05-24MAR09 - Kerrville, TX

Wednesday evening, 04MAR, we arrived at Dan’s sister and her husband, Sharon & Tim Tompkins, in Kerrville, TX, and set up camp in their driveway. For those of you who have followed this BLOG, you know we have stopped here often; usually stopping on our way north and again on our way south. You will also know that Dan Sr who lived them with them passed away NOV08, and therefore we hoped to finally take care of all legal matters in that regards. Dan says it is easier to get into this world than to get out of it. And remember the old saying about you can’t escape death and taxes? What they should say is – even in death you can’t escape taxes! The IRS will get theirs.

One weekend we headed into Borne to watch a Chuck Wagon cooking competition. Competitors must cook from a traditional chuck wagon, using only ingredients and implements that would have been on a chuck wagon during cattle drives. Turns out the chuck wagon does not have to be an antique, they are still being built today exactly to specifications from the 1800s! Every team cooks the same menu – chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, beans, and peach cobbler. They start cooking at 0500 and judging is done by 0900. Sharon scored some free samples, and they tasted pretty good.

In the middle of our stay Dan had to go on two business trips for his part time employer – NCBRT, which is part of LSU. (If interested in what NCBRT is, google it.) the first trip was back to Baton Rouge, followed two days later by a four day trip to Newark, NJ. One nice thing about NJ was that Dan got to eat several New England sub sandwiches. Dan loves southern po-boys, but subs are also good because of their different bread, Italian sliced meats, covered in oil and vinegar, with mayo.

Saturday, 21MAR, Dan and Tim headed in to Austin for Mojo Mayhem at the world famous Continental Club. Turns out that South by Southwest (aka SxSW) was going on in San Antonio and Austin. The last week of SxSW is hundreds of live music events in Austin. One of these events was Mojo Mayhem at the Continental. Before we describe Mojo Mayhem, lets describe the Continental Club.

http://sxsw.com/

The Continental is a small (ie hole in the wall) bar (ie dive) that has live music seven days a week. Many famous groups on their way up, and some on their way down, have played the Continental. A typical evening will feature three or more groups, playing one after another, with little intermission between each act. Sometimes the music is free, but usually the cost is minimal. The club is maybe 30 feet wide by 40 feet deep. Imagine a couple hundred people, some needing baths, with no AC, and you probably still don’t have the picture.

http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html

Anyway Mojo Nixon was putting on Mojo Mayhem during SxSW. Turns out Mojo had a little success as a rocker in the 80s, and now is DJ on satellite radio playing “outlaw” music. Dan is not a fan of Mojo’s show, but wanted to hear one of the Mayhem acts – James McMurtry. Dan has been a big fan of McMurtry’s ever since hearing Choctaw Bingo. Dan says that if you are interested in a song dealing with a family reunion in Oklahoma, doping the kids with cherry coke & vodka, Asian brides, 50 caliber hand guns, etc, then check it out. Dan could not believe that he and Tim had any possibility of seeing McMurtry for free, without camping out in line, but they decided to chance it.

Turns out the line up for Mojo Mayhem was - The Mighty Stef, Jon Dee Graham, James McMurtry, Andre Williams, Dash Rip Rock, and Mojo Nixon. Dan and Tim got there just in time for The Mighty Stef, rockers from Ireland. There was no line, they got their hands stamped and waltzed right in. The place was packed, and the surprising thing was the number of baby boomers there for what can only be classified as high speed, loud, in your face rock and roll. In fact, all the amplifiers were turned up to 11 just like in the movie Spinal Tap. Dan did notice that of all the boomers there, several wives looked like they were not truly happy to be experiencing Mayhem? One more pleasant surprise, Lone Stars were only $3!

After the Mighty Stef, Dan and Tim headed out to get some food, figuring their stamps were good for all day. While eating their lunch Dan noticed a lengthy line forming at the Continental. So they hustled back to learn that the hand stamps meant nothing and they now had to wait in line. After what seemed like forever, Tim got in leaving Dan looking forlornly. Tim promised to drink a beer for Dan. End result was they missed Jon Dee Graham, but not James McMurtry. McMurtry was excellent, and finished his show with Choctaw Bingo, complete with GoGo dancers, and two girls dressed like killer bees dancing around him as he performed. You had to be there.

Although McMurtry was the biggest act on Mayhem, it did not go down hill after he played. Next up was Andre Williams. Before we tell you about Andre, let’s describe his opening.
First the band comes out looking like the Buddy Holly’s band, the Crickets. Five nerdy looking guys, in bright green suits from the 50s, they launch into a blues based rock song and are joined by Andre and more GoGo dancers (but not like any dancers you have ever seen before). Andre is a small African American, that is 72 years old, completed dressed in a bright red three piece velvet suit, red velvet hat, and Ray Charles glasses (can you say – pimp daddy?). Turns out Andre had hit records in the 50s; wrote or co-wrote hits with Stevie Wonder, Ike & Tina Turner, etc; lost everything to drugs and alcohol; recorded what is called the sleaziest album ever in the 80s; and now tours the USA and Europe. We would tell you more about Andre’s show, but this is a family BLOG.

Next up was Dash Rip Rock. This is a three piece punk rock/country group that started in the 80s in Baton Rouge, that is world famous for their live bar shows (key word being bar). Tim and Dan were amazed by the intensity and musicianship of just three guys! One of the highlights was Dash singing “Let’s Go Smoke Some Pot” to Danny & the Juniors’ “At the Hop”. Finally, it was Mojo’s turn with his band The Toadliquors (note spelling). Upon taking the stage Mojo announced his/their intention to get really “wasted” by the end of their set (he was pretty well on his way). In fact, the group refused to play until someone provided the drummer with a couple of beers and several shots! After every song the group would demand more beers and shots, and someone in the crowd would pony-up. Amazingly Mojo and the boys played a pretty good set in spite of way too much liquid refreshment.

All in all, it was great rock and roll day! In fact, Dan and Tim are making plans for next year, something about moving the RV down to Austin so they don’t have to drive back and forth?

http://www.jamesmcmurtry.com/

http://www.dashriprock.net/

http://www.mojonixon.com/

Anyway after three short weeks in TX, it is time for us to start traveling west and north to the great Pacific NW, and our property in Sultan, WA. We don’t have an exact route planned, but probably will take I-10 west to California, and then pick a highway north from there.

Trivia – Where does the name Dash Rip Rock come from (think Ellie May)?

28FEB-04MAR09 - Livingston & Johnson City, TX

On Saturday, 28FEB, we departed Rebecca & Raymond’s enroute Dan’s sister & brother-in-law in Kerrville, TX. As usual our route included stops in Kinder, LA, and Livingston, TX. For those of you new to our BLOG, check out our BLOG entries for 02APR08, 03APR08, and 26OCT08, to find out why we routinely stop in these two locations. While in Livingston we got a TX vehicle safety inspection for the RV, and re-registered the RV for another year.

Once again having a legal RV, our next stop was Pedernales Falls State Park, just outside of Johnson City, TX. Due to the historic drought the falls were non-existent. But this was not a totally bad thing since it allowed us to explore the actual bedrock of the falls and the trapped pools of water (some containing small fish, who probably are praying for rain). It was very interesting to see the unique formations carved into the bedrock. One of the things we noted while hiking the trail to the falls were many signs warning about flash floods. Because of the drought flash floods were not an issue. But if you ever doubted the danger and power of flash floods, check out the park’s website to see what can happen in less than five minutes.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/pedernales_falls/














That evening we drove into Johnson City for a walkabout. It was a mostly empty and the small main street was very quiet, and it seems the town is now only known for the Hill Country Cupboard and its World’s Best Chicken Fried Steak. In fact, their chicken fried steak is so good, that they proudly boast that nearly 3 dozen have been sold. It is the first place we have eaten where the menus are on brown paper shopping bags. Dan had the chicken fried steak, and has to admit that is one of the best he has had.

http://www.hillcountrycupboard.com/

The next day we left the state park and headed back to Johnson City to check out the Headquarters for the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Historical Park. The Historical Park devoted to LBJ is unique in that it incorporates a National Historical Park in conjunction with State Park run by TX. The Headquarters in Johnson City has exhibits and films on LBJ and Lady Bird, a library for researchers, a couple of buildings from the original Johnson settlement (ie LBJ’s grand parents), and the house where LBJ spent most of his life.

Fourteen miles down the road is the house where LBJ was born and spent the first four years of his life. And right next door is the ranch LBJ bought from his aunt in 1951. At this location is another museum complex devoted to LBJ and Lady Bird run by the state of TX. Then you get a CD so that you can go on a driving tour of his ranch, ending at the Texas White House where almost one quarter of his Presidency was conducted. The ranch is run by the National Park Service and is still a working ranch. Turns out LBJ was a very successful rancher even while deeply involved in national politics. He would call his foremen from D.C. a couple times a day, and direct ranch operations over the phone.

Even though LBJ spent a large portion of his Presidency on the Ranch, it was not a vacation. He had an airfield on the Ranch, and there were two small jets constantly bringing members of Congress, Joint Chiefs of Staff, foreign dignitaries, and Cabinet members to the ranch. Johnson felt that sitting under the oaks on the banks of the Pedernales River broke down barriers. Although LBJ was a New Deal Democrat, many forget that he was viewed as a true bi-partisan member of the Senate both as Minority Leader and then as Majority Leader during the Eisenhower administration. One very unusual thing in his office at the Ranch is a stack of official and legal USA one dollar bills with LBJ’s face on them. These were not printed during his Presidency; if you want to know how he legally got them, you’ll have to take the tour.

http://www.nps.gov/lyjo

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lyndon_b_johnson/

Trivia – What is a trammel? What is a dogtrot cabin?

14JAN-27FEB09 - Houma, LA via Biloxi (throw me something mister!!!)

On Wednesday, 14JAN, we had a late cup of coffee with the Guldenschuhs, said our alohas, and then started our two day drive back to our daughter and son-in-law’s, Rebecca & Raymond, house in Houma, LA. If you have read this BLOG for any length of time, you know that means we probably stopped and visited a casino (or two) in Biloxi, MS, enroute. Of course we did, dry camping in our favorite dirt parking lot just across the street from two of Biloxi’s finest gaming establishments. Thursday we returned once again to our “old” home of Houma, and remained parked in the kid’s driveway (Rebecca & Raymond’s) until after Mardi Gras.

During this time we continued to contribute to the improvement their first homestead. Like we said in previous BLOGs Corrie was working on a “faux” finish for the kitchen cabinets, with new hardware for the cabinets. As we also stated in previous BLOGs, this was not simple or straight forward and required hand made modifications to the cabinets to fit the hinges by Dan. Anyway it was finally done; check out the before and after pictures. During this time Dan was also asked to follow up on a project he hadn’t worked on in over a year; it entailed many hours in the RV by himself, but the added income will be nice.

The next project was the removal of two water oaks in the back yard. When the house was purchased everyone agreed that the trees were a danger to the house and needed to be removed soon! Water oaks only live about 75 years and these appeared to be 50 years old. Then during hurricane Gustav several limbs snapped. Dan eventually got a bid for their removal, and a time was agreed upon to do the job. Meanwhile, Raymond contacted a “bud” and got a better price. Using Raymond’s connection we got both trees removed, including the stumps, for the much less money than Dan had found. Luckily OHSA was not around to enforce site safety, and none of the debris dropped on the neighbor’s roof. The only problem is the entire backyard is a dust bowl with two large dogs continually tearing it up.

During this time we had a couple of get togethers with our son, Joe. On one occasion Joe even came over for Dan’s world famous BBQ pulled pork. During this visit Joe brought over his part Jack Russell mix terrier. Gumbo was besides himself trying to impress this cute female his own size. We had a good laugh at all the “courtship” antics.

Toward the end of our stay Mardi Gras kicked into high gear. Although we had lived in Houma for close to ten years, we had missed last year’s celebration. Maybe because of this we paid a little more attention to what Mardi Gras means to south Louisiana. If you think Mardi Gras is just a bunch of drunks on Bourbon St, with inebriated females flashing their privates; then you have only a small part and mistaken picture of Mardi Gras!

First Mardi Gras is intertwined with business, politics, social life, religion, etc, continuously throughout the year. Mardi Gras kicks into high gear after the Feast of the Epiphany continuing until Ash Wednesday, with many businesses even decorating their establishments with Mardi Gras colors – purple, gold and green. In fact, we even used to leave up our artificial Xmas tree, remove the Xmas ornaments, and decorate it with Mardi Gras items.

The Krewes that put on the actual parades, raise money all year long; then have special parties including Tableaus and Formal Balls, some time after the Feast of the Epiphany. Then on the day of “their” parade have a special breakfast; ride around town in recycled, modified, open buses; board the floats for the parade; and then proceed to their final party of the season. To start all over again after Lent. Entire families are involved in the Krewes, with younger children introduced as Pages, older females as Maids, and a select few individuals as Dukes & Duchesses, and the ultimate – as Kings as Queens. For those that attain any of these positions, they will proudly display their Mardi Gras flags of their positions and year, every year on their front porch for all to see. In addition, many families stake out the same spot on the parade route year after year. Some even go to the time and expense of having purpose built trailers/reviewing platforms built that they station along the road for the entire two weeks of Mardi Gras parades!

Houma is home to the second largest Mardi Gras in Louisiana, which is to say second largest in the USA. But to be honest the difference between number one (New Orleans) and number two, is not even close. But in our opinion the smaller scale of Houma’s Mardi Gras is a good thing! For example we hang out at Re-Max Reality, who we bought our house from way back in 1997. Sharin & Cindy (Re-Max brokers) every Mardi Gras season host an open invitation to stop by and enjoy their hospitality for every Houma Mardi Gras parade (ten total). They provide food and drink, and most importantly – restrooms! You are always welcome and not expected to bring anything, other than yourselves. Dan does make his world famous chili; and Dan brings his oyster shucking knife, because Billy (Sharin’s husband) usually buys two bags of fresh oysters. But our small contribution is miniscule compared to what Sharin and Cindy provide each and every year. And even though it may have been years since our last visit, it is just like yesterday and we immediately catch-up on the latest and greatest. In fact the visiting and socializing are the most important thing and we don’t even bother to “beg for beads” when the parades come by!!!

For a more info on Mardi Gras and a little feel how important it is to all facets of life in South Louisiana check out:

http://www.mardigrasguide.com/

http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/