CRUISING THE COASTAL BEND

Well here we are enjoying another warm, sunny day in Texas' Coastal Bend, the area on the gulf coast between Rockport-Fulton and the northern part of South Padre Island National Seashore.  The national seashore starts at the south edge of Corpus Christi and lays out a highway of white sand for over 60 miles to the south.  You can drive the whole beach however once you pass a warning sign about 6 miles south of the visitor center there is no border patrols and no service.  It is four wheel drive only and you had better have a fat wallet if you get hung up and need to be pulled out.  On the other hand that is not a place to be driving around with a fat wallet if you get my drift - on pun intended.

Vickie and I have been informed we are officially now "Winter Texans" and are welcomed by all the local as long as you spread around some of the dollars you hauled south.  We have found a ton of places to spend that hard earned cash and are having a ball doing just that.  Sorry kids, I know you were looking forward to a huge inheritance but you will find a way to make it.  We decided not to make you jump into a higher tax bracket -  aren't we nice!

I have found some great fishing spots for both surf fishing and fishing from piers and jetties.  It is so much fun as you never know what you have on the other end of the line once you feel the tug.  It can be anything from sting rays and sharks to black drum, red fish, speckled trout, whiting, pompano, sheepshead and even saltwater catfish.  So far, with what I had to purchase to fish this way such as chest waders, 9' rod, heavy duty reel, all new tackle, live bait and an out-of-state fishing license, each fish is only running me about $20 per pound.  Vickie feels it is worth every penny because it gives her some well needed quiet time to read and soak up the sun.  I have the perfect setup as my brother-in-law (Tom) shows me where to fish, cleans the fish we catch and my sister (Bonnie) fries them and invites us over for dinner.  Of course now that she had read this blog that will most likely all go to hell.

Of course while we have been scoping out the off-road fishing spots we have ran across some great out of the way eating and drinking establishments.  A couple that come to mind are Red Fish Willies on Red Fish Bay near Aransas Pass and Moon Dogs in Rockport\Fulton.  Red Fish Willies is right on the water and very near the long wooden pier I fish from.  It has great food such as fresh shrimp right out of the bay along with all the normal bar fare but really top shelf.  Moon Dogs has a huge deck over-looking the bay where you can watch all the oyster boats come in with their daily catch and unload at the docks.  They have great food as well and some of the best fries this side of the 20th Hole in Hudson, FL.  That was a must as we had not found the good fries we had in Florida until Moon Dogs - life is good.  Vickie said their sweet apple, brie and fresh spinach chicken sandwich was over the moon.

We took in our first Mardi Gras parade while sitting in the middle of a live oak woods.  The tiny town of Larmar, TX is just inside the border of Goose Island State Park and they put on a parade each year that brings in locals plus Winter Texans from all over the country.  It is in the middle of nowhere and all money goes to running their volunteer fire department.  We had a great time and collected 70 sets of beads.  No - they actually gave me the beads if I promised not to pull up my shirt.

As you should be able to tell by now we are having a ball and as always we are not staying on the beaten path.  Life is more fun on the B-Side and you can wander much farther from your home base if you remain Unplugged.

PACK UP AND HEAD WEST

Christmas in Florida has come and gone but not without wonderful memories of time spent with Vickie's family.  We played games, ate until we were ready to pop, exchanged gifts and laughed a lot.  When you are away from home during the Holidays for the first time it is good to be surrounded by family.

Over the last two weeks of December before our departure for Texas on the 28th was just plain crazy.  We made our way to the far south to check out Naples, FL. where both of our folks spent the winter months.  So much had changed we would have not found the old RV park if Vickie's brother and his wife (Buzz and Nancy) were not guiding the way.  When our parents stayed here many years ago the going rate was $900 per year and you could leave your RV on the site during the months you were back north.  Now it is $900 per month and they have not made many upgrades.

While we were there we did some shopping at Tin City and had
lunch right on the water for some fresh seafood.  Vickie and I had our first bucket of peel & eat shrimp with a couple draft beers back in 1982 just across the channel from where we were this time.  The only thing that made me sad was The Left-hand Shop which featured everything for the lefty was no longer there.  Maybe the world is more right than it use to be.

We also found another version of the Loveland Hearts in Naples.  This time it was painted sea turtles and they were all over town.  It is fun to see how so many cites think alike but use different ways to share it with the world.

At 5:00 a.m. on December 28th we were on our way to Rockport, TX.  There was a stop in Gulfport, MS for a night of rest and a great evening with a long time friend, Ray Wells and his daughter, Megan for drinks and a great dinner.  Ray showed us around his beautiful part of the gulf coast and I can see why he has made this stretch of white sand his home, outstanding.

We were on the road again the next morning well before daylight and heading for TX.  One stretch of road between Baton Rouge and Houston was a 23 mile long bridges/causeway and if you know how much Vickie hates bridges of any kind you can imagine how that part of the trip went.

Got into Rockport on the afternoon of the 29th to a real shock to the system.  We left 84 degrees in Florida and arrived in our new location at a balmy 48 degrees.  It was only after talking to the kids in Colorado that we felt better about the temperature here.  The area is beautiful with lots and beaches, shops, wildlife and as always, many great places to eat.

We have been over to Port Aransas to visit my sister and brother-in-law (Bonnie & Tom Holloway) as they rent a condo there during the same time we are here.  Tom and I will be doing a lot of surf fishing so I am sure I will be posting some huge fish, as soon as I learn how to photo shop.

The Lagoons is the nicest RV parks we have been in so fare in our short time on the road and were lucky to get in as they have a sizable waiting list.  All road and RV pads are concrete and everything is extremely clean and up to date.  We have never ran into so many friendly people as we have here and we are getting involved in many of their activities.  In addition it is back up to the 70 degree mark so life is good.  As they say down here along the Gulf, we are living the Salt Life.

Until next time stay unplugged no matter where you are and don't forget to check on the B-Side of life, you may just find some real hidden treasures like we are.  Take Care Ya'll.

LOVE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

 Mid October we were kayaking five and a half miles down a beautiful crystal clear river with members of Vickie's family in temperatures in the mid 80's.  Water temp in the river is at 74 degrees year-around and the bottom of the river is pure white sand.

A couple weeks later we were in the air on our way to Colorado to see the newest addition of our family, a new grandson.  Of course the temperature was not in the mid 80's but was a perfect upper 60's - low 70's which provided the perfect break from the Florida heat.  There was fresh snow on the mountains and still some beautiful color in the trees.  We were there for a week and then headed back to Florida where we will be until the end of December.

On our return to Florida we made a short trip south of our RV park to do a little Christmas shopping.  What a strange feeling doing that kind of shopping with the thermometer reaching 91 degrees.  There was a nice breeze off the gulf but very little chance of snow.  Some stores were playing Christmas songs and had very nice holiday decorations but still seemed a bit out of place for us northerners.

Our Christmas shopping trip took us to Dunedin, FL where we found their version of our Loveland, CO hearts, dolphins.  They were purchased by different merchants and groups and were scattered around the city just like our hearts.  We did stop for lunch while we were there but as you can tell by the picture of Vickie and I we could still both easily fit in our "small lawn chair".


As we hit the road to head back north we noticed a sign posted, "Clearwater 3 miles"so we decided to take a short side trip.  Many years ago Vickie and I stayed in a hotel at Clearwater Beach while I was in Florida for a tradeshow for Duke Communication.  It was nice to go back and see where we had spent time but of course we had to do a little hunting as a few things had changed over the years.  We did find the expansive white sand beach and the old seaside restaurant where we sipped a glass of wine while watching the sun fall into the ocean.  The one thing that will never change is the feel of the sand on your toes, the smell of the salt air and the sense the whole world is at peace - if only that were true.

All-in-all the past few weeks have been wonderful as we enjoyed the birth of a new grandson, the beauty of the Colorado mountains
with family and friends and the warmth and beauty of sand and surf with family and friends far south.

We will be spending Thanksgiving with Vickie's family in New Port Richey, FL so we will raise a glass to all of you who we will be with in spirit.  Happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to remove the meat from the B-Side of the turkey and unplug the crock pot.

Birthday in the Sun

Sunday, October 11th was my wife's birthday and she was able to spend it with her brother for the first time in over 30 years.  We met Buzz (Vickie's brother) and his wife Nancy for a day in the Tarpon Springs, FL area and what a great day it was.  Tarpon Springs is the sponge diving capitol of the world and is full of great shops, great places to eat and some of the best white sand beaches in the region.

Every shop is run by Greeks as this is a complete community of immigrates from Greece so you know about every bargain and sale before you even get in the door.  Every shop is full of every kind of shell you can think of and of course all types of natural sponges.  The divers are mostly hard hat types as the sponges hang out in mighty deep water.  Another unique product at every shop is the hand-made soaps you find in every shape, size, color and fragrance.

The local beach is in Fred Howard Park at the end of a long causeway and is an island of pure white sand shaded by tons of huge palm trees and dunes covered with mangrove and sea oats.  We will be making many side trips back to that spot for some tropical style R & R.

We ate at a place called Rusty Belly, a local seaside favorite.  Vickie went the true southern route with an order of cheese grits with fresh shrimp and bacon.  She said it was one of the best shrimp dishes she ever put in her  mouth, in her words, "Amazing".  If you so desire you can also find some of the best Greek food in all of Florida.

We spent a big part of the afternoon setting at the beach watching several kite-surfers. I think it looks like it would be a blast as Buzz and I guessed they must be gliding across the ocean surface at 25-30 mph.  I also watched a seagull let a young girl know she was on his beach by pecking her on the head.  I have seen them come close in the past but never saw one let a tourist have it.  I must say it did get her attention big time.  One of the girls with the same group was so pale it made Vickie and I feel like we were quickly becoming well tanned natives.

If you are ever in the area of Hudson, FL on Hwy 19 you need to look for a little white block building that says "Taste of Philly".  Believe me it is definitely worth a stop for lunch or dinner.  It is the best Cheese Steak or Rubin sandwiches I have had this side of the Philly/NY area.  It looks a little B-Side from the road but it is a Top10 hit with the food.

Just a short drive north from Tarpon Springs on Hwy 19 you can find a waterfront local watering hole called Crab Shack right at the south edge of New Port Richey.  You have to hunt a bit for this one as it is in the shadow of a bridge at the end of a dead end road.  You weave through a few old buildings and some boat storage and there you are.  If you are looking for the true local Florida experience, this is the place you have been looking for.  We plan to make this one of our regular stops when we want to truly get away.

The park is starting to come alive as the migration from Canada is beginning to head south.  Golf carts are starting to  populate the RV resort streets and the Canadian flags are flying high.  About 50% of the snowbirds are from Canada but they can only be in the US for six month.  They therefore wait until the first of
November to arrive so they can stay south through April as it is still a bit chilly that time of year.  It will be a lot of fun getting to know all our new norther neighbors.

Hey, we are off to the pool but we will keep you updated on what's happening in this part of the world.  As always I will be looking for those great B-Side hot spots and I will stay Unplugged- especially near the water.

From Bluegills to Grouper

From bluegill fishing on the beautiful lakes of northern Indiana with my Brother-in-law to the gulf waters of west-central Florida where grouper is king - our journey continues.  We are now at home in warm, sunny Hudson, FL just 50 miles north of Tampa and 2 miles from the white sands of Hudson Beach.

The summer in Indiana was great spending quality time with family and friends and visiting many of our old stomping grounds where we both spent the first 30 some years of our lives.  We caught so many fish in my few times out on the lakes that my sister, Bonnie set a limit on the number we could keep as their freezer was filling up fast.  Of course there was no way we could stop when the fish were biting so well.  Time on the lakes would have been enough but the great fishing was a great bonus.  My time for fishing was made possible during our stay with my sister, Bonnie and brother-in-law Tom Holloway for over a week while our RV was receiving needed repairs at the Open Range factory in Shipshewana, IN.  I'm not sure if I will be fishing in Florida but will be surf -fishing in Texas during our Jan - Mar stay in Rockport, TX on the gulf coast.

Here is Florida the grouper is the super star in most eating establishments as the price on the menu only states, "market price".  There are plenty of fresh shrimp, scallops and clam strips which go well with the local beverages.  We have been able to locate several good beach-side hide-a-ways by driving down many side roads to see what we could find.  Of course we had a little help from Vickie's brother, Buzz and his wife Nancy as they took us on a tour of the area and pointed out all the good spots.

The trip down went really well and I am starting to think I am a real pro at this RV towing business but I still have a ton to learn.  Thank goodness most of the other RVers and locals are willing to share their knowledge about what to try and what not to.  I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.  We have found the travel a bit more challenging after we arrived here.  For one, they should be able to run ads in the paper to sell their cars by stating, "1990 Chevy, 240,000 miles, turn signals never been used.  Also if you ever wondered what happened to all the bumper cars you use to ride at the local county fair - I found where they went.  Only this morning I received a light bump from the rear as I was waiting to turn left from a guy who said his foot must have slipped off the brake.  Luckily there was no damage.

Next week we will be taking a kayak float trip down a crystal clear river near here with several of Vickie's family.  I am really looking forward to the trip as most of the others have taken it before and after seeing the facebook pictures we were ready to go.  As a matter-of-fact we rented a 2-person kayak a few weeks back in Indiana just to make sure we would not come off looking like complete rookies.  I can't wait to showcase our stellar kayaking talents in front of family and friends.  The river is full of Manatees this time of year and will make for a trip of a lifetime.  You will have to stand by for the photos at a later date.

We will take you along as we search out new fun locations to eat, drink and lay in the sun.  As I set beneath a swaying palm sipping a - well you know the rest, I will sign off for now but

will visit with you soon.  We will be checking out the B-Side of life and remain forever Unplugged.  Cheers!!!

Hoosier Summer Coming to an End

Well it is absolutely hard to believe but our first summer back in Indiana in 31 years is just about to come to a close.  This is the 2nd of Sept. (our daughter Gretchen's Birthday) and we will be leaving our RV home at Eby's Pines on the 15th.  We are dropping off our RV at the factory in Shipshewana, IN for warranty work and then heading for the sunny south on Sept. 25th.  We will be staying with my sister and brother-in-law during that time about an hour and a half south of here in Akron.  We will take that time to check out a few of the lake areas we have not made it to yet and maybe get in some last minute bluegill fishing.



This had been a busy summer filled with lots of fun activities, friends and family but it is time to head a bit further south as the signs of fall begin to show themselves here in the northern mid-west.  The only thing wrong
with the whole picture is the timing.  We are leaving here before the leaves turn and will be driving through the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains before that change as well.  The good news is we will be arriving on the west coast of central Florida just as the temps begin to cool and the sunsets are at there best.

We will be taking you along for the ride as we exchange the dog days of summer with sand in our flipflops and warm breezes off the Gulf of Mexico.  I hope you continue to ride shotgun as we head sout
h for we have many things to discover and many hidden gems yet to uncover.  Most of our postings will be on the B-Side of life and as always everyday will be completely Unplugged.