Sunday, March 31, 2013

"Back to the Basics of Love" in Luckenbach!

Yep, it's really here!
Who knew!?  In 1978-ish Waylon Jennings made the song "Back to the Basics of Love"(in Luckenbach, Texas) popular.  And where does the GAF (General's Air Force...another groupie title) choose for the perfect lunch stop today?  Luckenbach of course!

A post office that sells t-shirts and dog scarves!

The Dog, The Gen and The Col. - but where's the Chicken Neck?  
While we shop and decide on "must have" t-shirts and a bandana to make dog scarves...Arnie and Marie are staking out a lunch picnic table and ordering bratwursts and bar-b-que sandwiches at the "Feed Lot."

The Feed Lot....only restaurant there is!
Marie and Arnie, Steve, Wayne, Vonn and Jean

Make mine a Dos X'x
A little local color.....for $7.00 you too can have a photo op!

Brings me right back to the county fair...REAL local color!
To be sure, lunch is entertaining what with a steer riding cowpoke trotting by, an orange and black chicken running underfoot, great bar-b-que and beer...and The General's Air Force buddies.

Leading up to lunch we spend time in Fredricksburg, TX, another "Hill Town" and find the shopping unique.  The real meaning of "Texas Bar-b-que" finally comes across at Rustlin' Rob's Sauce Shop....

Just a small selection of all the samples set out so you can really UNDERSTAND Texas!
Here's my favorite one...and it was quite a chore to sample enough to come up with a favorite...but, dang, somebody had to do it!  I think I remember something about lime and mango in this amazing sauce.


Roja!  
This one is NOT my favorite....nope, didn't even try the free sample.  But maybe it's good?

Who knew?
One thing my eyes couldn't let go of...as we passed the fine shoe and clothing stores in downtown Fredericksburg...BOOTS!  Now these cowgirl boots are not like any I had a choice of in my horsey days!  Tempting...but they just won't work well on a boat.  Still, I like 'em!

I'll take the blue flowered pair....
The evening wraps up with wine, beer and Mexican shrimp ....as we all sit around the RV.  One more meal and a few more hours to share memories about old times.  The GAF makes a phone call to Lil Bill who joins us by cell from Las Vegas.  The end of the evening brings an end to this get together...with the promise of and good ideas for the next one.  So, tomorrow...off to Florida for The Col. and Tammy, Georgia for The Gen and Crumpy, Southern California for Chicken Neck and Marie...and Padre Island National Seashore for The Dog and Nan!  (P.S.  I'm making application for the name of Mrs. Dog) W00F!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Air Force Buddies...still...after 45 Years!


Wayne, Bill, Vonn, Steve, Arnie
This was THEN....way way back...1968..."We get our wings"...at Mather AF Base, Sacramento

Steve, Arnie, Wayne, Vonn
This is NOW....2013...in front of old dorm building at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.

And so it happens that four of the five above meet up in San Antonio...and find they are still buddies, after all these years! 45 years to be exact since the shared experience of Officer Training School here at Lackland AFB.

We find each other at the Hayatt Resort in San Antonio...and the words start falling out and never stop for three days!  Steve (aka The Dog), Arnie (aka Chicken Neck), Wayne (aka Hiram), and Vonn (aka The Gen)...all present and accounted for.  Missing for the gathering is Bill (aka Little Bill) and his wife Dee (aka Big Dee).  Everyone misses these last two terribly, but sick leave kept them at home this time.

Wayne, Tammy, Arnie, Vonn, Marie, Steve, Nan, Jean
If you read above you know almost everyone has nicknames and they stuck like glue.  These clever and meaningful (no one can really remember why some of the names are the names) names were developed during OTS and the only two married guys at the time were Little Bill (to Big Dee) and The Gen...to Jean (aka Crumpy).  These names float through the air as if they are never known by any other name...then or now.

We report and are ready for action Thursday morning in the lobby and we are off to explore Lackland AFB.  There must be SOMETHING still there the guys remember?

Steve and his plane: B-52

Imagine the sound.....

B is for BIG
The Dog points out his cozy quarters as navigator

Big and Bigger

Memories...
We all wander the planes, talking and pointing out things...and just remembering what it was all like.  There are stories.  Many many stories about flights, situations, people and incidents.

Then it's off to find the dorm (Steve refers to the look of it as more like a prison) and the classroom (called The Master Bedroom because they were so tired from studying that they would fall asleep in the auditorium chairs and pencils would hit the floor and roll away) and the building where they made runs for late night snacks.  Yes, all still there!

The Dog, Chicken Neck, Hirem, The Gen in front of the dorm
Memory lane works up an appetite so it's off to the River Walk and the Lonestar Restaurant for...what else, bar-b-que and beer...oh and margaritas!

Ready for trouble
Next, a walk on the River Walk, a barge ride on the river AND the Alamo.  Whew.  How to keep up with my six new friends?
Yet another toast!  Note to self: Gold Margarita = GREAT!


Riding on the river

Spring 

Barred owl in River Walk tree!  Surprise



Now for the Alamo!  How can you visit Texas without a visit to The Alamo?  You can't obviously.

So where's His hat?  It's Texas for goodness sake...ya gotta have a HAT!

Remember the Alamo...and Remember the GAF Buddies!
I think we are all asleep as we crawl into bed...but, set the alarm...because tomorrow is another day of FUN.  I feel so fortunate to slip into this wonderful band of men and their wives.  Lucky me!

Nan, Tammy, Marie and Crumpy!  Note our matching flower headbands....shoppers all!

Next post: Day #3 GAF Reunion and San Antonio

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Big Bend NP is....BIG!

Bienveniedos Amigos!!
Arrival at Big Bend National Park was early afternoon.  I registered and paid for site #17, walked out the door, and look who was standing there to welcome me!  Senor Roadrunner at your servico!

It is already appearent that Big Bend is...well, BIG.  It takes us forty minutes to drive to Rio Grande Village camping once we pass through the park gate.  It is also HOT here....as in the high 90's during the day beginning about 10 a.m. and lasting until sunset, which doesn't occur here until 8:30 p.m.!  So strange to have the long evening light, and equally stange to have it be dark until 07:30!

With this heat, we know we have to get a site with electricity, so the concession campground it is.  The nearby no services campground, run by the NP, was lovely and much more attractive.  However, in national parks dogs are not welcome on trails or just about anywhere except your campsite or car.  If we are to do any exploring or ranger lectures, we need an air cooled place for the pups.

Even being in a more populated area, the roadrunner was a daily visitor as were javelinas and more birds than you can imagine!  (especially vermillion flycatchers)

Javelinas!

Photo guy Steve


Mr. Great Blue 

Senor tortuga



The birdwatching is fabulous.  We see black hawks who have returned to nest, vermillion flycatchers, ash throated flycatchers, vultures, red tailed hawks, rock doves, inca doves, morning doves, belted kingfisher, ladder backed woodpecker, ravens, jays and grackles, sparrows, comorant and great blue  heron.    The air is alive with their songs, squaks and calls! 


Rio Rio Grande
The wildlife is wonderful, but the history of the area is fascinating.  Right across the river, so near and yet so far, is the tiny Mexican town of Boquillas, Mexico.  We stand in the small area known as Rio Grande Village, that used to be named Boquillas, Texas.  Soon after 9-11, this border area was shut down to casual crossing and then to all crossings.  Now the people over in Boquillas have no access to supplies and mail they once got in Rio Grande.  They are over 200 overland, rough miles from any town in Mexico.  It's a big deal for them.

Today you can look across the river and know it would take all of two minutes (if) to wade across to either side.  The people of Boquillas have figured out how to still eek out a little tourist economy, by "selling" (or asking for donations)  little trinkets and hand crafted items, they leave on the trails or at the overlook sites.

The signs on the U.S. side warn it is ILLEGAL to purchase any such items!

So near and yet so far....

You know you want to "buy" some...
How can you "obtain" illegal goods when told NOT to?
Maybe I bought the occotillo and roadrunner in the NP company store?
Or MAYBE I donated money into the jar here?
I swear, more than half the fun is looking around, then stuffing your money in the jar and hiding the illegal goods in your backpack.  But then again, how would I know?

Ranger Amy gives a talk on Boquillas
Ranger Amy was hired by the NP Service to run the newly reopened border crossing for Rio Grande Village and Boquillas, Mex.  The gate is built.  The entry building is built.  The "arrangements" have been made....it was supposed to open over a year ago, and most recently in January of 2013, when Amy arrived.  Then the opening date was February.  She is still giving talks, but not working at an open border crossing!

On the rock next to where she is talking is another, very obvious, site for aquiring illegal crafts.  Across the river Mexicans wave at us.  They sit on the river edge making their wares.  Soon they will wade across, empty the jar, and put new items on the "shelf."  (usually not while she is talking!)

We spend the very hot afternoon in the air conditioned Jeep driving the Chicos Mt. trail, the Maverick Road and the Ross Maxwell Scenic Road to Santa Elena Canyon.  The thermometer reads 103 degrees!  Too hot to even get out and walk a little bit.

We decide it's time to leave Big Bend.  Not because we have nothing left to see or do, but because it is just too hot to manage dogs....and truthfully...Nan!

Chicsos Mt. Road
From mountains, to canyons, to the river...to the massive and ever present desert....Big Bend is, well, BIG!  And did I mention: AWESOME?!

Prickley Pear beauty

Oh, OH, Occotillo!

Santa Elena Canyon - one canyon wall is Mexico, the other in U.S.

Good evening, Big Bend
On to San Antionio we go....

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Triangle T Guest Ranch Surprise!

We vote for stopping HERE!
Driving along the interstate can almost hypnotize you.  Almost.  For sure it doesn't require the intense focus one must have to navigate Mex #1.  And that's what we are doing Sunday afternoon, just driving east on I-10 headed for....well...someplace between where we are and Texas.  We have it in mind to go further down the road, but Steve notices a regular blue highway sign indicating camping at the next exit.

 He muses: "I wonder what camping that is?  No indication of anything around here...."  The country is beautiful.  There are huge boulders and the road rises and falls with rolling hills.  I grab Ms. iPhone and Google: camping exit 318 I-10 AZ.  Up pops: Triangle T Guest Ranch.  A quick look at the first few sentences indicate a guest ranch and RV stop not far off the road with the look and feel of Arizona cowboys (and cowgirls).  The trouble is....the miles continue to click away, and if we are to investigate this possibility, we must turn back.  That would be, "back tracking."  Never a popular idea.  Another exit flys by.  I press "Call" on the phone screen and Jo Ann answers.  Yes, they do have an RV site for the night.  I say, "We'll be right there!"

Welcome to Triangle T
Can't you just see Westerns being filmed here?
We find the Triangle T easily.  It's only 1/4 of a mile off the interstate, but miles away in sight and sound.  Checking in, Jo Ann tells us to be sure and check out the Rock Saloon as the bar is built around...you guessed it, a BIG rock!

Billy up to the bar boys....and girls!
We do check out the Rock Saloon and Bar, have a drink and some strange nachos.  Then it's back through the bar room doors and out to explore the ranch.

Cowboy Steve
There are lots of interesting things to check out, but we understand there is a labyrinth here and that's what we want to find!

Not as comfy as our rig!
                                           Tucked inbetween tall boulders we find this!

Labyrinth in the Wild

I have never walked this labyrinth design before and although it's small, the same opportunity for a meditative walk is there before me.  The path is lined with rock rich in quartz...white, rose, and various golden browns entwined.

 I am reminded that sometimes the road of life is fairly straight and easy to navigate.  The path is clear.


Steve winds around
 An sometimes the road curves and twists as if you are almost going backwards, but yet your feet go ever forward.  How can that be?


Then there are the times in life where obstacles just get in THE WAY.  Some are just small inconvienences, yet others are seemingly immovable ojects making the trek difficult and exhausting.

I think about this as I walk around and around, following the curves easily, and making the twists back with a snap, slowing down at the boulders in "my way"....bending and ducking to get around those parts of the "rocky" path.  Then suddenly the path exits, right where it began.   My chant this walk is about healing for those in need, for dear friends and family and why not...for the Earth and this Universe.

In the morning we take a hike with the dogs and find a horse trail that leads up to a bluff and down again.

Morning walkers
Steve finds a surprise on top of the bluff
A morning walk in "God's Country!"
We are reminded as we walk the trails of Triangle T Ranch that the phrase "This is God's Country" fits this incredible little piece of Arizona, not far from Exit 318 on I-10.  Sometimes it's really worth it to "Back Track!"  I'm really glad we did!

3/4 of the Breeze Team
But now it's time to "Forward Track"....Big Bend National Park...next stop!  All aboard!