The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

[hardee]

Yea Jim, You are different, but in your case different is good....

There is no doubt I am wired differently. Some see the glass as half full, others see it as half empty... I look at it and think, "Look at the way the light refracts through that glass."

You look at that glass and see the light in all it's glory. The possibilities and patterns. Others look at the glass and see a container for some liquid. You capture what the light does, we just get to see what it does.

So don't go beating yourself up, come-on out west, and we'll see if we can find some glasses with some sunlight on them.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Harvey,

I've been pretty fortunate to go through life comfortable in my own skin. Roger and Mike are friends and we can all kid each other. Well, Mike probably wasn't kidding, but I still like him in spite of the stuff he says about me. 8) After all, look at all the stuff I've said about Dixie and she's one of my favorite people.

We're still out and about, land cruising. Right now, we're spending some time at Hart Ranch in the Black Hills... some may remember it as the place we put up a tent as our "camping unit" and stayed in the boat (boats aren't allowed as the "camping unit" here). It is one of the premier RV resorts in the midwest and a place we truly enjoy. And now, we "fit in" again.

It's still a bit cool for this island boy, but we've been riding our bikes, walking, and enjoying springtime in the Hills... with long pants and jackets. :wink: It may make it up to 70º here by Tuesday. :hot

Best wishes,
Jim B.

PS For anyone keeping track, Dan (the author/creator of the Captain Jim comic strips) finished the regular season 8-0. :thup Yeah, we're excited for him.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Izzy the travel cat has been working on her leash training while at Hart Ranch. It must be going well - I now walk wherever Izzy wants to go. :wink: There is a large grassy area behind our RV, also known as the "dog walking area." We haven't told Miss Iz that, she thinks it's there for her. Out towards the edge of that area is a sign; Izzy found that sign very interesting, likely because it has been peed upon by countless canines.

Probably a good thing she can't read...



Izzy was happily chasing grasshoppers and even caught a fly in the air; I kept a careful look out.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Update on the land cruising...

Still in the beautiful Black Hills. I woke up this morning, and every muscle in my body hurt. No, I'm not sick; we added another conveyance to the "travel train": an enclosed Featherlite trailer to haul the motorcycle. I've been working on it.



The dealer installed all the motorcycle tie-down gear, but I wanted some kind of liner for the floor and ramp door. Researching that, I found Herculiner - similar to the Rhino-Liner in our truck, but available in a D-I-Y kit. Thus, the reason for my aches and pains - yesterday, I squatted for several hours getting the first coat on...



Today, even my hair hurt. :disgust And I knew I had to put the final coat on. This stuff is easy to apply, and I can see where it could have some real use on boats, too... you just have to be right down there on the floor doing it. On the bright side, if I keep this kind of stuff up, I will have Buns of Steel. On the not-so-bright side, it hurts when I sit, stand, or walk. :roll:



We ordered the 5th wheel with a factory hitch, and picked out the trailer so we will be right at the legal tow length limit when double towing. With some dealer guidance and visiting with some other folks who are doing what we will be doing, we went a little wider on the trailer and got a V-nose.



Obviously, there is no way to haul Wild Blue behind the 5th wheel, but this trailer will have enough room for Yonder (our dinghy), if we decide to haul it along. So, we'll still be RVing or boating.

For anyone wondering about Izzy the travel cat, she is doing better than we could have imagined... she rides in the truck like a real traveler; strange people or noises don't scare her; and she walks on the leash like a pro. She will certainly be ready for the boat when we get back to Texas.



Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Papillon]

Hope this cures your homesickness...

 

[JamesTXSD]

Mike, ol' buddy, thank you for thinking of us - that's great!

Seeing the lifelines at the bottom of the frame, I see you were out on the sailboat when you shot those. Yes, we have been missing being on the water. Yesterday was a particularly gorgeous day here in the Black Hills; we decided to drive down to the lake where we used to rent a slip when we lived in the area... I was hoping for the opportunity to see some of our sailing buddies. When we got to the lake, we were happy to see that the lake level is finally up... but, unfortunately, there were quite a few empty slips. We recognized a couple of the sailboats that were in slips and looked around for our buds. We asked some people on a boat there if they had seen them and they said, "They just left on Scot's boat. Do you want to use our radio to call them?" Well, sure.

My friend, Steve, said, "See that Catalina at the head of the dock? Go get on it and bring it out here and meet us." Well, I wasn't going to get on someone's boat that I didn't know. Steve said, "Hey, that's my new boat (it's a Catalina 27). If you aren't going to bring it out, go help yourself to something out of the fridge and we'll be there in a few minutes."

It was like "old home week", with hugs, laughing, lying, and more laughing. Steve insisted we go out with them on their boat. It didn't take much arm twisting. Temps pushing into the 80s, sunny sky, and enough gusty wind to keep it interesting. Yeah, we remember how to do that sailing stuff! 8)

No dolphins here in the Hills, but the water was nice, Mother Nature was very giving, and it was big fun renewing old friendships.

We'll be heading for home in a couple weeks... got to see some of the dolphins for myself, you know. Then, we're off again with Wild Blue.

Thanks again, Mike - our best to you and Judy.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

 

[toyman]

Does Pactola have any water in it Jim ? We were stationed in Rapid a LONGgggg time ago. Went back thru a couple of years ago and were blown away by the low water levels !

 

[toyman]

Oops - how'd that happen ??

 

[JamesTXSD]

Does Pactola have any water in it Jim ? We were stationed in Rapid a LONGgggg time ago. Went back thru a couple of years ago and were blown away by the low water levels !

Pactola is nearly full, as well. They are letting water out of it, currently. Apparently the gawd-awful winter they experienced here had a real impact on the snow-pack and has filled all the area reservoirs. The Hills is looking particularly green these days. With the LONG winter, the trees are just starting to leaf out. I enjoy springtime in the Black Hills... just didn't think I'd have to wait this long to see it. :wink:

 

[toyman]

After 30 years of working and living around the world, the Black Hills area is the only area SHE and I have always wanted to return to - to live, for the SUMMER !

 

[JamesTXSD]

We are declaring the Leash-Training a success! Young Izzy is doing great on the leash. When she wants to go outside, she goes to the door and lets out a meow (and, it's a grown-up sounding meow); then she waits patiently while we put her harness on and clip on the leash. If she's not by the door and she sees us get the leash out, she goes to the door to wait for her harness. Not bad for a young girl with a young attention span. Playing a big part in this training has been our stay here at Hart Ranch... we are able to spend plenty of time with her and the nice grassy area that she prefers is just behind the HitchHiker.



And after one of her walks today, Izzy kept going to the truck and pointing to the license plate. I took that as a sign... "Look, Joan, Izzy wants to go for a cruise on Wild Blue." Convenient, since that's what I've been planning.



We'll take our time heading back to Texas and then do some "home time" before heading out with Wild Blue.

We had the opportunity to hitch up the cargo trailer behind the 5th wheel for a short tow a couple days ago. In most states, the length limit for towing is 65'. We put a tape on the whole set up... 1/2" under 65'. Close.



Dave, I have to agree with you about summertime in the Black Hills - it is a beautiful place. I know you also enjoy RVing... nice combination. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Either that, or there is some varmint under your hood that she smells...doesn't really look like he is focused on the license plate!

And after one of her walks today, Izzy kept going to the truck and pointing to the license plate. I took that as a sign... "Look, Joan, Izzy wants to go for a cruise on Wild Blue." Convenient, since that's what I've been planning.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Umm... yeah... I'm still going with "it's a sign"! :wink:

And this from Izzy: "It's ISABELLA to you, Mr. Anderson - I'm a girl!"



The cat's got attitude. :cat

 

[Grumpy]

Jim,

You will be delighted to know that it MUST be Summer up here in the PNW now.

As we were crossing the straits of Georgia last week at the top end of WG we thought we must be too close and someone was shooting at us but it was about 50 of your FD friends going full speed on the surface. (maybe someone was shooting at them ).

So on with the shorts, socks and sandals guys :shock:

Merv & Kathy

 

[JamesTXSD]

Jim,

You will be delighted to know that it MUST be Summer up here in the PNW now.

...

So on with the shorts, socks and sandals guys :shock:

Merv & Kathy

Remember the song from Sesame Street: "One of these things is not like the others; one of these things doesn't belong"?

 

[Walldog]

Hi Jim, just a note to make you homesick. Great day on the water Saturday.

You can see more pictures (Not just FD Dolphins)here.

http://picasaweb.google.com/herb.stark/ ... dreIsland#

Grins Herb

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Herb,

Yes, your photos look like a typical day at home, and we do miss that. Yesterday I talked to the lady that keeps an eye on our home there; she said it's been hot, humid, and no precip. We'll be heading that way soon... I'm getting a bit rusty on my sweating skills. :wink:

See you in a couple weeks.

The cruising guide for the Erie Canal arrived on Friday - looks like fun.

Best wishes,
Jim

We are here:



Not exactly our usual summer apparel. :wink:

 

[Walldog]

Hi Herb,


The cruising guide for the Erie Canal arrived on Friday - looks like fun.

Best wishes,
Jim

I had been looking at the Erie Canal before this thread started. Now just need the proper boat and the time. I really do want to make that trip. Not this year unfortunately.

 

[JamesTXSD]

For my buddy, Mike Taylor...

Here's proof that we remember how to sail. My buddy, Steve, sent me these photos of the day we spent on their Catalina...





Big smile on this island boy - it's been several months of this land cruising and it felt mighty fine to be on the water.

Rolling towards home.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[Pat Anderson]

Jim, you kind of need to be from here to know about "socks and sandles guy," "roadside chainsaw wood carver" and "blue tarp camper"! Kind of a NW inside joke, not really a Tropical Tip kind of deal!

Remember the song from Sesame Street: "One of these things is not like the others; one of these things doesn't belong"?