The people on the trail to Mobile took a day off in San Antonio. After six long days in the truck and finding out that we were a little ahead of the trucker's schedule of arrival, we took a day off to explore San Antonio. This is a city that we had not visited before despite it being a favorite for dental meetings. We are glad we did.
We had three places that we wanted to visit while there. One can not miss visiting the Alamo and understanding its place in Texas history. It was preceded by an I-MAX film depicting the days preceding and the lengthy attack. The battle took place in 1836 ending on March 6th. The displays that are there as well as the memorabilia they have gathered is impressive. It was a must see especially for a couple of folks who watched Walt Disney's version of Davey Crockett as kids. His famous quote on t-shirts down here was said by him after he lost his congressional seat. He told them that "you'll can all go to hell, I'm going to Texas".
The next area we explored was the famous River Walk. Since it was off season and a little chilly, it was not too busy which suited us just fine.
We were able to have lunch at a place called Casa Rio, a restaurant that has been in this family since 1949. We figured they must be doing something right so took a chance. We were rewarded with some of the best Mexican food we have ever eaten.
Following this we went to The Buckhorn which is a tavern famous for its collection of horns from any game animal with horns and also from Texas longhorn cattle. It is a museum for the Texas Rangers as well. What a great combination! [Hey, who took this picture?]
It had terrific exhibits and personal stories as well as many photos of the early Rangers up to more recent ones. It was very well done. Our docent for the museum was in total character.
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One of the items that they had on display was the final "get-away" car [almost] of Bonnie and Clyde. There sure were a lot of bullet holes in that car. I don't think that there were any Second Amendment issues back then.
Nautical Word For The Day: [from seatalk.info]
Red Line:
1. The maximum safe reading of a gauge usually indicated by a red marking.
From Great Loop Jargon:
2. An RPM reading on a tachometer that would only suggest that the maximum speed limit in certain portions of Texas is 80 mph.
The trail to Mobile for days 5 and 6 each involved a whole bunch of time in the truck. We left Tucson early and arrived in Van Horn, Texas in the late afternoon... some 458 miles later. On the way there we passed through El Paso, that west Texas town made famous by a Marty Robbins' song years ago. We saw a whole bunch of nothing for much of those days except for an occasional pile of rocks.
The good news is that the roads are in great shape and are straight as an arrow with speed limits up to 80 mph in places. Debi still thinks those signs are just a suggestion though.
Van Horn is a small west Texas town just as you might picture it with a long wide nearly empty and dusty main street. Many older empty buildings lined the street as well. There was one spot that was thriving though. It was a Mexican restaurant called Chuys [chew-ees] that was recommended to us by the hotel operator. It turns out that John Madden, the former football announcer who never flies in airplanes, has made this a stop on his travels between the west coast and Texas several times. Now we know why. This little joint served up some of the best Mexican food we have ever eaten.
An early departure from Van Horn landed us in San Antonio some 420 miles later and about 3:00 in the afternoon just in time to watch Pete Carroll out-coach himself in the loss to Atlanta. We are looking forward to a day out of the truck tomorrow [Monday] as we tour The Alamo and The River Walk, both in downtown San Antonio. We hope to be able to sleep in a bit as well... for a change.
Nautical Word For The Day: [from seatalk.info].
Land:
1. Those portions of the planet not covered by water.
From Great Loop Jargon:
2. West Texas confirms the above definition as there was no portion of the planet there with any discernable water.
Day 3 had a chilly beginning being met with a frozen windshield in the morning as we left Sacramento. The warmth of the evening before far overshadowed the cool weather as we drove south. Our goal was to get as far south as we could but wanting to stop driving about 4:00PM if we could.
As we drove south on Hwy 99 we were met with highway signs that said the pass between Bakersfield and the LA freeway area was closed because of snow fall! Welcome to sunny southern California! But as we continued south, the pass opened up for us just in time. There was a flood of cars comimg our way as we crossed the pass without delay into the LA freeway system. So, as it turns out, we did see a splash of snow as we crossed despite our thoughts that it would be a time before we would see snow again.
The end of our travel day found us in Indio, CA just east of Palm Springs. The hotel we intended to go to was not what was advertised on the internet so we went elsewhere. What great fortune that was. We ended up at the Embassy Suites at La Quinta and found it to be not only a much nicer place but also a great value as well. They offered free "Happy Hour" drinks and snacks plus a full breakfast all inclusive. We'll be looking for more Embassy's in the future.
Our Day 4 goal was to get to Randy and Karen's place in Tucson as early as we could. Good intentions were overshadowed with a slow start and a time zone change. We ended up with a 5:00 PM arrival followed by a quick trip to Bevmo. One must have the ship's stores in order and we think that goal was met.
After another terrific dinner and fine wine we greatfully collapsed into bed. Even though there is not a lot of physical exertion while driving, we sure seem to be plenty tired at the end of the day. Once again we were blessed with wonderful friends showing us outstanding hospitality. How lucky are we?
Nautical Word For The Day: [from seatalk.info]
Chop/Choppy:
1. Having short, steep, isolated waves caused by local winds which give a small boat an uncomfortable action.
From Great Loop Jargon:
2. also describes the action put upon a vehicle by the roads in southern California.
Day Two started off fairly quietly but ended up with us having a whole bunch of fun. After waking early [for us] and having breakfast at the hotel, we were on the road for about 5 hours from Yreka, CA to Elk Grove, CA. It is a little south of Sacramento.
We were able to make better time than expected despite some additional mountain roads smothered in fog to drive through. We were greeted at the home of Frank and Carrie, folks whom we met several years back at a Great Loop rendezvous in North Myrtle Beach. We had spent some time together along with another couple, Doug and Judy and had a pretty darn good time.
Well it seems that we picked up right where we left off talking about family, travel, and boating in general. Since Frank and Carrie completed the loop last year, they were a terrific source of information about what lies ahead. If we have half the fun they did, it will be an unforgetable experience.
As most loopers say, the experience was wonderful but the best part was the people they met along the way. We haven't started the actual loop yet but after our visit with Frank and Carrie, we can confirm the "people" part. They were wonderful hosts each with a great sense of humor. We hope to meet up next spring somewhere when they return to visit their boat in North Carolina and cruise some new areas on the east coast.
Nautical Term of the Day: [from seatalk.info]
Direction Finder:
1. A radio receiver with a directional coil antenna mounted over a compass card, used in navigation to determine the bearing of the radio signal.
From Great Loop Jargon:
2. The job of the person riding "shotgun" while enroute to do the loop and is found to be especially important when two country kids are attempting to transit the LA freeway system.
The trail to Mobile leads in two directions... one for us and one for the boat. The boat was loaded up on Monday morning at the La Conner Marina by a huge mobile lift that picked it up with several large straps. It is rigged in four corners that can move the boat in all directions to center the boat on the trailer. The guys doing this were very skilled and the truck driver was very particular about its placement... bless his heart! Once on the trailer its height was carefully measured so as to keep the overall above road-level height at under 16'. After several adjustments the height came in at 15'7". Everyone was pleased so we were too.
The driver intends to take the boat from Washington through eastern Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, and finally to Mobile, AL. He said there is a good weather window to go that way at this time. We sure hope so!
Our route will take us down the I-5 corridor to southern California and then east from there. We have visits scheduled in several spots. On Wednesday we will stop in Sacramento to get reacquainted with Frank and Carrie whom we met at a Great Loop rendezvous several years ago. They have gone on to complete the loop last year. We have kept in touch with an occasional e-mail and they were kind enough to invite us to stay with them and talk "loop" for an evening. Every looper couple that we have met have been warm, friendly, and generous. Can't wait to see them.
The next visit will be in Tucson with friends Randy and Karen on Friday. They have made sure that we will be stopping by since we are carrying a big box of stuff from their home in Gig Harbor for their place in Tucson... if we can find it in the truck. I know it is in there somewhere. After that it will be "pedal to the metal" to finish the drive through the southwestern states to get to Mobile hopefully before the time the boat gets there.
The preparation and packing for this whole year-long trip was almost overwhelming. The last item was put in a box and then into the moving truck at about 11:00 o'clock last night.
Earlier in the day we packed in our dinghy, upper deck railings, microwave oven and numerous other items that we did not want to ship on the boat.
After a long day on the road we have ended up in Yreka, CA. tonight. It should be an easier day tomorrow... not so far to go. As a truck driver's daughter Debi's experience helped guide that truck as if she were Danica Patrick at Indy. I didn't know that a loaded 16' rental truck was that maneuverable...
but it is.
One of the reasons for pushing so hard today was to get through the Siskiyou Mountains in southern Oregon. At times it can be snowed in pretty well but not today. Smooth sailing all the way. There was a fair amount of snow on the sides of the road. Debi commented that this will probably be the last time we'll see snow for quite some time. I'm ready for that.
Nautical Term of the Day:
Turbulence:
1. Disturbed water caused by rapid flow over a submerged object.
Great Loop Jargon:
2. Disturbed air caused by rapid flow over the cab of a rapidly moving truck on a 5% downward grade and similar to that created by a F-18 as it approaches Mach One.
[ pictures to follow .... someday]
.... with great interest" a good friend recently said in a Bon Voyage phone call. "We are ALL wondering how the two of you are going to survive living together in such a small space?" Great question!
Well, we thought about that too and have relied on the experience of others to help us minimize the damage. A number of the Loopers have discussed this at length in their blogs and at meetings. Listed below are the Top Six that have surfaced that seem worth mentioning.
Certainly living in a much smaller living space 24 hours a day can be challenging. The first suggestion was to have designated separate "getaway" spaces for a while once the boat is docked and all is secure. We all need a little down time to call their own. Fortunately our boat allows that to happen as long as it isn't the dinghy. Hopefully this will provide ample space separation when needed.
Another idea was to go for a walk after mooring each day. One woman told Debi that she was really mad at her captain one day and after they docked the boat, she went for a walk. She walked and walked and walk some more until the anger was gone. Then she was mad at herself because she had a really long walk back to the boat.
Another lady posted in her blog her "wish list" for the boat that they were about to buy. She wanted certain things in the galley and she wanted a walk around deck to be able to safely set the fenders. The last item on the list stated that she needed at least one door to slam. We have several slam-ables if ever needed. Hope not!
After dinner with friends on New Years Eve we were presented with a few going away gifts. The one that applies here is a "Dammit Doll". It appears to be constructed to withstand excessive forces and is meant to be used against any handy inanimate object. I will say again and emphasize the word "inanimate". Thank you.
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Dammit Doll
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Dammit Doll In Action
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Number five is one that most loopers who have them rave about them. These are the EarTec Headphones. These are supposed to give clear, wireless, two-way communication between the captain operating the boat and the person handling the lines and setting the fenders. Docking is a critical time during any voyage and effective communication is key to its success. A few test runs suggest that they work pretty well but they have not been used "under fire" yet. We'll report back at a later date.
Of course number six is the old standby: alcohol. We know that this can be a slippery slope here but ice is inherently that way. If you combine number six with most of the others, it may bring about a faster resolution...... or not.
Nautical Term for the Day: [from seatalk.info]
Make Fast:
1. To secure a line to a cleat with a hitch.
2. To secure a vessel to a dock.
From Great Loop Jargon:
3. Refers to the rate at which the first cocktail is to be made after a particularly hard day at sea.
I guess we've been a little busy this week with New Years and family stuff since it has been a bit over a week since we made the first posting on our blog. Also, this is new territory for half of us so we are hoping and anticipating that the learning curve will shallow out soon.
Two of the most frequent questions we get are "can we come visit you" and "where are you going to be and when do you think you are going to be there"? The answer to the first is "sure" but we know from many conversations with other Loopers that it is really tough to give specifics because Mother Nature is very fickle. One of the first things that experienced loopers teach other loopers is that flexibility is required by all visitors as the weather dictates the journey. If it ain't good, we ain't going. In this same vein there is usually a tacit agreement between the Captain and the First Mate... aka... the Admiral that the boat doesn't move because of weather issues unless BOTH agree that it is "good to go".
So... back to the where and when. These dates are guesses at best because if we find an area we like, we may spend an extra few days. Because we are starting our trip from Mobile, AL in early February we expect to be on the west coast of Florida during March and transiting to the east coast during that month. By April we expect to be heading up the coast of Georgia, South and North Carolina.
One of the Great Loop slogans is: Do the Chesapeake Bay during the month of May because later in the summer season it can get quite warm and humid. We believe them! After exiting the north end of the Chesapeake Bay we will try to be in New York harbor around the first week of June. After a few days in NY city we head up the Hudson River seeing sites along the way including Westpoint. Can't wait for that!
Near the end of June we'll be in the Erie Canal as we boat through the first half only. A crossing will be made on the eastern end of Lake Ontario and we'll probably be celebrating the 4th of July with other Loopers in Ontario, Canada. After transiting the Trent-Severn Canal we'll end up in the Georgian Bay portion of Lake Huron followed by North Bay. We are told that this area is very picturesque and similar to our Northwest San Juan Islands and Desolation Sound in Canada.
Most boats typically re-enter the US in Upper Michigan during the first week of August. We expect to tour the upper third of the west coast of Lake Michigan and then cross over to the Wisconsin side to see what is along the coastline of Bob's birth state. The first week of September should find us near or at Chicago. Since the U of Washington Huskies have a football game against Illinois at Soldier Field on September 14, we may stick around a little longer than typical.
The next potion of the trip involves the Illinois River, a portion of the Mississippi River, and then up the Ohio River to the Cumberland River. A series of locks will take us into Kentucky Lake followed by the Tennessee River during the month of October. We'll stay in this area until November first as we have a hurricane insurance restriction that keeps us above the 32nd parallel until then. From there it is all downhill through the Tombigbee River system back to Mobile.
As you can see, some areas are very accessible and others fairly remote. Some may join us for a week or so and fly in and out of different airports and others may choose to drive in to meet us for a few days. Either way works for us. Please go to expedia.goneboating for reservations!
Nautical Defintion of the Day: [from seatalk.info]
ADMIRAL:
1. A commissioned officer in the Navy with a rank above Vice-Admiral, designated by four stars in the US Navy.
2. The form of address for any flag officer of the Navy.
From Great Loop jargon;
3. Term typically applies to the spouse of the Captain of the boat. She will often have several other ranks including First Mate, Chief- Mess Cook, Deckhand, but if its really, really important the rank escalates to SecNav.... Secretary of the Navy.... ever watch NCIS?
