Anahuac NWR

We explored the refuge early  Friday morning, circling Shoveler Pond right at sunrise. Immature King Rail pit on quite a show, we couldn't chase him off the road... and of course, I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA! 
On the south side of the pond, we herded a wave of white birds, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Imm. Little Blue Heron, Wood Stork, Laughing Gull, with a few Great Blues thrown in... the entire length of the pond. They would fly 50 feet or so ahead, then land and wait for us to close in again. Also had Purple Gallinule, Common Moorhen, Mottled Duck, and 1 Roseate Spoonbill. Also saw our first 2 gators for the season! and I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA!

After a nice breakfast, and readjusting the water hook-up, the mountain of laundry was waiting to be tackled. 
Also, stored the telescope in a storage closet in the community building. 

This little guy was just inside the door, I shooed him out and he hung around the door all morning, allowing me time to retrieve my camera and I found another one behind the trash can. Can't decide if it's a Ribbon Snake or Garter Snake. 

September 26, 2013 Anahuac NWR

Catch-up time...

We spent 1 week and 2 days in Livingston, had some work done on Clyde, replaced water pump and electric converter. Lights are rock steady now. Also had rear view camera monitor replaced. Had to order that part on Friday, didn't arrive until late Monday and wasn't installed until late Tuesday, so we had to delay departure to Anahuac by 1 day.

All was turned into extended warranty, they paid for everything except for $50 deductible, freight,  and a few odds and ends. so much easier to deal with than Camping World, no ifs and buts, just straight forward service.

Short trip to Anahuac, set up on Site #8, only drawback is we're facing south so the big windows catch the afternoon sun. Temp still in the 90's everyday. We purchased a roll  of foil insulation for sun screen on windshield and big windows. Can't leave the awning out while we're gone all day. Really helps on the front, we'll see about the side when we go home this afternoon.

First day back in the VC, everything came right back, just like we had done it all last week. Dorothy worked with us from 10 - 2. She was really happy to see us. Nature Store has been rearranged, and has lots of new merchandise. Looks really good. Been a busy day so far. First customers were waiting when we arrived at 20 minutes to 10 this morning.

One of our first chores was to fill the hummingbird feeders. Not many blooming flowers for butterflies this year. Found some interesting critters in the pond, red-eared slider, tiny little frog, and humongous BULL FROG!

September 17 Rainbow's End

Arrival at Rainbow's End Livingston TX yesterday afternoon about 2 PM. Hit a swarm of lovebugs coming from Beaumont, had to wash - SCRUB - the front of the coach after the temp cooled down a bit. Alvin washed -SCRUBBED - until too dark to see any more.

He tackled the jeep this morning, still trying to remove all the pine tar. WD40 and Goo Gone both work some, but don't remove completely first time around.

We're parked right next to BJ, #133, some shade on the east side, could use a bit more. Thought the grass was brown and dead, seems like the person in charge of killing the weeds off the gravel areas sprayed all the grass with weed killer, too. Doesn't work here anymore for some reason.

Made an appointment with West RV to check water pump/valve and rear view camera on Thursday morning. Ryan Parks to come Saturday morning to look at roof. Always something else to fix or service.

Enjoyed taco salad at the park club house. Sarah serving food and Ron was cashier, good to see them again. He volunteers at Battleship Texas.

Ordered new power card for Winegard carryout satellite dome. $40 plus shipping. hope it comes in before we leave for Anahuac.

Behind again September 15

Left AH Stephens SP headed for Alabama on Thursday, September 12, fuel stop at BP, tank emptier than usual took 44 gallons, at a cost of $161.39. OUCH!

Rear view camera quit working after a rest stop at mm 108.

Negotiated Atlanta traffic, I-20 to I-285 to I-85, Whew, the worst traffic of the whole trip, even more so than Washington DC.

Replenishment of supplies at Wal-Mart Newman GA.

Interesting trivia, lake on the South Carolina/Georgia border... Georgia map has Clarks Hill Lake, SC map calls it Strom Thurmond Lake.


Odometer rolled over to 40,000 miles, had 18000 when we bought him.

Overnight, The Woods RV in Montgomery AL, not a tree on the entire property although the edges were forested. Hot, hot, hot!  Took a cool shower as soon we we had everything hooked up. Did the frozen dinner thing  - Orange Chicken and Cajun Chicken and Shrimp. Cable TV and Free WiFi.

Friday, September 13...
Gas at BP again, only $114.70, $3.229 per gallon.
On I-65 S to Mobile. Driving the Hank Williams Memorial Hwy, couldn't find a single radio station playing his music. Love being connected while traveling, read all about him. He was born in Mount Olive AL with a mild un-diagnosed spina bifiida occulta which contributed to his abuse of alcohol and prescription pain killers. He was only 29 years old when he died in the back seat of his Cadillac somewhere between Bristol VA and Oak Hill WV. One of his greatest hits, "Your Cheatin'  Heart" was released after his death.

We ran into a swarm of lovebugs, almost completely covered the windshield...

 and stopped at Rest Area mm 89.

The coach wouldn't start - AGAIN - and I called Good Sams RA - AGAIN - waited 2 hours for the mechanic, thank goodness for the generator. Lyndon showed up, was able to bypass directly to the starter. Then he tried to locate the short or what ever the disconnect could be, poor man, he was working out in the hot sun with sweat pouring down his face for 1 1/2 hours. Finally discovered the linkage in the transmission was too loose. He tightened that and we were on our way again. He said, next time we came through AL, stop by his shop on Owassa and he would have lunch with us.


Because of the delay, we over-nighted at Rainbow Plantation, Summerdale AL after driving only 169 miles.  Decided to stay 2 nights for R&R&R, rest, relaxation, and recuperation! Been 3 years since we stayed there, remembered mush of the area, like Shrimp Basket and Lamberts - home of the throwed rolls!

and enormous mugs of cold iced tea! Not only do you get a huge plate of food, but they serve "pass arounds" such as fried okra, boiled cabbage, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, fried potatoes and onions, molasses and apple butter. We brought home the leftovers and had those for breakfast this morning.

Left Summerdale about 9:30 this morning, after a fuel stop, only $89.99 today,

Crossed the mighty Mississippi in Baton Rouge

and drove to Frog City RV in Duson LA, 291 miles. We had stayed here in 2010 on our first long trip with Clyde to Florida.

In route, we stopped at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center, and now today's geography lesson...

The best highway in LA is the 18.2 mile bridge on I-10 from Grosse Tete to Henderson crossing the Atchafalaya Basin. The Atchafalaya River is actually a distributary of the Mississippi and Red Rivers diverting about 30% of the water from the lower Mississippi. 137 miles long the Atchafalaya ends in the Gulf of Mexico, forming the largest wetland area in the US comprised of 1,400,000 acres. The name Atchafalaya comes from Choctaw meaning "long river".

September 11 Virginia to Georgia in 2 days

We left Lightfoot Tuesday morning about 9:30 AM, backtracking toward Richmond, then taking I 295 to I 95S, heading for North Carolina. Gas $125

Drove to Four Oaks where we spent Tuesday night, an Escapees affiliate so the cost was only $20, would have been upset if I had to pay full price, pretty lousy set up. Don't understand why people make their sewer connections uphill.

Left there on Wednesday morning about 9:30. Gas $130 $3.399 per gallon
Zipped through north Carolina, South Carolina, if driving on I-20 could be called zipping... more like skipping over the potholes...

crossed the Savannah River into Georgia. I must comment on that river, the prettiest river I've seen since leaving New England, has to be the name...

Overnight at A.H. Stephens SP near Crawfordville GA. Who knew he was vice president of the Confederacy?
Really nice park, big wide pull through sites...
However, #11, our first choice had a defective 50 amp switch so we moved to #8. Only $25 which included a $5 park pass. We did get a senior discount.

315 miles today, WHEW!

catch up time again

Here I am more than 10 days behind on my posts... quick synopsis follows

Left Quechee SP on Tuesday, September 3, drove to Pennsylvania the first day. Checked into Tri-state RV at Matamoras, PA and coach wouldn't start. Waited 2 1/2 hours for roadside assistance to get mechanic to us. He managed to get us started so we could get to our site. Came back the next morning, replaced started solenoid. Finished about 1 PM, we didn't want to start driving that late so we opted for another day. Not a bad place, but right next to I-84 and highway noise was atrocious.

Had lunch at Erie Hotel, historical location in Port Jervis NY.

 I had steamed little neck clams...Alvin had fish and chips





                                                

We toured the town and surrounding area, found Elks-Brox Park on Skyline Drive overlooking the Delaware River with spectacular view of Port Jervis, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 

Also found historic Erie Railroad Turntable where trains were routed, but really run down and trashy. Fort Decker was burned during Revolutionary War in 1779. Delaware/Hudson Canal Tow Path runs along the river was used to provide coal for New York City from 1828 - 1898. By following scenic by-way we ended up in New Jersey. Could spend weeks exploring the area. 

Thursday, September 5, travel day. I-84 is on my list for the top 10 worst highways. Found Keystone RV at State Line PA, an RV dealer with overnight parking facillities. 

Stayed over an extra day to explore Carlisle PA. 

Audubon Hawk Watch at Waggoner's Gap, very rocky trail up to mountain top, impossible for Alvin with his bum knee.

 We parked at the alternate area and braved the blind curve to cross a busy highway and go up the easy way. The last bit was still an obstacle course of rocky steps. The only seating was on a precarious rocky slope and the raptors were virtually invisible against a bright blue cloudless sky. Did pick up Carolina Wren, Catbird, Black-throated Green and Blackburnian Warbler. 

Did a quick tour of downtown   Carlisle, the Old Court House still bears the scars of a Confederate artillery bombardment a few days before Gettysburg. 

Carlisle was also site of the Indian School Jim Thorpe attended and the home of Molly Pitcher, Revolutionary War heroine.

We spent 2 hours touring the Army Museum that traced the history of the American soldier from Revolutionary times to the current War on Terror. Could have spent a week in the area absorbing all the history. 

Saturday we moved on to Lightfoot VA, just northwest of Williamsburg. Stayed at Outdoor World, a private membership campground open to the public. Tried to sell us a membership, but we declined. 

Spent most of Sunday on the Eastern Shore in the NWR and Kiptopeke SP. 

Mostly B'flies at refuge, Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, Silver-spotted Skipper, Buckeye, Cloudless Sulfur, Painted  Lady and another skipper I didn't ID. 

At the State park, a dripping water spigot provided a bathing frenzy. Summer Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, 4 Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal all took turns splashing vigorously as I snapped lousy pictures through a dirty windshield. 

The 23 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel complex was amazing, too. The 2 tunnels are connected to the bridge spans at 4 man-made islands. The toll was $12 each way, don't know how often the people living on the Eastern Shore can go into Virginia Beach at that price.

Chesapeake Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, a true engineering marvel. 

We drove on into Virginia Beach to spend a few hours with my Uncle John and Nancy before braving the traffic through "THE TUNNEL" going back to Williamsburg. John and Nancy said the traffic was always backed up due to someone running out of gas or other disabling problems in the tunnel. We were only delayed 15 minutes or so. 

Monday was laundry day in the morning and we spent the afternoon exploring Jamestown...

No way could we be that close and not check out the very first successful English settlement where the USA actually had its beginning. 

Pocohantas

John Smith overlooking the James River