Raf's Rincon

Geocaching and Alaska

2007-08-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

Well, after an afternoon spent pursuing Geocaches in the vicinity of the tiny, nearly extinct, town of Caddo, Texas, I seem to have collected some chiggers in the process.

Actually, the main item on our agenda is preparing for our cruise to Alaska next week. We are concerned lest we not do it right - leave something behind, take something we'll have to abandon, leave ourselves with too much, too little. Or, the luggage will be lost, we'll miss connections, the cabin will be too small, or something.

In fact, we'll be fine and we'll have a ball, but this is the first time we've travelled other than driving, since 1979, or so. The rules have changed, and, while it's all old hat to frequent travellers, it's all new to us.

Back at it again

2007-08-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

Well, it's raining, again. Not that I'm complaining. I don't complain about rain, too often we don't have enough, but this has been the wettest Spring and Summer for a long time. If my sod comes in, I'll go ahead and lay in the rain and it will get a good start.

Long, long time

2007-07-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

My, it's been a long time since I've been here. I've been struggling with the changover to the "New Blogger". I think I've got it now.

Bird Strike

2006-12-10T19:51:00.000-06:00

Lately, we've been hearing birds strike our windows. A day or two ago, a white-winged dove flew right into the deck door. He hit hard, but flew off. The next day, we noticed that the bird had left a clear image of itself on the door where it hit. You can see the wings and the body. It's only visible in certain light, early morning, but I was able to get a picture of it.

2006-05-29T19:15:00.000-05:00

We just returned from a trip to Wimberley, TX. Our trip was to have my guitar reworked by its maker, Jamie Kinscherff. While we were there, we got to hear an Austin band called Jellyjar. Including some old friends, Al Sato, and Tom Metcalf, Jellyjar has got a fine sound and a good feel to them. I feel that they may do well, not least due to their association with another up and coming Austin band, Del Castillo.

2006-05-09T15:43:00.000-05:00

The back porch.

2006-05-09T15:36:00.000-05:00

Porch, again, with cajon.

2006-05-09T15:32:00.000-05:00

Still more porch.

2006-05-08T15:31:00.000-05:00

"Sparky" Pugh and Norm.

2006-05-08T15:25:00.000-05:00

Dale, replacing one of the many strings on that beast.

2006-05-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

Sherman was also at the table. It was a good afternoon.

2006-05-08T15:09:00.000-05:00

Hank "Hoink" Alinger (sp) on the deck.

2006-05-08T15:05:00.000-05:00

Bobs, whose significant physical disability isn't visible in this shot.

2006-05-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

Steve, Jeff, and ? playing in the sun. The weather was great for EC9.

2006-05-08T14:52:00.000-05:00

Joe, Sully and Tim rehearsing in the kitchen.

A Report on RMMGA's Ninth East Coast Gathering

2006-05-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

First of all, Virginia's Northern Neck is beautiful. It's remarkable that such a pleasant rural area can still exist so close to cities like Richmond and Washington. The area abounds in history - the birthplaces of George Washington and Robert E Lee are only a few miles apart. Their homes and those of Jefferson and Madison are not far from each other, either.

The gathering caught this area at the height of its spring beauty. When we left Texas, Spring was over and Summer was upon us. As we traveled to Virginia, it was like traveling back in time. Each area we passed through was earlier in Spring. In the Northern Neck, the dogwoods and azaleas were spectacular. Whole fields of clover and other flowering crops were in bloom.

Of course, the gathering isn't about flowers, or weather, which was also excellent, it's about people. It was wonderful to finally meet people I have been corresponding with for years - Bob Dorgan and Norm Draper spring to mind, but there were so many others I'm sure I'll fail to mention them all. George Wirth, Bob Gebeaux, Dale Gardner, Dick Thaxter, Dan Kozar, Joe Lipman and Tim Wampler are a few long-familiar names I've now put faces to. There were a lot of familiar faces, as well, with Joe Jordan, Steve Hawkins, Roger Hightower, Jeff Sherman, Mike Pugh, Hank Aliger, Charlie and Joan Park, John and Sue Holbrook, and by far not least, George and Ethyl Duff making us feel as though we were among old friends.

Guitars - Bob Gebeaux's are lovely, as was Jeff Berstein's gorgeous Beneteau. The sound of Murphy's Walker was stunning, wonderfully rich and full (sorry, I've forgotten which of you owned the guitar). Steve Hawkins new redwood/walnut Voyage Aire was every thing you'd expect from a Leach. Roger Hightower had an earlier model, which I think he said was the first Voyage Aire. Mike Pugh had one of Dave Painter's guitars and Dave, himself, had another. These are very nice instruments. I'm struck again by the number of people making guitars, and by the variety they represent. These are all somewhat different guitars, each builder has his own "take" on the instrument and the results are a wonderful panoply of sounds and looks and feels.

Among the older instruments, I guess I should mention the basket cases. The first I saw, was Bob Gebeaux's dumpster Gibson, which played and sounded great for having been in pieces. Tom Basham had another old gibson that had been a wreck for twenty years or more and was playing a sounding better than new. Of course, Norm's "Stolen" D-45 was in attendance, and much coveted.

There was food and drink in abundance, especially thanks to Tim for the excellent meats (while I know we have many vegetarians, if I haven't eaten meat, I haven't eaten. I am a confirmed carnivore. Thanks, Tim) I sampled many of the myriad beers on offer and I can report that I came away with a single sixpack of the two cases of Texas beers I brought. I guess somebody liked 'em.

Sorry I missed the last get-together Sunday night, but after my gas bottle problem and then my tire problem, I just gave out early. Farewell to all.

Was it worth it? Absolutely! Especially since I got a new guitar out of it - a Martin OM-16GT that Cotton's, in Nashville, had that I just couldn't pass up.

-Raf

(pictures to follow, shortly)

SmithMount4758

2006-04-24T15:46:00.000-05:00

SmithMount4758
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

The marina at Smith Mountain Lake, Eagle's Roost RV Park.

SmithMount4756

2006-04-24T15:43:00.000-05:00

SmithMount4756
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

This Azalea was in glorious bloom at Smith Mountain Lake.

Baileyton

2006-04-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

Baileyton
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

This lovely picnic area was at the end of our campground at Baileyton RV park, in Baileyton, TN.

Cave4737

2006-04-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

Cave4737
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

While this cave doesn't go far, it exemplifies the many caves of middle Tennessee.

HarpethInFlood

2006-04-24T15:39:00.000-05:00

HarpethInFlood
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

The night before this, we had a very heavy storm. My hopes to fish the Narrows of the Harpeth were dashed.

StainedRock

2006-04-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

StainedRock
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

At the Narrows of the Harpeth, limestone rock is exposed to the erosion of the Harpeth River. At this point, the Harpeth River makes a big loop (5 miles) and returns to the other side of this limestone ridge. The other side of this ridge, where the river returns to this spot, is about 20 feet lower and only 100 feet away, across the ridge.

Kingston Springs UMC

2006-04-22T14:46:00.000-05:00

Kingston Springs UMC
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

Our former church in Kingston Springs, TN. We have many fond memories of this little church and the lovely people we knew there. This, not so little village, now, was a small, sparcely populated rural town outside of Nashville. I cannot imagine a nicer place to live. Our time there was idylic. We both regret that economics forced our return to Texas.

The stunningly lovely hills, trees and streams of this western Highland rim community make for wonderful hiking, canoeing, hunting, and, especially, fishing. We took the church kids on all sorts of adventures.

Radnor Lake Reflections

2006-04-20T15:31:00.000-05:00

Radnor Lake Reflections
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

Radnor Lake in Nashville is a special place for Sue and me. It featured largely in our courting, and during the whole time we lived in Tennessee.

Radnor Lake

2006-04-20T15:30:00.000-05:00

Radnor Lake
Originally uploaded by RafIII.

Another view of the lovely little nature preserve nestled in the hills of South Nashville.