Vermont Airstreamers

A Pause For Penny Repairs

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:57:00 +0000

I've been pecking away at Airstream fixes the last week, just finishing the repair of the rock screen that we nearly lost in Houston (after ordering a couple of small parts from Out-of-Doors Mart, a wonderful Airstream outfit in North Carolina which handles $10 orders as fast as major purchases). I've got a new plug for the electrical system and need to wait for a dry day to install it.

Meanwhile, a lump on our dog's left hind leg is getting pretty ugly, as she "works" it. We noticed it last Fall during an annual exam and did bloodwork at the time - and when the results were OK, decided to wait and see. But, things have gotten worse and while she doesn't favor it while running, it needs attention.

And we are 2,000 miles from our vet. So, I did a search and started calling. The first clinic was not accepting new patients but the next was, and I took her into Rockport to the Bay Breeze Animal Clinic where Dr. Kim Harrell and staff checked her out. I was pleased with their professionalism and care - and Penny is on antibiotics in preparation for surgery next Tuesday.

Of course, we were planning to leave next Wednesday but I jumped on line before the appointment and snagged the last camping spot available. So we won't have to move and will stay another week to see how things go. Not the worst place to be stranded in February. We are getting some more needed rain but forecasts for next week look in the 70's.

I look forward to dealing with this. I don't look forward to living in a 25' tin can with a Vizsla who can't run for two weeks. Of course, some might say that she's a little too much like me. Moi?

Birds of Goose Island

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas is a great birding spot - even in a drought year like the present one. Between shorebirds and woods birds, there's a great diversity of species and some years (although not this one) a rarity or two. Here are some captures of a few of the interesting feathered friends I've encountered in the last week.

A Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Laughing Gulls

Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruddy Turnstone

Spotted Towhee

Turkey Vultures

White-crowned Sparrow

Willet

Rain - finally

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Listening to the rain patter on our aluminum roof is comforting, even after a sleep-depriving series of thunderstorms last night. Ever since we got here at Goose Island State Park, the impact of the long drought has been very evident. Little wetland areas along the trails are bone-dry and the soil is dusty. Yesterday, we saw six cardinals gathering near our water hose connection, taking drinks from a small leak.

One of the biggest concerns is about the Whooping Cranes that migrate here from Wisconsin. An AP release last month noted:

"The lack of rain has made estuaries and marshlands too salty for blue crabs to thrive and destroyed a usually plentiful supply of wolf berries. In addition, a long-lasting "red tide" — a toxic algae that blooms in salty water — has made it dangerous for the birds to eat clams, which retain the algae's toxin and can pass it along the food chain."

The refuge folks and local ranches are feeding the cranes to help them avoid starvation. Normally, there are a few in a field just north of the park where the owners provide feed. It is a popular spot for photographers and birders. This year, we counted 13 Whoopers and several Sand Hill Cranes.

Some have noticed more of a survival mentality as well. Usually, crane families are territorial - in fact, we have seen newcomers driven off by the host birds. This year, they all hang together - sort of a "times are tough" community. They've got a long road ahead of them to build up strength for the long haul north.

Of course, the diversion of fresh water by oil interests, a subject of a law suit by environmental groups, has exascerbated the salinity situation. The lawsuit was filed last year by The Aransas Project, a nonprofit group of local governments, advocacy groups and tourism-dependent businesses in the Coastal Bend, claiming the state mismanaged water in the Guadalupe River watershed, contributing to the record die-off in 2008-09 of 23 endangered whooping cranes.

This rain, while welcome, is just the proverbial drop in the bucket. I suspect that the drought will continue for some time and that the cranes will have to survive on handouts.

Photo of Whooping Cranes at Aransas NWR by Fish & Wldlife Service

My Latest Interest: Geocaching

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:26:00 +0000

I was out looking for a bald eagle's nest at Fountainebleau State Park when a Texas auto pulled up. The driver asked if I'd found it and having been there before, helped me locate it through my scope. When I asked if they were birders, he replied, "No, we are geocachers from Biloxi."

Well, I knew what geocaching was since our grandson, Mac, had just gone on a Cub Scout geo outing. When my new friend asked, "Want to see one?" I followed him up to a little path into the underbrush. He reached down and lifted up a root, showing me the drilled hole in the underside, with a small cylinder inserted. He showed me the rolled up log sheet inside - and I was hooked. I went to his website (Gulf Coast Geocachers)read up a bit, downloaded an iPhone app, and was off and running.

Here's a little of what I learned (from Wikipedia):
Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.

A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name.

Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (tupperware or similar) or ammunition boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Geocaching is often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek", sharing many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking.

Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. After 10 years of activity there are over 1,532,000 active geocaches published on various websites. There are over 5 million geocachers worldwide.

So, I've done some geocaching at Fountainebleau and Lake Fausse Pointe in Louisiana and at Village Creek annd Goose Island state parks in Texas. I find that it goes well with dog walking, biking, and birding and like the fact that it gets you outside. I also like the geeky aspect of gps and online record-keeping and tracking objects around the country and the world. I also like the inter-generational potential of it; kids love it.

So for now, it's a "give it a try" activity to check out. When the birds are resting, it is a chance to get out the iPhone and see where the closest geocache might be. And perhaps, there's a new bird waiting there as well.

The Trails of Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:19:00 +0000

We had never been to Lake Fausse Point SP but after an interesting journey getting there, Penny and I enjoyed getting out on their many trails.

Most are very bikeable if you are comfortable with roots and long rather narrow bridges over swamps. You see lots of neat things like this gnarly tree:

And this sign:

And this cottonmouth

From time to time, while I am checking something out, Penny relaxes along the trail

One outing, we came back to the interpretive center and in talking with the naturalist, I asked, “Any alligators out this time of year?” She said, “There are eight out back.” Sure enough, in the small pond behind the center, a bunch of small ‘gators were lying around, quite dormant in the cool temperatures. There are two or three in the picture below -- but I would never have thought to look for them if she had not told me about them.

We endured a line of storms with a tornado watch while we were there. Most of us gathered at the conference center because of the concern of high winds but all passed without damage, aside from a deluge of rain throughout the night.

One ranger told me: “This is Cajun country and you have to want to get to this campground to do so. It’s off the beaten path. We like it that way.”

Aside from the rain and mosquitos, so did we.

Check out my birding blog at Vermont Birder

I-10 Builds Character

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:18:00 +0000

We moved today from Fontainebleau State Park which involves jumping on to I-12 which hooks up with I-10 out of New Orleans. It's never fun and today, with the temperature a muggy 79 degrees, it seemed worse than ever. The haze hung over the wetlands and the tractor-trailers made life miserable.

Things got worse as we headed past Baton Rouge in a windy section with heavy traffic. A kid in a car beside us yelled something and pointed toward the back of our rig as we navigated some curves. I swung into a breakdown lane, just after an on ramp, and carefully exited the truck. The traffic roaring by was scary but as I went to the back of the trailer, I saw what they had been yelling about. Our electrical cord had escaped from the holder and was dragging the plug down the highway. Talk about road rash -- the plug looked pretty sad as I stowed it safely away.

Getting back on and up to speed was tough and then we nearly missed a split of the highway, needing a quick change to a left lane but then we were over the Mississippi and things got a bit more quiet. The GPS route to Lake Fausse Pointe State Park looked a little crooked but I wanted off I-10 so we followed the routing. I told Mary, " It looks like a goat path on the map." Louisiana doesn't spend a lot of money on their back roads -- the road we were on was narrow, pock-marked, but straight with a speed limit of 55 mph. No way was I going that fast on such a road, which wound back and forth, through little hamlets, past many fishing camps, and eventually coming to a pontoon bridge, ending with a sudden lurch up over a levee on to a real road. (The park ranger, hearing my route, told me that several bigger rigs have lost antennas and mirrors on that bridge.) We won't be going back that way.

A pontoon bridge rated at 5 tons (now what do we weigh?)

Nearly every camp/home we passed on the "goat path" had a name: "Bud's Swampland." "Who Dat?" .... It was an interesting look at rural Louisiana but it was nice to get on a wider highway for the last 15 miles down to the park. As we listen to peepers this evening, it's a far cry from the chaos of Interstate 10. In spite of the mosquitos, I prefer this setting much more.

Southern Comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:07:00 +0000

After a nice stay at Harrison Bay State Park in Tennessee, where we had the park nearly to ourselves, we drove down to ClarkCo State Park in Mississippi where we have stayed before. Since we were moving on Martin Luther King Day, the traffic was relatively light through Chattanooga, Birmingham, and Tuscaloosa. We settled into ClarkCo and I had a chance to take the dog on several long runs (she can roam on the back trails since no one is there.)

Staying with in ClarkCo for a few days gave us a chance to see Kevin and Jason, our Mississippi friends. They took us out to eat at a local favorite -- Charlie's Catfish House -- and we enjoyed a wonderful meal and had a great time. Of course, the food is fried and tasty -- one of those places where you don't worry about calories. We topped it off with a King Cake back at Kevin & Jason's Laurel home and I got the baby, which means good luck and I have to buy next year's King Cake.

Catfish, Steak Fries, & Hush Puppies

It's a pretty easy four-hour drive down to Fountainebleau State Park, on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. The park is great -- even while nearly filled with locals here for the weekend. It's neat to have kids framming around on bikes and enjoying 70's weather. The birding here is superb as well and all Louisiana parks have decent wifi. So, after a week of 3G, we could get caught up on some of our laptop projects.

I've had the bike out and got Penny running alongside. It's a good way for both of us to get exercise when we can't let her run. We are off to Lake Fausse Pointe state park tomorrow -- a place we've not visited, then start heading west toward Texas. Enjoying shorts and T-shirt weather and many birds.

Photo by Sam Is Hungry

A Tiring Start

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:41:00 +0000

Having positioned the rig for a Saturday morning getaway, I slept poorly worrying about the driveway and finally, after solving the problems of the world, got up at 3:45 and turned on the coffee. We had received about 6 inches of new snow and I was out on the Kubota plowing at 5:00. Fortunately, the snow was light and easy to move.

Launching at 6:20 AM, we crept down the driveway in 4 WD and low gear. The Town had yet to plow the road but there were tracks from earlier vehicles and we made it to the highway without incident. Because of the weather, I decided to take the long way through Burlington and down Route 7. Traffic was light but it was cold - hanging at around 9 degrees for the first few hours.

We hit some snow down in Addison County but after a fuel stop in Fair Haven (boy did the rig look ugly with snow, ice, and salt/sand), we headed over toward the Northway and down to Albany. The trip down I-88 was long but uneventful and mid-day, we joined up with I-81 and headed southward. Gradually the temperatures rose into the low twenties and aside from a tough west wind, the travelling was easy.

After 11 hours or so, we pulled into a Walmart in Chambersburg, PA where we have overnighted before. It was a tough night, even though we were tired. It was Saturday night in farm country and every good ol' boy ( or girl) with a tuned exhaust system seemed to drive by, with the engine revved up. The trailer was cold. Our one propane heater was cranking bit after a day of frigid temps, the Airstream held a lot of the cold. The dog was happy since the heater was at her end.

I slept well but Mary did not and we decided to start early again, leaving around 5 AM for a 600 mile drive. It's nice to drive down I-81 early Sunday morning - very few trucks - and we had an easy time through the western tip of Maryland and into West Virginia. The ice and snow was still on the rig into Tennessee but finally, we saw 32 on the thermometer. Knoxville, usually a traffic hassle, was easy on a Sunday and mid-afternoon, we were finally on I-75 heading toward Chattanooga.

Last year, we stayed at another Walmart in Athens, TN but this year, I was aiming for Harrison Bay State Park where there was electricity and, as it touned out, water. After a last minute snag with MapQuest directions, we snaked our way through back roads to the park where a ranger with a wonderful Tennessee accent, told me to pick a spot and he'd come by to sign us up.

Only one section is open but there are only a handful of campers. It was great to settle in before dark, walk the dog, and get some exercise. We decided, since we like this place and its solitude (can't imagine it in the summer), to stay for a while. Yesterday, I washed the salt and grit off the Airstream and we did some neat birding. No wifi around and weak 3G, but it is great to have the iPads along this trip.

Today, Tuesday, it's raining pretty hard so we'll take it easy and let the 50 degree rain wash the truck.

Off to Quitman, MS tomorrow where we'll stay at Clarko State Park. Nice to have the long, snowy drives behind us.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ready To Go

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:17:00 +0000

Today has been a real work day, starting with plowing the driveway with the Kubota and then shoveling sand -- it's a long driveway when you are lugging pails of sand. Then, going up to the Town garage to refill the buckets for tomorrow.

I worked on loading the truck with bikes, kayak, solar panel, and an assortment of books so that I can run Vitesse Press while on the road. Meanwhile, Mary made dozens of trips from the house to the Airstream and got clothing and food in place.

Then I hooked up the rig and with some maneuvering, I got it around the ledge outcrop (which I hit last year while leaving) and straightened out so that I could back it up to the garage for final loads.

We'll see what the morning brings -- more snow is forecast and it's going to be frigid and windy. Both Mary and I remarked that this preparation was tougher than the last couple of years -- we're pretty tired but planning to launch early dark thirty.

Hunkerin' Down for a day or two

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

I had planned our departure for tomorrow, Friday, so that we could hit the Tennessee's Sandhill Crane Festival on Sunday but the winter storm, coming up from the south and also in from the west, has made us delay for a bit. So, all the sand I lugged in buckets from the town pile and carefully spread on the driveway are buried under four or more inches of new snow with more (snow) on the way.

We had a busy early week with medical appointments and a trip yesterday Burlington to donate Mary's Subaru to the Good News Garage so this hiatus is giving us a chance to pack and check things off more carefully. It is fun to organize kayak gear while watching the snow fall.

The back side of the storm is going to have some stiff winds and very cold temperatures so I expect that the first several nights in the Airstream are going to be a bit challenging. First to plow out, sand, and get the rig down the driveway. Probably Saturday but we'll keep a weather eye out.

It was nice to have a nice wood stove fire going last night and watch Syracuse demolish Villanova on the big screen TV. I'll miss that on the road -- but the sleet, snow, and chill -- not!

We Don't Carry Hitchhikers

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:50:00 +0000

As we approach departure date (1/13 or 1/14), I'm getting serious about planning the route and possible stops -- looking at a couple of new options in Louisiana before we head over to Texas. We have gathered a lot of information and it is fun to look over used birding checklists and campground maps -- and to read Mary's diary for the highs and lows of past trips.

Today, I am working on the Airstream a bit -- got the heat on this morning and decided to move it into a better position in the driveway with my Kubota tractor. Not the brightest idea I've had this week. After slipping and sliding and making thing worse, I got the truck set up and gee's and haw'd around the icy driveway, getting the trailer positioned for loading. Our driveway is tough -- steep, little room for turning, with a ditch on one side and ledge outcroppings on the other. It's one reason we stay with a 25 foot trailer and even then, it's quite a challenge. I ripped a long pipe holder off the bottom departing last year when I cut a corner too tight.

About half way through the process, after a lot of jostling with the tractor, I spotted a little deer mouse departing from underneath and scurrying across the frozen ground to under the front deck. "Well," I thought, "one less traveler to take along." I went on with my business but just as I finished unhitching the truck, another mouse did the same thing.

So, it's time to set the mouse-traps. I hope they like Smucker's peanut butter, even if it is low fat.

Waiting to Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:24:00 +0000

For the first time, I've had our Airstream at an RV dealer for repairs and maintenance -- in the past I've done it myself. However, with cold temperatures, the prospect of repacking wheel bearings lost any appeal it might have had and I also knew that I needed to get the unit inspected. So I dropped it off at a local outfit, Mekkleson RV in East Montpelier, VT who service a handful of Airstreams out of the many hundreds of RV's they handle each year.

To make a long story short, they did a fine job. They found problems in the electrical system which they fixed through better grounding and work on the plugin -- and more importantly, found that one set of brakes was not working. An electrical line had parted, probably in the awful trip up our driveway last March, so they got those working and a fresh new inspection sticker in place. We are ready to go.


A full moon sets over the snowy/frosty Airstream as the winter sun rises behind us.

We've got a month to go before departure and we are starting to gather gear and think through our trip options. I'm thinking of hauling both or one of the kayaks this time since we are so often near water. Given the need for a dog-sitter, it's unlikely that both of us would paddle together so I think we'll end up taking Mary's boat, which I can cram into and take both sets of paddles.

It's not too early for me to start worrying a bit about the first couple of days of travel -- getting below the snow zone. I just sent Mary a picture of our final day last year during our return, and I can hear the groans from the other room. We need less excitement this trip.

Traveling to Mosquitoville

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:24:00 +0000

The trip down our driveway (see last post) without swaybars as uneventful and the Airstream’s back bumper did not dig into the road and the bottom dip as it usually does (thanks for the tip, brother Barry). We navigated through busy downtown Montpelier at noontime and soon were laboring up the long hill on I-89. Always forget how tough that is to climb with a trailer in tow.

The trip down was rather easy, with a little construction here and there and moderate traffic. We stopped for a Subway sandwich at a mini-mart in Warner, NH where we often pause enroute. Of course, with the trailer behind, it’s a challenge to find parking. I pulled up in front on the highway, right next to a “no parking” sign, and jogged in to order a sandwich, leaving Mary and the dog in the truck. Just as I entered, I noticed a police car sitting there. The officer was in side chatting and I said, “I just did a quick illegal park out there - but my wife’s in the truck and I’m just grabbing a sandwich.” He deadpanned, “Well, I guess I’ll have to write you a quick ticket!” Then with a grin said, “You’re all right there.” He had me for just a minute.

We found a shaded spot to eat, sneaking into the Airstream so the dog didn’t hound us for food. She ended up with some tasty leftovers and we were on the way.

Penny's not completely convinced that this will be a good stay.

The driveway into Jennifer’s is a challenge -- just a back-in off a rather busy road and the driveway is winding. I had been game-planning it for the last part of the trip and with Mary’s help, we did fine. However, like Vermont, this area is experiencing a major outbreak of mosquitoes spawned by all the excess water from Hurricane Irene. They were all over Mary in a flash, and we put on bug dope a little late. We did get leveled off in our rustic parking space and look forward to a good stay here.

Getting Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:56:00 +0000

The grass is growing up between the wheels of the Airstream and there are cobwebs under the back bumper. The trailer has sat in the yard for a couple of months, surviving Hurricane Irene, and now we're ready to take it down to Massachusetts for a week of family visiting. We'll boondock in the woods outside our daughter's house so the battery, which is been slowly draining from phantom loads, is plugged into house current. I've got the extra battery charging as well.

We want to get the refrigerator ready -- it's been sitting with the doors open -- and it's always a hassle to purge the lines enough to get it to light on the gas system. I run the gas stove, then light off the water heater, and after many tries, get the refrigerator going.

One of our problems has been getting out of our steep driveway without pulling off the back bumper. I'm going to try something my brother mentioned and not hitch up the sway bars, thus leaving the trailer rear a little higher, until we have negotiated the bottom of the driveway. We'll see.

The foliage in Vermont is turning color around here and the area is full of tour buses and tourists. We'll get out of their way and be back in a week and it will probably be at peak then.

Naturally Curious -- Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:40:00 +0000

There's only a limited number of books you can keep in an Airstream library but here's one to carry, especially if you spend time in New England.

Naturally Curious is a wonderful book given to me for Father's Day upon the recommendation of the owner of a local birding supply store. It is set up by month so I started in June but then realized that the warblers were in May so I backtracked. I then read July and August and loved the detail and all the factoids on a variety of natural items. Naturally (pardon the pun), I gravitated to the birding sections but learned a lot from the insect and plant sections as well.

This is not a book you can't put down -- I took a break for a few months and started again in late August, re-reading August and then doing September. I kind of savor the content -- not wanting to get too far ahead but rather following the months as they occur.

Let me give you example of the type of information I just find fascinating, this from a writeup on yellow-bellied sapsuckers:

"By far the most frequent visitor to sapsucker wells, other than sapsuckers, is the ruby-throated hummingbird. Like the sapsucker, it is in search of sap as well as insects that are attracted to the sap, and has been seen following sapsuckers as they visit their wells. Tree sap is similar to flower nectar in the amount of sugar and nutrients it contains. When hummingbirds first return to New England in early May, flowers are few and far between, so tree sap, available to hummingbirds thanks to yellow-bellied sapsuckers, is a lifesaving substitute. It seems more than coincidental that the spring arrival of the ruby-throated hummingbird and the height of yellow-bellied sapsucker drilling occur at the same time."

This is one of those "read a little, absorb, read some more" type of book. It's focused on New England but has a lot of information that is applicable in other sections of the U.S. It's one of those books I'll go back to, time and time again once I finish it. I'll likely read it monthly next year as well. I highly recommend it as a book to have on your Airstream bookshelf. What a perfect gift from a wonderful daughter.

Brazos Walking Sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Everyone needs something or someone to lean on for support once in a while. Backcountry explorers are no different, whether it is a pair of telescoping hiking poles or simply a thick stick picked up along the trail. A pole or stick can assist with a wide range of backcountry situations from crossing a beaver dam to descending a mountain. This extra support becomes even more important as one gets older when the knee and hip joints need relief from the stress caused from hours of hiking over arduous terrain.

Although most hikers use the typical high-tech aluminum telescoping poles, there still remains a few who prefer the old-school wooden hiking sticks. These sticks are often found along the trail, especially near tricky wetland or beaver dam crossings. Occasionally, a hiker might develop an attachment to one of these sticks, removing the stick from its native habitat to live out a life as a trusty object of support and balance.

An alternative to these options is to buy a wooden hiking stick from Brazos Walking Sticks.

Brazos Walking Sticks makes a wide selection of walking sticks, canes, and accessories. The company's walking stick line are an attractive alternative to the high-tech hiking poles for anyone but the most aggressive mountain climber.
Brazos products come in a wide variety of wood types including oak, cedar, ash, maple, cherry, pine and others. Each walking stick or cane is handcrafted by one of their gifted artisan craftsmen in central Texas, not far from the company’s namesake, the Brazos River.

Read complete review by Dan Crane in Adirondack Almanac

Photo by Brazos Walking Sticks

Waiting through Hurricane Irene

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Living in a rural area in the path of a hurricane (or tropical storm) with hundreds of miles of power lines and thousands of trees, combined with heavy rain and wind, make losing power almost a certainty. Our power has already flickered so all the clocks are blinking and showing the wrong time - but we’ll find that manual for setting the oven stove yet. Once electricity goes, we lose the water pump, the stove and oven, and the refrigerator and lights. But we have a nice backup plan sitting in the yard, our Airstream travel trailer.

So yesterday, in pre-storm preparation, I added water to the ‘stream for ballast, checked the gas stove, started the gas refrigerator, and checked the battery charge. The pads are down and it should ride out the storm nicely -- and allow us to make coffee in the morning.

When I walked the dog early this morning, the trails were already flooding in places, but the birds were singing in the light steady rain.

They have been stoking up on thistle seed and sunflower chips all morning and in between downpours, a couple of hummers tanked up at their feeder. We’ve had soggy Chickadees, Song Sparrows, American Goldfinches, and Hairy Woodpeckers and a Downy. A placid Mourning Dove has sat through squalls in the crabapple tree, watching it all.

Hey I'm wet and molting -- ditch that camera!

Wet but hungry Hairy Woodpecker

Momma Hummer tanks up in the rain

Man, it's wet up here. How about some room service?

The birding blogs are full of hurricane-related activity, starting with the wonderful story of the radio-equipped Whimbrell who made it through a few days ago. Birders are looking forward to post-hurricane birding -- here’s an article from Connecticut and one from Albany.

Here’s what Brian Pfeiffer, one of our top birders just wrote:

"Hurricane Irene's passage through Vermont is an opportunity for rare birds. Increasing winds today may deposit odd birds nearly anywhere in the state. Please use common sense out there; this is a dangerous storm. We need not lose anyone to high water, falling trees or downed power lines. Common sense is a far better thing than a Sooty Tern.

But do take note of what may be flying over or floating in large waterbodies. The Connecticut River will also be worth investigating. So will flooded fields for that matter. Monday morning may also be a fine time to search for the rare stuff. The hurricane of 1938 brought Cory's Shearwater (Wheelock), Greater Shearwater (Rutland), Leach's Storm-Petrel (Barre, Norwich, Rutland, St. Johnsbury), White-tailed Tropicbird (North Danville and Woodstock) and other delights to Vermont that particular September. When your neighbors call to report "a strange bird" in the yard, take it seriously. Go investigate if it's safe to do so..."

So, today's a nice day to curl up with a birding book and think about possible new birds in your area.

I plan to check our nearby reservoirs tomorrow to check for wind-blown vagrant birds. Be safe and tonight, most of us can hum, “Goodnight Irene.”

Happy Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:51:00 +0000

Shakedown Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:05:00 +0000

After several months of repairs to the underside of the Airstream damaged last winter in our dramatic arrival (belly wrap aluminum sections, plastic bannana wraps on front and back, and the replacement of the steps and step light), we started cleaning the inside. I won’t mention the condition of the refrigerator.

Loaded up and ready to go camping

Having made reservations over at Groton State Park’s Stillwater Campground, we hooked up and launched Tuesday mid-day and gingerly worked our way down the driveway and road. The trip is only about an hour and the traffic was light.

Vermont parks don’t have electric or water services and seem to be more set up for tent and lean-to campers. The sites are generally pretty small and close together. However, we chose an empty site which was spacious and being mid-week and before the major family camping season, was pretty isolated. It even was level.

It felt good to settle into the routines of the Airstream even though the temperature was in the 80’s -- quite hot for Vermont. We got the kayaks set up and went for a short paddle before supper. Groton Pond is dark from tannic acid and lined with camps -- it’s crazy on the weekends with a lot of boats on a small body of water.

We opted for a movie on the computer instead of a campfire Tuesday night. Everything on the camper worked fine although the noisy water pump could use some muffling. We checked out the campground showers (two quarters for four minutes) and rated them excellent. In fact, the overall appearance and cleanliness of the restrooms, the sites, and all facilities was exemplary -- the staff and volunteers do a great job.

Wednesday was cold in the morning -- 49 degrees or so -- and I lit off the propane heater for a while. I got an early morning paddle in -- freezing my hands -- and later took the dog for a long run alongside the bike.

Rain later in the day cancelled any campfire plans but we were snug in the ‘stream and glad to be in such a beautiful setting. We decided to pack up the next morning and head home a bit early since the weather forecast was not good. Another easy trip and except for dragging the back bumper on the driveway turn (another repair job), it was excellent.

All in all, a successful re-entry after months of letting the Airstream sit. It’s nice to have it ready to go as we look at the rest of the summer. We also need to start thinking about winter travel for 2011-2012. Stay tuned.

The Last Mile

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:33:00 +0000

The trip home was long but easy -- until the last day. All we had to grumble about were the school breaks in Texas and Louisiana which clogged the state parks on weekends. We cruised up the Natchez Trace, enjoying great weather, and survived I-81 through Knoxville and spent a wonderful evening at Lake Claytor State Park in Virginia. Sitting under a tree in shorts watching the lake, we knew that this was the last time for this in a few months. Little did we know....

Tuesday, we decided to cut a day off the trip and made a rather long drive to a Walmart in Pennsylvania where we had stayed before. It was cold and windy but we had a restful night although I did awake once and here a little sleet or something on the roof. Early that morning, we noted that the windows were fogged up and opening the door, saw about three inches of wet snow with snow coming down hard. Of course, all our winter boots and coats were buried in the back of the truck.

After walking the dog -- who like us could not believe the conditions -- we did some online checking and it didn’t look good. The Walmart folks had big plows going all around us but traffic was moving and the temperature was about 29.

At first, it looked like we’d have to stay. With no wifi, we were checking weather via our IPhones and the forecasts further north looked better. We decided to give it a try.

The first hour or so on I-81 was dicey with tractor-trailers driving like it was July spraying us with slush. We chugged along on wet roads as the salt did it’s thing. After an hour or so, we pulled off in a rest stop -- to encounter a jammed exit. A truck had broken down and another, trying to get around it, had got hung up. It looked like we’d be spending hours stuck in line. Fortunately, after about 30 minutes, the drivers got things cleared and we were heading north, into improving weather.

It was a long drive and we were tired when we hit Vermont. The temperatures were just under freezing so I thought (wrong!) that the dirt roads and driveway would be frozen.

We have a tough driveway even in good weather. It’s a situation where once you start up the road with an Airstream, you are committed -- there is no place to turn around on the whole road. Well, we started up, regretting it at once as we saw the mud and ruts. We only have to climb several hundred yards and then make a sharp right turn uphill. I got to the turn and knew that we were dead meat - it was way too narrow. Committed, I gave it a try in four wheel drive but soon was completely hung up, with the Airstream completely blocking Wood Road and the truck stuff in the driveway. We were sick.

Soon, traffic began backing up on both sides of us as I tried to find our shovel -- which was, like our boots, buried in the back under all sorts of gear. Several guys who live up the hill offered to help and I got my Kubota going and tried to clear out the banks. It was too tight and I came very close to hitting the truck with the bucket, several times. I thought we might be stuck for hours or longer.

Someone suggested trying to pull with the Kubota which does not have chains but is 4WD. We got my logging chain hitched to the front of the Ford, and a neighbor got in the truck to drive it, and very tentatively and slowly, we pulled the truck and trailer out of the road and all the way up the driveway to the top. I couldn’t believe it -- and didn’t worry about some bent stuff under the trailer -- we can fix that in the spring.

So, after driving 6500 miles or so, the last quarter mile was the worst. We are fortunate to have good neighbors and a tractor that earned its keep. We also learned a good lesson -- either leave the Airstream elsewhere or come home later next year. So it may be April in 2012.

Why Penny Stays on Leash

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:06:00 +0000

In Texas, we dealt with feral pigs and javelinas, so it was very unusual to let Penny off-leash. Armadillos were something to chase but not to fear.

Here in Louisiana, there are signs posted warning of alligators and since it is March, I was a little skeptical. Until today. We did some great birding (see birding post) at Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge and I saw a pair of eyeballs looking at us while we drove a birding trail loop. A refuge volunteer, in response to Mary's question about problems with 'gators, told her in a great Louisiana accent that "we lose a couple of dogs now and then..."
At the Sabine NWR, as I stepped on the observation platform and raised my binoculars to look up the channel for birds, this guy, almost at my feet, nearly stopped my heart. He just laid there on the bank -- but he was big -- and likely pretty quick. Penny was in the truck and will be on leash until we get back into less hostile territory.

Mosquitoes, 75 degree temperatures, and a stiff breeze off the Gulf made it feel like July in Vermont. Trees have leafed out, flowering trees are doing their thing, and this weekend, everyone seemed to be starting their yardwork and early gardening. Another day here and we start slowly north to Natchez.

Adios, Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:07:00 +0000

After nearly a month in Texas, we just crossed the Louisiana line and are going to spend some time at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles where there is warmth and wifi.

From Goliad State Park, we went back for a great stay at Goose Island State Park. We then traveled north to a little park at the City of Navasota which turned out much better than last year. It was windy but warm and aside from the fact that we had three dogs right next door on one side, and one on the other, things went well. We stayed hitched up and headed out in the morning.

Last night we stayed at Martin Dies State Park in Jasper, Texas. It's spring break for Texas schools and all parks are packed with families. While it's wonderful to see little kids fishing and biking, it seems like most Texans have little yappy dogs that just annoy the hell out of Penny .. and me. They would not even be a mouthful for her. Again, we stayed hitched up and made an early getaway for the short yank east and south to Lake Charles.

We've been here before and like the place. Louisiana parks have great wifi throughout the park -- the first we've seen in over a month. There are some good birding places not far from here that I want to check out before we start wending our way home.

Watching the weather and not in a big hurry to trade 70's for the 30's. Off the take Penny on a hike before dark, although with the daylight time, it will be better. Saw two new birds yesterday -- hoping to do the same this stop.

Aluminum Envy

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:54:00 +0000

While camping at Goliad State Park, which we like for its history and access to town, I spotted an Avion travel trailer -- sort of an Airstream spinoff -- and stopped to ask the folks the age of their rig. Turns out that Jim and Katy have a 1983 34’ Avion which, when I looked briefly inside, showed me how classy some of these older units can be. It sort of looked like an old Pullman train car, with polished dark wood, and got me thinking about future options for us.

They have owned quite a few older rigs over the years, starting with a tiny Airstream. Unlike my brother Barry, who tends to tear them down to barebones and rebuild the trailer, Jim noted that they look for rigs that require some TLC but not major work. Lacking Barry’s skills and patience, it sounded like a better plan for me.

So, who knows. Once we get home and situated, we may put the 1999 Safari on the market and look for something older with more character. While the Safari is rather lightweight and thus easier to pull, I’ve never liked the tackiness of the interior. It’s very much cheap plywood throughout.

On the other hand, I can’t get a 34-foot unit up our driveway -- even once the snow melts -- given the sharp turns off the road. I don’t want to have to buy another truck to haul a heavier rig. So we will be checking load capacities and give it some thought. Meanwhile, since Jim and Katy live here in Rockport, we’re going to try to have coffee with them and pick their brains a bit.

Meanwhile, I’m already reading the Airstream forum want ads and “watching” a couple of Avions for sale on eBay. Stay tuned.

Have you read my vtbirder blog?

Turning the Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Sitting in Fort Davis, Texas in an Airstream rocking from 60 mph wind gusts and then enduring a dust event that reduced visibility dramatically and made one think of what the settlers endure, we confirmed that for this trip, we’ve gone just about far enough west. We had thought about New Mexico (no plans for Arizona with their craziness) but opted to head 250 east to Junction, Texas where we are enjoying a small quiet state park called South LLano River.

Watch video of South Llano River SP.

It’s a big hunting area (in deer season) and the hills are dotted with hunting blinds and jeep trails. The deer are plentiful but very small, even by Vermont standards. This area is also host to nearly a thousand wild turkeys who roost here every year along the river. Roosting areas are blocked off during nesting season but the turkeys come out to forage every day and are lovely.

Yesterday we went to town for some needed laundry and groceries and for me, a haircut. I love these little Texas barbershops -- this one was owned by a good ol’ boy who has been cutting hair since 1950 -- that’s 61 years. His shop on Main Street is festooned with all sorts of photos and memorabilia and he was great fun to talk with -- and a good barber. No politics or sports -- just local history.

He and I found that we had a thing in common -- we had both served aboard the U.S.S. Hancock, CVA-19. He was aboard it as a barber during the Korean conflict and told me some interesting stuff about the installation of the steam catapults. (I had over 200 cat shots off that ship 15 years later.) He told of how the “Limey engineers” (the Brits developed steam catapults) help install them and how the ship spent nearly a year test firing them -- shooting cars and trucks into the waters off San Diego -- before they tried planes. It was a good visit and good haircut for ten bucks.

The local supermarket -- a Super S -- is the only show in town. This western chain, according to my sources at the park office, comes in and buys up the competition and then charges what the traffic will bear. One of the rangers told me, “Most folks go to Kerrville for groceries.” Knowing it was a ways off, I asked the distance. It’s 55 miles one way.

When I told him that I was continually amazed at the distances people in Texas drive for most everything he said, “Heck, when you can go 80, it’s only 45 minutes.” (And I-10 speed limit is 80.)

We decided to shop locally -- we’ve got plenty of driving ahead of us. Goliad tomorrow.

Farewell to Big Bend

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:35:00 +0000

Afternoon temperatures approach ninety degrees finally got to us and as much as we loved the spectacular scenery of Big Bend National Park, we decided to move north to slightly cooler climes.

It was also frustrating to be constrained so much with the dog -- since she could not go on trails even with a leash. And, the long drives and gas at $3.75 got old after a bit. Still, it was a wonderful place to get to know a bit - and well worth the drive. (The photo of Mary was taken at Sotul Point, and also shows the gap for the Elena Canyon of the Rio Grande far off.)

Right across from our campground is the Mexican village of Boquillas Del Carmen -- a very small community that is quite isolated. Years ago, before 9/11, it was a common practice to cross the river and have dinner in one of the informal cafes -- usually in people’s homes -- and get a taste of authentic Mexico. Now, the closest legal border crossing is 100 miles away or so.

Mexicans -- probably youngsters -- cross the river nightly and leave items for sale on rocks where Americans will see them -- usually with a note listing suggested prices and a small jar for money. Carved walking sticks, simple jewelry -- all illegal as can be. It’s tempting and as Mary said, she’s tempted just to leave some money. We bought our walking sticks, from the town through some special legal arrangement by the Park Service, at about three times the price on the rocks. If only the extra money went across the border. (The sunset photo shows some of the items in the foreground.)
We left Big Bend and drove close to 100 miles before leaving the park -- then headed north through some tough country up to Alpine -- where the famous Cowboy Poetry Festival is taking place this weekend.

Just twenty miles north is Fort Davis, named for Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War when the fort was built back in the middle 1800’s. It’s a cow town -- the largest community in the county -- but likely not an Obama hotbed. We are camping at Davis Mountains State Park, which is just out of town and at elevation 5,000 or so, is ten to fifteen degrees cooler than big bend. Some good birding here and it should be a good stay.

In a “small world” happenstance, we are camped next door to a couple from Barre, Vermont who we briefly met at Big Bend.