202409 Rosenberg

I carefully planned and packed for an entire week. The last day I judiciously took care of all the last minute items and, seconds before leaving, my eyeglasses fell apart. They just didn't lose a screw. The head of a screw broke off leaving the screw in the threaded hole. Luckily I was able to grab the broken off part with tweezers and get the rest out. Another screw and we were all back.

GAS: Get gas at the I-71 exit 50, I THINK. Looks like there is a Shell and maybe better, a ONE9 there that can take towing. The stations at the Caesar Creek exit are tight.

First stop is three and a half hours. We stopped at Caesar Creek State Park north of Cincinnati. We took some very nice walks and experimented with the new Star Link system. That is working very nicely. It is outperforming the Pepwave hands down. While it requires minimal setup, it does take some doing to get things going.

I would recommend site 50 and 51. Most of the trails are difficult. This is a hilly park. But 50 and 51 have a trail to a paved, one mile closed road/bike path/hiking trail. It is hilly but a very nice walk with a lot of critters.

This taking my time is working out. Got up. Caught up with email and the news. Chatted with KD8JQ. Took the dogs on a two and a half mile walk and took a shower. Left at 9 am. Arrived in Natchez Trace at about 3 pm.

Took my time, too. I almost always was following a truck, letting the trucker do the driving. Worked nice. Much slower, that's for sure.

GAS: There is a Buc-ee's about half way, on I-65 exit 38 in Kentucky. Recommended. Easy on and off with no problems if towing.

GAS: There is no gas at the State Park exit. Get gas at the ONE9 that is at exit 126, just before the State Park. Easy and good for towing.

This is the closest to Algonquin I have ever been. It is a half hour drive into and through dense wilderness. Toodles was quite excited as he was smelling things he has not in other parks. The campground is first-rate. Level sites, full hookup and pretty roomy. I suspect they will find themselves a bear here. I'm not sure how that plays out.

While walking the smallish campground is fun, it appeared that a car would really open up this park. The morning of September 4 we decided to get out at sunrise and walk the park again. I didn't put on my walking shoes as the walk wasn't much of a test of my feet.

When we arrived at the park entrance, we decided, "Let's walk the road!" That turned into, "Might as well check out the picnic area." That morphed into, "Let's walk the circle." While on the road, we saw only one car.

Our side adventure off the road onto a forest road brought us to their treatment plant. They pump the poop to the very top of a hill, treat it and dribble it from there.

Our venture to Picnic Area 2 and 3 also brought their archery range. Not only is it a range, you can walk through the woods and they have targets shaped like animals. Cool. For the archer, not the animal.

Here is Toodledip at a sniff he refused to leave. He spread all four legs out and laid down. I would have had to drag him on his belly. Not sure what was there, but it had to be good.

I would think there'd be bear here. They leave their trash open. They do have bear-proof cans, but the trash is open.

The Star Link is working great with sites that buffer. It is clear that due to dense trees I have holes in the constellations. While I can stream a movie without a problem, Doing anything that requires constant data is a problem. That includes calls.

Stopped and chatted up a campground host. There haven't been bears here in a hundred years. No bears. Go figure. A bunch in Gatlinburg but none at Natchez Trace.

Do you see it?

They do! Here is what they are looking at:

ATLANTA, TEXAS STATE PARK

Not the best State Park but a respectable park. Nice people.

Nice trails:

BUT THE BUGS!!!!

There were hoards of gnats. Huge horseflies, though they did not bite.

The weather was fantastic. We had lots of walks.

My walking buddy.

ROSENBERG

Muscovy Duck babies:

LIAM'S FOOTBALL!

An early morning walk:

A hawk flew down and grabbed a bird. Right in front of us!

The full blood moon over the lake next to the house:

Spent a lot of time waiting for a particular generator to become available. When I arrived at 8 am at Harbor Freight there were two others waiting for the same thing! Luckily they just received three of them!

ROAR!

Here's a direct link to the video.

Fine. I'll change a diaper.

GALVESTON

Road is blocked! And it is my fault!

Got him a frog!

After the birthday party the trash bandits got us. But even more so, the little buggers hit EVERY SINGLE TRASH CAN ON THE BEACH. Galveston has special morning clean-up crews.

Another really red sunrise. I went out on the beach about forty-five minutes before sunrise to beat the heat. I was walking on a really dark beach.

Had a bird hunting who was particularly upset at our interfering with his breakfast.

Landon got a drum set for his birthday from Aunt Sue.

Here's a direct link to the video.

Party boy!

I had tiny little frogs on my window in Galveston!

Left from home from Galveston. New route through Louisiana. Saw a forest fire.

Stopped at DeGray Lake State Park in Bismarck, Arkansas. Nice park.

The campground and boat launch is about 1.2 miles. Not really a walker's park. Lots of great water views!

GETTING HOME

Getting home was another experiment. While getting there was planned over five days, getting home was planned over two. I stopped at DeGray State Park for one night and then made the long drive to the rest area in Kentucky south of Cincinnati. Got there about 5 pm after a LONG drive and by 7 pm I was in bed. Left at 3 am and through both the dope-fest that defines I-71 in Cincinnati and through Columbus by 4 am. Cool. Home at 7 am or so.

NOTE TO SELF: While two days is ... OK ... three or four days are better. I should of stopped in Cave City, Bowling Green or somewhere near there. Then I should have stopped at a state park between Columbus and Cincinnati.

Here's a couple post-trip pics that I need to include:

Landon's first birthday

September 2 - October 6, 2024