Hurricane Alex

Tuesday June 29, 2010
Hwy 77 North of Raymondville

We stopped for breakfast as we evacuate Port Isabel.  We have been preparing to leave early since Thursday.  Willie's Tug is on the trailer in the garage.  Also everything loose is stowed away.  Let 'er blow.  The Port of Brownsville is expecting an 8-12 surge in the ship channel.  I hope they are wrong.  At any rate a lot of rain is coming that will inundate low lying residential areas.  These folks are still recovering from Dolly's rains.

We just started our Trek to the Pacific Northwest a few days earlier than we planned.  We will miss the 4th of July parade and fireworks.  Also the social at the LMYC.  The commodore is furnishing steaks for the event.  Really hate to miss it.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Jake Fell in the Canal

We left Jake home on our last boating adventure.  Yesterday I moved the boat to the trailer to garage it until Alex makes up its mind which way it is going to go.  Jake had determined that he did not like being left behind, so he  followed my friend Jerry and me out to the boat.  As we were boarding, Jake decided he would also.  The boat was swinging on the lift slightly and he slipped down between the boat and the dock.  Luckily it was high tide and I called him over the low dock and pulled him out by the scruff of the neck.  He is pretty salty right now and due a bath.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

LMYC Outing to Arroyo Colorado

June 19-20, 2010

Willie and Walldog loaded up the boat for our first overnight on it.  Jake stayed home.
As usual we packed lots more than we needed and missed a few things we did need.  We motored out of the canal and met 6 sailboats out in the bay in front of Pirate's Landing.  It was really inspiring to watch the beautiful sails working to catch the wind.
We started out in the middle of the group and got passed by two of the boats.  Our little Tug putting along at about 6 to 7 mph was being left behind, but not too far.  Lots of traffic out on the water this Father's Day weekend.  We met a large tug from New Orleans pushing a work barge.  He was moving quite a bit of water and had a couple of dolphins running in front.



As we got to the turn off into the poorly marked channel for the Arroyo Colorado, we saw a sail boat that appeared to be aground.  He was pointed out toward the ICW, so I assumed that he was not with us.  How wrong I was.  It was one of our own.  I will omit telling tales and let him fill you in on the details.  The channel got really shallow on the North side, but once we passed the turn it was nice deep and wide.

Expecting to see a sail boat ahead of us, we continued on to the restaurant, but we arrived first.  Followed shortly by Miles and Arlette on Tenacious.  A bit later Keith arrived on Movnright Sue followed by Rocky and Linda on Night Magic and then Larry and Chrisanne on Tucan .  This rounded out the group and after all were sucured to the docks, we immediately retired to the restaurant for happy hour.

Dinner was great, service excellent for such a large group.  We had quite a few drive down to join us for dinner.  Happy hour and dinner turned into Sundowners on Tucan's spacious cockpit.  A great time was had by all.

On the way home, Willie commented that "next time" we need to arrange the vee berth differently.  I was just glad she did not say "never again".

More pictures can be seen at the album located here.

Walldog, Willie and Jake.

Laguna Madre Yacht Club

Tonight was the monthly social at the Laguna Madre Yacht Club here in Port Isabel.  It started with happy hour at 6 and pot luck salads at 7.  A great time was had by all.  Willie and I are new members and look forward to many other socials in the future.  The Club plans an outing to Arroyo Colorado next week.  We will meet at the causeway and ICW and boat to the Wharf Restaurant in Arroyo City.  We will overnight in the river and return Sunday to Port Isabel.  It will be our first night out on our little Ranger Tug.  Willie is a bit apprehensive.  This is from someone who traveled across the country on a motorcycle with a tent.  At least we have a comfortable berth and a cabin in which to sleep.  No shower and how to make coffee is still being considered.
July 4th a boat parade is planned to go up the beach and return to the bay for the spectacular fireworks display.

Walldog, Willie, and Jake (stayed home)

Another Day in Paradise

We spent most of the day out on the water of the beautiful Laguna Madre.  We took a picnic lunch and anchored out in Barracuda Cove, watching the boat traffic and families out for the day on Boca Chica beach.  A pleasant day.  On the way home we topped off our diesel, took 2.8 gallons.  We have been out on the bay at least 4 times for this amount....$7.03 at $2.45 per gallon.  We do not go fast, but we go for little dollars.

The Admiral took the helm for a while:

Jake the boat dog watching for dolphins:

These were taken with my Droid...as we forgot the chip for the real camera, not too bad.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Boat ride with Jake

Walldog and Jake took a ride today to check out the installation of the cut down mast.  We took 27 inches out of the mast so that we could leave it installed and still fit in our boat house.  We also installed new cushions made by Kathy's Upholstery of Arlington WA.  She made them from the original patterns for the Ranger Tug.

We got boarded again by the US Coast Guard.  I think they just wanted to look us over.  Now we have two "Good as Gold" papers that keep us from inspections for at least 6 months.  I wonder how many more we will get during the next 6 months.  Nice folks, so we did not mind at all.

We went out to the first buoys past the jetties.  Not many people on the Boca Chica side as the road is still closed from Brownsville by the gas well leak.

Coming back in to my slip, I pass as close as I can to the bulkhead without grounding out on the oyster shell rocks.  I am lined up with my boat house and I hear a fishing boat trying to pass between me and the bulkhead.  I do not know what he planned to do after he hit the rocks, but I waved him off and told him that I was docking there.  Maybe too much cerveza.

We spent the afternoon at a real Louisiana Crawfish Boil.  The mudbugs were properly cooked and excellent....I should know.  A real treat.

More pictures of the boat ride are here.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Tenaha Timpson Bobo and Blair

On our last trip through East Texas, we took a route that we have not traveled in a long time.  Staying on US59 North of Nacogdoches, you pass through these small towns Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair not necessarily in that order.  Going from North to South, you pass through Tenaha, then Bobo, then Timpson, then Garrison.  So the conductor on the old train took a little license with the order of the communities.  Tex Ritter wrote a song about the area.  He was from Panola County.

On the HE--WT line,
Old East Texas sure looks fine
Drop me off just anywhere (near)
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair

Here those drivers pound the rails,
Takin' me back to Texas trails,
Bought my ticket, paid my fair,
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair

Whooooo, waiting for the whistle,
Whooooo, when you hear the whistle,
It means that the stations not so far,
From where we are,

Let'er highball, engineer,
Pull that throttle, track is clear,
There's a gal just waitin' there,
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair.


I used to drive the road a lot during my early days in Texas.  Not being familar with Tex Ritter's song, I would chant Tenaha, Bobo, Timpson, Blair and Garrison as I returned from my trips.  My brother would correct me.


Tenaha and Timpson are still small towns, Bobo has a marker for its location but not much more.  Blair has faded into obscurity having started as a switch location on the old railroad.


Just my day for trivia and memories.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Nearly Home

Walldog, Willie and Jake are en-route back to Port Isabel from Northeast Texas.  Here is where we stayed last night.

Entrepreneurship is alive and well....at least in Mexico.  These guys buy these wrecked cars at auction, temporarily repair them enough to drive and tow another back to Mexico.  Then they are repaired and sold for a profit.

Back in Paradise today, God willing, and the creek does not rise.  Actually from all the rain flood warnings are in effect for this area through the weekend as rivers and tributaries are rising past flood stages.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Horses, Beaches, and Boats

March 14, 2010

Our granddaughter is spending her Spring Break with us.  She was sold by the billboards advertising horseback riding on the beach.  So finally the schedules allowed a visit here and a trip to the North Beach for a horse ride. After church and a great lunch at Pirate's Landing, she and her mother saddled up and headed out.  Of course proud grandmother was there to document the event.

They returned from the ride with just enough time for what else......but a pleasant boat ride in our beautiful Laguna Madre.

This pirate yelled that we came too close and he was going to run us down, but we cranked up our 18 hp and out ran him and his motley crew.

Jake does not seem too unhappy sharing his seat even though it includes "THAT DOG".

Father and daughter on Spring Break

Back in home port and a dinner of lunch leftovers.

Walldog, Willie and Jake.

Happy Hour Cruise

March 10, 2010

We are getting to know our new little tug.  Today we cruised out to the jettys for happy hour.













Jake was really enjoying "his spot" before THAT dog comes to visit.








We tried out the anchor in a little cove off the ship channel and watched the dredge working.  One of the tender boats was a tug by the name of Bayou Blue.  Listening to the crew work on vhf channel 7, it was obvious of their South Louisiana heritage.




On the way back we were treated to a partly cloudy sunset and the lights of the bay.

Pier 19's new spot light was showing the way to a good place to eat.  All the Navigation lights worked and we slipped our little tug back into its berth for the night.



Walldog, Willie and Jake

Tir Na Nog

It has been a very interesting and exciting week.  Friday a week ago, we decided to adopt a little tug boat from our new friends Brian and Jennifer in Wilmington, NC.  So Saturday morning we load the truck and strike out for the East Coast.  Our plan was to arrive in Wilmington on Monday, see the boat on Tuesday, load it up Wednesday and start back.  Well, we arrived on Monday around noon, checked into our motel, and went directly over to see the tug.  We found it exactly as advertised, a very nicely maintained and equipped 1997 Ranger Tug model R21.

Brian and Jennifer invited us to dinner Monday evening.  Their daughter Megan was a little upset that her parents were letting HER boat go to a new home.  Jake visited with Truman in their nice back yard, while we tried to convince Megan that we would treat Tir Na Nog well.

So Tuesday morning we hitched up and headed South because the weather was predicting snow for later in the day at Wilmington.  We felt that we wanted to avoid the hilly North Georgia route we traveled on to North Carolina.  Jennifer sheds a tear as we leave. 

Along the way back, we attracted much interest in our little tug.  We had to answer questions at the hardware store even before we got out of Brian and Jennifer's neighborhood. We had two offers of outright trades as we traveled.  One was a dealer hauling two new bass boats and the other was a guy with a Zodiac type jet boat....no thanks one SeaDoo is enough.

We arrived back in Port Isabel shortly after noon on Friday.  After unpacking, we headed over to the city boat launch in Modern Venice and floated our little Tug.  Our friends Sam and Dave came in from fishing (no small sacrifice) to assist.  We idled around to our house and docked it outside the slip.  After a thorough checkout of all systems, we went for a short turn out into the bay.

Then it was back to see if she would fit into her new home. We have decided to name our boathouse the "Tug House"  Here we are threading the needle.

Yes it fits, hooray!!

We have looked at many boats over the past year, but this one seems to fit us at this time.  We were able to afford this one as we only spent just a little more than what we got for our SeaDoo.  If we decide to do more extensive cruising in the future, we may need a larger boat.  But as a wiser person than me once said, "Buy it smaller, buy it cheaper, but buy it now so you can enjoy it now."  Walldog, Willie and Jake went out for a longer ride Saturday.  The Coast Guard checked us out and gave us a free pass for a year.  The dolphins really welcomed a new hull as they played all around us near the causeway bridge.  It seemed like they were glad to see us in their waters.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Valentines Day at Daingerfield State Park

                         Photo copyright 2010 by Willie the Artist

Still at Daingerfield State Park

Looks like we had about 4-6 inches of snow yesterday and last night.  Covered the streets and loaded up the pine trees.  It has been falling out all day today.  Sounds like bowling balls hitting the roof of the motor home.  Jake did not like it when a big pile of it fell on top of him.  He came running back to me for protection.  Power went out during the night and we still do not have it back on.  But we have run the generator for about two hours only today to recharge the house batteries.  We have plenty of diesel, food and wine.  Jake and I walked up to the pavilion at the lake this morning.  Only my toes got cold walking in the snow.

Our home....I climbed up on the roof this afternoon and swept snow off.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Snow in East Texas

We could be in a worse place to watch it snow.  We are beside a lake in the East Texas woods, in a campground in which we are the only campers.  Great view, not too cold, plenty of heat and food.  It does not get much better than this.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Birds of the Bay

Sunday, December 13, 2009

During our boat trip to watch the Tower Implosion, I could not resist taking a few pictures of the birds.  Several of our winter visitors, the white pelicans were flying around the area.  It is always a treat to watch for them at this time of the year.  We see more in January, I was surprised at the number today.

From Birds of the Bay

See a few more of the pictures at the link below the above shot.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

The Leaning Tower of OTSPI

The Ocean Tower of SPI or as we call it The Leaning Tower of OTSPI came down today and we were there.  My friend Bob took us on his boat across the Laguna Madre to a spot near the Convention Center and the tower.  The demolition company had scheduled to implode the tower this morning at 9 AM.  It went off right on time and seemed to have done exactly what they wanted it to do.

From Leaning Tower of OTSPI

You can see an album of pictures taken by Walldog and Bob here.

Walldog, Willie and Jake

Joy Hansen 1947-2009

Tuesday November 30, 2009 through Friday December 4, 2009

We traveled by motor home to Splendora Texas to attend the funeral of Wilma's nephew Gaylord's wife.  She died Saturday November 28, 2009 after a long battle with cancer.  The funeral was in Cleveland, Texas December 3, 2009 with burial in the Blue Branch Cemetery at Pitkin, Louisiana.

Walldog, Willie, and Jake

Thanksgiving 2009

Thursday November 26, 2009 Thanksgiving

We invited our Winter Texan friends Ralph and Barb from Oklahoma to join us for Thanksgiving Day.  We had our meal at noon, which we Southerners call dinner.  If we served it in the evening, we would call it supper except when it is really big and then it becomes dinner even though we serve it at supper time.  Herb grilled a big Salmon fillet and sauteed green beans.  Wilma fixed a really nice salad and HEB supplied the pecan pie and Blue Bell homemade ice cream.

Lloyd and Herb examined and took pictures of a Hibiscus tree that has yellow and red flowers.  That is red flowers and yellow flowers.

After dinner and a suitable rest period, Ralph and Barb told us about an orchard at Los Fresnos that had u-pick tangerines and oranges.  We called and they said they would be open for us to pick all we wanted.  A five gallon bucket of tangerines was $7.00 and a five gallon bucket of oranges was $4.00.



From my motorcycle days:
So many roads....
So little time.....

So many balls.......
So little time............




What a beautiful place in which we are most fortunate to be able to live

Thank You God!

South Padre Island World Birding Center

Wednesday November 25, 2009

My sister Jenny and her husband Lloyd came to visit us for a few days Thanksgiving week.  One of our touristy thing to do was visit the new South Padre Island World Birding Center.  Lloyd and Jenny are avid birders, so they were excited to see the many new birds for them that make this area home.  The recently opened birding center still has some maturing to do around the elevated walkways leading to the Laguna Madre Bay.  The wildlife is starting to occupy this area and I am sure it will only get better as time goes by.  I have posted a couple of pictures here, but you can see more here.  SPI World Birding Center.

Birds were flying everywhere

Many fish were spotted in the canals dug along the walks








Monarch Butterflys were located near the convention center

An overview from the lookout tower at the birding center building.





Walldog and Willie, Jake stayed home

On Your Mark

November 19, 2009
We went to Port Aransas on Thursday to visit some friends.  They
invited us to stay the night on their boat.  Happy hour was on the upper deck fly bridge and dinner was at a local cafe that did not take credit cards.  We scraped together enough money to pay and leave a tip.  After settling in for the night aboard the boat, the rain started.  Several inches fell in just a few hours.  Lucky we were already afloat.  Sadly we left our friends and their beautiful boat and returned to Port Isabel Friday.