Yearly Visit to Unclaimed Baggage - I Score Again!

The SE- GTG got waved off this year in Northern Alabama, but my plan to get my Tacoma serviced at the dealer in Scottsboro, AL was on, and this is where the Unclaimed Baggage store is that I like going to.

I stopped at the dealer to make an appointment and it was set for the next day.  I had time so I went to the Unclaimed Baggage store but was disappointed I didn’t find anything interesting and for the right price. 

After my Tacoma was serviced the next day, I went back to the Unclaimed  Baggage Store for one last look, as I would be moving on in the morning.  

I was happy to find a couple items.

First was the above Aukey Bluetooth earbuds.

They work perfectly for $9.99👍

I looked them up online and although that model is now discontinued, originall they sold for $60.

They work fine and have a good rating for the price.



I also found this Bluetooth speaker that pares nicely and I’ll put it in the garage when I work.  There was a white dot sticker on the speaker, so I asked the price $1.99 and it was coming home with me.

What turned out dashing my hopes for my visit to Unclaimed Baggage the first day, was turned to a positive the next.

As you can see it is a hit or miss in finding something you my want or need, but I usually find something each year.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Gulf Shores, AL - A Family Meetup

My oldest son and family had planed a spring vacation at Gulf Shores, AL and it was on my itinerary for sone time as it fit in before the Southeast GTG gathering.  Timing was perfect to head across the southern states this year and visit family before heading north to northern Alabama.

Photo - campground Msp 

The question was where was I going to stay while in Gulf Shores.  There were options for free overnight stays in the area but I didn’t have time to risk showing up and not finding a place close, so I chose the Gulf State Park.  It was $40 a night for 2 nights with the senior discount.  It turned out ok as one day the condo pool where son and family were staying was under construction and the tip currents on the gulf beaches were too bad so they came to the state park to visit and use the pool for $5 for a carload!  Such a deal 

Photo - stadium scoreboard 

My son loves baseball and keeps his family going.  We went to the baseball game in Pensacola where we had beautiful weather. 

Photo - mini golf - ball stuck

We played mini golf and here I am with my ball being stuck in the drain crack.  My granddaughters liked that I got hung up.

Photo - Lambert’s Cafe 

We went to eat at “World Famous” Lambert’s Cafe, where they toss or even throw large hot buns st you.  The Shane is in dropping yours.

Well I did get my bun stopped but it dropped in my lap and didn’t feel the shame from having it get yo the floor.  I also ate too much🙄

Photo - UDisc App screen shot of disc golf course layout

What would be a visit with my Son without playing Disc Golf.

What a fun time with the visit.  I will be seeing them again on my way up the east coast before I reach home.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Prada In Mafa

Along the lonesome highway US90 west of Mafa, TX I see cars stopped and doing U-turns.  People were running across the road.  I slowed for the Artistic Prada Store sitting all by itself.  I’ve been by this before so I stopped for my own photo.

My photo

Wikipedia offers the following;

“ Prada Marfa is a permanent sculptural art installation by artists Elmgreen and Dragset, located along U.S. Route 90 in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) northwest of Valentine, and about 26 miles (42 km) northwest of Marfa (its namesake city).^[1] The installation, in the form of a freestanding building—specifically a Prada storefront—was inaugurated on October 1, 2005. The artists described the work as a "pop architectural land artproject."^[2]”

Google map capture above

Even now Google offers caution on slowed traffic

The fence around the building have love locks.

Although it says Mafa, this is Valentine, TX a few miles from more popular Mafo, where Mafa Lights is that I have written about before.  People came to see strainer lights in the sky.  I stayed there one night but didn’t see any strange lights.

I wouldn’t drive out of your way for Prada in Mafe but if your going by you can do the tourist thing like me.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Natchez, MS - A Private Tour

As shown in the picture below Natchez, Mississippi sits on the Mississippi River.  It’s an old city with a history that I only knew some of from school.

So, when I got an invitation by a friend who grew up in Natchez to get a tour of the area, I was all in.  I find the Mississippi River intriguing and I usually stop in Hannibal, MO on my way home from the west.  This year was different as I was trying to save sone gas due to the higher prices and find new things to see and do.  I’ve had a great time mixing up my adventures this year. 

I didn’t know that Spain had once occupied this land from the natives as well as the French, that I did know, or at least remember.

A friend of my friend provided access to their land overlooking the Mississippi for a view during my stay that could not be beat.

Above is the view from my camping spot.  The paddle boats and barges travel up and down the river.  I think of the movies with the steam paddle boats and their whistle when they were making or leaving.

It wouldn’t be spring if it wasn’t for the threat of severe weather and a tornado watch one night.  Just a bit of small hail from the radar capture in the picture above.

While I was in town there were two paddle boats in Natchez port on the river.  The bridge over the Mississippi replaced the ferry that once connected Mississippi to Louisiana.

The friend of my friend let it be know to the neighbors that I was getting a tour and it resulted in an evening get together with very friendly neighbors for a gathering on a porch overlooking the Mississippi.

The 3 families provided excellent hospitality and lively conversation making the visit to Natchez more than I could have imagined.

This sunset picture above was just wonderful to have caught it at the right moment.  Thanks to all who made that evening exceptional for this northerner.  

But the fun wasn’t over with tours of antebellum homes dotted all around town. And add the spring colors at every turn.

Disc golf in Duncan Parj with ancient trees.



Lunch at the Pig Out Inn for lunch

And the list goes on;

- A tour of a segment of the Natchez Trace Parkway

- More tastes from local eateries 

- Historic walk downtown

- Natchez Visitor Reception Center to view all the history panels

- Natchez National Historic Park and tour of the Melrose House

- Grand Village of the Natchez Indians

In other words you can’t get a good appreciation for Natchez without spending a few days.  

It was a great time and filled my long desire to see Natchez.  April was a perfect time to visit as it’s not hot and muggy and the flowers are beautiful.

I hope you get to visit one day and meet the friendly people in town that often like to chat about where you are from.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Texas And Louisiana Coastal Ferries

If you have been following my blog about free beach camping along the Texas and Louisiana coast I wanted to share the free ferry systems in both states making this trip even more economical.

From south to north and east, first is Port Aransas Ferry.

From the northern part of the island chain where the Padre Island National Seashore back to the mainland this ferry saves driving south then west and then north to achieve what the Texas Highway system provides a ferry for free.

It is easily accessed on the island and is efficient with ferries running in both directions.

Above is a Google Maps screen capture of the Port Aransas ferry terminal on the island back to the mainland

And now a photo through my windshield of my ferry ride from Port Aransas 

Above is a Google Maps screen capture of the ferry terminal in Galveston  to the next island where Bolivar Beach camping is.

Here is the corresponding photo through my windshield of my ferry ride to Bolivar Beach.  It’s about twice the time across here as it was at Port Aransas, but neither was a long wait or a long trip on the ferry.

Now on to Louisiana’s Cameron-Holly Beach Ferry.  This ferry is only free from west to east.  I approached this ferry from Beaumont, TX south through Port Arthur, TX and on to the ferry.  This is a highway I have not taken before and I found it interesting.  The ferry at Cameron l, although small in size and distance traveled, serving both directions, runs often enough there is not much of a wait.

Above is the Google map image I captured of the Cameron Ferry.

They balanced this ferry like the others by putting this grouping of small vehicles on one side and a big dump truck on the other.

Well, there you have it free ferries heading north and east from southern Texas to Louisiana to go with the free beach camping in my other blog posts.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Rutherford Beach, Creole, LA

I made my way away from my last Texas free beach’s, on to Rutherford Beach in Louisiana, yet another free beach.

With ports potties and trash receptacles, it lies on the western side of the Mississippi Delta, hard hit by a past hurricane.

Here is a quote from a Google search.

“ On August 27, 2020, at 1:00 am CDT, Hurricane Lauramade landfall near Cameron with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h), a category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.”

Above I’m parked just above the highest tide a few weeks ago.  High tide now is well below where I’m parked.

To the right rear of my truck is the beach road and hard packed.  It is 2-wheel drive friendly but don’t go more towards the water without 4x4.  You will see the results below.

As I arrived a class c camper was getting help out of the sand from trying to do a U-Turn.  For turning a multi point turn with keeping wheels on hard packed and not cutting wheels too sharp.

In this photo you can see the big boy camping vehicle are parked on the side of the beach road where the sand is hard packed.

This will be my last free beach camping for this years travels .  It is also then my last beach sunset too.  It’s be great fun searching out these few free to nearly free beach camping spots this year.  I’ll have plenty of sand to get out of places in the camper and truck when I get home.

I arrive at the beach before all the weekend visitors came and I got to walk the beach before shell collecting and driving on the beach crush the hood ones.

The picture above came out so well I was asked how I took the picture.  It was with my iPhone 11 setting the camera nearly on the ground to get the best image.

Above is a sampling of the shells I picked up.  I’m not a shell collector but liked the sizes, shapes and colors.

(Google search image)

This is a hard hit area of Louisiana from a hurricane and destroyed businesses homes and government buildings.  I wanted to taste the local food offerings but the restaurant building is gone and the owner has replaced the building with a food truck and picnic tables

To support the local economy a bit I went to the Anchors Up Grill in Cameron for a lunch on one of the 3 days I stayed at Rutherford Beach.

Being one of two places to eat (food trucks) there were plenty of people stopping for lunch too.  The local food was great!

On the weekend this group of young people parked just past my camper for the day.  It was getting late in the day and this silver pickup truck got the rear end stuck.  It is only 2-wheel drive.  Parents with trucks were called and came with other 2-wheel trucks and one snapped the tow strap and was temporarily stuck.  Finally another 2-wheel truck came and had some very aggressive tire tread and was able to pull it out as the stuck truck assisted by spinning the tires.

Above is the location the truck was stuck.  Note the location of the front wheels were not far from the water’s edge.

The beach is nice but as I walked the beach I did pick up a bunch of trash, some glass pieces.  

My vandwelling friend aka “Blaize Sun”, who had come to this beach when she was young, recounted in a note to me about half-wild beach cows.  I’m glad she sent the picture as I was thinking bovine wandering around.  Lucky I didn’t encounter these beasts.

She also recounted crude oil on the beach.  Most of the beach is clean but the remote camping areas still have small to large oil sand globs.  

It’s always sad to see what we do to our earth.

Well folks it on to Natchez, MS, such a offer to visit.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

West Moring Dock Park, Bay City, TX

My next beach camping spot as I move north and now east along the gulf coast of Texas is West Moring Dock Park, Bay City, TX

I had hoped to pay disc golf on my way through Bay City, but with heavy rail the day before makes that course soggy if not down right west. 

This beach area is quiet with only locals visiting while I was there.  There is on the beach parking or parking lot.  The parking lot offers views of barges with tugs moving on the inland waterway. 

As noted in the picture above if you park in the parking lot there are some picnic tables in the park.  Sone are broken from weather but others are still usable.

This next picture is an example of the many barges pushed by tugs through the inland side of the beach island.

In order to get to the island is this massive circular ramp bridge to the island.  This bridge was not shown as completed on Google maps at the time of my travels.

Above Google map shows West Moring Dock Park and the orange exclamation point highlights the new bridge may not be open yet.  When driving the bridge Google gets confused. 



I stayed one night by choice and didn’t go back over the bridge to evaluate the community.  I was focused on new beaches further east on the Texas coast.  

This is a quiet place to stay with miles of beach to walk alone of you want to contemplate life.  Cars come and go all day and I didn’t hear anyone all night other than the passing tug boats.  

There is miles of beach to camp on but I recommend 4x4 for that.  The parking lot is fine for all vehicle types.

Well ir is onwards to the next beach.

Enjoy your travels,

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Magnolia Beach, Port Lavaca, TX

My next stop north along the Texas coast was Magnolia Beach.  It is a free camping beach, and I happened to get a picnic table site for my visit.

Like the other beaches, there is plenty of walking along the beach 

As with other beaches I like having things to do.  With free camping, bathrooms, cold showers and trash  please support the local economy.

Heading south from Magnolia Beach is Indianola Peninsula 



At the end of the peninsula is Indianola Fishing Marina.

It’s a small store with fishing supplies and you can put you boat in, but it’s more than that!

Walking though the store you can place an order a fresh seafood and make your way to the attached fishing dock.

When your food is ready you pick it up and  enjoy watching people catch fish.

Grab a beer from the bar and you will soon kill a few hours and all well within budget.

Magnolia Beach would be ok as a beach and beach camping but a trip to the Indianola Fishing Marina made this a great place to visit.  What a fun friendly place.  On Friday and Saturday night they have live music.  

This is also a place where my Prius travels would fit in as there is no need to drive on the actual beach sand.

I know Magnolia Beach is not easily accessed from I10 so plan to spend a few days.  

Enjoy!

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Hail In Southern Texas

Warnings were up for severe weather from Dallas TX south to the Gulf Coast.  I felt I was safe being in south Texas, and west of the warning area.

Overnight proved that although my risk of severe weather going to bed was not an issue, overnight a rogue storm formed in Mexico and passed over where I was camped.

The storm popped up so there was little time for the weather service to react to the fact that this cell in the picture above had turned severe.

I had lots of vivid lightening and heavy rain with some hail.  I think I lucked out in that the storm mostly skirted where I was.

I recommend that all Vandwellers have a NOAA weather radio and a good radar app for tracking storms.  

Above are my weather apps I use.  

I also like Weatherstreet’s web page giving me a long look ahead to what may be coming my way

Here is the web address for the above 

https://weatherstreet.com/models/gfs-slp-precip-forecast.php

Stay safe - it’s spring and I’ve already had hail twice on my travels home this year.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Port Aransas, TX - Beach Camping

My next stop going north on the Texas coast is Port Aransas, TX.

There is plenty of beach camping with others as seen through my FWC camper screen window.  I left Padre Island National Seashore for more entertainment by walking to town and people watching.

To camp here in permitted areas, you need to buy a pass (sticker) for $12 to park.  Read for free areas and watch the signs on the beach. 

DON’T believe others posts as the city has changed the rules over time.  Go to the city website for current information.  

https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/port-aransas-beach/beach-parking-permit-information/

DON’T even try to to park and go get your permit.  Get permit first.  Parking regulations are enforced and it’s a $500 fine so be forewarned.

I came on Friday AM to get a spot in 1-1.5 miles from downtown area.  This is good exercise and breaks up the day.  Permit allows for 3 nights in 3 week period, then you can come back as the sticker is good for the year.

We east facing beaches you get wonderful sun rises like this one with the woman flying the kite.

The first day was not too windy and I put up my home made designed awning.

Well I had some company until more day Timer’s and campers came.


The above screen capture is on the link below.
https://www.texasislandproperties.com/port-aransas-beaches

The map shows the beach markers are as these are used for reference if you are meeting up.  Open the webpage and zoom in to see what I mean.

This was a fun place to spend 3 nights, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.  Walk to get drinks at Stripes.  This is also the best place to get beach parking pass.  Walk to donut shop, grocery store, and most else you need while getting exercise off the beach.  During the weekend there are plenty of day trippers and plenty of people watching. 

I recommend this beach parking as a break from the more secluded places on the national seashore.  The sand beach road is hard packed and safe for even my Prius to come for a visit.

Well, you probably guessed another beach camping review is coming in my next blog post.

Enjoy your travels and be safe.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com