A Trip to the Speedway

     Being retired military has its advantages. This fall I was able to take advantage of an offer from the ITT folks at McConnell AFB in Wichita, KS. For a minimal fee, I was able to get a ticket to the NASCAR race at the Kansas Speedway. The price included admission, transportation via chartered bus to and from the Speedway, and lunch and snacks. It was worth the price to not have to drive and navigate the traffic myself!! I was able to also get tickets for family members and took my two granddaughters and son-in-law. This was their first time seeing the races live and I was a bit apprehensive as to how well it would be accepted. Turns out I didn't have anything to worry about. They all had a great time and, in fact, told me they wanted to do it again next year. It was a great day for the race and we all had a fantastic time.

     A few years ago, I had the opportunity to drive some laps at the Kansas Speedway thanks to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. The FedEx number 11 (professionally driven by Denny Hamlin) was the car I got to use. Since that time my granddaughter, Belle, has followed #11 and if you ask her her favorite car thats the one she says. So here was an opportunity for her to see it being driven by the pros. She had no real idea who Denny Hamlin was but knew that car number. We pointed him out during driver introductions and Belle said (while looking through the binoculars) "He's really cute!!" We got quite a laugh over that one.

Unloading the bus after arrival at the Speedway

A good time had by all!!

     My thanks to the folks at ITT at McConnell for providing us such a great experience. We had a fantastic time and it was well worth it!

The Next Chapter Begins

     As I said in the last blog entry, we are transitioning from a Full Time RVer to a Part Timer. First of all, we have decided to downsize from our 39' Tiffin motorhome to a new 2018 Unity Leisure Travel Van (Twin Bed or TB model). Here is a link to the LTV site.

     This was our workhorse and rolling home for the last three years. We put many thousands of miles on it and it was a great place to live in. A major drawback is that it is getting tougher to find a campsite big enough to fit into (especially when we have the Jeep Cherokee on the back as a tow vehicle). We can't even think about staying at a National Park campsite or many State parks. We have a book that lists campgrounds that are "Big Rig friendly" but even that must be taken with a grain of salt. The bigger rigs need a level pad in which to park and many campgrounds make that a challenge. I have been in sites where my hydraulic leveling jacks have lifted the front wheels off the ground and still not been level! It is also becoming less and less fun to drive it on America's highways. I could write pages on my observations regarding drivers in America nowadays compared to just a few years ago...but I won't. Suffice it to say, we are very fortunate that we have not been involved in any major collisions or suffered significant damage in the last few years. Four to six hours of driving used to be a breeze. Now I need to rest a day after the same four to six hour span.

     So, back in July (after much research), we ordered the Unity TB from Leisure Travel Vans. This is a very high quality rig and built with the same craftsmanship that we have come to love about our Tiffin motorhomes. They are made in Winkler, Manitoba, Canada, just over the border of eastern North Dakota. They are small and only run one shift, so a limited number of units are produced in a year. They say that they do this in order to maintain their quality and reputation for attention to detail. As such, it is hard to find a new one on a dealer's lot anywhere that isn't already spoken for. To order the one you want takes 6-9 months. So we expect to get ours sometime in mid to late February 2018. In the meantime, we worked an agreement with our dealer where we dropped our Tiffin off with them and they keep it on their lot until our new rig arrives. This allows us to get the maximum trade-in allowance but means that we are without a rolling home for the next few months (for the first time in almost 15 years!).

     So that leads us to the next step in the move to part time RVing. While still in Wisconsin, we got in touch with a real estate agent who agreed to help us in our search for a condo/townhome in the Northeast Houston area. As we drove southwards from Wisconsin, we worked back and forth looking at what there was to offer (that was still above water and free from flood damage). On several occasions, she used FaceTime on her phone and I was able to do a real time property viewing using her eyes and ears. It was GREAT!! She worked tirelessly and by the time we arrived back at The Preserve, we had put in an offer and been accepted. Within about 2 1/2 weeks we closed on the new townhouse. It is a 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathrooms, with all appliances included. It also has a detached two car garage. We now have a place to move the things that survived the flood and a place to store and secure the new things that we need/want to buy to make life comfortable.

Nice living room with two ceiling fans

Small but workable kitchen

Master bedroom has a nice sitting nook in the corner

Panoramic view of the second bedroom

     After getting the RV property to a stable condition (dried out, mold treated, and insulated) we turned our attentions to the townhouse. At first, all we had was a mattress on the floor of the master bedroom,  a TV in the living room (just the TV no cable or satellite), and two camp chairs to sit in. Over the next several days we have furnished the living room, bought a nice platform bed for the master bedroom, and bought a nice kitchen table with 4 chairs. One of the sad losses from the flood was Barb's brand new embroidery machine, purchased new after the 2016 flood destroyed the old one. We have since worked a deal with the store where we bought that machine and will be going to Muscle Shoals, AL to pick up a different model within the next couple of weeks. We locked up the townhouse and came north to Kansas to visit with family and over the next few weeks will make a circuit that includes Kansas, Kentucky, Alabama, and Arkansas then back to Kansas for Thanksgiving. So, even without a motorhome we are still traveling out and about the country and enjoying things. Back to Texas in December then out to Arizona to pick up the new rig when it comes in early 2018. Our 2018 travel plans are still in the works and somewhat dependent on what we accomplish in restorations and how much it costs. We're still trying to get used to what it means to be Part Time RVers.

Hurricane Harvey

     On August 24-25, the monster storm named Harvey made landfall near Port Aransas, TX. The beast moved very slowly and hung around dumping unbelievable rainfall amounts on the Texas Gulf Coast and the Houston area. Those who are familiar with entries in this blog know that we have an RV property where we stay during the winter months near the Houston area. We were in Wisconsin and could only sit and watch the podcasts from the KHOU news station. We were in contact with management and friends who were still at the RV property and could do nothing as the waters began to rise as a result of unprecedented releases from the dam at Lake Livingston. Massive quantities of rain fell and flooding was the result.

The Casita. The grill on the outdoor kitchen is in the background

The grill on the left, the new shed on the right

     We cut our stay at Beantown Campground short and made our way south to survey the damage and assess what our next step was to be. Ironically, we had recently made the decision that we were going to come off the road as "Full Time RVers" and downsize our RV. We had also begun the process to order and set up a Park Model on our RV pad. This Park Model was a "tiny home" (399 sq. ft.) and would take the place of the large motorhome we currently live in. We would trade that motorhome in on a smaller, more compact rig that we could use for shorter duration trips to interesting destinations. Thus our place at The Preserve would become more of a home base and less of a storage and temporary stopping point. Hurricane Harvey caused us to seriously reconsider our decision and make some new choices. We're still going to go to part time RVing, we're still downsizing the rig, but instead of the Park Model we will be buying a Townhouse in an area of Houston that did not see flooding during this catastrophe.

     We only had the pictures above to go on and could only imagine the damage until we arrived on site. The plant supplying water to the property was destroyed during the flood so no running water was available on our site. Luckily the Property Owners Association (POA) had water so we could fill water containers to use for cleaning. They also supplied bottled water for cooking and drinking uses.

Casita A/C compressor. High water line was just below the big breaker box on the left

     Upon arrival we surveyed the property and the high water line looked to be about 53" inside the buildings!! The A/C units had floated off of their pads and were on their sides. A quick check by our A/C tech showed both were in working condition!! This made things a little more bearable as the temps and humidity were both in the 90's! Unfortunately, within a couple of days the Spa's unit went out and we had to have a new one installed.

     Once inside the Casita, the damage was readily apparent. The cabinets that we installed last year had "melted", collapsing under their own weight. Hard to see in the photo, but the TV has a scummy waterline about midway up the screen. In the bottom picture, the lower picture on the wall has a white border that has yellowed with the water. What is not apparent in this, or any photo, is the "aroma" of wet, soggy stuff.

     Inside the Spa didn't fare much better. The full size stacked washer/dryer sitting in the corner was toast. We opened the door of the dryer (the one on top) and there was still flood water in the drum!!!

Remember the grill in the flood pictures above? That's it above the soggy couch on the right side of this pic.

     So the process began whereby we hauled out the wet, soggy, ruined belongings and stacked them up outside. We then bought a Bagster at Home Depot. This is a heavy duty bag of sorts that you can fill with construction and household debris. Waste Management then will come by and pick it up and haul it off. We decided to buy a small 5x8 utility trailer and put the Bagster in it like a liner. We then filled it, tarped and tied it down, then hauled it to the landfill ourselves. Much less expensive and a good excuse to get into the air conditioning to cool off.

     Next came the demolition of the wall boards. The Hardyboard plank siding we used was in pretty good shape but the insulation was nothing but a sponge. We ripped the walls off up to 8' and removed the insulation. We also had to trash the floor as it wouldn't dry out and the adhesive that held the planks together was falling apart. Once everything was exposed, we gave it a good cleaning and followed it up with a Clorox bath. It was then left to sit for several days to dry out. Our Pest Control guy had a solution which is used in new construction that is Borax based and soaks into the wood. This stuff kills termites and any other wood eating insect. It has a side benefit in that it inhibits the formation of mold! Once the interior was dried out, we had him come treat both buildings.

     We had the AC guy install the new compressors but this time we had them mounted on the wall ABOVE the high water line. Odds are we won't see a flood of this magnitude again in our lifetime but why take chances.

     Then off to Home Depot for a little insulation. Need to do something to keep from air conditioning all of southeast Texas!!

     So the insulation was placed in the walls and just lightly tacked in. That is where it sits now. We have some plans for the future rebuild, but we are going to give it some time so our bank account can recover somewhat.

     On the bright side, while we lost a good deal of stuff, it was only just that... stuff. All of it can be replaced and the important/irreplacable things we had with us. We had a home to live in (the motorhome) and were not like many others who lost everything. While yes, it's an expensive venture, we will rebuild but will do it mindful of the probability of future flooding. We have some ideas that will minimize damages and make repair and recovery easier. It will not be as fancy as before, it will be more like a rustic "cabin in the woods". We will not use it for a semi permanent abode but more for a short getaway retreat. We now are the proud owners of a Townhouse where we will keep a majority of our possessions, trinkets, and toys safe and dry. Besides, I need something to keep me busy over the winter right !?!?

Other Things to Do and See in Door County

     As our summer in Wisconsin winds down, we took the time to see some more sights in the Peninsula. Of course, we stopped in at Al Johnson's to see how the goats were enjoying the summer. Looks like its been a good one for them!

     In Sturgeon Bay there is one of three Maritime Museum locations. Previously unknown to me, Sturgeon Bay has a rich and storied history as a center for ship building. The museums celebrate this past and have some restored vessels that are nifty to tour. 

     One of many lighthouses on the peninsula, Eagle Bluff is picturesque and located in Peninsula State Park near the town of Ephraim. This lighthouse was active from 1868 through 1926. The current lighthouse is decorated with some of the original keeper's furnishings and many period antiques. Tours are offered by a docent dressed in a period keeper's uniform.

     Shawn and Shelby came up for a visit in early September. One of our adventures was taking the ferry to Washington Island, then renting bicycles and riding around to visit the sites.

     We also went out to Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point. This stretch of beach features rocks tumbled and shaped from centuries of Lake Michigan wave action. A popular activity is to build the towers of hoodoos. As you pass by one, you find an appropriate stone and add to the tower. If it remains standing, you will have good luck in the future. Should it fall, you have now incurred the wrath of some supernatural spirit and bad luck will follow.

     One of the last things we did was to sample an authentic Fish Boil. I'd never heard of it, and frankly eating boiled fish didn't sound particularly appetizing. But it is seen as a "Must Do" on the peninsula so we went to see what it was all about. They start with freshly caught whitefish. Add to that baby red potatoes and sweet boiling onions. About a pound of salt is added to the mixture along with water and put into a kettle. The fire is built beneath the kettle and the mixture is brought to a rolling boil.

A Fine Kettle of Fish

     A byproduct of this process is the fish oil that floats heavily on the surface of the water. This oil is not tasty and is removed in a most unique way. The Boil Master stokes the fire under the kettle and rings a bell to announce the coming event. When everyone is ready, he tosses a fuel on the fire causing it to flare up and the boiling liquid to overflow the kettle. Thus the oils are removed, in a most impressive Boil Over.

     Above the Boil Master is getting ready for the Boil Over.

The Boil Over!! Watch your eyebrows!

The contents are drained and sent to the kitchen...

...and the result is a very tasty fish meal.

Thumbs up from the dining public.

The Ridges

Light in the Upper Range light.
(see explanation below)

     Located in Baileys Harbor, just a short drive from our doorstep, is The Ridges Sanctuary. They recently moved into a new building that is spacious and charming. The Sanctuary is Wisconsin's first land trust and was founded in 1937 to conserve an original 40 acre parcel. Today it protects 1,600 acres of one of the most biblically diverse ecosystems in the state. What makes this area unique is the source of its namesake, the Ridges. Lake Michigan has changed its shoreline over the last 1,400 years. As the winds blow, deposits of sand are blown in and form a dune. Over time this dune grows and becomes vegetated with grasses then trees. As the shoreline changes, another dune grows and the space between the dunes, called a swale, becomes a marshy grassland. Years have passed and there are at least 7 distinct dunes running parallel to today's existing shoreline. The Sanctuary has built an extensive network of boardwalks and trails that you can walk through and see the diversity of plants and wildlife in this area.

     Above is looking down Sandy Swale, bordered by two forested dunes.

     Moss covered downed trees line the dunes floor.

Mini Mushroom inside a rotted stump

     Along the walk, I saw something that I had never seen before. As part of the property, there is a twin lighthouse setup called Range Lights. What makes these unique is the purpose and setup. Imagine this, leading into Baileys Harbor there is a narrow shipping channel that can accommodate ships with deeper drafts. Four miles from the harbor this channel is not marked except on maritime maps. So, as a navigational aid, these two range lights were built in 1868. The Upper Range light is located farther inland and sits 17 feet taller than the Lower Range light. The Upper Range light is White, the Lower light is Red. Now imagine you are coming into Baileys Harbor. You point towards the beacons and line up the lights... White one on top, Red one on bottom and both in line with each other. You see that, you are lined up with the deepest shipping channel and can confidently sail on into the harbor! Impressive! This uses lighthouse technology but isn't really a lighthouse. The Sanctuary folks are responsible to keep the lines of sight clear and in good condition as this is still an active navigational aid. They are working on restoring the Upper Range Light house and offer tours daily.

Upper Range light with Keepers quarters. Light is in the belfry .

View from the Upper light looking towards the Lower light and the Bay.
(neat effect of the light reflecting off the window)

Lower Light looking towards Upper Light
(can barely see the red light in the tower)

Upper Light looking towards the Bay