tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15124481634021854092024-03-18T15:06:24.118-08:00Richard's PageRichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comBlogger2881125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-60361556886479525832024-03-16T15:16:00.039-08:002024-03-16T15:16:00.120-08:00Site Maintenance - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig45xOVuW5gB5qqWcA2emJv9_vzhp580DJzwYEr7xvjmWFHPFIZ-JiAksbStuwQb99WGOVkQpqhMNokkcyx4mj54N05K96-1m6vjfsyYJszyG6-bQa51uQVBThnsIMHUQQTZVOWal8FiNqlCT5B-AeSDI5yH2NilRsI10DJuY6pWmmHY6DYVMb88Br_qg/s1327/IMG_2180.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig45xOVuW5gB5qqWcA2emJv9_vzhp580DJzwYEr7xvjmWFHPFIZ-JiAksbStuwQb99WGOVkQpqhMNokkcyx4mj54N05K96-1m6vjfsyYJszyG6-bQa51uQVBThnsIMHUQQTZVOWal8FiNqlCT5B-AeSDI5yH2NilRsI10DJuY6pWmmHY6DYVMb88Br_qg/w169-h200/IMG_2180.jpeg" width="169" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday </i>- After morning coffee, I cleaned up our site from all of the old leaves and flower remnants from the tree. The leaf blower is still getting plenty of use even though Fall is long gone. Most of the leaves on our lot were from trees on other lots behind us. Not from our evil tree. It was pretty warm today with a high of almost 90°F.<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZSQW2HIglywXplyGeEwr1jwCXGnZgQqg5jrqPeyNb8PQT5eBYUecGZnKYntR6ffb-w1Cxspyl9yA8ctV0wc6S_hVklY0DPKa18ZyAWZgxp3JakMALTlIZCpOFUScAIcWL5b2wCBU_EjfrSHNegTDq3OxDKouLB4UV19571AwZtbC6TlEpc-PcRidCS0/s4032/IMG_2183.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZSQW2HIglywXplyGeEwr1jwCXGnZgQqg5jrqPeyNb8PQT5eBYUecGZnKYntR6ffb-w1Cxspyl9yA8ctV0wc6S_hVklY0DPKa18ZyAWZgxp3JakMALTlIZCpOFUScAIcWL5b2wCBU_EjfrSHNegTDq3OxDKouLB4UV19571AwZtbC6TlEpc-PcRidCS0/w150-h200/IMG_2183.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - Another warm day but not as sunny. The project for the day was finishing up the propane hose from the bulk tank to the RV. There is a two stage regulator on the bulk tank and a buried line to a valve next to the concrete pad. I spliced two hoses together using a 3/8” flare union. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdehwXbulDicvAPNABJx4vC8fYshUwDRgzcD6F0JXm1X49AERlkukBAsLoHKsDfCnsIh58y2VFY1BAM3GmcistU5qauEQtlsV9U1BKpHc0bL44iK8_TiJceriYG3P97ts9lgf19QJeg4WTRMU5NOWx_9BNgbc4ADNR16NT3N7IZYi3IrrQ8A_km6ONHrg/s3277/IMG_2181.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="3002" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdehwXbulDicvAPNABJx4vC8fYshUwDRgzcD6F0JXm1X49AERlkukBAsLoHKsDfCnsIh58y2VFY1BAM3GmcistU5qauEQtlsV9U1BKpHc0bL44iK8_TiJceriYG3P97ts9lgf19QJeg4WTRMU5NOWx_9BNgbc4ADNR16NT3N7IZYi3IrrQ8A_km6ONHrg/w183-h200/IMG_2181.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div>The hose then runs to the low pressure side of the RV regulator. A brass 3/8” NPT tee is used to allow the bulk tank to feed into the RV propane line. I will add a shutoff valve replacing the 90° 3/8” flare fitting. <br /><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEXFPtCR5tGEdg_MG0gvTYXd47jJFV3J1YgQBmGbKPDR0sDMD85bZqb1Qq__Zh97w2uK-GaboQED39uJ0XyPCVW36WvswzkR9mKvn32jJTSQSVATu8tv3_CW0jAm4Fl3EBuesrBRg7GjzoX8XpiMNDavt6drcwiQfs_Q_6ylYpL0NnzrUkLnXvgQyyv8/s4032/IMG_2186.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEXFPtCR5tGEdg_MG0gvTYXd47jJFV3J1YgQBmGbKPDR0sDMD85bZqb1Qq__Zh97w2uK-GaboQED39uJ0XyPCVW36WvswzkR9mKvn32jJTSQSVATu8tv3_CW0jAm4Fl3EBuesrBRg7GjzoX8XpiMNDavt6drcwiQfs_Q_6ylYpL0NnzrUkLnXvgQyyv8/w150-h200/IMG_2186.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><span><div><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Friday</i><span> - The morning was spent helping to make meatballs for the spaghetti dinner tomorrow. We made around 160 meatballs. My job was to mix the ingredients and add seasonings. It was a fun task.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I went up on the roof to see if the solar panel mounts were still secure and I ran into a problem. When the panels are in the “folded” position, I couldn’t get my hand under the panel to bolt it in place. I ordered a rivnut tool and will be explaining the process in a later post after the tool arrives. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i></span> - A few days ago while heading back from Uvalde, I stopped the Sabina Country Store and they had a Cajun boudin kolache. I’ve heard of boudin recently and wanted to try it and this seemed like a good way. Boudin is a sausage made from cooked pork, rice, some veggies, and spices. This one was pretty mild and I think just some onions. It made for a delicious breakfast. <p></p><p>Rain today gave an opportunity to wash the Jeep. There was a lot of road grime from the Florida trip. At least road salt was not part of it. I got about ¾ done before the rain started again. I was told that due to water restrictions, cars can only be washed on weekends and only by members. Seems like a strange “rule”. </p><p>Yesterday’s dinner was corned beef w/cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. One of my favorites. It does seem like I have a lot of favorites…</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVnq9ivdQvyoMzOm9fRf-JUdPxpEpmbvNRy8a_TtmVkOvKywHGUnbH_1UtRZYeQesjciA40LoqnVXZrItro4t8t2ApPd-rt-29amGWe4BYBOKkmcSZYA78NiXkq07xeG3vnMKtooVOcsH5UrJDokn8y9J34d8Ba9jHO5EP-mW532SrPQtTbotwwvCjOE/s4032/IMG_2187.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVnq9ivdQvyoMzOm9fRf-JUdPxpEpmbvNRy8a_TtmVkOvKywHGUnbH_1UtRZYeQesjciA40LoqnVXZrItro4t8t2ApPd-rt-29amGWe4BYBOKkmcSZYA78NiXkq07xeG3vnMKtooVOcsH5UrJDokn8y9J34d8Ba9jHO5EP-mW532SrPQtTbotwwvCjOE/w150-h200/IMG_2187.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>The propane shutoff valve came from Amazon today. If compared to the other picture, you can see that I replaced the 90° flare fitting with a ball valve. The lower hose is from the bulk tank. When the hose is disconnected, the valve would be turned off and the flare fitting capped off to keep it clean. BTW, the yellow is propane-rated thread sealing tape and used on all NPT fittings. None used on flare fittings. <br /><p><br /></p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-63318011470986721822024-03-12T13:24:00.001-08:002024-03-12T13:24:56.127-08:00SKP Park Maintenance - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</i> - This morning, I volunteered to help stain the benches and corner posts within the park. We met at 8am which was just shortly after sunrise. RMarx and I started on the southeast corner and worked our way west. We met up with another group around the clubhouse. After a short coffee break, I continued on until my back was too sore from bending over. I'm now recuperating while downloading software updates and waiting for the afternoon test session.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo_1B3841n1fLjRoHplNtt2v1rQw5zNGouZyrMqWW8kHwWlIbet2GhZmkifhZhzTRsgluA1w5k4Y4eRS8geM8U6DD0hlWGn3isfBBkNrlm7-T5865aB4q2bSTIYA_VA51rBUfUhBlkQCUIGtQzdDSaQd2ta8swxfYTToORJbOuF7Vk1iTQWTDPyErOgg/s4032/IMG_2179.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo_1B3841n1fLjRoHplNtt2v1rQw5zNGouZyrMqWW8kHwWlIbet2GhZmkifhZhzTRsgluA1w5k4Y4eRS8geM8U6DD0hlWGn3isfBBkNrlm7-T5865aB4q2bSTIYA_VA51rBUfUhBlkQCUIGtQzdDSaQd2ta8swxfYTToORJbOuF7Vk1iTQWTDPyErOgg/w200-h150/IMG_2179.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - I took the Ural to a propane shop near Castroville to get a line from the bulk tank in our yard to the motorhome tank. It was around a forty-mile round trip so a decent ride. I still need a tee and possibly some other adapters. I'll post when I actually get this installed.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ADNJh2vp2zWxW93tqkZNnoTRzzQx4J69oYzaqA_sEKqlSJ3tu6x5V7lIl4uSvziNuJj5-F_qFA_VN5kt972r0dpKkApF7lt10cQtK0lXsRroYMgN3MEvNNcmPxVt-j3-reUA2-pAvvDI96u73o4bE9QsFp_cU5AtR0mCQ0N6H6DPZEgKnt7L-SJjztE/s4032/IMG_2178.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ADNJh2vp2zWxW93tqkZNnoTRzzQx4J69oYzaqA_sEKqlSJ3tu6x5V7lIl4uSvziNuJj5-F_qFA_VN5kt972r0dpKkApF7lt10cQtK0lXsRroYMgN3MEvNNcmPxVt-j3-reUA2-pAvvDI96u73o4bE9QsFp_cU5AtR0mCQ0N6H6DPZEgKnt7L-SJjztE/w150-h200/IMG_2178.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>I also stopped in downtown Hondo at the tax office to drop off our property tax payment for the leased RV lot. Just a bit over $30 for the year. Can't complain about that. It was a challenge to find the office as it's combined with the vehicle registrations. This was the first time I'd ventured into the downtown area which is north of the train tracks.<p></p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-11484498992367825382024-03-10T15:50:00.012-08:002024-03-11T18:52:45.056-08:00Uvalde and Bandera, TX<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - I’m back in Ulvalde again to get another vaccination. I should have asked about it before as I could’ve saved a trip. Since it was drizzling today, I didn’t take the Ural. Not that the wet roads are a problem but the seat was pretty wet. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - Lots of wind and rain early this morning. I had to go out and get the awning pulled in around 6am before the wind really picked up. It is still breezy right now but not the 35mph gusts we were seeing earlier. And this was after no wind for days...</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - This morning there was a meeting of the Medina County Amateur Radio Club. It seems unusual to meet in the morning. But they have said that they've always met in the morning. I rode in with three others from the park and, as far as I know, there are at least three other operators. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</i> - Morning coffee came early. I’m not a fan of daylight savings time at all. No reason for it. </p><p>I spent some time on the park WiFi to update the Windows machine and program my Anytone radio for the local repeaters in Hondo and Castroville. I am planning to volunteer for the Tour de Castroville, a local bicycle event next month, with the radio club. They use their local repeaters. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t2fLOfWMCOAmAdUD70ArZ78Y5bMHkcUWAd7-yTDtMtrMHNU9ZqyRictpr-g4aVu5bBYH6eRbn3GWYb3aFdvTVY1P-EYL2yMYuWi9KXw_kyooak8-RN_Z6N9TD9A4n0P1GCCU2VCpdHFi2SLDNH3-VE0ULGEqQ4VLjLfyH75eM-TtfiIfyscHja_HjLM/s4032/IMG_2174.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t2fLOfWMCOAmAdUD70ArZ78Y5bMHkcUWAd7-yTDtMtrMHNU9ZqyRictpr-g4aVu5bBYH6eRbn3GWYb3aFdvTVY1P-EYL2yMYuWi9KXw_kyooak8-RN_Z6N9TD9A4n0P1GCCU2VCpdHFi2SLDNH3-VE0ULGEqQ4VLjLfyH75eM-TtfiIfyscHja_HjLM/w200-h150/IMG_2174.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We went into Bandera for lunch meeting up with other RVers at a small restaurant called Brick’s River Cafe. The food was good and the service was exceptional. <div><br /></div><div>This picture is a small park in Bandera that seemed to be a good parking location for wandering around town.<br /><p><br /></p></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-13197488208504167152024-03-06T14:44:00.024-09:002024-03-06T14:44:00.129-09:00Still Winding Down - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</i> - It has been a while since I had last started the RV so today was the day. It started right up with not even a trace of smoke. I ran the engine for about 15 minutes at a high idle (1200rpm). </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</i> - The chore of the day was defrosting the refrigerator. Quite a bit of frost had built up near the top of the freezer. A combination of high humidity and making ice cubes (in trays). Getting rid of the ice made a big difference in the freezer temperature. From 0°F to -9°F. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAOv81Ae5fS6ESvlp49IC7JwtO-ydC-mrCumcxUrigAziCMxtUs4avTyklJGrnvOkCKdV2xf0n-ItWuSCK2igtVSrdZlEwdeaEngv7_P0ormPeVlgW1gECewUBuUVFU8sNpB4yiPXqWd_zhZWXMF3C6mPakg7x1uc1tH_c8XGxKsNdYGdz4Y1xx-Mv2E/s1284/IMG_2170.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAOv81Ae5fS6ESvlp49IC7JwtO-ydC-mrCumcxUrigAziCMxtUs4avTyklJGrnvOkCKdV2xf0n-ItWuSCK2igtVSrdZlEwdeaEngv7_P0ormPeVlgW1gECewUBuUVFU8sNpB4yiPXqWd_zhZWXMF3C6mPakg7x1uc1tH_c8XGxKsNdYGdz4Y1xx-Mv2E/w175-h200/IMG_2170.jpg" width="175" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - It's going to be a warm one today! At 10:45am it's already in the upper 70s. I'm sitting outside for the first test session and there is a slight breeze which is pretty nice. <p></p><div>Not much going on today. I also led a test during the afternoon session. Though it was a bit too warm to sit outside. I think today was supposed to be the warmest one for the week. </div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn3GC6MJ3AS73bGkCWElc42AvGjv2qCXgGdzq3Dxup3ORZftjx7ZZErb72oXRDeFiK-RXAMULHR-O_PWjyxWCcwwSP6PmeNvWU-7X-jfSPc4oAh7gKEO3-iB2b3a88l47veMQdM57ODLrpOCICRklzOMUfoG6SarTIJ6jEw_lP4M965PH3vxFwE4qVZE/s4032/IMG_2171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn3GC6MJ3AS73bGkCWElc42AvGjv2qCXgGdzq3Dxup3ORZftjx7ZZErb72oXRDeFiK-RXAMULHR-O_PWjyxWCcwwSP6PmeNvWU-7X-jfSPc4oAh7gKEO3-iB2b3a88l47veMQdM57ODLrpOCICRklzOMUfoG6SarTIJ6jEw_lP4M965PH3vxFwE4qVZE/w200-h150/IMG_2171.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Wednesday</i> - It’s a nice day so I rode the Ural into Uvalde, a town around 35 miles west. It’s much larger than Hondo and is the closest Walgreens pharmacy. The Walgreens recommendation is for anyone over 60 to get another Covid vaccine. </div><div><br /></div><div>The picture is from the rest area a few miles west of D’Hanis. The thermometer on the bike said 80°F and it felt warm. And the rest area had an air conditioned space which felt good. </div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-61600467293478312362024-03-02T14:22:00.001-09:002024-03-02T14:22:00.129-09:00Back in TX - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - We arrived around 5:30 yesterday afternoon after what seemed to be a long couple of days of travel. I think all of the traffic going through Baton Rouge, Houston, and San Antonio made it seem longer than it actually was. And, I'm pretty tired of restaurant and gas station food.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7qaYxn4bq9n0ikRbTL1Lk0i2IK9qhonthDoKRx0mmrh7C6mhxJfB-lpUvwD4pDJ49-VbqwRE-2IdYngG_qIqFf-KANOt6V7Of2YzcDsZPIpFWSmDLMLRSmf5cgdIthZNnfmJN_aIsjJTwkQLt6q3sIOUyx2EIio1LsIk2Dpda-GZGz8sVAL5jF-LHvw/s1240/IMG_2169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7qaYxn4bq9n0ikRbTL1Lk0i2IK9qhonthDoKRx0mmrh7C6mhxJfB-lpUvwD4pDJ49-VbqwRE-2IdYngG_qIqFf-KANOt6V7Of2YzcDsZPIpFWSmDLMLRSmf5cgdIthZNnfmJN_aIsjJTwkQLt6q3sIOUyx2EIio1LsIk2Dpda-GZGz8sVAL5jF-LHvw/w181-h200/IMG_2169.jpeg" width="181" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - Today was a busy-ish day. There was a flea market today here at the park and I volunteered to help with breakfast and lunch. I believe it was a successful fund raising event for the group in charge of social activities. Since I was in the kitchen for the sale, I managed to leave the sale with two homemade nut rolls. <p></p><p>Around 1:30, I came back to the RV and fired up both A/C units as it was pretty warm. The forecast for the rest of the week is for a high of around 80°F. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing watching YouTube. </p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-5412592362206302812024-02-29T15:31:00.036-09:002024-02-29T17:21:59.258-09:00Heading Back to TX<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</i> - We managed to get on the road around 9:30 and went through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and into Louisiana. A bit over halfway at 632 miles according to Google. Tomorrow we have 579 miles. Quite a lot of driving. And, not a single picture taken as I was feeling pretty exhausted. I need some time to recuperate from our vacation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-W5ILWEhecIiNtOYSgnzqAVUJtecvU_zVklVB1J_NfoGrn-aAzidMv3QNC65bYaYn5h2_LdLlYcTyZAbcSRR_eoLB4E6xdHRPZPAMe51d3Qhyphenhyphens-CkoNAFoGVDlNIX73HuQ7-Axa2DHKbE-tt0q7MNhMCgbZJQS6P0jk6MkjRdo9GIN9NeQkl9UTYw8Y/s2981/IMG_2165.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="2981" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-W5ILWEhecIiNtOYSgnzqAVUJtecvU_zVklVB1J_NfoGrn-aAzidMv3QNC65bYaYn5h2_LdLlYcTyZAbcSRR_eoLB4E6xdHRPZPAMe51d3Qhyphenhyphens-CkoNAFoGVDlNIX73HuQ7-Axa2DHKbE-tt0q7MNhMCgbZJQS6P0jk6MkjRdo9GIN9NeQkl9UTYw8Y/w200-h100/IMG_2165.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - Leaving Louisiana, we went on an 18 mile long bridge over swamps and other wetlands. Lots of traffic through Baton Rouge but the condition of I-10 is way better than I was led to believe. I’ve seen much worse. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaY7t43ohe93EaZuRvDtLy0Z3Pr0PSnjmx4OMQZ7HFc42SsldQzo9eBIuSfKtXh3KFAgBsLJUgob0RQw-VVqjJ9jhe4wYxRSgA85PN4-P6lcGVW7UENn7nl6aeCzUjivy_kw5MVQcZe2es5wVGURt_O8a4kvVf_XIXFCDGcm5b3JtQVltxmuro_5UiAo/s3985/IMG_2164.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="3985" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaY7t43ohe93EaZuRvDtLy0Z3Pr0PSnjmx4OMQZ7HFc42SsldQzo9eBIuSfKtXh3KFAgBsLJUgob0RQw-VVqjJ9jhe4wYxRSgA85PN4-P6lcGVW7UENn7nl6aeCzUjivy_kw5MVQcZe2es5wVGURt_O8a4kvVf_XIXFCDGcm5b3JtQVltxmuro_5UiAo/w200-h113/IMG_2164.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Traffic was heavy with lots of truck traffic and road construction. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4XHeXIaeDJXMMaOsXyGKknCPkYoj2VU8iHb2qT2Z_Ny3h52gR73-xkxITwbv3Y4ysKzieu226R-Bcr_ti520NDDgZTwO3leAgYcajhwf0pDPt_IY5heTSmHqEzlzbDnTxPn2cfV2wS1tjomOrhPRpLW3MxYg2sEooSdOeY8sttezRrRZDrhi6Qc7tFs/s3392/IMG_2168.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="3392" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4XHeXIaeDJXMMaOsXyGKknCPkYoj2VU8iHb2qT2Z_Ny3h52gR73-xkxITwbv3Y4ysKzieu226R-Bcr_ti520NDDgZTwO3leAgYcajhwf0pDPt_IY5heTSmHqEzlzbDnTxPn2cfV2wS1tjomOrhPRpLW3MxYg2sEooSdOeY8sttezRrRZDrhi6Qc7tFs/w200-h104/IMG_2168.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-57576239868382288272024-02-27T13:14:00.006-09:002024-02-27T16:22:23.943-09:00Universal Studios<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BfS1KmY7hWL5frQuRm3e9lvySiO8wzG21mB-I_OOg38lb-8BacsZjo8b_TkqnsCw50ILOuPFT2qbZMQ9J4FVFgY8lF2HJLad3OnKibHtF4c51SHc9_z4Bv9PPmQ39HzqkwZZXEzFkrVi4e_L_nihyphenhyphenP3gXLEtLzSCem_21yV8jIzXKmhCcz1PAoyNtlc/s4032/IMG_2105.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BfS1KmY7hWL5frQuRm3e9lvySiO8wzG21mB-I_OOg38lb-8BacsZjo8b_TkqnsCw50ILOuPFT2qbZMQ9J4FVFgY8lF2HJLad3OnKibHtF4c51SHc9_z4Bv9PPmQ39HzqkwZZXEzFkrVi4e_L_nihyphenhyphenP3gXLEtLzSCem_21yV8jIzXKmhCcz1PAoyNtlc/w150-h200/IMG_2105.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - We went to the other half of the theme park today known simply as Universal Studios. It opened at 9am and we arrived shortly after and there was a long line to get in. Their system is less efficient than Disney World. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzZBzbQ6ZMs_7-8biAjRZqBOg3gnrGXq_Rl8RqfqRq9koWVvig-SHEQFlMjqGDFkXMl9Whkt8RQ73YcK3NwvTmA5jgDHJfCIb8yPNO8C89O6J50ZRFjDoEpUriV3XVDiewruCxK_bLlGl3A3Fvid_Y9JsuYNSSsVdVxMlEe2f8CAhLZjch-vPon_Myd8/s4032/IMG_2162.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzZBzbQ6ZMs_7-8biAjRZqBOg3gnrGXq_Rl8RqfqRq9koWVvig-SHEQFlMjqGDFkXMl9Whkt8RQ73YcK3NwvTmA5jgDHJfCIb8yPNO8C89O6J50ZRFjDoEpUriV3XVDiewruCxK_bLlGl3A3Fvid_Y9JsuYNSSsVdVxMlEe2f8CAhLZjch-vPon_Myd8/w150-h200/IMG_2162.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>The first ride was a Minion shooting thing. We then wandered through the different “cities” or areas and into the Harry Potter area known as Diagon Alley. The only ride was Escape From Gringots. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oOsAkt2P1B_tutYfsAwQcL-w3Fj-DwVAiJ7KcsjaABX5DGwsvJiKZd2sAw34WTwjSfqan2hbH_4uLoDmlebNwQk9QouWYPUVMZJpkJMUPQNFmIWGsFlrGH9JF5DuzHOgFOTiXkDcdhKrwWq9XyE95qe688N6BMIDpoqVqW_5wqsCWWRojblNLa7Inso/s4032/IMG_2141.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oOsAkt2P1B_tutYfsAwQcL-w3Fj-DwVAiJ7KcsjaABX5DGwsvJiKZd2sAw34WTwjSfqan2hbH_4uLoDmlebNwQk9QouWYPUVMZJpkJMUPQNFmIWGsFlrGH9JF5DuzHOgFOTiXkDcdhKrwWq9XyE95qe688N6BMIDpoqVqW_5wqsCWWRojblNLa7Inso/w200-h150/IMG_2141.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Like many other rides in Universal, it is not recommended if you get motion sick. So we just went through the queue. It was pretty impressive including a weird lift. We exited right before getting on the ride vehicle. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yFAO1XU6XdL-Yokgz4P5NpQn4Mabds0q6PRlgoD-hteIEeKBd4p9xV99qv6YAcb59MQnBdg9LTOCBlIQIsOwx56ch_RU5zKgsVEceBT1YDCHSsMwWR5AFV0LczXNEkRJgvmKCgEU2ieRlT-efFqoA_arQZIX5ofZPZ4OOM667XY6wRvHN3aYqYzNzjA/s4032/IMG_2151.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yFAO1XU6XdL-Yokgz4P5NpQn4Mabds0q6PRlgoD-hteIEeKBd4p9xV99qv6YAcb59MQnBdg9LTOCBlIQIsOwx56ch_RU5zKgsVEceBT1YDCHSsMwWR5AFV0LczXNEkRJgvmKCgEU2ieRlT-efFqoA_arQZIX5ofZPZ4OOM667XY6wRvHN3aYqYzNzjA/w150-h200/IMG_2151.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>After exiting Diagon Alley, we were in Simpson land. Home of the huge pink donut and Duff beer. <div><br /></div><div>We wandered around the “cities” and watched several shows, looked into shops. We looked into a couple of other rides but they were all 3D and screen based so motion sick inducing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eXrdeFIrOESmjrQUZfnqzUUO_iL87ssxwMOg-7NlBeSDqVF_qK9uEb4ax1KI8_TN001bjD_2mEkj1FpRkRyKkdDwFn0uxGGCNJp6M9S-KyepLB36vo11pBUpKzOopiHLyerYesWfpK1jBsMj0Jre2zfCGOtZzHjbsqI01H4f0Hf5UmdObVsjYpbNhxw/s3545/IMG_2158.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3545" data-original-width="2659" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eXrdeFIrOESmjrQUZfnqzUUO_iL87ssxwMOg-7NlBeSDqVF_qK9uEb4ax1KI8_TN001bjD_2mEkj1FpRkRyKkdDwFn0uxGGCNJp6M9S-KyepLB36vo11pBUpKzOopiHLyerYesWfpK1jBsMj0Jre2zfCGOtZzHjbsqI01H4f0Hf5UmdObVsjYpbNhxw/w150-h200/IMG_2158.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We had lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and had a shared cheese and salad board. I also tried the hot butter beer (sweet, hot, butterscotch flavored drink) and later had the strawberry-peanut butter ice cream with chocolate sauce. It’s a good combo. Better than it sounds. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaS4uuLgzc_6-wk-KnMEQiluet-MEyYNrsU2g1vnJF1O91iSRWIxFAZjqZV-eXtoxO_jTLupkHnxPahpB4buz7siwq9MYOEpod4xh1oSMWwB2wyruqnbKz_F-NSEuT4bgJwxmRQp18l1-556BXprwCXAG1_xp9mVnDz8DJMoqLwz_M76RKwmj1-EXXC8/s4032/IMG_2157.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaS4uuLgzc_6-wk-KnMEQiluet-MEyYNrsU2g1vnJF1O91iSRWIxFAZjqZV-eXtoxO_jTLupkHnxPahpB4buz7siwq9MYOEpod4xh1oSMWwB2wyruqnbKz_F-NSEuT4bgJwxmRQp18l1-556BXprwCXAG1_xp9mVnDz8DJMoqLwz_M76RKwmj1-EXXC8/w150-h200/IMG_2157.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>After ice cream, we wandered around some more, went on the E.T. ride and called it around 4pm or so. We enjoyed this park more than the Islands of Adventure as its roomier, more shows, and its less about the roller coasters. <br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGobaWYW123cHW4MhJqsho4PM8UragIRSpVom0XayFeZ8D_zTJMuxh9n7N-RDsNtic_AO0GJyZYy9zmmBX6i-3BXjOKlamP7c_K2peWM6zCtQj4mZ-o8-AH-fua42Fhb1tN97GHbmbrCcoIt7TMnfjC-g0WLzByqpFJqksjJTawUOpvzopFIa6VM59i-o/s3991/IMG_2160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2895" data-original-width="3991" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGobaWYW123cHW4MhJqsho4PM8UragIRSpVom0XayFeZ8D_zTJMuxh9n7N-RDsNtic_AO0GJyZYy9zmmBX6i-3BXjOKlamP7c_K2peWM6zCtQj4mZ-o8-AH-fua42Fhb1tN97GHbmbrCcoIt7TMnfjC-g0WLzByqpFJqksjJTawUOpvzopFIa6VM59i-o/w200-h145/IMG_2160.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>One odd thing I did was visiting the money exchange and picking up some Gringott’s currency. No fee for the exchange and I picked up a free souvenir. The sleeve the money came in. I used it to purchase my dessert. A strawberry-peanut butter sundae from <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222;">with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and shortbread crumbles. The odd combination was very tasty. And my change was in USD. </span></div><div><br />It was ~80°F today but the breeze made it very pleasant…</div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-8014144271605365712024-02-26T13:12:00.002-09:002024-02-26T23:39:27.696-09:00Islands of Adventure <p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ1uh2u4vQ6BTJ0uTLAoYSwBhMK2Pt1hsQ13HDPuUhSxCoscEs_M3VZwmu8qK1M1oxV4Ma1O08MFX3whyphenhyphenHwBwmdxsau9s9RZpv7TfayJ6rQ8LUlcE8L4U56TlQtmfbMRB7BPHAnuSgAZUZZ2sTdOLnkU2UILkdwiWNti5H6CdcPvvnqiWoHiiPU5sY6M/s4032/IMG_2106.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ1uh2u4vQ6BTJ0uTLAoYSwBhMK2Pt1hsQ13HDPuUhSxCoscEs_M3VZwmu8qK1M1oxV4Ma1O08MFX3whyphenhyphenHwBwmdxsau9s9RZpv7TfayJ6rQ8LUlcE8L4U56TlQtmfbMRB7BPHAnuSgAZUZZ2sTdOLnkU2UILkdwiWNti5H6CdcPvvnqiWoHiiPU5sY6M/w150-h200/IMG_2106.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</i> - Since we are staying at a Universal hotel, we used early entry to get into the park an hour early. 7am bus, 8am admission. Lines for both. When we got to the sidecar ride in the Harry Potter section, it was delayed. But we waited in line until 8:45. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobuhuLCPE6FACb2FfyCjHohzkGV4nlGpVLahgnZK-kV4EHkjnT5sqxvsuLBpcubU5ak4r7lqNQTk431z0VLJLimM1RXAI-Z-xEox6UZAsdIgMNFiTW1Z0zdwH_HtaMtyVWMD2ZEEgdROzemki8fqQIsySMyk5DYJR92QxOHTjEdN8v3qMs1psCAPIiIU/s4032/IMG_2107.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobuhuLCPE6FACb2FfyCjHohzkGV4nlGpVLahgnZK-kV4EHkjnT5sqxvsuLBpcubU5ak4r7lqNQTk431z0VLJLimM1RXAI-Z-xEox6UZAsdIgMNFiTW1Z0zdwH_HtaMtyVWMD2ZEEgdROzemki8fqQIsySMyk5DYJR92QxOHTjEdN8v3qMs1psCAPIiIU/w200-h150/IMG_2107.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Breakfast was at Green Eggs and Ham. Tater tots with chorizo, jalapeños, and salsa. Pretty good. We also went on a Dr Seuss ride. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DGwaZfDz4M4W14wSzTnrvmogtBkL0mRwntc9DzChCy-MoVxzmhU5Mi_jsVajtKuWJp7WthJidxYG11mbr7IEcplbqJL7WtS67NR8A_0YfpoIw7wXo7d9V_YMenoqjr_FAWm4HWriLpSgcdvutB3HFbZwttQwptke25tm7RVW0RoVHnM9_H3p8XnBQ9M/s4032/IMG_2119.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DGwaZfDz4M4W14wSzTnrvmogtBkL0mRwntc9DzChCy-MoVxzmhU5Mi_jsVajtKuWJp7WthJidxYG11mbr7IEcplbqJL7WtS67NR8A_0YfpoIw7wXo7d9V_YMenoqjr_FAWm4HWriLpSgcdvutB3HFbZwttQwptke25tm7RVW0RoVHnM9_H3p8XnBQ9M/w200-h150/IMG_2119.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We waited in the queue for the Hogwarts ride but bailed at the end due to all the motion sickness warnings. The queue was worth the wait. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDVzowA5IlGGWNwGv0QjigGvsW5hpOZ6MeZNkW98_Jq4DKkHL-VVhNXdbJG7axAp8_qT9EN3DAfo8gPgD1_9f_1raW-j4xIZJhNdMFJtE8fqgwUac5tZF1YjgIpksLTTMlpIktmtNbOPrRClnNZu9qo7x7td9jUtcEsNjr1TZPThnsKylwleuoWuiiLE/s1069/IMG_2125.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1069" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDVzowA5IlGGWNwGv0QjigGvsW5hpOZ6MeZNkW98_Jq4DKkHL-VVhNXdbJG7axAp8_qT9EN3DAfo8gPgD1_9f_1raW-j4xIZJhNdMFJtE8fqgwUac5tZF1YjgIpksLTTMlpIktmtNbOPrRClnNZu9qo7x7td9jUtcEsNjr1TZPThnsKylwleuoWuiiLE/w200-h153/IMG_2125.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Around 11, the sidecar roller coaster was open and we almost walked on. Not that long of a wait. It was fast, lots of high-G turns, and some reverse. Pretty wild. It’s said that this is the best roller coaster ride in FL. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Fq3r1C-NT1HSyCfvd2XmrEMnax5PbVGmXHkpOV9fBecMB4Xz8WxjV88fQgKNm_HyfgAXK3C3yXnMk0RPGzswN2OPpElcS83xEJyrv_I799wGOYictJXIt1FoOm-Nj5ZNLrbrvPCH8fsJM8RVQOjD5EN_qNlB4UnXRCQRCzzQoLepTSXjOBuP9JCwlA/s4032/IMG_2130.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Fq3r1C-NT1HSyCfvd2XmrEMnax5PbVGmXHkpOV9fBecMB4Xz8WxjV88fQgKNm_HyfgAXK3C3yXnMk0RPGzswN2OPpElcS83xEJyrv_I799wGOYictJXIt1FoOm-Nj5ZNLrbrvPCH8fsJM8RVQOjD5EN_qNlB4UnXRCQRCzzQoLepTSXjOBuP9JCwlA/w200-h150/IMG_2130.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We watched the “frog choir”. Then headed back to Seuss land to re-ride a nice, calm ride before heading back to the hotel. It was a good day!<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFUBFseqqQn4YuoRdulKTW6VtMyYwdPf-gxlc-WYe5SHU1qlK_TQYA5tmQuVIpKp-QlsMF0xmbQw8qbQwXkLwOjF0-rsUUkolUmmAmbO1tvfaFxRUTVp4WcTC1RTLflZ1mrIDLd6hvdFYZTSe_I47FVHVQeYmRuNrll_JB06DNXn2sTGlhE50udvVm18/s4032/IMG_2116.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFUBFseqqQn4YuoRdulKTW6VtMyYwdPf-gxlc-WYe5SHU1qlK_TQYA5tmQuVIpKp-QlsMF0xmbQw8qbQwXkLwOjF0-rsUUkolUmmAmbO1tvfaFxRUTVp4WcTC1RTLflZ1mrIDLd6hvdFYZTSe_I47FVHVQeYmRuNrll_JB06DNXn2sTGlhE50udvVm18/w150-h200/IMG_2116.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-9237860150332761242024-02-25T13:57:00.002-09:002024-02-25T15:47:21.239-09:00Disney Springs and City Walk<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuOkQvNgG11kGqMqcBd9-VDpRqFkQMmBUUl9iWsvVTl3-bG62Eh0aFU0m1IZ2xsILylAhcWf0tdqz7OZrjs78ygEMsIp-LJdi160uRrbOnmiEldrcD_-cq987ZwnQSM6R-p_jRKinXRrzRsZKwkFrikPSItl7kUj98vEUajQHfPIusE13A-ykKHBLc2Q/s4032/IMG_2097.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuOkQvNgG11kGqMqcBd9-VDpRqFkQMmBUUl9iWsvVTl3-bG62Eh0aFU0m1IZ2xsILylAhcWf0tdqz7OZrjs78ygEMsIp-LJdi160uRrbOnmiEldrcD_-cq987ZwnQSM6R-p_jRKinXRrzRsZKwkFrikPSItl7kUj98vEUajQHfPIusE13A-ykKHBLc2Q/w150-h200/IMG_2097.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - We checked out of the AirBnB this morning and headed south. We won’t be able to check in for our motel until later this afternoon. Just a Motel 6 in Kissimmee for one night. We stopped at Disney Springs to spend the afternoon. Free covered parking and it’s a nice place to wander around. <p></p><p>Using the Disney app, I made a lunch reservation at Morimoto Asia. We had tried to get a reservation there a couple of years ago but it was always booked. We hear that it’s a pretty good place.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6NO5o6wjTAumq7UuAXLlPBiPNGMyuFc0Djau2L60GbCr9I0MSsGVesVUJpHe8V-_dP2XwBK0n5150aEfMYPO5HgSORzbBzHh6oeFCcXZbvvX9VNd9RYi8dDrD52oxMiEtK33SKn8Iq6R_Wei8U1bOVrexCCMAdt3Gk-iCrTNiy4AMtSU2T8QHlHe5E0/s3175/IMG_2099.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="3175" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6NO5o6wjTAumq7UuAXLlPBiPNGMyuFc0Djau2L60GbCr9I0MSsGVesVUJpHe8V-_dP2XwBK0n5150aEfMYPO5HgSORzbBzHh6oeFCcXZbvvX9VNd9RYi8dDrD52oxMiEtK33SKn8Iq6R_Wei8U1bOVrexCCMAdt3Gk-iCrTNiy4AMtSU2T8QHlHe5E0/w200-h129/IMG_2099.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I had the Morimoto “buri-bop”. Kind of play on the Korean dish bibimbop. It was pretty good. The yellowtail was cooked at the table on the sides of the very hot bowl. <div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATLz3EqsTly1LTS5KNfX9Nvso_qN7mL3sCycF9hoKUA6-B_44E5JScf8T7MOdC-B8wNoiuu_yMCMAkBH-mLVDcjq_R9vbfFQocIhLCz0CJE23NfL9IoCWEYd-BV-r-fRZWa8_usZCzAtv-5VyVGyierkkhzk-nTxD6zA3yu4caLcatFGSyQCniHfY9Nk/s4032/IMG_2104.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATLz3EqsTly1LTS5KNfX9Nvso_qN7mL3sCycF9hoKUA6-B_44E5JScf8T7MOdC-B8wNoiuu_yMCMAkBH-mLVDcjq_R9vbfFQocIhLCz0CJE23NfL9IoCWEYd-BV-r-fRZWa8_usZCzAtv-5VyVGyierkkhzk-nTxD6zA3yu4caLcatFGSyQCniHfY9Nk/w200-h150/IMG_2104.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Sunday</i> - We met up with some RV friends Kevin and Charla for breakfast in Winter Haven at an egg restaurant. Pretty good food and good company. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE8Rj9soBQWT6uFpgcadECazwl04kTSXN5VYea7rE7x_vQBtWjYfgCfUkZpFWmHjvXcW30xTobY0_w9IVc_I_lZVN8FO9CGiOYlx1PwDHF1OUWeQ3LsZvBj3FN9JLeuYc-NfyA5n2Q98Szj6DkWOK6q5sLbHUTl5rJXI72AVe0E38TXNe7n7TDBSHx84/s3424/IMG_2103.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3424" data-original-width="3021" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE8Rj9soBQWT6uFpgcadECazwl04kTSXN5VYea7rE7x_vQBtWjYfgCfUkZpFWmHjvXcW30xTobY0_w9IVc_I_lZVN8FO9CGiOYlx1PwDHF1OUWeQ3LsZvBj3FN9JLeuYc-NfyA5n2Q98Szj6DkWOK6q5sLbHUTl5rJXI72AVe0E38TXNe7n7TDBSHx84/w176-h200/IMG_2103.jpeg" width="176" /></a></div>After checking into our hotel, we took the shuttle bus to City Walk, the shopping/restaurant area associated with Universal Studios theme park. Lots of restaurants very few shops. </div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards, I walked to a shoe store about a mile from the hotel and picked up some insoles for my shoes. Hopefully, they will make walking a little easier. Especially the next couple of days. <br /><p>Tomorrow, Islands of Adventure.</p></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-1056110377363036822024-02-23T14:27:00.002-09:002024-02-23T17:29:41.824-09:00Crystal River - AirBnB<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0OmNq2bZqmhTUB5UheAMj1B3PB5aO7jKMRmUVe7jwQLZ5ayDI9boBr-GCMM6ayCwRg7-HL_m_kREx0Sk8iFhPRyluogDNU8P0OJBVxd-n_IpMyBfKVLdCtX42bHQuJzTRFHNQwaCfD0f1jix2RMPCFfhrhXcMw7E79fMZgIYPv2Toc52FoziX-uEEIk/s3868/IMG_2093.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="3868" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0OmNq2bZqmhTUB5UheAMj1B3PB5aO7jKMRmUVe7jwQLZ5ayDI9boBr-GCMM6ayCwRg7-HL_m_kREx0Sk8iFhPRyluogDNU8P0OJBVxd-n_IpMyBfKVLdCtX42bHQuJzTRFHNQwaCfD0f1jix2RMPCFfhrhXcMw7E79fMZgIYPv2Toc52FoziX-uEEIk/w200-h131/IMG_2093.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - We walked to the Crystal River Preserve and Archaeological State Park in the morning. It was sunny when we left the AirBnB but we got rained on during the walk back. This is the view from the top of Mound A (51 stair steps) looking southwest over Crystal River. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaLLlwiaa8SKEp09m3VpwhfwiVhR78DoaSpvsOlI85ZyKsZRRXUu3rzwPMXzv5Qi4YG5wjhSmr9dDMX6j4nOjsXXtzfb1D-rb3rtJXnQN2hu1iRShR7YLxgrVl6zMIO66Q6XEC08fQOJ2tpvppmsOAMomIBL9tNA90S8P8YsFaqVp1ILrMj-AaD5s1pM/s4032/IMG_2095.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaLLlwiaa8SKEp09m3VpwhfwiVhR78DoaSpvsOlI85ZyKsZRRXUu3rzwPMXzv5Qi4YG5wjhSmr9dDMX6j4nOjsXXtzfb1D-rb3rtJXnQN2hu1iRShR7YLxgrVl6zMIO66Q6XEC08fQOJ2tpvppmsOAMomIBL9tNA90S8P8YsFaqVp1ILrMj-AaD5s1pM/w200-h150/IMG_2095.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>This is the mound. It is smaller than it started out as locals took from the mound to fill in low spots. This is before it was managed by the state. <br /><p>Later in the day, we drove around the area and noticed that many houses along the canals were closed due to water damage from the storm last August. Even today, the water level seemed really high.</p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-73223532794816013832024-02-21T15:04:00.002-09:002024-02-21T15:04:10.544-09:00Rainbow Springs, FL<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOz0thlFk58B9MgX5XhWfMOMjOqfeNteWNDktebf7fXCfRBvQrL0Fr33dlNLt6bew13_V6jCKROgqVVF4R8iG1qaz8dus37fGwUosznjQ4bAX2ezQh4sXj6tXRM14DkKjibl2vyfsqulhIbsHZHuAz6Nw-eCjb9fDDSXu-c_ni1woC9o1AdwohsDIA40/s4032/IMG_2082.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOz0thlFk58B9MgX5XhWfMOMjOqfeNteWNDktebf7fXCfRBvQrL0Fr33dlNLt6bew13_V6jCKROgqVVF4R8iG1qaz8dus37fGwUosznjQ4bAX2ezQh4sXj6tXRM14DkKjibl2vyfsqulhIbsHZHuAz6Nw-eCjb9fDDSXu-c_ni1woC9o1AdwohsDIA40/w200-h150/IMG_2082.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</i> - We went to Rainbow Springs for some hiking. There was a swimming area and the water was crystal clear. The hike went to a couple of falls and just wound around the trees. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NWBeTkq3Cu4pT-rsko1H-UoHmd5P8wEh4Jr-xXBGOC8I3FhDJGo0KFFuiehgkKOHiqfK-cLGChwHz7csDeHVBuu154085LuDbeDt-WV6RCBckLEcjanvC_W2ZKuum8QiZjfg2Y80Y4UKFJIa-rCuuI7jae2tFv6nhqEruqQVLLreR9nN7SagA_FBDic/s4032/IMG_2089.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NWBeTkq3Cu4pT-rsko1H-UoHmd5P8wEh4Jr-xXBGOC8I3FhDJGo0KFFuiehgkKOHiqfK-cLGChwHz7csDeHVBuu154085LuDbeDt-WV6RCBckLEcjanvC_W2ZKuum8QiZjfg2Y80Y4UKFJIa-rCuuI7jae2tFv6nhqEruqQVLLreR9nN7SagA_FBDic/w150-h200/IMG_2089.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Here is one of the man made waterfalls that are in the state park. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b5ilsIAHBsKXGNP4QdeMz0P6MJjHgZqGQAAHV0jF9BmSgdHCOp1FuAMp-BS1IzR1kmolj0Izmx2udtufCJD15b18TC5ytcd8KrzUg491WFUEuCKgIyVD7eFQgW2Z4mYgF0OTxNnE_tkhy1QLA2PmlhBr_Bwg6dhUGVV9TY2W9GVsT0KBGMVk5OL-ahY/s4032/IMG_2088.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b5ilsIAHBsKXGNP4QdeMz0P6MJjHgZqGQAAHV0jF9BmSgdHCOp1FuAMp-BS1IzR1kmolj0Izmx2udtufCJD15b18TC5ytcd8KrzUg491WFUEuCKgIyVD7eFQgW2Z4mYgF0OTxNnE_tkhy1QLA2PmlhBr_Bwg6dhUGVV9TY2W9GVsT0KBGMVk5OL-ahY/w150-h200/IMG_2088.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We ended up walking around four miles. <br /><p><br /></p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-40837655265522963762024-02-20T14:07:00.063-09:002024-02-20T16:45:35.008-09:00Crystal River - AirBnB<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhMdiVfdZnFXzrVRie6Co_zYDoK5hBQK8xYquxG27Zk9ofhmdGklyHW5zi617RMMtz3clU3UeQHpTAT1Nzyh7v6XNXQ9mC2c0tB0NLeTTNiyQc8dotKndY1Td2BxUz9M30WFv9fSENxJ3FFNN2ibBlsjCi6j1NTG1FIgcTVaivbZqIiohwthjIcz43CY/s1568/IMG_2064.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhMdiVfdZnFXzrVRie6Co_zYDoK5hBQK8xYquxG27Zk9ofhmdGklyHW5zi617RMMtz3clU3UeQHpTAT1Nzyh7v6XNXQ9mC2c0tB0NLeTTNiyQc8dotKndY1Td2BxUz9M30WFv9fSENxJ3FFNN2ibBlsjCi6j1NTG1FIgcTVaivbZqIiohwthjIcz43CY/w144-h200/IMG_2064.jpg" width="144" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</i> - Still raining today. Occasionally, very heavy rain. But it's supposed to be nice for the rest of the week. <p></p><div>This afternoon, we went to Homosassa, a small town to the south. At 56°F, it’s kind of cold to be out wandering along the water. We stopped at the Shed at MacRae’s of Homosassa as they had some live music. It was pretty crowded as most of their seating was outside. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right now, I’m further down the dock at some benches outside of a small shop. </div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVqrWZdVfx5VxZdAUu4_h7XetEwd9fiaN_csNSTwad9NcAJ14xq2sAFAFp91zYUk-stnCXGtgHt8ScHwDpyJicXFRofjAuJDMiu3PC0LHmNODurhYyT6OSd-Cb3ZQZaio2aOYzfFrJ1hXi-cM-9CccX_l4Ia8k8n9FcP6dBGkgEtzPQ2O4I8d1kYb5UE/s4032/IMG_2072.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVqrWZdVfx5VxZdAUu4_h7XetEwd9fiaN_csNSTwad9NcAJ14xq2sAFAFp91zYUk-stnCXGtgHt8ScHwDpyJicXFRofjAuJDMiu3PC0LHmNODurhYyT6OSd-Cb3ZQZaio2aOYzfFrJ1hXi-cM-9CccX_l4Ia8k8n9FcP6dBGkgEtzPQ2O4I8d1kYb5UE/w200-h150/IMG_2072.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Monday</i> - Clear and sunny today. This afternoon, we drove out to Fort Island Beach just a short drive from the town of Crystal River.</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71cZQb0DFYycheT_6kTkE3wcU5JP8_JYrk7XvACF-CvZhl8Ar8C-hGWVFtXBFlM8roFKhoRdnIRkk-MjUVyca7zObloMuGdgb3D7A0KPyhe5CpOwfWEtrNd3yyCf0cTEjyRxc7uoh7ZNz1aoVbxyC-qSZpBWugdjswFNU_D8VY-kNCXzkmDx5Iuuz6Yk/s4032/IMG_2073.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71cZQb0DFYycheT_6kTkE3wcU5JP8_JYrk7XvACF-CvZhl8Ar8C-hGWVFtXBFlM8roFKhoRdnIRkk-MjUVyca7zObloMuGdgb3D7A0KPyhe5CpOwfWEtrNd3yyCf0cTEjyRxc7uoh7ZNz1aoVbxyC-qSZpBWugdjswFNU_D8VY-kNCXzkmDx5Iuuz6Yk/w150-h200/IMG_2073.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Tuesday</i> - Todays adventure was to Tarpon Springs about an hour south. Kind of near Tampa. There is a large Greek community from sponge diving. Of course, the first stop was the Greek pastry shop. We had a chocolate cannoli and coffee. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQ_kLaE4vWsVysb0Kj9VaGQTKYtfi3wwYzGj4lqMsF9wzMrFuvuPhDQCLCVa2X7dzKGNIXkDR4dBlOw9QlatFMJILtlw25v8U9iEWxacbfTf3uTbZ7jOmbAnLBfmftxqNs7L1Q9iKM61qsQEgild1NA3UVPUajMyViRWnAll1eJOxwkCi2wUrnpxyZq8/s4032/IMG_2074.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQ_kLaE4vWsVysb0Kj9VaGQTKYtfi3wwYzGj4lqMsF9wzMrFuvuPhDQCLCVa2X7dzKGNIXkDR4dBlOw9QlatFMJILtlw25v8U9iEWxacbfTf3uTbZ7jOmbAnLBfmftxqNs7L1Q9iKM61qsQEgild1NA3UVPUajMyViRWnAll1eJOxwkCi2wUrnpxyZq8/w200-h150/IMG_2074.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I’m sitting out the next adventure, a boat ride looking for wildlife. I’ll pass on the chance to get sea sick. 🤢 As the boat was planning to go out to the Gulf of Mexico before turning around. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-29763873085237112372024-02-17T14:41:00.006-09:002024-02-17T14:41:00.130-09:00Crystal River, FL - AirBnB<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVYZjcTFgN1BvB5RgA9osnO4XzWXg5jPjaTrjpnHX9yLTmS9uJT495d3YoU0XpOk0q6tUWH33r4z3B531T2jewu5F4bxRr6yO1VDo0bu13ChH5L57bW3E_i8Ctq_9KxQ82pcnFo8hKY9JgCbDGpty3bXIOBiOkqpz62O3N2z1y6yHOkmMds1-Ivw7TEc/s1125/IMG_2057.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1125" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVYZjcTFgN1BvB5RgA9osnO4XzWXg5jPjaTrjpnHX9yLTmS9uJT495d3YoU0XpOk0q6tUWH33r4z3B531T2jewu5F4bxRr6yO1VDo0bu13ChH5L57bW3E_i8Ctq_9KxQ82pcnFo8hKY9JgCbDGpty3bXIOBiOkqpz62O3N2z1y6yHOkmMds1-Ivw7TEc/w200-h72/IMG_2057.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday </i>- We arrived around 5:30 due to a couple of accidents just a little north of the town of Crystal River. The WiFi at the AirBnB is pretty decent as is the house itself. It has a pool, hot tub, dock, kayaks, bicycles, and a huge kitchen. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0Zqomt9A_FIbVsZwlMdsx4lWECbQYUP95lguYTAPjzU4Lwv7_0SuPK9UdJgVXVOB3wXhxszbwQ22mxB6rvA_al-E3M7W8bG5Wk5XHEh39riO6VywCcmLXZowZaSFxSTjQd0qBwYIWEuvKbIZT5yTtKoOGgBNBcN6bbk-LpJKbb3ph-QTMHcdlce4lKg/s1679/IMG_2060.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0Zqomt9A_FIbVsZwlMdsx4lWECbQYUP95lguYTAPjzU4Lwv7_0SuPK9UdJgVXVOB3wXhxszbwQ22mxB6rvA_al-E3M7W8bG5Wk5XHEh39riO6VywCcmLXZowZaSFxSTjQd0qBwYIWEuvKbIZT5yTtKoOGgBNBcN6bbk-LpJKbb3ph-QTMHcdlce4lKg/w134-h200/IMG_2060.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - It is supposed to be raining today and tomorrow but nice for the rest of the week. There has been a lot of planning going on with too many activities to do in only one week. This afternoons priority was to find a good cup of coffee. We did at Cattle Dog Coffee in downtown Crystal Springs. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS933T2cJ8o8Wjpl2qSnkVcF5_iaxB9Flhhu1ICv7RrIG38q_8Y5bJuP24ZQpDRTMEfyrt6mAiAn2-2hDVpZ0pLa8nPIL2MIn1MCiWRIQ_exMQ8QdNbkhijYKBLxGosON8NRvI9nDNCqpBp6rcyzNpxKg1X71kLr0bIc2Ok-URuS7KKz2DOLn1U8uICVA/s4032/IMG_2059.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS933T2cJ8o8Wjpl2qSnkVcF5_iaxB9Flhhu1ICv7RrIG38q_8Y5bJuP24ZQpDRTMEfyrt6mAiAn2-2hDVpZ0pLa8nPIL2MIn1MCiWRIQ_exMQ8QdNbkhijYKBLxGosON8NRvI9nDNCqpBp6rcyzNpxKg1X71kLr0bIc2Ok-URuS7KKz2DOLn1U8uICVA/w200-h150/IMG_2059.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We wandered around town checking out all of the little shops. Nice town. <div><br /></div><div>The hot tub at the AirBnB is pretty nice. It’s under a canopy so no problem using it in the rain. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpo78iRHsDmQCSIfbLSqryxSo5RwHZoi5Gt_A1fUM3PAnROShyphenhyphennOfltuaWaCKfM9XoTPo8NwNt6GXy-Y_UUuaJYxJ1efzDbHMAdPoVFDTKB5-tvREYieAJPTE1S-e1CKojJqyCoWIvAUblIPrOlg3tXuILG2U2otlWRzIiWu0RHhFbSeLMyAabsjTUWo/s4032/IMG_2063.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpo78iRHsDmQCSIfbLSqryxSo5RwHZoi5Gt_A1fUM3PAnROShyphenhyphennOfltuaWaCKfM9XoTPo8NwNt6GXy-Y_UUuaJYxJ1efzDbHMAdPoVFDTKB5-tvREYieAJPTE1S-e1CKojJqyCoWIvAUblIPrOlg3tXuILG2U2otlWRzIiWu0RHhFbSeLMyAabsjTUWo/w150-h200/IMG_2063.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Manatees are the big attraction here. <br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-35813602149749820652024-02-16T10:33:00.001-09:002024-02-16T10:33:35.494-09:00Road Trip<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa2OHB6oJHhq-o8fzWTZ6W696jkJYoKGy3ICs9-78Lv8u3j9VCe7ujJzfOpTSdF_R2sD6QuN6GB5mnJVkojlj5sxS94cNDZ3FEqUO5xHMl5ZbzTH5xgXl-O63kZ-SbbUgWUbhgjQKOvUAczdzLJZOZQgERVoXUZu2ZIx57SD9mf97tnCPjw140DFixg8/s4029/IMG_2054.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="4029" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa2OHB6oJHhq-o8fzWTZ6W696jkJYoKGy3ICs9-78Lv8u3j9VCe7ujJzfOpTSdF_R2sD6QuN6GB5mnJVkojlj5sxS94cNDZ3FEqUO5xHMl5ZbzTH5xgXl-O63kZ-SbbUgWUbhgjQKOvUAczdzLJZOZQgERVoXUZu2ZIx57SD9mf97tnCPjw140DFixg8/w200-h121/IMG_2054.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - A long travel day. Google says that it was 18 hours from Hondo to our destination in Florida. <br /><div><br /></div><div>We headed due east through San Antonio and Houston before entering Louisiana. I never realized that we were around the same latitude as New Orleans. We stopped in Slidell, La, after driving around 600 miles. Slidell is a bit over the half way point. Hopefully, we’ll get an early start tomorrow. </div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dOub0MbxiTDTgwdogJ0rtX1E84q0Lbcxn-LJLF1QMMl_UCyd0j1BGQGcA8MEmweA3MpjCPAc_LGTZLWpP0gp9yU0ipUm1MMKQ0rkm_MqC_vdyjinx-APrirfLxjI-arxXSYpJzSfPlCNSN1n167AeIvXTxSyHSkUXk-W66ei45sK2kCKp_02CAYyMdI/s2745/IMG_2056.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="2745" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dOub0MbxiTDTgwdogJ0rtX1E84q0Lbcxn-LJLF1QMMl_UCyd0j1BGQGcA8MEmweA3MpjCPAc_LGTZLWpP0gp9yU0ipUm1MMKQ0rkm_MqC_vdyjinx-APrirfLxjI-arxXSYpJzSfPlCNSN1n167AeIvXTxSyHSkUXk-W66ei45sK2kCKp_02CAYyMdI/w200-h200/IMG_2056.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Friday</i> - We got an early start as we will lose an hour on today’s drive. I heard that the Blue Angels are based out of Pensacola, FL, and this display is at the Welcome Center. Bridget picked up a lot of tourist brochures to help the group decide what we are going to be doing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today’s drive is about 525 miles. Less than yesterday but still lots of time sitting in the car. Google says that we will arrive around 5pm. </div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-89900886312111752482024-02-14T15:33:00.025-09:002024-02-14T15:33:00.240-09:00Getting Ready for the Next Trip<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcvee1TsRhNqvbzd4N09qm3RZyM05luNNKWQoNicLX1GqZSNoz8e37CmHPhg8sBspHg_C2gs7C_dhAICmdik4HQ95CyVKMcxB40HNy7prwP4EJ9A1dHxZ-ntQS7oI336GPZjP8dfcueyzFxUR6ZgVKFhS6hGQgUI-7t0EhGkyfshuBVl1efrCEHYSShE/s1410/IMG_2052.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcvee1TsRhNqvbzd4N09qm3RZyM05luNNKWQoNicLX1GqZSNoz8e37CmHPhg8sBspHg_C2gs7C_dhAICmdik4HQ95CyVKMcxB40HNy7prwP4EJ9A1dHxZ-ntQS7oI336GPZjP8dfcueyzFxUR6ZgVKFhS6hGQgUI-7t0EhGkyfshuBVl1efrCEHYSShE/w159-h200/IMG_2052.jpeg" width="159" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - Our next trip is another non-RV trip. We are driving to Florida to meet up with some good friends. Bridget has been planning this for quite a while. <p></p><p>This afternoon, we went into Castroville to pick up some food for Florida at Dziuk’s. Some skirt steak, chorizo, and bacon. As well as some Hatch salsa and some gifts. We are also planning to bring a bunch of tamales. Having the portable refrigerator/freezer is really handy. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLtIJNK981Pvvx7wE5dP9ZmpKDYZclTbwcg-jC4rMhhyphenhyphenlt9X2K9Ac1cJzK3UIjAX-x0S1bs5ek_VfK8YOZsqKsLL-UzugK_rZO23T3uEKlvxHzVhi_-wrg0ZfizEGcf-GKpKsT-W-GAL7iIA5B3P0GRFWvZQSUR9J3vCaMEXaplEtQRYjIWiRcaLgZw/s4032/IMG_2051.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLtIJNK981Pvvx7wE5dP9ZmpKDYZclTbwcg-jC4rMhhyphenhyphenlt9X2K9Ac1cJzK3UIjAX-x0S1bs5ek_VfK8YOZsqKsLL-UzugK_rZO23T3uEKlvxHzVhi_-wrg0ZfizEGcf-GKpKsT-W-GAL7iIA5B3P0GRFWvZQSUR9J3vCaMEXaplEtQRYjIWiRcaLgZw/w150-h200/IMG_2051.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We then stopped at Landmark Inn, a state historic site. It had a small museum as well as several me buildings such as the old mill that eventually turned into an electric generator. This wooden pulley and millstone were on display.<p></p><p>We also stopped at Haby’s Bakery, a German bakery just down the road. I picked up an apple fritter for tomorrow morning and a load of bread for the trip.</p><p>We then had dinner at Blu Lacy Smokehouse. The combo plate of brisket, pork ribs, sausage was very tasty. Better than the other bbq I’ve had in this town. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATfXcDTOfV6Wd-G6ceICrZ1dJkNOBqDaD3ZGEfXt4kTtRaEcqbo8hVcEEHla2rw53lwFZj6YnzZ4PzD60_1eTjjuLJfT16BE0lAevoGvtxtlCw8khRz3ozKvLLErN8DBCzAm-1XWfDKlqP87mYG6cstgP8JQxVXD3aoIAh4I7Ewb7ATrPHf9CVbxH_Ts/s4032/IMG_2053.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATfXcDTOfV6Wd-G6ceICrZ1dJkNOBqDaD3ZGEfXt4kTtRaEcqbo8hVcEEHla2rw53lwFZj6YnzZ4PzD60_1eTjjuLJfT16BE0lAevoGvtxtlCw8khRz3ozKvLLErN8DBCzAm-1XWfDKlqP87mYG6cstgP8JQxVXD3aoIAh4I7Ewb7ATrPHf9CVbxH_Ts/w150-h200/IMG_2053.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</i> - The tasks continue today. We said goodbye to Dom & Martha this morning as they continue further into Texas. We really enjoyed their visit. After some grocery shopping and a test session, I regenerated the water softener. It takes two cartons of table salt which was pretty cheap at H-E-B. After draining the softener, you add the salt and run a slow stream of water through it for 25 minutes. Then rinse at a higher volume for 6 minutes. <p></p><p>I will pack it away along with the hoses and regulator until we return. It’s not supposed to freeze but it will get close. Better safe than sorry. </p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-69304941586210865602024-02-12T15:10:00.002-09:002024-02-12T18:09:32.190-09:00San Antonio <p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzwL6ZTDqImYN0diiQQ8Ntq80q5tAxO9BBIIDp_QPIqU09VVHFBWF7Ul6dDIWI2Itp357MrYabvunkaynCj-bEYXXVB8x6NiM02bldlgPIBLM7d2fcxeO-WwxI6kWapeMpjt1iNthgrfhpTHO6OrBKFNNITFng0WMQQv_qAVtdL4wVVx027Hz0D2A3CI/s4032/IMG_2037.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzwL6ZTDqImYN0diiQQ8Ntq80q5tAxO9BBIIDp_QPIqU09VVHFBWF7Ul6dDIWI2Itp357MrYabvunkaynCj-bEYXXVB8x6NiM02bldlgPIBLM7d2fcxeO-WwxI6kWapeMpjt1iNthgrfhpTHO6OrBKFNNITFng0WMQQv_qAVtdL4wVVx027Hz0D2A3CI/w200-h150/IMG_2037.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</i> - We ventured into San Antonio today with Dom driving. The first stop was the Alamo via the Riverwalk. It was not crowded at all and they had an excellent, short presentation inside the building. After a little more wandering around the downtown area, we had lunch at Casa Rio. They bill themselves as the first restaurant to open on the Riverwalk. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJjnHACAysra5frmctBMGKVjlIDXClq_jUgvEmTHyqn3FtCm_lTZZgjSfDhAmpzE3uWFlmU2QBsMiJeuPwN8tG3xfwLj2-P4FZg9m0bm7dTqahbUmV-c00o_G3lJGwe0DwOLmt26ZWXAUHDmZgGiPVMYWnxJq8ZU9izWP9ncORVnOlPuvlHTODtZB58s/s4032/IMG_2041.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJjnHACAysra5frmctBMGKVjlIDXClq_jUgvEmTHyqn3FtCm_lTZZgjSfDhAmpzE3uWFlmU2QBsMiJeuPwN8tG3xfwLj2-P4FZg9m0bm7dTqahbUmV-c00o_G3lJGwe0DwOLmt26ZWXAUHDmZgGiPVMYWnxJq8ZU9izWP9ncORVnOlPuvlHTODtZB58s/w150-h200/IMG_2041.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>We then headed back to the car and headed to three other missions in the area. A 12,000 step day…<div><br /></div><div>If you want a lot of pictures, go to <a href="https://redlegsrides.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-san-antonio-river-walk-alamo-and.html?m=1">Dom’s blog post</a>. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjokPAgkn-G-Mhh1xmtW-FxpYSBcAnB0yUxPGS4kYCykNAbJe2xtGEH2AhD4Knt9ZS8c-WrauBCEOuES5wzpQv8ygM9x2q4iwJrzLJZwtCuxdy2ayq5Hvl2wb4kc-BErx1ar17kE-MUcmfE2yzzAU1k4izWzsk2Se-9SxI1U9ZTiDTvxC-FYQu_hu7WeU/s4032/IMG_2045.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjokPAgkn-G-Mhh1xmtW-FxpYSBcAnB0yUxPGS4kYCykNAbJe2xtGEH2AhD4Knt9ZS8c-WrauBCEOuES5wzpQv8ygM9x2q4iwJrzLJZwtCuxdy2ayq5Hvl2wb4kc-BErx1ar17kE-MUcmfE2yzzAU1k4izWzsk2Se-9SxI1U9ZTiDTvxC-FYQu_hu7WeU/w150-h200/IMG_2045.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOo5Gn2jSyohZztCVQKKCyVDgK7bDVVZA_Ouap13zm9tCK8UgR5ruBmwA8MdOKEjr1hr2SWpc3AoOoJMo2Hy4CNHNvLZqcNYisHfa7m6ohnfIjVkgkVZHK6OSm_EtrGCWzi161pazVIsZVMkUTpBv_WtoEc5TjwrK1THvrz4rnNKviKUM3jZkFmwEZb_k/s4032/IMG_2048.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOo5Gn2jSyohZztCVQKKCyVDgK7bDVVZA_Ouap13zm9tCK8UgR5ruBmwA8MdOKEjr1hr2SWpc3AoOoJMo2Hy4CNHNvLZqcNYisHfa7m6ohnfIjVkgkVZHK6OSm_EtrGCWzi161pazVIsZVMkUTpBv_WtoEc5TjwrK1THvrz4rnNKviKUM3jZkFmwEZb_k/w150-h200/IMG_2048.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmeiJRxIbsiKCbNsNw_-_LMcmxknAlKU5IwzGGC2h-Qf8F6cneJ-DY9Rc8nVGONWmsH1oHf218wo1R7twwh866EJETu1kg2s5u_W9X8zBXLDhDalSELKxNi8IZl-qiC6WjQmbx3IcQEioQmyy8OcGamDp2d6fHDqakIpPSrQDKbqWTEUnxwesqSGIB4E/s4032/IMG_2050.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmeiJRxIbsiKCbNsNw_-_LMcmxknAlKU5IwzGGC2h-Qf8F6cneJ-DY9Rc8nVGONWmsH1oHf218wo1R7twwh866EJETu1kg2s5u_W9X8zBXLDhDalSELKxNi8IZl-qiC6WjQmbx3IcQEioQmyy8OcGamDp2d6fHDqakIpPSrQDKbqWTEUnxwesqSGIB4E/w200-h150/IMG_2050.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-51757178836416605512024-02-11T15:28:00.049-09:002024-02-12T14:56:42.842-09:00RV Tasks at the SKP Park - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - Today was a productive day. I helped Dom replace his awning fabric and install a window awning on his RV. It didn't take too long to get it done considering we were following directions from YouTube. At least for the awning fabric.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyOGvrmY7XXGhCUNTpVjUZUuHxS0LEa36UGsjj2E9mIi5_IPYEtqDnDaQUM-jsA47zeKk9GEgT6hqJOOL80-bw3Jjph8i1VTzsi-BZFd9rYK4lKLKRDzVPI4C1vFyjrglVu5LI0U8Wcyx24c8MJZfNBDxcnAbj4I_VRqPf47C2JKVQojm729JtZkwzg0/s4032/IMG_2034.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyOGvrmY7XXGhCUNTpVjUZUuHxS0LEa36UGsjj2E9mIi5_IPYEtqDnDaQUM-jsA47zeKk9GEgT6hqJOOL80-bw3Jjph8i1VTzsi-BZFd9rYK4lKLKRDzVPI4C1vFyjrglVu5LI0U8Wcyx24c8MJZfNBDxcnAbj4I_VRqPf47C2JKVQojm729JtZkwzg0/w200-h150/IMG_2034.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - The project of the day was getting an additional house battery installed. Eventually, I want to upgrade our inverter as the one we currently have is an older modified sine wave model. The square wave output is hard on electronics and appliances. The model I want to replace it with requires up to 300amps DC and two batteries we had are unable to provide that much current.<p></p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - I attended the local ham radio club meeting this morning. I got a ride from one of the other members who lives here in the park. After the meeting, we stopped at Dziuk's meat market in Castroville. I picked up a maple-blueberry pork sausage at the recommendation of another customer. This evening, I cooked it up on the Blackstone along with cabbage. I used a mild sweet-sour sauce and served it over broken-up linguine. It was delicious. The sausage definitely had a "breakfast" feel to it. </p><p>I returned from Castroville in time to participate in the late morning test session. After the session, I charged up the laptop. This is the only time I plugged it in this week. I'm still amazed at how long the battery lasts on this laptop.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY56drOpw64baCMmZqH72MZaUYu1oa-fw6Y7s5NnYczi55NB4bC7MMft9detSq9QqWlu-C4dViG9sAvAi87wJvnn25_7SK2NdHVd_FUZkkq5hOQyZgxIyoXlvcXZAMOszKTck0g_V_-VmAPquOTYnXYMnfJKdRFvFKP_BpVU44fhSnwjXPJtH_nwyaSE/s4032/IMG_2035.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY56drOpw64baCMmZqH72MZaUYu1oa-fw6Y7s5NnYczi55NB4bC7MMft9detSq9QqWlu-C4dViG9sAvAi87wJvnn25_7SK2NdHVd_FUZkkq5hOQyZgxIyoXlvcXZAMOszKTck0g_V_-VmAPquOTYnXYMnfJKdRFvFKP_BpVU44fhSnwjXPJtH_nwyaSE/w150-h200/IMG_2035.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</i> - Todays project was reinstalling the shore power cord reel. I had cleaned up the contacts a while back and it should be good to go for now. I removed the temporary twist-lock outlet for now and will re-install it later if needed. I may work on a way to have both options. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxMKgphM8SSToH_S-31x4sii14QPaIl5jJtHeRJlIU4ONL9ZYThnLWM95-_wk7i6mMtSuc8xiZHFPp77IltNQZ9cb8ZjffeUdDFoVP4zJ29MDb-CqpCkKtXm_d66u822duEyPT-mCG8bEwAxr1_y3_nVnvUa_tvi5WShl2T3gncwxLWWHS869Hw8aYcY/s4031/IMG_2036.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2561" data-original-width="4031" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxMKgphM8SSToH_S-31x4sii14QPaIl5jJtHeRJlIU4ONL9ZYThnLWM95-_wk7i6mMtSuc8xiZHFPp77IltNQZ9cb8ZjffeUdDFoVP4zJ29MDb-CqpCkKtXm_d66u822duEyPT-mCG8bEwAxr1_y3_nVnvUa_tvi5WShl2T3gncwxLWWHS869Hw8aYcY/w200-h127/IMG_2036.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Here, I’m sitting in the cell phone parking lot at the San Antonio airport. Bridget is flying back from a short visit to winter…<br /><div><br /></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-74604848434203809292024-02-06T14:27:00.000-09:002024-02-06T14:27:00.137-09:00Hanging Around the Park - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BPvUc2wZHgmVDuhyTA7HtgnJGjP1EoP6kqlTaLKN_XkigDttt7_5jkyPYyfe6-aol8m8dzo0IKbCt_D3PVkVBXEGHv5gvVB9myAW_o2-oIm4MfbD0JxW94yBwl8zVfif8hc8Hed6Mh4x-zZpO4qGBCT4p1QFPJoW_q-NSOVtkwpIUMdhj2g741xLxQE/s4032/IMG_2030.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BPvUc2wZHgmVDuhyTA7HtgnJGjP1EoP6kqlTaLKN_XkigDttt7_5jkyPYyfe6-aol8m8dzo0IKbCt_D3PVkVBXEGHv5gvVB9myAW_o2-oIm4MfbD0JxW94yBwl8zVfif8hc8Hed6Mh4x-zZpO4qGBCT4p1QFPJoW_q-NSOVtkwpIUMdhj2g741xLxQE/w200-h150/IMG_2030.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</i> - After the morning test session, I took the Ural out for a short ride. I ended up at the Country Store in D'Hanis and picked up a handful of grocery items. On the way back, there were a couple of packages for Dom delivered to the office. They easily fit on the rear rack of the Ural. It is a bright, sunny day but it's only around 62°F probably due to the north wind.<p></p><div>In other words, it was a pretty slow day today. I did go to the clubhouse to use their Internet as I'm down to around 10GB with about four more days on the AT&T hotspot. It seems to go quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - A cool-ish, calm morning. No wind or rain the the forecast. At least for this week. I had left the solar panels tilted even though the forecast was for wind gusts into the high 30s. They are all still solidly mounted though I am considering replacing all of the plastic mounts for some half-height Unistrut channels. When I originally installed the panels, I couldn't find any that were either reasonably priced (including shipping) or in the local area. I guess the supply chain issues have eased up as the local Home Depot carries it in stock.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hqkt48T1sNL7_JgbwdEt1YvbEeMd4eJ8US91TsGZGJAgTICP7q2A0880_dGOxCU1F35hxqVtozLpF4FRmX0GP7khAu9i5t8AyeSo4lvinABQCE4ke1I73yjXB7iU6TLAFrZI7Rk3zdBvRCGH-01byt2a3TxcneMVY5r3XC8C-PjMZTFToq2WPIRUges/s4032/IMG_2033.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hqkt48T1sNL7_JgbwdEt1YvbEeMd4eJ8US91TsGZGJAgTICP7q2A0880_dGOxCU1F35hxqVtozLpF4FRmX0GP7khAu9i5t8AyeSo4lvinABQCE4ke1I73yjXB7iU6TLAFrZI7Rk3zdBvRCGH-01byt2a3TxcneMVY5r3XC8C-PjMZTFToq2WPIRUges/w200-h150/IMG_2033.HEIC" width="200" /></a></div>And, it looks like the top rung of the ladder needs to be replaced as well. Another one of today's projects. I also added an Anderson connector for the 12V supply on the portable refrigerator/freezer as the stock connector was getting unreliable. The Anderson connectors seem to be a decent design and handle the current. I still left the stock connector as the AC adapter connection isn't burned. Probably all of the bouncing when it was in the Jeep.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-87637454310679591422024-02-04T16:42:00.000-09:002024-02-04T16:42:51.174-09:00Medina Lake, TX<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</i> - It’s been a couple of months since the engine in the RV was last run so I started it this morning and ran it at a high idle until the water temperature was 175°F. No issues and it ran smoothly with no smoke even right after starting. In a couple of months, we plan to drive it to the Corpus Christi area for an event with sand sculptures. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TdtjaDSnITNPUJ5nQQ4bOIoF4YKQoKpOVKvj4Juxv_9U7RiXNcvsbyP3jTQGRq16O9RLMMtMppDuqZLeKoavNZ-EHeqenjqYHZzB82vMjtMmeD6_cAsJzPXhduizJwCwS8M-neY6GKObnSTWGwq-W1tG_2gQd1UphjtMW26Mikvvb18tcTszO2fAY_s/s4032/IMG_2028.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TdtjaDSnITNPUJ5nQQ4bOIoF4YKQoKpOVKvj4Juxv_9U7RiXNcvsbyP3jTQGRq16O9RLMMtMppDuqZLeKoavNZ-EHeqenjqYHZzB82vMjtMmeD6_cAsJzPXhduizJwCwS8M-neY6GKObnSTWGwq-W1tG_2gQd1UphjtMW26Mikvvb18tcTszO2fAY_s/w200-h150/IMG_2028.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I drove the Jeep to Medina Lake to visit with some good friends. The route that Google maps suggested took me around the base of the dam and there was a view of the reservoir. I heard that the water level is around 10% of its former self. There is no water visible from the campground.<br /><p><br /></p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-60536004321429601052024-02-03T15:21:00.001-09:002024-02-03T15:21:16.625-09:00More Projects<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifARccMLbSPeyyAc6rPrwKyaKOnMlHU86bvKw7aONtIFlzRKdEzHA8HoOteR31cf0wFeLZB9dq_OPKQTzJoeWEeK9U2oAOJMm_1YWaapBh5V2G9fYTxdfBE1tLfaMbDxd3apRYnAUJSuEXM3R2R16t-9-fO2zkNtoB1BuS95pq8GB9y_ELa_J1NvOC8Qc/s2979/IMG_2021.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="2979" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifARccMLbSPeyyAc6rPrwKyaKOnMlHU86bvKw7aONtIFlzRKdEzHA8HoOteR31cf0wFeLZB9dq_OPKQTzJoeWEeK9U2oAOJMm_1YWaapBh5V2G9fYTxdfBE1tLfaMbDxd3apRYnAUJSuEXM3R2R16t-9-fO2zkNtoB1BuS95pq8GB9y_ELa_J1NvOC8Qc/w200-h141/IMG_2021.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - It's going to be a windy couple of days. Complete with some rain, thunder, and lightning. I guess I'll see how well the solar panels stand up to some wind. On my last trip down the ladder from the roof, a couple of the plastic ladder pieces decided to fail (again). I found replacements on Amazon for not only the plastic pieces but also the aluminum ladder rungs themselves. I guess 18 years is long enough for plastic sitting outside.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcgbHvW1c0yB2LdAYB5r9CJ7amAcgdD2ssJauVyF7ZWmVNDZSRBnIcGy2a-_TvJ8z0gChgjfXD20pSyhq2MHKyuiPxfB0s-CxwvtebFxyz20Ekf4-MGXZxw2NRuYgzxXPt6iCfvc8EZlZGFu-O8EqksgxBMMblxXs6a_lHEdFM44HLPMy3Q6OdfipSUk/s1922/screenshot_02.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1922" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcgbHvW1c0yB2LdAYB5r9CJ7amAcgdD2ssJauVyF7ZWmVNDZSRBnIcGy2a-_TvJ8z0gChgjfXD20pSyhq2MHKyuiPxfB0s-CxwvtebFxyz20Ekf4-MGXZxw2NRuYgzxXPt6iCfvc8EZlZGFu-O8EqksgxBMMblxXs6a_lHEdFM44HLPMy3Q6OdfipSUk/w200-h57/screenshot_02.png" width="200" /></a></div>A couple of years ago I had looked for these on Amazon and they were ridiculously expensive. This time, the price was more reasonable. I believe that at least four of the rungs need to be replaced at this time. A project for next week. <br /><p>Another project is re-installing the cord reel. I'm trying to come up with a way to retain the twist-lock connector and the cord reel but that will require some sort of shut-off switch on the cord reel. Or else the plug will be "hot" if the twist-lock is being used.</p><p>Even with the overcast day, the solar charge current topped out at 46 amps. I guess tilting panels are the way to go. I have been resistant due to the effort of climbing up on the roof. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiT3qfG3bA06KWtsuYrlIA_X5nx0kNLWLJdxfuwQ3MymYBGQHytCMFHo8XXaa-2y28yNO2bRv2OZ0Chg9qsp9z3AnymrwLPcL5WRfGwC6dhGUILU5yvwV79rktUMl5KVZnbtqres7HCjorqSbNrahD_NWku6h7PM4_oYVrCzkin3ZwVeqw6MMu10kuq1A/s4032/IMG_2024.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiT3qfG3bA06KWtsuYrlIA_X5nx0kNLWLJdxfuwQ3MymYBGQHytCMFHo8XXaa-2y28yNO2bRv2OZ0Chg9qsp9z3AnymrwLPcL5WRfGwC6dhGUILU5yvwV79rktUMl5KVZnbtqres7HCjorqSbNrahD_NWku6h7PM4_oYVrCzkin3ZwVeqw6MMu10kuq1A/w150-h200/IMG_2024.jpeg" width="150" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - More thunderstorms last night but it looks clear and sunny today. The ladder parts arrived in today’s mail. I completely replaced three of the four rungs on the uppers part of the ladder and salvaged components and replaced the lowest rung on the lower, detachable part of the ladder. I still have one more new rung and may replace the top rung just because it’s old and probably ready to fail anyway. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhT3JyG4EfcmV2vhlwd15hRYfaSkwTIIph4ncmklxZMl9VcBTIC1wP5ahCJ5uMo_H2unTToRp4-TnY3Ql21SHIuU562_VQOLi2cTY9y1x6OarWUoe1otrgDYm7vK4GpYwMtUH3RbJoqmPDa7qnuFWSezfwTlLSDft2Yw1bfmHa6J2CUBq3zw8cJa-UygY/s1057/IMG_2025.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1057" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhT3JyG4EfcmV2vhlwd15hRYfaSkwTIIph4ncmklxZMl9VcBTIC1wP5ahCJ5uMo_H2unTToRp4-TnY3Ql21SHIuU562_VQOLi2cTY9y1x6OarWUoe1otrgDYm7vK4GpYwMtUH3RbJoqmPDa7qnuFWSezfwTlLSDft2Yw1bfmHa6J2CUBq3zw8cJa-UygY/w200-h162/IMG_2025.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Based on our location (latitude, average cloud cover, precipitation, etc.) the NREL estimates that we can harvest about 83 kWh for the month of February or about 3 kWh/day. This is for our modest 0.83 kW of solar at a 30° angle. BTW, if the panels aren’t tilted, the estimate is 65 kWh for February. A loss of about 20%. <br /><p>Today’s total of 3.10 kWh is about the most we ever produced. The jury is still out on whether it’s worth the effort to tilt the panels. </p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-2653934952345320532024-02-01T14:15:00.003-09:002024-02-02T07:02:46.931-09:00Tilting the Solar Panels<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfpuVaQhXYlyFgd_QQnTQJ83H6vDV-HGnEil7prQsuzmY7FJt9gO-0XILwsOeX-JEUv8vOAewPTQTP5Z_xHSv7aCmBA-YxSGE_VKipWN2gsHBLmg1G7XkkFbzeyF7suXoH9sEJxWL0F6u2v6a605INGy1Z0pNRMM8QcB2ITZD6x6U5FQ5mdQPVYQfKn4/s4032/IMG_2019.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfpuVaQhXYlyFgd_QQnTQJ83H6vDV-HGnEil7prQsuzmY7FJt9gO-0XILwsOeX-JEUv8vOAewPTQTP5Z_xHSv7aCmBA-YxSGE_VKipWN2gsHBLmg1G7XkkFbzeyF7suXoH9sEJxWL0F6u2v6a605INGy1Z0pNRMM8QcB2ITZD6x6U5FQ5mdQPVYQfKn4/w200-h150/IMG_2019.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - After figuring out how to install the Renogy tilting mounts, the last two panels went quickly. I was all done around 3pm or so and that included adding Dicor to the screw heads. I still need to do a bit more but need some more hardware from Tractor Supply to add a little more support to one of the plastic mounts. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRNCav_CU19dAZi9Lj_lDOiwRPBnRkXI-rI4QCco6JUNCNzMr1-EDEY_hoAOx4qwu8cEpE0siG0R47LG6E4fThxppTLxDyiE3aRxlASuGQAOh68fWhQLsYALpURPvYuVo2jFFm1-n4wjpip2aTA_dDJ_zSqQ1U9dToYltiMCDSc095U5qI7L0OXVc_Vc/s1125/IMG_2020.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1125" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRNCav_CU19dAZi9Lj_lDOiwRPBnRkXI-rI4QCco6JUNCNzMr1-EDEY_hoAOx4qwu8cEpE0siG0R47LG6E4fThxppTLxDyiE3aRxlASuGQAOh68fWhQLsYALpURPvYuVo2jFFm1-n4wjpip2aTA_dDJ_zSqQ1U9dToYltiMCDSc095U5qI7L0OXVc_Vc/w200-h144/IMG_2020.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Today was kind of cloudy (but warm!) and you can see when I added the second two panels. I don’t remember ever getting over 500 watts from this installation. The charge controller maxes out at 50 amps which is around 600 watts. I may need to upgrade the charge controller if it maxes out...RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-77375662047998290802024-01-30T12:58:00.002-09:002024-01-30T12:58:37.608-09:00Fredericksburg, TX<i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupyAbxWc2gwdQ5nAGOFliSxy6GTzMs8MD8arO6rxW3nvJL2fUer49c1Ti0jS6qTmOj1xvmpr_Cm7GYEh309qVpmodiB8mbHCXHD0_oxDd2Yo0r07S31wXBRtUdcJQ4FN-vuraSiksZG1a-M0b1zUJa7CYdaqaAvSGFrdJG06jVodjzdbyO_iGkh9caEY/s4032/IMG_2012.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupyAbxWc2gwdQ5nAGOFliSxy6GTzMs8MD8arO6rxW3nvJL2fUer49c1Ti0jS6qTmOj1xvmpr_Cm7GYEh309qVpmodiB8mbHCXHD0_oxDd2Yo0r07S31wXBRtUdcJQ4FN-vuraSiksZG1a-M0b1zUJa7CYdaqaAvSGFrdJG06jVodjzdbyO_iGkh9caEY/w200-h150/IMG_2012.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Tuesday</i> - This morning, we drove north to Kerrville and Fredericksburg. We stopped at the Nimitz Museum but it was closed. We tried the Fredericksburg Brewery but it was also closed. Most of the touristy places seemed to be closed on Tuesday. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYTlimlDShj9DAuDmJgMQ-vmT3EfszViCr4CEuAwUdRQXUIATCHZBYpwEKCc6vG50XkVjUpKua1AmotWWGiWtctMMyFQTs06t3zB7i05cjGTp93Iu3GU_L3rqoqZ64Ds5Bkb9axP5Q0r5aREj20qxvNg9EMkRSzeh0iWqc0F_xs0NC211NpU3T4tad3A/s4032/IMG_2011.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYTlimlDShj9DAuDmJgMQ-vmT3EfszViCr4CEuAwUdRQXUIATCHZBYpwEKCc6vG50XkVjUpKua1AmotWWGiWtctMMyFQTs06t3zB7i05cjGTp93Iu3GU_L3rqoqZ64Ds5Bkb9axP5Q0r5aREj20qxvNg9EMkRSzeh0iWqc0F_xs0NC211NpU3T4tad3A/w200-h150/IMG_2011.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>We had lunch at a German restaurant and I had the roast beef rouladen over spaetzel. It was different but not a standout dish. The pickles weren’t very sour and the gravy was kind of bland. </div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch, we wandered around the downtown some as well as the small town of Bandera on the way back to Hondo. This was a nice “no-project” day. </div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-26903185070992455862024-01-27T15:48:00.007-09:002024-01-28T12:57:44.966-09:00This is More Like It!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIOKU2p965FwIlO4JnTvqB3KOj0tOyjdCkpVpUGFNo0mJW7xvykEh4uZqlYGde6vUlSoTMwufgK-cu1wONYX7rsEsHSa4Al_fRxHXEOcdyC5-V7jejiogyMmzVju_bmLxopO8o9u-i6sqO2V7W9c_UiiogAiH5dUEfRt1OjUVZCzTrwci4_l3pUB1fAY/s1337/IMG_2007.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIOKU2p965FwIlO4JnTvqB3KOj0tOyjdCkpVpUGFNo0mJW7xvykEh4uZqlYGde6vUlSoTMwufgK-cu1wONYX7rsEsHSa4Al_fRxHXEOcdyC5-V7jejiogyMmzVju_bmLxopO8o9u-i6sqO2V7W9c_UiiogAiH5dUEfRt1OjUVZCzTrwci4_l3pUB1fAY/w168-h200/IMG_2007.jpeg" width="168" /></a></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - Ahhh! Finally some wonderful temperatures. At least for a while. No rain in the forecast and the overnight temperatures are reasonable. <div><br /></div><div>We managed to get a couple of projects done. With DomC's help, I replaced the swivel rocker in the RV. It had started to fall apart after only a couple of years. We picked up the replacement from someone else here in the park who wanted to get rid of theirs. They felt that they had too much furniture in their shed. It's in wonderful condition.<br /><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEQekhzuwGmbsKBruSYgL20xy1Uk3kWZ9I6xbqXI3Wq3kdeC6vafOMfz-Stn45VqZxwHQ8nqYDMmDVrE1Hd1y2kMhHgY1jXxK0ssPz7nkG0oh6xG4uc_aPU02FXWCkTFbdQqVGAnTmYo6Kmt7djkBKKHBnYy3R_R-S7K8zxJe3TCMhMprM0Abn70ZXZs/s4032/IMG_2008.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEQekhzuwGmbsKBruSYgL20xy1Uk3kWZ9I6xbqXI3Wq3kdeC6vafOMfz-Stn45VqZxwHQ8nqYDMmDVrE1Hd1y2kMhHgY1jXxK0ssPz7nkG0oh6xG4uc_aPU02FXWCkTFbdQqVGAnTmYo6Kmt7djkBKKHBnYy3R_R-S7K8zxJe3TCMhMprM0Abn70ZXZs/w200-h150/IMG_2008.jpeg" width="200" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - The next project on the docket was installing tilting mounts for the solar panels. The mounts are made by Renogy and I had ordered two kits to see if it would work. They do work with a bit of modification to the plastic mounts I had used. Two of the mounts, which were not screwed into the roof structure, practically fell off. The Sikaflex held fine to the fiberglass but not to the plastic mounts. I just picked up some steel angle to attach the failed mounts to two other mounts which are fastened into the roof structure. <p></p></div><div>It took us 5 hours and a trip to Tractor Supply to get on panel done. The second panel should be done in a fraction of the time. Thank you Dom for all of your help. It is really appreciated. Two more tilt kits have been ordered. We have four panels.</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwJkkIJtYPR_ijEEsre6ai6YFi3TZYtxINAwaQObImZEnZdYzd_ughy35l7PwNnXPlICN5XzATVIuA9-SwQDNiL10j59VFW_Vcw6ySzJ8OK0ZWCaMTJemgAKh39FU7yYxmEnipjBixa8dSNYYMEB4zYbJCo27btA1TDbwvorMXk2hRlcLkfT25EBxzXo/s4032/IMG_2009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwJkkIJtYPR_ijEEsre6ai6YFi3TZYtxINAwaQObImZEnZdYzd_ughy35l7PwNnXPlICN5XzATVIuA9-SwQDNiL10j59VFW_Vcw6ySzJ8OK0ZWCaMTJemgAKh39FU7yYxmEnipjBixa8dSNYYMEB4zYbJCo27btA1TDbwvorMXk2hRlcLkfT25EBxzXo/w200-h150/IMG_2009.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Sunday</i> - The second panel went much faster. Four hours which included additional work on the first panel. Climbing up and down the ladder onto the roof and working on the roof seems to bring out a lot of aches. But half done. The other two should go even quicker. </div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-39787307486914440662024-01-24T18:27:00.001-09:002024-01-24T18:27:05.390-09:00Back to Normal - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</i> - I had brought up a Blu-Ray player from Fairbanks and finally got it installed in the RV. The old DVD player/amplifier got dumped a couple of years ago in Florida. I had put it by the dumpster and it was gone in about 15 minutes. I'm also trying to straighten out the mess of cables in that cabinet as it also has the antenneaDMR hotspot, Apple TV, DNS black hole, WiFi AP, and the HomeAssistant server. The router and the AT&T hotspot are on the other side of the TV.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09Wgo5RNW5eCXEC1Rn4Abqjbiu-xc91YI6JSSm5BWoS16tm3mWcqWqgs6O8IbWIqkW8cR_7Ase_drqJoYLYMykJxTmRyqlSfNFYIX0ryQs9prN3-MTY8xLz_4UdKv5n0sB-qIa1K2VrT35GDvXax-Pllw1rTnz6miyawIGdls4zK1e7bXuaIty_Fg4Ks/s1655/IMG_2005.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09Wgo5RNW5eCXEC1Rn4Abqjbiu-xc91YI6JSSm5BWoS16tm3mWcqWqgs6O8IbWIqkW8cR_7Ase_drqJoYLYMykJxTmRyqlSfNFYIX0ryQs9prN3-MTY8xLz_4UdKv5n0sB-qIa1K2VrT35GDvXax-Pllw1rTnz6miyawIGdls4zK1e7bXuaIty_Fg4Ks/w136-h200/IMG_2005.jpeg" width="136" /></a></div>It is a warm, muggy day with intermittent sprinkles. And this morning we had heavy fog. I think the humidity outside is 90% or something like that. The afternoon temperature was 70°F which is what I had been expecting. <p></p><p>Yesterday, I was hooking the water back up and the ball valve for the shutoff for our site was leaking. I reported it and the valve was replaced about 15 minutes later.</p><p>The AT&T is still working well enough for me to participate in test sessions. The highs for the rest of the week and into next week are all in the low 70s. I hope it stays this way for a while. </p><p>I noticed that the Ural rear turn signal lens was cracked with a small piece missing. I’m not sure when that happened. I used this super strong marine epoxy to put it back together. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</i> - Lots of thunder and lightning last night but not a whole lot of rain. I'm trying a new recipe for beef short rib ragu. Usually, I just make it in the Instant Pot but one recipe said that a slow cooker will have even more flavor. I also used marsala in place of red wine. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCej49SRaR2qCpjyhS3-bvxM1FJBTbSA_EyE4OxCU95C8e9_vVWehnCpV4d5T1zZ9DXbHPn935b0m2T3xZ8XxP_cOZO166_ZIpWr-aNogcTMZ_DIkFbrJ7BehImrtI6HLqXdKMptSH1Aes8g5EXHVVsFquYwHjYvgW6n7imjbpUcPls7usjU_0aefs2ho/s1752/IMG_2006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCej49SRaR2qCpjyhS3-bvxM1FJBTbSA_EyE4OxCU95C8e9_vVWehnCpV4d5T1zZ9DXbHPn935b0m2T3xZ8XxP_cOZO166_ZIpWr-aNogcTMZ_DIkFbrJ7BehImrtI6HLqXdKMptSH1Aes8g5EXHVVsFquYwHjYvgW6n7imjbpUcPls7usjU_0aefs2ho/w128-h200/IMG_2006.jpeg" width="128" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Later</i> - After about six hours, I switched the Instant Pot to pressure cook as the meat was still not the "fall apart" texture that I prefer. I had it pressure cook for 50 minutes followed by natural release for about an hour. It came out delicious. <p></p><p>The rain, thunder, and lightning returned in the evening. </p>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512448163402185409.post-20985266575213559742024-01-20T14:54:00.028-09:002024-01-23T12:15:10.035-09:00Back in TX - SKP<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VFaOigGgg6AI-xdymnZgY9qVu_3_2H3w4x1vM1qiwbbIt2IxT5sSmzmBCJloZEFx9vRT6Z2NSiNb3Cn8zYwhLTqMhpmrnggpFpgnTSQEuvfYsevx2luobJ_VsyiWqDDQ136_e3CLZb8eZ-XWW6QPm1PqbF0kbAGvPYEUddtSR-19kR4WTjcNRpu9AUw/s914/IMG_2002.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="849" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VFaOigGgg6AI-xdymnZgY9qVu_3_2H3w4x1vM1qiwbbIt2IxT5sSmzmBCJloZEFx9vRT6Z2NSiNb3Cn8zYwhLTqMhpmrnggpFpgnTSQEuvfYsevx2luobJ_VsyiWqDDQ136_e3CLZb8eZ-XWW6QPm1PqbF0kbAGvPYEUddtSR-19kR4WTjcNRpu9AUw/w186-h200/IMG_2002.jpeg" width="186" /></a></i></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</i> - This afternoon after it warmed up to 71°F, I used this to rinse off the road salt and brine from the Jeep. The wheel wells, fenders, and undercarriage had a lot of white on them. Afterward, it looked much better. It still needs a good washing but all of the white residue is gone. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vH3qeKKKDETmFKwZ3Nbxxr9Ee8aHwInwFMzVt_XJa7qPk8dlE4JgvWB7-dbxqHnS5c7_Jo__BdgTYt8c8u1VOksSoLPBNjIa0URXv2fD62yOAvnKc0jkKrJAJQ2u0yAlL2BYWhQNoJawJ3qBkUZTFZFyCVT6y7jGDMnmQYQFSxCDMgKy7-2O8RLeuL8/s1340/IMG_2003.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vH3qeKKKDETmFKwZ3Nbxxr9Ee8aHwInwFMzVt_XJa7qPk8dlE4JgvWB7-dbxqHnS5c7_Jo__BdgTYt8c8u1VOksSoLPBNjIa0URXv2fD62yOAvnKc0jkKrJAJQ2u0yAlL2BYWhQNoJawJ3qBkUZTFZFyCVT6y7jGDMnmQYQFSxCDMgKy7-2O8RLeuL8/w168-h200/IMG_2003.jpeg" width="168" /></a></div>Another RV repair is the front furnace. It apparently quit working Sunday afternoon while we were on our way to OK. The blower came on, you can hear it trying to light, and you can smell propane in the exhaust. So it just wasn't lighting. There was an RV mobile tech looking at the neighbor's motorhome and I asked him to stop by. He put his hand over the exhaust port and it lit almost immediately. He said that indicated that the burner was clogged probably by a mud dauber nest. I.e. wasp nest.<div><br /></div><div>This evening, there was a BBQ rib dinner prepared by several of the residents. We were too late to sign up for ribs so we signed up for cheeseburgers. One of the other residents really would prefered a cheeseburger so we switched. The pork ribs were delicious as were the side dishes. Especially the cauliflower "mac and cheese".<br /><p></p><div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</i> - It didn't get too cold last night so the heat pump had no problem keeping up. But it's windy today with gusts up to 35mph. At least it's nice and clear. After the morning test session, I rode the Ural to H-E-B to pick up some parsnips for tonight's dinner. It was a bit windy on the highway but not really an issue. UDF kicked in while in the store parking lot. Sidecars just aren't very common.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</i> - The furnace must've not like the idea of being poked and dismantled as it worked fine last night when the temperature dropped to 25°F. The system switched from the heat pump to the furnace when the temperature dropped below freezing. I will still pull it out and take it apart when it gets warmer to see if there is anything in the burner that would limit its reliable operation. It also could be that the propane level and pressure had dropped so low since the tank was at 2% when it was refilled.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8BsW27DhMzykW4f2SKgZAcN6Qfi1wvKeCEiqrkVnHU7Aru830K3Vo4UPBmln_xr2TkCT6G5RiBtuxV-5FyNGKY52-0DXIe3yVC6f26kJ9cwqYw8lTA00fygGZjHLq_8sigqmp5QTuSxznriyD471Toinr3_Tn4awm6Bg7cSzll-GcixqAM7lsnCYu7U/s1313/IMG_2004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8BsW27DhMzykW4f2SKgZAcN6Qfi1wvKeCEiqrkVnHU7Aru830K3Vo4UPBmln_xr2TkCT6G5RiBtuxV-5FyNGKY52-0DXIe3yVC6f26kJ9cwqYw8lTA00fygGZjHLq_8sigqmp5QTuSxznriyD471Toinr3_Tn4awm6Bg7cSzll-GcixqAM7lsnCYu7U/w171-h200/IMG_2004.jpeg" width="171" /></a></div>While we were in Ok, I did turn on the battery heaters but they never came on. The outside air temperature is the lower graph and the air temperature inside the insulated battery box is the upper graph. The batteries do heat up when charging and that seems to be sufficient to not need the heaters. <br /><div><br /></div>RichardMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.com2