44kYrlSzjVToVLRriNhzC1qmLilAyf_QP2jf8y97a0Xu6QFip1yObcN51c7s1bJLlktOrMKM_aboS2ob6FY2aYqA0xeSggMjI2PUV9RhZ4qatiatUS4pSvRhOO5CGlBOAKuaOB0N5SVTYWERawZ7dZ7nX7AbU8Lh0obdhnstINZ0Ykev3xU/w534-h640/IMG_2084%20(1).JPG" width="534" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Even more flowers in Crested Butte.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For those who requested, my latest monthly column for my hometown advertiser newspaper is available on page 28 in the following link: <a href="http://www.aroundthetown.us" target="_blank">http://www.aroundthetown.us</a></span><i> . </i><span style="font-size: large;"> I also have articles on page 26 in the August and July issues.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're being joined by friends Bubba and LouAnn and possibly Hank and Shirleen very soon. There will be more adventures in the offing!</span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-53875016433629237802022-07-14T18:03:00.001-05:002022-07-14T18:17:34.330-05:00Gunnison for the Summer<p><i> At Palisades RV Park, Gunnison, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had really begun to enjoy our nearly month-long stay in Cortez, especially when Steve and Jackie joined us at our wonderful West View RV Park. But it was time to make tracks for our "gig" in Gunnison, first with a stop in Grand Junction for Phannie's annual service. We had an appointment with Inland Truck there, and they were super-accommodating, as have been all the Inland facilities we've used around the Southwest. Luckily, the shop was directly across the street from Junction West, our RV park, so we didn't have to get up too early to make our 0900 appointment. Here's Phannie--all finished at Inland and ready to go:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGkIN97AJI198Vu8lu_YqTROsjdOo1WmBowr3p0R9gg8-iJ5M3np2uJqX5WSV4OU2xUTqHUyEoOTHONeqXXGfIzFX0LFpdxovUYQUSnTA0rEpd9DfrrpZ2PPrwBJ2S0OY_CJ9q8pNnuHF9Mz4Qny1iGWLooiW4Q1jB1NGc1ZgbqHK_cBOoGpGTUre/s4032/Phannie%20at%20Inland%20GJT.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGkIN97AJI198Vu8lu_YqTROsjdOo1WmBowr3p0R9gg8-iJ5M3np2uJqX5WSV4OU2xUTqHUyEoOTHONeqXXGfIzFX0LFpdxovUYQUSnTA0rEpd9DfrrpZ2PPrwBJ2S0OY_CJ9q8pNnuHF9Mz4Qny1iGWLooiW4Q1jB1NGc1ZgbqHK_cBOoGpGTUre/w480-h640/Phannie%20at%20Inland%20GJT.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">By the way, for you techies out there, Phannie has a Caterpillar C7 engine, an upgrade of the legendary 3126, used in countless pieces of construction equipment across the world. Upgrading the 3126, Caterpillar built 300,000 C7 engines, which were used mainly in over-the-road trucks and RVs. It has an expected service life of 500,000 miles before overhaul, which means--knock on wood--that Phannie's engine will outlive me. It does have a weakness, however: It insists on having clean oil and clean fuel, something about which I am obsessive, following the manufacturer's service specs religiously. Perhaps that's the reason--along with a fuel additive that I've mentioned before--that the engine has performed flawlessly for 120,000 miles now. And I delight in the fact that I've never had to buy a single drop of DEF.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When the EPA requirements became really onerous in 2010, Caterpillar decided it could not build their over-the-road engines and still retain their near-bulletproof reputation, so they simply stopped building them, concentrating on engines for construction equipment that is not subject to the same EPA emission standards.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, let's get back to our trip to Gunnison. Highway 491 from Cortez to Moab was vey scenic--especially around Moab, one of our favorite places. However, from Moab to Grand Junction, including an endless hour on I-70, was a different story. To call it wasteland would be way too generous. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grand Junction is a bustling place with lots of new construction (and places to shop, which thrilled Sandy). However, it is just too danged HOT in the summer--like 100 degrees hot! I couldn't wait for Inland to finish their work so we could get to higher ground and cooler temperatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On U. S. 50 between Montrose and Gunnison, the highway is reduced to one lane due to an apparent washout some time ago. We were at a standstill for about an hour while a single stream of vehicles took turns each way through the construction zone. The highway was leading ever upward, however, and we noticed the outside air temperature gauge decreasing steadily with the rise in altitude. We stopped for lunch at the top of a pass just west of Gunnison. At 8,300 feet, the fresh mountain air was exhilarating! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't long until we had descended to the Gunnison River Valley, where U. S. 50 snaked along the beautiful shore of Lake Fork, formed by a dam of the river. Here is a photo of Lake Fork and the point where the Gunnison river empties into it:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrsU7tPlAGd7fVZyciLXs-tgo3JGv2-sKAPrAYvucJbuzEiX_GEKh92qbjhvqTKIt-Ushz3dUujzVlDUW_QgDf-aJIOUdAsCsjJTzPt1Jb85HaCAbrnAizNTpR_q1zf4N4KDwko9czDP4qwjH57X2RLRurC2HEuQAbj41iuTdaKc5rxwqwV7nJhCI/s2040/Gunnison%20River%20Flows%20Into%20Lake%20Fork.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="2040" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrsU7tPlAGd7fVZyciLXs-tgo3JGv2-sKAPrAYvucJbuzEiX_GEKh92qbjhvqTKIt-Ushz3dUujzVlDUW_QgDf-aJIOUdAsCsjJTzPt1Jb85HaCAbrnAizNTpR_q1zf4N4KDwko9czDP4qwjH57X2RLRurC2HEuQAbj41iuTdaKc5rxwqwV7nJhCI/w640-h340/Gunnison%20River%20Flows%20Into%20Lake%20Fork.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Farther east, the rocky Gunnison canyon provides great views:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLCA7vfCMIICHad84BeZUXZu5wdA7KS77enuDsVb7_FDl0xeK144rreri4OQO7sbewcrLk1-pyXFRY37JY-PTwGDq52CHjVvE5T_o3dWaV_JuCJLdnQmBicbGWSi1bMfhtnMlYTeI144QtQKQeYvCUFVSKlf_jKrYFC3d1WlxYrHHBk-6fzg0hAN-/s2405/Gunnison%20River%20at%20Sundown.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="2405" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLCA7vfCMIICHad84BeZUXZu5wdA7KS77enuDsVb7_FDl0xeK144rreri4OQO7sbewcrLk1-pyXFRY37JY-PTwGDq52CHjVvE5T_o3dWaV_JuCJLdnQmBicbGWSi1bMfhtnMlYTeI144QtQKQeYvCUFVSKlf_jKrYFC3d1WlxYrHHBk-6fzg0hAN-/w640-h342/Gunnison%20River%20at%20Sundown.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Arriving at Palisades in Gunnison:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwS5JnapSYR1pQWQrwSo5JOJTj6FXx-heyvEodgt2elt4iMhYiDk-Rq9Dov-EpAfswx5AqkdM0dt8dJMph2YRH22QfuFyxNnXHcY83BIphBNdLLYi8nGpM5t5TB5umw5DPyS2PgA9BteXJ-xCjDP9e6utejkoOMcrkLESSdBeHn4AjCQgKz8u1p8Q/s1826/Welcome%20to%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1826" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwS5JnapSYR1pQWQrwSo5JOJTj6FXx-heyvEodgt2elt4iMhYiDk-Rq9Dov-EpAfswx5AqkdM0dt8dJMph2YRH22QfuFyxNnXHcY83BIphBNdLLYi8nGpM5t5TB5umw5DPyS2PgA9BteXJ-xCjDP9e6utejkoOMcrkLESSdBeHn4AjCQgKz8u1p8Q/w640-h510/Welcome%20to%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a layout of the park; it's a relatively small park, and most of the residents stay here all summer. There is almost always a waiting list for reservations.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyyVLe75sEnYH8Dm_3Y9yVmpiBWt8dK8zP5bW7sYNb1pzXXLtR2YRgadHxpLuL-ISsz9twFY-kEt2hcRRf1GNG88gFTcFhGFryQKIf4I2EJ7SifO9BzlEqsVoQHwNXzmwyH8eF32OPPQNGPmdcNxpnW0acDVZnuFX5imLwfZ0LfwaGqXTfgOUabUx/s2429/Camp%20Layout.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2429" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyyVLe75sEnYH8Dm_3Y9yVmpiBWt8dK8zP5bW7sYNb1pzXXLtR2YRgadHxpLuL-ISsz9twFY-kEt2hcRRf1GNG88gFTcFhGFryQKIf4I2EJ7SifO9BzlEqsVoQHwNXzmwyH8eF32OPPQNGPmdcNxpnW0acDVZnuFX5imLwfZ0LfwaGqXTfgOUabUx/w640-h298/Camp%20Layout.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We check in at the office:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKyoSaGCErhVkDJRW4585_EvC8chDvr7PomL5aU7p6Wb5g4C2Nt5wlT9NHilkv-1fpA90-b9pkzUEsERULWOn8k4Spe_AmbP_XcUyg8YHUS9fwXSovyAeKurh1Oku2ANlJ7DHN8aMHzr216ZYTrA5_YfOtw3-hAjZvLClRwcHQo9Juajx694gZTNP/s2432/Greenery%20at%20Palisades%20Office.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2432" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKyoSaGCErhVkDJRW4585_EvC8chDvr7PomL5aU7p6Wb5g4C2Nt5wlT9NHilkv-1fpA90-b9pkzUEsERULWOn8k4Spe_AmbP_XcUyg8YHUS9fwXSovyAeKurh1Oku2ANlJ7DHN8aMHzr216ZYTrA5_YfOtw3-hAjZvLClRwcHQo9Juajx694gZTNP/w640-h480/Greenery%20at%20Palisades%20Office.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Manager Sherri is at the desk, holding up a chocolate bar (baiting the hook, I'm sure).</span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMAw-989tROObEmNE_fANAy84GbHCfh_ei2PxTmVMg7f4Joos9Krf4gzTtmbtpzb-oHWowsie4RkODezXxB98RiwPzQUBdGdD_z1EAOl28ySvjv1R5zbIxm-7be8vPks3CN2f8o7REAixGHoAqCzAtpqmCD11c2XCEKBT9Vd0rqS1NSVY10FxlHMs/s1691/Sherri%20at%20Desk.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1691" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMAw-989tROObEmNE_fANAy84GbHCfh_ei2PxTmVMg7f4Joos9Krf4gzTtmbtpzb-oHWowsie4RkODezXxB98RiwPzQUBdGdD_z1EAOl28ySvjv1R5zbIxm-7be8vPks3CN2f8o7REAixGHoAqCzAtpqmCD11c2XCEKBT9Vd0rqS1NSVY10FxlHMs/w640-h512/Sherri%20at%20Desk.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We snuggle in beside two fivers:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vmpgpa6yI9CLYdNJjjy307baVNwQDimnfhtYgsDoRCy4j2u_7gLidedYVfjlHTDhie8qC9FikvFTtLAAQZKapnl1lj8iQyXNttfSjiKBaFxpXxHVrw7AK_ffeGJ2d-2urS-Vcw5SDFql1-5P3dJJwoDlhSH8rQ7ZIwVmy_iTvIsZRTPVxwEl8R4-/s2110/Phannie%20Snuggles%20in%20at%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2110" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vmpgpa6yI9CLYdNJjjy307baVNwQDimnfhtYgsDoRCy4j2u_7gLidedYVfjlHTDhie8qC9FikvFTtLAAQZKapnl1lj8iQyXNttfSjiKBaFxpXxHVrw7AK_ffeGJ2d-2urS-Vcw5SDFql1-5P3dJJwoDlhSH8rQ7ZIwVmy_iTvIsZRTPVxwEl8R4-/w640-h366/Phannie%20Snuggles%20in%20at%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">View from the rear of our campsite; note that Starlink is up and running:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20vC_qYYf43P9RLNIlKhG7vW8gF4NZ8vreMW5IrqPI3vDqkRdyJGGt5LnWAxye1OoX9LaIQudX8ztK_vMR7UmSyo_MJRkmAXgOYdQkMabX_6nvDH2mx-JESTqeHW37l3FlZCX6b1Mc9n5jxxnJk6QS1JfyfQuBsVajyGfhWW-Neu9Q0X__iHZOU1b/s4032/IMG_1910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20vC_qYYf43P9RLNIlKhG7vW8gF4NZ8vreMW5IrqPI3vDqkRdyJGGt5LnWAxye1OoX9LaIQudX8ztK_vMR7UmSyo_MJRkmAXgOYdQkMabX_6nvDH2mx-JESTqeHW37l3FlZCX6b1Mc9n5jxxnJk6QS1JfyfQuBsVajyGfhWW-Neu9Q0X__iHZOU1b/w480-h640/IMG_1910.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Friendly deer run past our campsite!</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RKPbhfRXlkeKw7qRbezhMacjDiEAhSGJd-Vk8dC7TIwF_NmaUqUbxDQB6V8wMptEnWTXSlDaPBdo33e_xpjSDBalmvvLKJ0HbhjpceyMRwybjIswWjIEgkLiXBXzm-aIdbg69FueN3OoxjjcP5WuW1OXLXEE3fKKVYS6JVQATJ5b6N544rbFq-u0/s2793/Deer%20at%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2244" data-original-width="2793" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RKPbhfRXlkeKw7qRbezhMacjDiEAhSGJd-Vk8dC7TIwF_NmaUqUbxDQB6V8wMptEnWTXSlDaPBdo33e_xpjSDBalmvvLKJ0HbhjpceyMRwybjIswWjIEgkLiXBXzm-aIdbg69FueN3OoxjjcP5WuW1OXLXEE3fKKVYS6JVQATJ5b6N544rbFq-u0/w640-h514/Deer%20at%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSslOLdc7mApE8uu9LY4HcxF2Pk4O0lJLdOy0wQmTx1cpYkV4edSMi8cN7vTibe43cV8CdHl5xoUe1AHmwqKaP0QcEZltEsfFMJGBmpm2fGvpERQwidrmA46-7esOVS-UbrpUleFYxq4Pj-LMD0PG2YSDl__W09WRzxcevNsuA52I4_uSx7Cfmv1TL/s1604/Lots%20of%20Texans%20in%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSslOLdc7mApE8uu9LY4HcxF2Pk4O0lJLdOy0wQmTx1cpYkV4edSMi8cN7vTibe43cV8CdHl5xoUe1AHmwqKaP0QcEZltEsfFMJGBmpm2fGvpERQwidrmA46-7esOVS-UbrpUleFYxq4Pj-LMD0PG2YSDl__W09WRzxcevNsuA52I4_uSx7Cfmv1TL/w614-h640/Lots%20of%20Texans%20in%20Palisades.JPG" width="614" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Below is a summer resident's site where his dining table is enclosed in a tent. We soon found out why--mosquitoes! We didn't have to contend with these pests at Cortez because of the drier climate and ever-present wind, which is usually calm here in Gunnison. We just make adjustments, however; the park sprays frequently, and we use insect repellent and bug zappers, so there really isn't much of a problem.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6sA9ue929jCaaNKlvtOrdXeD9Dja42umcOrnKVmvTvBAQ4IY9NYaWBmikRUVGK45NiU019CA2xKrKkDsTlmnkAvyUYD-0oIddbvV30E9MwcCVif74hjMQsb2da2dlYN-UBAvOc-XWRG0yOWaZBdy1Pnc9hjc1L_vcRsvU_tuMQxCem9og_9VbRFk/s2251/Outdoor%20Room%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2251" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6sA9ue929jCaaNKlvtOrdXeD9Dja42umcOrnKVmvTvBAQ4IY9NYaWBmikRUVGK45NiU019CA2xKrKkDsTlmnkAvyUYD-0oIddbvV30E9MwcCVif74hjMQsb2da2dlYN-UBAvOc-XWRG0yOWaZBdy1Pnc9hjc1L_vcRsvU_tuMQxCem9og_9VbRFk/w640-h388/Outdoor%20Room%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the summer-long residents do a nice job of decorating their sites:</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3bsSeqelLCLvv8O11JC6iVk133XoWlsBI6qPfgW1LuH1I41YdBl59R0oNNP8nFpzNf74fLo7hMJW4EYWYXjo3RZ3Aq5vhvQj7WE3LupHPiZDbGUpdxZ1YFZq02jVHN8ih8lclYwlUQuF6voSQdbhk8aDC0PJehuqvtVmn2E9uEiwCSdOXEPjo0jt/s2054/Beautiful%20Site%20Decorations.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="1595" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3bsSeqelLCLvv8O11JC6iVk133XoWlsBI6qPfgW1LuH1I41YdBl59R0oNNP8nFpzNf74fLo7hMJW4EYWYXjo3RZ3Aq5vhvQj7WE3LupHPiZDbGUpdxZ1YFZq02jVHN8ih8lclYwlUQuF6voSQdbhk8aDC0PJehuqvtVmn2E9uEiwCSdOXEPjo0jt/w496-h640/Beautiful%20Site%20Decorations.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">Since we're going to be here for the summer, we have kept an eye out for a small propane grill that will be easy to transport and set up. We spotted one while we were in Cortez, and it looked perfect, especially since we're not "power" users. So we ordered one and, so far, are very happy with it. The legs fold in, and it winds up being no larger than a small suitcase!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxEkvRmjv0F6W_Kf8DTRxduNg6osaZaogk4v-QoV6crjEQcD-xc8Fgnd931Sntt_T7ikQZ03BnPhc9w-eVb6mU6Xh-_AZk2bby2_seTeOhjfKOajpVLmWOjzyHuLtm9VWbIUFEKb8coUCyetTGGJc6ErkAlyX-Tsu-eW4aDmkmHXN-aaEg-ygnB56/s1292/Cuisinart%20Grill.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1292" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxEkvRmjv0F6W_Kf8DTRxduNg6osaZaogk4v-QoV6crjEQcD-xc8Fgnd931Sntt_T7ikQZ03BnPhc9w-eVb6mU6Xh-_AZk2bby2_seTeOhjfKOajpVLmWOjzyHuLtm9VWbIUFEKb8coUCyetTGGJc6ErkAlyX-Tsu-eW4aDmkmHXN-aaEg-ygnB56/w640-h630/Cuisinart%20Grill.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, to try it out, we had burgers for brunch (we don't really eat breakfast, for reasons that I really don't see any need to divulge):</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyolDZmlRLNZZA1mnWEaIWABkQIzgGWAb_fitEhLOE3e0QDqNLhOgZhkA5D3Zc_lOUmbTQ70Tn-_w20aVBqDmWWqwnihaaOiiJa--y8gFtSpRCHycBag30eBAu_KDp_qpYqajjNA3meoUIHEiQ8majTV-2YmbWt6hliRI_osTzSjT1igooN4VKvTo9/s2432/Burgers%20For%20Brunch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2432" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyolDZmlRLNZZA1mnWEaIWABkQIzgGWAb_fitEhLOE3e0QDqNLhOgZhkA5D3Zc_lOUmbTQ70Tn-_w20aVBqDmWWqwnihaaOiiJa--y8gFtSpRCHycBag30eBAu_KDp_qpYqajjNA3meoUIHEiQ8majTV-2YmbWt6hliRI_osTzSjT1igooN4VKvTo9/w640-h480/Burgers%20For%20Brunch.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As is common here in the mountains, a rain shower frequently passes through, cooling things down:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8xBRaOcb9pUU6a1nO8EC211mhvMJ-DhfVQA39y03V41mgUAFm2NjNSYBeTqzlIaxUo6x_DxRlubuNLTAwjHNrGTr9O_3YSA-nM-NYqhpnI-dc9aLOI49giu0ALeuLbheiDJujBRG9IErI6x6myPbvgPotRM7_mjuOOEKFf_Dcxm20mz91AebTkgM/s2432/Rain%20Shower.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2432" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8xBRaOcb9pUU6a1nO8EC211mhvMJ-DhfVQA39y03V41mgUAFm2NjNSYBeTqzlIaxUo6x_DxRlubuNLTAwjHNrGTr9O_3YSA-nM-NYqhpnI-dc9aLOI49giu0ALeuLbheiDJujBRG9IErI6x6myPbvgPotRM7_mjuOOEKFf_Dcxm20mz91AebTkgM/w640-h480/Rain%20Shower.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's almost criminal to show you the temperature as I am writing this during that shower: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNw5wHKfLA96vXYx9ZweTcShIqhqkRifR4hdXEsQe_SyPbydbDiovCuZEmy5lHq7d74dRn26BcXJETVg3MEC7jTQg0CUyoFJl35utASEFrjhC6QG87Kqi3O7GqGDHY6ghpsNf2CjgtNyeqoZIctwhQG7ok_JhjXulPUplUIyCEZiAGVdtIB5rk7Qc/s4032/IMG_1937.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNw5wHKfLA96vXYx9ZweTcShIqhqkRifR4hdXEsQe_SyPbydbDiovCuZEmy5lHq7d74dRn26BcXJETVg3MEC7jTQg0CUyoFJl35utASEFrjhC6QG87Kqi3O7GqGDHY6ghpsNf2CjgtNyeqoZIctwhQG7ok_JhjXulPUplUIyCEZiAGVdtIB5rk7Qc/w480-h640/IMG_1937.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> The grounds around the park are very well kept with manicured grass and flowers everywhere:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hXHhgGd175lPc_bhWeWuQER2gzvJsmX4JSHo84Cmr-mpJzAQN-SayJ_j77v_Ak9P7dm1GDq5mxvBwd0BuStoJ4YszGWQ5IJVB185gEV7P2vyhciRDLEzWweVWqE1s9NfJ9hE-sbsY0rGnvm2YQiTyh2rzKRdEova0CpefQxA3YQx-QaH6WYftHLi/s2245/Sidewalk%20Flowers%201%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="2245" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hXHhgGd175lPc_bhWeWuQER2gzvJsmX4JSHo84Cmr-mpJzAQN-SayJ_j77v_Ak9P7dm1GDq5mxvBwd0BuStoJ4YszGWQ5IJVB185gEV7P2vyhciRDLEzWweVWqE1s9NfJ9hE-sbsY0rGnvm2YQiTyh2rzKRdEova0CpefQxA3YQx-QaH6WYftHLi/w640-h518/Sidewalk%20Flowers%201%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTobcOix6cOvQJaB-zP6ZtNNGU8G2IuPaV4Z9e1R3mhfCyOwT5UlYnPSywtMc1Dm1eMAnpqiaLCEh8JbHcRAHhtbhRP2bsDceXMKKWFNS6i-beJTazHyP-paE58fTsXXsthf6jJyvkKiGhJL7hWu-LrX2JdRF93rCcWz93Gt3FhTsT2AqMosl71Fo/s3262/Flowers%20at%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2649" data-original-width="3262" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTobcOix6cOvQJaB-zP6ZtNNGU8G2IuPaV4Z9e1R3mhfCyOwT5UlYnPSywtMc1Dm1eMAnpqiaLCEh8JbHcRAHhtbhRP2bsDceXMKKWFNS6i-beJTazHyP-paE58fTsXXsthf6jJyvkKiGhJL7hWu-LrX2JdRF93rCcWz93Gt3FhTsT2AqMosl71Fo/w640-h520/Flowers%20at%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We took an early evening drive around the area to get the lay of the land, and found some handsome photos to share. This first one is overlooking Gunnison from the south. In the mountains in the background lies Crested Butte:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xQOfNIh9fKOZx0v0Zxz6DaMEZy3m9x-hrzYChxplaQ8naUe7-xE43kISUAEhrUbMP3vkI4ESg9nvZRJMbr-9jcDVOaCRyOrSo3NTO--0eVM2I7G-KrdihAfI55DefkIWcpd8A5LMbY1hN8KkeJ0jmnvyLu1uacacvY1FVVBPpnthRfv_lsy74LF1/s2429/Gunnison%20at%20Dusk.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="2429" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xQOfNIh9fKOZx0v0Zxz6DaMEZy3m9x-hrzYChxplaQ8naUe7-xE43kISUAEhrUbMP3vkI4ESg9nvZRJMbr-9jcDVOaCRyOrSo3NTO--0eVM2I7G-KrdihAfI55DefkIWcpd8A5LMbY1hN8KkeJ0jmnvyLu1uacacvY1FVVBPpnthRfv_lsy74LF1/w640-h376/Gunnison%20at%20Dusk.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Looking west, we couldn't help but be mesmerized by the mountain sunset:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFRnEqnokYArjxOBGj_R7u5eYtGhqmQhDJGF_-M3z6uSqml4OZV0XwGxsplC17Imn4VcfsHAF7Wk87MCAKJv1MffjfiUI5r2L7FqwBQcXh0R2XyrAz-ZPz2_8NwefCQvFvFfhXFnMcU-IC0inrlLH11GNhaLQbgxAYYQrrK7mrNw2JZa5-vtmm4OZ/s2420/God%20Paints%20With%20a%20Gilded%20Brush.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2420" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFRnEqnokYArjxOBGj_R7u5eYtGhqmQhDJGF_-M3z6uSqml4OZV0XwGxsplC17Imn4VcfsHAF7Wk87MCAKJv1MffjfiUI5r2L7FqwBQcXh0R2XyrAz-ZPz2_8NwefCQvFvFfhXFnMcU-IC0inrlLH11GNhaLQbgxAYYQrrK7mrNw2JZa5-vtmm4OZ/w640-h414/God%20Paints%20With%20a%20Gilded%20Brush.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The moon was nearly full this night, so we got this photo that we liked:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tp3jllviS0wguIg8sqS6trEF6T5maoYNfFXDQfN938wodW-rzaOt7yW6YvGQjLvNVNYZzcFcY-s9WRoyhZYqGX0okOVhNjn1eLUswxk8nSclRw-xs8ViRs5jTL0G7iNaG3ma1MyebAcpo0V-aQbo6FcLOaBdhlVL948RNRdZEhILLKUeQzkVPHd-/s2432/The%20Moon%20Sinks%20Among%20Ancient%20Rocks.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2432" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tp3jllviS0wguIg8sqS6trEF6T5maoYNfFXDQfN938wodW-rzaOt7yW6YvGQjLvNVNYZzcFcY-s9WRoyhZYqGX0okOVhNjn1eLUswxk8nSclRw-xs8ViRs5jTL0G7iNaG3ma1MyebAcpo0V-aQbo6FcLOaBdhlVL948RNRdZEhILLKUeQzkVPHd-/w640-h480/The%20Moon%20Sinks%20Among%20Ancient%20Rocks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Driving back through town, Gunnison is a little sleepy as the moon looks on:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXrtv4LwX_VXLLJom9nK7dDuHP58T8SeMZpUAIHRkGAmU__1QxqYdLfXEpMR-z1XqyqUeLMJtDx1eSrixvPYezKr46I0dkhN4tgUXqQ9i3yWQnVnA_l7ji475lXBL8bO7s4d8824i87aQzvzshkPXidRQXa8OKIlhYjSactpEXkJKQmZR73YE3VN7/s2417/The%20Moon%20Smiles%20on%20A%20Quiet%20Night%20in%20Gunnison.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2417" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXrtv4LwX_VXLLJom9nK7dDuHP58T8SeMZpUAIHRkGAmU__1QxqYdLfXEpMR-z1XqyqUeLMJtDx1eSrixvPYezKr46I0dkhN4tgUXqQ9i3yWQnVnA_l7ji475lXBL8bO7s4d8824i87aQzvzshkPXidRQXa8OKIlhYjSactpEXkJKQmZR73YE3VN7/w640-h362/The%20Moon%20Smiles%20on%20A%20Quiet%20Night%20in%20Gunnison.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Arriving back at the park, the gazebo is all illuminated, waiting for friends to sit and chat in the cool evening:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4G9FLdXDfqrnrkbUDhf8WNSRw7mISNhLiPNsgflVzZcaBZ5uouyq2r4Ahy1YUG_m9BASLZZ0IwJwnYg2yGei0fIqBkn7HcxOlouFgY9gdWgSoPEblNqsh_-Vf3GNuuWQnv4GH5WQ2LpSZKmpxsNJ7StiJ0O0XnmUYQnp_EfRs3d0kRr8qjegaZwT/s2253/Gazebo%20Palisades.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2253" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4G9FLdXDfqrnrkbUDhf8WNSRw7mISNhLiPNsgflVzZcaBZ5uouyq2r4Ahy1YUG_m9BASLZZ0IwJwnYg2yGei0fIqBkn7HcxOlouFgY9gdWgSoPEblNqsh_-Vf3GNuuWQnv4GH5WQ2LpSZKmpxsNJ7StiJ0O0XnmUYQnp_EfRs3d0kRr8qjegaZwT/w640-h442/Gazebo%20Palisades.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I mentioned earlier that I had a "gig" up here. Well, I will be playing the piano on occasions, in addition to doing some photography, both for which I will be fairly well compensated. I'll have to include a video of one of these sessions in another post.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stay well and stay cool, y'all!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-154652546739497892022-07-03T13:53:00.003-05:002022-07-03T23:17:16.722-05:00"And That Has Made All The Difference"<p><i> At West View RV Resort, Dolores, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Many will recognize the title of this post to be an abridgement of Robert Frost's famous quotation: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To further illustrate the overall themes of this post, I must include a snippet from the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's iconic song, "My Way" (the tune composed by Claude Francois):</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Regrets, I've had a few but, then again, too few to mention...</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You may have noticed that my posts of late have begun to point toward this blog's eventual conclusion, not that I'm contemplating it by any means, but perhaps because I have many more years behind me than those ahead. This month marks the 17th year of the publication of Phannie and Mae, and it is entirely appropriate, I think, to look in the rearview mirror and reflect upon the path we have traveled.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Having extra time on my hands among the idyllic mountain settings of Colorado affords a perfect opportunity to reminisce about having taken the road "less traveled by" and its having resulted in regrets "too few to mention."</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJSd49jF_imEXCk5KhPtdnTyoRGtOd5qz2mNoR6SIWiUbkNCfcs6fAWYyIYQAweoNtfk3BE4nNmSivSS-9aCexe6gDq8RrjcllDny-14-RPCMaiqKiaPOxW3RCoS4dOIF8sjSJPaoIWvaaVerOp3rJ_xJHNnqllTSjk1Fgbf0k8Jq9QwvLV6aOeNR/s2432/Ute%20Mountain%20from%20Mancos.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2432" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJSd49jF_imEXCk5KhPtdnTyoRGtOd5qz2mNoR6SIWiUbkNCfcs6fAWYyIYQAweoNtfk3BE4nNmSivSS-9aCexe6gDq8RrjcllDny-14-RPCMaiqKiaPOxW3RCoS4dOIF8sjSJPaoIWvaaVerOp3rJ_xJHNnqllTSjk1Fgbf0k8Jq9QwvLV6aOeNR/w640-h356/Ute%20Mountain%20from%20Mancos.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An unknown butte in the foreground with Ute Mountain in the distance. <br />(Photo taken near Mancos, Colorado.)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You see, we believe we have enjoyed the best of both worlds--having spent most of our years working, raising a family in a nice home and being involved in a community that included friends, family and church activities. Then, in preparation for retirement, we decided RV travel would be a good way to visit all the places we had longed to go when we were no longer tethered by our responsibilities. And so we did--and it has "made all the difference," as has been faithfully recounted from day one in the hundreds of posts and countless photos in this blog. And we ain't done yet!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As we sit outside with friends Jackie and Steve, sipping a cold beverage and feeling a bit too cool in the high country breeze, we can't help but think of family and friends back in the cauldron that is Texas in the summer and how unthinkable it would be for them to need a jacket in mid-afternoon. We would, indeed, feel a bit guilty had we not worked hard to enjoy this privilege. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From time to time, we question ourselves as to whether we miss having a regular house, and the answer inevitably comes back with a shudder. No! The reasons have been stated in previous posts, and nothing has changed. When we are forced to hang up the keys, we will be looking for something small and simple in a 55+ neighborhood. You will recall from previous posts that we have a hybrid of that now in Ranchito Hondo.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For those who wonder if we get bored when we go to Colorado for months at a time, we just say, "Are you kidding?" We have arrived at the age when simple pleasures matter most. These include being with good friends, talking with our family members, shopping for and sending trinkets and souvenirs to the grandkids, playing games, exploring, having potlucks and, most of all, remembering all the good times and good friends we have met along the way and wishing they could be with us. It also doesn't hurt that we are enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery and weather imaginable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This brings me to what is perhaps the more important of the two pearls of wisdom expressed above by Messrs. Frost and Sinatra: <i>Regrets...too few to mention.</i> One thing I have always thought would be a tragedy is to arrive at my sunset years regretting things I wished I had done. I can testify to the incomprehensible blessing of our having no regrets for having taken the path that has <i>made all the difference.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you find yourself wondering what kinds of things we do during our escape to southwestern Colorado, I have to tell you that relaxing is a mainstay. Here are a few photos of places and activities we also enjoy:</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4UzMFhknsWkTz7uYIHxNWQWKyodq4UEpU5Dn2sG6F0YcVMB7j-wtPxvTvwnNvL2xDWACb82GK9_YlRNET8X7ehtzboB3qk27-v7qPd34vP78q_TYemtHu3pHyztRE_UE-cGkp0NpR-h37ZtpuvNyyBF5hi001d44oG_WKb3p1wrV6XCEvdkjNv75/s3504/Steve%E2%80%99s%20Ribs%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2221" data-original-width="3504" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4UzMFhknsWkTz7uYIHxNWQWKyodq4UEpU5Dn2sG6F0YcVMB7j-wtPxvTvwnNvL2xDWACb82GK9_YlRNET8X7ehtzboB3qk27-v7qPd34vP78q_TYemtHu3pHyztRE_UE-cGkp0NpR-h37ZtpuvNyyBF5hi001d44oG_WKb3p1wrV6XCEvdkjNv75/w640-h406/Steve%E2%80%99s%20Ribs%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve proudly holds up his baby-back ribs, having outdone himself with his smoker. <br />So good!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjvaYmBc3dAkaGNfKjQZ6MdKl6STXv8TPimiGO0Rlox8ZGmU031TR666PLFVedJCFyL8zf2NWW5F44PUTMHXvehGEq-imGuxOdEH4x4N0qxEFgJj04fZChAfFN6NTZyaKLYDP6xxPym7mdwTrDw5caPAdxyi5iUTVNNDrFee2QaLL4cucm6NrcS0X/s2406/Rainbow%20at%20Cortez%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="2088" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjvaYmBc3dAkaGNfKjQZ6MdKl6STXv8TPimiGO0Rlox8ZGmU031TR666PLFVedJCFyL8zf2NWW5F44PUTMHXvehGEq-imGuxOdEH4x4N0qxEFgJj04fZChAfFN6NTZyaKLYDP6xxPym7mdwTrDw5caPAdxyi5iUTVNNDrFee2QaLL4cucm6NrcS0X/w556-h640/Rainbow%20at%20Cortez%202022.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rainbow ends on Phannie's roof! No pot of gold was found, unfortunately.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Historic Durango is only an hour's drive away and, on another day, we were able to have lunch </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">al fresco</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"> </i><span style="font-size: medium;">downtown at the Thai Kitchen. The weather was absolutely perfect--79 degrees, no wind, and no pesky insects. We lingered for quite a while, not wanting to leave:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI9Sm2m-_f447YjMCE0RQEzrXwk_AEoQO7vK8G9Y8pVxWY8i-rPquGBcUOzag69epPa5WzelEJeiqGls8dVQ4Q1tfOPvs48oY11h28tbg9ec2SO6hv281oCpIEH3SI30LE20NKorvd2WkYNYqVrc43dEWmJHoxRN9O5gAozZwhzAMEuZZguCUcWs_/s4032/Sandy%20at%20Thai%20Kitchen%20Durango.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI9Sm2m-_f447YjMCE0RQEzrXwk_AEoQO7vK8G9Y8pVxWY8i-rPquGBcUOzag69epPa5WzelEJeiqGls8dVQ4Q1tfOPvs48oY11h28tbg9ec2SO6hv281oCpIEH3SI30LE20NKorvd2WkYNYqVrc43dEWmJHoxRN9O5gAozZwhzAMEuZZguCUcWs_/w480-h640/Sandy%20at%20Thai%20Kitchen%20Durango.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On yet another day, we just had to make a visit to the Dolores farmers' market, held in a lovely park in the town center:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5IMpVrHaqLrxdMcnY4fJq6OoHpyfSMAY-rNSrb9XOwEnhxIPBwt-KiTSXqPcb8IJt-VECBWBBzQgx1g0vlvhRgVxqA-qV37OysjNW5jS0lmU5QdksAkyuL46YKJO3N1jg5c8DNYjadrjvcGLhRNF9nFTUlR39712ED_pU0EELODflHoBD_7j19Q3/s4032/At%20Dolores%20Farmers%E2%80%99%20Market%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5IMpVrHaqLrxdMcnY4fJq6OoHpyfSMAY-rNSrb9XOwEnhxIPBwt-KiTSXqPcb8IJt-VECBWBBzQgx1g0vlvhRgVxqA-qV37OysjNW5jS0lmU5QdksAkyuL46YKJO3N1jg5c8DNYjadrjvcGLhRNF9nFTUlR39712ED_pU0EELODflHoBD_7j19Q3/w480-h640/At%20Dolores%20Farmers%E2%80%99%20Market%202022.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I scored a big bag of freshly-picked salad greens that were so good. (We had already used half the bag when I took this photo.):</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ6ZxfWwW4f89ljl8KrFb0Ta0oKkLKgPDvl4kGnbT-i7i0M6meFbVaUlUEmg-USoap_MH-kfbNOv16uetTJQDuqc5Xhnel6GIRk55FvNS0s2GSe65nxLXg3g-3MXlavaRm3cpz7tGsFzy_SsXp_3j3xoFsxuq1XojU_LlnhobTPbsLOfgOgv4Z_zb/s4032/Lettuce.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ6ZxfWwW4f89ljl8KrFb0Ta0oKkLKgPDvl4kGnbT-i7i0M6meFbVaUlUEmg-USoap_MH-kfbNOv16uetTJQDuqc5Xhnel6GIRk55FvNS0s2GSe65nxLXg3g-3MXlavaRm3cpz7tGsFzy_SsXp_3j3xoFsxuq1XojU_LlnhobTPbsLOfgOgv4Z_zb/w480-h640/Lettuce.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Jackie purchased a couple of greeting cards made by a local crafter using something called 'quilling,' an amazingly intricate and laborious technique of which I had never heard. Impressive, huh? I don't know if she'll be able to bring herself to send them to someone:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIRD6f2UJZXnfwel04tqApWSkWUec0pZAlulu2cfVmF7FgeBEFes7tdK1QgIDEu08ymkhNnvVP8hGJy60kszoOslguPwEkNVdnYK1QU87aIsNLswpzx5luNfNNR1Sb9ug481ed23UJ7B6mWY0OepFiPnLBV57h5BJ-tuh7CTs-7GRQ6HN-h7a6Tt-/s4032/wuilling1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIRD6f2UJZXnfwel04tqApWSkWUec0pZAlulu2cfVmF7FgeBEFes7tdK1QgIDEu08ymkhNnvVP8hGJy60kszoOslguPwEkNVdnYK1QU87aIsNLswpzx5luNfNNR1Sb9ug481ed23UJ7B6mWY0OepFiPnLBV57h5BJ-tuh7CTs-7GRQ6HN-h7a6Tt-/w480-h640/wuilling1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gi1jwA21vekfIA9cvT12vRJg-qbePYkBfzFEZMiz6gTcAROMwLqMij09wUXAoaNay2MbxZ5KhABQN9FAaLwV6xBSU4JfFvdQPrhiCMflqzMlVeoQcnYY0qLwKAbABZU2pYhNRbDSxx5WBsN9vTBojKPg2K8Avcyap0U-CLpoD5eCWXpT-6xNSf-e/s4032/quilling2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gi1jwA21vekfIA9cvT12vRJg-qbePYkBfzFEZMiz6gTcAROMwLqMij09wUXAoaNay2MbxZ5KhABQN9FAaLwV6xBSU4JfFvdQPrhiCMflqzMlVeoQcnYY0qLwKAbABZU2pYhNRbDSxx5WBsN9vTBojKPg2K8Avcyap0U-CLpoD5eCWXpT-6xNSf-e/w480-h640/quilling2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmzxC2d-E2nfWmErC7OIG5A95svoPNepWBJWbD0sEQep_o4BFZ1nY4qs0b0w6XRIISomlj3RWUyJ_xqjSZpbvbARdgCUEfAdKxzm4ckfyCBUX4vUpIDKzRbDo1ML6mH78gwnw_a6P5pL6P8UgYJ4nMGov6H2_iAawOeWhEAsGwjdO5YEaGsyz1f2a/s4032/quilling3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmzxC2d-E2nfWmErC7OIG5A95svoPNepWBJWbD0sEQep_o4BFZ1nY4qs0b0w6XRIISomlj3RWUyJ_xqjSZpbvbARdgCUEfAdKxzm4ckfyCBUX4vUpIDKzRbDo1ML6mH78gwnw_a6P5pL6P8UgYJ4nMGov6H2_iAawOeWhEAsGwjdO5YEaGsyz1f2a/w480-h640/quilling3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOIJ4pOCER5gtlekuR9i8WnxudZcGZC4GPtaS1eaYlFy_es8dzNPwBVv9b02D5u0_RDw6Ht_TEPp8fcvBwkuIl1ZLn4blmbXB8VcsJ-ikDiAiEu1uV4oX3t0eX21q36m6dIYQLQjhwURnaWDXeOq5SQaO0pRAzBasVpUHskxb8AtXu3x_2MWq9jqV/s2991/Quilling4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="2991" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOIJ4pOCER5gtlekuR9i8WnxudZcGZC4GPtaS1eaYlFy_es8dzNPwBVv9b02D5u0_RDw6Ht_TEPp8fcvBwkuIl1ZLn4blmbXB8VcsJ-ikDiAiEu1uV4oX3t0eX21q36m6dIYQLQjhwURnaWDXeOq5SQaO0pRAzBasVpUHskxb8AtXu3x_2MWq9jqV/w640-h606/Quilling4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Another trip to Durango required a visit to Honeyville, a specialty factory that deals in everything imaginable having to do with honey, as well as homemade jellies, preserves and other goodies. I was especially fond of the honey peanut brittle--perhaps my favorite candy of all time.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7BpuBoKgn0Fvb2qPZQD0NKf5L2pAfCh0ZIEuhtCFTW-igI7CuEyM0Zu91CKtZEODl9eMyBnCPEpneus7tSbXK-D_mOS7I-p8LSH7i4c26_-q_gbF7MRmmdGziMpeqOXHXiTlk9ly-EJIx7RuNvjXgNyqy11FnChICBib7cRURcHDvaI46XNNXNGL/s4032/Honeyville%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7BpuBoKgn0Fvb2qPZQD0NKf5L2pAfCh0ZIEuhtCFTW-igI7CuEyM0Zu91CKtZEODl9eMyBnCPEpneus7tSbXK-D_mOS7I-p8LSH7i4c26_-q_gbF7MRmmdGziMpeqOXHXiTlk9ly-EJIx7RuNvjXgNyqy11FnChICBib7cRURcHDvaI46XNNXNGL/w480-h640/Honeyville%202022.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy's making friends with the honey bear at Honeyville.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Having spare time to putter with Phannie, I installed a couple of cameras on the outside, so we won't be quite so oblivious as to what's going on when we're away or when all the shades are down at night. The video shows up on the cell phone wherever we are, and this is made possible through our constant wi-fi service via Starlink. The cameras are wireless and are easily detachable when we are ready to travel:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy76P9Ak1cdCtNJDLtytuPqK4EN9rSL-Td8ckxCpdTfpido7E-oxluH_BaL_wd5tvlmqu-sySv9fSm2uOXH9YZflm8D2VQriBB8QfrSTriNlGuD_vNsmyRP9XyNo9epXO_rNh3ZHVx0XvT5iy4J_I8KUV3kTP4z2anEe7ZtwAu7VFguImLo3OIlzjl/s4032/2022-07-01%2018.15.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy76P9Ak1cdCtNJDLtytuPqK4EN9rSL-Td8ckxCpdTfpido7E-oxluH_BaL_wd5tvlmqu-sySv9fSm2uOXH9YZflm8D2VQriBB8QfrSTriNlGuD_vNsmyRP9XyNo9epXO_rNh3ZHVx0XvT5iy4J_I8KUV3kTP4z2anEe7ZtwAu7VFguImLo3OIlzjl/w480-h640/2022-07-01%2018.15.50.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought you might like to get a flavor of what the first few weeks of our stay in the mountains was like. We will be leaving Cortez in a few days for Grand Junction, where Phannie will get her annual service. After that, we will proceed higher in the mountains to cool Gunnison for the rest of the summer. Stay tuned!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; please forgive me if I don't appreciate it as I should every day.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><br />Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-69993462044460943442022-06-18T09:45:00.003-05:002022-07-03T02:20:41.678-05:00We Took Starlink With Us; How Does It Work?<p><i> At West View Resort, Cortez, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We've been Starlink customers for about five months now, so when they announced their new portability feature, it was a no-brainer to take it with us to Colorado for the summer. I had read on some Facebook groups that there are some problems when you take the dish away from its home base, but that didn't deter me from signing up for portability at an additional $25 per month.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've read this rag for a while, you probably know that we have disconnected our DirectTV satellite and gone to full wi-fi streaming. Before Starlink, this was done via a Verizon unlimited hotspot (which is really not unlimited) and our T-Mobile cell phone hotspots. Now this gives us over 200 gigs of unthrottled data, but who needs the hassle of running up against limits and having to change devices to get wi-fi? Enter Starlink, where you just turn it on and forget it--unlimited lightning-fast data, all the time. There's no need to turn it off; your "home" network is on all the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We left the Starlink dish in a belly compartment (it comes with a protective carrying bag) and used the Verizon hotspot during the two-week trip to Colorado. Once we arrived here in Cortez--where we will be for three weeks--I set up the dish and fired up the router. Within seconds, the dish came alive and pointed itself northward. The network came up immediately, and a speed test revealed that the data throughput was somewhat slower than it was at Ranchito Hondo. Even at the slower speed, it was still faster than DSL and the Verizon hotspot. The slower speed was a known factor, as Starlink advertises that its use in portability mode results in a lesser prioritization than that given native users. This was fine with me, as I much prefer the "set it and forget it" nature of a wi-fi network live all the time with no worries about throttling at some point--which is what Verizon does with my hotspot at 100 gigs. We're hanging on to the Verizon hotspot, however; we don't want to be without multiple backups (including the cell phones) when we're not using Starlink.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here is a pic of our setup--so easy to do and so easy to move to our next location:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD46508TPfS-r-aQAy1t6PY9sQuKdWQN9jQRo3VF9TseIjva_4KoDSpvIBc4V39m6tEr9x0hSlw32fvQ-4ALT1bukiefIJtX7qsRAgs1o1cXARLHbC_y4DbzpZQlapjRQVL-jBbFNjwiTUKvr98qVlu8EDq1Qe_R9NMqsJ9XYS5wesppFSFyPKwPdU/s4032/IMG_1827.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD46508TPfS-r-aQAy1t6PY9sQuKdWQN9jQRo3VF9TseIjva_4KoDSpvIBc4V39m6tEr9x0hSlw32fvQ-4ALT1bukiefIJtX7qsRAgs1o1cXARLHbC_y4DbzpZQlapjRQVL-jBbFNjwiTUKvr98qVlu8EDq1Qe_R9NMqsJ9XYS5wesppFSFyPKwPdU/w640-h480/IMG_1827.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; </i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div></span><p></p>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-30998946954646832162022-06-17T11:29:00.000-05:002022-06-17T11:29:44.539-05:00Colorado, At Last!<p> <i>At West View Resort, Cortez, Colorado...</i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Seeing Edgewood, New Mexico in our rearview mirror was a relief (see the previous post). I eased Phannie onto I-40 and set the cruise control on 62 mph, the old gal's sweet spot. The tranny doesn't shift into sixth gear until 57 mph, so that gets her a little cushion against downshifting while maximizing her fuel economy, if you could call it that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I chose a somewhat longer route to Cortez to avoid the mountain driving that would have been required going through Santa Fe and Durango. We've done quite a bit of mountain driving over the years, but it's not a favorite of mine because the management of the steep grades is nerve-wracking and hardly easy on Phannie. That having been said, I continue to be amazed at the incredible stamina and dependability of this old motorhome; I can tell no difference between now and the day we bought her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our route took us to Gallup and then northbound on New Mexico 491 through Navajo Indian territory; the last few miles cut through the Ute reservation. It is a lonely, boring highway that is in rough shape in some spots. The scenery was that of a bleak wasteland--that is, except for passing by Shiprock, an interesting rock formation somewhat resembling a sailing schooner:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zspUakYITtaIjTO3BT3tsU6YM1nKy72GVMSGLcngVKlW9rO1a2suHkswFoq9IeEmm3VEZH4eEgCb1afKSvHkMmYKtS-vdOQxOQS4NiaaGwMVm1-iKOpa4N48n6U-gtxlTmWHwsI9qQ34X-8BIcBW0iqEpyuz9TaBD2u3DV9WXsKGCY-R3D00MNLW/s650/MR06ShipRockPD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="650" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zspUakYITtaIjTO3BT3tsU6YM1nKy72GVMSGLcngVKlW9rO1a2suHkswFoq9IeEmm3VEZH4eEgCb1afKSvHkMmYKtS-vdOQxOQS4NiaaGwMVm1-iKOpa4N48n6U-gtxlTmWHwsI9qQ34X-8BIcBW0iqEpyuz9TaBD2u3DV9WXsKGCY-R3D00MNLW/w640-h444/MR06ShipRockPD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">If one lets his imagination get out of hand, he can easily catch himself looking atop ridges across the badlands to see if an Indian war party has amassed on horseback to attack our wagon train. (That's not me losing it, you understand...just a hypothetical. I'm glad we cleared that up!) It is pretty easy, though, to see why the Indians would be mad at us; just look at the wasteland we gave them after the Indian wars!<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So why southwestern Colorado instead of the more cosmopolitan big-city areas on the eastern slope of the Rockies? Well, I think it's because this is the jumping-off point for some of the most beautiful mountain scenery that is fairly close to Texas and relatively free of urban influence. Besides, we've done the eastern slope many times, and we love the relatively undiscovered San Juan mountain area.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Making it through the New Mexican badlands without an Indian attack, we finally arrived in Cortez, Colorado, a good-sized town of around 20,000. </span>The elevation has risen to around 6,500 feet here, so the temperature is 15-20 degrees cooler than the triple-digit furnace that was Texas. The elevation rises steeply to the northeast as the majestic peaks of the San Juans are in full glory:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0doRdu7JgJWeJCoJ74Q_r1AqtFiGxIhTQ_DYXKqe3L6etmAMStuiHn-lkpOMHtoQDpKLg9hpSGRAlGlJCtbRF9Rnboz4A5-F4HzxHRT-l6GTa2Pzcz7QzpWERiDc5XldG-FlOUncnqHaiGInLy8qMQvK6e3LrgrVBPF6nSS5Aypary1KEccJRB16/s1000/2012-04-29-Cortez02-1000x500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0doRdu7JgJWeJCoJ74Q_r1AqtFiGxIhTQ_DYXKqe3L6etmAMStuiHn-lkpOMHtoQDpKLg9hpSGRAlGlJCtbRF9Rnboz4A5-F4HzxHRT-l6GTa2Pzcz7QzpWERiDc5XldG-FlOUncnqHaiGInLy8qMQvK6e3LrgrVBPF6nSS5Aypary1KEccJRB16/w640-h320/2012-04-29-Cortez02-1000x500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a bit of a shock on our first morning after arriving:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUisQ-1PaqPd5XBGuLAHb46BkmKLFKSmCe6Zo9rgkMzc9xUEjFCWk4369Gu15OTPidljiTB45Te_AhmBhU1UtdA-dAs5Ri1HXSl15nrbWVbmuc_U_U8WW-onVXxqfdY857OS0r0iFFnJSE1gsptm1o1h9vVqPbrUqvXcx8CLNGTWAPd9dPHuY2Rf4q/s4032/temp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUisQ-1PaqPd5XBGuLAHb46BkmKLFKSmCe6Zo9rgkMzc9xUEjFCWk4369Gu15OTPidljiTB45Te_AhmBhU1UtdA-dAs5Ri1HXSl15nrbWVbmuc_U_U8WW-onVXxqfdY857OS0r0iFFnJSE1gsptm1o1h9vVqPbrUqvXcx8CLNGTWAPd9dPHuY2Rf4q/w480-h640/temp.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I turned on the heat right away, still pinching myself after baking in triple digits for the past ten days!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking west from our area, we captured a wonderful sunset with some low hills visible about 12 miles away:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEq8IGQarYtbRdF1N4XpFofv4lZ0F8UdIesnEPoovol_UzU6evTB5RNzBrrBou1-6y30UGWjuj1Mckkbxgb5XDH20sne-Pat-2a9kwUh7K-u_IZJ8yR-VQQAGivMhKVi-VRVL6JWRkKL86idccOblsDuTsNEzImSg-U9W9v5ecNt2HXOnGlJWvbgA/s4032/Sunset%20at%20Dolores.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1935" data-original-width="4032" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEq8IGQarYtbRdF1N4XpFofv4lZ0F8UdIesnEPoovol_UzU6evTB5RNzBrrBou1-6y30UGWjuj1Mckkbxgb5XDH20sne-Pat-2a9kwUh7K-u_IZJ8yR-VQQAGivMhKVi-VRVL6JWRkKL86idccOblsDuTsNEzImSg-U9W9v5ecNt2HXOnGlJWvbgA/w640-h308/Sunset%20at%20Dolores.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The West View Resort is easily the nicest facility anywhere around these parts. The park is quite full of RVs, which was a bit of a surprise, as we were expecting more people to stay home during these ridiculous fuel prices. A local couple owns the park, and they have spent much time and treasure making it beautiful:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRIqyXk9-lGTt5OIKllx2fTxrmgH-1Fut2RqY_V4jycZjzZfmguDrpjbn35so-0I_RuPEukBenVUXziWcw-D06DUD_GCTDvQq3TfjoJGOGX5N2OtnyHd9X7gM5YpbmClZkYeUXmnyiDeDsYp90zPeDXwi5Yc0x3iU0LFAIl-RoIyK1boQ6YJ3USU0/s4032/IMG_1828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRIqyXk9-lGTt5OIKllx2fTxrmgH-1Fut2RqY_V4jycZjzZfmguDrpjbn35so-0I_RuPEukBenVUXziWcw-D06DUD_GCTDvQq3TfjoJGOGX5N2OtnyHd9X7gM5YpbmClZkYeUXmnyiDeDsYp90zPeDXwi5Yc0x3iU0LFAIl-RoIyK1boQ6YJ3USU0/w640-h480/IMG_1828.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO56aRsv_BH_9MxuBu3afiw6gmOuXr9kGW8vNIET9dGArtXOq7uf-uKHMrJMQU9erOMJnFb08kvFpfzEMg5CQRUClytJf6eAUKR_SVdy4ervrejKkqsEVxOICuq4brqwl2Po6Qf49BjbQ9i4MgGkCnYLr_4MR9okWt1ZeFFWuQVZ3pVEDud4nriXR/s4032/IMG_1829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO56aRsv_BH_9MxuBu3afiw6gmOuXr9kGW8vNIET9dGArtXOq7uf-uKHMrJMQU9erOMJnFb08kvFpfzEMg5CQRUClytJf6eAUKR_SVdy4ervrejKkqsEVxOICuq4brqwl2Po6Qf49BjbQ9i4MgGkCnYLr_4MR9okWt1ZeFFWuQVZ3pVEDud4nriXR/w640-h480/IMG_1829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W4MQQi-vkXQfmaNeMAih-hkXGwCTUlIqUNTdssUymsSu6YLF5iBgpaseeBRp7lPAnfxWuBUqwlWmM0LRRUT0NJsL_oB9LMXqlbHlZgJdSVw5tBtGfGtS8aS2Si5AQCy24vL-1KcQ7xZ7K1sYUodoOC_D_ex3Q29DWDdsZaLtZ_PmZ4KKQRJYTMbB/s4032/IMG_1831.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W4MQQi-vkXQfmaNeMAih-hkXGwCTUlIqUNTdssUymsSu6YLF5iBgpaseeBRp7lPAnfxWuBUqwlWmM0LRRUT0NJsL_oB9LMXqlbHlZgJdSVw5tBtGfGtS8aS2Si5AQCy24vL-1KcQ7xZ7K1sYUodoOC_D_ex3Q29DWDdsZaLtZ_PmZ4KKQRJYTMbB/w640-h480/IMG_1831.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Old friends Jackie and Steve will be joining us tomorrow, and we will be here a couple more weeks until traveling to Grand Junction for Phannie's "well-woman" check. From there, we will be moving to higher ground as the summer heats up. Our final destination, Gunnison, is at 8,000 feet, and we expect the same wonderfully cool summer we've enjoyed there before.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Our recovery from Covid? Going great--just an occasional cough now; we're 99 percent back to normal.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay tuned. The next post will contain a Starlink update.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; </i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612782136487369362.post-84472151406384994982022-06-16T21:58:00.002-05:002022-06-23T13:35:59.131-05:00What's It Like to Get Covid Now? (We know.)<p><i>At West View Resort, Cortez, Colorado...</i></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We had just pulled into an RV park in Plainview, Texas after a weekend with our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons in Dallas. I remarked to Sandy, "I have a doggone tickle in my throat." She nodded and disclosed that she, too, had the unmistakable beginnings of a cold. We were both taken aback, as it had been years since we had a cold of any kind, and we couldn't remember the last summer cold either of us had experienced. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Luckily, we had planned for a week's stay at this park while we visited nearby friends, so we thought we would give ourselves a couple of down days, and these sniffles would go away. Alas, it was not to be; each day brought with it more coughing, drainage, fever and a slight breathing restriction. This was anything but a summer cold, we thought. About the time we were becoming concerned as to the nature of our malady, our daughter, Mindy, who is a nurse, called and said she had tested positive for Covid, as had her entire family. She said we likely have Covid ourselves because of our exposure to them in Dallas. This was a shock, because none of them appeared to be ill, except for our oldest grandson, who lost his voice near the end of our visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We hadn't even thought about Covid for a long time, as we had been fully vaccinated and boosted. We assumed, therefore, that we were at relatively low risk, especially since we were also in relatively good health for an older couple. Nevertheless, we hurried to a local emergency care clinic for testing; it was, indeed, Covid. We looked at each other with the realization that we had finally contracted the infamous virus that had been the scourge of the whole world. It was a somewhat sobering moment, but we also knew the lethality of Covid had lessened greatly over time. The doctor gave us a prescription for Paxlovid and told us to come back if our conditions worsened or we had any difficulty in breathing. Once we began the medication, we improved quickly, with only the cough and drainage lingering.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">According to the doctor, we were fortunate to have contracted Covid after the virus had mutated many times, rendering it far less dangerous than the original. The downside, according to him, was that the current variant is highly contagious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We're just sharing this personal experience for your health information and in memory of friends and loved ones who were not so fortunate. We are grateful to God for our good outcome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At the end of a week in which we felt pretty lousy, our energy had returned to an extent, and we set off for Colorado on schedule. We wished our friends well until we see them later this summer at our park in Gunnison. Our only stop enroute would be in Edgewood, New Mexico, some 30 miles east of Albuquerque. But first, we had to travel past Earth. No, not the planet...Earth, Texas:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SVHwkKYbQK0bli1uZly4JpPJrNmRXDD0JCSmNGT5_QSIIFSYBLaVxDxeGCQmby9ydBu79Oo6CcnJX6z3cLS4EGwh1mO-HhpdPyF53UdZwtglobWteWWbdBcSxMPrVVBEXhbudynI0R1gRl2sBZsgr5sHQ5YimpMOcVbj4Z5e06bOwIkf0OQ90S_s/s3782/Earth%20TX.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3782" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SVHwkKYbQK0bli1uZly4JpPJrNmRXDD0JCSmNGT5_QSIIFSYBLaVxDxeGCQmby9ydBu79Oo6CcnJX6z3cLS4EGwh1mO-HhpdPyF53UdZwtglobWteWWbdBcSxMPrVVBEXhbudynI0R1gRl2sBZsgr5sHQ5YimpMOcVbj4Z5e06bOwIkf0OQ90S_s/w640-h390/Earth%20TX.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The tiny town of Earth (population around 1,000) is in the panhandle of Texas, not far from the New Mexico border. It was established in 1924 and originally named Tulsa, which the post office rejected. It was then named "Good Earth" due to the good farming land surrounding the area. After a while, the name was shortened to just "Earth." According to the mayor, there are no other towns in the world so named...something I haven't fact checked, but I would like to believe it's true.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglakQA42hfhks7EKFkdqX-WZy3nyOfS2a31JPYiJQkt7jNgD7GCoViQaplgYYfw_m6g7EzukZsp73r3tdHiyGoTmRi2JPlWBakY2yh9UGbS5wDdv2xV7uWAdTBCnjhoh9gziBlnP5DChbBFBJU-H1QSXtAMpv4hqtZFT04FisPl8N_Yc8ehjJb5gTY/s1024/Earth%20TX%20Main%20Street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="1024" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglakQA42hfhks7EKFkdqX-WZy3nyOfS2a31JPYiJQkt7jNgD7GCoViQaplgYYfw_m6g7EzukZsp73r3tdHiyGoTmRi2JPlWBakY2yh9UGbS5wDdv2xV7uWAdTBCnjhoh9gziBlnP5DChbBFBJU-H1QSXtAMpv4hqtZFT04FisPl8N_Yc8ehjJb5gTY/w640-h344/Earth%20TX%20Main%20Street.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Earth is not what you would call vibrant, but it DOES have a Dairy Queen, so there's that...</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Since leaving Plainview, we were plagued with a vicious headwind for the entire 287 miles to Edgewood. I don't even want to know what kind of mileage Phannie was getting, but I'm sure it was less than her usual 7.4 mpg. I tried not to think of the nearly one dollar leaving my bank account for every mile traveled.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We arrived at the Route 66 RV Park, dog-tired and still somewhat weak from our bout with Covid. There was not a sprig of vegetation anywhere in the park--just powder-like sand, mixed with gravel in places to form RV sites. The wind was whipping up dust devils everywhere and, when I stepped outside the coach, my hat blew off, and I was covered with a layer of fine sand. Suddenly, I thought I was in an old foreign-legion movie or something; I expected to see a camel at any moment. It didn't dawn on me until later that I had not recovered fully from Covid, one of the effects of which is diminished lung capacity, and look at what I'm breathing! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Water, I thought; I must have water! I fought my way to where the water hookup should be and, upon brushing the sand away, found that the faucet was located beneath a steel manhole cover about 18 inches below ground level! Now consider what this means for someone who has one bad knee and one fake knee, neither of which is designed for kneeling on gravel and reaching 18 inches below to hook up a water hose. The meme below best describes my thinking at that moment:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsI8pOVWbr04aowp4Isct7YMXTpMO8asPZs5Q2E2deEk5uTvJcu0ccLBuVHMW-FI2fQFXb2Epq_tHNPvh_XAAaoNiuVTcymLZIQO2KfvN42NArE0xDOqTimGghw9ydYYyRbVvhy6Gt2hj9jQTzqyeGj1HB83p1N_UhN3uwKa3_cTR-RgVu9ABZuU_/s447/Lawd%20Jesus%20Take%20Me%20Now.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="447" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsI8pOVWbr04aowp4Isct7YMXTpMO8asPZs5Q2E2deEk5uTvJcu0ccLBuVHMW-FI2fQFXb2Epq_tHNPvh_XAAaoNiuVTcymLZIQO2KfvN42NArE0xDOqTimGghw9ydYYyRbVvhy6Gt2hj9jQTzqyeGj1HB83p1N_UhN3uwKa3_cTR-RgVu9ABZuU_/w640-h572/Lawd%20Jesus%20Take%20Me%20Now.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Through the dust storm, I could barely make out the office in the distance. Wondering where my hat was by then, I stumbled to the office, where my windblown countenance visibly frightened the poor girl sitting at the desk. I explained my circumstances and asked if they had a maintenance person who could help me drill for water. "Um, the owner has gone to Albuquerque, but I'll call him," came the answer. Not at all sure how this would help, I thanked her and rode the tailwind back to Phannie. It would have been nice, I thought, if I had included a divining rod when I was preparing to leave Ranchito Hondo. (I wonder who will know what the heck I'm talking about here.)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In a short while, a young fella showed up. (At least that's what I thought the visage was, as I was trying to see through the dust on my eyelids.) I explained the situation, and he quickly hooked up the hose after half his body disappeared through the manhole.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It wasn't long until nightfall, and the wind began to moderate. After a nice shower, we settled in for a short night...we had over 300 miles to go the next day.</span></p><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif;">Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful life; </i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">please forgive me if I fail to appreciate it each day as I should.</span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing. </span></i></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> ---George Bernard Shaw</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I get up every morning, and I just don't let the old man in." ---Clint Eastwood</span></i></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Mike Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.com12