The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

[Doryman]

Photos? hoto

I'll see if I can PS some just for you.

Actually, I do need to get in the habit of having a camera unstowed and right by the helm. Lori took some photos of the dolphins but now I can see that Joan has a real knack for FD photos.

Warren

 

[JamesTXSD]

Photos? hoto

I'll see if I can PS some just for you.

Actually, I do need to get in the habit of having a camera unstowed and right by the helm. Lori took some photos of the dolphins but now I can see that Joan has a real knack for FD photos.

Warren

What makes you think Joan shoots all the photos? When I'm at the helm, I know where to put her so the light is good... and sometimes she's at the helm and I do the shooting. And sometimes we're BOTH shooting (we haven't taught Izzy how to handle the helm... yet). :lol:

I'm sure you've heard this phrase many times: "Proof? If you don't have photos, it didn't happen." :wink:

---------------------------------------------

We're west of San Antonio, settled in for the night at a nice campground (Passport America rate: half price). This was Izzy's first full day of riding in the truck... it may be a fluke, but she did GREAT! Most of the time she sat between us, on the console. Not a peep out of her... she cuddled with both of us, but wasn't too crazy about Jill's voice (on the GPS).

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[Steve Grover]

Jim
Sydney :dog and I are with you... as all ways :idea. Minds eye and spirit. Very happy trails to you, Joan and Izzy. be safe. Thanks for the up dates. You're the man :thup :rose.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Thanks, Steve. Yes, I am the man... Joan is the woman... and Izzy is the neutered cat. But, I digress.

I don't plan to do daily updates while we're land traveling, but today we find ourselves once again in Van Horn, TX. I said something that I thought was humorous the last time we were through here, and I stepped on one of our member's toes. Certainly not my intent. We've been driving for two full days, and we're still in Texas. It's a BIG state (yes, Alaska brothers and sisters, I know: not as big as your state). I thought I'd come into this area with a new perspective and try to see what's good about it. After all, as my dear ol' Mother taught me: if you can't say something nice...






So, how are things where you are? :wink: 8) :roll:

It was a warm one today - the thermometer in the truck read 90º at one point. But, it's a dry, dusty heat. And on the bright side, west Texas has the highest diesel prices we've paid in a couple months. Just doing our part to help the economy.

Only 2-3 more hours of driving, and we'll be in New Mexico, Land of Enchantment.

Izzy did fine again today: two in a row! :thup Just like boating, we found a place to get down for the night well before sunset. Adult beverages for us, kitten food for Izzy. We have the A/C going and we're kicking back. With the slides out, this rig has about a 14' beam... lots of room to stretch out.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Discovery]

Jim and Joan,

We are a couple of days behind you. We have finished all the warrantee items on the new motorhome, and tomorrow we leave for Utah. Yes, Texas is a big state. When we were leaving Florida and coming to Rockport, we called ahead to let the RV park know we were on the way. We said we had entered Texas, and Mary the RV park host said, "well then you are only three states away". Traveling home, as we exit Texas and enter New Mexico, we are 1/2 way home. That's 1/2 way on a 1600 mile journey.

We hope you can drop by and see us sometime this Spring.

Brent and Dixie

 

[JamesTXSD]

Jim and Joan,

We are a couple of days behind you. We have finished all the warrantee items on the new motorhome, and tomorrow we leave for Utah. ...
Brent and Dixie

Hi Brent and Dixie,

Glad to hear all went well with the work on your coach. It's a beauty! And in a few days, it will be parked in that REALLY big bay in your garage... well, one of the 4 really big bays. :thup Your garage is the envy of C-Brats everywhere.

We sure enjoyed seeing you this winter and look forward to seeing you soon (can you do something about the COLD at the 7,000' level in Utah?)

Travel safe... and know that you can cover more miles per day than we can (you don't have to stop for potty breaks).

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

 

[colobear]

Good thing that heat is dusty, it can absorb all the sweat, pardon me: "Glow" y'all produce down there. 8) And...Dusty, don't blister James for using your name in vain, he's trying to deal with a new cat. :teeth

 

[Walldog]

Thanks, Steve. Yes, I am the man... Joan is the woman... and Izzy is the neutered cat. But, I digress.

I don't plan to do daily updates while we're land traveling, but today we find ourselves once again in Van Horn, TX. I said something that I thought was humorous the last time we were through here, and I stepped on one of our member's toes. Certainly not my intent. We've been driving for two full days, and we're still in Texas. It's a BIG state (yes, Alaska brothers and sisters, I know: not as big as your state). I thought I'd come into this area with a new perspective and try to see what's good about it. After all, as my dear ol' Mother taught me: if you can't say something nice...

I have been following your progress?? as you leave Wild Blue and head out into the arid part of our country leaving us here in Paradise. I cannot tell you how much Wilma and I enjoyed your hospitality aboard Wild Blue. Thank You Very Much. The comfortable ride Wilma enjoyed has made the difference in her support of a C-Dory purchase. When the right deal comes along, I am sure we will join the ranks of C-Dory owners. Until then, we will zip along in our Hot Rod SeaDoo and live the C-Dory life vicariously through this list.....grins[/img]

 

[JamesTXSD]

Glad you two enjoyed the ride, Herb. I've seen the boat that Brent posted for sale in Salt Lake - it's certainly a nice boat. One like that would sure add to the look of your new home on the water. :wink: Nahhh, you'd find that you and Wilma would be spending more time away from home.

Take care; see you when we get back.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[Discovery]

Hi, Jim

Not sure what you meant by not having to stop for potty breaks. We are each driving a vehicle. Dixie is driving the truck/camper and towing the TomCat, I am driving the new motorhome. Tomorrow we trade rides. We left Rockport at 8:30 AM and made it to Fort Stockton by 6:30 PM That was 492 miles for the day. The new motorhome averaged 9.3 MPG today. A tail wind to start, then a cross wind. I can't complain. Still under 2500 miles on it. Not even starting to break it in.

Brent

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi, Jim

Not sure what you meant by not having to stop for potty breaks. We are each driving a vehicle. Dixie is driving the truck/camper and towing the TomCat, I am driving the new motorhome. Tomorrow we trade rides. We left Rockport at 8:30 AM and made it to Fort Stockton by 6:30 PM That was 492 miles for the day. The new motorhome averaged 9.3 MPG today. A tail wind to start, then a cross wind. I can't complain. Still under 2500 miles on it. Not even starting to break it in.

Brent

Yep, I wasn't thinking about you two running two vehicles. :? 492 miles is a long darn day driving separate. And 9.3 MPG - that's good! We ran into some ugly headwinds today (35 mph) and saw our mileage go down to just under 9! We usually get 11-12 towing the 5th wheel.

Good that you trade rides - give Dixie a chance to experience that "King of the Road" kinda ride with your coach. 8) Wanna take bets that she won't be trading back after tomorrow? Another 20-30,000 miles on that coach and you'll likely start to break it in and see an improvement in mileage. :lol:

Travel safe - talk to you soon.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

 

[hardee]

Hi Jim, Joan and Izzy,

Sure hope your travels are safe, and your stops are fun. Just a word of caution, :idea: I'd hold off on heading to the upper left corner just yet. It is snowing in Sequim today. Such a deal, blue sky and 30 degrees and snow. :crook South sound CBGT going on and our B-boat friends are boat camping in Sequim Bay this Weekend. We are leaving soon to take them extra blankets and hot chocolate. :smile

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Doryman]

Brent, will your new motor home tow the Tom Cat -- and are you planning to do that?

Warren

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Harvey,

Yeah, I saw on the national weather that your part of the country is still in the midst of winter. IF we get that way, it will be in the summer, AND with Wild Blue.

In the meantime, we are outside of Tucson, AZ. We've been doing touristy stuff; spent yesterday at Old Tucson Studios, and today at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Here's some highlights from today...


A Crested Saguaro







There's a few other images, totally C-Dory off topic in that Land Traveling 09 sub-album.

We're heading for Phoenix, going to see our daughter and son-in-law (Dan, the Captain Jim creator). We have plans to see a spring training baseball game, then take the kids somewhere for their spring break. May try to get to the Grand Canyon, then ???

We're still discussing where to take Wild Blue when summer rolls around.

Take care, C-Brat buddies. Post some boating photos and stories to keep this land-traveling island boy in the loop.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Brent, will your new motor home tow the Tom Cat -- and are you planning to do that?

Warren

Hi Warren,

I don't know if Brent and Dixie check in here regularly, but you might post that on their Discovery traveling thread. Their coach's tow rating can handle the TomCat, but that big ol' truck of theirs has even more towing capacity.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[rogerbum]

Jim,

I went to graduate school in Tucson. If you have time and you haven't been there before, San Xaviar Mission del Bac is worth a visit. Also, Kitt peak (home of an observatory) is a great 1-1.5 hour drive from Tuscon. Great views and some good tours of the telescopes. I spent many days up there working with an instrument that was part of the solar observatory. While you're there, eat some good chicken mole and down a margarita for me. Man I miss good mexican food.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the tips! Living in deep south Texas, you know what we call Mexican food? Yeah, "food." :wink: We have lots of choices for good Mexican. We have some favorite places in Phoenix, too... I'll raise a margarita and down an enchilada in your honor!

The dry climate here takes some getting used to... I have "Vegas throat" (a singer's term) and we haven't made it to Vegas, yet. 8) I miss my humidity.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[rogerbum]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the tips! Living in deep south Texas, you know what we call Mexican food? Yeah, "food." :wink: <stuff clipped>

Food - funny, that's what we call fish up here. An enchilada, I can get an OK one in the NW, but chicken mole, food of the gods, not so good. Alas, I keep searching....

 

[Discovery]

Jim was right. After the first day I didn't get a chance to drive the motorhome again, until I pulled it into the big garage in Loa. Dixie took to it like an experienced trucker. For the last two days I drove the truck and towed the TomCat. We are home in Loa, at least for a while.

The motorhome can tow the TomCat, but we expect to do boat things with the truck/TomCat, and motorhome things, with the motorhome/Jeep Liberty.

Brent

 

[JamesTXSD]

Jim was right. After the first day I didn't get a chance to drive the motorhome again, until I pulled it into the big garage in Loa. Dixie took to it like an experienced trucker. For the last two days I drove the truck and towed the TomCat. We are home in Loa, at least for a while.

...

Brent

Hi Brent,

Good to hear that you are home, safe and sound. That makes for a long haul when you have to drive separate. Hopefully, as you increased elevation and latitude, you were able to adjust to the c-c-c-c-cold gradually.

Sorry you lost the coach driving position; nothing like a big ol' Class A on a diesel chassis going down the road. On the bright side, the next time you two take it out, you will be in it together... and then you can walk back for those potty breaks, snack breaks, or a quick nap.

Hope all was well on the home front when you got back. Talk to you soon.

Best wishes,
Jim