Cranky

Because my car isn't. Cranking, that is. Dead battery. Grr. It's only 7 months old. But I have let it run down three times including last night, when I apparently left the light on in the trailer after packing. And that will pretty much kill it. Which is probably why it won't take a jump from my battery starter.

(I haven't left K's house yet, so no worries that I'm stranded on the road somewhere.)

So I need a new battery. AAA would probably bring (sell) me one, but not the top of the line super expensive extreme usage one I've now decided I need, given the rough roads, trailer, and various electronic devices that I keep charging from the car - laptop, iphone, ipod. I'm looking at the Diehard Platinum, since it seems to get good reviews from users and I can get it at Sears. Once K gets home from the vet and can give me a ride...

So much for my tearful farewells and grand and glorious exit. I suck at letting go of things.

On the bright side, I got an oil change yesterday and Monday had a proportional brake controller installed in the car to run the trailer brakes when the car brakes. It's awesome, braking going downhill with the trailer feels much more secure.

So now I get a little more puppy time with my Bessame.

Shunpiking West

Heading west today, shunpiking as much as feasible. Shunpiking is my new word, traveling by avoiding freeways as much as possible. 

Everything is packed, and I'm filling up my water jugs with filtered water. Tonight's stop is supposed to have wifi, so I will have the internet for a couple of days and then probably be out of range for a week or so. 

Hasta luego San Antonio, K, W, S, Alice, Dinah, and Bess, the best puppy ever. Gracias por todo.

Progress in a forward direction

Productive, if exhausting day. 

Hot weather and I don't agree. 

Funny for someone who loves the desert as much as I do. 

I just like cool deserts. 

Replaced the plug from the trailer to the car. Took way more effort than it should have. But it works.

Acquired an electrical access door that should work as a small baggage door on the trailer, big enough to grab a can of soup through it. 

Desanded and repacked the car. Tomorrow the trailer. 

The hottest day so far.  Where are my mountains?

Tomorrow I'm off to Austin to pick up a shade awning at REI (Austin is the closest REI) and make a day trip to Pedernales State Park (a magical place).

And in other news, my traveling companion feels at home in San Antonio, and will be staying here when I move on in a few days. I will miss him, but am also excited at continuing my adventure on my own. It feels like the trip is beginning all over again. I am grateful beyond words for his presence and gentle assistance these past 6 months in wrapping up my past life and getting me on the road. He is my spirit brother for all time, and I am privileged to have him in my life. 

Photo Walk in Eisenhower Park

A day of flowering prickly pear:

(click the slideshow to see larger versions at picasaweb)

Another Constructive Day

Today I built a set of custom shelves for Susan's gallery. And forgot to take pictures. Maybe in a few days. Lazed about the rest of the afternoon and evening practicing drawing and drinking berry smoothies. mmm.

It's way too easy to hang out here. Time to hit the road soon. 

The Dog Days of Spring

I watch entirely too much TV when it is readily available.

I did install the dog door today. Dinah and Alice are old hands paws at it and adapted immediately. 

Bess was dubious. She pawed at it tentatively, sat down and whimpered. With much coaxing (verbal and gustatory) and a hand to hold open the flap she went through, but it took most of the day for her to finally come through on her own. The last straw was seeing KJ tossing the ball for Dinah in the backyard. Whatever it takes...

 

Another day of rest

It rained today so I don't have to wash the car.

Caught up on blogging,

went to the Texas Pastel Society show

where a painting of KJ won first prize in portraiture.

Congratulations, Susan!

An evening of Bones,  and CSI doing a Star Trek episode - bliss.

Repacking Redux

New bin has been acquired

and too much food

the spare trailer tire

fits nicely under

the propane tank

the latest repacking is close to done

I got too much sun today

and Padre Island beckons

tomorrow

Artful

Finished the decklet railing, and went to two museums today. (It was free day for both). 

We walked into the San Antonio Museum of Art and there was an organ concert going on - so we got to hear the Bach Toccata and Fugue and Liszt's variations on the notes B-A-C-H (H is B natural, as it turns out; B is B-flat). Gorgeous. 

And then lots of large scale contemporary paintings including some giant botanical paintings that redefine the genre, and a lot of contemporary Latin American paintings that I adored. My brain is full.

Really tired now. 

Drilling for snake oil

I almost bought a gallon of emu oil today. 

Reason prevailed, and I only ordered 4oz. 

Drilled three holes in the tongue of the trailer so I could attach the hitch platform. My cordless drill performed admirably with the aid of a new 7/16" titanium drill bit and a great deal of water. 

Also applied rust converter to various spots on the car, sanded the new boards for the beds in the trailer, and (gulp) cut the double giant thermarest in half and taped the edge with Gorilla Tape to seal it, to make two separate pads. 

Pix and further explanations tomorrow. Star Trek is on.

Sunday Culture

Free Day at the McNay

Art for the masses

towering spindly cypresses

Monet

sunprints

stairway to friendship

courtyard of dreams

electric medusa

faces of women in stone

in clay

in paint

an unknown flower

(more pix in this slideshow)

an excursion to the San Antonio Art League to see

a friend win an award for this painting

and two dozen more free sf books loaded into my iPhone...

a very fine day.