Please Accept My Humble, Humble Apology.

The previous two posts probably have caused untold pain and anguish to the many tens of people who look at this blog expecting to see pictures of travels and fun rv'in'. If you are one of the many one or two humorless people who might have been psychologically scarred by the pictures and are seeking legal counsel hoping to earn millions of dollars in our lawyer infested society so that you can live on an island near Fiji, please accept my humble apologies!

Oh, and I probably don't have anything you want, anyway!

Happy Holidaze, Too

Happy Holidaze!

Clash of the Titans Weekend

Hope everyone's had a good Thanksgivings Day and hope that you've not OD'd on bird! The weather down heah in Tejas was just marvelous over the holiday, so we decided that we needed to get outta town for a quick three day sojourn to blow a little stink off.

Alas, I waited too long to book reservations at nearby state parks (who knew that everyone else would wanna leave town over the holiday, heh heh). Luckily, I found a nifty KOA just east of town along I10. If you are ever RVing in the area, I recommend KOA Houston East. It's really nice, with grassy sites and paved roads. Neat and trim doesn't begin to describe this purdy place.

The pool was actually open! A nice, sunny spot.

There's a nice green area for goofin' off.

As always, there's Kabins for them's without RVs.

Pleasant RV sites!

While sitting having a sip of wine Friday evening, I noticed that there was the sound of engines revving in the distance. I inquired at the KOA office and was advised there was a drag strip a few minutes away. So, on Saturday, we enjoyed something called "The clash of the Titans". Seems that this was the championship for this type of drag racing. There were professional teams and amateurs with outrageous Mustangs, Camaros, and other cars making all kinds of racket! What fun!

This guy was a winner.

I forgot my camera, so these pictures are from the following websites. Feel free to visit them!
KOA
HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK
OUTLAW STREET CAR NATIONALS

Fixin' Up The House

I'm recovering from a late-summer cold, of all things, so I'll take a moment to update the ol' blog.

We've spent the past couple of months surveying potential livin' quarters to buy in the near downtown area, and so far, the results have kinda been predictable. We've seen hirise condos, townhouses, and low-rise condos that are either too small, too expensive, or both. Sheesh! And, I gotta admit, the suburbs are cleaner than the areas that are supposed to be hot stuff near downtown.

With that in mind, we're renovating the interior of the suburban palace. If someplace else comes along to acquire, then the palace will be ready to sell. If not, we'll be moving back into our big 'ol circa 1975 place.

The kitchen and master bath have already been upgraded nicely. We've fixed up the upstairs bath, and now the front livin' and dinin' room. Next on the list is new paint 'n carpet for the den, carpet for the master bedroom, and new flooring for the entry.

Gotta admit, the ol' place will look sharp! Once this stuff is did, back to motoryhoming.

Livin' room

Dinin' Area

Harborside at Galveston

Recently had some relatives-by-marriage over for a visit, and we traveled down to Galveston. Here's a review I posted for the Harbor House Hotel:

I originally called the Galvez Hotel in Galveston, but they were booked for the two nights we wished to stay. The Galvez and the Harbor House are both owned by Wyndham Hotels, so they were able to book us into The Harbor House immediately.

Upon arrival in Galveston, we roasted on the beach. I telephoned ahead and discovered that, while check-in time is 4:00pm, they would be able to accommodate our party of 7 folks in two rooms at any time.

Both rooms were clean and the furnishings were free of excess wear. There is a microwave, small fridge, and tv in the wardrobe. Our room was quite large, with a sofa, comfy chair, lamps with three-way bulbs, coffee table, writing table with two large chairs, and soft beds. Regular and decaf coffee and tea were available each day. The room had exposed beams, a wood ceiling, and plenty of closet space. The walls are painted a soft golden color. I was happy to see that the windows open, so that you can enjoy the ambient sounds of the small yacht basin and harbor.

Each morning, we found a nice continental breakfast waiting in a 2nd floor living room near the elevator. The only problem I'm aware of is that the continental breakfast did not have butter available for one patron who loudly exclaimed his disappointment at putting jelly on his bagel.

There is an astronomically-expensive seafood restaurant beside this hotel; but dozens of other restaurants, boogy bars, and shops are a very short walk away.

If you love to comfortably watch harbor action and see cruise ships, yachts, shrimpers, and off shore oil rigs in drydock, this is the place for you! We've been there once before, and we'll go there again!
TripAdvisor.com

Movin' Into The City

Rising gas prices, lengthening drive times to work and play, declining quality of life..... the 'burbs are beginning to suck bigtime. So, time to move back into the city! We're renting a condo for awhile until we find a good one to buy. Here's some pictures of our current digs.

We decided on some amazingly comfortable and inexpensive sitting furniture from Ikea. The table is a relic from the early 1970's.

Beds from Ikea, an ol' quilt make for comfy sleeping. The 'puter is on a rolling table and can be used anywhere. Cats optional.

The walls between the condos, and even between the individual rooms, are cement! Great for sound-proofing!

Lots of shelving from Scandinavia keep the books, magazines, cloth swathes, and videos in some form of organization. You should see all the stuff that is still at the house in the 'burbs. Garage sale coming!

Cookin' them chops in the kitchen. That's eatin'!

Did I mention that cats are optional? Actually, we couldn't do without 'em.

S-10 Workhorse

Well, looks like a good thing that I spent that small fortune fixing up the ol' pickuptruck. It's been a real workhorse this past week, as the family 'n me relocate to a more central location in town. It's time to abandon the 'burbs for the inner city!

A nice hirise condo is just what the medicine man ordered. Yoo betcha!

The S10's In 'Da House

Ok, got the S10 back from the shop. It's running purdy good now. Gots a new set of lettered tires (decided against rims, since that'd make the truck theft-bait!) and now I'll start planning the paint job and interior mods.

The nebberhood mechanic thinks that the Chebby dealer put a carb made for a 4-banger on the 6-banger he installed back in 1996. I guess it's too late to make a warranty claim! Anyhoo, I hadn't noticed since the truck was driven mebby 100 miles in the last 10 years. An incorrect carb would explain why the truck idles a bit oddly at times. But, it is usable for now.

Cost so far to get the truck moving: $4000.00.

I'll have a better picture later. I'm not Photoshop qualified yet!

Smokin' Koff Koff

Stopped by the nebberhood mechanic yesterday. The mechanic who is working on the carb was out so the boss started up the S10 to see how the work is coming.... Well, "STINK BOMB" is appropriate. Lots of blue stink outta the tail pipe which means that the carb needs further adjusting...

Restin' For Awhile

The Windy is taking a brief rest. A few minor repairs are needed, but first I'm busy restoring our 1982 S10 pickitup truck. The Chebby mechanic who saw it when the tow truck dropped it off sez, "Old school!" At first I wasn't sure if he meant the truck, or me. I think I'll have that name airbrushed on the truck when painting time arrives.

The mechanicals should all be finished in a few days and then it's time to decide on whether to buy new tires for the existing wheels (the current tires have no miles on 'em, but the truck sat unmoved in the garage for 7 years) or invest in some dubs with low 'n wide tires. Then... it's new interior time. Then... it's off for a repaint: deep metallic blue with orange flames. Yikes!

I'll post pictures soon.

The Desert, 2006

Taking advantage of global warming, we took a little trip to the southwest desert. West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Californy enjoyed the benefits of our company (and spending). The weather was marvelous.

Be sure to click on the pictures to get enlarged fotos in eye-popping natchul color!

A traveling quat gets hungry!

                           A traveling quat makes sure the dishes stay clean!

The 'Windy and the Saturn toad in Van Horn for the evening.
The view from a west Texas roadside park. (Arizona, yew need a few more of these roadside parks, hint, hint!)

The 'Windy showing off her good profile.

The Imperial Valley in Californy.

What chew lookin' at?

Cactus near Balboa Park in San Diego.

 

More Cactus.

Le Fleur.

Balboa Park, San Diego, 'Forny.

Some people prefer to travel this way. Not me!

A desert reservoir east of Chula Vista, 'Forny.

Is it the moon? Mars? Nope. It's the desert.

The campsite at Terrible's Lakeside RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada. Pahrump Nevada is just across the mountains from Las Vegas. It is near Death Valley.

Terrible's is really nice. The mountains aren't far away!

Nappin' in the afternoon.

The Las Vegas Strip from the tinted winders of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Unfortunately, much of the Strip is under construction, as was this hotel, so I'd recommend waiting a couple of years before visiting Las Vegas. Unless you enjoy construction!

The above two pictures were taken in Red Rock Canyon, between Las Vegas and Pahrump.

The Nevada desert.

Nothin' like an outhouse when you need it!

Silver City, New Mexico is worth at least a three day visit. Unfortunately, we only had one day.

A bridge over the Gila River leading to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Local Indians lived there hundreds of years ago. They disappeared for no known reason.

The walk to the Cliff Dwellings is about a mile round trip. Just the thing in higher elevations!

Cliff Dwelling seen from the trail.

Markings of a snake inside a Dwelling.

The National Parks person said these corn cobs are hundreds of years old. Hmm, I wonder...

Inside the Cliff Dwellings. America's first condos?

The Gila River.