We MADE it... SAFE and sound !

Whew..... only 1,850 miles .... but we safely made it to the Camas Nat'l Wildlife Refuge in Hamer, ID on March 31. Set the trailer up, got satellite up n running (for basketball of course), met the 2 paid staff and other volunteer couple who have been here 7 years.... fulltime !!! BV and I celebrated our arrival with pizza and beer, then went with the Refuge Manager on a tour of the 11,000 acre refuge. I don't have computer access yet..... so no pictures... but here's an update:

The big migratory birds are just arriving - geese, tundra and trumpeteer swans and some of the smaller birds. Saw all the birds, a young bull moose, pheasant and porcupines !

They've had some birds die-off due to winter travel stress.... so they shut off all water supply to get waterways & lakes to dry out... and get some of the birds to move on., then check for deceased birds. If they have two clean days..... then water will be turned back on to service all other incoming migrations. The snow melt has not started, so the "crik" isn't running (no rivers here..... they're criks)..... and it's dry. Fire crew will be conducting controlled burns over next few weeks, so today we jumped right in and assisted with fire suppression work around the HQ. Since winter is just ending...... lots of clean-up is needed... BV went with John to clear out old metal from a burn pile, tomorrow (weather permitting) we'll go on the air boat to help at one of the lakes. They have "grouse days" in April and we'll assist with this.....

Most work is done using ATV's so they are sending us to ATV training down in Idaho Falls. What we drove all winter .... we'll now be certified to drive !!!!

PS - Just heard, it's snowing hard enough in town .... the plows are out !!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Here's a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY greeting

TO DEANNA AND TIFFANY !!!

Have a wonderful day !

Love you,

Dad and Jac

We only slid a little bit....

OK..... Thursday & Friday we made it thru Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas ahead of the storms .... but we did have high sidewinds. Today we drove north from Goodland, KS in 50mph+ winds and watched the fuel mileage go dowwwnnn !

At the end of the day it really got "FUN" going over the pass from Cheyenne to Laramie, Wyoming where we planned to spend the night. I think the pictures give you a good idea...... can you see the snowplow ??

While it wasn't snowing.... we had a wind advisory and the right lane was closed. At the top of the pass there was a wreck, our mileage was at 8.8mpg, it was 23 degrees and..... even with all the truck traffic, there were thin layers of ice .... we slid just a "little" bit.... but it did cause the heart-rate and pucker factor to go up !!!

We made it fine.... and now safely encamped at a KOA... it's 25 degrees, wind has calmed down and the electric blanket is calling my name. Weather will improve tomorrow to get over the other mountain passes.... we'll stop in Rock Springs, WY tomorrow and then explore the Flaming Gorge area on Monday. There is some more winter weather coming in along our route to Idaho so we'll call the Wildlife Refuge and find out if we can get thru or need to hang back a while.

Spring Break with Kyleigh

On Sunday the 21st, we celebrated Deanna & Tiffany's birthdays "early" before we left for our summer adventure. As Mom and I drove in from Galveston, BV did the bbq'ing and food prep. We had a grand time visiting, keeping up with Abby since our house is not 1yr old proof, running around with Kyleigh & Cohen and watching everyone open presents.



Kyleigh then stayed with us for some of her spring break... hope she wasn't too bored.... we adventured around the property for treasures & found "bones", walked the neighborhood & played with Ben, went to the Travis County Livestock Show & Fair and saw racing pigs, a monkey riding a dog herding sheep, kids w/ their show animals & rode the slide; she also
baked cookies with grandpa, drove the golf cart around the subdivision and then we all took it to my Mom in Ggtown, did a shopping trip (or two); worked on math, reading & writing on the computer, had fun with scrapbooking and even did some reading.


We won't talk about doing some TV watching or staying up a bit late...... or what's up with getting covered by beany baby stuffed animals.....

Cruising the Caribbean

Between March 14-21, my Mom and I took a 7 day cruise on Voyager of the Seas .... Galveston, Cozumel, Grand Caymans and Jamaica. She's been wanting to go on a cruise for a longggg time and one day BV found a good deal on the internet..... timing was right..... and off we went. Our room was the square 2nd up from the crane - Mom hung a red flag out the railing.

We had a fab time together: checking out the sights (on-off the ship), eating, drinking, touring and just being together !! Even after all the walking, Mom wants to go on another one somewhere..... like Alaska !!!

In Cozumel we just planned to get off the ship to walk the pier, but we found a taxi driver who gave us an hour tour of the city.... from his perspective ! It was great and we saw much more than those who took a standard tour. In Jamaica and Grand Caymans we took 3-4 hour tours and saw many of the local places.

Much love to you Mom...... am sooo glad we took this adventure together !!!

On the road again !!

We're getting ready again for our summer volunteer adventures..... but first we had a "few" fun things to do here at home !! My Mom and I went on a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean.... it was a fabulous trip with Mom and I having a wonderful time together. Pictures to follow in another blog.

BV spent the time golfing, watching tons of basketball, eating pizza..... and getting the RV ready.

Then... Kyleigh came over to spend a few days of her spring break.... it was go, go. go ! Went shopping, did the Travis County Fair, took a trip to Georgetown, worked on scrapbooking, read, baked cookies with Grandpa, drove the golfcart (yep, drove it... hey Shaun - she'll need some practice....), hiked the property "lookin' for treasures".... and found some - tell ya next time... and even did computer work ! We had a GREAT time.... thanks Kyleigh for wanting to spend time with us..... and hey Cohen, your time is coming. We love you both !!!

Next blog will have pictures...... and an update on our adventures !!

Back home in Texas

After a wonderful summer in South Dakota, it was great to be back home with family... and to see the kids, my Mom and grandkids - Kyleigh, Cohen & Abby Lu !










After numerous chores and catching up with mail, we started clearing more of the property - not only for the view, but also for fire break. BV cut & hauled...... and I hauled and burned. We've 7 acres.... might take a while longer!

From October thru January we worked at a deer lease near San Saba. After just parking the 5th wheel trailer at the house for a month.... we took it to the deer camp as our home base.

Our job was to cook, shop, keep everything stocked, clean up, dish's, laundry, etc.... we'd stay 3-4 days at a time, drive home to check the house & mail and then back to the lease.

When we first got there.... discovered an inside visitor.... no not this one, but a baby rattler ... so we were on the look out for others !

In the small kitchen, BV cooked all his "almost perfect" meals.... whether it was biscuits n gravy, roast n veggies, stuffed quail, fajitas & beans or his fabulous oven-baked mashed potatoes...... no one went hungry !Along with cooking and clean-up, we would video the deer as they came to the feeders, take folks to/from the deer blinds, set out corn or....

just enjoy the scenery...... and we had some gorgeous moments ! Sunsets, wildlife, thunderstorms & frozen fog....









....our 4 months included hard work, some long hours ... we're thankful for the opportunity !

Join us for our next adventure this summer.... at the end of March we will be taking on two volunteer assignments. April-May we will be at the Camas Wildlife Refuge near Rexburg, Idaho. From June-August we will be in the Rio Grande Nat'l Forest near Creede, Colorado.

This n that update

Well.... been home for two weeks and lots to do !!! No pictures of anything..... just an update for now. Had yard work, house work etc. We went to visit family and friends in Kerrville this week, took the trailer, stayed in KOA off Goat Creek Road. Played golf twice, visited with Roy & Mary, Ruth, Tom & Nell, went to dinner with BVs oldest brother Herb & Merlin at Guenther's last night and was able to even chat with Vicki & Cecil and Raymond & Mindy. Good to see everyone!

Hope something exciting happens I can take pictures of and post !

Last chapter in SD..... and on the road again !

Our last week in SD was a mixture of work, playing golf and getting ready for the trip back home to TX. BV helped Tim with some concrete work around the aquarium and Jac finished the photo display in the hatchery ... it was an exciting project.... ending up with 60 transparencies with photos showing & documenting various aspects of hatchery operations.

Other fun activities included a nice lunch with the staff at their local Mexican food restaurant; an afternoon social at the trailer complete with bbq pheasant - courtesy of Craig - salsa, chips and refreshments; one last golf outing (BV still beat me, oh well but I played better); picking fresh sweet corn; canning & freezing the final garden gifts and just visiting !

Everyone hunts and fishes, but Jeff has the arsenal in his basement...... just had to take a picture of all the elk horns ! The full sets, like the one BV is holding are actual elk he has taken.

See the temperature ??? The morning we left - Aug 31 - it was 42 when we got up. Would you believe BV turned on the heat in the trailer....... it warmed up tho and by the time we drove out it was 54 !!!

So..... out of our summer RV spot we pull and on the road

we are again.... this time back to TX ! What a fabulous experience..... thank you ... to everyone at Gavin's Point !

Since we were psyched to get on the road..... we drove 642 miles that day....... crazzzzzyyyyy !!! Stayed in Norman, OK in the parking lot of the Riverwind Casino. Of course, played some but didn't win or lose. Tues got up and drove only 100 miles to Thackerville, OK just on the TX border. This was a planned stop at a new RV site. Wed we drove on home..... hot, hot hot !!!

All is well at home, got the 5th wheel backed up behind the house ... truck was tired and wanted to rest !!! Next few days unpacked, did chores, yard work etc. Had a bbq with the neighbors as they welcomed us back and we all got caught up on the news. The margaritas were yummy... I had more than just one..... then on Sunday we had a get together with my Mom, the girls n guys & grandkids at the house. Was great to be with them all..... Kyleigh, Cohen & Abby all are growing and we hope when it gets cooler to get them out with us camping !!

Next year ?????? Who knows ?????? Utah, Idaho, Colorado ............ we're already checking out our options and getting info from various locations !!!

We have some plans & activities for the fall & winter..... so while I won't be posting a lot of blogs..... stay in touch and check back periodically.

Final fling in South Dakota

One of our last weekends in SD and we celebrated in fine style at Riverboat Days in Yankton...... it was an action packed few days. Those from small towns know that festivals center around fireworks, parades, music, food n fun. Friday night we went down to the park, cruised around and sat right on the Missouri River bank looking across to Nebraska for the fireworks ..... awesome view with a cool evening - we even had to wear jeans & jackets !

Saturday got up early for the parade and it had everything & everyone !!

We spent the entire day doing the do - saw one band "Brule", that played native american rock opera- it was simply amazing and nothing like we've ever heard. Loud w/ drums, electric guitar, keyboard, native drum and a modern flute played like the old indian wooden flutes. We went to see them twice.... and they had traditional dancers for several songs. Need to check their website..... and they will be having a public TV spot on Aug 31 at 8pm called Hidden Heritage.

Of course we visited the clydesdales, the antique tractors & equipment .... the whole enchilada .... or rather bratwurst, burgers & corndogs! That night we stayed for the main event - The Dweebs - a family band that was loud & fabulous !! Sat in bleachers for 1st set... then stood in front of stage for 2nd set with all the other crazy people. Music was a great mix of here n now and yesteryear.... a combo of the Village People, Janis Joplin, Kid Rock, Willie, Johnny Cash,Michael Jackson, Beatles, Alabama...... well you get the drift !!!

Let's see..... got home 11ish.... early for night owls, but a grand day out on the town for us !!! We've a few more days left to volunteer, finish up some projects and plan to leave out on Monday August 31 to head back to TX. Take our time. Oh yeah... we'll be bringing home a new 5th..... we traded in the 2000 Mirage for a 2009 Challenger by Keystone... got a heck of a deal and it is rigged for all season travel. Even has snow load roof trusses !!! Yeah... like BV is ever going to be caught in snow... let alone anything that even appears to be winter....... I'll havepics of it next blog. Until then.... see you soon !!!!