Monsoon, act II

[Pahaska]

After the monsoon in June, I figured the rest of the year would be the usual Texas weather with perfect camping from September through most of December. Wrong!

I was scheduled to bring the trailer home today to prepare for a 3-night trip to Seminole Canyon State Park for an all-day hike to see some of the oldest pictographs in the country.

Just received a call that the hike is cancelled due to flooded canyons. I was tempted to go anyway, but it is raining and we are under flash flood warnings after 1 1/2" of rain yesterday. It is supposed to get much worse in the next few days. There is a hurricane coming in off the Pacific that is expected to cross here during the weekend.

The big hazard around here are all the low-water crossings. There are 4 possible routes away from my home and three of the routes close almost every time it rains like this.

What frosts me is that I haven't used the trailer for all of the month of October. It hasn't moved except to bring it home one day for some interior work. I do have 2 good trips scheduled in November.

[markjoandall]

John,

Move.

[Pahaska]

Where you live is just a matter of choosing the weather hazards. We don't get blown away by hurricanes, tornados are reasonably rare aroiund here, and I only see snow about once every 10 years.

OTOH, we can use a trailer virtually all year. Many years, it isn't even nexcessary to winterize. This month, there were about 3 usable camping weeks, but they just happened to be filled with other things like award dinners, doctor's appointments, teeth cleanings, and the like.

As to the low-water crossings, I'll drive the extra 5 to 10 miles a half-dozen times a year to live on my beautiful hilltop.

[smily]

From the great entertainment town of Austin a wise man said:

'Its a floodin' down in Texas"

Smily

[markjoandall]

John,

Well you got me on that one, I'm sitting here in NH looking at snow that fell yesterday and more on Saturday. The Airstream is in the barn and needs to be winterized. I'm at work, and would rather be in my Airstream. I'm bummed to say the least.

Mark

[Pahaska]

Love the temperature, but look at these rainfall predictions for what was to have been a weekend trip and hike.

BTW: our annual rainfall is just over 30" and I found well over 2" in the gage this morning.

[uwe]

John,

I went to Arlington/Ft.Worth last weekend to exhibit at a guitar show. I got a good dose of the Texas Rain. All afternoon Friday, most of Saturday, and then on the way home in New Mexico another downpour - more water than i have seen in years.
If only I could take a cloud or two home to California. Could use a few drops right about now.
i know what you mean about hilltops. Got one of my own. No trade - no way.

[BobbyW]

Whats really depressing for me is the big Airshow at Ellington AFB Houston is this weekend Oct 26/27. For the first time in many years they have booked the "Thunderbirds". Forecasts are for 80% chance of heavy rain.

My father took me to Ellington AFB to see them in 1969. I was 13. I was really looking forward to this show. Hoping for a miracle. We have had 7 inches of rain the last 4 days.

-BobbyWright

[thenewkid64]

Bobby,

Does your Globetrotter float????

If it keeps up you may need to make that a modification

[74Argosy24MH]

I don't think Michigan has had 7" of rain all summer. I was looking at the bare spots the other day wondering if there is any cactus that will survive below zero.

John

[Pick]

In a "Normal" year we get around 38" of rain. I think this year we are at round 27". If you can't go camping, I know there is a "Zesty Foods" show going on in Austin this weekend.

[Pahaska]

I heard about that on TV, but I didn'y pay very much attention since I intended to be 277 miles away, hiking up a desery canyon to see the pictrographs.

Might be an option. I'll have to see what the wife has on her plate this weekend. She usually loves that sort of thing.