Last Day in Port A

Who say ships don't park in RV Parks

Here it is. The last day in Port A. Not that I'm really excited or something like that, but it sure is gonna be good to get away from 90% humidity, sweat drip'n off me, sand everywhere (in "da house"), beach bored, high prices and too many freak'n tourist. Progress has had it's way of turn'n a quaint little fishing village into an expensive tourist trap "paradise" for the rich and famous.

This morning proves to be a wonderful looking day. Only a slight breeze, a few morning clouds and a moderate temp of 86 degs....LOLOLOLOL......right, moderate.

Last night I made the mistake of "attempting" to repair a slight water leak on the water heater....what I knowed about for the last two weeks. That's right Billy Bob, go break something when ya know all the stores are closed. Twisted that drain plug right off. Now what ya gonna do???
Turn the water off of course. What I did. With old Billy Bob know'n some stuff, I took a hacksaw blade, split the busted off drain plug and removed it in 5 minutes. Plumbing sell'n place in the morning.

Still have no idea where I gonna go. North is the only thing I know at this time. San Antonio??? I rekon I'll just hook up and head up the Interstate a couple hunerd miles. Pull into a rest area and ponder the possibilities. No hurry, no worry.

Ok, I got stuff to do......laterz

9:30am....well that took care that. No leak and made reservations for Garner State Park for 4 or 5 days, maybe a week. Got the slides pulled in, check all that stuff like oil and air, pick up dog poop in the yard....well actually I didn't pick it up, I raked it in the holes Lug Nut dug try'n to catch a fiddler crab.

Speak'n of fiddler crabs, did I ever tell ya bout the time....it were back in 64' or there bouts, I went out on the town and got rip snort'n drunk. Drove down to the beach an' went "fiddler crab" hunt'n....they was everywhere...throwed them in the back seat. Bunches. Then I got really tired, worn out and sleepy so's I crashed (passed out) in the back seat with all them crabs. Weren't long and the sun come up....and I hear the sound of water. Holy cows, there water in the car....salt water...big buckets of it. And I were "stuck"....in the rising tide. People started show'n up with boards, chains and a big ol' WW2 6x6, or something like that. That was the end of my fiddler crab hunt'n days and the end of a beautiful 1956 2 door Ford Crown Victoria.

Now back to important stuff. It's freak'n hot. Still have a few little things to do, but no hurry, no worry.

Ok.....it's time to be "on the road again" Will post as I can.

Break time. Been on the road a couple hours and a half and Lug Nut says...."STOP!!! I gotta pee". Pee'd right on that big ole truck tire sit'n next door. Took'em out on the grass to drop a log, but all they was interested in was some little bug critter run'n for his life.

Don't ya just love Texas rest areas?? Free wifi, grass to lay down on and take a nap, .....ah ha, I just spied a hat lay'n on a picnic bench over there. Snatch that sucker up in a minute....I like hats. Keeps this long ass hair out my eyes.

Bout half way there to Uvalde, where I gonna spend the night at Walmart. Do my grocery shop'n, fill up the gas tank, bout $150 worth, and eat me up some Chinese buffet....that's the place I said I would NEVER eat again. But I sure do like Chinese.

Hat snatch'n time and sign'n off.....see ya down the road.
LOL....oops, the owner was lay'n on a bench tak'n a snooze. So much for free hats.

where I gonna park????

Boy howdy am I glad it's another day. Yesterday was a total loss. One them "sit and feel sorry for yourself" days.

This morning has started off next best thing to perfect. Beautiful sunshine, a little 20 mph breeze out the southeast, not a cloud in the sky and I ain't got nuttin to do. Well, I say nuttin to do, but then I get to think'n bout all the mess I got to clean up, dishes piled up in the sink, trash to go out, restock the fridge, go get some pocket change, pick up my mail......holy cows, I'm tired already.

Still undecided where to go next. This is where "bust'n" a plan comes into play. I get myself all worked up and 'citis (excited) bout going fish'n and stuff, but then I get to think'n..."Billy Bob, all ya gonna do is sit on yer butt and drink coffee". What ain't a bad idea. But....it ain't no fun.

So today, I have got to decide where I gonna go. And then....when I get to Terlingua, where I gonna park this rig? I got a few offers, one being out at the Field Lab, but have ya ever been on that road with all those holes and washouts??? I know them big trucks go out there, but they don't sit 12" off the ground like I do. I'm think'n, just find a good road and camp slap dab in the middle of it. What they gonna do, put me in jail??? More thoughts on the way!!!!

Well shoot....I guess I better go off to town. I probably outta go to Corpus Christi and get me some "free" glasses. I say free 'cause it ain't no out of pocket $$$. Insurance ya know. Been a couple years, so I'm sure a new pair help me see better.

Ok....I'm out of here for a bit....don't go away!!!

The girls come by for a short visit. They was talk'n bout what they did yesterday, last week and all kind of girl talk....to each other. I tried to change the subject since they came to see me, but Dee Dee just kept right on flap'n...."did you hear bout this and hear bout that", to Peggy....not me. I rushed them out the door with a hug and a peck and said, "see ya next year"....Sheesh!!!

See there what I told ya? I'm back and had me a funny at the bank. Wrote up a check for "my change sock" and give it to the little girl. Cute little thang too. She ask "how you want that", to which I replied..."quarters". She got this look on her face.....like "...huh...". She says "what ya gonna do with $500 worth of quarters"? ....hee hee hee...heres the kicker...."wash clothes". I let her off the hook after she counted out 10 rolls of quarters. Silly girl. Ain't no way old Billy Bob gonna carry "that" bag of quarters.

Went off to Corpus Christi just like I said. Got me some brand spank'n new glasses....for free. Although, I did have to pay a $35 deductible at the eye check'n place. The eye glass lady says, "wow, you saved $324. Little does she know, I have to pay for that insurance.

Got back to the island in time to pick up my mail and then go stuff my empty belly at Old San Juan mexican eat'm up place. Had me three big ol' beef enchiladas, a pile of frejoles w/cheese, some mexican rice and and two homemade flour tortillas. Eat me so much, I feel like I gonna let off a phaaaart or what ever ya call'm. Boy howdy!!

Speak'n of gas, did I ever tell ya bout the time.....it were back in 1997 or there bouts. I was hav'n stomach problems.....every time I would eat, I would swell up and let off a big'un. Well, we went to this fancy Japanese restaurant where they cook right in front ya toss'n stuff in the air and mak'n funny sounds....ching chang chuie keeeya or some crap like that. Oh my, I begin to swell up an' hurt'n bad. I thought a nice easy "quiet" one would be ok since that cook mak'n so much noise. Yep, you guessed it....a rip roar'n loud one. An old lady sitting next to me turned bright red and calmly said..."Oh, excuse me". Boy did I ever get off the hook on that one.

hot and humid....sweat everywhere

After all the abuse directed at old Billy Bob last night in the comments section about bringing a dead cat to life, I'm think'n maybe I need to reflect on the present instead of my mischievous, silly, funny and adventurous boy hood days.
By the way River, how you know bout "Fred da duck"????

Speak'n of Fred da duck....I even wrote a little poem bout him...wanna hear it???

My Duck Fred

I love my duck
I named him Fred
He watches over us
While we are off to bed

He has shiny white feathers
A scar on his back
His beak is taped shut
So no quackity quack quack

Someone had left him
On the side of the street
With both wings broken
No shoes on his feet

Some caring soul
Placed him in my yard
For me to take care of
And my dogs to guard

I look through my window
At this pitiful duck
Out there laying in the mud
What terrible luck

Yes, I love my little white duck
The one I named Fred
I'll keep him forever
Where ever I tread

Now, back to reality. Boy howdy is it ever hot in Port A. Well.....it's not really hot (87.4), but the humidity is like 90%. Sheesh Billy Bob, why do you go places like this??? Of all the places in the US to visit, I'm in Port Aransas sweat'n like a stuffed hog. But I ain't gonna be here long. Pull'n out Wednesday for ???????. Just check the weather for Houston......yeah, might still go there....and it's gonna be a hot one there too. Look'n in my little money bag, I got's just enough to make it there, play a round or two and still have three dollars left. Sounds good to me!!!

Back later........don't go away

BRIAR PATCH

I was barefooted running at break neck speed across the corn field
with two of the older boys hot on my heels.
Them two boys had done got them a "good" whoppin from Moms
because of me "tell'n" on them.
I was headed for the only sanctuary I was safe in,
the briar patches down by the creek bank,
scream'n "MOMS" all the way.
I knew my way in and I knew my way out.
My feet was tuff as leather and no sticker burrs or thorns was gonna slow me down.
Even that "old ugly dog" wouldn't go in there unless he was foller'n me.
Them boys was out to get even, but ain't no way they gonna catch a bolt of lightning.
They was throwing ears of corn, rocks and sticks and cussing like sailors all the ways.
But this day was not their day to get even.
I started screaming..."MOMS....MOMS" "I'm gonna tell moms"
and they back off in the corn field and let me be.
I could see them hiding out there in the corn field, waiting for me to come out,
so's I stayed in there for hours.
Just me and that old ugly dog, talk'n and schem'n up new adventures.
I caught me a red fox one time in that briar patch.
But turned him loose real quick when he bite the crap outta me.

Spanish Fandango

Last night, while I was think'n......I got to think'n bout my old grandpa. I loved my old grandpa.

Way back in 1951, my grandpa sat me down many times and told me stories. Too bad I didn't write them all down. He was a musician. Played the piano and a plunked out some beautiful tunes on the guitar. Now....he were play'n the guitar one night, a tune what got my attention. His fingers was mov'n like they was chas'n a rabbit. He called it "Spanish Fandango".....something I never heard. If I recall, he told me it was a tune he made up or composed...something like that, while he was homesteading in New Mexico before it became a State. Don't know the validity of his story, but I been believ'n it all my life. Anyhows, he taught me that song. Think'n it would be lost forever, I taught it to two of my sons.

For some unforeseen reason, I typed "spanish fandango" into Google.....whoa, up jumps all kinds of links. YouTube sites, what I clicked on right now. There it was, just like he taught me almost 60 years ago. Boy howdy was I ever excited.

Now what ya gonna do Billy Bob......we'll see!!!

Holy cows.....old Billy Bob gonna be mak'n some travel changes. There's "water everywhere". From the weather forecasts for the Houston area, it's gonna be a wet one all next week. Rain'n there now. Just talked to daughter....see says the weather sucks and has sucked for the last two weeks. So......do I go to Houston or not? Probably not. I guess I could find me a nice State Park somewhere and do some "free" fish'n. You did know that fish'n in Texas State parks requires no fish license....right?
Well shoot, I did some research on this and I'm think'n maybe I lied. It was a one year deal and from what I understand, it were over Aug. 31st.
But I did find a State Park that has fish'n, a river for my little 1 man blow up raft, and trees to sit under drink'n coffee. Garner State Park, just west of San Antonio and 25 miles north of Uvalde. Right on my way to Terlingua. Sounds good to me.

Here is a sample from my old web site Billy Bobs Place.

HERE KITTY KITTY

If ya ever lived on a farm, ya go a cat. We had this big old "tom" cat that would'a make a lion cringe.
Been an animal lover that I am, I spent many wasted hours tormenting that poor old cat. He didn't sleep
anywhere he thought I might pass by. He would walk in a big circle just to avoid being within my reach.
I think ya get the picture. I loved that cat and he was gonna be my friend or else.
Well it came down to "or else".
I caught him sleep'n close to the heater stove one cold night. I snuck up on him real quiet like, and pow,
I jump right on top him. You would'a though a "bob cat" been turn loose in a pack of bark'n dogs.
He bit me, clawed me and scratched me, from my ankles to my head. I was a scream'n. I was in severe pain.
That cat done eat me up.

what old folk do

I'm back....Jack....

I got to think'n......what do all these old retired folks do? I know what this old fart does, but I ain't like most retired folks. Do they sit on "da porch" sip'n coffee or are they watch'n tv sit'n in that old wore out "Lazy Boy" recliner. What time do they get up in the morning? Do they eat breakfast or just drink one them hi protein energy drinks? Not that I'm get'n old or anything like that, just curious.

Now, let me tell ya what a retired full timing RV'n feller does. Since he ain't got no home, he's liv'n on the streets.

Speak'n of living on the streets....did I ever tell ya bout the time? It were back in 2002 and I were in Port Aransas camp'n right on the beach when right bout 2am, someone was bang'n on my door...with a freak'n five cell flashlight....BAM, BAM, BAM. I swings open the door gonna beat some arse, when I see this sheriff look'n guy an' his buddy stand'n there. "You can't park this Winnebago here", he tells me. Winnebago??? Does "this" look like a Winnebago? I look 'round, not a car in sight. A mile down a deserted beach. What the hell??? Then to top it off, he says I have to move before 8am. Why the hell he tell me this at 2am???

Ok...where was I....oh yeah, full time living in an RV. I tried keep'n my house in San Antonio for 3 years, but it got broke into every time I drove around the block, much less take a trip somewhere. For what I lost in "stuff" and vandalism, I could'a bought me a brand new motorhome. What I did soon as I sold the house.


I travel between 5000 to 7000 miles a year, staying no more than a month in one place. If I don't like where I'm at....or it rains, I simply go somewhere else. But I been "somewhere else" too many times. I get up any time I want, as long as it's before sunrise....usually 'cause I gotta go pee. I eat any time I want and what ever I want, drink all the coffee I want and take all the naps I want. I don't have schedules other than those required to meet up with someone.....like my daughter in Houston.

I were watch'n that National Parks program on PBS... what got me to think'n.....what if ya took a National Park tour? But....after I seen some them places, I think I need to keep my feet on level ground. I see that guy stand'n on that rock with nothing under him but "dead". I get all nervous think'n if that was me stand'n up there, that rock gonna fall.

How long I will be able to continue this lifestyle I don't know. I been places I thought I would never see and been places I'll never go again. Picked out my favorite places to visit and picked out places to avoid. Ya can't do this sit'n in an old wore out "Lazy Boy" recliner.

Pancho Villa coming soon to a theater near you......

another rain storm

Yep, things are look'n up this morn'n alright. Did ya see that freak'n storm we just got?? But, I knowed it was com'n, so it weren't no big deal.

Woke up this morning, for about the 10th time, think'n, "boy howdy, why my hip hurt'n like this"? I hobbled to the coffee pot, keep'n a close eye for anything lay'n on the floor, tak'n little "baby steps" till there was enough light to see what I were do'n. All is good to go.

Nothing planned for the day, but ya never know. With the predicted rain for the week end, I'll probably just hang out around in "da house". Take me some naps and watch some tv.

Well shoot, so much for a nap. Got me a grocery list all drawed up to replace what's missing from the cupboards. I either eat too much, someone steal'n stuff or I don't go get groceries enough. Gotta go easy on buy'n meats......need room for the Blue Bell.

Dee Dee and Peggy just come by for a visit. My God, what happen to those girls. Five years surely don't make THAT much difference....or do it? So much for "island" romance.

According to the girls, it's gonna be an exciting week end. Car show at Island Moorings, the Galveston to Port A sailboat regatta and a chili cook off at Sharky's. Boy howdy, old Billy Bob needs to go somewhere. The campground is filling up for the week end festivities right now.
I'm so excitis (excited) I could pee.

When I lived in the City Marina, I was always right in the middle of the regatta for 7 years. Sailboats everywhere. Parties every night, what accounted for all the drunks everywhere.


One year, I had a little "island" girl danc'n on top my Jaguar. One the local, fat, cops come up and was gonna put us ALL in jail...'specially me 'cause I told him to "get the f*** off my car"....what he was lean'n on like he owned it or something. You would'a think I was a criminal or something. He got all irate and red face, pull'n out pepper spray and hand cuffs. A big crowd gathered up clap'n and cheer'n Barnacle Bill (old Billy Bob) on. Then there was more cops. Red lights flash'n, short fat cops run'n all directions. All turned out calm, after 30 minutes 'splain'n it was MY Jag, not some rich tourist....that is until little "island" girl fell slap off the dock into the drink. Boy howdy them was some good ole days.

For some reason I decided to make tacos for dinner. Went off to the store and bought all the mak'ns, plus all the other stuff I needed....Blue Bell of course. They didn't have any Taco Bell taco sauce, so I got the only thing available....LaVictoria. For shells, I chose Ortega 25% bigger than Taco Bell and everyone knows, bigger is better.
Back at "da house" I cooked everything up, cut up some maters, shredded some lettuce and cheddar cheese. Put the shells in the oven long enough for them to brown up a bit and commenced build'n tacos. Oh my, where are the onions??? Anyhows, LaVictoria taco sauce ain't Taco Bell. And Ortega 25% bigger ain't Taco Bell. Ruint 6 perfectly good tacos. But I ate them anyhows. Now I'm stuffed an' gonna lay on the floor.

back seat driv'n

There comes a time in every mans life when he has to "git in da back seat" and let someone else take the wheel. Today is one of those days. It's not that I don't know how to drive....
sheesh, who would ever think that?

There ain't a cloud in the sky, sunshine and beautiful, but it's been a "black cloud" day for old Billy Bob, hang'n right over his head. Let me 'splain what I'm talk'n bout.

It all started early this morning when I stepped on a double freak'n A battery. That's the one I throwed on the floor last night 'cause it were dead. You might be ask'n yourself, "now why would Billy Bob be throw'n a AA battery on the floor"? Well, it's like this....I knowed I would be walk'n down the hall this morning to make me some coffee and see it lay'n there on the floor, pick it up and toss it in the trash. Simple, but I don't see very well in the dark.
Upon stepp'n on that AA battery....what hurt like hell, losing all sense of balance, I fell off to the left , knock'n coffee pot, my CoffeeMate and a canister of sugar to the floor....right next to that GD dead AA battery. Still in an unbalanced stupor, I fell over the trash can trying to regain my footing in all that sugar and stuff. Then I turned on the light.....holy cows Billy Bob, now look what ya went an' done.

Then.... me and my golf'n buddy Ron showed up at the golf course. He says, "what the hell happened to you"? I had CoffeeMate in my hair, CoffeeMate on my pants and a big "thump'n" right there on my forehead. But then...."here comes Jones"... I fell slap out the cart on a hard left turn and Ron run slap over my favorite golf'n foot.

Then.... back at "da house", I commenced to clean up the mess I made earlier. Apparently that "thump'n" on the head dulled my senses....fell plumb out the door when my feet got hung up in the dog ropes. And I did all this before the first stroke of noon. Boy howdy, Billy Bob, you need to lay down.

So I decided to take the rest of the day off and let "someone else drive".