Happy Campers...: Apricity West

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TAP AND TURN VOLUME UP TO HEAR THE BIRDS SING - WAIT FOR IT

April 2, 2021, Friday

Today we crossed into the Central Time Zone - now only one hour behind EST. Arrived in Fort Stockton, TX RV Park at 4pm - just in time for cocktails and dinner at the family run cafe on site. Chicken fried steak dinners followed by vanilla Blue Belle ice cream. We watched "I’m Not Him” and cheered for ourselves at the cemetery scene and the credits. It was a fun experience and we have had fun telling people about it.

April 3, 2021, Saturday

On the road at 8:30am - still on Interstate 10 East. I love driving on this route. It is a straight shot with no decisions to be made until there are and hardly any traffic today. In the early 1900s, cross country “roads” were little more than improved wagon train trails. This interstate is now the major east-west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, from Jacksonvile, FL to Santa Monica, CA. Rich has travelled every mile of it. More than 1/3 of its entire length is located in Texas alone. It was constructed beginning in 1956 and is 2,460 miles long. The project was championed mightily by President Dwight Eisenhower when he signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act on June 29, 1956 which required 90% Congressional funding - mostly from gasoline taxes. The purpose was to allow for military transportation, a trucking route and an evacuation route when necessary. I can’t imagine the labor and expense of it with all of the drilling and blasting that was required to chisel a corridor through limestone rock hills in Texas, rather than follow the easier rural path. Critics of the highway said, “Now you can drive clear across the United States without seeing any of it!” because it by-passed the rural communities. Though the speed limit is 80 mph, we set cruise control at 64 mph, stay in our lane, and let traffic pass us by.

The differences I notice between the states of AZ and Texas:

Sand Storm Warnings vs. High Wind Area Warnings

Fencing vs. oil rigs, electric lines, telephone poles

Dry river bed, wash vs. draw

Sage brush vs. grass & trees

Cacti vs. wildflowers

Smooth river rocks vs. rough stones

Cooing doves vs. screeching seagulls (both can be annoying)

April 4, 2021, Sunday

HAPPY EASTER

Pulled out at 8:30am and we’re back on I-10 East. We are definitely out of the desert. Feels like we're back in the Berkshires with running rivers and ponds, Spring calves amongst the cattle, 50 shades of green, and splashes of bright wildflowers of all colors (blue bonnets, buttercups, lotus, Indian paint brushes, pink primrose, cosmos) along the roadside.

As we drive on, the beautiful wildflowers give way to construction - 20 miles of concrete barriers (with zero shoulder), reminiscent of the dreaded I-78 in Pennsylvania last November. So much for yesterday’s endearing description of I-10, but I suppose they have to keep up with the growth! I powered through my white knuckle driving shift (usually 2 hours) - Rich’s turn. We were surprised at the amount of traffic for Easter Sunday morning; isn’t everyone supposed to be in church? I listened to First Congregational service while Rich drove.

After putting up at Dellanera RV Park, walking the beach feels so good! Love our view...

Water, water everywhere!

I love the desert, and I love the ocean too.

April 5, 2021, Monday

Good morning, sunshine!

The gentle salty breeze wafting in the window with the rhythm of the surf was so soothing last night that I slept 9 hours. I will be walking about a mile each day - the sand is not loose and hard to walk in; it is like concrete and cars and trucks (even dump trucks) drive on it. Our beach has a wooden ramp/stairs to get to the water which is so much warmer than the icy Maine water for sure! People of all ages are swimming, surfing, and paddle boarding.

Katie’s Seafood was our lunch spot of choice! Sat outside and watched the tug boats and fishing boats come and go. The seagulls and pelicans were watching as well and bombarding the fishing boats as they returned with their catch.

Spent a quiet afternoon sitting in the sun and wind from the ocean. Painted some smooth New Mexico river rocks and crocheted.

Galveston is an island city and port on the Gulf coast of Texas. Founded in 1836 by Matthew Sabo, it served as the capital of the Republic of Texas.

There was a mystery when the gulf waters turned crystal clear blue for just a few days! Why?

Beach/by Dihlan

...As you may or may not know, the Mississippi River feeds right into the bay of Galveston. This is why the water is brown and not squeaky blue clean. You can read up on the details as to why this happens here. Subtropical Storm Alberto caused the Mississippi River current to flow east and out of Galveston Bay. This also took along the dirty sediment water that the Mississippi River brings to Galveston’s beaches.

With the flow of the Mississippi River cut off from Galveston Bay, water from other places began to flow in the direction of Galveston causing it to turn blue. But once the storm passed, the Mississippi River was allowed to function normally again, causing the brown water to come back to Galveston.

That is why the clear blue water only lasted a few days and not for eternity.

Fun Facts:

One fact is that Galveston was the home of the inventor of condensed milk. That’s right, Gail Borden, first customs inspector in 1837 would later invent condensed milk. Another historical fact is that Galveston was home to the first bakery in Texas. It was opened by an Irish immigrant named Christopher Fox in 1838. Also, Galveston is home to the oldest medical college in Texas. Once known as the Texas Medical College, it changed its name to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). (Rich’s daughter, Nora, attended there.)

April 6, 2021 Tuesday

It was great to meet up with Lenny and Susie at T-Bone Toms in Kehma. Lenny Dupuis retired as Director of Maintenance of Houston Coca Cola Bottling Company after 39 years of service. Rich used to sell him welding supplies decades ago. He has 2 sons and a daughter who used to play with Rich’s kids when they would get together at a beach on Galveston. He also got his Master's Captains license with the Coast Guard and would take Rich and others out deep sea fishing. The guys caught up on things while Susie and I shared info about each other. She has a farm with miniature "Oreo" cows, a miniature donkey, 7 chickens, 4 dogs (1 is a 9 month old labradoodle puppy), 4 cats (plus one new litter of 4 on Easter)…oh, and 4 grown children out on their own.

April 7, 2021, Wednesday

Carvings of Trees in Galveston (thanks for the heads up Duane and Louise)

On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike covered most of Galveston Island in a tidal surge. The damaging combinations of high winds and waves immediately uprooted many of the city’s trees and untimely lead to the demise of thousands. Ike forced Galveston to say a sad goodbye to so many of its beautiful tree canopies, but where many saw dead trees and waste after the storm, a group of home owners saw a chance to morph symbols of destructions into signs of rejuvenation… Today whimsical tree sculptors have replaced the magestic Oaks that once lined many neighborhood streets and shaded homes… The chainsaw sculptors were paid for by private residents.

We set out on a scavenger hunt to locate just a few of the works of art!

April 8, 2021, Thursday
Hung out for a while - taking one last ocean walk, adding adjectives to this blog, fact checking, etc. The hardest part about moving on is leaving - the people, the view. Wish we had more time here, but the park is booked.

Today’s route took us on I-45 right through Houston.

Rich lived/worked in the Houston area for 15 years and can’t believe the freeways that have expanded from 2 lanes to 5 or 6 and is noted to have the most lanes in the US going into Houston from the west - 13 lanes! Houston is now the 4th largest city in the USA. Downtown also has underground walkways filled with shops and restaurants. The medical center complex south of Houston also has an underground walkway connecting hospital to hospital.

We took a side trip to The Woodlands, a renowned master planned community (1974) of 44 square miles within Houston occupied by homeowners, corporations, medical facilities, 5 area codes, gas stations, schools,churches, lakes, parks, ice cream shops! It reminds me of Lakewood Ranch concept in Florida.

Rich and his family lived there for several years before they found an acre of land in nearby Magnolia. He hired a contractor to build the house externally after he and Tres cleared the land of trees with a chainsaw and shredder. The inside was just 2 x 4’s and they finished it off themselves over 5 years. Daughter Nora helped her Dad mix the concrete of their 16’ x 16’ driveway. When we drove by, the house was being remodeled and the neighborhood had grown exponentially.