Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Wobbling Duck!

FREMONT STREET

MY REPORT ON FREMONT STREET

WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS ON FREMONT STREET DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS WITH MARK AND JAYNE.  THE BEST NEWS IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T CHANGED:

YUP, I CAN STILL BUY $3 BUD LIGHTS ON FREMONT STREET.

FIRST UP IS THE UPGRADING OF THE CANOPY LIGHTS. SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS AND EIGHT MONTHS OF WORK.  THE RESOLUTIONS IS LIKE A VIDEO SCREEN AND THE LIGHTS ARE SEVEN TIMES BRIGHTER MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO USE THE SCREEN DURING THE DAY.  MY PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN THE DAY LIGHT.

NEXT UP ON THE REPORT IS THE NEW CASINO CALLED "CIRCA". LAST YEAR MY BLOGS SHOWED THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD VEGAS CLUB WHERE CIRCA IS BEING BUILT.

THE NEW CASINO IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN NEXT DECEMBER. AT THIS POINT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 17 FLOORS AND THE TOTAL IS GOING TO BE 37 FLOORS. THEY ARE WORKING 24/7 AND ADDING ONE FLOOR A WEEK.

WE CHECKED OUT THE NEW WHISKY LICKER UP  BAR AT BINIONS, BUT THEY HAD A NO-SMOKING POLICY DESPITE SLOT MACHINES SO WE LOOKED AROUND AND WALKED OUT.

CIRCA SPORTS IS A NEW SPORTSBOOK DOWNTOWN VEGAS AND WE FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT WHILE THE OTHER SPORTSBOOKS FAVORED THE VIKINGS BY 3 POINTS TO BEAT THE PACK, CIRCA SPORTS FAVORED THE VIKINGS BY 5.5 POINTS.  MARY AND I BET $40 ON THE PACKERS TO WIN AND COLLECTED $123.20 ON THE WINNING TICKET BEFORE WE WENT TO BED.

WE ENJOYED VEGAS AS USUAL AND HAD OVER 20,000 STEPS BY THE END OF THE DAY AND A PACKER WIN, BUT IT WAS NOT "SUNNY & 80".

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THINGS ARE FINE HERE ON THE LOWER DESERT AT WINTER CAMP. DESPITE MORE RAIN THAN USUAL WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE OF NICE WEATHER AS WELL, WITH SUNSHINE AND TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-60'S.

MARK AND JAYNE HAD A REAL TREAT FOR US A FEW DAYS BACK AS MARK FRENCH FRIED YELLOW RIVER TROUT AND ONION RINGS OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST VEGAS TRIP OF THE SEASON PLANNED FOR THE MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN THE PACKERS AND THE VIKINGS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.  GO PACK GO !!!

IT'S LOOKING A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS HERE IN THE RV PARK.

A DESERT CHRISTMAS TREE:

AND A TUMBLEWEED SNOWMAN:

WE HOPE YOU ARE ALL READY FOR CHRISTMAS.

Spooner Snow

By Uncle Hans

Now I'm headed to town to go to the grocery store and for a beer at Snag's

Uncle Hans

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

WE HAVE BEEN AT WINTER CAMP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ZERO START UP COSTS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LOTS OF BROKEN STUFF LAST SEASON.

OUR FRIENDS MARK & JAYNE ARE CAMPED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ON THEIR FIRST WINTER AS SNOWBIRDS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT 20 SOME YEARS AGO SITTING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE AT YELLOW RIVER STATE FOREST IN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY THAT WE'D BE NEIGHBORS ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT.

ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER WHERE EVER YOU ARE AND BE SAFE OUT THERE!

DECK RAILING

IT'S THE LAST PROJECT OF THE SEASON, TO REBUILD THE DECK RAILING. IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM, THE SPAN WAS TOO LONG AND NOT STABLE ENOUGH.

EVEN THOUGH WE SPENT 6 WEEKS IN WISCONSIN AND A MONTH AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND WE DID GET FIVE PROJECTS COMPLETED, 4 NEW WINDOWS INSTALLED, A NEW WATER HEATER, INCLUDING A REBUILD ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH, WE FINALLY FOUND THE ELECTRICAL GREMLIN WITHOUT TEARING DOWN ANY WALLS, WE HAD THE SAUCER BOYS INSTALL A BIG FLAT SCREEN TV, AND THE FINAL PROJECT OF REBUILDING THE DECK RAILING.

NOT A BAD YEAR, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A LIST GOING FOR NEXT SUMMER INCLUDING SOME PAINTING, A PLUMBING PROJECT, AND A FRONT RAILING REBUILD. THEN ON THE BACK BURNER IS THE PROJECT OF GLASSING IN THE SCREEN PORCH.

NEXT WEEK WE RETURN TO THE LOWER DESERT AND MOHAVE VALLEY TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS AWAIT US TO LIVE IN OUR TWENTY YEAR OLD CAMPER.  LAST YEAR'S LIST WAS LONG AND EXPENSIVE.  WE ARE HOPING FOR BETTER LUCK THIS YEAR.

I CAN'T RESIST A WEATHER DIG BEFORE I SIGN OFF.  YESTERDAY WE ENJOYED WATCHING THE PACKER GAME AND THE SNOW FLURRIES WHILE DRESSED IN SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS, AND WE ARE STILL ON THE MOUNTAIN.

   "SUNNY & 73"

HOME AGAIN

WE RETURNED HOME ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR THE MOST RIDICULOUS REASON. WE LEFT  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND BECAUSE THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR SHOW LOW HAD NIGHT TIME LOWS OF 19 DEGREES.

YUP, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY WE LEFT THE "SUNNY & 80" BEACH BECAUSE IT'S TOO F*CKING COLD AT HOME? WE HAD LEFT THE YARD SPRINKLER SYSTEM ON AND NO HEAT IN THE CABIN.

WE'RE GONNA HANG OUT ON "THE MOUNTAIN" UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH AND THEN RETURN TO WINTER QUARTERS IN MOHAVE VALLEY ON THE LOWER DESERT.

BIG STORM

WE HAD WHAT'S CALLED IN TEXAS A WIND SHEER. THE POWER WAS OUT 2 OR 3 HOURS AT OUR CONDO, BUT ON THE MAIN DRAG THE POWER WAS OUT MUCH LONGER.

THIS TRANSMISSION LINE SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY DAMAGE.

STILL HERE

MARY AND I ARE STILL HERE ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.  THE BESL BUNCH LEFT LAST FRIDAY AND UNCLE HANS AND RENEE LEFT MONDAY, SO WE ARE ALL BY OURSELVES FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH.

WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE'D LIKE TO DO, SO WE WON'T BE JUST SITTING WATCHING THE SUN RISE AND SET.  WE HAVE PLENTY OF GULF SHRIMP AND BUSH LIGHT SO THERE IS NO NEED TO SEND MONEY, BESIDES IF WE GET BORED WE CAN JUST CHECK ON YOUR WEATHER AND ENJOY THE REST OF OUR DAY.

     "SUNNY & 80"

BOCA CHICA

BOCA CHICA IS A SMALL BEACH AREA BETWEEN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND THE RIO GRANDE RIVER, THE BORDER WITH MEXICO. ALTHOUGH IT'S JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS ACROSS THE BROWNSVILLE SHIPPING CHANNEL, IT'S A 42 MILE DRIVE AROUND THE ROADS TO GET THERE.  IT WAS A SMALL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY AND VERY SECLUDED.

THAT'S ALL CHANGED AS ELTON MUSK HAS BUILT THE SPACE-X LAUNCH AREA WITH REUSABLE SPACECRAFT AND FUTURE MANNED FLIGHTS TO MARS.

THIS IS A ROCKET ENGINE THEY RECENTLY TEST FIRED 500 FEET UP AND THEN RETURNED TO LAND.

NEITHER UNCLE HANS OR MYSELF MADE TRAVEL RESERVATIONS TO FLY TO MARS AS THE WHOLE PROJECT LOOKS UNDERWHELMING.

SPI BUCKET LIST

CROSS THAT OFF THE SOUTH PADRE BUCKET LIST !!

WE STARTED OUT ON BEACH ACCESS #5 AND DROVE UNCLE HANS' OLD VAN UP THE BEACH ON THE SAND. IT WAS AN ADVENTURE !  AS YOU RECALL UNCLE HANS HAULED HIS MOTORCYCLE IN THE BACK OF THIS VAN SO THERE WERE NO SEATS, AND 9 OF US INSIDE.

WE MADE IT ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF CIVILIZATION AND THE MARKER FOR THE UNOFFICIAL NUDE BEACH.

  "SUNNY & 90"

THE WINNERS

HERE ARE THE SAND CASTLE WINNERS FOR 2019:

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

SAND CASTLE DAYS

THIS WEEK-END IS SAND CASTLE DAYS ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND WITH 12 PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS.

THE BESL BUNCH ARRIVED SATURDAY RIGHT ON SCHEDULE AND IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BEACH TO GET SUNBURNED !!!

IN ALL THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN COMING TO SOUTH PADRE, THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE ON THE BEACH THAN EVER BEFORE.

   "SUNNY & 85"

VIVA MEXICO !!!

YESTERDAY WAS OUR ANNUAL RUN SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO PROGRESO, MEXICO.  WE ATE, WE DRANK, WE SHOPPED, AND WE SURVIVED.....

EVEN IN MEXICO IT WAS, "SUNNY & 80"

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

OMG IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE WE POSTED ON THE BLOG.  WE SPENT THAT MONTH AT HOME ON "THE MOUNTAIN" IN ARIZONA, MOSTLY JUST CHILL'IN.

OCTOBER FINDS US ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS.....

AND IT'S SAND CASTLE DAYS......

UNCLE HANS AND RENEE ARE HERE WITH US FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THE BESL'S ARE DUE IN ON SATURDAY.  UNCLE HANS BROUGHT HIS MOTORCYCLE AND VAN WHICH HE PLANS TO LEAVE ON THE ISLAND.

MORE ADVENTURES TO FOLLOW, AND OF COURSE IT'S "SUNNY & 80"

8,000 MILE ROAD TRIP

WE ARE SAFELY BACK IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA AFTER OUR 8,000 MILE, AND 42 DAY ROAD TRIP BACK TO WISCONSIN. WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ON THE LIST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE AND EVERY PLACE MADE OUR SCHEDULE.

FOR YOU PRIUS FANS OUT THERE, THE LITTLE WHITE CAR GOT 55.2 MPG ON THE TOTAL TRIP. THE CHEAPEST GAS WAS ONE DAY IN WAUKON, IOWA AT $2.13/GALLON.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO REST UP FOR A MONTH BEFORE WE START PACKING FOR OUR ANNUAL TRIP TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS FOR SOME BEACH TIME.

"SUNNY & 91" ON THE MOUNTAIN TODAY.

THE WOOD PILE

IT'S A TRADITION WHEN YOU VISIT CABLE LAKE TO WORK ON THE WOOD PILE.

WE CARRIED ENOUGH WOOD FOR NEXT WINTER FROM THE WOOD PILE TO THE HOUSE, AND THEN WE SPLIT SOME BIG STUFF (RED OAK) LEFT OVER FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR, AND SOME FRESH CUT PINE.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS "SUNNY & 80" AND WE HAD TO SWEAT............

Family

It all started on Monday afternoon.....

My son Dave and his girlfriend Jamie came to La Crosse.  We started out showing him the beautiful city of La Crosse from Granddad Bluff.  Just so happens that there is a bar at the bottom of the bluff.  So we decided to stop there and have a beverage.  Next it was on to the Old Style Inn to meet up with Chad after work.  After we had a late lunch, Dave expressed interest in see the bars that his Dad had owned in La Crosse.  So off we went and the next thing you know we were on a "pub crawl".  Funny thing was that at each place more and more people showed up.  I think that by the end of the night we had over 15 people around, mostly relatives and frankly some were relatives that I had forgotten about.  I don't think anyone made it to work on Tuesday and some didn't get out of bed until 4 PM.

Dave, Jamie, Chad, Marissa, Heather, and Mary.

Tuesday evening, my future grandson-in-law put on a spectacular fish fry.  That also attracted a lot of people!  Again, family I had not seen in 15 plus years.  It was amazing.  Evan fried fish that was caught on the last fishing trip to South Padre Island, Texas.  I think he said that he fried 120 filets! 

And I think he looks adorable in my sunflower apron!

My grandson RJ.

Lots of chit chatting!

Also a lot of dogs!

Was a wild three days!!  Thanks for coming Dave and Jamie!