Finally wonderful, Pt 2

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). The bloodroots are almost two weeks late this year, due to cold weather.

I haven't tackled moss identification yet. This is a common one here.

Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). Most of them are still not open yet.

First damselfly of the season. They are frustratingly difficult to identify.

Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis). You know it's a late spring, when the hepatica aren't open til after mid-March. I've found them blooming in January and February, most years.

The beavers are out in force and at it again.
Yesterday was decidedly not wonderful (got colder, rained all day). And snow flurries this morning! I think the wonderful is due to return tomorrow, though.

Camp Tiffin: Catching Up

Camp Tiffin — Red Bay, Alabama
Temps: Lo 37F / Hi 52F (3C / 11C)

Today was our first real “sit-tight day” at the Allegro Tiffin Service Center. No calls to roll the wheels to a service bay; no “house calls” by the mobile van either.

The items that remain on our “list” require us to be in a bay where body work is done. Of the four bays equipped to handle such work, only two are in operation; the other two are tied up with what the dispatcher describes as “big jobs.” We’ve inched our way to the top of the queue, so we should be called in early next week. In the meantime, we’re keeping ourselves busy.

There’s a camp store on site filled with all kinds of parts and pieces. Mui went shopping there Wednesday afternoon. He was gone for so long that I didn’t think I was going to see him again, but he eventually showed up with bags full of stuff. It actually makes sense to get our spares and whatnot while we’re on site as prices are wholesale as long as you buy while you’re here. Off-site purchases are shipped from the parts department; retail prices apply on those orders.

♫♫♫ Lonely, I’m Ms Lonely … I have no neighbors, for my own … ♫♫♫ — or so Phae sings as we look out the window.

Thursday, we were at our site all day, but did make a quick trip — all of 15 minutes — into Bay 10 at the end of the day to have the rear driver side slide seal checked out. This is where we had a minor leak — just enough to dampen the carpet — during a particularly nasty storm while we were still at Fort Pickens. Chad found a spot where he thought water might have been pooling, so he filled it with silicone. Keeping fingers crossed that’s the end of that problem.

You might think that’s our Phae, but you would be wrong!
This is the only other rig here at the service center that is a twin of ours.

When we’re not working on things around the house, we go for walks around Camp Tiffin. Nothing fancy, just wandering up and down the lanes here between the coaches, chatting with others who are out and about. When it is cold, as it was today, the long hall separating the service bays makes for an interesting place for a stroll as we can check out the various bays to see the work being done on all the other rigs.

They stay busy here; no doubt about it. Not only are they working on rigs like ours — meaning the owners are here as well; but they also have a slew of rigs dropped off here by their owners parked on the runway (this was the site of an old airport).

This is one half of the long hallway between the bays where we are free wander.

Looks like this rig is having its slide repaired. But what really caught my eye were all the colors

This rig is here to get a ‘facelift’.

We’ve also been out to dinner a few times this week; the second time with our neighbors — Curt and Deb from southern Illinois. On both occasions we went to the 4th Street Grille and Steakhouse, which is just down the street from the Service Center. From what I read in another blog, this restaurant is apparently an improvement over the one that used to be located on the same spot. Not much ambiance, but the food was good on both occasions; as was the service.

This week, we also got the cabinetry work on our wish list taken care of. TJ, who stopped by to give us a bid last weekend, was unable to fit us in. Chris Berry, who also comes highly recommended on the TRVN forum, was having an unexpectedly slow week, so we decided to go with him instead. He completed the installations last night; I’ll do a separate mod post featuring his work.

The rain that plagued us overnight and through mid-day today has left the area. There’s the promise of sunshine and comfortable temperatures for tomorrow. I think we’re going to take advantage of the fact that we don’t need to be on service stand-by over the weekend to do some errands and check out a few sightseeing spots readers have recommended. Looking forward to the change of pace!

A new disease on the Gold Coast

Yes, that's right, a new one. It apparently started in Surfers Paradise, but by this evening it looks to have well and truly spread to Southport, Bundall and Broadbeach. It's apparently been nicnamed "Indy Fever*" by scientists who are using sticky labels to distinguish the metal cages in which the sufferers are sitting idle. The symptoms involve the suffer being stuck in a stationary metal box on a six-lane road clogged with other sufferers -- none of whom are moving.

The good news is that apparently a cure has been discovered. It involves removing the engine and at least two wheels (i.e. all the redundant parts) from those stationary metal boxes, which should allow for relatively free movement. Of course, some of us have already discovered this!

Actually I had a pretty ordinary day myself. On the dawn ride this morning I managed to run off the road by virtue of the fact that I was a little too focussed on enjoying the scenery. Fortunately I saw the situation in time and didn't panic, but it was a rough ride on that dirt shoulder for those moments, considering it was in the middle of a 50km/h descent! Work is piling up like crazy. I hate it when a sh*tload of clients decide to send in all their crap at once. Can't they try to space it a little bit!

Still, the day had it's good points. This view from Hinze Dam being one of them.



Being immune to the traffic is a real boost to one's confidence at times, too.

*"Indy fever" is apparently derived from a native American word - "indy". The official meaning of this has been lost, but academics have suggested it could mean either "Owned hard", "169% Owned", "fatally Owned" or another variation thereof.

PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

The ocean beckons me so we head to Padre Island National Seashore and stay 3 days by the Beach.



































We can drive the Tracker on the Beach











The currents bring in trash from all over. I did my best to pick up the trash I came across in my walks but sometimes they just didn't fit in the bag!

Beautiful Bandon

Bandon, Oregon is sort of one of those "storybook" coastal towns that you picture in your imagination when you daydream of the coast. It has a very quaint "old town" area with shops that are loaded with character and individuality. Its a great place to just go for a stroll and window shop.

For most people, though, the beaches are the main attraction. Bandon easily has some of the best beaches along the entire Oregon coast. Soaring sea stacks, swirling foam, soft sand and huge piles of driftwood all conspire to make a walk along the beach an unforgettable experience.

I shot two sunsets along the beaches at Bandon and on the first evening I got pretty wet. Right after the sun went down some rain squalls quickly moved in (see image above) and got me good and wet before I was able to make it back to the car. Even though I was wearing my rain jacket, I didn't have any rain pants so my pants got soaked.

The second evening was free from rain, and I was treated to some wonderful light as the sun retreated over the horizon.

French Tarragon

I finally managed to find some French tarragon. This fragrant herb is essential in many French recipes, which is what I'll be using it for.
Anyone have experience with tarragon?

Take 1lb treacle, 18 grains of opium ...

For anyone who may be suffering from a cough, here is a home remedy from my lovely old Victorian (handwritten) recipe book.





For a Cough:





1lb of treacle

18 grains of opium

2oz of juniper berries

2oz of Spanish Juice

1 quart of rain water





To be simmered down in an earthenware jar to 3 gills.





Take a dessert-spoonful on lying down in bed. (Something to do with the opium?)













A really yummy way to use:





Sheep Trotters





Take one gang of sheep's trotters, put 2oz of heartshorn shavings, one quart of milk and quart of water. Leave it in the oven to simmer all night, and when used add a little milk and sugar and lemon to your taste.





Mmn. Sounds tasty. Almost looks as though it could be two completely unrelated recipes mixed together, but that is how it appears in my lovely old recipe book.









Apologies for such a brief post - we have spent yet another delightful day visiting the aged aunt, and then for a bit of R&R we spent this afternoon filling in the trench which we so carefully created the other day.

Show Set-up

Made it to Greenfield with my photos. One casualty - one glass was cracked. Will have the replace that.
Met a couple of the folks with the Opera House. Visited with a local reporter from one of the local newspapers. Hope the show goes well.
Now, if the weather cooperates, I will ride when I get home. Would also be nice to ride the Raccoon Trail later this weekend when I had back toward Greenfield for the show opening.

Sunset Cruise

Didn't do much of anything most of the day. Visited in the breakfast area. Went out to take some photos on the beach. Then more visiting in the hospitality Room.
Some were talking about going to Brookgreen Gardens. I was all for that, but the plan seems to had never gelled.
I heard someone comment it was too hot to got out. About 2pm, i went to the room and took a nap.
Many of the group are planning to take the casino boat. That was a 5 hour cruise that would not get back to the hotel until after midnight. Way too late for me. Several of us took a 1 1/2 hour sunset cruise. That was wonderful cruise. Just long enough. When we got back, the sun had set and there was a little coloring in the sky. Tonight's photo was taken on that cruise.

Grit Needed

Is there beauty in this? Some people can find art even in ice, but I'm having a difficult time joining their ranks. When I opened the blinds yesterday and saw the bowed Loquat, it was like a fast punch to the midsection, and I felt myself spiraling down to a very bad place. Maybe living through decades of midwestern ice storms meant that this sight set off a kind of post-traumatic thing, or something like that. Whatever the reason, all I could feel was despair. To paraphrase Private Benjamin - this was not the Austin I'd signed up for. But today, looking at the blog posts by Pam/Digging and MSS/Zanthan has helped. They're not hiding inside, they're taking photos and even putting videos on YouTube, so I went outside, too. And soon I felt a spark of the scientific curiosity lurking in all gardeners. What will defrost and live? What will immediately rot? Will the oleander ever stand upright again? It will be especially interesting to see whether the native plants can take such a prolonged period of imprisonment in frozen rain.

Henry Mitchell said it well, "It is not nice to garden anywhere...There is no place, no garden, where these terrible things do not drive gardeners mad."

But he also said, "What is needed around here is more grit in gardeners."

My Austin friends have that grit - maybe I can summon up enough to go pour hot water in the bird bath and set out some sunflower seeds.

Does anyone out there actually enjoy this?

A little off-topic perhaps, although perhaps not, as it's the reason I've not had as much time on the bike as I would have liked this weekend. But seriously, if I hear one more thing about Christmas, I'm just about going to puke violently. It seems that everyone out there is happy to nag me for things, but it's just about impossible to get anyone to co-operate. Yes, I know this is an exaggeration, but right now it's just how I feel. I've been trying to get a bed moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast all week, and all I'm getting from the so-called removalists in this area is short shrift. Even those who claim they can do it are asking ridiculous prices, or worse, making promises and not keeping them (I'm glad I didn't rely on that lot who promised to call me back).

Then there's all the other rubbish with regard to family get togethers. Now I have nothing against my family at all. However, is all the other rubbish really necessary? Is it really that important that I spend all afternoon tomorrow (after a near full day at work mind you) pushing through the last minute shopper crowds trying to find a heap of ingredients to some salad, most of which (the ingredients) will end up going to waste because they can't be purchased in the exact quantities required, and because they're unlikely to have any other use?

Then there are the hours of preparation in what will undoubtedly be oppressive heat (this is summer in Queensland after all), and the hours of cleaning up (ditto), which usually falls to whomever gets bored first and is still sufficiently coherent to do it (i.e. me). Forget about looking forward to the "holidays" -- I think I'd rather still be at work.

I'm planning to head for Hinze Dam tomorrow morning regardless, just for a bit of relief. A quick 4.15am ride out there isn't quite a rainforest-filled night at Austinville, but at least it might take my mind off things for a while. At least the sunset this evening was nice.