Vol 14 No 7 September 29, 2010

On 31 August in Cincinnati, Ohio we loaded an oversize shipment - a building 10 ft wide. Soon after we got on the highway, the side door of the building came open, so Jim stopped and closed it. Got to highway speed and the door opened again. Even though it was padlocked on the outside, the lock was not engaged inside. Jim locked it properly and we got on down the highway. Jim called the shipper to let them know that the door had come open and the handle had dented the side of the building. Because we were only 60 miles (100 kms) away, we had to go back so it could be repaired!!

The next morning we found out that it would take a week to replace the dented panel, so it was unloaded.

That afternoon 1 Sept we loaded a fuel tanker truck at Fort Atterbury, Indiana. Delivered that at Fort Riley, Kansas the next day.

Spent the afternoon and night near there at a truck stop near a small shopping centre and a Freddy’s Frozen Custard Restaurant across the street!!

Wikipedia: Frozen custard is a dessert similar to ice cream, made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. One claim traces the invention of the term frozen custard to Coney Island, NY in 1919. However, recipes for custard based ices existed before then, especially in France In some areas of the United States, "frozen custard" or "custard" has become a synonym for soft serve.

Using a process called overrun, air is blended into the mixture of ingredients until its volume increases by approximately 20%. By comparison, ice cream may have an overrun as large as 100%, meaning half of the final product is composed of air. The high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk gives frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother consistency than ice cream.

Another difference between commercially produced frozen custard and commercial ice cream is the way the custard is frozen. The mix enters a refrigerated tube and, as it freezes, blades scrape the product cream off the walls. The now frozen custard is discharged directly into containers from which it can be served. The speed with which the product leaves the tube minimizes the amount of air in the product but more importantly ensures that the ice crystals formed are very small.

Frozen custard is usually prepared fresh at the place of sale, rather than stored; however, it is occasionally available in supermarkets or by mail order. It is very tasty!!! Similar to home made ice cream.

(Had to put the truck heater on this morning!!! A little nip in the air.) Friday we loaded in Kansas City, Missouri. A really unusual place!! Geospace Center is inside a mountain! Drove through an opening, then wound around underground. Feeling like a rig really should NOT be here!

Internet: Around the USA you'll find deep vaults that have been carved out of the earth. Some were former mines where the resources have dried up. Here you'll find secure storage facilities. Some for private individuals, works of art, government files, warehouses, businesses and more.

In the greater Kansas City area, an estimated 20 million square feet of business and industrial space lies below the ground, that accounts for over 10 percent of the business and industrial space in the area. We have not seen or heard of this!

When mining began in the area in the late 1800's, limestone was mainly quarried. But starting in the 1950's, mining began to take place with an aim to leaving usable subterranean space behind. Tunneling into the hills and bluffs in the area, miners carefully extracted stone in a grid-shaped pattern, leaving behind large rooms with massive, evenly spaced pillars holding up the "roof" of the mine.

Costs for converting such spaces are low - the process mainly involves painting, pouring a concrete floor, wiring, and putting up a few walls. Consequently, leasing costs are also low -- in some cases, half of what above-ground space would lease for. Costs for insurance, taxes, heating and cooling, and security are also less underground.

A disadvantage we found - no cellular phone signal or wireless internet signal!!

We loaded at Aero Transportation Services, they manufacture doors for railroad car bins. Our shipment of doors were going to Eagle Pass, Texas.

It was the Labor Day long weekend (Monday the holiday), we had three and a half days to go 1000 miles (1600 kms), so we made plans for our two days off!! Getting the motorbike off the truck and go exploring!

There was a small truckstop in Uvalde, Texas and we parked there for three nights.

Uvalde is the southern limit of the Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1856, the railroad arrived in 1881 and the town became a cattle shipping point. It has an Opera House, a resident became Vice President under President Roosevelt (John Nance Garner). Also WWII pilot training at Garner Field and there is an Aviation Museum.

BUT the most impressive and important fact I discovered is that actor Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde!!!!!

When we explored the northern part of the Texas Hill Country in July, I didn’t find out until after our travels that we missed Luckenbach, Texas by only a few miles!! And it is 110 miles (180 kms) north of Uvalde.

Sunday morning we left Uvalde and headed north via several ranch roads. First stop was the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum, four miles north of Vanderpool. It is a small museum - a private collection. About 50 beautifully restored machines dating from 1910, mostly British and USA made.

A great café! One half of the owners, Allan is Australian - from Adelaide. We didn’t meet him during our visit, but I chatted to his wife, Debbie. They open the Museum March through November, then go to Australia for the USA winter! Aussie pies are on the menu and they are homemade and authentic and awesome! Debbie would also (on request) make a “The Lot” burger with a slice of beetroot! I wanted to chat to her all afternoon, but we had to keep moving.

The next part of the ride was beautiful and we followed the Guadalupe River. Beautiful area!

Website: The upper river, in the Texas Hill Country is a smaller, faster stream with limestone banks and shaded by pecan and bald cypress trees. The upper Guadalupe is popular as a tubing destination where recreational users often float down the river on inflated tyre inner tubes during the spring and summer months.

We went through Fredricksburg - totally crowded with long weekend activities.

Luckenbach is about 10 miles (16 kms) south east of Fredricksburg. There was a country music festival on all weekend - people camped out and $35 per day to attend. We wanted to look at the town and take a few photos, so were allowed in free until the live acts started.

Brochure: Luckenbach was established as a trading post in 1849. It consists of a Post Office/General Store, Dance Hall, and Beer Joint on 10 acres surrounded by huge oak trees and two creeks. Luckenbach became a favourite of Texas entertainers after the late folk humorist, Hondo Crouch bought the place in 1970. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings brought Luckenbach to its ultimate worldwide fame with their hit song “Luckenbach Texas” Number 1 on the country charts for six weeks.

Dances are held usually on Saturday nights, and is a venue for other events, festivals and celebrations throughout the year.

The place was lively when we were there. We bought a few souvenirs, and had a beer, and left soon after the music started. Then stopped a little further down the road at a biker haunt in Sisterdale.

The next stop was Bandera.

Wikipedia. Bandera calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World", but also has a large presence in biker culture.

On Sunday mornings, Bandera is a popular destination for motorcyclists from San Antonio, known as the Bandera Breakfast Run.

Internet: Bandera became "Cowboy Capital of the World" in part because of its numerous Dude Ranches. The area became popular with San Antonians wanting to escape the city's summer heat - and in the 1920s and 1930s - with increased car ownership (Bandera never had a railroad) "Dude Ranches" started appearing. Several of the oldest are still in business today.

Bandera is situated along the banks of the Medina River. The name, according to legend, was either named after a Spanish Officer named Bandera or after a large flag (bandera) that marked the Bandera Pass - the agreed upon boundary that kept the Natives separated from the Spanish settlers.

We overshot Main Street and turned into 11th Street and found the 11th Street Cowboy Bar - The Biggest Little Bar in Texas! Huge Labor Day party going on - live bands and the Harleys & Horses Market Place!!

When we turned the corner we saw several horses tied outside a saloon, then rows of motorcycles - we HAD to stop! Great music happening and not too crowded, we easily found a table in the shade. We stayed for a couple of drinks and went looking for food.

We went out through the swinging saloon doors and a ‘cowboy’ I had noticed earlier was heading out as well and offered to take our photo! And I had to have one taken with him!

The reason I had noticed him earlier was because he was wearing a cowboy hat, western shirt, cowboy boots and shorts!!!

“Come with me!“ We went with him through back yards, an alley and an opening in a fence, past a man selling photographs from the back of his ‘pick up truck’, we were advised that he was the 1969 World Bull Riding Champion and was selling some of his memorabilia (I forget his name). We had a knowledgeable guide! He wanted to take us to the best honky tonk in Bandera. Following a stranger in a (almost) border town - I think that is high on the list of “Things NOT To Do While Travelling“! But, if he is wearing cowboy boots and shorts - he’s probably harmless! He took us to a building with no name, through a door with no name, into a very dark staircase going below street level. It was absolutely packed with people! A live band, but even if we wanted to, I doubt we could have squeezed in! It was extremely dark!!! The photo was taken by me following our cowboy down the stairs into the 'hidden' bar/dance hall.

Even though our ‘guide’ wanted us to stay, we said that we still had to find somewhere to eat, so he suggested OST across the street.

OST - Old Spanish Trail Restaurant was a good choice, we both had excellent Tex-Mex food!

Lots of interesting décor - a John Wayne Room filled with photos and stuff. The obvious Texan flower vase - old cowboy boots! I liked the 1800’s bar and the bar stools were horse saddles! Complete with saddle blankets and stirrups!

It was late when we left Bandera, and we zipped back to Uvalde. Were a bit concerned about the nocturnal creatures that can become road kill - there was a lot of fresh food on the road when we started out that morning. Huge buzzards too!! Turkey size and staying on the road until the very last minute. Jim learned to slow way down when he saw them - mostly large groups of 20 or more! Luckily no deer, raccoons, armadillos, or skunks to be seen on our way back!

Monday we zig zagged through the Hill Country again, there was lots more to see! Started north along the western edge if the Edwards Plateau Region following the Nueces River. Low flat shrub desert then up into the hills. All the rivers in the area are popular for rafting, tubing and swimming and they are mostly spring fed.

Website: Southwest Paddler - Nueces River: The spring-fed, crystal clear water flows through limestone bluffs, and is one of the most scenic river trips in Texas. The limestone bluffs have worked with Mother Nature to carve small canyons through which the river winds on its way downstream. There are many spring-fed creeks that join the Nueces in this section to maintain a steady flow, albeit somewhat slow much of the time.

The roads had mostly no traffic, though motorcycle traffic increased later in the day. One road was particularly awesome - like a roller coaster, up steep hills then straight down the other side and three or four small hills, then another steep climb. Reaching the crest then going down the other side leaving your stomach still in the air! Through left and right sweepers, then numerous switchbacks - we had fun!

This area has Exotic Animal ranches. Not sure if they were all for Exotic Animal Hunts or some are collectors of exotic animals. I saw two giraffe and several camels, I doubt they were for shooting???? Saw many different breeds of deer, elk, etc. (animals I could not name…?) People pay a lot of money to kill a zebra in Texas, and many other beautiful animals.

I suppose suppose if someone wants to do it, it is cheaper than going to Africa or India and maybe better controlled?

In the town of Leakey we found the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop and Bent Rim Café. There is a Wall of Shame of motorcycle parts that didn’t quite survive the Twisted Sisters. We found out that the Three Twisted Sisters are Roads 335 336 and 337. These are much better than Deals Gap and the Dragons Back! (In my opinion!!) Jim can proudly wear his new t-shirt: I Did Three Twisted Sisters.

There are Three Sisters Rally’s in Spring (April) and Fall (November) each year.

Website: Nestled in the heart of the majestic Texas Hill Country are three county roads (335,336,and 337) that bikers affectionately named “The Three Sisters”. They are challenging, tricky, and a little twisted. You'll have to ride all three to find out which one is your favorite....... The Three Sisters or 'Twisted Sisters' keep bikers coming back almost every week of the year.

A movie star sighting -“Tow Mater” from Cars hanging out in Frio Canyon!

(Mater is adorable, but I would rather have seen Matthew McConaughey…)

I didn’t realize the Texas Hill Country was below Interstate 10 as well as the area above and west of Interstate 35 that we travelled in July. The area above is more assessable to the large metropolitan area of Austin to San Antonio. Much more traffic, artsy, crafty, wineries and roads were not nearly as exciting as the southern part.

We got back to Uvalde mid afternoon. Had a few things to do to the truck and get some groceries. We enjoy going to grocery stores near the Mexican border!! We spent a lot of time in the spice and hot sauce aisles!! We can only carry a couple of bags on the motorbike - we made two trips to the supermarket!! We had our fill of Tex-Mex food as well!!

The Bottle 'n Bag shop I thought was funny and the other sign has “Liquor” then “GUNS” underneath!! They go together like peas and carrots!

We had no TV signal in the truck the whole weekend, but when we had dinner Monday night we saw the weather report and learned of Tropical Storm Hermine making landfall near the Texas/Mexico border that night. At least the weekend weather had been nice!

We delivered in Eagle Pass Tuesday morning to Trinity Freight Car Inc.

Website: Trinity North American Freight Car, Inc. manufactures a full line of freight railcars, including box cars, gondolas, intermodal cars, covered and open hoppers, and auto carriers. Trinity Tank Car, Inc. produces a full line of tank cars that transport liquefied and pressurized commodities. Both companies have manufacturing facilities in Mexico as well as the United States. Our lids transferred from our trailer to one of theirs as they were Mexico bound!

Before lunch we got to San Antonio just as Tropical Storm Hermine was its most fierce!

Internet Sept 7: The storm’s sustained winds dropped to 60 mph from near hurricane-force after it crossed the coast about 40 miles south of Brownsville late yesterday. It may bring as much as 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain from the middle Texas coast northward through central Texas, with isolated areas getting as much as a 10 inches.

It was a bit nervous sitting in a truck being rocked by wind and rain - while in a fiberglass pipe yard!!! Visibility was about 100 yards!

It eased while we got loaded, but more bands of high wind and heavy rain continued for several hours. Two detours in San Antonio because parts of the highway were underwater. Many accidents and slow traffic along the way. We had left the area before the next deluge and flooding which caused death and devastation.

Delivered Wednesday morning near Delhi, Louisiana, the fiberglass pipe was for the gas fields there.

Wikipedia: In the 1940s, Delhi was the center of a large natural gas boom, several functioning gas fields still surround the town.

Deadheaded 165 miles (265 kms) to Laurel, Mississippi and loaded transformers going to Detroit, Michigan.

Delivered Friday morning in Detroit and loaded trench equipment near Lansing, Michigan going to Orlando, Florida.

We got to Daytona Beach Sunday morning. Jim and Jimmy watched the first Buffalo Bills football game of this season at a sports bar.

A stone had hit the windscreen a few days earlier and developed into a small crack. When we got in the truck Monday morning to deliver in Orlando, it had cracked from top to bottom on the driver’s side.

Monday night, Dave and Linda (from Sunshine Coast, Queensland) spent the night with us. They arrived in Los Angeles on 3 September, and flew to Washington, DC on 5 September. Rented a car there and had been driving south along the coast. We all went to Crabby Joe’s on the Sunglow Pier for dinner.

The next morning was breakfast at the International House Of Pancakes (IHOP). New on the menu was Cheesecake Pancakes: pieces of cheesecake mixed with the pancake batter (very yummy!) Linda had Chocolate Chocolate Pancakes: chocolate chips mixed with chocolate batter… heaps of whipped cream and more chocolate chips!

After leaving Daytona Beach, Dave and Linda continued south the next day to Key West.

Jim and I had a week to get things done: replace the windscreen, the truck and trailer needed tyres - four for the trailer and two for the prime mover. We had to replace the front door at the house and that needed a building permit! The bassa needed a rear tyre.

Friday night we met Ron and Gina and Tim and Helena Hewitt at Peanuts in New Smyrna Beach for dinner. Saturday morning we met Ron and Gina for breakfast, then went for a bike ride to a flea market.

Sunday we left on the motorbike for Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida and met up with Dave and Linda mid-afternoon. We got a motel for three nights in Tampa. That night we caught a taxi to Ybor City for dinner and a Latin experience.

Tampa's Ybor City, began its intriguing history when cigar makers settled here after a disastrous fire that drove the industry north from Key West. Today it is a National Historic Landmark District lined with old buildings and historic sites. Today's Ybor is a lively and popular shopping, dining and entertainment district featuring everything from museums to flamenco dancing and of course, plenty of cigars. The area really comes alive when the sun sets with a bevy of nightlife options.

We had an excellent dinner at Mema’s Alaskan Taco.

Website: Our signature taco - cooking the meat and shell together creates a unique flavor and texture - crispy, not hard. Try your Alaskan Taco TACO-RITO style! We wrap any Alaskan Taco with a soft flour tortilla and Mema’s Famous Refried Black Beans. An amazing double-decker.

The rest of the evening we spent walking up and down the streets and stopped at a couple of bars. The favourite was The Green Iguana. We got a taxi back to the motel about 11pm.

Monday was the tour of the Yuengling Brewery.

The four of us toured the original brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania two years ago “America‘s Oldest Brewery“. Also the oldest continually owned by one family - Family owned and operated since 1829. The sixth generation now and all girls, but they plan on continuing the family business for further generations.

Yuengling arrived in Tampa Bay not long ago as an intriguing attraction where you can tour a brewery in action. At the end of the tour comes the best part: a little sampling of the product so laboriously created. Yuengling Biergarten and a gift shop devoted to things that go hop.

Talking to the workers at Yuengling Brewery they suggested lunch at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grille in Clearwater. We are all for doing what the locals do! It was very nice seafood and on the beach.

Then we visited a Tropical Winery in St Petersburg - Florida Orange Groves Winery.

Website: This is a family owned business that had it's beginnings in shipping and packing fresh citrus in the early 1970's. The location eventually grew to include retail sales of fresh squeezed juice and a gift shop. The winery is open for tasting.

We had a fun time there - tasting several of their wines. There a a lot of them made from all kinds of fruit juice other than grape and have been awarded many medals. Mango Mamma. Key Limon, Florida Sunset Pineapple, Hot Sun (tomato) and lots more. All interesting and delicious - about 40 kinds including champagnes. Also smoothie wine mixes. I bought a bottle of Watermelon wine! Their gift shop was extensive and lots of wine accessories and décor.

The next day, 21 September, we spent the day in Tarpon Springs.

Internet: The region, with a series of bayous feeding into the Gulf of Mexico, first attracted attention as a place for winter homes about 1876. Some of the newly arrived visitors spotted tarpon jumping out of the waters and so named the location Tarpon Springs.

Note: Tarpon are considered one of the great saltwater game fish. They are prized not only because of their great size but also because of the fight that they put up and their spectacular leaping ability. Tarpon are bony fish and their meat is not desirable so most are released after they are caught.

Tourist Sign: The Gulf waters off west coast of Florida comprise one of the few areas of the world where the species of natural sponges suitable for commercial use are found. The natural sponge industry in Tarpon Springs dates from about 1890 where John K Cheyney launched his first sponge fishing boat. Sponges were retrieved by hooking until the technique of diving for sponges was introduced in 1905 by John Cocoris a recent immigrant from Greece, where the practice of sponge diving was common. Within a few years many Greeks had arrived in the area to work in the sponging industry.

Note: Tarpon Springs is notable for having the highest percentage of Greek-Americans of any city in the USA.

They set up enticing restaurants, pastry shops, and markets giving the area a Mediterranean mystique.

When we arrived we booked a cruise for the afternoon. Then checked out Sponge-o-rama!

Website: Visit the World Famous Sponge-o-rama Museum and learn about the rich history of

Tarpon Springs, the Sponge Docks, and the Sponge Industry. Find out just what a sponge is and where they come from while relaxing in our air conditioned movie theater. A perfect introduction to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. After the movie you can enjoy shopping in our sponge and gift shop. Pick up all of those must have unique Florida and Greek gifts and souvenirs.

Founded in 1968, Sponge-o-rama's sponge factory boast the Worlds largest selection of natural sea sponges.

The streets held many eating establishments - we were ready for coffee and a pastry, but so many to choose from!!

Did more wandering and shopping, then went to Rusty Bellies for a snack and refreshments. Saw dolphins playing in the water off the deck.

After lunch was the sightseeing cruise.

Brochure: Experience Florida's natural beauty while learning about Tarpon Springs' rich cultural history. Our captain has been navigating these waters for over 30 years and will narrating the tour. Cruise with us out to the Gulf of Mexico where we will beach the boat in the Anclote State Preserve. Join us as we travel down the Anclote River and out to the Gulf of Mexico in search of dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife. Enjoy viewing the Historic

Anclote Lighthouse, and other Tarpon Springs historic sites, as well as some of the best views that nature has to offer. (We only saw dolphins on the cruise!)

Anclote Island Reserve is a sandbar where beautiful seashells wash up from the Gulf of Mexico. We had a half hour there to leave the boat and go shell hunting. Jim wandered off in a different direction and instead of shells he picked up a pair of Mauritius Costa Del Mar sunglasses with a strap. They are in perfect condition and I checked online later - they are $170 new!

Had an very nice dinner at a Mexican Restaurant La Hacienda. Then back to the motel.

Wednesday we went north - took our time getting to Ocala in the afternoon.

Thursday we spent five hours at Silver Springs.

Website: Considered one of Florida’s premier natural attractions. Silver Springs is the site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world, producing nearly 550 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily. Silver Springs forms the headwaters of the Silver River.

Silver Springs is where the glass bottom boat was invented in 1878. Early on, people in the area sought to share their extraordinarily clear springs with visitors, and this led to the creation of the glass-bottom boats that are now common throughout Florida. The water here is 99.8% percent pure, so you can literally see for hundreds of feet underwater, and from above.

There are seven major spring formations coming out of the headwaters here. Each has a distinct feel. The tours on the glass bottom boats offer passengers an unparalleled view.

We got there when it opened at 10am and it is ‘off-season’, so not at all crowded. The glass bottom boat ride was first - very entertaining and informative.

There is lots to see and do in the park, and we got through most of it in five hours!

For a tourist attraction operating for over 125 years, with no IMAX, virtual reality rides, or high tech stuff - it is still very popular with all ages. Jim and I were here ten years ago for a concert, and saw some of the animals and glass bottom boat tour, but have always wanted to re-visit!

There are many walkways that take visitors

around to the giraffes (Linda fed them!), a Jeep ride through the surrounding forest where we saw rhesus monkeys! Several troops of Rhesus monkeys live in the area along the Silver River and St Johns. The monkeys' introduction to Florida is unclear; they were reportedly brought to Florida either to serve in backdrop scenes of Tarzan movies filmed around the Silver River in the 1930s, or to lend an air of authenticity to "jungle cruises", provided by an enterprising boat operator around the same time.

They are small and cute but have become aggressive especially when they have young. The jeep driver had a big stick he waved at them and said he could not stop the vehicle for safety reasons.

The petting zoo had emus, watched the Kodiak bear for a while - magnificent! Also, a Florida black bear and cougars, flamingoes, all sorts of tropical birds, tortoises, turtles, a snapping turtle (yikes), iguanas and lots of alligators including two white ones.

We watched the alligator feeding - which was a bit wild.

Silver Springs cinematic history is extensive - many movies have been filmed in part at Silver Springs - the Tarzan TV shows and movies, the Creature From The Black Lagoon, several James Bond movies, The Yearling, (Over 90 movies I think we were told.)

The park was being decorated for Halloween - each weekend in October is Fright Night.- the displays were massive. Looked like a fun and scary trip!

This “Lucky Palm” grows beside the Silver River, we all touched it for good luck. We could not stand in the circle because the boardwalk was being repaired there and it was cordoned off. (I think this is a quirk of nature, because I could not find any mention of circle palms or lucky palms on the internet.)

Got back to Daytona Beach Thursday afternoon after one quick refreshment stop in Astor at Blackwater Inn. Linda and I had Key Lime Pie and it was very good!

Friday was Linda’s birthday - she and I went to IHOP for breakfast! Then lots of shopping and dinner at a Mexican restaurant - Bonita Maria‘s. Bought a whole Key Lime Pie and Linda and I took three 'sittings' to finish it off! Also Linda bought a bottle of Key Limon tropical wine which went nicely with it!

Jim and Jimmy installed the new front door - that took most of Saturday. Dave and Linda went to St Augustine Outlets.

That night we went to La Fiesta for dinner - more excellent Mexican food!

Sunday morning was breakfast at IHOP - again!! There is an IHOP restaurant two blocks from us, very handy and we walk… (Two blocks is NOT enough to walk off all the food consumed!)

Dave and Linda left at lunch time. Their flight to Los Angeles was early Monday morning out of Orlando and more convenient to get a motel near the airport.

Jim and I packed up and were in the truck and rolling at 6pm Sunday afternoon. We only had a two hour drive, but much easier not having to deal with Jacksonville’s Monday morning peak hour traffic and we had an 8am appointment in St Mary’s, Georgia.

Loaded a shipping container and equipment for the Naval Base in Kittery, Maine.