Holiday blues....

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas

  What the hell??? That old fat bastard ain't showed hide nor hair at me house last night. A couple girls from Mexico was roam'n round the park last night sell'n their wares....or so it seemed. Lots of traffic. That was it, Christmas eve at the Falcon Heights Community Park.

I'm think'n that pot of Billy Bob beef stew soup was the bestest I ever did make. It's all gone.....poooof, just like that. Here's what ya do when you're out camp'n an' don't want to go to town to some fancy restaurant. Ya brew up a one pot meal that will last bout 3 days. If'n ya eat it all up in 3 days, and don't throw none away, ya know ya make a good pot of mak'ns.

Holidays.....bah humbug. There was a time when I looked forward to holidays. Especially the 4th of July. Firecrackers an' stuff....you know what I'm talk'n bout. Blam, Booom....rockets, cherry bombs...stuff like that. Blow stuff up. But I suppose Christmas was my favorite of the other holidays. Watch the kids all excitis, smil'n faces as they opened their presents. A big whoop de do. Then a great big afternoon meal with a hunnert relatives sit'n round the table stuff'n their faces. Kids scream'n an runn'n in an' out the doors. Yeah, that was some good times.

But it ain't like that no more. I cringe at the thought of buy'n gifts, wrap'n 'em up, mail'n them out to God only knows where. All the bicker'n an' fight'n over "this ain't what I wanted". "Pappa's cheap, look what he got me". "I wanted a iPod, not a damn old shirt". Then there's all that food. Enough food to feed a army....stuff what nobody likes. Lay'n on the couch beltch'n an' fart'n. And all this goes on for weeks before the grand day and another week after. It's just flat out depress'n to think about. I'm old. That shit don't excite me no more.....git it over with so's I can sit back an' relax (do'n nuttin).

Don't know what to say bout catch'n any bass fishes. The damn things are way out there in deep water where the old Billy Bob is skeered to go. But it ain't always been like this. I remember a time when I were much younger, I weren't skeered of nuttin. Had me a little red speed boat. Motor was too big for that size a boat. Modified that big ol' motor. That sucker go a hunnert mile a hour. Flipped it one time jump'n the wake of another boat. I was airborne....fly'n through the air....scream'n "MOM'S". Had stuff lay'n all over the water. Thought I was gonna die. Now I get over 3 miles a hour in the "bubba boat", I'm say'n "slow this sucker down".

The "bubba boat" ain't the safest boat in the world.....if'n ya know what I mean. It's only 10 feets long and not very wide. If the air leaks out, ya gonna sink. Ya can't stand up unless you're a good swimmer. I don't see no way an old man could ever get back in once he falls out. I'm think'n "bubba boat" weren't designed for old cripple up folks to go fish'n. Plan is to launch this unsafe little bass fish'n boat next week an' go catch me up some fish. "Wear your life jacket Billy Bob. Don't stand up and don't smoke in the boat".

I don't know what go'n on, but my life has been unfold'n right in front my eyes. Childhood memories, early adult life, weird stuff I've done, run'n amuck....good and bad times. I ain't had a good nights sleep since I been down here. Just toss an' turn, wake up all hours of the night.....what the hell??? I've heard of winter blues, but this is ridiculous. I'm gonna blame it all on the holidays. One more week an' I'm good to go.

OFM Barney pulled out early this morn'n. His plan was to head up to Del Rio till he fount out it's gonna get below freez'n up there.....oh hell, I'll let him tell ya in his blog tonight.

Until laters....Merry Christmas. 

  

"Sally da house" has moved

Well dag nab it, what's wrong with my batteries this morn'n? Ya see, yesterday morn'n I notice my voltage was much lower than what it supposed to be. OFM Barney was here, so he can verify that I have a problem. The charge controller. I giggles some wires around and the controller was do'n all kind of stuff it ain't supposed to do. I giggle 'em some more and now I got the connection block in one hand and the controller in the other. Holy cows, I done broke it for sure now. I breaks out my trusty solder gun kit an' fix it up lickity split......just like brand spank'n new. A hour later an' we back on line produc'n god sent solar energy to my batteries. Yeee ha!!!!

Then at bout 9am this morn'n, my voltage is low. What the hell??? OFM Barney climbs his old raggity up the ladder and says...."Yo Billy Bob, your solar panels are 90% covered with shade from them trees". That ain't never gonna work. So's I jumps in "that jeep" an' go off look'n for a new camp'n site where I can have 100% sunshine on the solar panels all day long. Fount 3 pretty nice ones. Then back at camp, I figger it's easier to just move "da house" to the other side the trees where there ain't no shade. And that exactly what I done. And.....the water hose will even reach now. A couple days of good sunshine and we be good to go.

Checked the fish'n reports for Falcon Lake. Ain't look'n too good. All the fish is sleep'n or something like that. Most bass fish what's been caught are in the 4 to 5 pounds range and are in deep water. You know, deep enough for the old Billy Bob to git drowned in. Sheesh....ain't gonna be no day like that. I got things to do ya know.

Speak'n of things to do, I rekon I'll cut this short an' do something. Laters....

I'm camp'n....yeah I am

I'm in complete agreement with OFM Barney what he said bout the road noise and gun shoot'n over in town. Maybe by this time tomorrow, I will be located in a more desolate camp site away from the road.

One other reason I have for moving to another camp site is my solar panels. These damn trees are block'n the beautiful sunshine from do'n it's thang. Last night "go'n to bed" voltage was down to 12.20 volts. Piddl'n round with the charge controller this morn'n, I done figger I got me some kind of a problem. Surely I don't need to replace it I hope. Be do'n some more investigat'n here in a bit when the sun is a might brighter.....and it's warmer outside.

Little did I realize that in 3 days Santa will be mak'n his rounds. Don't rekon I'll be get'n nuttin this year since he don't know where I live no more. And I sure as hell ain't go'n to Walmart an' buy me something. All them last minute shopper would only piss me off....make me mad like a dog.

My little trip over to the State park yesterday was quite a experience. I was driv'n "that jeep" in places where last year was under 5 feets of water. The old dead trees I was catch'n fish out of is way up on the bank bout a hunnert foot from the water. Fount me a little island what wasn't there last year where I'm gonna be catch'n me up that 14 pounds bass this year.

This brush line was a fish haven last year. Now look at it. Where the fish gonna hide in that?

Plenty of "bubba boat" launch areas with access to great fish'n spots. Yeee ha....Billy Bob gonna catch up some fish. Good wade fish'n spots for the OFM Barney too. I could loan him  my waders so he can wade up to his arm pits......catch big ol' fish.

Accord'n to the weather thingy, today is gonna be windy with a high temp of 77 degs. Well, it better get with it 'cause there ain't even a breeze out there yet and it's still only 58 degs......clouds all over the place.  





 

Bright sunshiny day in south Texas

Holy crap, did you see the temps last night? I though I were gonna freeze to death. Well now wait a minute here. How ya gonna freeze to death when it's only 41 degs outside an' you're inside all wrap up in a dozen blankets???

Right bout 8pm last night, I went outside and dug the Mr. Heater out of a bay. Hook that sucker up and got myself warm in nuttin flat. At that time, it was 55 degs an' drop'n fast. In case you're wonder'n, I don't use a propane heater while I'm sleep'n. It's safe an' all that with a winder cracked open a inch or so, but it's a waste of propane. That why God invented blankets and long johns.

Today will be the coldest day at 66 degs this afternoon. I'm think'n Monday will be the first day of wind free fish'n on Falcon lake. Gonna blow like hell all week end....'cord'n to the weather thingy.

Andrea was ask'n bout the Community park here in Falcon Heights. In answer to another comment question, yes this is the lake where the guy got shot on a jet ski. His wife got away safely. Anyhows, camp'n is free...with water hook up on site. The community park is bout 30 to 50 acres of freshly cut grass and well maintained dirt roads, with a bunch of trees here an' there. Dumpsters are provided and there's a community shower right up there with hot water. Or so I heard anyhows. You can camp as long as you want. I suggest a Google search for Falcon Heights for directions to get here.

In the mean time, I'm gonna go jump in "that jeep" an' do some explor'n. Take a few photos. Let Sadie Mae chase critters.....stuff like that. Will be back later with some update pics and a few words of wisdom. That means ya gotta come back if'n ya wanna see where I'm at.
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Falcon Heights Community Park:

Free camping....

I saw a buffalo. Now what would a buffalo be do'n in south Texas? I'm think'n some rancher with way too much money had that buffalo imported from some buffalo ranch out west somewheres. If'n I had me a buffalo, I would probly try to ride that sucker. Yeee haa....giddy up.

I 'member back one time when buffalos roamed all over the west....not in south Texas though. There was so many buffalo that they look like "fuzzy" rivers flow'n out the mountains down through the valleys. Gazillions of 'em. There was some people what would eat buffalo, mostly the starv'n Indian tribes that didn't have no cows, so they killed a few. Then some guy in Paris, France, or maybe New York City, figger out that buffalo hides was good for mak'n blankets, rugs and clothes out of. There go all the buffalo. Shot all to hell with big ol' elephant guns an' AK-47's....stuff like that. Not too many years ago, buffalo was almost extinct.....'cause some dumb asses shot 'em all. Now ya only see one on rare occasions. Especially in south Texas.

After many miles of fighting a 20 mile a hour winds on the nose, "Sally" was get'n tired. It was late afternoon when we finally arrived at destination Falcon Heights, Texas. It were hot at 92 degs and not a breeze was blow'n. It was now decision time again....do I camp for free at the Community Park, or do I camp for $96 a week at the State Park. When I look across the street at the Community Park I says...."holy cows, somebody mowed all the grass an' graded all the roads. Looks like a nice place to camp. So that where the old Billy Bob set up his camp. See header photo.  

When I was pull'n out of el Rancho Abraham RV Resort, I done something I ain't never did in all the years I been RV'n. I smak'ed a tree limb with my TV antenna. Yes I had lowered it before pull'n out, but it weren't all the ways down. Inspect'n it from ground level, I don't see much damage....just a little bent arm thingy up there. I was lucky ya know. Most times when ya smak a tree with a antenna, it will rip it slap out of the roof and cause all kinds of headaches. Like tear a big hole in the roof and peel the rubber roofing slap off.

Today ain't the day for climb'n up on no roof to be access'n damage. The wind is blow'n a hunnert mile a hour (25 mph out of the north). The old Billy Bob would be lay'n on the ground scream'n "MOMS" after he got blowed off.

First thing I did this morn'n was to let Sadie Mae out to pee and put on a fresh pot of coffee. What the hell???? I ain't got no water. Just outside my door is a water spigot thingy. WOW...free water too. I make up my coffee....from the spigot out there, but don't know the quality of the water. Does it have little bitty tiny bugs in it?? Coffee tastes the same as everwheres else, so's I guess the water is ok. "Clean the coffee pot Billy Bob, clean the damn coffee pot". I was gonna do that a while back if'n ya remember. But I didn't. Will I??? Maybe!!!

Updated update....Yesterday is gone

Yikes, "I tole you to hook up "that jeep" and leave yesterday Billy Bob...... now look what ya done went an' done". Holy crap, the wind is blow'n a hunnert mile a hour this morn'n. If'n ya ever drive a big ol' motorhome in gusting wind on the port quarter, ya know what I'm talk'n bout. It ain't no fun. Did ya ever stand out in a open field an' spit in the wind? That's what I'm talk'n bout.

I slept in a little late this morn'n. Already 8am an' I ain't got nuttin ready to hit the road. I could probly cure that in right bout a hour or two. It ain't like I got a ton of junk lay'n in the yard what has to be pick up. The distance I got to travel ain't all that far, so get'n out of here long bout noon or something like that is fine. The most dreaded task is find'n a gas station "Sally da house" will fit into. Gas station designers piss me off. They never took into consideration that motorhomes use gasoline too. The pumps are like this l l (perpendicular to the store front) instead of like this  =. It do make a difference when you are almost 60 feets long.

I was stand'n there at the stove last night cook'n me up some stuff. Don't know what ya call it, but it were something like carne quisada....a Mexican dish. Only it a whole bunch more "hot" than carne quisada. Any hows, here come nephew Joseph with a big ol' plate full of groceries. Grill chicken breast, hot link on a stik, a pile of mash taters an' gravy and corn. Now what would you do? That's right, put the "stuff" in the frige an' chow down on free food. Damn that were good.

Yesterdays trip to Walmart proved to be successful for a change. Usually I get all flustered an' start cuss'n. There weren't nobody stand'n round talk'n and block'n the aisles. Most everthing had prices. Checkers were wait'n for someone to check out. No lines. Even the Walmart greeter had a smile on her face. Picked up my meds and a basket full of groceries....all in bout a hour or so.

Ok, got stuff to do......laters
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Ok, here's the deal. Pulled out of El Rancho Abraham RV resort somewheres around 10:30. Hell, I don't know, who watches time? Then I pulled into the one and only gas station in Sinton that "da house" will fit into. Oh great, they got plastic bags over the nozzles. On up the road a piece, I pull in and fill my propane tank. Then I got lost. How the hell can ya get lost??? I ain't say'n.....would embarrass me. By the time I reached Alice, Texas, my knuckles was sore for sure, grip'n that steer'n wheel like that. I mean to tell ya, the wind was blow'n "da house" all over the place. As I headed south out of Alice on 281, the winds subsided a bit. Still blow'n bout 15 or 20 mile a hour, but better than what I just come out of. Fount me a gas station and put a hunnert dollar worth in the tank ($2.97 gal.). Good to go. Only bout 85 miles to destination Falcon State Park.....or the free Community Park.

See ya down the road a piece. Oh, did I mention it's almost 92 degs???? Acord'n to my therm thingy.
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Just a shortie to let everbody know the old Billy Bob an' Sadie Mae make it to Falcon Heights all in tact.
I say a buffalo. Details tomorrow.

Cold again????

I ain't never had much in my life, but I wouldn't change a thing if'n I could. I don't play the lottery 'cause I ain't got no use for that kind of money. I could win ya know....if'n I wanted to. I ain't never owned no 3000 square foot home with a acre of grass to cut every 2 weeks. Never really wanted one neither. I've never owned a brand spank'n new car. I've made do with what ever I could afford at the time. Junkers were just fine. I've been a poor boy all my life an' I ain't gonna do nuttin to change that now. I survived. That's what matters. Life is good.

Well shoot, I were lay'n there on the couch last night watch'n some nonsense on the tv an' I says...."damn Billy Bob, it's get'n cold in here". Now I had no idea it was gonna get cold last night, even after watch'n the weather guys every day. I been tell'n myself that it's time to move to somewheres warmer.....an' then it gets warm again. So I just sit here in Sinton enjoy'n the warm and sunshine. But all that is gonna change. It started last night with 42 degs. Come thursday, another cold front is due to blanket south Texas with more cold. That ain't to my like'n. Time to move south.

But there is a problem mission control. Where I'm gonna go is gonna be cold too. Falcon lake, is also in south Texas and that same cold front is gonna hit there too. That means, cold wise, I'm gonna be in the same boat I'm in now. No, not the "bubba boat"....sheesh, that for fish'n ya know. So now I have another decision to make. Do I sit out the next cold front here in Sinton or sit out the next cold front at Falcon lake? Either way.....I gonna be sit'n.

Even though I suck at golf ball swak'n, me and OFM Barney had a wonderful golf game yesterday.  I don't think I uttered a cuss'n word the entire game. That's unusual for me. I knows how to cuss ya know. Learnt how many years ago when I were a teenager an' do stupit stuff. An' of course, I were in the Navy too ya know. That helped a bunch in the learn'n process.

My secret weapon to win yesterdays golf'n game was some brand spank'n new golf'n balls. High dollar jobberdoos what supposed to go a country mile and straight like a arrow. Didn't take the old Billy Bob long to swak the first secret weapon slap dab in the middle a big ol' pond full of water. Kersploosh....it were gone. Them "secret weapon" golf'n balls weren't worth a poop. Don't go where I aim 'em. So much for secret weapons. Yes, Barney stomped me a new one again. Damn, I can't beat this guy. Maybe next time.....what ya think???

OK, I got decisions to make an' a bunch of stuff what needs my attention.....laters.