HOLED UP IN CONROE

One of the advantages of traveling with a full time rambler, like my partner Jim, is that we can stop anywhere. The solar panels keep pumping up the battery and life is good. When it rains, and days are cloudy, as they have been for many days, its time to pull into a park and hook up to electricity. The weather is still cold and cloudy. Ramblers tend to stay as close to good weather as possible, but weather is fickle. We pulled into a park and hooked up to electricity and here we stay for a few days, holed up in Conroe, Texas. Time to recharge the batteries, wash the windows, do some housekeeping, shopping and laundry. All those mundane, necessary chores while I look out at the dreary weather and think of the benefits of rain. Watching a movie, catching up on my reading and the coming spring flowers.

The woman above really got into her picture taking of a tub of spring tulips.
This was taken in the cascades, Washington state.
Tulips at Kautz Winery in Murphys, California
My neighbors pasture with baby blue eyes, Murphys.

Ocean City, Washington, Roady hanging over the boardwalk.

This salmon berry at Lake Quinault, Washington.

WASHINGTON BEACHES

Californians go to the beach to sun, swim and play. In Washington, few people swim. Beaches are for driving out, building a fire, roasting something tasty, picnicking, camping, riding horseback, dune buggies, motorcycles or kites. The kids bring shovels, buckets and molds for sand castles; Fishing poles dot the surf rather than swimmers. And kites, kites everywhere of every size. We must have seen 90-100 kites on a mile of beach at Ocean Shores. The dude in the picture harnessed to the kite shown. He can slide along just above the sand with the wind. He has a sophisticated steering aparatus. Dang, it looked like fun.
After visiting the Kite Museum last week in Long Beach with 1.700 kites, it reminded me that the International Kite Festival is held there each year. http://www.kitefestival.com

Put August 17-23 on your calendar for that event.
Beach towns also have schlocky store fronts with souveniers and good junk. And, always a kite store.