Walkabout 2020 day 7

Sunday August 8

Packing up and heading home. Found that I had failed to seal my food box the previous evening and I had ants in everything! Dang it. Oh well, heading home anyway. Tossed the infested groceries after breakfast and repacked the rest.  Reorganized the load for best efficiency and headed to the gate.  Had to get in line at checkout and wait my turn, but that was just fine.   

So now I'm home. For some reason known only to her, Kathy was glad to see me. She enjoyed my away time, but was ready for me to be back.  So back I am. 

This "walkabout" didn't turn out as I'd planned.  I'd planned not to plan.  I wanted to drift with the wind, not really choosing a campground until I was on the road from the last one.  I wanted to hear of a good place and go there...no reservations or detailed plans. That doesn't work in modern America.  You've got to have a reservation well ahead to get a spot.  You've got to plan your food, your water, your fuel...everything.  I'm still going to call this my "walkabout", but I ended up having to call at least a day ahead for campgrounds.  Sometimes it had to be done online. Spontaneous just isn't a vacation word anymore.  Next time I'll plan a flexible plan. I've learned some things. I've had a really good time. And I will do this again.

Until nest time!

Walkabout 2020 day 6

 Saturday August 8

Morning. Nice sleep on my newly purchased cot... you know...the traditional style camp cot that hasn't changed much in over a hundred years because it doesn't need to. Breakfast as usual then off to a swim in the pool. A few folks were there already, pretty early, and they were doing Aquarobics. They instantly invited me to join in, so I did.  It was tougher than I thought it would be. They were mostly in my age group, some younger-some older.  Really nice. After we were finished I couldn't find the soda I had brought with me. Thomas said he knew it would be too warm to drink so he put it in his cooler.  Like I said-- nice folks.  I was also invited to a Bloody Mary Brunch that one of the couples was having in their trailer. I was a little leery, but apparently nearly everyone was invited.  Got there and it was a blast.  There were rock videos on the big screen, Bloody Marys and Mimosas and breakfasty finger foods.  We also made beaded name necklaces so we would all know each other's names.

I'd had breakfast AND brunch already, but then lunch was street tacos and margaritas from a local taqueria. I had to be careful not to overdo it. Afterwards I explored the area on foot. When I got back I spoke for quite a while with my neighbor, Kenny. Quite an old guy and a little different... but in an interesting way. He'd been around a lot, seen a lot, done a lot, and apparently lost a lot. Then back to the pool because the band was setting up. "The Spotlights" is a cover band and they were great! The female lead vocalist definitely had a strong set of pipes. People were in the pool, around the pool, outside the fence... everywhere.  Pretty much the whole park showed up.  It was a definite blast.  Stayed there long enough that I had to re-apply my sunscreen.

Back to the campsite for a nap and then some dinner, just fruit and nuts...I was full. As it was getting dark, the DJ in the clubhouse started up.  I told you-- lots of activities. I didn't go at first, but after a while I joined the festivities. I found that hardly anyone was dancing WITH anyone, just sort of dancing as a group. By now I knew several of them by name and face and had a good time.  Back to the tent before turning into a pumpkin and off to sleep.

My last night on walkabout. Home tomorrow around lunchtime. Anxious to see my beautiful wife. It will also be nice to sleep in my own bed Sunday night.

Walkabout 2020 day 5

 Friday August 7

Heading out...

[Of course I'm posting this well after the days. I'll be stopping by Starbucks in Burnett, Texas to upload what I typed yesterday as there is no wifi in the park. This post will wait until I'm all the way back. I don't like to advertise that I'm not at home. Yes, we have alarms and video surveillance, but I'd rather not have to address that.  Better to be here and prevent some of those issues.]

Last day at Inks Lake and I've had a really good time here.  I did have a brief issue with a ranger (all my fault, by the way). I decided to have a late swim at the Devil's Waterhole. Now, you're not supposed to swim after dark or alone. Guilty on both counts. The water was cool and soothing in the heat of the evening.  The Ranger was very nice about it. No scolding or threats or anything like that-- just more like "Sir, you really shouldn't be here swimming alone after dark. It's really not safe." No argument from me because, hey...he was right and I was wrong.  Again...no pictures.

Last night also was the loudest night of my trip so far.  The campers who had "bugged out" the previous night came back, but only the dad stayed.  The mom came in a separate car and carried off most of the stuff including all of the kids' stuff.  The dad was joined later by some of his buds and they stayed up kinda carousing until late.  Not too obnoxious...just drinking and loud. I let it go for once. (Here is also where I went for the "dark swim".)

Got up this morning, fixed breakfast with espresso (thanks again Steve) and packed up. Dismantling the camp went very well and I was packed completely in an hour and 20 minutes. I did give the leaking Styrofoam cooler to my neighbors. Told them it leaked but was good for short-term storage. Before I fully left the park, I drove a bit and took some pictures for Kathy to possibly paint. Then on the road.

I drove by way of Saledo, a different way than I had come, in order to visit at the home of Beth and Brian Dill, my sister-in-law and her husband. We had a really good, albeit short, visit. Then back on the road. Lord, everything is sooo dry! Finally got to my last campground, checked in, and started setting up.  Getting pretty fast at this, I must say.  This time--for the first time during this walkabout-- I had electricity available. Not only that, I was across the road from the bath-house and just a couple of dozen yards from the pool.  There were a lot more people at this campground.  Owner said they were fully booked for the weekend. Many didn't come until Saturday morning, but mine was the last tent site available. This was/is a very different campground that my usual. Several of organized activities including a live band for tomorrow. Also I finally have shade for my tent! Woohoo!! Makes a whole lot of difference.  Spoke to Kathy, of course, told her I love her (which I do), and settled in for the weekend.  These will be my last two nights on this walkabout.

Walkabout 2020 day 4

 Thursday--August 6, 2020

Today was a good day. After breakfast and cleaning up, I visited my neighbors as I knew they were leaving before lunch. It was nice to have congenial conversation in a normally solitary situation. (Kinda wish Kathy was here, but she wouldn't really want to do this like I'm doing it… no long range plan… just bouncing around. It's not my usual thing either. I'm generally a control nut about planning trips; that was the challenge on this"walkabout"- Let go. There have been bumps, of course, but it's a journey.

Early this morning, one of the Park Service Volunteers came around checking tags. Really nice guy. He stopped and talked for a while. I had been packing in my water because my site was listed as a "primitive site" meaning no water or electricity. I asked him the closest place to refill my 5 gallon jug. He looked a bit puzzled and pointed to my car. I puzzed right back at him. He said, "There's water at every campsite. Your's is over there somewhere." I looked...and hidden by the front of the car and a stand of cedar trees was, sure enough, a faucet. Hallelujah! "Succath, his eyes uncovered!"

I got up pretty early (as I said) and I noticed that one of my neighbors had bugged out during the night. When I say "bugged out" I mean they were gone, but their stuff was still there in a state of disarray. Two adults, a 3 yo and a baby...gone. Later, when they returned, we found out the baby wouldn't stop crying so they sent to a motel for the night.

As the Camp Store was closed until Friday, I went into Burnett for a couple of needed things. After stowing then I went out to the lake area known as the "Devil's Waterhole". Swam a bit and dove off the cliff. The water was lovely-- cool but not cold, refreshing. (Obviously no photos.) As I returned to camp I took a detour and found that the stinkin' store was open! Could have saved myself the trip into town. {rats}

If I can ever get Kathy over here, there are some air-conditioned cabins right near the lake. she'll like that. Also next time, Longhorn Caverns looks really interesting as a day trip from the camp. And next time, if i'm in a tent, find a campsite with a shady tent area and one that is flat and one with easy access to the lake/river. Next time. The WILL be a next time.

Walkabout 2020 day 3

Wednesday, August 5

[nerd alert—If you are offended (or bored) by nerdy things…skip the first bit and move on to Part II]

Part I

It’s interesting, you know, that I can mark my journey in part by the rocks on the side of the road.  Sounds weird, I know.  But when I think about it, it makes perfect sense.  At home in Palestine, Texas there is mostly sand and iron ore rocks. Oh, there’s the occasional sandstone and shale, but mostly sand and iron ore.  When I got to Russell Park at Georgetown Lake, it was mostly limestone…by far.  Now I’m at Inks Lake near Burnett, Texas and the native rock is by far pink granite with occasional quartzite.  With the rocks, the vegetation changes as well, influenced by soil depth and nutrients and water availability. AND when you change the vegetation, the animals change, too.  It just reminds me how interconnected we are with everything.  We judge others by our own experiences which are usually very different than theirs. It’s not “walk a mile in my shoes” but rather “live for a few generations like we do” before you judge.  Or just don’t judge.

Part II

Practice makes adequate, I guess.  The first time I put up the tent, yesterday, it took like an hour and a half.  I took it down and packed it in just 25 minutes. Today I put the thing up in about 25 minutes. And it looks better than last time. We’ll see what Friday brings as I head to my next, as yet unknown, campsite.  That’s the thing about a walkabout- you’re never sure where you’re headed next.  Each new location presents itself at the last location. You’ve gotta listen and talk to people around you. I’ll need to figure it out by tomorrow, though.  I’ve found that securing tent sites is very time sensitive. You can’t usually just drive up and expect to get a spot. I don’t want to spend another motel night on this trip.

I like Inks Lake. I’ve got a good campsite (complete with cacti and yucca plants). No electricity or water, but there’s water just 30 yards away. It’s a little further to the restroom/showers, but I’d rather take the car for that anyway. I do have a bit of a beef with Inks Lake though:  On their webpage it mentions their camp store more than once.  However, they’re not open Tuesday through Thursday; open only Friday through Monday. Had I known that, I would have stopped as I passed through Burnett on the way. Instead I had to take my sorry butt back to “civilization” for a couple of things…ice, batteries, etc. Small thing, I know, but I had to leave my campsite for way too long. I’m set now, though. Tomorrow I’ll swim and hike and read and talk to folks. One thing... the folks at my neighboring campsite are really nice. Judea and Nadia, and Amy from the Austin area. None of them actually from Texas, though. We sat and talked for a bit at their camp. Later they’ll come over to mine for more jawjacking. Just hoping this breeze doesn’t die.

Not getting any writing done on my radio-play/screen-play. If I thought there were distractions as home…they are doubled out here. Of course, to be honest, one of the distractions is I just don’t feel like it.

Back again tomorrow. Ciao!

 

Walkabout 2020 Day 2

Okay, so here on the second night of my walk about I'm going to be staying in my tent as it should be. I've been out here since late morning. I put up the hammock first, then got out the things for lunch, but I didn't put up the tent until the afternoon to see where the sun was going to be. Most of the afternoon was about working on the campsite without having to hurry. Drove the 5 miles back into town for ice and orange juice. Dinner was rice, beans, and thin cut steak all cooked on my little butane stove. Very satisfying.

The tent it ready even though it was hard to put the tent-stakes into the very rocky soil here. I improvised a bit and all is well. I use an air mattress at night when I camp so I can actually sleep. Problem is that I'm leaving in the morning for my next stop. It's almost not worth it to put up the tent for just one night. (Last night's fiasco had me staying in a hotel.) I did have some visitors today: a gray hummingbird came buzzing by, landed on a tree limb, then off it went; and a family of deer came browsing through. The campground here at Russell Park at Lake Georgetown is simple and nice. Close enough to see the lake, but not close enough to walk there to swim from here. Didn't really get the chance for that anyway.

The next two nights will be at Ink's Lake. We'll see how it goes over there. 

[I may add pictures to this later, but right now I'm using my phone as a wifi hot-spot and power is an issue.]

Walkabout 2020 day 1

Hey there... been a while since I added to this.  Been a while since I had anything to add.

I'm taking a "walkabout".  Now, not a traditional walkabout as per Australian Aborigines on a spiritual journey.  No I'm taking an aimless wander about the countryside of Texas to renew my  somewhat damaged spirit.  The goal was/is to aim my bumper to a compass point and just head that way and discover what I can along the way...no plan...no reservations...no cell phone.  So I loaded up the car with camping gear and some camping-type food to prepare and off I went.

That didn't work.

First, the rear bumper platform failed.  I had to go home and repack the car. After an intentionally far less than direct route, I came to Georgetown, Texas from which I would choose a campground to the west for the night.    I stopped at a wonderful little coffee shop on the square, but guess what? Besides the rain that engulfed me, I found that all the tent camping grounds in the area closed at 4:30 PM.  Well, that's what the recordings said at 4:15!! No camping spot for me today. So for my first night of "communing with nature", I'm at the Best Western Plus in Georgetown, Texas eating Popeye's Fried Chicken instead of my own cooking. Well merde!

"Campsite" picture:

So...New Plan.  Instead of NO PLAN, which apparently doesn't work in central Texas, I'm going with "Flexible Plan". I won't plan more than a day and a half ahead.  Enough to get a tent spot, but flexible enough for spontaneous changes of direction.  I only have a week, for goodness sake. So tomorrow morning, when the campgrounds deign to open, I'll reserve a spot for tomorrow night.  I didn't want to plan at all, but the modern world can't abide spontaneity. 

So tonight I'll read one of my books and work on my play and sleep in comfort.  Let's see what tomorrow brings. 

"Walkabout" continues tomorrow.