Fulton Oysterfest and Social Hour at Southern Oaks

Saturday, March 6, I slept like a rock and got up at 7:00. We had a light breakfast and stretched. No walk today. We leave for Oysterfest in Big Bertha with Nan and Tom at 10:00. It is chilly and windy, or 'breezy' according to the weatherman. It is mostly overcast early but clears off later. We park in the old Wal-Mart lot and Tom pays $2.00. We wait about 15 minutes for the shuttle and cram onto the second one that arrives. It is standing room only and we hang on for dear lives. The bus driver says the parade has started so she'll get us as close as she can. She lets us off two streets behind Fulton Beach Road.

Bob, Nan and Tom wait for the Oysterfest Parade

We sit on a rock wall in front of the light blue hotel just down from Charlotte Plummer's. This is the end of the parade route so we have about a 20 minute wait. At last we see the police and fire departments leading the parade. Of course the ubiquitous beads and welcome candy are thrown from the floats. I am surprised the only RV Park float we saw this year was Raintree RV Park. Usually quite a few of the parks enter a float. Maybe it's been too cold and rainy to work on them. My favorite parade entrant was the empty gas-hogging school bus following a group of kids marching for the environment!

Bob and Reet love a parade!

After the parade we pay our $3.00 entry fee and browse the craft tent. What a surprise, we see Heather from the office at Southern Oaks. She has a booth and is selling some nice jewelry. She said it was slow the first couple of days but is picking up now. The highlight turns out to be mini-fudge ice cream cones for $1.00!



We walk through the beer and oyster tent. I snap a picture of the guys shucking oysters. There is a contest later. I wonder if any of the workers will enter? After assessing the food situation we make a command decision to eat at Charlotte Plummer's if we can get in. But first we walk back through the craft tent. We missed the Oysterfest t-shirts the first time. Bob and Tom both find one; green and black respectively. However, I like the trailer t-shirt Tom has on today.

Ubiquitous Shriners!

As we walk towards the restaurant we see Nancy and Reggie (?I think?), the couple Nan and Tom met in Kerrville. She tells Nan they came by Southern Oaks but we weren't there. They just ate at Charlotte Plummer's on the upper deck so maybe there's hope for a table.

Oysters on the half shell

We get a table downstairs after I nix the upstairs suggestion by the waitress. Tom's knee is probably not ready for a flight of 30 steps. Nan, Bob and I all have the salad bar except Bob and I add Shrimp Quesadillas. Tom is in Rome and has oysters-what else? It has always been on my list of things to do to go to the Oysterfest and eat at Charlotte Plummer's.

What's a parade without clowns?

After walking to the shuttle stop and encountering a huge line that we finally spy around the corner, we decide to brave the walk back to the truck. It is not as far as I thought it would be. Tom seems to be okayunless he's faking it well.

Politcally incorrect 'green' bus!

We stop at HEB on the way home and $22.00 later we are enjoying sitting in the truck again. They have no San Antonio paper at Valero so we skip it. Back home we have a whirlwind packing of the cooler with cheeseballs (Tropical Coconut and Aunt Dot') before going over to get Nan and tom. We put all of their goodies and ours in The Smart. Of course this takes up the front seat and the back hatch. Tom drives it to the clubhouse as Nan, Bob and I walk over.

Bob and Tom get a fishing gizmo demo

They have a nice crowd of twenty or so people and a good variety of snacks for Social Hour. I'm sure they are all glad to be able to use their clubhouse at last. Lois brought a great dip. She said it was Terry's Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip. We met Loretta and her husband Don from Nebraska who are renting one of the permanent sites. She brought a chorizo-like queso. Someone had mini-Reese's PB cups that I ate way too many of. Nan shared her Black Smirnoff's with me and Tom shared his Kahlua.

Heather's jewelry booth

We met Julie (she teaches in Alice, TX) and Willie, a young couple who are in the permanent sites next to her parents Joyce and Paul. They are in the two RV's on the very end. We had a nice evening and left about 7:00. Nan, Roxy and I took a late evening walk. I love having an eager walking partner. It is chilly but it feels good as we all got a little sun today at Oysterfest. It's 8:06 p.m. and 61 degrees with 73% humidity. The high was 68 and the low was 60.

Biggest smiles of the day--fudge ice cream cones!

Shucking Oysters

Happy Birthday Young Bob!

Fulton Oysterfest tents along waterfront; Tom and Bob wait for the gals by Big Bertha
Friday, February 26, it is sunny this morning at 7:00 a.m. We have a light breakfast as Bob nixes my pancake idea for his birthday--too much Red Velvet Cake last night. I checked email and find our Tuesday birthday/happy hour is off. The Seabreeze folks have a cookout. I find pictures from my brother Mike (signed his email 'Gramps') of baby Ethan. My niece Megan is home from the hospital (Tuesday) and is doing well. She must be because she posted pictures on her Facebook page. Ethan looks really cute bundled up in his winter clothes so Dad Casey can take him for a 'run' in the stroller. Megan says "Mom may have overdone the bundling up." How cute! I tried to call Megan and got her voice message.

A Roseatte Spoonbill forages for lunch

Today I get the rest of my friend Jean's 'undeliverable' email and discover she's schedule for knee surgery next Friday! I called her and we had a nice chat. Her trip to Tierra del Fuego sounded great. My thoughts are with her as she 'gets all better.'

Nan and I walk with Roxy at 9;30. We wave at Jerry working on the doors of his 'man-shed.' He says he finally got a nice day to paint them. We had a nice walk. I'm spoiled having a walking partner. Back home I stretch. As I get cleaned up I keep noticing some odd smell in the back part of the bedroom. Of course I never figure out what it is and can't really describe it. We open all the windows and fun the Fantastic Fan. Probably just all the humidity down here on the Coast.

Nan and Tom at The Big Tree

At 12:45 we head to Charlottle Plummer's with Nan and Tom. Tom says my blog called them 'overbearing' wine and cheese. Egads! I better shape up and proof read these things better is somebody's actually going to read them. Spellcheck missed that for sure. As we park at the restuarant on Fulton Beach Road we see the big tents are up for Oysterfest the first weekend of March. We get a table overlooking the docks. Two couples come in and sit next to us and recognize Tom and Nan. They were in Kerrville at the rally! It really is a small RV world. One of the gals names is Nancy; they are from Wisconsin. This is their third year to stay at Ancient Oaks in Rockport. But they are moving next year to one of the two new places in Aransas Pass (The Palms) due to the mud situation at Ancient Oaks.

Nan tells our waitress right away that it's Bob's birthday. Of course he's thrilled about that-Not! Our young waitress immediately goes into a spiel about her first boyfriend being called Bobby and does Bob go by that? Not! Way too much. Nan then proceeds to make us look bad by ordering just the salad bar. Tom and I go for it all and order Shrimp Sholten. Bob of course has oysters. Our waitress redeems herself by bringing Coconut Cheesecake for Bob's birthday dessert. Yumm!

Bob drives the Fulton Beach Road north to Copano Bay Bridge. On the way I hop out just past Alice Fay's on the Bay to take a picture of this Roseatte Spoonbill splashing in a pond for fish. After we cross the bridge and turn east towards Goose Island State Park we troll the back roads searching for The Big Tree. Tom spots a small sign at the last minute. We pose for pictures and read the placques like all good tourists. We talk to a couple on the bench from near Rockford, IL, where Tom's sister lives.

Back across the bridge we drive along Copano Bay to Airport Park where we walk on the oyster shell beach. The wind is blowing the waves hard into shore. It is warm with a high of 69 degrees but it sure is windy. As we head back to our RV Park an EMT vehicle passes us on 35 Bypass. It turns out there is a wreck across from our RV Park. That always makes you wonder if it's one of your fellow campers.

The birthday boy and Reet pose in front of The Big Tree

We arrive home with no newspaper. Bummer. Nan, Bob and I walk at 4:30. We find Tom in Tiny (their big truck) hunting up their liquor stash for happy hour later. We climb up in the cab and get a view. They sure have lots of great storage in there. Our walk is without Roxy as she went for a swim earlier. Terry and Jerry invite us around back to join their happy hour so we use her cell phone to call Tom. He brings a Reisling and joins us. Ann and Jerry are there too. Ann is nice enough to walk to their place for chairs for us. We chat, drink and have snacks as the sun goes down and the wind comes up. We leave around 7:00 and reconvene at Nan and Tom's for Braunnsweiger Ball, cheese ball and birthday cake.

Roscoe and Roxy entertain us. We get to watch some curling as they have satellite. Later we tune in to Short Track on NBC as the wind howls and interferes with the TV reception. Those guys surprise Bob with a 6-pack of Killians and a birthday card. How nice! Tom and I polish off his Kaluha. We head home at 9:45. The wind blew our bikesover. We should not have moved them. That darn cover catches the wind. My mirrow got broken off.

I missed a voice message from new grandmother Linda (she emailed three pics of Ethan) and another call from Glenda wishing Bob a happy rush to geezerdom.

It's 4:25 p.m. and 69 degrees with 27% humidity.

Happy 7th Birthday Roxy!

Sandie finds a cozy spot in my Euro chair.

Wednesday, February 17, I was up at 7:30 after finishing my book at 2:00 a.m. The low is 44 and the high gets to 59 today although it feels warmer as the wind is out of the ESE. When Bob gets up I do a quick vacuum after checking email. Yesterday my niece Megan's Facebook said she was gardening the day before as it helped her Mom with getting the baby to come. All she got was an aching back. I sent a comment that Uncle Bob hopes for a fewmore days for a fellow-Pisces!

Bud and Bob aboard The Titanic

At 9:00 I walk with nan and Roxy. Nan says Roxy is seven years old toady and we have a mission to get an ice cream cake! It is a nice, sunny morning for a walk. How fun to have a walking partner. Tom's propane bottle is out front as they need a refill. I mention to Nan the place we got it in Fulton in past years but I didn't realize how far back north that is on 35. So when he knocks to ask directions Bob tells him to go for the place the office told him about in Aransas Pass by Wal-Mart.

Windmill blades embedded by past hurricane in live oak tree just off Aransas Bay in Fulton, TX

I stretch while Bob showers. Then I do dishes and make Ritz PB Cookies. I squeeze in my ironing and get myself cleaned up. Bud, Billie and their dog Sandie arrive at 11:45. It sure is great to see them. We give them the tour of The Titanic. Tom and Nan come over and we have introductions. Bud tells us stories of his recent three weeks in Haiti after the earthquake. It sounds like a lot of trauma and seems like an incredible experience. Sandie makes himself at home right away in my Euro chair.

Nan shows Roxy her birthday cake as we all sing Happy Birthday!

Soon we head to Charlotte Plummer's Restaurant on Fulton Beach Road. Billie and I have to have the Shrimp Sholten. Nan gets the shrimp sampler. Tom has a seafood combo platter. Bob of course has the oysters. And Bud enjoys the oysters on the halfshell. We have a nice visit and enjoy our waitress from last year. We all walk over to TJ's Beach Shop afterwards. Billie gets some gift certificates and her and Bud leave with a promise to meet for drinks on Friday.

Roxy had way too much DQ Ice Cream Cake!

Roxy never did read her name on the cake but it sure looked pretty!

The rest of us tour the Beach Road and find the windmill in the tree behind Fulton Mansion, deposited there by a prior hurricane. Bob drives out to view the homes along Paradise Key. And Tom gets to snap a picture of the leaning live oaks that form an umbrella-like canopy as they lean away from the salt spray. We stop for bird viewing at the now-defunct Off the Hook Restuarant that we loved so much. And we stop at HEB in Aransas Pass for beveages, produce and snack food. One last stop at the DQ in Aransas Pass for Ice Cream Birthday Cake for Roxy, the black lab. Tom has to hide while Nan has them write Roxy in icing on the cake. Bob comments that the dog probably won't know since she can't read. Nan says "But I'll know!"

Roscoe gets ready to pounce!

Back at Southern Oaks we join them within the hour to celebrate Roxy's 7th Birthday. I take pictures as Nan lights the candles. Yikes, Roscoe takes a flying leap onto the tablecloth to inspect the candles and almost knocks the whole works on the floor. I have visions of the RV going up in flames. Bob looks around for the fire extinguisher. Fortunately tragedy is averted and we calm our nerves with ice cream and chocolate fudge cake. Roxy only gets the vanilla ice cream part on top. We have a nice visit until 9:00. Oh my, how did it get that late?

Roscoe never did get any cake but he enjoys a nap by the fire anyway

We watch the Olympics; Men's Ice Skating long program and Snowboarding. It's 9:55 p.m. and 61 degrees with 51% humidity.

Movin' On to Aransas Pass, TX

Big Bertha and The Titanic at Southern Oaks, Arnasas Pass, TX
Saturday, February 13, I read until 2:00 a.m. (37 degrees) before I could finally fall asleep. Got up at 8:00 to 34 degrees. Bob has the internal water pump on when I get up so I thought the outside water faucet froze. But he got up and said the low was 34 so it can't be frozen. he thinks the RV Park shut the water off. It must be true because a couple of hours later it's back on. I'm so glad. i can't imagine a frozen pipe and no water as we try to pack up and move for the first time in two months.

We have Joyce's Crispy Thingies for breakfast and I stretch. I must be getting used to our new RV because our packing up was pretty smooth. We have a few new things on our checklist, like the ditital picture frame that has to be stowed. But now our 'down under' is all organized. We left at 11:09 and took the same route we always do to The Coast; Hwy 71 to 609 to 2436 to 77 south to 239 through Tivoli to 35 south. We didn't have to stop for gas as we have a bigger tank now and we get better fuel mileage with the diesel. So we pulled into a picnic area along 35 just before Aransas Wildlife Refuge. I sure needed a restroom break-we used our own as this is just a turnout in the road.

The view of the sunset and pond on the soon-to-be golf course out the front of our RV

We find the turn into Southern Oaks Luxury RV Park, 1850 Hwy 35 ByPass, Aransas Pass,TX 78336, (361) 758-1249, after 184 miles. We remembered it being more like 200 so maybe our tires are a different size. Who knows? It took us 2 hours and 40 minutes. Heather in the office takes our $100 deposit. We'll settle up for $350/month plus electric usuage at 14 cents per kilowatt when we move out in a month, or whenever we decide to leave.

Terry poses with their Holiday Rambler on the lot they purchased here at Southern Oaks

I had called Heather from near Victoria on the way down and she said they moved us and Tom and Nan from sites 211 and 210 to 203 and 202 respectively. As we pull in we make the circle at the end of the row and Bob backs in. We are set up by 3:09. Without further ado we head to Charlottle Plummer's in Fulton; our favorite seafood place here. I have the Shrimp Platter and of course Bob has the oysters. We go back home along Business 35 and stop for a San Antonio paper at Valero. Have to stop twice as the place we got fuel at 35 Bypass and Bus. 35 had no paper. We only had four gallons of fuel left. Then we drop off our go boxes at home and go out for a walk around our new RV Park. I snap a picture of our new RV site and the pond out our front window.

Jerry brings more wood for the fire as Bob, Richard, Lois and Terry look on.

We pass the clubhouse which will have a Grand Opening next weekend and wander through the resort ownership lots. About a dozen are developed. A group on the turn at the end calls us over to help christen their new chiminea they just purchase from Lowe's. Terry and Jerry from New York have built some improvements on this lot along the golf course where they park their Holiday Rambler motorcoach. Terry gives me a tour of their out-building with a fridge, storage, and bathroom complete with a shower.

We also meet Ann and Jerry from the State of Washington, along with Richard and Lois who we walk home with at dark. They have a Pommeranian and a mix. They are in a 5th wheel just down the way. What a fun visit; they were all friendly folks. They were drinking Blackstone Merlot and were a few drinks ahead of us. I snapped a picture of Terry by her RV as she gave me a tour of their lot.

Jerry babies the fire as the other Jerry, Lois and Bob gather 'round.

It is chilly after we leave the warmth of the fire. Back home I get on-line and send emails. My brother Mike says the 12.4" of snow in Dallas is an all-time record. Bob scans TV channels and we watch the Olympics. It's 8:30 p.m. and 52 degrees. The high was 64-Yeah we must have come far enough south-with 79% humidity.