Good Morning All. Clear and 44°
here in beautiful North Central Texas. Temperatures here did not reach freezing while we were gone, all of the annual herbs on the back porch survived. Temperature range for the next three days is going to be slightly below normal, lows 35°-70°, but will return to the normal 50°-78° on Wednesday.
Great to be home again. My bed, my pillow, my 17.5" tall toilet, my shower, my kitchen and I can pee in the yard again. No leaving distracting lights on at night to assist in guiding me around in the middle of the night. While it was not the normal vacation this year, it was enjoyable nonetheless. The China Virus did reduce some opportunities to do things that we wanted to see or do. And other than the power outage of 17 hours, the hurricane didn't have any negative effects on Gulf Shores or our trips either way. The only hangup was driving home through the outskirts of Dallas between 4:15 and 4:45 (Friday afternoon) on the way back. While the freeways moved pretty well (they usually do), there was major congestion at three different interchanges that we had to go through. The fourth one was smooth sailing. I most likely could have avoided two of the congestion spots if we had thought soon enough to use the Express toll lanes to bypass those spots. They're not that expensive. Toll or Express lanes have become the newest money maker for the state, instead of just adding extra lanes to the existing freeways, they add these toll lanes. In some cases like along IH635, the loop circling Dallas, they actually reduced the number of regular lanes to make room for the money makers.
Yesterday, was a great trip until Dallas, we left Gulf Shores around 0520. We went through Mobile AL before rush hour and hit the New Orleans and Baton Rouge before their noon rush hour. If you've ever been to Baton Rouge, you would understand this. We arrived in Shreveport La a bit after 1300 and avoided most of their lunchtime crowd. Ate some lunch there at a Whataburger with indoor dining. In Texas their dining rooms are still closed. Again the only hangup was those freeway interchanges in Dallas. What normally is a 20 minute trip around took almost 45 minutes.
Here's where we stayed the first 3 1/2 days as viewed from the beach. Middle condo, 6th floor, second balcony from the left.
The condos on either side were closed for repairs from the damage caused by Hurricane Sally in September.
View of the structure to the left from our balcony.
Lots of roof and window damage.
Most of the high rise condos along Gulf Shores Blvd were damaged.
Here is a view from our balcony taken on Monday while the water was nice and very calm.
All other years that we have been at this place, the beach had a lot more folks. All of the condos being shut down had a significant effect on the number of people. Can't blame it on the water, which was about 82° by my guess.
Taken after the hurricane.
Troy - Very nice bench. One reason that I made my workbench just 36" x 18" is so I wouldn't have so much space to lose things.
Jerry - We have a few, not many, of those cattle guarded crossings nearby. It doesn't look like a road crosses at that one unless you drive a Hummer or Jeep. I cannot get a photo because I don't make field trips that far into other peoples property (or the railroads) at this stage in life. They don't stop the train from hitting cattle at 60 mph at the actual crossing, but they keep the cattle off the rest of the railroad right of way where ranchers cannot access to retrieve them.
Tom O - Continued good luck with your media withdrawal. Just don't leave us!
Guy -
a cow can tip-toe around it
Cows don't tip-toe anywhere.
Greg - Just a curious question if you happen to know the answer regarding the China Virus there in WI. I think that you have mentioned before of acquaintances who passed away from it. Were all of these people mask-wearers or not? If you know...
Chet - Always love your photos whether at the club or at home.
Patrick - Fortunately my wife's knee didn't give her any problems. We made a two day trip going there to see how it would hold up, and then she decided that a single long journey home was in order. She had problems with a blister on her foot; the result of buying a new pair of shoes the day before we left and not breaking them in!
Since both of our blood pressure meds contain diuretics, we have to stop and stretch out every 2-2 1/2 hours anyway at local convenience stores along the way. We already know where all of the clean ones are!
On the way home yesterday, I had to endure the usual "you're going too fast" statements from my wife which I ignore anyway. I never used cruise control on any trip before, but I decided to try it out on the way down, and then used it extensively on the way back once I got familiar with its operation. I normally set it at 9 mph over the limit, which meant I had it at 84 mph for much of the trip. Passed numerous highway troopers that didn't even give me a second look. At some point on IH49 coming north near Alexandria LA, we switched and my wife drove for about 45 minutes while I napped. After making a restroom stop, I took back over. She had been using the cruise control (she always does) during her stretch. So I got in and got back on the highway and hit "resume". Guess where she had it set? That's right, 84 mph!
Looking forward to getting back into the train shed today. Still have to unpack and do a few household chores first. Then I'll have to prepare for the trick or treaters tonight. I have a single mint candy from the hotel in Gulfport to give away. Seriously, we haven't had a visitor on Halloween night in over 44 years, 40 here and 4 at our former home.
Need to end this long-winded post for now and get busy. I'll be returning with more pictures later. I took 58 at the model railroad museum that I need to review and sort.
Everybody have a great day, an awesome weekend and Happy Halloween.