Author: Steve

…bird in this tree?

Next challenge, can you identify what kind of bird it is?

Got him!

Altamira Oriole.

We gave up the bus, but we haven’t given up traveling.  For 2023 we test-drove tenting.  We really enjoyed that, but set-up and take-down are time consuming enough that tenting works best for multi-day stays, and not so well for multi-day drives on longer trips. 

Our solution for traveling in 2024 is going to be a Ford Transit Van.  It’s on order, and now the build has been scheduled and a VIN Number has been assigned.  With a VIN Number, we’ll be able to track its progress.

We’re not going to make it a camper van.  We’re not going to try to pack all the comforts and conveniences of the bus into this much smaller package.  It’s going to be a lot like camping in the tent.  Same amenities, but without the set-up and take-down time.  We ordered a passenger van we can take the seats out of.  We’ll put a fold-out bed in the back and call the space between there and the driving compartment our living room.  No bathroom.  No kitchen.  Just a living room we can sleep in.  We can stop at state parks and use their facilities. 

We’ll get to track it from here as they build it.

They expect to start making it in the middle of May.  That should take 3 or 4 weeks.  Then they’ll deliver it to the dealer.  It will still be a while.

It should look just like this.

So we don’t know exactly when our summer trip will start.  We’ll take what we get and start our trip when it all comes together.  Maybe in July.

Exciting times.

Right time.

I got to watch a leisurely drink.

He gave me a hard look.

Then left.

No hurry, just turned and walked away.

Laguna Atascosa is a refuge for ocelots.  This wasn’t an ocelot sighting, that rarely happens, but it’s also exciting to come upon a bobcat like this.

They are really big birds compared to everything else in the yard.

They normally look like this.

Just a little bit of color on the wings.  Some red.  A touch of yellow.

But when they’re showing off.

Those epaulets make a statement!