Head West not so young Man

[texasjohn]

OK, you bested me....been a native Texan for all my life...is this redundant??...and never heard of these folks...their main charity seems to be Alzheimer's...and there they are, just up the road in Waco!!

 

[Larro Darro]

Larro, the land here is right at the water's edge, very low lying for a ways out. Would flood very easily. Any floods in your stories? :thumbsup:

There is a good sized hill near Chicod Creek. Another reason I picked it as a location. But there is a flood. A slow moving front stalls out up the river from them dumping lots of rain, and a steady brisk ESE wind pushes water from the Sound into the river, backing it up. They test the fugitive tracking mettle of their Bloodhound Beagle mixed {female} dog by taking her through the flooded cypress swamps in a canoe. Like the good guys in fiction have always done, they manage to get their man.

Larro

 

[daugen]

Emerald Isle, on the beach in NC.
now this is sure a change of scenery. Emerald Isle NC. Very nice rv resort, already hit the beach, put my feet in the water, not too bad,
and am enjoying this park like setting. Bit of a hike to the beach with a chaise lounge, they do a big golf cart rental business here.
Maybe I'll put my thumb out...
Three days here, my vacation within a vacation.

The wind is blowing off the ocean, it's cool, low humidity, bright blue day, just gorgeous. And when I walked down their nicely crafted wooden walkway to the beach, the first look was worth it. I opened all the windows in the motorhome and just enjoyed the breeze.

 

[wngsprd]

Beautiful beaches there - enjoy! I'm surprised to see so many people on the beach on a weekday in April (in the seagull photo).

 

[daugen]

Beautiful beaches there - enjoy! I'm surprised to see so many people on the beach on a weekday in April (in the seagull photo).

while there was almost no one on "our" beach, down the way it was pretty crowded, all apparently from the other rv park.
Still Spring Break for some? There were teenage kids throwing footballs in several spots.

and I found a tractor picture, at the last stop in Washington, the rig they use to keep their sandy roads in smooth condition.

 

[Pixguy]

The kids in the northeast are on school vacation this week so you may get some of those families.

Looking great, enjoying the pix. :thumbsup:

 

[sodamo]

Looks like same tractor in the tent pic

Nice beach, enjoy your vacation within vacation.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[Larro Darro]

Good looking pictures Drew. I liked the bread {panel} truck camper. That looks like something i could afford.

Larro

 

[daugen]

Good looking pictures Drew. I liked the bread {panel} truck camper. That looks like something i could afford.

Larro

Larro, I really did a double take when I walked down to the "primo" spots right in front of gazebo going to the beach. There were two plain white converted bread trucks, right in front. I wasn't sure if they were workmen building the gazebo, which was being totally rebuilt and will be very pretty when it's done,looking out over the ocean. Or were they exercising the constitutional right to be counted and their money works too...many parks would not let them in whatsoever, some of these places, none so far... get pretty snooty. It is not uncommon for upmarket parks to have a ten year or newer rule. Which is ridiculous if you pull in with a twelve year old Prevost. Would the restaurant car parker refuse to park a twelve year old Rolls Royce?
Frankly, I think if the rv is big and clean and shiny it will likely get in. Personally I like the equal opportunity situation here.
I've done the fancy marina/yacht club routine and the pretentiousness is amusing.
I'll check on the bread vans today and see if they are still there.

If one is able to back up, which I can't do easily, there were spots for big rigs down close too.

I had a hard time coming in. The lady at the desk saw me run my finger down the lanes on the map, go down here, turn in from this direction, etc. Yup, yup. Nope. Went down one lane the wrong way, could not for the life of me figure out why the idiots who designed the park didn't put site numbers on both sides, for pull thrus. Of course they did not want idiots like me to come in from the wrong direction, get set up, have the manager come up, and with amazing sensitivity and tact tell me it would be easier to hook up if I pulled in from the other direction. Now, in my defense, I was the first one in this line and couldn't see how others were parked. So realizing I was set up backwards, probably to the amusement of others watching me, I got it all turned around again, set up, and it worked out fine.
Normally they guide folks in, because the road layout here does not have arrows or frankly very good signage. But the manager was off helping someone else, and then came to check on me. And came back several hours later to make sure I was doing ok. Very nice.

I found the manual for the rv gps, and no wonder, it's a quick guide, I have to go online to get the real manual. "refer to manual for additional settings". I sure will.

Am parked under the "first tree back". It's bent over from the wind, looks like bonsai actually, will take a pic later. This spot is really very pretty; you come in, wind around some treed areas, then head towards the beach and the ground goes up to a point, then drops again down to the next big rise which are the dunes. So interestingly, at the beach, I have hills to walk. Well, inclines...and it's good exercise for sure.

I went looking for a beach hat yesterday and only came up with a straw hat that would fit my fat head, a 7 3/4+. None of the one size fits all ever fits. So that is my sole need for today, and maybe some flip flops, and a reason to drive up the island and check things out. Seems less crowded than LBI (Long Beach Island) for you non NJ'ites. I just have to think though in the summer this area is equally full.

I had a close friend who almost lost his life on this beach two years ago from rip tide. Pulled him right in and he's a strong guy.
So while I might go jump in just for pure foolishness, and likely get very cold, I'm sure not going far out. No lifeguards, big swim at your own risk signs everywhere. Maybe that's why there were so many people on the beach down a ways, bet they had a lifeguard.
Another mystery of life to resolve today. These are the tough ones...

and yes, that was the same tractor in the previous pic. I thought it was a Ford but it was a newer New Holland CUT that had not seen a shed since new. Might be hard to find some tractors today...

oh, headed for the Bogue fishing pier, which I can see from here. Long, long pier out into the ocean.
Will walk out there and take pics looking back.

 

[daugen]

Bogue Fishing Pier, Emerald Isle, NC
fun walk out to the end, lot of fathers out with their sons fishing, I assume on school break
One guy caught a blowfish, but otherwise a quiet time on the pier.
Local houses are pretty, I drove out to the end of the island thinking there would be a park or observation area there. Nope.
Wall to wall houses. Lot of real estate awfully close to the ocean. And even truly right on the beach parking for a rv park, smaller stuff, located right at the shore end of the fishing pier. What a view out one's window...

Headed to the beach for another hour or so dose, slathered up with spf 50. Going to pick more shells.

oops, JD 5200, best I could do today. both my camera's autofocus seem to not do well in intense sunlight. Another manual to read...

 

[MacLawn]

I think the whole Atlantic coast is full of houses right on the beach! Brother in law lives near Cape Hatteras, same, and all the way down the Florida coast too. A few years ago, we saw three high $ houses right on beach, one of which had to be condemned! It looked to be about $1-2 million house, not counting how much the old boy paid for the stamp sized piece of ocean front sand, which was eroding from under his foundation! It was spooky looking.

Well, take ye time! Suck in that good ocean air.

 

[daugen]

thanks Mac. The air is good for sure, but I found two big tarballs on the beach today. As I did yesterday in another spot.
had a long talk with a guy "up the hill" with a really nice burgundy diesel 2500 Chevrolet truck pulling a 14K 41 foot long
fifth wheel trailer. Beautiful rig, and we got to discussing dually vs single, etc. Then I met his lovely wife, guessing they are in their mid fifties, and they live in Greenville, from where I just came. And want to go back. So I met a new friend, and will likely have a beer with them in an hour. They showed me through their fifth wheel. Very unusual setup.

This nice couple have four grown girls, one with cerebal palsy. Wife always had to take care of her since birth, and husband is now helping her. The rear room of their trailer is a huge "bunk room" set up for kids on both sides, a big open area in the center for doing whatever kids will do, their own tv and half bathroom. What a cool setup, and their handicapped daughter does really well with it, using a walker. They bought it as a way to get out of their home and go places with a special needs child. Smart. This trip is just for them, I bet the first time in many years they have gotten away just by themselves. They said they will be back to this place next month with two daughters.

I just stopped by to compliment the guy on his nice looking truck, and he seemed really pleased to have someone to talk to. Probably not used to just being out there by himself, not being a caregiver. I surely do know that feeling.
So I think I will go have a cold beer with he and his wife in a bit, overlook the campground, and solve all the problems of the world.

 

[daugen]

very important correction. The local tractors are JD 5300's and there are five of them. Proudly stated by the manager.
they go knockedy knocking by, the golf carts go whirring by, the kids on bikes go zizzing by, the military jets make some passes nearby, and I really do think I hear a train at night. That I need to verify. All good. Otherwise, peaceful and quiet.

 

[MacLawn]

Where's ye next stop, daug? Did ye say Wilmington? Or some such?

 

[daugen]

Mac, I just pulled into the Wilmington KOA, near Wrightsville Beach.
Spending the weekend here with friends who moved here from home.
And spending this afternoon waiting, hopefully not for Godot, for a Winnebago dealer to call me back.
Pulled into the campground and to my amazement there was a three foot long crack in my eight foot long windshield.
Never heard a bang or anything. So I am hoping the dealer in Asheville NC, which is next, or Nashville TN, can get the big rv windshield
in from Iowa. Takes three days for the glue to dry, lovely. Oh well, both nice towns to spend some time in. And maybe I'll get my leveling system fixed at the same time.

I know that a visit to the USS North Carolina is planned, a walk on the Riverwalk, a night boat ride on the river, and whatever else pops up.
And i will slip away from my guests for awhile and go walk the marinas in Wrighstville Beach. Gorgeous Carolina sportfishermen there, lined up often in different pastel hull colors. And I've seen them dock, just poetry in motion.
Will try to get a pic of that.

 

[Pixguy]

That's too bad about the windshield Drew, hopefully you can go to a service center who has a park where you can stay in it while it's being fixed.
I've had a small crack a few years ago and quickly had it resin filled. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[daugen]

thanks, I think it would need several caulk guns to fix this one...one seriously big piece of glass, and now I've got them hunting a generic locally, vs. truck freighting a new oem windshield out of Iowa. There is a Camping World in Asheville NC, where I am headed next week, that is trying to work this out, assuming the service manager will ever return my call.

This all assumes the windshield will stay in place, I'm sure that crack is going to keep going, five, six feet long?....
Makes a nasty sound too of the edges grinding together. Crank up the tunes I guess.

looks like storms are North of us and going to miss this area, though it's windy with 23mphgusts. No rain but a coastal flooding warning, wind is blowing the water up the River,and funny, flooding the parking lot of the battleship.
* Impacts...several inches of water will cover portions of battleship Road and the lower portions of the U.S.S. North Carolina battleship Memorial parking lot. Water may also spread out of the storm drains onto portions of Water Street just south of Market street in downtown Wilmington.

Just tide and wind and apparently pretty low lying areas. Speaking of low lying, driving through Swansboro after getting off Emerald Isle, it was very clear how little distance there was between the water and the land. It looked like a two foot storm surge would flood the roads. This whole coastal area is just simply right above sea level. One of these days...

no call back yet. Boy what a bunch of hooey this factory warranty concierge service is. Call your nearest dealer.
Who can order the part and might find a spot for you in three weeks. Wouldn't want to line jump would you?
Well, I'll keep positive, but let's say after four calls, two messages left and unreturned, and endless time on hold, to awful music, well something tells me Friday afternoon is not looking too good for rv solutions here. There is always Monday and I'm in an interesting town, so be it.

 

[wngsprd]

Rough luck, Drew.

Go deep sea fishing while you wait.

 

[daugen]

Rough luck, Drew.

Go deep sea fishing while you wait.

Can't,would get sick. But put me behind the wheel and I never get sick. Weird but I've done the offshore rock and roll and long ago decided never again. Back and forth, back and forth, get the wonderful feeling in your throat...
So I'll just go ogle the boats; actually the best time is about now when they are coming in for the day. I've watched them come in one after the other, single file, like the famous pics of the fishing tournaments in the Bahamas where the boats are all lined up coming in. Or hauling butt going out....

Many of the Carolina boats are single engined and wood epoxied hulled, so no jockeying with twin controls, they put the stern of their boats into a controlled slide that just stops at the end of their slip and without slowing a bit zoom straight back into the slip at what would seem catastrophic speed but they nail it every time.
Blues, yellows, pinks, all light "Bahamian" colors or Palm Beach some would say, but boy are those boats pretty. With sky high tuna towers and their little flags flying. Headed there tomorrow...would have headed there today except for the windshield. Oh well, supposed to be a beautiful weekend.

 

[daugen]

more pics, these are from Emerald Isle
and another tractor pic to earn my keep.
That fishing boat (interesting looking boat) was way out there,wish I had the larger camera with the 30X zoom.

tomorrow, a battleship.