Author: Steve

50 miles from us, in any direction, we have to pass through one more border checkpoint.  We think they recognize us from license plate readers.  Sometimes they have us stop and talk to them.  Sometimes they just wave us through.  This time, as we were pulling up and the drug sniffing dog was walking around the car, Jesse started growling and was going to bark, so as we pulled up to the border agent in our van and he can’t see in through all the dark windows along the side, Judy was turned in her seat with her finger to her lips, shushing the dog.  It made perfect sense to us, but to the border agent it could have been Judy admonishing all the people on the floor of the van not to make a sound while we got through the checkpoint.  He didn’t have to get his head all the way into the window to see that there wasn’t really anyone else there and it was all about the fluffy white puppy on the couch.  It ended with a good laugh, and I don’t think we were even that close to getting arrested this time.  Hey, maybe we should try that trick every time from now on…

So, tonight we’re in Kerrville.  It’s too hot and humid to sleep in the van, so we’re in a camping cabin.

July Colorado Trip

An air conditioned camping cabin.  It’s not like camping in the van, but it’s more like camping than staying in a hotel room.

Years ago, an older couple aged out of the park.  The next generation kids came down to clear out all their stuff and sell the trailer, but as they were here getting rid of stuff, they realized what a nice place this would be for them when it was time for them to retire, so they didn’t sell it.  For years now they’ve only been able to come here once a year and maintain the house well enough that it didn’t have to get towed away.  But now, as retirement approaches, they are having the old house pulled out, and after the pad is upgraded, a new house will be pulled in and installed this fall.

Park rules.  Anytime a house gets old enough that it starts to look shabby, it has to get retired when it changes hands, and a new one put in.  I don’t know if every park does that, but I like it.  It keeps the neighborhood looking sharp.

There is a little marsh bird called a Sora.  It likes to call out, and the call is conspicuous, but the bird itself, not so much.  Still, I caught one out in the open.

When he spotted me, he fluttered off to the other side of the pond.

I got a long-lens shot of him before he disappeared back into the reeds.

Carry everything we need to stay in the van and be comfortable, but don’t carry anything that other people are willing to provide for us. 

That means don’t carry a freshwater tank, a holding tank, A toilet, a black water tank, a generator, a kitchen sink, a stove, food, a wash basin, a pantry, a shower; all those things will be provided for us at state parks, or even KOA campgrounds.  No need to carry it all from place to place.  We have a living room and a couch in one configuration, and a comfortable bed in the other.  With our small power source, we can make coffee in the morning, whether we have shore power or not, and camping chairs to enjoy the morning sun.  Campgrounds provide a picnic table, and often a sun shelter.  We have a little fridge so we can carry a couple prepared sandwiches in there in case we need them.  Otherwise, we can stop for meals along the way with a bonus of sampling local cuisine.  We buy fresh drinking water a jug at a time.  Gas stations and roadside rests have all the restroom facilities we need.  State parks provide sinks and showers.

It’s a simple life.

A flyer for the Aspen Center for Physics summer talks included this image:

Charming.