Happy New Year! We’re all starting the year with a clean slate, so forget those niggling little problems you’ve been dwelling on, get rid of that old baggage you’ve been carrying around, and concentrate on the good things in your life. I hope that 2009 holds much love, happiness, and good health for you and yours.
Good news for anybody looking for a way to make money on the road. My pal Jaimie Hall Bruzenak, author of the excellent workamping book Support Your RV Lifestyle, has teamed up with Workamper News’ Workamper University to present an online course titled How to Get Your First Workamping Job. Jaimie is a real pro when it comes to working on the road, and her book is the best I’ve ever read on the subject, so I know she has a lot of important knowledge to share with you. For more information on this great new program, visit http://www.workamper.com/university/workamper101/
The other day blog readers Jim and Nancy Tidball came by to look at my kayak, and Jim wanted to take it for a test paddle. So we drove the mile or so to the boat launch at Conn Brown Harbor to put the kayak in the water. The concrete ramp was very slippery, and Miss Terry managed to slip and dunked herself in the water from about the chest down.
Fortunately, the only thing bruised was her ego, and being a good sport, Terry had a laugh at herself. But in the process, her cell phone got soaked and died. Like many RVers, we use Verizon’s Nationwide One Rate plan for our cell phone service, and we can upgrade our telephones every two years. Terry was actually past due for her upgrade, so yesterday we drove to Corpus Christi and picked up a new phone.
We also stopped at Jerry B’s Kayak Sales and Rental again, and I have pretty much decided to go with the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 to replace my Ocean Kayak Prowler Angler, once I get it sold. I like the folks at Jerry B’s so much that I told Terry if I happen to sell my boat while we’re in Mission, I’d drive back in the van to buy the new boat from them.
We don’t like to be out on New Year’s Eve, with all of the people partying and then getting behind a steering wheel, so on our way back, we stopped for an early dinner at Fins Grill in Port Aransas, which was a bit spendy, but very good. The view out the restaurant’s huge waterfront windows was nice, and we enjoyed watching several huge ocean going freighters coming into port and going out to sea.
I’m not sure why there was so much commercial ship traffic, but I don’t think I’ve ever
seen so many ships passing through in such a short period of time while we’ve been here. We counted five or six during our meal, and once we boarded the ferry to cross over to the mainland, the bulk carrier Lucas Oldendorff crossed in front of us and put out to sea. I sure wouldn’t have wanted to get too close to one of these floating behemoths when I was in my kayak!
If the weather cooperates, Terry and I will reluctantly leave Aransas Pass, Texas today and drive about 200 miles to Mission, where we will be spending a week or so. We have had a wonderful time here on the Texas Gulf Coast, and we know that we will be returning to this special place many times in the future. We hope to be able to enjoy the fulltime RV lifestyle for many, many more years. But if we had to hang up the keys today, the Rockport/Fulton and Aransas Pass area would be very high on our list of places to settle down.
Thought For The Day – Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had, and what you’ve learned from them, than with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Good morning Nick and Terry……….HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Looks like we might be the first to comment on your new blog in 2009!! (-:
We are excited to hear you are headed this way. Can’t wait to see you both. Have a safe trip and let us know when you get to town.
Hugs……….Pat and Mike
Nick;
Congrats on your new blog format. Chris did a wonderful job for you, and you can add me to your list of readers who approve of your new format.
Fred
Add us to the plus side, too, Nick! However, the burgundy-colored curlies here and there don’t seem Nick-like to us. Too frilly.
Sorry about Miss Terry’s dunking.
See you in Casa Grande!
I like the new format, it’s looks modern an up-to-date. Now you need to add some videos like Chris and Jim have on their blog… It would be nice for us armchair RVers to hear your voice and see some of the places you both visit..
Happy 2009!
Happy New Year Nick and Terry!
The new blog pages look great. Glad to hear you will be heading our way. If there is anything we can do while you are in the Valley, just let us know. If you have the chance, see the light display in Hildalgo…
We won’t make it to Casa Grande (again…so disappointing to miss AZ two years in a row…) as the VA has finally decided to give Paulie his new hip on January 29. Heading to San Antonio next week for final tests.
Paul and Dennise Ziaja
Weslaco
Nick and Miss Terry,
Happy New Year to you both. We like the new blog … it all fits on the page now which makes it easier to read. Also, happy to have a place to leave a comment and I’m sure there will be days you want to pull the plug on that feature, right? Just kidding! The thumbnails enlarged a bit too big but I’m sure you already know that. I had the same problem on my blog until we learned to take our pictures in a lower resolution. Then they enlarged perfectly. Anywhooooo … good job! See you at the rally next month!
Dear Nick & Teri,
Curlicues are definitely in for 2009. Lynda and I are long-time subscribers to the Journal. We are in Dade City, FL for the winter season where I serve as chaplain for this gorgeous park. We did Alaska for three and one-half months this past summer. No problems at all. Hope you get the chance. winstonandlynda.blogspot.com
Been catching all your blogs lately. Sounds like you’ve had a great time on the Texas coast. Busy, busy, busy. Not quite sure how you do it all, but it sounds you’re having a great time and doing exactly what your heart desires. Keep it up.
Hope to personally catch up with you both in Celina next fall. Good health and blessings to you in the new year. Winston and Lynda Pike
Nick,
Happy New Year.
We like the new format.
We are glad everything worked out with the phone.
Miss Terry was a real trooper when she went in the water.
Happy New Year to all. Does that ship have a submersible (angled downward) on deck at the stern? A “bulk carrier” carries its own sub?!
Happy, Happy New Year!! Love the new blog. Very eye appealing and not straining to the ole eyes. Enjoy the blog a lot. Many more safe travels to you.