Toes in the Sand

After spending five months in the Rocky Mountains, it has taken me a while to get in an "island mood". The flat uniformity of a beach is a stark contrast to the rugged peaks and valleys the Leos had become accustomed to over the summer.

Mustang Island Beach, Port Aransas, Texas

But after being here at Port Aransas for two weeks, I'm beginning to come around.  A few visits to the local establishments for some good sea food and a healthy dose of the National Beer of Texas makes a fellow mellow. And that is, after all, what the island life is all about.

About the only thing I found disappointing about Colorado was my inability to obtain Lone Star. For some reason Coors seemed to be offered as a substitute, which it IS NOT. Before I head west next spring, I'll fully stock my cargo bay.

The Trusty Companion has had no problem with the change of scenery. Dogs have such a wonderful way of living in the moment. This moment for Leo calls for running after every shore bird he can find from the time we got here. As soon as he leaps out of the truck door onto the sand, he is running as hard as he can go toward the nearest seagull or sand piper. Of course, the birds take flight just before he reaches them, but that doesn't slow him down. He continues his mad dash for exactly 15 feet, then makes a hard right or left turn and runs in a circle around me and repeats. 15 feet? That's the length of his retractable leash. If I hold tight, he only jerks my shoulder out of joint as he hits its limit and tries to launch himself after the birds. A looser grip and he pulls the leash from my hand and gives chase further down the beach.

No matter the occasion, Leo manages to turn it into a party.

Let's go for a ride on a party boat!

So, following Leo's example, I have been spending each day living in the moment.

Sunrise on Port A

After a few hot and humid days when we first arrived, the weather has cooled and been perfect most days for relaxing on the beach. It's only about a five minute walk from our trailer to the surfs edge. We spend most mornings there with my good friends Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Jane Candiotti, Carter O'Brien and Alex Cross, all of whom live in my Kindle. After about a half an hour of chasing his gull friends up and down the beach, I can generally get Leo to sit in his beach chair with me for an hour or so while I learn of my friends latest adventures. Then we repeat the process. Chase the birds..relax...chase the birds...relax. Tough duty.

And as we have settled into this routine, I have found that all I had to do to break the monotony of the flat open beach was turn around.

And even the beach itself is growing on me.

Toes in the sand.

Southbound

Carson National Forest from Forest Service Road 103

The Leo's are getting ready to hit the road again. After a pleasant summer of new friends, good fishing, bueatiful scenery and great weather, it's time to head South.

Fall Color on the Conejos River

The leaves have turned and the weather is getting cooler. For the last week we have had nightly temperatures in the mid-20s, with daytime warm-up into the 60's.  But that won't last much longer. It will soon be the beginning of winter here in the mountains, so Southbound we go!!

Over the next three weeks we will be wandering our way to the sands of Port Aransas, Texas.


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The first leg of our wander will be a three day run from our summer camp in southern Colorado to Midlothian, Texas. Along the way we will be making a stop in Santa Fe, New Mexico to get new tires on the HitchHiker. Then we will overnight in Tucumcari, NM (boondocking at Flying J) and then an overnight at the Old Town Cotton Gin Park in Goodlett, Texas.

We plan to spend a week in Midlothian to visit with Doug and family in their new home, catch-up on movies that are now in theaters and catching the Farmer's Branch Bluegrass Festival.

Then it's on to Austin for a few days with Kim and family and Maggie and Jonas. We'll be there in time to celebrate Maggie's birthday.

After Austin, we'll make a brief stop in New Braunfels to visit The Trusty Companion's vet to renew his prescription for allergy pills. This is important, because the pills have been working. We made it all summer without Leo chewing out large chunks of  his coat. His coat is now the longest it has been since we've been partners and he's well equipped for winter.

Then it's on to the On The Beach RV Park in Port Aransas for four weeks of Toes in the Sand.

On The Beach RV Park

After staying in one location for five months, it will feel great to be On The Road Again!